So today I finally got around to that Hecate deep dive I've been meaning to do. You know, the triple goddess, witchcraft, crossroads – all that good stuff. Kept seeing her symbol pop up and figured, why not actually learn what it means and try a simple ritual myself? Didn't wanna just read about it, wanted to feel it. Here’s exactly how it went down, warts and all.
Gathering My Bits & Bobs
First thing, gotta find that symbol. Scoured my old books and found it: the Strophalos, looks like a spoked wheel inside a circle, sometimes with these knobby bits. Dragged out my black altar cloth – felt right for the crossroads lady. Needed a crossroads feel at home, so the back door mat became my spot, kinda messy but whatever.
Grabbed stuff that reminded me of her:
- A small black bowl I hardly use.
- Took some salt (not fancy salt, cooking salt!).
- Found some dried lavender left over from summer.
- Three dark purple candles – purple for magic, three for her triple form.
- My big silver key on a chain (keys are her thing).
- And duh, a pen and paper.
Actually Drawing The Damn Thing
Okay, staring at the symbol in the book. Looks simple enough, right? Ha! Took me a few tries on scrap paper to not make it look lopsided. Started with the big circle. Then carefully drew the vertical spoke down the middle. Added the horizontal one crossing it. Then the two diagonal ones, trying to keep them even.
Then came the tricky part: that little swirly bit connecting them all in the center. Mine looked more like a squashed bug than a divine spiral at first. Had to relax, breathe, and kinda let my hand move slower. Finally got one that looked kinda respectable. Drew it properly on a clean piece of paper with a plain pencil – nothing fancy. Placed that sucker right in the middle of the altar cloth.
Setting Up the Simple Ritual
Placed the three candles around the symbol drawing – one at the top, one bottom left, one bottom right. Put the little key beside it. Sprinkled a circle of salt around the whole altar cloth. Told my cat very firmly to stay off (he ignored me, of course).
Filled the black bowl about halfway with tap water. Floating the lavender sprigs on top was harder than expected – kept sinking. Ended up just gently placing them on the surface.
The Ritual Time
Lit the three candles starting from the top, then clockwise. Sat my butt down on the floor. Turned off the main light, just candle glow now. Focused on the Strophalos drawing.
Quiet Time: Just breathed for a minute, trying to shake off the grocery list thoughts buzzing in my head. Needed to actually be there.
The Ask: Whispered out loud, kinda rusty: "Hecate, Guardian of the Ways. Show me the paths clearly. Help me unlock what needs seeing." Kept it vague but heartfelt. Needed guidance, felt stuck.
The Symbol Connection: Stared at my wobbly Strophalos. Imagined it glowing slightly silver in my mind's eye. Thought about crossroads choices, feeling stuck, needing keys to open doors. Pictured myself standing at a crossroads in thick mist, hoping for a sign. Touched the real key beside me. Just sat with that feeling for a good five minutes or so. Didn't force anything, just tried to feel the symbol's meaning – paths, turning points, magic.
Feeling Stupid: Honestly, halfway through I felt kinda silly. My back started aching. Cat walked through the salt circle (so much for that). Almost bailed. But pushed through.
Wrapping Up & That Weird Moment
Whispered thanks to Hecate, even though I wasn't sure much happened. Snuffed the candles gently, clockwise again starting from the top. Carefully folded the paper with my drawing and tucked the key inside it for later.
Went to clean up, pouring the lavender water outside near the back gate – felt fitting for an earth-bound goddess. Boom. Right as I poured it on the soil near the gatepost, the candle inside (the one I forgot to completely put out, dumbass!) flickered real hard for about two seconds then steadied. Coulda been a draft? Sure. Felt like a wink, though. Maybe just coincidence, maybe something small. Didn't get a lightning bolt of insight, but later that night, an annoying problem I'd been stewing over suddenly had a possible solution pop into my head. Felt... clearer?
Takeaway: Hecate's symbol? Definitely feels like a key. Keys open doors. Keys unlock things. Drawing it connects you to choices and hidden paths. The ritual wasn't fireworks, more like lighting a small lantern in the dark. Seems like a slow burn kind of thing. Gonna keep my crappy drawing folded with the key by my workspace for a bit. See what unfolds.
