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Covenant of Hekate, deity, dionysus, Hecate, hekate, pagan, Pagan Blog Project, paganism, spirituality, witch, witchcraft
H no.2 – ‘Hekate’
It seems kind of obvious that a blog with Hekate in the tagline would have to write about Her during the ‘H’ week here on the Pagan Blog Project, but as usual I try to keep things interesting, and so this isn’t your typical “Hekate is so cool!” post.
Here’s how I think this might be different; I’m not entirely sure I should keep Hekate in the tagline.
You see, when I started this blog it was with the intention of exploring Dionysus and Hekate. I’ve explained before that Hekate was the aspects of witchcraft that I was familiar with (though hardly an expert on), such as herbalism, rituals, and the real witchcraft kind of stuff. Dionysus was the new, the scary, the exciting. The more religious aspect of my practice. He was the things I didn’t know at all and wanted to explore.
This is still the case, but I feel I may be dishonouring myself before Hekate for a very simple reason; I’m very nearly ignoring Her.
In the past year, Dionysus has been at the forefront of much of my practice. He is enigmatic, but charming. He is ecstatic, but woeful. He is so many things!
But, Hekate is just as many things; Her cult is varied and Her history is vast. And therein lies my troubles. Because, you see, I might have bitten off more than I could chew. Hekate is known by Her devotees as “the goddess from afar”, a cool and meticulous goddess who makes you work hard to discover Her secrets and teachings. Hers is a devotion all its own, which takes time and persistence. Neither of which I think I have enough of at the moment.
As this realization came to me, I sat down and really thought about how I am interacting with both of the deities I chose to explore. Dionysus chose me; of that I am sure. He, as I said before, is enigmatic and ecstatic. He is the spiritual and the religious. I see Him as something a bit foreign. He intrigues me, and I feel I must follow Him. Something like a lover.
Hekate is something less explosive, but equally important. She seems to me, to be more like a favourite witchy aunt, or a brilliant professor. She is someone I highly respect and admire. Someone who’s skills and knowledge I trust, and feel I can turn to in times of need. She is there to teach me when I need it, though expects me to really commit to the lesson every time.
And there it is.
She expects me to commit every single time.
And I haven’t.
What right have I to ask for Her support in my daily devotions if I don’t work with her regularly?
She is a teacher who deserves a focused and committed student and so I may need to defer my intended devotional practices to Her until I feel I really can give Her the attention She demands (and rightly deserves.)
Symbol of The Covenant of Hekate
When I started this blog I had found The Covenant of Hekate, an online community that serves as a cult of Hekate, including initiation ritual. I had considered doing it, but this exact situation is why I hadn’t, and now I am thankful that I had the forethought and respect to not rush into anything without thorough consideration.
I think that She understands my intentions with this decision (I hope She does, anyways), and that it will keep us on good terms. She will still have a spot on my altar, or perhaps Her own altar. She will stay in my thoughts and I will still try to work with Her at times, but I feel it is wrong for me to claim to be a devotee without putting in the actual work; like saying I go to Harvard, but then never paying tuition or showing up to class.
How should I go about this? I feel I should make an offering to her soon, thanking Her for the time She has been waiting on me and for understanding my decision.
I’d like to know; Have any of you ever deferred your devotional practice with a deity? Have you ever left one entirely behind? Why, and how?
A Changing Altar 
I wish I could share my own experiences with this, but I’m not at a place to do so right now. I’m sorry. I will say that many dieties are social dieties, but sometimes a more monistic approach is preferred. Many of us know how “Large” the Gods can become to us, and the ability to say “I can not give you the reverence I feel you deserve right now.” is very wise and honorable. I do think, however, that a small amount of regular devotional time or offerings would go a long way in terms of respect and keeping open lines of communication. Might I suggest observing the noumenia for Hecate?
Observing the noumenia has been a part of my “get your butt in gear” plan for some time, actually. I like the idea of it, as it seems like such a domestic rite, and I associate Hekate with so much heady, magical stuff that it might make her more accessible. I’ll try writing something out for it one of these days, and we’ll see how that goes.
And as always, even if you can’t tell me everything, I always appreciate your comments. Thank you for taking the time to post them.
I find that various Gods (and other mysterious ones) come in and out of my life much in the same way physical friendships and lovers do. I have friends and lovers that I don’t see all the time and certainly don’t spend as much time with as I’d like to (or sometimes feel I should), yet when we do get together we have a great time and often deep, meaningful conversations and connections. I have other people who were intense parts of my life at various times, and I learned much from them or they help shape considerable parts of who I am, but then we moved on and I don’t see them, or really consider them part of my life anymore. My circle of friends often shift and change as my cycles of life shift and change, although I have a core that remain with me.
Likewise I have Gods that I spend a lot of time with, then the intensity of the relationship may drop off as my life shifts and I start hanging out with another one (or ones), and I may only check-in briefly with ones that I had intense relationships with before. Or they may check-in with me. Others are like lovers where we’ve ahd a brief passionate affair, but then gone our separate ways with paths rarely (or never) crossing again, but the experiences remaining as something I can draw on.
On another note, You may be honouring Hekate through your intense relationship with Dionysus. Maybe his lessons and energies are the ones that She feels you need to step more fully into the Work she believes you capable of? Have you checked in with Her for her thoughts and guidance on your relationship with Her and with Dionysus?
I really like your analogy, Amanda.
It sums up my feelings a bit more clearly than I may have in my post; I was worried I might seem like I was devaluing Hekate by comparing her to a witchy aunt, or brilliant professor (I knew what I meant, and it is entirely respectful in my head, but that might not come through to you readers), but your example makes so much sense!
And as for the idea that I am perhaps working towards Her through Him….it’s an interesting idea. However, I think it may be more than I realize, myself, that by getting over my obsession with technique and freeing myself, really living and experiencing my religion through Dionysus, I will have a better shot at fully experiencing whatever Hekate (or anyone else, for that matter) may have to teach me. I haven’t said it out loud to Her in so many words, but maybe that isn’t a bad idea at all!
Thanks Amanda!
I admire your willingness to re-evaluate different aspects of your life. I’ve never been in a similar situation to yours so I cannot offer an opinion. I will say this though, your obvious love and respect of Dionysus honors him.
The only up-shot to being a self-professed armchair Pagan is that it means a lot of your practice goes on inside your head and you are prone to lots of self-reflection and consideration. It’s not something I strive to be, but I might as well admit when I see a silver lining! Lol!
I agree with the above comment about how relationships with deities can be like relationships with people. We all drift away from friends and lovers, but that doesn’t mean we are “cut off” just that that part of our life may be over. I have some deities I don’t work with anymore, but I still feel like those relationships are “good” In a way that they’d be there if I really needed them or wouldn’t be upset if I did strike up a conversation – but I know I am not high on their agenda anymore either.
Though, I think it’s interesting you write about Hecate in this way because I had an experience with her almost a year ago and I feel like I *should* be doing more but I simply don’t know what to do and don’t have the time/energy to figure it out. On one hand I’d love to throw myself into this thing wholeheartedly but on the other I don’t really know what that entails and I’m not sure I”m up to it. Sure, some people say the gods choose us and wouldn’t choose someone unfit but I feel like that is somewhat misguided.
Thanks for the link to The Covenant of Hekate, I am defiantly going to check them out and then try to figure this whole thing out. 🙂
I think it’s just a matter of language, sometimes, when we talk about the gods ‘choosing us’. To me there is a difference between being ‘chosen’, and being ‘spoken to’. I think Dionysus chose me to work with him, not necessarily to be the Ultimate Bacchant, but at the very least to learn about him and from him. I didn’t have much say in the way he was influencing my life at the time (even now).
Hekate, however, just seemed ‘present’. She seemed to be talking to me, and made her presence known, but hasn’t really set me on any path to dedicating to her yet. She hasn’t been influencing my life in any direct way that I can see, but she seems to have made it clear that I could work with her if I chose.
If, by any chance, you complete the rituals for C.o.H. and are able to discuss it at all, I’d love to hear if the group is active and worthwhile. Keep me up to date! I love when you comment!