Hecate (Hekate)

November is the month of Hecate, a goddess of the ancient world whose name has become synonymous with witchcraft and magic. Explore the following links to find out more about Hecate and her magical festivals.

Hecate in Myth, Magic and Ritual

Who is Hecate?

Hecate (also Hekate) is an underworld goddess brought to Greece by a Thracian mystic out of the wilds of Caria on the shores of ancient Anatolia. A popular cult venerating her as a goddess of childbirth arose in ancient Greece and she was integrated into their pantheon of gods. In later Ptolemaic Alexandria she acquired a darker reputation as a goddess of sorcery, becoming the ‘Queen of Ghosts’, in which guise she played a role in the work of Shakespeare and forever became associated with the wilder side of Paganism. [Origins]

The Festivals of Hecate

November is the month in which the Day of Hecate at the Crossroads is celebrated. Hecate was worshipped by both the Greeks and the Romans who had their own festivals dedicated to her. The Greeks observed two days sacred to Hecate: the Moon of Hecate on the 13th of August and the Day of Hecate at the Crossroads on the 30th of November. The Romans observed the 29th of every month as her sacred day.

The Magic of Hecate

As a goddess of witchcraft, Hecate has become the principle deity of forbidden and dark magic. From ancient Greek myth and the Graeco-Egyptian magical papyri comes the corpus of Hecatean magic. Wild chants of Askei kataski erôn oreôn iôr mega semnuêr bauï and Phorba phorba breimô azziebua were used in her name. Find out what spells were cast and how this dread goddess of the underworld was invoked.

Sources

Ruickbie, Leo, Witchcraft Out of the Shadows: A Complete History. London: Robert Hale, 2004.

Further Reading

Chapter 1 of Leo Ruickbie's Witchcraft Out of the Shadows deals extensively with Hecate and Hecate worship. Sections include The Goddess of Witchcraft, The Worship of Hecate, The Charm of Hekate Ereschigal, and The Daughters of Hecate, with scholarly and accessible discussion of Circe and Medea.

What's on in November

Want to go to a Hecate ritual, festival, conference or party? The Witchology event guide brings together the best destinations across the world. Find out where the nearest magical event to you is with one click here. [Events]

Day of Hecate at the Crossroads Gift Ideas

Need some seasonal gift ideas? Celebrate the Day of Hecate at the Crossroads by giving a gift to yourself or the people you value. You won't find these unique designs in the shops. [Gifts]