November 16th is Hecate’s Night, a sacred moment on the modern witchcraft calendar dedicated to honoring the ancient goddess of the crossroads, the moon, and transformation. As our days shorten and the world approaches the stillness of winter, this night bids us to remember the darker days in life. This night’s energy is not fearful but wise; it is renewal; it is the deep magic buried in the darkest corners of the globe. For those who journey down the goddess path, the night of November 16th is an evening to gather together, light candles, pray, and connect with Hecate as a guide in times of transition.
But this night, why is this night so special, and why is Hecate involved? How do I honor and celebrate her in a world that tends to ignore the darker aspects of existence? With this article, I’ll take you on a walk through the heart of Hecate’s Feast Night, through this night’s stories, rituals, and thoughts, all of which touch upon how much the night means and may deserve a place in your practice.
Hecate: The Guardian of the Threshold
Before delving into specifics regarding Hecate’s Feast Night, we first need to take a step backward and consider what the very being of Hecate in herself is all about. She is a goddess of the shadows, not of light and comfort. Hecate is the goddess who keeps the crossroads, the space between the known and the unknown. She is the caretaker of thresholds—those stops in life where we are one foot in, one foot out, trying to navigate something unfamiliar or uncertain.
Hecate is known to be armed with a torch to illuminate the night’s dark paths so travelers can follow. She’s the goddess to call on for clarity when you’re in a moment of change or feel lost in life’s labyrinth. While she is known for being a witch or a magician, she is also a guardian, a teacher, and a representative of the intuitive force of the inner soul.
The History of Hecate’s Feast Night
In various modern Pagan and witchcraft traditions, Hecate’s Feast Night is still celebrated to honor the goddess through ritual, food offerings, and reflection. Not all Pagans observe this specific day, but those who do typically say it is a powerful and transformative experience.
The Greeks historically celebrated the new moon and the dark moon, as these periods were believed to be when the goddess’s energy was at its highest. However, the modern-day Hecate’s Feast on November 16th is an observance inspired by the idea of honoring Hecate in the dark time of the lunar cycle. This is a night to commune with the goddess we are part of, to take stock of our path, and to express our gratitude for the wisdom she gifts us.
The Significance of November 16th
The origins of November 16th as Hecate’s Feast Night are a little muddy, but as this date comes right after the first frost, it exists just as Fall energy moves into Winter energy. Decay in Days, the earth cradles in silence, and the world turns inward. It is a time to honor the mysteries of the unseen, of dying and being born again. But the night is long; the veil between worlds is thin; Hecate’s guidance is stronger than ever.
November 16th is a night for reflection and renewal. I sit in the quiet of the darkness, light a candle, and give thanks to the goddess. It’s a time to let go of the things that don’t serve me anymore and make room for new growth. I am not the only one with such a wonderful experience with Hecate. Many of my friends and other Craft practitioners have also experienced excellent connections with Hecate during these times.
Rituals and Offerings: Connecting with Hecate
Hecate’s Feast Night rituals vary greatly depending on personal preferences and tradition. Still, they all share a common theme: Hecate is honored as a guide through life transitions and, of course, wisdom before, during, and following change. Below are a few ideas for celebrating this special night as a solitary practitioner or with a small group.
Create an Altar to Hecate
Inviting Hecate into your life is powerful; setting up a unique space dedicated to her is just one way to ask for her energy. If you don’t have a distinctive dark corner of your home, you can set an area in your home with the use of a small table or quiet corner and put things there that symbolize her, like black or purple candles, a small cauldron and the offerings of some food or drink. Honey cakes, bread, garlic, and wine are all popular offerings, foods that often have associations with the underworld and offerings to spirits.
A three-way candle (or a triple candle) commonly represents Hecate, symbolizing her threefold nature: She is a maiden, mother, and crone, or she rules the three realms: the earth, the heavens, and the underworld. Allow the candle to represent Hecate’s wisdom and guidance, and light your candles in silence.
Feast with Offerings
At its heart, the Feast Night of Hecate is a night of giving to Hecate and the world’s spirits. If time is tight, prepare a small feast for yourself and your family, and leave a portion with your meal as an offering to Hecate. What you have in this offering isn’t just food; it’s symbolic of things you wish to put into motion or release into your life.
If you’re in transition right now, going through some shift or career change, perhaps offer foods that represent change and transformation, like apples, which symbolize new beginnings, or honey, which is sweet and healing. While you give these foods to Hecate, consider what you are willing to release and what you wish to draw into your life.
Divination and Reflection
Whether through tarot cards or runes, scrying into a water bowl is the perfect activity for divination at night. Hecate is a goddess of wisdom and prophecy who can steer you through the veils to find the facts below your conscious knowledge. This night is reported to be highly intuitive and straightforward for many practitioners, who say the energy of the dark moon enhances their spiritual practices.
Sacrifice some time for deep reflection and journaling your thoughts, feelings, and intentions for the next few months. A seek Hecate for guidance as you move past the crossroads in your life, and trust that the guidance you seek will arrive in time.
Honoring the Ancestors
Hecate is a goddess of the realm of the dead and is significantly linked to ancestor worship and those who died. Tonight, you may wish to celebrate your ancestors by lighting candles for them, reading out prayers, or telling stories of those who have come before you. Honoring the cycle of life and death helps remind us that Hecate is a guide to life’s transitions and the mysteries of the afterlife.
Crossroads Magic
Now, since this is the goddess of crossroads, it’s the perfect time to do magic for decision-making, personal growth, and for opening up new paths; create a small crossroads altar with three candles (to represent past, present, and future) or see yourself standing in a literal or figurative crossroads, asking Hecate for some clarity about your next move.
Allow yourself to do this without fear or doubt, even throughout the darkest moments, because the goddess guides you through it all. Be open to the unknown; change happens from the unknown.
Embracing the Darkness: A Time for Rebirth
At its heart, Hecate’s Feast Night is a divine darkness celebration where we honor the parts of ourselves that we push away or hide. But it’s also about transformation, rebirth, and stepping into those shadows, knowing that the light of Hecate’s torch will lead us through.
For all of us who tread the circles of the Craft, this night is, if not honoring a goddess, initiation upon a more significant path of self-discovery. It is when we face our fears, doubts, and insecurities in the darkness. Yet there in the darkness also resides the fertile ground in which new growth can take place.
And now, as preparation for Hecate’s Feast Night approaches, I am excited. I have always followed the goddess; you helped guide me during times of incredible transformation. This night shows her strength, wisdom, and profound, compassionate energy, and I trust that whatever crossroads I stand at, I am not alone again.
So, if you intend to celebrate this Hecate’s Feast Night this year, I invite you to do so with an open heart and trust that the magic of the night will lead you in your journey. May Hecate’s wisdom find you through food, divination, or quiet reflection as you make your way through the crossroads of your life.
