smokingboot (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
smokingboot) wrote2004-08-12 10:34 am
smokingboot) wrote2004-08-12 10:34 am
Explained
At least I understand why I woke with such a sense of the mysterious this morning. Those who are irritated/bored by pagan doings had better not read any further!
As most who read this will know, I am a pagan, or more accurately, a pantheist. I feel there is a source, but I also believe in the ability of god/dess to manifest in an infinity of forms and ways. I have felt sanctity in churches and in forests, among standing stones and in cities. My personal sacred places tend to be near the sea.
A pagan chum of classical bent is hosting a ritual tomorrow night, and has just phoned me to ask if I would do the whole priestess thing and give an oracle of Hecate;
'She who is crowned with oak-leaves
And the coils of wild snakes.'
- Sophocles (496-406 BC)
Hecate is the classical goddess of magic, of ghosts and torches in the dark, of the crossroads and of madness. An orphic invocation to her is behind the cut:
I invoke you, beloved Hekate of the Crossroads and the Three Ways
Saffron-cloaked Goddess of the Heavens, the Underworld and the Sea
Tomb-frequenter, mystery-raving with the souls of the dead
Daughter of Perses, Lover of the Wilderness who exults among the deer
Nightgoing One, Protectress of dogs, Unconquerable Queen
Beast-roarer, Dishevelled One of compelling countenance
Tauropolos, Keyholding Mistress of the whole world
Ruler, Nymph, Mountain-wandering Nurturer of youth.
Maiden, I beg you to be present at these sacred rites
Ever with a gladsome heart and ever gracious to the Oxherd.
She's called 'tender-hearted,' because she helps Demeter in her search for her daughter, and 'Phosphorus,' Lightbringer, but one of her epithets is 'Terrifying, Angry One,' and you just don't want to mess with her. The feasts of Hecate are feasts of the dead and many fearful creatures of the night walk in her retinue. Strange lentil-honey cakes flavoured with lemon and cooked until very hard, were left out for her. You made sure her servants had plenty to eat, or they might take members of your family. And yet, she was a friend to the young, the very poor (who would come and eat the food left at the crossroads), the forlorn, the tom o' bedlams, wandering nutters, beggars et al.
I respect the dishevelled goddess, she of the compelling countenance, but I don't know or understand her that well, and crazy women have not been good for me in the past. Every source has something new/old/unknown/contradictory to say about her. Hecate is my friend's patron goddess. I am flattered if a little surprised that she asked me to do this.
It'll be chilled. Or interesting. Or something!
As most who read this will know, I am a pagan, or more accurately, a pantheist. I feel there is a source, but I also believe in the ability of god/dess to manifest in an infinity of forms and ways. I have felt sanctity in churches and in forests, among standing stones and in cities. My personal sacred places tend to be near the sea.
A pagan chum of classical bent is hosting a ritual tomorrow night, and has just phoned me to ask if I would do the whole priestess thing and give an oracle of Hecate;
'She who is crowned with oak-leaves
And the coils of wild snakes.'
- Sophocles (496-406 BC)
Hecate is the classical goddess of magic, of ghosts and torches in the dark, of the crossroads and of madness. An orphic invocation to her is behind the cut:
I invoke you, beloved Hekate of the Crossroads and the Three Ways
Saffron-cloaked Goddess of the Heavens, the Underworld and the Sea
Tomb-frequenter, mystery-raving with the souls of the dead
Daughter of Perses, Lover of the Wilderness who exults among the deer
Nightgoing One, Protectress of dogs, Unconquerable Queen
Beast-roarer, Dishevelled One of compelling countenance
Tauropolos, Keyholding Mistress of the whole world
Ruler, Nymph, Mountain-wandering Nurturer of youth.
Maiden, I beg you to be present at these sacred rites
Ever with a gladsome heart and ever gracious to the Oxherd.
She's called 'tender-hearted,' because she helps Demeter in her search for her daughter, and 'Phosphorus,' Lightbringer, but one of her epithets is 'Terrifying, Angry One,' and you just don't want to mess with her. The feasts of Hecate are feasts of the dead and many fearful creatures of the night walk in her retinue. Strange lentil-honey cakes flavoured with lemon and cooked until very hard, were left out for her. You made sure her servants had plenty to eat, or they might take members of your family. And yet, she was a friend to the young, the very poor (who would come and eat the food left at the crossroads), the forlorn, the tom o' bedlams, wandering nutters, beggars et al.
I respect the dishevelled goddess, she of the compelling countenance, but I don't know or understand her that well, and crazy women have not been good for me in the past. Every source has something new/old/unknown/contradictory to say about her. Hecate is my friend's patron goddess. I am flattered if a little surprised that she asked me to do this.
It'll be chilled. Or interesting. Or something!