“O Crone of Endless Ages! Grandmother! Ancient One! Mistress of Magic and the Night, Lady of Dreams and Visions! Enchantress, Queen of Spirits and of the Otherworld -on this night when the Veil is thinnest, this night when we are most conscious of our fears and of our need to cleanse- we call to You! Moon Lady, Who holds the Keys of Life and Death -Who transforms matter and who comforts the Soul! Come to us now! We bid you Hail and Welcome!”

Hecate is the ancient Greek Goddess of magic and witchcraft. A Moon Goddess, Hecate had aspects as Maiden and mother, but was pre-eminently thought of as the Crone. For many Hecate remains the consummate Crone, and special Patron of Samhain (Halloween).

Also called Trivia, “The Triune,” images of Hecate often has three heads or three bodies. The black dog was Hecate’s animal form, and She is connected to Cerberus the three-headed black dog who guarded the gates of the Otherworld in Greek mythology.

Hecate’s symbols include the lighted torch, common to most Greek chthonic Gods, the ritual knife and the scourge, as well as the key. The key unlocks what is hidden, reveals mysteries.*

Hecate is the Prime Witch. She is the goddess from which all the stereotypical pictures of a black caped, pointed hat, riding a broomstick, ugly old hag comes from. Along with Baba Yaga, who also brings those images to common culture. For this reason she is both avoided and often misunderstood by many people, even pagans.

We get confused with the “evil” witch imagery we grew up with and our desire to understand the dark side of our personalities; for that is what she truly represents- the darkness that balances the light. We all have our dark sides, we all have secrets we don’t want to face and we keep hidden from others. The energy of Hecate demands that we shine a light on what we’ve hidden and deal with it. That’s damn scary and she’s damn scary as a result.

For people who just can’t cope with their dark sides she does become evil, she does become an unwanted visitor in the night. She is seen as a nightmarish ghoul, but really she offers a helping hand and support while we face our personal demons.

I’ve dealt with depression and illness a good portion of my life. When I was a teenager I became very ill and had a “just live with it” diagnosis from the Doctors. As a result of that I had a lot of depression, but also an underlying rebellion to NOT just live with it. In the end it’s what launched me on my journey to learn about Herbalism, Energy Healing and Paganism. It was Herbalism and Energy Healing and allowed me to happily, and healthily, walk away from the “just live with it” and with Hecate as my guide the ability to take a stark look at the nature of my depression and come to terms with it.

Yes that sounded weird, even to me. Understanding and even embracing my darkness allowed me to “drop all the baggage” and “move on”. Sure some of it remains and I have days where I have to fight off descending gloom. But I’ve got tools and support. Herbs, Reiki, my family and my Goddess all lend me their aid when the fight gets rough.

I’ll admit it. I’m in a rough patch. And it’s been on my mind a lot. My reason for sharing this is part of my healing process.

In Honour of Most Lovely One, Goddess Hecate

Quiet is the night
Dark is the Moon
I ask Hecate, the Crone
To take Her throne.
Sleep, sister, sleep
Be not alarmed,
For the Great Goddess
Keeps you from harm.
Quiet is the night
Dark is the Moon
I ask Hecate, the Crone
To take Her throne.
Sleep, brother sleep,
Be not alarmed,
For the Great Goddess
Holds you in her arms.
Quiet is the night
Dark is the Moon.
We honour Hecate the Crone
Who has taken Her throne.

A chant to Hecate

Hecate, Crone Goddess, Keep me whole
Let thy wisdom fill my soul.

To close the sacred space

May the circle never be broken
May the earth always be whole
May the rattle ever be shaken
May Hecate live in my soul.

“Behold: As Above, So Below!
As the Universe, So the Soul!
As Within, So Without!
May the Circle be open, but never broken!
Merry Meet –Merry Part –and Merry Meet again!

* from witchschool lessons, I don’t remember which ones