If you take a look at a typical modern pagan calendar, you will come across, in the midst of various harvest festivals, a feast day dedicated to the Goddess Hekate on August 13th. We know Hekate or Hecate as a dark and powerful goddess: a goddess of death and the underworld, of crossroads and necromancy, and the patron goddess of witchcraft itself. 

Hekate as an Earth Goddess

How did such a goddess come to have her feast day in the middle of the harvest season? Typically, we don’t associate Hekate with agriculture. Her qualities lead us to celebrate her in the colder, darker months of the year, like around Samhain, so August 13th seems like an arbitrary day for honoring Hekate. While the links to an ancient Greek festival look tentative, we have several explanations for why August 13th became known as “Hekate’s Night”.

One record from Samothrace details a ritual sacrifice to Hekate at the Zerinthian cave, where devotees would offer up a dog for protection against storms and terrors. This would fit the description of Hekate as Lady of the Storms; however, August is not known as a particularly stormy month.

Porphyry wrote about Hekate as “the symbol of the cultivation of crops, which she makes grow up according to the increase of her light”. This is in reference to Hekate’s association with the moon phases (used for harvesting crops) as well as the fiery torches she carries, which give light for the crops to grow. 

Two Ancient Festivals

So, we have two sources that associate Hekate with storms and agriculture, which would explain her celebration during the harvest season; however, these still don’t quite explain why August 13th is important. Our last pieces of evidence are two historical Roman and Greek celebrations which took place around mid-August every year: Nemoralia and Kourotrophos.

Nemoralia was in honour of the goddess Diana, who is often conflated with Hekate throughout pagan history.. Furthermore, the day was celebrated with a procession of torches, which is quite suited to Hekate, the torch-bearing goddess.

Kourotrophos is celebrated in honor of the Goddess Kourotrophos, who protects children. She is heavily associated with both Artemis and Hekate, who are also celebrated during this festival. Whether these two festivals contributed to the fixed date of Hekate’s Night is impossible to determine. However, it wouldn’t be the first time a static date was established for a celebration with a historically changing date. 

Modern Celebrations of Hekate’s Night.

While we may never know the true origins of Hekate’s night, we can confirm that she was honored during this time in ancient Greece. Traditionally, these days were celebrated with processions, music, theatrical performances, sacrifices, and, of course, large and lavish feasts. 

In the modern day, we can use Hekate’s feast day to give thanks and make an offering to her. This is also an excellent day to work with her or petition her for protection. Witchcraft practiced on this day will be amplified if Hekate is included in your rituals, even more so when performed at a crossroads. 

Feast days are perfect for practicing some kitchen witchery, either by yourself or with friends and family. Infuse your food with magical intention as you celebrate Hekate’s night. Below, we have shared a kitchen magic spell, perfect for witches of all experience levels. All magical supplies can be found in our shop, and our experienced staff are ready to give guidance where needed. Happy Celebrations. 

 

Learn how you can cultivate spiritual abundance during the harvest season

 

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Reknowned psychologist, Carl Jung, categorized mother archetypes into 3 groups: personal mothers (mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, and mothers-in-law), any woman with whom a relationship exists (a nurse, teacher, or a distant relative), and then a third group of figurative mothers, to which the Goddess belongs. 

What is the Mother Archetype?

Mythology gives us various mother archetypes to work with. In Four Archetypes,  Jung writes, “Many things arousing devotion or feelings of awe, as for instance the Church, university, city or country, heaven, earth, the woods, the sea or any still waters, matter even, the underworld and the moon, can be mother-symbols.”

The archetype is closely associated with things or places that represent fertility and fruitfulness, protection, hollowness, helpfulness, and nurturing. Many of the great mother figures in religion also have a dark side, such as Kali, India’s “loving and terrible mother.” The goddesses of Fate can be seen as ambivalent mothers in Greek mythology. Traditionally, “evil” mother-symbols can include the witch, the dragon or serpent, the grave, deep water, and nightmares. 

Positive qualities include any helpful impulse, anything that is benign, all that sustains, nourishes, and cherishes. On the other hand, negative qualities are secrecy and darkness, anything that devours, seduces, and poisons, and anything terrifying and inescapable, like fate. 

How can we connect with the Great Mothers?

While the mother archetype in mythology is more or less universal, our own experiences with it will be unique to the individual. Around Mother’s Day, many of us celebrate the “personal” mothers in our lives, our own mothers or our family and friends who are mothers. For some of us, however, Mother’s Day may bring mixed feelings, either because we do not have a maternal figure in our lives, or because we have had to part ways with our biological family due to any number of reasons. In this case, we may seek to celebrate those figurative mothers, divine parents of our spiritual self. 

In Greek Mythology, the Chthonic Mother is a term for goddesses associated with the Earth and the Underworld, who rule over life-giving and death-dealing aspects of nature. Such goddesses would include Demeter and her daughter Persephone, Gaia, Hekate, and the Anatolian nature goddess Cybele.

All of us can take part in connecting with and celebrating these ancient mother archetypes. Whether you already work with a Great Mother in your practice or want to invite one into your craft, use this Mother’s Day as a dedicated time to pay special tribute to them. Meditate on how maternal energy has functioned in your life: how has it nurtured and protected you spiritually and physically? How has it guided your intuition and led you to truth and enlightenment? How has it demonstrated the balance of light and darkness in your life? Where can you call upon this maternal energy if it is lacking? 

If you are practicing the craft around this time, be sure to include one of these great archetypes in your work, or make a place on your altar to commune with them. You can offer wine, cheese, or bread to show gratitude to the Great Mother. Celebrate with us this Mother’s Day, whatever that may look like for you. As always, our shop offers all the supplies and guidance you may need on your journey. 

Storytelling at Beltane
Storytellers have walked among us for millennia. Around the world, storytellers entertain and teach us through folk tales old and new. Reciting myths and legends was a favorite amusement of ancient Celtic-speaking nations. In pre-Christian traditions, there were even ranks for different storytellers: poets, professors, bards, and historians. Their duty was to learn by heart the folk tales, poems, and histories of their people.
A “folk-tale” is an umbrella term for a story passed down orally from one generation to the next. The most common types of folk tales are myths and legends. These are stories used to explain natural phenomena, teach a lesson, or describe a recent historical event. Some myths and legends have spread throughout the world and been assimilated into many cultures, while others are extremely local to one group of people or a place. Some of them contain accounts of real people and events, while others are about eerie supernatural occurrences. The setting of storytelling took many forms: a storyteller may have an audience of a few people crowded around a hearth or a court of royal princes and kings. Sometimes, they would take the shape of a performance accompanied by instruments. Even today, huddled around a fire is a popular context for storytelling as it was in Celtic traditions.
Why Tell Stories at Beltane?
Beltane is the third fire festival of the Celtic year and the fifth Sabbat on the Wheel of the Year. As bonfires are a large part of traditional celebrations, it was common for storytellers to use this setting to recite poems and myths relating to the season. At this time of year, we focus on the myth of the May Queen and the Green Man, the God Bel and the Great Mother, or more broadly, the Goddess and the God. Their story has taken many shapes and forms, but generally, it is about the union between the two and the subsequent fertility of the Earth, bringing on the growing season. Stories relating to the Fae or other spirits are popular at this time due to the veil being thin.
Retelling myths and legends helps keep the history of the festival alive; they can teach us about the world around us and ourselves, and, of course, they keep us entertained and raise our spirits. The most magical part of these ancient stories is that they remain relevant to us today. Their roots in oral tradition mean they can be molded by the storyteller to craft a moral we can use in the present day.
How can you incorporate this storytelling tradition into your Beltane celebrations? If you are celebrating with a coven, you can recite your favorite poems and tales that reflect the season we are in. If you are celebrating alone, you can write your own poems and stories or simply journal about what is happening in your life.
As always, we have plenty of handcrafted tools and ingredients made in-house, specifically for this season. This year, we are launching our hummingbird bath soak, cauldron candle, and tea blend to help attract a deep sense of love and expansion, allowing you to seize the moment and be led to your soul’s highest purpose. You can use these handmade rituals to help prepare for your Beltane celebrations and sink into that fiery energy of the season. You can find the new hummingbird collection online or in our Asheville brick-and-mortar. Blessed Beltane!

Beltane is a Fire Festival celebrated on April 30-May 1.  The word 'Beltane' originates from the Celtic God 'Bel', meaning 'the bright one' and the Gaelic word 'teine' meaning fire. Traditionally all fires in the community were put out and a special fire was kindled for Beltane. People jumped the fire to purify, cleanse and to bring fertility. Couples jumped the fire together to pledge themselves to each other. Cattle and other animals were driven through the smoke as a protection from disease and to bring fertility. At the end of the evening, participants would take some of the Teineigen to start their home fires anew. (From Sacred Celebrations by Glennie Kindred)

Colors of the Season

Green for growth, fertility, health, abundance.

White for purity, power, protection.

Yellow for solar energies, happiness, communication.

Plants of the Season

Woodruff for protection, victory, and wealth.

Daisy for attraction, love, and youth.

Lily of the Valley for desire, peace, and protection.

Mugwort for lust, fertility, communication with spirits.

Violet for fertility, prophetic dreams, love.

Traditions and Symbols

Flowers for fertility, love, and joy.

The Maypole symbolizes fertility.

Green Man, Lord of the Wild Wood.

Earth Goddess associated with plants and animals.

Suggestions of ways to celebrate.

Light a Beltane fire – Light a fire in your garden to energize your plans and dreams by speaking to them aloud before tossing them into the fire. Invite friends and family to do the same. If you are in a relationship, Beltane is an excellent time to renew your intentions or vows to one another, and to leap the fire hand in hand. (Carefully of course)

Go camping – Being outside at this time of year is energizing and restorative. Lie on your back and gaze at the stars. Stay up and watch the sunrise.

Dance – around the Maypole if you have one or just put some music on and have a dance. Find some open spaces and let the kids run wild. Jump up and down, laugh out loud, and chase one another about.

Create something - Beltane is a festival of fertility. Plant a garden, write a story, make honey cakes, and may wine to celebrate the magic of the season.

Beltane Floral Crown 

Flowers are prominent in Beltane traditions as symbols of fertility, beauty, and love. The Roman Goddess Flora is frequently depicted wearing a ring of flowers around her head, as are the May Queens in European May Day celebrations. Creating a floral crown adds a festive flair to your celebration and doubles as a wreath for your door or altar. The wreath included in your box will get you started. You can add fresh flowers found growing around your home or from a local florist, vines, ribbons while inviting energies of beauty and creativity to enter your wreath.

 Invocation to Flora

Lovely Flora, pretty lady, you whose beauty is brighter than the stars,

Shiner than the seas, more glorious than the moon itself.

Lovely Flora, pretty lady, grace me, embrace me, enter me, amaze me!

May your spirit come into my heart!

May your love flow through me!

May your beauty and bliss embrace me!

You are the Queen of the Flowers.

You are the beautiful blossoming earth.

You are the sprout that pushes through the flat field to reach the sun!

All the flowers of the earth reflect your love.

All the beauty of the earth is but your song.

You are the rose that opens and closes.

You are the love that is only its own.

Lovely Flora, pretty lady, come into my heart!

I am a flower awaiting your presence, a blossom that is ready to bloom.

Come into my heart, lovely Flora, enter into me, grace me, amaze me!

Embrace me and cause me to bloom! 

Beltane: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for May Day (Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials Book 2) by Melanie Marquis