CableCat's Book of Shadows
About the Goddess Hekate
Hekate is the crossroads torchbearing goddess of witchcraft. She is the only greek Titan to retain her original power within the greek polytheistic religion. Household shrines were kept for her near the front doors. She is a goddess of liminal spaces, and a keybearer. She is said to have domain in Earth, Sea, and Sky and all spaces in between.
Casting Circle
To cast the circle, you must envision the circle around you. The circle is finite, but is both protection and portal. There are many instructions out there on ways to cast circle and the mechanics behind it. I am a fan of Mat Auryn's book Psychic Witch, and I think it has one of the best elaborations on circle casting.
Not everyone casts circle. Not everyone is properly trained and prepared to cast a good circle. Some prefer to worship in practice. Some consecrate temple space or specific rooms and find that protection and power to be enough as repeated ritual is performed within it. The idea of circle casting in the popular way we think of it with the Elements (like the scene in the movie The Craft, for those less familiar) is derived from a more elaborate way of ritualistically casting circle within Wiccan rituals. But there are other ways of consecrating space, and multiple magickal traditions have forms of circle casting that are different from the Wiccan ways. But the idea of circle casting in the Wiccan sense is that our rituals are performed anywhere because the circle is portable, and the circle exists as a microcosm of the macrocosm. For certain operations, the cast circle is a requirement.
Even further back, Wicca inherited some ritualistic practices (or at least interpretations of them) from the Order of the Golden Dawn and Thelema. And those Orders drew off of very old Grimoires in which ceremonial magick circles and triangles were used to summon demons and various entities.
I am summarizing and glossing over a lot here. I know some may be surprised to see it openly stated the trickled-down ispiration from old grimoires and solomonic magick, but we don't exactly live in the "post-satanic panic" age anymore.
That being said, when it comes to casting circle and calling elements and all those beings, they are NOT demons. They are a seperate class, and the purpose of the ritual circle is to connect directly with the gods and goddesses, and various spirits. All depending on what the ritual calls for and its objective.
The circle is not necessary for worship or prayers. And plenty of people do various forms of "low magick" and spells, or "intention-setting" as the wellness gurus of the current day like to call it, all without a circle.
But should you seek direct contact with the Old Ones, or seek to draw up spirits or the dead, you might want to consider strongly the use of the cast circle for your operation.
The Ephesian Letters and Voces Magicae
"ASKION, KATASKION, LIX, TETRAX, DAMNAMENEUS, AISION/AISIA"
And Excerpt from the Covenant of Hekate Website:
"One of the oldest and most significant sets of voces magicae (a term used for magical words of unknown meaning and origin) was the Ephesian Letters or Characters, a group of six words. These words were askion, kataskion, lix, tetrax, damnameneus and aision (or aisia). We cannot be absolutely certain whether the Ephesian Letters were specifically connected with Hekate, though from the evidence it does seem likely. Their first known appearance was in a Mycenaean inscription from the fifth century BCE.
"The Ephesian Letters occur a number of times in the Greek Magical Papyri in charms which call on Hekate (Betz, 1996). Thus the first two of the Ephesian Letters were used in a Hekate charm associated with initiation (PGM LXX.12) as part of a string of voces magicae being:
"'Askei Kataskei Eron Oreon Ior Mega Samnyer Baui Phobantia Semne.'
"The fifth word, damnameneia, was used in the Bear Charm, which included reference to Hekate as Brimo (PGM VII. 686-702). A second-third century CE lead defixione tablet to Hekate as torch bearer of the crossroads also uses this word repeatedly (SM 49) (Betz, 1996).
"An early fragmentary protective charm on a lead tablet from Phalasarna on Crete included the Ephesian Letters with phrases indicative of Hekate like ‘She-wolf’. It is also interesting to note that they are called the Orphic Formula in the Greek Magical Papyri (PGM VII. 451) (Betz, 1996). Considering the connections between Hekate and the Orphic Mysteries this is another hint which suggests a specific ritual connection with Hekate and these words.
"The Ephesian Letters were also referred to by the Greek poet Anaxilas in his lost 4th century BCE play The Harp Maker when he wrote '[unnamed person] carries around marvellous Ephesian letters in sewn pouches.' Various qualities were attributed to the Ephesian Letters including endowing the wearer with great power (particularly wrestlers as described in Eustathius, Photius and the Suda) and protecting newly married couples (mentioned by Menander, fragment 371).
"It should also be noted that when Plutarch commented on the powers of the Ephesian Letters (Moralia 706E), he referred to daimones who were specifically under the rule of Hekate:
“'For just as sorcerers advise those possessed by daimones to recite and name over to themselves the Ephesian letters.'
"The Christian theologian Clement of Alexandria, who was well known for being the teacher of the theologian Origen, recorded suggested meanings for the Ephesian Letters in his work Stromata (Miscellanies) in the early 3rd century CE:
“'Androkydes the Pythagorean, indeed, says that the so-called Ephesian letters, which were well-known among many, were of the order of symbols. And he said that Askion is darkness, for this has no shadow; and Kataskion is light, since it casts a shadow with its rays; and Lix is the earth, according to the ancient name; and Tetrax is the year, according to the seasons; and Damnameneus is the sun, the tamer; and Aisia is the true word. And truly the symbol signifies that the divine things have been set in order: darkness to light, the sun to the year, the earth to every kind of genesis of nature.'"
(d’Este & Rankine, 2009, pg 65-69)
Magick
Magick occurs when we set intention and direct energy. The Witch is an energy bender and manipulator. This includes energy within our own bodies, the energy of the earth around us, and that gifted from the Gods and spirits.
The Altar & Shrines
Shrines are kept as an homage to your Gods, a place to give offerings, praise, and worship. Those coming from the Monotheistic and/or Abrahamic religions will be familiar with churches and temples of various kinds. From a Pagan perspective, I view all those buildings (The Mosque, Synagogue, and Church) as just verious kinds of temples. They are physical spaces designed as microcosms of the macrocosm, and they are customary in those religions if not completely required. Within temples, shrines of sorts can exist.
However, for those of us who are Polytheists, we will often have shrines in the home or garden. They can be big or small. Do as your gods ask of you. Shrines in the home are safer for us since many of us do not have temples to go to, nor do our nations and governments support the construction and tax exemption of our organization and temples like they do for the Abrahamic Monotheists. Shrines are also more practical not just for accessibility, but we also worship many of the Old Gods and will often have specific "Household Gods". For example, I may honor Hekate Kleidouchos (Bearer of Keys) In a shrine at my door where the keys are kept. But another Priest, Priestess, Witch, or Pagan may honor Hestia in a shrine at their front door instead. Unlike Monotheists who only believe in one singular and all-powerful God with a capital G (or Y, or A) we do not deny the existence of each others' household gods and may actively engage in worship together for multiple Gods. Or perhaps if I had a neigbor who introduced me to ritual or worship with Hestia, I would welcome her to my own household with a shrine depending on how our relationship builds or what the Gods of the house who are present already have to say about it. I personally am a Priestess of specific gods and goddesses, so for some areas of my household they dominate certain areas that for the layperson would be overseen by more well-known Gods and Goddesses. One knows by the contact they have with their Gods and the omens they recieve.
As for Temples, some organized Covens, Groves, Circles, and Covenants have managed to erect real temples. There exists a Temple to Sekhmet in the Nevada Desert. There are multiple physical Temples for Hekate. And within some Priest's and Priestesse's private properties, Rooms and buildings that are set up as dedicated temples to Gods and Goddesses exist. Usually these temples are guarded secrets, or exist on private property and are only accessible to Coven, Circle, Grove, or Covenant members. Magickal Fraternal Orders are also known for having dedicated Temples or "Lodges". For us Polytheists and/or Pagans who engage with both Low and High Magick, we guard these spaces when we have the privilege of accessing them because there are many who would wish to tear them apart and defile them. Often a Temple space is set up with protection magicks. Those who are initiated into various mysteries and familiar with different traditions will become adept at locating where such Temples are or will learn of them through hearsay. The uninitiated will only see the glamour in place, or rather they won't notice the temple at all due to the magicks in place.
The altar is different from the Temples and Shrines. Unlike a Shrine, an Altar is a working space. Like a Shrine, you may worship and give offerings at the Altar, but unlike the shrine, the Altar is designed for ritual and magick to be actively performed upon it and as a place with the toold for working such magicks. The Altar may be present within a household, or a Temple. But the Altar, especially the Wiccan Altar, is portable (just like the circle that is cast for each ritual). This is so we have liquidity of movement, and items can be hidden as needed. Some people keep a household altar that stays out in the open so long-term spells may continue to operate upon it. Upon your Altar should be the working tools of your tradition, the ones you plan to use in rituals, offerings to your gods and goddesses, and imagery and idols for the Old Gods.
The Altar you've come to this page from is a digital ritual space and a visual example of an Altar with working tools. It is in a style condusive to more Wiccan-style rituals, but the goddess present is Hekate, not the God and Goddess of Wicca. The way to use this online ritual space is to have the Altar page open. Focus on the Altar and hold its visual in your head as you meditate. Utilize the music provided on the player at the top of the page. Use those visuals to enter your own inner temple ritual space within a meditative state, then perform your ritual and magick there. This is intended for people who are unable to have a physical ritual space, or who are travelling.
Traditions, Mysteries, Religions, etc.
When it comes to "Pagan" and Polytheistic religions, you'll see those terms used in various ways. So for example, Wicca is a Religion. Within Wicca, there are multiple "Traditions" which are sort of parallel to denominations. Wicca, and many other magickal traditions are orthopraxical rather than orthodox, which means they are primarily focused on correct conduct (the rituals and physical acts and behaviors) as opposed to correct belief. That's why when someone like Thorn Mooney says the phrase "Wiccan Faith" in incorrect because "That's not what we're doing" she's right. It's not. Faith and Grace are centered around belief. And that is just not what the rituals and practices are in Wicca. A Tradition is connected through a line of passed-down rituals and similarities in ritual practice, not necessarily belief in the same singular God (or goddess) or through codified beliefs.
Different Traditions within a Pagan Religion will explore different Mysteries. The mysteries of various Traditions and various Pagan religions (not just Wicca) may be centered around concepts or human experiences like Births, Deaths, Coming of Age, Rebirth, etc. For example, an Eclectic Coven of maybe 6 older people may have their 6th member having their first grandbabies or perhaps going through The Change (Menopause). They may have a ritual passed down to them to do as a rite of passage for that person to celebrate them reaching that older age or stage of life. The Mystery cannot be communicated through words because it is about the experience that person or that group may have in ritual. It is kept secret, and communicated through the symbolic acts within the ritual, or perhaps even from the Gods themselves.
Another example is the Eleusinian Mysteries. These were initiations into the cult of Demeter. The rituals and mysteries were centered around the abduction of Persephone from Demeter. They depict the descent to Hades, Demeter's search for her daughter, and the ascent. These were agrarian myths tied to the seasons, but for the initiated were also representative of eternal life.
Traditions and Pagan religions are not totally exclusive from one another. As stated earlier, most Pagan religions (or "Neopagan") are Polytheistic, and are not focused on Orthodoxy. The culture of "My God is the only One True GOD" just does not exist the same way it does as in monotheistis Abrahamic religions. Therefore, we are not restricted from partaking in multiple Traditions and/or Mysteries. Someone who is an initiated Wiccan may also participate in a seperate Eclectic Circle, and that Eclectic Circle may have ritual occassionally hosted by the local Hellenic Polytheist Priestesshood. So the Wiccan may participate in more Greek rituals that aren't Wiccan at all, but their God and Goddess are not going to smite them for it. And the Wiccan and maybe one of the Hellenic Priestesses could also be Thelemites in a seperate group together. Well, if they have the time to be able to partake in that many groups. But it is possible to be a part of multiple groups or to engage in multiple practices, and as we learn new practices, we may adapt them into our personal practice.
I was recently in a discord server where a self-described Orthodox Christian talked about how he was a self-professed "Pagan" in his teen years, but he ultimately found Paganism to be as deep as a wide and shallow puddle. Instead he said he found more depth and rich history in Orthodox Christianity. He then proceeded to post memes shitting on Pagans and Wiccans and Polytheists, and called them grifters. I was an observer, and I know that internet arguments are pointless when someone has made up their mind so I declined to speak up. It's worth noting that this poster was also particularly mysoginistic, as were many other posters in that server. But I disagree strongly with his sentiment about the depth of the religions.
I remember being a self-professed "Eclectic Wiccan" teenager. I was learning basics still, and trying things out and figuring out my beliefs. And as I got older, I hit a wall. Most information about Wicca out there (and many other Pagan religions) is all "101" info or "beginner level" or as some people would derogatorily say, "Fluffy Bunny". Also, a lot of books are marketed to women and girls because of the Goddess-worship aspect and the ties of "Neopaganism" with the Women's/Feminist Movement in the United States. But the difference between someone like me and someone like the internet stranger is that I began to ask more questions and moved into the "Seeker" stage, and internet stranger decided for himself that there was no deeper information or happenings and did not seek further and somewhere along the way figured out that what they were seeking was something more Orthodox with everything written out. But I also disagree with this stranger's sentiment, because of the active suppression of anything outside of Christianity in the West, and anything outside of Islam in the Middle East. The thing with the "Neopagan" movement, and many of these smaller Pagan religions is that they are started from what is available and built upon in modernity by the practitioners. But we also are not seeking to make the same mistakes as Christianity especially by deciding on absolute morals and ultimately carrying out genocides, or picking an ultimate infallible leader who is connected with the divine (like the Pope) who ends up with way too much political power. The religions are often designed to stay small, and groups connected by initatory lineage are often autonomous. Some may be overseen by more experienced priestesses or elders, but in my experience is that the goal is eventually autonomy and self-governance. That is not to say there is no structure at all. There are structures that are passed down. But again, the structures, mysteries, rituals, etc. are only gleaned through them being passed down, and not necessarily written as the ULTIMATE WORD OF THE GODDESS in a singular book. In a religion like Christianity, the Bible is referred to as the word of God and the answer to all questions in life. But, as a Wiccan, if you have a question about life and need an answer from the Goddess, I'm not going to refer you to the Book of Shadows as her Holy and Infallible (trademarked) word.
What I'm getting at is that from the outside, yes, it does *look* shallow. There's a lot that is not written, but there is way more that must be actively experienced. That is why we do Ritual. That is why covens, circles, and groves with trained Priests and Priestesses exist. But what happens behind the closed doors is actually very deep and beautiful and spiritually fulfilling. But a person has to SEEK it actively. This is not a passive path for someone who doesn't want to do the Work. If you want to live a life where you believe one book has all the spiritual answers in life for you, that is your right. It is okay to believe in one God. Christianity does have a rich history and culture. If that path works for you, power to you. But I do take issue with people who actively deride my path when they truly do not know what it is about and do not have all the information. If it's not for you, that's fine! It's designed to weed out people. Occult literature has dozens of blinds and red herrings because what is taught is not meant for the masses. It takes certain types of people who are willing to seek answers and weed through all of that to find the pearls, or the needle in the haystack. Not everyone has someone to teach them, or a coven, grove, or circle nearby. That's all fine and good. But to actively spit on the path and its walkers is not "turning the other cheek". It's just being ingnorant and foolish.
The art of Surrendering
A fascinating feature of Wicca and other Pagan religions is the ways in which we commune with our gods and spirits. The other fascinating feature is the concept in Wiccan traditions that "Every initiate is a Priest/Priestess".