Hekate's Deipnon

An Ancient New Moon Ritual

...Hekate whom Zeus the son of Kronos 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 any one of men on earth offers rich sacrifices and prays for favour according to custom, he calls upon Hekate. Great honour comes full easily to him whose prayers the goddess receives favourably, and she bestows wealth upon him; for the power surely is with her. For as many as were born of Earth and Ocean amongst all these she has her due portion….

—Hesiod, The Theogony

In ancient times, the end of the lunar month was marked by what is today known as the New Moon phase. When Selene’s light disappears between the visible waning and waxing crescent phases, the invisible Dark Moon opens the liminal passageway between realms.

The Dark Moon was thus considered the time of Hekate’s feast, when restless, unavenged souls crossed over from the underworld seeking justice and reparations. On the evening of the Dark Moon, offerings would be placed at Hekate’s shrines and crossroads to appease the Unconquerable Queen and the intranquil spirits of the night.

Gleipnir (cropped) by Walton Ford, 2012

In the stillness of the Dark Moon, closure is facilitated, death leads to rebirth and renewal. Of all the lunar phases, this is the peak moment of transition, wherein purification rites are performed in preparation for entering a new month. Hekate requires our atonement and alignment, our sacrifices and our generosity, to step into the new, reborn. Our offerings then include sacrificing what has brought us suffering and relinquishing what keeps us from rightful living.

The term Deipnon is derived from the ancient Greek δεῖπνον (evening meal). This meal includes a medley of Hekate's favorite foods: pomegranates, honey, cakes, eggs, fish, leeks, onions and garlic. In place of a family shrine, the deipnon may also be offered at a crossroads near one's home. One must leave the offering without looking back at it so as not to disturb the spirits feasting and as a symbolic gesture of moving forward.

This ritual commenced a three day ceremony to welcome in the new month. The Deipnon was followed by the Noumenia on the first sighting of the waxing crescent moon and the Agathos Daimon was venerated on the final day.

Hekate’s Deipnon

What you will need:

• Frankincense resin, charcoal tablets and censer

• Three Black Candles — white is acceptable if you can’t find any black ones

• Offering plate or tray — This is a special plate/tray for Hekate, must be kept strictly for ceremonial use and is not to be shared with other deities or ancestors, nor eaten off of. Consider the quality depending on whether you have a personal/family shrine, or whether you will be making offerings at the crossroads. Place the following on it:

• Three Eggs — boiled

• Three Dry Salted Fish — with sliced onions or leeks and garlic

• Pomegranate — cut in three parts

• Small Cake — drizzled with honey and cut in three slices

What you will do:

During the balsamic moon phase (the three days before the new moon), set aside time to clean and purify your living and work spaces. Once you have finished cleaning, light the charcoal tablets in the censer and place the frankincense resin on top to fumigate the entire home, keeping all the doors and windows open while you do this.

Then ritualistically bathe your physical and etheric body, making sure you are cleansing from the crown of the head to the soles of your feet. This can be performed with waters infused with medicinal and apotropaic herbs such as lemon tree leaves, bay leaves, common sage (Salvia officinalis) and/or mugwort leaves. Following this, in the afternoon hours before the sun sets on the new moon, prepare Hekate's meal with the ingredients listed above. If you aren't able to gather all of these foods together, then offering at least one of these foods is acceptable.

At sunset on the evening of the new moon you will light the three candles at Hekate's shrine or altar at your home’s entrance and bring the deipnon to the crossroads near your abode. Reciting the Orphic Hymn to Hekate (see below), arrange and set the deipnon, followed by any personal petitions and prayers. Once you have placed the deipnon at the crossroads, walk home without turning back to look at it.

by unknown artist (if known, please comment below)

Εἰνοδίαν Ἑκάτην κλήιζω,

τριοδῖτιν, ἐραννήν,

οὐρανίαν χθονίαν τε καὶ εἰναλίαν,

κροκόπεπλον, τυμβιδίαν, ψυχαῖς νεκύων μέτα βακχεύουσαν,

Περσείαν, φιλέρημον, ἀγαλλομένην ἐλάφοισι,

νυκτερίαν, σκυλακῖτιν, ἀμαιμάκετον βασίλειαν,

θηρόβρομον, ἄζωστον,

ἀπρόσμαχον εἶδος ἔχουσαν,

ταυροπόλον,

παντὸς κόσμου κληιδοῦχον ἄνασσαν,

ἡγεμόνην, νύμφην, κουροτρόφον, οὐρεσιφοῖτιν,

λισσόμενος κούρην τελεταῖς ὁσίαισι παρεῖναι βουκόλωι εὐμενέουσαν ἀεὶ κεχαρηότι θυμῶι.

🗝️🗝️🗝️

I call Hecate of the roads,

the one whose head turns three-ways at the crossroads,

the deeply loved, the stellar and chthonic and of the barren sea;

the saffron-veiled who is found among the tombs and wanders with the souls of the dead,

daughter of the ravager,

lover of deserted solace, who exalts among the deer,

nightwalker accompanied by dogs,

untetherable queen called in by the cries of the wild beasts,

unbelted and bearing irresistible force.

Drawn by bulls, royal matriarch and keeper of the keys of the whole word,

the holder of authority, the bride,

the one who protects children in her arms,

mountain top haunting,

in prayer I ask that you attend our sacred rites,

always approving of your devotees and gladenned in your heart.

Friend and colleague, Michelle Nikolau translated this Orphic hymn for a project we are collaborating on in our ritual justice coven. Find added notes on her blog here: www.deepsighted-astrology.com

In a future post I will cover the Noumenia and Agathos Daimon, which are part of the ancient Mediterranean hearth ceremonies that initiate each lunar month.