#ækátî

[keysatthecrossroad]

Mother Hekáte I call to You to help me with this issue I am facing. Please blessed Goddess, grant me wisdom and strength and time. Hekáte, Phosphoros, light my way with Your Torches and send me relief.

Ave Hekáte, Queen of Witches.

[femme-witching]

Orphic Hymn to Hecate Breakdown

1) “I call Einodian Hecate, lovely dame,

Of earthly, wat’ry. and celestial frame,

Sephucharl, in a saffron veil array’d,

Pleas’d with dark ghosts that wander thro’ the shade;

5) Persian, unconquerable huntress hail!

The world’s key-bearer never doom’d to fail

On the rough rock to wander thee delights,

Leader and nurse be present to our rites

Propitious grant our just desires success,

10) Accept our homage, and the incense bless.”

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Definitions

Einodian- ‘the one in the streets’ or ‘in the road’, referncing Hecate’s association with crossroads and being a guide to Demeter through the ‘streets’ of the underworld

Sephulchral- relation to a tomb; dismal and gloomy; referencing Hecate’s association with death, ghosts, and the underworld

Persian- daughter of Perses

Orphic- being associated with Orpheus or Orphism

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Line-by-line analysis

1) “I call Einodian Hecate, lovely dame,” is the reader or speaker’s acknowledgement of Hecate using her epithet “einodian” to evoke connection to her through her divinity over crossroads

2) “Of earthly, watr’y, and celestial frame” refers to Hecate’s residance over the sky, earth, ocean, and underworld. As a cthonic goddess Hecate resides in the underworld yet is not confined to it

She is associated with the sea due to Hekatean magic referenced in the Argonautica by means of the witch Madea. In some stories, Hecate is also named as the mother of the sea monster Scylla, and was commonly given fish as an offering.

Hesiod’s Theogony states that Zeus honored Hecate “above all others”, and gifted her with “a share of the earth and of the barren sea, and from the starry sky as well she has a share in honor...”

3) “Sephulchral, in a saffron veil array’d” identifies Hecate as a chtonic deity, and the saffron veil may be a suggestion of divinity and wealth due to the rarity of the spice in ancient Greece, though the original Greek translation suggests this veil is about earthly dwellings of souls or ghosts

4) “Pleas’d with dark ghosts that wander thro’ the shade;” describes Hecate’s role as the goddess of ghosts

5) “Persian, unconquerable huntress hail!” is a line of veneration to Hecate suggesting her strength as the daughter of the titan Perses, and the mention of being a huntress is based on a love of solitude

6) “The world’s key-bearer never doom’d to fail” acknowledges Hecate’s role as goddess of liminal spaces, and her association with keys, and title of the key-bearer

7) “On the rough rock to wander thee delights,” suggests Hecate’s authority over the underworld, or potentially her dominion over her share of earth

8) “Leader and nurse be present to our rites” venerates Hecate as both a powerful and nurturing goddess

Hecate tends to have very different roles for different devotees, as reflected through her epithets. Some common epithets for Her include: aimopotis (blood-drinker), kyria (the powerful), deichteria (teacher), and erranos (lovely).

9) “Propitious grant our just desires success,” asks Hecate to grant the devotee her blessings and favor

10) “Accept our homage, and the incense bless.” finally concludes the hymn by offering a final suggestion of veneration to the goddess

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A newer translation of the Orphic Hymn to Hecate has been created based more directly on the original Greek! To read more click here

I call Ækátî of the Crossroads, worshipped at the meeting of three paths, oh lovely one.

In the sky, earth, and sea, you are venerated in your saffron-colored robes.

Funereal Daimôn, celebrating among the souls of those who have passed.

Persian, fond of deserted places, you delight in deer.

Goddess of night, protectress of dogs, invincible Queen.   

Drawn by a yoke of bulls, you are the queen who holds the keys to all the Kózmos.

Commander, Nýmphi, nurturer of children, you who haunt the mountains.

Pray, Maiden, attend our hallowed rituals;

Be forever gracious to your mystic herdsman and rejoice in our gifts of incense.

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If you got this far, thank you so much for reading! Blessed be!

[pherenike]

Hekate statue and altar for Deipnon last week

I call Ækátî of the Crossroads, worshipped at the meeting of three paths, oh lovely one.

In the sky, earth, and sea, you are venerated in your saffron-colored robes.

Funereal Daimôn, celebrating among the souls of those who have passed.

Persian, fond of deserted places, you delight in deer.

Goddess of night, protectress of dogs, invincible Queen. 5

Drawn by a yoke of bulls, you are the queen who holds the keys to all the Kózmos.

Commander, Nýmphi, nurturer of children, you who haunt the mountains.

Pray, Maiden, attend our hallowed rituals;

Be forever gracious to your mystic herdsman and rejoice in our gifts of incense.

Orphic hymn from HellenicGods.org

[ukdamo]

Orphic Hymn to Hecate

anonymous

I call Ækátî of the Crossroads, worshipped at the meeting of three paths, oh lovely one.

In the sky, earth, and sea, you are venerated in your saffron-coloured robes.

Funereal Daimon, celebrating among the souls of those who have passed.

Persian, fond of deserted places, you delight in deer.

Goddess of night, protectress of dogs, invincible Queen.   

Drawn by a yoke of bulls, you are the queen who holds the keys to all the Kosmos.

Commander, Nymphi, nurturer of children, you who haunt the mountains.

Pray, Maiden, attend our hallowed rituals;

Be forever gracious to your mystic herdsman and rejoice in our gifts of incense.

Greek Text

Εἰνοδίην Ἑκάτην κλῄιζω, τριοδῖτιν, ἐραννήν,   

οὐρανίην, χθονίαν τε, καὶ εἰναλίην κροκόπεπλον,

τυμβιδίην, ψυχαῖς νεκύων μέτα βακχεύουσαν,

Πέρσειαν, φιλέρημον, ἀγαλλομένην ἐλάφοισιν,

νυκτερίην, σκυλακῖτιν, ἀμαιμάκετον βασίλειαν,   

ταυροπόλον, παντὸς κόσμου κληιδοῦχον ἄνασσαν,

ἡγεμόνην, νύμφην, κουροτρόφον, οὐρεσιφοῖτιν,

λισσόμενοις κούρην τελεταῖς ὁσίαισι παρεῖναι

βουκόλῳ εὐμενέουσαν ἀεὶ κεχαρηότι θυμῷ.

[deathlessathanasia]

“Kallímakhos (fr. 556 Schneid.) in his discourse says as follows: ‘Zefs (Ζεὺς) having united with Dîmítîr (Δημήτηρ) begets Ækátî (Ἑκάτη), excelling among the Gods by might and power.’ “He says she was sent below the earth by her father in search of Pærsæphónî (Περσεφόνη), she is now called by the name Ártæmis (Ἄρτεμις), and Phýlax (Φύλαξ, guardian), Dadoukhos (Δαδοῦχος, torch-bearer), Phôsphóros (Φωσφόρος, light-bringer), and Kthónia (Χθόνια, the earthy one).”

Orphic Fragment 42

[aekatian]

Ækátî

[keysatthecrossroad]

Hekáte, Phosphoros, Torchbearer.

Mother, let our pathways all lead to You.

Goddess of All, protect us and keep us under Your Cloak.

Enodia, You are our home.

[keysatthecrossroad]

Hekáte, Goddess of Three, please accept our offerings and devotions on this Full Moon eve.

Please hear us, watch over us, and allow us to start anew, precious Mother of the Moon.

Bring light to us and lead us to Your garden, Hecate, as we crave Your Cloak and protection.

Hail Hekáte!

[keysatthecrossroad]

Hekáte, my Mother, Mother of All, grant us peace and blessings this day in Your name!

[keysatthecrossroad]

Hekáte, Goddess of All, Queen of Witches, Protectress of Hounds. Bless Your creatures on this night, bring peace and healing. Alleviate pain and sorrow of those who are suffering. Thank You Mother!

Hail Hekáte!

[keysatthecrossroad]

Mother, You surprise me at times with Your blessings, knowing what I need before I even know. Thank You Goddess for this day and all days You grace me. Hecate, I will not waste this opportunity You have granted me.

All hail Ækátî, the Queen of Mayeia!

[keysatthecrossroad]

I call Ækátî of the Crossroads, worshipped at the meeting of three paths, oh lovely one.

In the sky, earth, and sea, you are venerated in your saffron-colored robes.

Funereal Daimôn, celebrating among the souls of those who have passed.

Persian, fond of deserted places, you delight in deer.

Goddess of night, protectress of dogs, invincible Queen.

Drawn by a yoke of bulls, you are the queen who holds the keys to all the Kózmos.

Commander, Nýmphi, nurturer of children, you who haunt the mountains.

Pray, Maiden, attend our hallowed rituals;

Be forever gracious to your mystic herdsman and rejoice in our gifts of incense.

- The Orphic Hymn to Hekáte

[keysatthecrossroad]

Collect earth from a crossroads and keep it on Her altar as an offering.

Hekáte, Trioditis, we devote ourselves to You!

[keysatthecrossroad]

Hekáte, Bringer of Light, Protectress of Witches, I sing Your praises for this day!

Your blessings are always exactly what I need and I am so grateful for your kindness.

Please keep us beneath Your Cloak beautiful Mother, we will never leave You side.

[keysatthecrossroad]

Mother Hekáte, thank You for bringing balance to our world. Thank You for being both Phosphoros, bringer of light, and Lady of the Underworld.

As Propylaia, You guard the gateway into this new season and we rejoice in Your blessings.

Oh, wonderful Goddess Hekáte let this Spring be a prosperous renewal for Your Witches!

[keysatthecrossroad]

Hekáte, Enodia, bring us peace and strength in these coming trials.