Hekate Full Moon Ritual
copyright to Shauna McShane, 2007
Setup
-altar covered in black cloth
-taper candles on altar (candelabra), tea light at each quarter
-sea salt and water bowls
-small towel
-offerings of flax, hazelnuts, willow, etc.
-smudge stick
-censer with Hekate incense
-bell
-cauldron with fire going
-matches or a stick (willow)
-each person's need for guidance/assistance written on paper in black ink
The Ritual
A bell is run at each Quarter, and this is said:
Priestess: Hekas, hekas! Este bebeloi!
Other: Be ye far, all ye profane!
Light the tapers. Sprinkle sea salt in the khernips water, and say:
Priestess: May this purifying water be blessed by the Gods.
Light a stick or match from one of the tapers, plunge it the khernips water, and lay the stick aside. Dip your hands or fingers in the consecrated water and then dry your hands.
Priestess: Let all that is profane be gone from here.
Light the incense, and say:
Priestess: We are here to honor and make offerings to Hekate.
Place the offering bowl on the altar (or have the bowl already in place). Cast the flax seeds and hazelnuts (or other offerings) on the altar, and say:
Priestess: Greetings and praise to Hekate.
Everyone: Hekate, Hekate, Hekate
Priestess: I call upon you, Hekate, Great Goddess, by this or by whatever names are pleasing to you, to come to us and to accept this offering...Praise be to you ,Great Hekate...Great and primeval Goddess...You have power in the heavens, sea, and earth, and in the underworld beyond death...You give victory and success, wealth and prosperity, and wellness of being...Goddess of the moon and the night...Goddess of the crossroads and the turning path...Goddess of the key that opens the way...Triple Goddess, crowned with oak leaves and robed in saffron...Bright Hekate, may your flaming torches light the path and may your key open the door.
Everyone: Hekate, hear our prayer
Priestess: Hekate, take delight in this ritual....Hekate, accept our offering.
Everyone: An offering to Hekate.
Each person tears the bread and cheese into pieces and places them in the offering bowl, while saying:
Everyone: To Hekate, I make an offering. May you be pleased with this offering, Hekate, and may you look with favor upon those who make the offering.
Each person pours wine and water into the libation cup, and says:
Everyone: To Hekate I pour a libation of wine and water. May you be pleased with this offering, Hekate.
Pour some of the mixed wine and water from the cup into the offering bowl.
Prietess: To Hekate.
Take a sip from the cup.
Everyone: A libation to Hekate.
Pour the rest of the cup into the offering bowl.
At this point, take the paper that you have written down about what you are at a crossroads at, and what you need assistance and guidance in. Throw these into the fire, with a bit of salt peter, saying:
Everyone: Hekate, Hekate, be my guide. Bring peace and knowledge in my reverence of You tonight.
When everyone is done....
Priestess: Praise and thanksgiving to Hekate. These rites are ended. So be it.
Let the candles burn, and leave the offerings on the altar for a time, at least for an hour or so. When it is time to dispose of the offerings, pour any liquids down a clean kitchen sink and rinse the sink afterward. Solid material can be wrapped in a plastic bag or paper towels and placed in the trash. Do not loosely mix the offerings with regular trash. If practical, the offerings could be disposed of somewhere outside in an out of the way location where they would be naturally absorbed into the earth.