Tonight I celebrated Hecate's Deipnon, also call, Hecate's supper. In the Attic calendar, it is celebrated on the last day of the lunar month, just before the new moon and therefore the beginning of the next month.
Through this celebration, we prepare the house for the transition to the new month. It is a time of purification, of yourself, your home, or objects.
The traditional offerings are: eggs, garlic, bread, cakes and house sweeps.
Tonight I chose to offer to the Torchbearer, bread, garlic and cheese.
I also recited a hymn and a prayer written by me.
I invoke Hecate, the desirable, the earthly, celestial and marine sentinel, draped in her saffron peplos, the sepulchral one, among the souls of the dead, Perseis (daughter of Perseus) the solitary. The world's key-bearer, never doomed to fail, in stags rejoicing, huntress, nightly seen, and drawn by bulls, unconquerable queen ; Leader, Nymphe, nurse, on mountains wandering, hear the Supplicants who with holy rites thy power revere, and to the herdsman with a favouring mind draw near.
O Hecate Enodia, you who watch at crossroads, guides of souls and queen of the night, I offer you this meal, humble and sincere, on the edge of the visible and invisible world.
You, Hecate Propylaia, guardian of the Thresholds and the mysteries, welcome my offerings by the light of the black moon, purify my home, and cast out the shadows that lurk in the silence.
Hecate Phosphoros, torchbearer, light my way in the darkness, protect my steps in this world and the next, and grant me wisdom, courage, and discernment.
To you, three faces, who see the past, the present and the future, I pay honor and gratitude. Receive this meal with kindness, and be propitious to my house.
Hail Hecate! Let your keys open the doors for me.
It was really a highlight, it was the first time I went to leave the offerings outside and I felt her strong presence! I live in a university residence so I was a little stressed that people would see me, people would take me for a crazy person 😭😭
If you wanted more information about this celebration, here are some sources:
Rites et pratiques en l'honneur de la déesse Hecate by Sorita d'Este (a French book idk if there is a English version of the book, I don't think so)
Hecate au seuil du sanctuaire by Sorita d'Este and David Rankine (same here I don't think there an English version)
I promise I'll try to find more sources in English next time 🙏
