Hekate Liminal Rites
A study of the rituals, magic
and symbols of the torch-bearing triple Goddess of the
Crossroads
At the
crossroads of life, death and rebirth stands the Goddess
Hekate. Honoured by men, women and gods alike, traces
of her ancient provenance reach back through the millennia
providing clues about her nature and origins along the
way. Depictions of her as three formed facing in three
ways, sometimes with the heads of animals such as the
horse, dog and snake hint at her liminal nature, as
well as the powers she holds over the triple realms
of earth, sea and sky.
The sorcery
of Medea and Circe, the witchcraft of the women of Thessaly,
the writings of philosophers such as Hesiod and Porphyry
all provide glimpses into the world of those who honoured
her. Her magical powers were considered so great that
even King Solomon became associated with her, she was
incorporated into Jewish magic, and merged with other
goddesses including Artemis, Selene, Bendis and the
Egyptian Isis. Whilst for some she was the Witch Goddess,
for others she was the ruler of angels and daimons,
who made predictions about Jesus and Christianity.
Wherever
you look, be it in the texts of Ancient Greece and Rome,
Byzantium or the Renaissance, the Greek Magical Papyri
or the Chaldean Oracles, you will find Hekate. The magical
whir of the strophalos and the barbarous words of the
voces magicae carry her message; the defixiones, love
spells and charms all provides us with examples of the
magic done in her name. She was also associated with
the magic of death, including necromancy and reanimation;
as well as prophetic dreams, nightmares, healing herbs
and poisons. The temples dedicated to her and the important
role she played in the mysteries of Eleusis, Samothrace
and Aigina all provide us with clues to her majesty.
The popular shrines at the doorways of ordinary people,
offerings left at the crossroads and guardian statues
of her at the entrance ways to cities and temples all
attest to her status in the hearts and minds of those
who knew her mysteries.
In this
book the authors draw from a wide range of sources,
bringing together historical research which provides
insights into the magical and religious practices associated
with this remarkable Goddess. In doing so they provide
an indispensable guide for those wishing to explore
the mysteries of Hekate today.
Table of Contents:
Foreword
1. From the Three-Ways
Literary Sources
2. In Her Service
Hesiod
Empedocles
Porphyry
Circe
Medea
The Witches of Thessaly
Lampads
Hekate's Vegetarian Followers
3. Sacred Eleusis
4. Images of Hekate
5. Voces Magicae
6. Charms from the
PGM
List of Charms in the Greek Magical Papyri
Symbols from the PGM
Bear Charm
Charm of Hekate Ereschigal
7. Charms for Love
8. Defixiones
9. The Armour of
Hekate
10. Glimpses of Initiation
11. Herbs & Poisons
Aconite
Ebony
Garlic
Mandrake
Oak
Saffron
Yew
Unspecified Herbs
Herb Gathering
12. Sacred Bronze
13. Iron Nails & Rings
14. Hekate & The Angels
15. Coins
16. From Sleep
17. Oracles of Hekate
18. Offerings
19. Hekate Suppers
20. Invocation
21. Hymns
Proclus Hymn to Hekate and Janus
Prayer to Selene for any operation
22. Animal Formed
Cow-Headed/Bull-Headed
Dog-Headed
Dragon-Headed
Goat-Headed
Horse-Headed
Serpent-Headed
23. Necromancy & Reanimation
24. Death Magic
25. Underworld
26. Black Dogs
27. Serpents
28. The Strophalos
29. King Solomon
30. Fusions
Artemis-Hekate
Bendis
Bona Dea
Brimo
Despoina
Ereschigal-Hekate
Isis-Hekate
Physis
Selene-Hekate
Bibliography
Index
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PB, RRP £12.99,
196 pages, ISBN 978-1905297238
First published by Avalonia, May 2009
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