Hekate – Torchbearing Goddess of the Mysteries, Deity of Darkness and Witchcraft.
Throughout the ages, Hekate has been associated with darkness, nighttime and most especially, the Underworld. Over time she became known as the patroness of witches and sorcery and is associated with mysteries and magical rituals of all kinds.
“Hekate is a Goddess of great antiquity. She is primordial, powerful and sometimes animalistic - and yet also sophisticated, modern and capable of adapting to different cultures. She is the Torchbearer, the Cosmic World Soul, the Guide and Companion. She is Mistress of the Restless Dead, who rules over the Heavens, Earth and Sea. She is the Keybearer who stands at the crossroads of life, death and initiation. Her devotees today, as throughout the ages, include philosophers, poets, sorcerers, theurgists, witches, root-cutters, enchantresses and ordinary people.”
So begins the The Hekate Chronicles by Sorita D’Este. Hekate’s original mythology portrayed her not as an old hag, but as a beautiful and powerful goddess. Hekate, the ancient goddess from early, pre-Greek mythology, is believed to be a Titan goddess so powerful and respected by her disciples that she maintained control even after the fall of the Titans to the Olympian gods. In fact, she was the only one of the ancient Titans that Zeus allowed to retain her power after the Olympians seized control. Not only that, but Zeus shared with Hekate, and only her, the power of giving humanity anything she wished, or withholding it if she pleased. Thus, she is known as the bestower of wealth and the blessings of life.
Possessing dominion over the Sky, the Earth, and the Sea, she is known as the Goddess of the Crossroads. And while she is well known for her roles within those three worlds, she is also a goddess who bridges these worlds. In that way, Hekate facilitates the passage between realms, linking all gods together, weaving the threads of the universe. Furthermore, she also facilitates communications between mortals and the Divine.
As an ancient deity, her domain is vast. For example, unsettled creatures and monstrous beings are under her command. Hekate maintains a large retinue of hellhounds and is known to travel with her three headed dog, Cerberus. Furthermore, the distant baying of dogs is said to be a calling card.
As torchbearer, she also lights the way through the darkness and the Underworld. Often portrayed as an old witch stirring a pot or an old crone wandering at night with her dogs at the crossroads, she is, in fact, so much more, starting with the fact that she is stunningly beautiful. While she is often called upon by those who identify as witches, she is called on equally as often by those looking for good fortune in war. Skilled in the arts of prophecy, she can bestow the gift of her clairvoyance if she’s so inclined.
Hekate rules over the art of the apothecary. As such, she has dominion over plants, both healing and poisonous. Being a goddess of liminality, she can teach a healing practitioner how to straddle the line between a cure and a poisoning.
Hekate has been loved, revered, and feared over the ages and yet she endures. Today Hekate’s magical traditions are celebrated in every part of the world. Ownership of this NFT affords one a stronger, more direct connection with the Goddess. Only by working with this Divine Feminine Deity will you understand how exactly she fits into your life for her magic is beyond description.
