INVOCATION TO THE GREAT HECATE

"When the moon disappears, and the dark night of stay
My shadow will appear, and the Goddess Hecate I'll call
Three nights for New Moon, three nights of darkness
In my mind the grave opens and the buried will awaken
Goddess Hecate help me see in the dark
For without your solicitude darkness will devour me
By the law of duality there is one inside and one outside
And my individuality is corroborated by the two
With Goddess Hecate in her Picket
With my shadow I will get along
Like the horse and its rider
Riding at dawn."

Ps.: Taken from the book "O Livro De Hécate".

WITCHCRAFT TOOLS

I am going to show below some of the main tools used by wizards and witches around the world, regardless of the current mystique. It also draws a correlation between the tools and the blades of the Tarot, something very interesting for those who are fan of this oracle.

* CUP - For the Magic symbolizes wisdom, life, abundance. For witches, symbolizes power, the emotion, the heart. It is also used for potions and parts. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 1, "The Magician".

* BOOK OF SHADOWS - Book with all operations and magical used by the Wizard or Witch. In the Tarot card corresponding Blade 2, "The High Priestess".

* GUIDE - Protector. As the Magic of Abramelin may also be a source of power, sought through contact with the angels. In vestments can be represented with a statue of a gargoyle, gnome, or an angel, in order to represent a protection for the altar for the ritual or invocation. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 3, "Temperance".

* MAGIC WAND - Is an important tool for the Magician, symbolizes power, intelligence and the will of the Magician. It has the same importance as the "Magic Wand" Wand or cord used by the witches. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 4, "The Emperor".

* THE STAFF - Means leadership, search, priestly wisdom, the pilgrimage. Vestment used mainly by the Magi Clerics. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 5, "The Pope".

* MAGIC TRIANGLE - Symbolizes the Trinity, the Triune God, the three-dimensionality, the manifestation of spiritual entities. Light, Fire, and The Triangle Force facing up, symbolizing the male energy, with its apex facing down the female. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 6, "Lovers".

* THE POT - It´s the symbol of the transmutation of substances. According to its use, elevation. It is mainly used by witches to make parts. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 7, "The Chariot".

* MAGIC SWORD - Symbol of strength, power, male power, wisdom, protection, balance, control, justice. The sword in the sheath means caution. This tool is mainly used by the Magician. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 8, "Justice".

* MAGIC LANTERN - It´s the symbol of enlightenment and understanding. It also represents "the presence". In the Tarot card corresponding blade 9, "The Hermit".

* TRIDENT - Its meaning is related to satanic rituals, black magic, the invocation of demons. The Trident also means "THE POWER OF THE SEA", Poseidon, Neptune. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 10, "The Wheel of Fortune".

* ROBE / COVER / HOOD - Symbolizes spiritual strength, protection, clothing used by both the Wizards and Witches. Vestment is a widely used in rituals. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 11, "The Force".

* A BROOM - In a positive sense, symbolizes purification, cleaning. It is used by black magic rituals evil. Legendarily known as transport of witches. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 12, "The Hanged Man".

* DAGGER - The meaning is very similar to the "Magic Sword". The difference is that the dagger is most often used also by the witches. In black magic rituals, it symbolizes the Court, Death, Sacrifice. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 13, "Death".

* PORTION / FILTERS - It is a manifestation of the magic spell. Can have a power good or bad, depending on the purpose of its preparation. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 14, "Temperance".

* ALTAR - Local support for the sacred magical tools. Elevation prayers. You can also have another connotation of the place for offerings and sacrifices. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 15, "The Devil" (for white magic blade 15 INVERTED).

* BELL - Mainly used in white magic serves to draw the attention of spiritual beings from other planes. It symbolizes, open roads, manifestation of God. Presence of God. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 16, "The Tower".

* PENTAGRAM - Symbol of the power of man (woman) in relation to the cosmos. It is the symbol of Halloween. It also means protection. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 17, "The Star".

* MAGIC MIRROR - One of the most important magical tools, it is possible to see other astral planes, other worlds and dimensions. It symbolizes self-knowledge. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 18, "The Moon".

* SALT - Has a great power exorcising. A circle of salt protects those who are inside of influence and evil manifestations. A handful of salt thrown in a spell is able to neutralize it. A bath salt can scare possessing spirits. Halloween witches and evil (the) black magic may have undermined his power in the presence of salt. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 19, "The Sun".

* CRISTAL - Symbolizes the spirit, the soul (because of its purity and transparency). How come the earth, it also means the union of matter and spirit. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 20, "The Trial".

* NEEDLES - Mean materialization, channeling magical power of witchcraft to a person. Can be used for good and healing, as in acupuncture. Or worse in black magic, as in voodoo, "the doll is stuck with a needle with the intention of hurting the person whom it represents." In the Tarot card corresponding blade 21 INVERTED, "The World".

* MAGIC CIRCLE - Symbolizes infinity, perfection, has the same connotation as the alliance used in Christian marriages. It can also be used to protect against evil. In the Tarot card corresponding blade 21, "The World".

* CAT - Has multiple meanings: it represents the wisdom, prudence, the liveliness. Despite popular culture attribute to bad luck to the cat, mainly black, to the magicians, it is personal protection, protection of the home. In black magic, black cat male, is the personification of the devil. The Tarot card corresponding Blade 0, "The Fool".

SYMBOLS AND SACRET OBJECTS OF HECATE

Goddess symbols, individualized for each goddess, were incorporated into the worship of the ancient goddesses, were often worn as jewelry and also used in the household decor as talismans to seek the goddesses special gifts, blessings or protection.

Many of the goddess symbols come from the legends surrounding a specific goddess and were "characters" in her story. Other goddess symbols were derived from the rituals used in the ancient rites of worship of these pagan goddesses.

Hecate is often represented by symbols associated with her personality traits and her role as Queen of the Night. Since Hecate is the goddess of witchcraft, it should come as no surprise that many of her goddess symbols play a prominent role in the celebration of Halloween.

Goddess Symbols:

* General: Torch, dark moon, raisin & currant cakes, crossroads, three-headed animals or statues, the number 3, masks and candles.

* Animals: Dogs, horses, sheep (especially black female lambs), owls, bats, snakes and boars.

* Plants: Willows, dark yew, blackthorn, groves of trees, saffron, raisins and currants and gourds (especially pumpkins).

* Perfumes/Scents: Queen of the Night (a light flowery fragrance), cinnamon, myrrh, mugwort, honey, lime and lemon verbena.

* Gems and Metals: Sapphire, silver, gold, moonstone, black tourmaline, black onyx, hematite, smoky quartz and any stone that is dark or luminous.

* Colors: Black, orange, yellow-orange and red-orange.

HECATE, GREEK GODESS OF THE CROSSROADS

Hecate, Greek goddess of the three paths, guardian of the household, protector of everything newly born, and the goddess of witchcraft -- once a widely revered and influential goddess,  the reputation of Hecate has been tarnished over the centuries. In current times, she is usually depicted as a "hag" or old witch stirring the cauldron.

But nothing could be further from the image of Hecate's original glory.

A beautiful and powerful goddess in her own right, the Greek goddess Hecate was the only one of the ancient Titans who Zeus allowed to retain their authority once the Olympians seized control. Zeus shared with Hecate, and only her, the awesome power of giving humanity anything she wished (or withholding it if she pleased).

Usually classified as a "moon goddess",  her kingdoms were actually three-fold... the earth, sea, and sky. Having the power to create or withhold storms undoubtedly played a role in making her the goddess who was the protector of shepherds and sailors.

A lover of solitude, the Greek goddess Hecate was, like her cousin Artemis, a "virgin" goddess, unwilling to sacrifice her independent nature for the sake of marriage. Walking the roads at night or visiting cemeteries during the dark phase of the moon, the goddess Hecate was described as shining or luminous.

In other legends she is invisible, perhaps only glimpsed as a light, a "will-o-the-wisp". Perhaps it was this luminous quality that marked Hecate as a "moon goddess", for she seemed quite at home on the earth.

Some scholars believe it is also was because her mother was Asteria (the Titan goddess of the Shining Light or "Star") or perhaps it was because she sensibly always carried a torch on her journeys.

Like Artemis, Hecate was usually depicted with her sacred dogs, although Hecate and even her animals, were sometimes said to have three heads and that they could see in all directions. Although usually depicted as a beautiful woman having three human heads, some images are fearsome indeed (one with a snake's head, one with a horse's, and the third a boar's head).

This farsightedness, the ability to see in several directions at once (even the past, present, and future) featured largely in her most famous myth, the abduction of Persephone. For it was the goddess Hecate who "saw" and told the frantic Demeter what had become of her daughter.

The goddess Hecate continued to play an important role in the life of Persephone, becoming her confidante when she was in the Underworld. Hades, thankful for their friendship, was more than hospitable, honoring Hecate as a prominent and permanent guest in the spirit world. Surely this had the effect of enhancing her reputation as a spirit of black magic with the power to conjure up dreams, prophecies, and phantoms.

Hecate's ability to see into the Underworld, the "otherworld" of the sleeping and the dead, made her comfortable and tolerant in the company of those most would shun out of fear or misunderstanding.

In her role as 'Queen of the Night', sometimes traveling with a following of "ghosts" and other social outcasts, she was both honored and feared as the protectress of the oppressed and of those who lived "on the edge". In Rome many of the priests in her sacred groves were former slaves who had been released to work in her service.

The goddess Hecate was often accompanied on her travels by an owl, a symbol of wisdom. Not really known as a goddess of wisdom, per se, Hecate is nevertheless recognized for a special type of knowledge and is considered to be the goddess of trivia.

Hecate's farsightedness and attention to detail, combined with her extraordinary interest in that which most of us discount as irrelevant or arcane, gave her tremendous powers.

She knew what the rest of us did not.

Not surprisingly, the people thought it best to give the goddess Hecate (and any friends that might be accompanying her) a lot of honor and a fairly wide berth. When darkness descended they wisely retired to the fireside for supper, but put the leftovers outside as an offering to Hecate and her hounds.

That the homeless and destitute were often the actual beneficiaries hardly mattered... after all, they were under Hecate's protection.

In a similar fashion, food was often left at the crossroads to honor Hecate, especially at junctions where three roads converged --what we often call a "Y-intersection".

Frequently a pole was erected at the intersection and three masks would be hung from it to pay homage to Hecate and to request her guidance in helping to choose the right direction.

Three-faced masks also adorned the entrances of many homes, honoring the goddess Hecate who could, of course, wield her influence over "the spirits that traveled the earth" to keep them from entering the household.

It is hardly surprising that a woman who needed to make a trip alone at night would say a brief prayer to Hecate to seek her protection. The goddess Hecate, like her cousin Artemis, was known as a protector of women, especially during childbirth.

Not only was Hecate called upon to ease the pains and progress of a woman's labor, but especially to protect and restore the health and growth of a child.

Similarly, Hecate played a role that, in contemporary times, we would describe as "hospice nurse", helping the elderly make a smooth and painless passage into the next life and staying with them, if need be, in the otherworld to help prepare them for their eventual return to the earth in their next life.

Familiar with the process of death and dying as well as that of new birth and new life, the goddess Hecate was wise in all of earth's mysteries.

The Greek goddess Hecate reminds us of the importance of change, helping us to release the past, especially those things that are hindering our growth, and to accept change and transitions. She sometimes asks us to let go of what is familiar, safe, and secure and to travel to the scary places of the soul.

New beginnings, whether spiritual or mundane, aren't always easy. But Hecate is there to support and show you the way.

She loans her farsightedness for you to see what lies deeply forgotten or even hidden, and helps you make a choice and find your path. Oft times she shines her torch to guide you while you are in dreams or meditation.

Hecate teaches us to be just and to be tolerant of those who are different or less fortunate, yet she is hardly a "bleeding heart", for Hecate dispenses justice "blindly" and equally.

Whether the Greek goddess Hecate visits us in waking hours or only while we sleep, she can lead us to see things differently (ourselves included) and help us find greater understanding of our selves and others.

Although her name may mean "The Distant One", Hecate is always close at hand in times of need, helping us to release the old, familiar ways and find our way through new beginnings. 

Ps.: Thanks to "Hecate, Greek Goddess Of the Crossroads" for this beautiful text.