About the goddess
Hecate is an independent goddess who stands on the border between good and evil. A mysterious figure appearing at the crossroads in the middle of the night to guide you to the right path. At the same time close and elusive.
Patroness of women, witchcraft
and the full moon.
Her follower is a woman who is interested in mysticism and philosophy. She loves reading books (preferably by the light of the full moon). She loves drinking tea - she creates her own mixtures of herbs and flowers to create healing infusions.
She cares about the people she loves - she is caring and will solve any problem. But you don't want to get under her skin - she's vindictive and holds grudges for a long time.
Facts about Hecate
Region: Greece (in Rome known as Trivia)
Time: she appeared in literature in 8th century BC but the oldest altar found was from 6th century BC.
Specialization : She was associated with witchcraft, magic, the Moon, crossroads, doorways, and creatures of the night such as hell-hounds and ghosts. Hecate was closely associated with plants and the concoction of medicines and poisons.
Character and associations: she was capable of both good and evil.The goddess was frequently associated with Demeter and even assimilated to her in some cults. There's also strong connection with Artemis, which in the process of evolution of religion was divided into two godessess: Artemis and Hecate. Her companions are the Furies (Erinyes), the winged creatures who punished wrong-doing, and her children are the Empusae, female demons partial to seducing travellers. She was also associated with Egyptian Goddess Isis and Mesopotamian Inanna.
Plants of Hecate: oak, yew, garlic, cypress, aconite (also called hecateis),belladonna, dittany, and mandrake.
Representations: It was a common practice to place images of the goddess at city gates, entrances to sacred sites and the doorways of private homes where it was believed she acted as a protectress and warded off evil spirits.
Later appeared hekataia - sculpture of 3 women. The first example of the triple-Hecate form is credited to a figure made by Alcamenes in 5th century BC. It kind of became "trendy" in ancient greece and since then they started to represent Hecate in this three-body way. It typically depict her holding a variety of items, including torches (connection to the night, protection of the household or city), keys (to the underworld), serpents and daggers. It is possible that the representation of a triple Hecate surrounding a central pillar was originally derived from poles set up at three-way crossroads with masks hung on them, facing in each road direction - that simple. I'm sorry to say but in the original mythology it doesn't really have much to do with Maiden, Crone etc, nor with the phases of the moon.
(not so) Fun Fact: she was given offerings of food - given at crossroads and any other sort of boundary or threshold - known as 'the supper of Hecate'. These took the form of small cakes of eggs, cheese, bread, which were lit with miniature torches or, alternatively, a dish of red mullet, which was usually prohibited from offerings to the other gods. Hecate was also offered the sacrifice of… dogs, especially puppies.
Fun Fact 2: she was a very… goth goddess. She was regarded as a spectral being, who at night sent from the lower world all kinds of demons and terrible phantoms, who taught sorcery and witchcraft, who dwelt at places where two roads crossed each other, on tombs, and near the blood of murdered persons. She wandered with the souls of the dead, and her approach was announced by the whining and howling of dogs (well, ofc if she ate them…)
Hecate's Plants
The goddess Hecate was closely associated with plant lore and the concoction of medicines and poisons.
Yew was a tree dedicated specifically to hecate - its name in greek was closely connected to the word ‘poison’. However, Paclitaxel (Taxol), a prescription drug for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer, originally came from the bark of the yew tree so it’s also used to cure people.
In her representations often appears an oak tree or a serpent. The serpent is a clear symbol for poison, and the bark of the oak is used extensively in medicine as an antiseptic and hemostatic.
She was a garlic girl, she favored offerings of garlic which was closely associated with her cult. And it was a very healthy choice - garlic boosts the immune system, Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and even reduces dementia risk.
Another tree that she was associated with was cypress, a tree symbolic of death and the underworld (and also has medicinal uses).
Aconite, belladonna, dittany and mandrake are other types of poisonous plants that were dedicated to Hekate.
Fun plant fact: In the 1st century CE, dogs were used to dig up plants associated with magic (especially mandrakes). As dog is a specific symbol of Hekate it makes a lot of sense.
Candle dedicated to Hecate's worship
We prepared a candle for your Hecate rituals. Did you ever wonder what would be a smell of Hecate?
The scent of this candle hides mystery and magic, ready to bloom around you. When Hecate's flame is lit, it introduces you to a world where the senses mingle with a magical aura.
The top note begins this mystical journey with notes of lemon, raspberry and saffron. Lemon brings with it evening rays of sunlight that reveal enchanted secrets to you. Raspberry adds a note of hidden sweetness to this fragrance, while saffron carries the scent of distant lands and exotic adventures.
The heart note, hidden deep in the soul of the candle, hides rose, sweet vanilla and patchouli. Rose and sweet vanilla will wrap you in warmth, and patchouli will add mystery and create a magical harmony between the world of nature and the world of elusive magic.
The base note, hidden in cedarwood, musk and leather, is the key to the inner world of mystery. Cedar gives the fragrance spicy notes, reminiscent of magical forests where magical power flourishes. Musk, like the scent of a secret elixir, adds a subtle and magical coating. Leather adds character and strength, bringing to mind mysterious, ancient books...
This candle scent is a magical journey through the world of secrets and spells, which surrounds you with an aura of mystery and magic, where impossible things become possible and dreams become reality.
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