My Journey with Goddess Hekate
- Sanctum of the Rose
- Oct 13
- 6 min read
My Journey with Hekate began nearly 20 years ago, she came to me in a vision as I sat beside a frog pond at dusk back in 2006, her ancient husky voice whispering in my mind as she called me home to the deep well within.
I had returned home to Australia after 11 years in the UK, called back to nurse my father who was dying of terminal cancer and to support my family through a time of deep transitions as we all struggled to come to terms with the unexpected shock of losing him at the age of just 64.
Dad was a strong man, tall, fit, confident, healthy (or so we thought).....highly intelligent, charismatic, very social and well travelled and as much as we loved him he was also difficult and domineering at times and he and I had many challenging periods as I struggled to be an independent young woman with my own opinions and wild untameable nature. We were often like chalk and cheese but also so very similar in many ways, he thought that he wanted the best for me, or rather thought he knew what was best for me, but with that came control and I wanted none of it. And so I had spent 11 years in England travelling around in trucks and buses, picking fruit and going to festivals and raves, he didn't understand or really accept my lifestyle and so I distanced myself. But regardless of our differences we loved each other fiercely and as soon as I was given the news that he had just a few months to live, I flew straight home with my son and my then finance, to be by Dad's side. During those last few months it was a deep deep honour to support him through his final transitions in physical form and to be with him as he passed from this world. We were great mates when he left us. I miss his humour and his strength, often.
During the time of his tragic illness and the preparation for the deep loss his death would bring, I spent a lot of time in nature, listening, beginning my grieving, calling in supports. I was already working with Medousa and had been since I discovered her in ancient history in my teens in 1980's, Aset (goddess Isis) was also a strong presence in my life. I had been initially discovered Wicca when I left school and then traditional witchcraft whilst in the Uk and had been formulating my own unique magickal path since then. But then Hekate came.
As I sat beside that frog pond, listening to their croaking, the water running and watching the bats fly over as darkness began to flow, Hekate appeared in my mind cloaked and wizened and whispered to me of guidance through loss and she also gifted my one of my magickal names, a name that went on to become a public monikor for many years - Juniper Rose. Some names should remain secret but this name was to be not only a powerful support for me but also to those I would work with, hold space for and guide as a High Priestess of my own coven. During those days I also had a beautiful black dog who was very protective but also had the biggest heart of any dog I've even know....I miss her so much still, but she guides me from beyond as part of Hekates pack, our beautiful beloved Rain. But those days weren't quite here yet as I still had my Dad to support and guide and my own deep journey of death and loss and grieve to navigate.
Hekate also set me on my Rose Path, one of deep healing, hidden mysteries and self-love, as I navigated the way ahead and eventually back to my holistic healing practices, my space holding and my workshops and retreats. She guided me into membership within an eclectic coven and then eventually on to create my own coven dedicated to her, a circle of Hekatean Witches that ran from my home for several years.
I often run a Fiery Rose of Winter and Summer to honour her Rosy associations. The graphic below is from years past. I also take part in Sorita dÉste's wonderful Night of Her Sacred Fires every year, often supporting others to also flow through the beautiful rites as we honour Hekate in a worldwide circle of witches and pagans.
Hekate is: Rhododakylos - Rosy Fingered and is depicted as The Fiery Rose in The Chaldean Oracles:
"from there, a lightning-bolt, sweeping along, obscures the flower of fire as it leaps into the hollows of the worlds. For from there, all things begin to extend wonderful rays down below.” (Fragment 34)
“For implacable thunders leap from him and the lightning-receiving womb of the shining ray of Hekate, who is generated from the Father . From him leap the girdling flower of fire and the powerful breath (situated) beyond the fiery poles.” (Fragment 35)
(Written Source: https:https://www.hekatecovenant.com/herbsandplants//www.hekatecovenant.com/herbsandplants)
Along with Medousa's serpent connections, rose and serpent went on to be two huge guides in my life and as you will know if you are an Hekatean witch, she too has her serpent connections.
She is also Opheoplokmos - Girdled by Serpents (You can find more of her epithets here: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/matauryn/2017/07/19/many-epithets-hekate/)
End images of my by Witnessing Her and Middle Image of Burmese python taken in Bali. All Images property of Sanctum of the Rose.
Hekate truly is goddess of liminal spaces of crossroads and thresholds, of doorways and caves, all places that I have honoured her over the years and continue to do so still today, though more often then not I find her as an internal guiding force, a flaming torch that aids , who supports me to connect to her wisdom, my wisdom, the wisdom of ancestors...She is a reminder of the gift of fiery regeneration and to connect to my own internal light. For she is a force of both darkness and light and all that lays in-between.
She is has also long been a goddess of childbirth and to me the birthing and rebirthing cycles that we go through so often in our lives, including the relationships we have with our own mothers and self mothering. I am so grateful for that day of Hekate and Frogs, for all the transitions that have led me to who I am now, even those that have been incredibly challenging and deeply sad. Hekate has again guided me so recently through the portal of parental loss and grief as I come to terms with the loss of my beloved mother, who passed beyond the veil just two months ago. Hekate is my safe harbour (Limenitikos) and my earthly anchor as I navigate the intensity of deep grief and loss again.
Over the last 20 years I have spent walking with Hekate as both and external and internal force I have learnt so much about myself, my own magick and the rhythms and cycles of life, death and all that things liminal. As well as previously running an Hekatean Coven, I have offered many workshops, retreats and live events dedicated to her over the years and now my final online offering for 2025 I dedicate the first live in a series of 8 journeys, to Hekate and seek her guidance as I prepare to hold space for those who feel called to join me online for my online Inward Journeying Immersion. We meet on Wednesday 22nd October as the Dark Moon gives way to the first slither of returning light and embrace a deep channelled journey with the Goddess of Thresholds. If you would like to join me for this live and 7 more on Wednesday nights via Google Meet (all lives recorded) here is the info and ticket:
Each week we journey with the lunar and solar energies, deities, guides and ancestors.
I will leave you now with images of some of my Hekatean altars over the years, I hope you have enjoyed this very personal sharing and I would love to hear about your experiences with Hekate, if you would like to comment below.
All Images are the property of Sanctum of the Rose.
Blessings,
Jenni-Rose
Sanctum of the Rose