The Dark Goddess

The Devil, or Satan, is well known in our society and used often to incite reaction on many levels. This entity of evil perpetuates hatred, fear and a brazen use of power often used to control people. Both the church and the government have used this mythological creature for their own personal benefit as have those exploiting the capitalistic business style used in the western world. In recent times, these myth makers have closely connected the Dark Goddess to the evil perpetuated by the Devil entity. In addition, She has been manifested in mythology as various kinds of death crones, wise hags, devastation, war, disease and barrenness of land. They have used Her image to vilify women and encourage the masses to avoid nature based religions. This cultural standard is embedded in many layers of our society as is the cultural standard to vilify low-income communities and especially the youth of the inner cities. I contend there is a strong comparison between the negative image created for the Dark Goddess and the negative image created for inner city youth. Although often hot and fierce, the fires of the Dark Goddess burn for many reasons other than damnation.

The word Goddess makes many people who would define themselves as “political” uneasy. It implies religion, secularism, and can be mistaken for the worship of an external being. “Goddess” also makes many people who would define themselves as “spiritual” or “religious” uneasy; it smacks of Paganism, of blood, darkness, and sexuality, of lower powers.” (Starhawk, pg. 4, 1988)

Known around the world by many names such as Lilith, Kali, Hecate, and the Morrigan to name a few, the archetypal Dark Goddess represents death, sexuality, and the unconscious. These concepts are often not understood and feared aspects of life; again just like the youth living in inner city neighborhoods. If we follow the mythological trail of these dark goddesses back in time to find the source of their darkness and negativity, we find a divisive split in the psyche and the way that we view the feminine (feel free to exchange the term inner-city youth).

This work came about in choosing a topic for my master’s degree. After several missed deadlines and a growing sense of desperation, I had a dream that shed light, no pun intended, on a topic that was incredibly inspiring; the Dark Goddesses and the mythologies of the Underworld specifically as it relates to my relationship with my students. In the dream, I was sitting in a church pew in a very ornate Catholic church filled with a congregation of worshipers. As I was raised Catholic this was a familiar experience. The difference in the dream was that the church looked very similar to the Duomo cathedrals in Italy which are beautifully ornate and historic buildings that truly are reverential spaces. What was note-worthy in the dream is that I was the only person sitting by myself in a pew. The rest of the church was full of people and the mass was well underway. I was paying attention to the sermon, but also typically, became bored and had difficulty focusing. The next frame of the dream produced Hecate dressed in very Halloween style clothes; dark dress, witches hat, black and white striped stockings, pentagram jewelry with her black cat and handmade broom next to her. Everybody in the church was very upset and they started whispering about her presence. I acknowledged her presence as if it were perfectly natural that Hecate would be sitting next to me in this gothic Italian Catholic church. I continued to try and focus on the sermon and Hecate began laughing out loud. Of course, this disturbed the congregation even more. She grabbed her broom, black cat and touched my arm with a very pointy finger and we disappeared in a puff of smoke and sparkles. I awoke realizing that the Goddess, in her many forms, was my inspiration. Specifically, that the Dark Goddess in her many aspects including Hecate, Ereshkigal, Inanna, Lilith, Kali and Cerridwen as well as many others had archetypal aspects that are very compelling and directly applicable to this experience and that their realm of the Underworld was the very same in which I work with my children every day. “The dream is a way of knowing, and it stimulates responses and attempts to understand it that collaborate with other modes of cognition.” (McNiff, pg. 36, 2006)

Even though all of the Dark Goddesses are beautiful and amazing, I have chosen to focus on the great and amazing Greek Goddess Hecate. Hecate, or Hekate, is one of the most ancient and primordial representations of the Goddess in Greek mythology. She was originally said to be the daughter of Nyx (Night) and therefore a Titan who predated the more commonly known Olympian gods. While most of the Titans were overthrown by the more civilized gods of the Olympian pantheon, Hecate was given a place in the Olympian realm and was very honored and respected by Zeus, the most powerful god in Greek mythology. She was so respected by him that he gave her dominion over the Heavens, Earth and the Underworld. He also allowed her the one power that only she retained; the ability to grant or withhold anything that humans asked of her. Mythology later changed Hecate's origin to that of the daughter of Zeus and Hera so that she could more easily fit into the structure of the Olympian myths. In Hesiod's Theogony, she is said to be the daughter of Perseus and Asteria.

“Then the goddess through the love of the god conceived and brought forth dark-gowned Leto, always mild, kind to men and to the deathless gods, mild from the beginning, gentlest in all Olympus. Also she bare Asteria of happy name, whom Perses once led to his great house to be called his dear wife. And she conceived and bare Hecate whom Zeus the son of Cronos honoured above all. He gave her splendid gifts, to have a share of the earth and the unfruitful sea. She received honour also in starry heaven, and is honoured exceedingly by the deathless gods. For to this day, whenever anyone of men on earth offers rich sacrifices and prays for favour according to custom, he calls upon Hecate.” (Evelyn-White, 1914)

Because Hecate was given rule over all of the three realms; the heavens, Earth and the Underworld, she was originally a goddess who encapsulated all three aspects of the Goddess. However, as Olympian mythology evolved, her dominion was minimized to primarily that of the Underworld. She is said to have helped Demeter in her search for her daughter Persephone in the myth of Persephone's descent to the Underworld. Because of the importance of the myth of Persephone, Hecate is most commonly recognized as the Goddess of the Underworld and of death and its mysteries. But as it is with all Crone goddesses, Hecate still possesses the attributes of all three aspects of the Goddess. She is the Queen of Night, who rules over magic, ritual and prophecy, but also over childbirth and regeneration. Before moving any further, it is imperative to emphasize this significance as Hecate is one of many Underworld Goddesses who also is strongly connected to childbirth. Many statues of Hecate depict her with three heads and six arms. The three heads are the three faces of the Goddess; Persephone (Maiden). Demeter (Mother), and Hecate (Crone). In the Triple Goddess form, she is known as Hecate Triformis, the Goddess who rules over the three phases of the moon.

All animals are sacred to Hecate, but the dog is her primary animal. Hecate is said to be followed by packs of howling dogs that see the spirits of the dead who follow her. Although she is the goddess of the vast Underworld, she is seen primarily as the goddess who rules over those who have died unnatural deaths. Those who have died unnaturally, such as from suicides, drive-by shootings, executions and death at birth were often buried at a crossroads where three roads meet and this image is represents one of Hecate’s famous symbols. Hecate is said to be able to be summoned at the cross roads by those who would ask for her help with magic, childbirth or false claims against them. This designation is important as so many children in the inner city die from violent causes.
"You see Hecate’s faces turned in three directions so she can protect the triple crossroads." (Ovid, Fasti 1. 141 ff (trans.Boyle) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"Hecate whose name is howled by night at the city cross-roads." (Virgil, Aeneid 4. 609 ff (trans. Day-Lewis) (Roman epic C1st B.C.)
The crossroads also have additional significance as connected to Hecate. As a symbol of the place where paths of fate may be taken and where the paths of life and death meet, it is appropriate that Hecate could be summoned and asked for guidance at the crossroads.

Hecate is also one of the deities known as The Goddess of the Witches. Her precedence over death and mysteries as well as her reputation as protector and revenger of those wrongly accused and oppressed makes her a powerful goddess. Hecate is worshipped and respected because she has the power to destroy and create through rebirth as well as disclose the wisdom and mysteries that come with the knowledge of the afterlife.

Collect all items needed for your circle including candles, incense, stones, sacred fabric, offerings, chalice and other items intuitively chosen. Remember, Hecate is a torch-bearer and Queen of the Witches; candles are very necessary. Hecate’s symbols include the torch, the skeleton key, the horned crescent, the 3-way crossroads in red and her sacred animal is the dog. She likes honey, apples, garlic, oak leaves, poppies, saffron, and willow and yew trees. Utilizing the power of the dark moon is Her preference. Cleanse the space for ritual of all negativity. Suggestions include salt, white sage with feather and chanting. This chant has been effective for me:

Sit in meditation and set your intention clearly. Remember, Hecate will shed light on things in your life regardless of your desire to see them.

As Hecate is a Dark Goddess calling the circle should be done widdershins. Once the circle is cast, stand at the center of the circle and take a moment to visualize the complete circle. Choose your opening words to each quarter carefully and remember to start in the north, as again, Hecate is a Dark Goddess. For example:

While lighting the North Candle – “Keeper of the North, who provides a strong foundation, I call upon you and invite you this dark moon night to assist me and witness my work and intention. Guide me carefully through the dark mysteries. Take from me what no longer serves my greater good and help me in the process of transformation.

South Candle – same as above except, “who provides passion and the fire in the hearth”

East Candle – same as above except, “who provides the messages of Mystery and the beauty of the sunrise”

Spirit Candle – same as above except, ‘who provides guidance and the sparkle of the divine”

You have now created your sacred space. At this time, invite Hecate into your space. Ahead of time, write an invocation especially for Her all the while thinking about what exactly it is you are asking for assistance in accomplishing. Ask Her for guidance and how you might honor Her. Make sure to light plenty of candles as you speak your intentions and ask for guidance. Ritual work for the event may be lighting a candle for things in your life you need illuminated. Hecate also very much likes things made in Her honor. An excellent ritual project is to roll beeswax candles. Beeswax sheets come in a variety of colors and Hecate prefers black, red, white and yellow. Each candle that you make can contain your intentions or may contain the things in your life that need clarity. You can write directly on the inside of the candle or write these things on parchment and roll them right into each candle. Whenever you light these candles the flame will burn with significance and remind you of your path.

Close your circle when you are done and make sure to give thanks for all who were present to bear witness to your work. Make sure to release the spirits and close the quarters starting in the east.

It is incredibly important to take plenty of time to create an appropriate and effective ritual. Hecate is not a Goddess who does well with spur of the moment plans. She is a very powerful Goddess and will remove the rug altogether – you know the one where you swept all of the personal work you needed to do but were avoiding.