Hekate could be conjured up from darkness "with long howls." There is  an old belief that the souls of the unburied dead could appear as dogs. Hekate is sometimes identified with the with three-headed dog Kerebos, who guards the entrance to Hades, and there may be connections with the Egyptian dog-headed god Annubis, who conducted souls to the Underworld. Dogs were also associated with deities like Hekate with who watched over childbirth, probably because of the ease with which the bitch gives birth. The dog is also well known as a guardian of the house, standing at the font door to stand watch, and this seems to relate to Hekate's role as guardian.

Hekate has close links with Hermes. As messenger of the Gods, it was Hermes who would sometimes guide the dead to the Underworld, & some say that Hekate & Hermes were lovers who parented Circe. Hekate also had a son, Museus, the 'muse man'. Statues to Hermes (Herms) often stood with those to Hekate (Hecteria). In later myth Hermes transmitted Hekate's predictions from the Underworld. Hekate was associated with several other gods including Apollo, Pan, Asclepius, and Zeus in various forms. At various times Hekate has been identified with other deities such as Ereschigal, the Babylonian goddess of the Underworld, the Thessalian Enodia and Brimo, the Sicilian Angelos, Iphigenia and especially Artemis. In fact later Orphic literature scarcely differentiates between Hekate and Artemis as far as titles and power are concerned.

Hekate shared Hernes' reputation of leading the 'Wild Hunt'. In later myths Hekate is accompanied by the Erinyes (also called the Furies), who hounded those who broke the taboos of insult, disobedience or violence to a mother. Sacred times & places Hekate is most properly worshipped in liminal places, especially at a crossroad where three roads meet. The Ancient Greeks would erect statues (hecataea) of Hekate Trevia ('Hekate of the Three Ways') at crossroads in Her honour. The crossroads symbolise Hekate's triple nature & Her all seeing ability. Here travelers may ask for protection on their journeys, or witches meet to learn Her mysteries. The ancient grove near Lake Averno in Italy has long been sacred to Hekate.

Samhain is especially significant to Hekate, but several Festival days are celebrated in Her honour: The 13th August is the time to ask for Her blessing on the coming harvest, for as Goddess of Storms Hekate has the power to destroy the crop before it can be cut. November 16th is Hekate Night. If you only honour Her once in the year, this is the time to do it! In some traditions January 31st is the night that Hekate hands Her torch to Brigid, whose arrival is celebrated at Imbolc. This seems to parallel the cycle of the Holly King and the Oak King, who each rule one half of the year: Hekate carries the torch through the dark half of the year, while Brigid takes it for the light half. Some suggest that Hekate and Brigid are sisters who share the torch. All this may seem very odd, given that Hekate is Greek and Brigid Celtic. But traditional beliefs that evolve over time may have little to do with historical origins. Both Goddesses are very ancient, and have been worshipped in Britain for centuries, so who is to say what relationship may have developed between them? Hekate is traditionally worshipped on the eve of the New Moon or the 30th of the month, when 'Hekate's Suppers' would be prepared. The Greeks originally reckoned time by lunar months, so this day originally fell on the 30th. Later, when Greece adopted a reformed calendar which no longer took account of the lunar cycle, the 30th. remained sacred to Hekate. The 30th. of the month of the month was also sacred to the dead. This was the time to purify the house and to take offerings to Hekate.  Offerings In the past a black puppy dog, black bull or a ewe lamb was seen as a suitable sacrifice, but personally I would recommend an offering of food, traditionally known as 'Hekate's Supper'. Appropriate food for these feasts include red mullet, (a scavenging fish that was taboo in other cults), sprat, breadstuffs, raw eggs, cheese, garlic, cake and honey. In Ancient Greece none of the household would touch the food for 'Hekate's Supper', but for those of us making an offering as Her Priesthood this is probably not a concern. Ideally the offerings are left at a crossroads and you should leave without looking back. Plutarch reports that these offerings were not only for Hekate but also to placate the apotropaioi, the restless ghosts. K.F Smith suggests that these offerings are in fact a "variation of the primitive cult of the dead."

Little round cakes called amphiphôn decorated with lit miniature torches were also offered on the eve of the New or Full Moon. Smith suggests that this practice was derived from Hekate's close relationship to Artemis. This practice has a very long history. The Christian Church was still trying to stop people leaving offerings at the crossroads as late as the 11th Century, and it is certainly carried on today so it is entirely possible that there is an unbroken tradition. Hekate particularly appreciates honey & magic mushrooms if you have them - Well, it is supposed to be a sacrifice! Distinct from Hekate's Supper, but related, were the offerings derived from sacrifices made to Hekate in the home to purify and bless the household. The katharsia was what was left of the sacrifice itself, typically the body of the dog which had been offered, while the katharmata was anything related to the sacrifice but not actually used in the ceremony (e.g. waste blood and water). Symbols Several symbols and objects are particularly associated with Hekate, some of which appear on my altar to Her. She is almost always shown carrying torches, very often has a knife, and may appear holding rope or scourge, a key, a phial, flowers or a pomegranate. The Greek cross (one with equal arms) is a symbol of Hekate at the crossroads. Hekates' knife represents Her role in cutting the umbilical cord from birth to life as well as severing the link between the body and spirit at death. It may have been the origin of the athame of Wicca. Hekate appears as a single figure or with three faces or bodies. Three has long been a sacred number, and this seems relevant to the mystery of Hekate. Red henna was used by worshippers to stain their hands and feet, probably symbolising blood. Priesthood: Hekate was served by Priestesses and Priests, some of whom were ritually castrated and transgendered (the Semnotatoi). Her priesthood were also known as Demosioi, a name which suggests belonging to a tribe. The main functions of Hekate's priesthood were casting horoscopes, performing spells, and maintaining the temples and sacred groves. A key function seems to have been directing choruses of flower-garlanded children, singing hymns of praise to Hekate. Those who serve Hekate do so in many different ways. Her worshipers gathered at crossroads once a month to share Hekate Suppers,  and then placed the leftovers outdoors as offerings. Honey, black female lambs, and dogs were sacrificed to Her.      today we can honor Hekate, by learning about Her, and to telling others what I know.

Creatures and plants in the natural world that are sacred to Hekate, Several Gods and Goddesses are associated closely with Her. Hekate's best known role in Greek myth is in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter. Demeter’s beloved daughter Persephone, the goddess of spring, was playing in the meadows when Hades emerged from the Underworld and captured Her. Hekate knew what had happened "Hekate with the bright headband, who heard from Her cave"  Hekate reveals the truth to Demeter, and together they go to try and rescue Persephone. It is finally agreed that Persephone shall spend part of the year in the Underworld with Hades and the rest on Earth with Demeter. Hekate henceforth acts as guide for Persephone on Her journeys between the worlds. Aconite, (also known as Hecateis, Monkshood or Wolfsbane), is a highly poisonous plant that is sacred to Hekate. According to myth, the plant sprang up where drops of the saliva of Kerberos fell to earth when Hercules dragged the dog-beast from the Underworld.In later myths Hekate appears as a daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hekate was sent to the Underworld after incurring the wrath of Hera for stealing a pot of rouge for Europa, who was one of Zeus's lovers. Hekate fled to Earth and hid in the house of a woman who had just given birth. In late Classical Greece contact with childbirth was impure, so Cabiri plunged Hekate into the Underworld river Acheron to cleanse Her. From then on Hekate remained in the Underworld.This story tells us as much about attitudes in late Greece as it does about Hekate. Whereas in earlier times Hekate appears to have been honored as a goddess of childbirth, now birth is 'impure'. There may be connections between the red rouge in this myth and the red henna that was used by worshippers to stain their hands and feet.  The Romans, adopted Hekate, and Her role shifted again. Hekate became an aspect of the moon Goddess, Diana Triformus, Diana (the Full moon, associated with Earth), Proserpina (the lunar phases, associated with Heaven), and Hekate (the New moon, associated with the Underworld.) As the power of the Solar Gods rose, Hekate became increasingly demonized, until by the Middle Ages She was reduced to a parody of an evil crone. In The Natural World All wild animals are sacred to Hekate and She sometimes appears as a three headed as dog, horse and bear or dog, snake, lion. But the creatures of darkness & of the earth are most sacred to Her; ravens, owls, crows, snakes & dragons. The frog, significantly a creature that can cross between two elements, is also sacred to Hekate and the Egyptian goddess Heqit. Trees The yew, cypress, hazel, black poplar and the willow are all sacred to Hekate. The leaves of the black poplar are dark on one side & light on the other, symbolising the boundary between the worlds. The yew has long been associated with the Underworld. It is the longest living creature in Europe, and naturally 'resurrects' itself: As the central trunk dies, a new tree grows within the rotting core. This ability may be why it is so often found in graveyards as a symbol of eternal life. In Brittany it is believed that the yew sends a root to the mouth of each corpse, allowing the spirit to escape and be reborn. The yew has strong associations with death as well as rebirth. A poison prepared from the seeds was used on arrows, and yew wood was commonly used to make bows and dagger hilts. The potion in Hekate's cauldron contains 'slips of yew'. Yew berries carry Hekate's power, & can bring wisdom or death. The seeds are highly poisonous, but the fleshy, coral-colored 'berry' surrounding it is not, and if prepared correctly can bring inspirational visions. "Dandelion tea is used to call spirits and is said to enhance psychic ability" Many other herbs and plant were associated with Hekate, including garlic, almonds, lavender, myrrh, mugwort, cardamon, mint, dandelion, hellebore, and lesser celadine. Several poisons and hallucinogens are linked to Hekate, including belladonna, hemlock, mandrake, opium poppy and Aconite "Classically known as hecateis", Aconite, Monkshood or Wolfsbane. is a highly poisonous plant that is sacred to Hekate. According to myth, the plant sprang up where drops of the saliva of Kerberos fell to earth when Hercules dragged the dog-beast from the Underworld. Snakes: In ancient Greece snakes were the creatures most commonly associated with the dead, and it was commonly believed that the dead could appear as snakes. Several images of Hecate show Her holding a snake. Snakes have long been connected with chthonic powers and the uncommon wisdom of the Other world. Chthonic is a word whose meaning is heavily loaded by culture. Today the word 'chthonic' often has evil or 'dark' connotations, but it originates from the Greek khthonios, meaning 'in or under the earth' Chthonic deities generally had low altars where offerings are made into the earth (rather than the air), dwell beneath the surface of the Earth and are concerned with matters of basic living - fertility, childbirth, crops, fate and death. Hades, Persphone and the Eumenides are generally considered as chthonic deities. The way the snake sheds it's skin to be 'reborn' symbolises the changes we all make in our lives, the transformations that Hekate can help us through. Dogs: The dog is the animal most commonly associated with Hekate, and She was sometimes addressed as the 'Black she dog'. Black dogs were once sacrificed to Her in purification rituals, and at Colophon in Samothrace Hekate could manifest as a dog. The sound of barking dogs is the first sign of Her approach in Greek and Roman literature:

Rituals Hekate  invocation, Hekate Thou Mother of Might 'Hekate, Thou Mother of Might... Goddess of Magick, of Storms, of Night... Moon Maiden, Mother and Crone... Dispensing Justice from Thy Lofty Throne... Watching now with piercing Eye, As Thy Moon Palace doth glide the Sky, All of Life on this Planet Earth... Selecting, weighing and measuring It's worth... Grant us of Thy Wisdom Sublime... Reveal to us the Secrets of Time... Help us winnow Truth from Lies... Harken now, please hear our cries! Hekate, Thou Mother of Might... Goddess of Crossroads, Bearer of Light... Moon Maiden, Mother and Crone... Descend unto us from Thy Lofty Throne... Walk amongst us and reveal now... The Mysteries of Thy Shining Brow... Past, Present and Future merge... Let us feel Thy Power surge! Bestow healing upon this Planet.. Release the Songs of Thy Stones of Granite... Help us; Strengthen us in our resolve... To banish all hate; let it dissolve! Hekate, Thou Mother of Might... Goddess of Love, Giver of Sight... Moon Maiden, Mother and Crone... Ensconced upon Thy Lofty Throne... Acknowledge us, who, by our own choice... Have chosen to listen to Thy Voice... Help us spread Wisdom, Truth, Love and Light... To save Earth from her desperate plight! We bide the Wiccan Reed to fulfill... "And ye harm none, do what thou will..." Help us grow in serving Thee! As we will, so mote it be! Hekate, Thou Mother of Might... Robed in Splendour; Beauteous; Bright... Moon Maiden, Mother and Crone... Shine upon us from Thy Lofty Throne...' Hekate the Beauteous,   I invoke: You, of roads and crossways, Of heaven, of earth, and sea as well. You, the saffron-clad, among the tombs, Dancing with dead souls the Bacchic rite. You, daughter of Perses, lover of desolation, Taking joy in deer and dogs, in the night. You, terrible Queen! Devourer of beasts! Ungirded, possessed of form unapproachable! You, bull-huntress, universal sovereign Empress: You mountain-roaming guide, and bride, and nursemaid, I entreat, O Maiden, your presence at these sacred rites,With grace to the Oxherd and a joyful heart eternal.      Great Goddess Hekate, She who was born of the Stars and who will remain 'til the end of time; Triple One, beautiful, awesome and wise - She who reigns in Sky over Earth and Sea. Bright Goddess who walks in darkness, She who stands at the crossroads of the Underworld with the Torch of Wisdom to light the souls on their path; She who watches over the witch wandering in the uncanny realms and protects the traveler. Goddess of Transformation, She who holds the Knife that cuts the cord from birth to life, and life to death; to you is sacred the snake which casts off its skin to live again, the black dog howling at the ever changing Moon and the eternal yew, which brings both life and death. Hekate, Goddess of Witchcraft and magic, of abundance and of storms, in your honor I light this candle.'