The Pronunciation of Hekate's Name

The Shrine of Hekate Triformis

The Pronunciation of Hekate's Name



In Egyptian, Heka means "magical speech" while Hekate in Greek means "influence from afar". The latter attribution was given due to her ability to use magick upon a person from a great distance, above the earth and below the earth. Hence the references "Far Darter" and "The Distant One" were given as references to Hekate. Hekate is also spelled Hecate in Latin, and you will often see it this way in print. In Greek her name would appear as: 'Εκατη'.

There are numerous modern pronunciations of Hekate's name, all of which are identifiable (explicitly, most people will understand who you are talking about.) But returning back to the ancient Greek articulations (all which DO have variations of vocal dialect who argue over the names correct elocution and the spelling of the words themselves changes according to their placement/purpose in a sentence of that dialect)....

Greek vowels have a "characteristic” of being brief or withdrawn (long), which refers to (in Classical pronunciation) how long the vowel is held for, similar to that of a sung key or harmonic libretto mantra. Epsilon is always short; alpha can be either short or long. However much is considered musical, out of devotion and love, not just merely spoken.

In Greek words, the accent falls on one of the last three syllables; in the Greek spelling of Hekate, the accent mark falls on the central alpha ‘Ka’.So, Hekate is pronounced Heah-KAH-tae or Heh-KAH-tay not He-cah-tay (languid) . However in some 'older' spheres and circles of Hekate worship it is considered disrespectful to utter her name outside of ritual/dedication/prayer or ceremony.

Ancient Hekate Incense

The Scent of Worship

altar/dedicational/ritual incense of hekate

You will require:  ¼ cup of each of the following ingredients and approximately half a cup of the wood (should there be any mentioned) We must remember that wood is actually sacred to Hekate and that during certain festivals held in her honour it is actually regarded as disrespectful to Hekate. The following is based from an old recipe passed down through my family and I share it with you only to enhance and bless your own rites as they have served in the past, in honour of Hekate. Please use them with revere and only in veneration only to our Dark Mother, Hekate- Queen of the 'Y' Crossroads.

Made: On the night of the Dark Moon.

To make the paste for these incenses: Gum mastic is used because it is sacred to Hekate, which stems back to Ancient Greece, Hekate’s though place of origin. Worship, thanks and blessings.

You will need a tablespoon or two of the powdered gum. Use a sterilized clean glass or crystal bowl (never metal) with 1 cup of warm water (not hot). Sprinkle the powder over the top of the water and whisk until the gum is totally dissolved, skimming off any foam that develops. It should only take a few minutes. Leave, and allow the gum to absorb the water until it forms into a gelatinous paste. Cover the bowl with a damp cheesecloth covering and allow the thickening process to complete, a couple of hours. You may mix in more gum or water to adjust the consistency to your preference.

Hekate: Prayer & Invocation

Prayer/ Invocation/ Dedication

to the goddess of the crossroads: hekate (e-Kah-te!)

Silver-footed Queen of the midnight crossroads,
three-faced Goddess of the torches,

Listen to my summoning from across the veils,
 through time itself and beyond the gates of Death.

Guardian of the Great Deep, Ancient Mother of Earth and Sea
 attend now to this sacred rite.

By veneration of your mighty and dreaded names-
Nocticula, Trinsofia, Klêidouchos, Trikephalus.

I burn for you these arcane spices,
cinnamon, saffron and myrrh with revered dedication.

O Mistress of the starry heavens, Titan-born,
Ophidian Lady of the Hounds, Spectral and Nocturnal One-

Who sings to the plethoric darkness ,
weaving the tenebrous Shadows;
Universal Creatrix, Bearer of Light.