Working w / Hekate for protection and guidance during Pride Month, many years ago, and how it turned out.

Working w/ Hekate for protection and guidance during Pride Month, from many years ago to now, and how it turned out.

I have previously written other posts about Hekate on this blog (HERE, HERE, and HERE) she is not a divinity that I write about very often due mainly to two reasons: 

1. Contrary to the "modern wave" of making Hekate see practically as the ultimate archetype of everything in the world, I personally (myself and without criticism of the practices of others) analyze and study Hekate based on her historical and anthropological context and respecting her divine role in certain aspects, but not assuming that she is the primordial goddess above all else, for Hekate's role in history, although important, has never been a primordial goddess, especially Hekate was never as *popular as she is now. 

2. There authors and bloggers much more qualified and enlightened than me on this topic, and I prefer to respect the field of work of each one.

*However, as I have mentioned in certain posts previously on the blog, the role of Hekate is of utmost importance in our days, as an arcane goddess of multiple characters, a goddess of "practically unknown" origin, who has assumed many different roles. Throughout history, and without ever assuming the role of supreme divinity, it has always remained in view.

I have previously mentioned that Hekate assumes an important role as goddess of minorities, immigrants, the excluded, and all those who feel that they do not belong to someplace or group.

The anthropological origin of Hekate is disputed by experts, it is not clear if she comes from Egypt or Crete, or just maybe she comes from Minos like many other deities (Neptune, for example) who later joined the Greek and Roman pantheon. Her role is not entirely clear, goddess of midwives who cared for Zeus (which contradicts most of the myths where Zeus was raised by nymphs in a cave), goddess sorceress and mother of witches (from famous tales and Greek fables), as a goddess of the stars and the night (according to one of many versions about her origin where she is related to the goddess Astrea), and a lunar goddess (a role that she later assumed when her myths became popular).

Hekate fits perfectly as an ally goddess of all those who feel isolated or excluded (black people, immigrants, LGBTQ people, witches, witches, etc...) She is the goddess who never took a leading role in myths, but was always present in these, although in most of the myths that mention it they seem to be talking about different divinities that only have the same name as a relationship (multifaceted goddess).

My first "approach" to Hekate occurred at the age of 13, reading about Greek mythology in an encyclopedia in the library of the military school, just two years after being transferred with my whole family from the Amazon to the capital city. (Caracas).

The encyclopedia only mentioned a couple of lines about the goddess "Hecate, the Greek goddess of witchcraft and hell" (clearly not accurate, and quite short of information), so later at home look for more information in other books and dictionaries and just I found (El Universal Visual Encyclopedic Dictionary, Volume 7) "Hekate: Greek goddess of triple character; lunar, marine, infernal, also associated with the moon."

On the other hand, we can read in "Dictionary of the real Spanish language" the following: "Hecate, arcane goddess of the moon and night, related to witchcraft and sorcery, of Greek or Egyptian origin".

It was until I entered the University to do my studies in Advertising and Marketing (IUNP & ISUM) that I was able to buy some pretty decent books and study more the aspect of this goddess, to better understand her history and origin.

Now, to the point, what we are all interested in here, the spells.

The year 2007, my first act of attendance at the Pride Parade in the city of Caracas.

Around 500 or 600 attendees, a parade of drag queens and semi-naked men (then they ask why nobody can take us seriously !!, but wherever.), Police everywhere, two police caravans who were there "to protect" no They did more than block the streets to avoid the passage, mock through a megaphone, throw beer cans at the attendees of the march, and arrest some 30 or 40 individuals for "irreparable damage to morale."

The year 2008, the second act of attendance at the city's Pride Parade.

Some 600 confirmed attendees (according to various media), a huge stage with advertising from the socialist government, a couple of invited artists, some of them quite decent and punctual, the other, arrived drugged, arrived late, made homophobic jokes, threw beer to the public, and later fell off the stage and withdrew from the event.

Around 50 individuals were arrested again for "misconduct in public", etc... And about 20 people were disappeared, nothing new in a country with a high crime rate and where deaths to the LGBTQ community result in an average of 17 victims a month who never appear on TV or radio but only in newspapers by order of the government.

The year 2009, my third act of attendance at the city's Pride Parade.

Several of my friends warned me not to go, there were rumors that something could happen, there was a lot of fear in the group especially after a total of 68 disappearances of LGBTQ people in the recent three months, however, I decided to go.

There were between 300 to 400 people who came from all over the country, or at least that is the number indicated by the news.

There was a police raid and they took around 30 individuals just starting the march, all these were individuals who were disguised or looking Drag (I love Drag Queens, what most bothers me are those semi-naked or entirely naked individuals during a public march, with children present, carrying "we deserve serious jobs and decent pay" banners that then leave the march to go to the trendy club).

Despite the raids, the event continued for several hours, at some point in the march a police car brought a couple of people, later during the rally, the police snatched up several of the attendees, constantly hitting them on the head with their batons ( because that's what taxes are paid for in a socialist country, to arm the police and let them beat you in public during an event organized to defend your rights to freedom of expression).

Two of my colleagues during the event, Luis Fabio and Paul Alonso, both came out with head injuries and bruises on various parts of the body. The event that was scheduled to prevail until 1:am, ended at 9 at night and with terrible news on radio and television, fear did not stop growing like a gigantic wave, and each year the march had fewer and fewer attendees, At a certain point (the year 2014) the march did not have more than 50 participants, and the concentration did not have more than 200 members.

All these years and the following years I did my best to attend, although I was never injured, if most of those who came with me to the event, perhaps because we were "something like" like the most rebellious vocal group, but despite everything I always I was lucky enough to get home unharmed, taking into account that I broke my knee in military school (twice) my friends often tell the story of "Elo never ran, because he can't, but he always came out. unharmed, how lucky he is. "

Here is what I did each year.

Having been initiated in previous years in various esoteric and Afro-Caribbean currents, I have always had "that someone" to pray to and for whom to feel protected, but, when you are initiated into a current as macho as the Candomble or the Lucumi, you never have someone specific to pray to or to seek protection in these very specific cases.

Among Santeria / Lucumi practitioners in Latin America, homosexuals have always been frowned upon, as well as verbally and emotionally abused, perennially and constantly.

Oshun and Yemaya are mostly the Orixas / Orishas to whom homosexuals pray for divine protection, being the most feminine deities and in a certain way, the protectors of minorities and "effeminates" (do not throw your stones at me, that is the I term linguistically used in books, I am simply quoting it).

Shango is well known for being that Orisha who normally speaks through the oracles to question homosexuality and reject any homosexual followers of his order, and the "leaders" are mostly men over 50 who do not want homosexual women or men, or transgender people assuming these leadership roles, so it is common for them to reject initiation for many followers.

Wherever you are not wanted, pack your bags and take your way, spread your wings and fly away, the swan is nothing more than an ugly duckling that fell into the wrong nest.

So as always, seek help and guidance elsewhere, and Hecate has been an important part of my pantheon since I had the opportunity to learn more about her, there are not many rituals or prayers written in her honor, so over the years I have created my own rites to pay tribute and honor to his name, never in exchange for favors, but because I think he simply deserves it, just like my little Ganesha in the corner has his flowers, so does Hekate have his wine and from time to time his plate of pomegranates and roses.

So these were the talismans and rituals that I decided to do in her honor, always on a Saturday night prior to the week of the event, why on a Saturday?, Simply because I felt that it was the right thing to do, no esoteric guide there.

Altar to honor Hekate.

An image of the goddess Hekate, if you don't have the money to buy one of those beautiful and super expensive (overrated) images of the goddess, don't worry, my first image of Hekate on my altar was a drawing made with crayons and I drew the background using crushed chalk powder.

• Candles, I use white, red, and black (although gold, red, yellow, and orange are my favorites).
• Flower incense (usually orchids or gardenias)
• A glass of red wine
• A drawing of a pentagram with your name or signature in the center
• A deep plate with fresh-cut fruits, a piece of cheese, and some almonds, you can replace it with whatever you want to be edible.
• A dark fabric to use as a tablecloth, preferably dark to represent your divine, mysterious, nocturnal, witchy aspect.

In the center of the altar (whether you find it made on a table, or on a chair, or in a corner on the floor), with all the elements around the goddess, the candles represent the light of the stars in the night and the fire of their temples, incense to honor their presence and perfume their way, wine and food to represent those offerings that travelers brought to the goddess, and the pentagram to symbolize the sorcerer who invokes her.

A little tip, I like to keep the altar properly lit and scented, so a cup of aromatic potpourri will always be helpful for the latter.

Before each event similar to a march or any situation in which I feel danger, I like to place in front of Hekate a piece of cloth that I use to represent her grace and her mantle, I place a lock of my hair in the center of the drawing of the pentagram and I fold it like an envelope, then I place the pentagram under the cloth and pronounce aloud:

"Hekate, under your divine mantle, under your guidance and protection I walk, under your guidance and protection,
I give myself to you, do not let me walk alone at any time, create detours in my path that keep me away from all danger."

Another ritual that I have performed a couple of times, one of them here in the US is to create a small talisman.

I have drawn the image of the goddess using scented tempers (add two drops of aromatic essential oil to each bottle of paints) on a piece of paper, representing her long dress, her four arms carrying daggers and torches, her three faces, and her dogs, a crown decorated with moons and stars, and a small cross under his feet to symbolize his strong character surviving colonialism and the religion imposed by the white man.

I have hung this drawing behind the front door of my old apartment, now that I have moved, the drawing is on top of the refrigerator from where you see the entrance of the house and so Hekate can visualize everyone with her war dogs who enter and everyone who leaves, on the refrigerator, there is a small censer to burn cinnamon and myrrh in his honor whenever possible.

Blessings, compassion, and light.

ELO!!

Not entirely related, but, a good book to find your own strength and embrace your power:

• How Witchcraft Saved My Life: Practical Advice for Transformative Magick, by Vincent Higginbotham.

Other helpful and attractive titles on this same topic: 

• Hekate: Goddess of Witches, by Courtney Weber.
• Hekate Liminal Rites, by Sorita D'Este.
• Entering Hekate's Garden, by Cyndi Brannen.
• The Temple of Hekate, by Tara Sanchez.
• Thracian Magic: Past & Present, by Georgi Mishev.
• Aradia: A Modern Guide to Charles Godfrey Leland's Gospel of the Witches, by Craig Spencer.