Blessing:
Hekate is a guide and a guardian. She protects those who call upon her, especially from murder, magic, theft, the dangers of childbirth, and the hardships of life on the road. She is also a mediating figure, who intercedes on our behalf with the other Gods.
Epithets:
Antania (Enemy of mankind), Enodia (of the Roads), Kleidouchos (Keeper of the Keys), Khthonia (Underworld), Krataiis (Strong One), Kurotrophos (Protector of Children), Monogenes (Only Child), Phosphoros (the light-bringer), Propylaia (the Guardian), Soteira (Saviour), Trevia (of Three Ways), Tricephalus (The Three-Headed)
Symbols:
torches, keys, rope, knife
Animal(s):
dogs, owls, crows, snakes, frogs
Sacrifices:
yew, cypress, hazel, black poplar, willow, black dogs, black bulls, black lambs, myrrh, civet, camphor, aloe, menstrual blood, red mullet, bread, eggs, cheese, honey
Primary Cult Center(s):
Lagina, Miletus, Argos, Eleusis, Aigina
Festivals:
Hecatesia (celebrated on different dates)
New Moon
Ways to honor:
Study magic and prophecy, particularly theurgy, as she is the patron of that art. Go for walks at night, or among strange places. Aid fellow travelers and strangers, especially if they have dogs. (Or are wild dogs!) Appreciate the weird and uncanny.
For more information:
Apollodorus' Library 1.6.2
Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica 3.477-478, 3.528-530, 3.1035-1041, 3.1207-1224, 4.827-829
Chaldaean Oracles
Euripides' Ion 1049
Euripides' Phoenician Women 109-110
Hesiod's Theogony 409-452
Homeric Hymn to Demeter 2.25-62, 2.438-440
Lucian's Pharsalia 4.839-40
Vergil's Aeneid 4.511, 4609-610, 6.247
Papyri Graeci Magicae 36.187-210
Pausanias' Descriptions of Greece 1.43.1, 2.30.2
Theocritus' Idylls 2
Copyright 2002 Sannion
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Posted with permission