Goddess of Crossroads, Goddess of the Moon, Most Lovely One, Most Distant One, Queen of Spirits, Keeper of the Keys to the Universe, Hecate - the quintessential Goddess of Witchcraft. All the Secret powers of Nature are at her command. To Romans she is Ecate, Diana Lucifera and the Black Madonna, goddess of light and darkness. One of her birthplaces is Mt Cynthos in Delos, hence she is called Cynthia.
Her title Trivia has nothing to do with triviality, but is tri - via, "three ways", referring to crossroads and the triple aspects of Lady Moon - Maiden, Mother and Crone. Hecate embodies all 3, but it is in her Crone aspect that her power is strongest. Therefore she manifests most potently at the dark of the moon, and offerings are made to her at a spot where three roads intersect.
In Wicca, November 16 is the Night of Hecate, to Italian Streghe, it is the 13th day of the moon in August, and traditionally, it is the dark of the moon every month. This year November 16 happens to fall at the dark of the moon. So we have the "falling" season, aka the dark tide of the year at the dark of the moon on a designated Night of Hecate. What better time could there possibly be to call upon the Dark Goddess?
Here is an invocation adapted from a poem. I wish I could find and credit the source...
So the moon is dark and the path obscured
before you
So the bodies sway and the incense curls
to the sky
Draw the veil aside as She graces us with
Her presence
Draw the star of flame blue points
upon Her.
Old and knarled is She like the ancient tree
of the Earth
Old and wise is She like a snowy owl
from the Sky
Gently flow Her words like a deepcut
brook from afar
Gently see Her eyes like the bonfire embers
burning low
She is white and black, she is tender and hard,
She is Wisdom
She is light as a feather, She is heavy with knowledge,
She is Hecate
Come to Her altar and pour out your pain
like wine
Come into Her arms and heed well Her words
of wisdom
Let the anguish drain like the welcome rains
in the desert
So the sky is full and the paths open up
before you...
Tarot card of the day: The Moon, Death (Spiral deck)
Fragrance: vetivert, patchouli, cypress, musk
