The Greek goddess Hecate is a multifaceted goddess, mainly reigning over three-way crossroads, who has been oftentimes misinterpreted and misrepresented. Though a goddess of crossroads, Hecate also reigns over Witchcraft and sorcery, enchantment and black magic, fertility and death. Nowadays, she is depicted as an old crone who musters up evil curses but in the past, she was viewed as benign. By day, she resided over farming and agriculture implementing her powers of fertility and death, but by nightfall, she was interested in Witchcraft. There are many stories that tell of her origins. Some believe she is a Titan while others believe she is merely a descendant of the Titans. There are some still who would believe she is one of the Furies. As a goddess of crossroads, she watched over crossroads, torches in hands, directing and lighting the way—crossroads representing the coming together of three at a point. Ex. Past , Present, and Future. Food offerings would be placed at crossroads in respect towards Hecate. It is said she appears when the ebony moon shines. She ruled in the heavens, on earth and down in the Underworld. She is most often depicted as having three heads; one of a dog, one of a snake and one of a horse or as a triple goddess: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. As the Triple Goddess, Persephone represented the Maiden, Demeter the Mother, and Hecate the Crone. She is the oldest Greek form of the triple goddess. She is usually seen with two ghost hounds that were said to serve her.
Trees sacred to Hecate: Almond, Willow, Yew.
Herbs sacred to Hecate: Aconite, Aster, Azalea, Belladonna, Garlic, Lavender,
Mandrake, Monkshood, Osiers, Wood Sorrel.
Animals sacred to Hecate: Dog, snake.
References:
-The Encyclopedia Mythica
-Mythman.com
-Gerina Dunwich /Wicca Craft/ Paperback / Carol Publishing Group / May 1991
-D.J. Conway /Maiden, Mother, Crone/ Paperback / Llewellyn Publications / July 1994
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