Hi there. I've been working with Hecate for a short time. I was wondering if there were any offerings I could make to Her in the Broom Closet. Here's what I've done till now-
I made a sheet of paper and drew symbols on it for the moon. I put 13 berries on it and prayed to Hecate. I also sang the Witches Rune before going inside for a ritual dance (in my room) with some music on for Hecate. Is this good or am I doing something wrong?
Are there any easier or simpler offerings I could make to her in the Broom Closet?
Hecate, or Hekate, symbols area star and crescent moon, so you could always buy candles that don't look very "witchy" (black colored ones if you can) and carve her symbols on them.
An offering that can probably be found in an "everyday normal" household iseggs. Another offering that can probably be found in the "normal household" is garlic.
Hecate is the Goddess of Magic and her main symbol in Greece is the Crossed Torches, anything that doesn't instantly look like Nyx type offerings and have some appeal to her should be fine. You may want to leave put herbs or crystals since the whole 'Goddess of Magic' name and herbs and crystals are involved in magic. It's just a thought, I don't know if it''ll work since I don't work with any particular dieties
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe bay leaves have a significance in the practice of working with GreekGods. I'm not sure what your exact situation is but if you can't burn you could always make a mist or something by boiling the leaves and putting it in a bottle. I'm not sure what the name for this is but I do think there is a specific term if someone else who knows more can answer.
Something I've learned is that you can't really do an offering "wrong", over different cultures and time spans prayer and offering takes shape in so many different forms. Maybe you have a plant that is dedicated to a deity, maybe you cook something in their honor, maybe you take an action or meditate on their name and energy for a little bit every day or week. What you are doing already seems great to me!
I would try just asking Her, talk to Her in your mind or out loud if you can/want to, the answer doesn't have to come in words but maybe you will just see it in daily life, maybe you will have a dream about a certain object or food or anything, and you can find out for yourself what She favors from you.
I give her lavender and honey. Sometimes when I make tea I make two cups with lavender and honey mixed in and leave in on my altar. If you are unable to access these items, and have to be extra discrete about leaving things out, consider these alternatives. Hekate is known be a protector of women & children so consider an act of service. It could be making a small donation to an organization supporting women/children, volunteering some time. Or when the snow melts (assuming you get snow), considering picking up some gloves and a garbage bag and bring them with you on your next walk. Picking up garbage can be an act of service for this Goddess. She is also known to be the Goddess of land, sky, and sea, so I am sure she will appreciate the tidying up.
If you or anyone reading this wants to connect with someone who also honours Hekate, hit me up any time.
Lovew1tch; there is a similar process for making rosewater. (Which I learned from 'good eats' on the cooking channel, of all things)
1; get a big stewing pot, a brand-new and scrubbed clean red brick that will fit inside, and a metal bowl that will also fit inside with at least an inch or two of space around the sides.
(The brick can be anything that is heavy, and heat resistant. And with a flat surface)
2; place the brick inside the big pot, and put the metal bowl upright on top. You should be able to get everything inside and still close the pot lid.
3; fill the pot to the brim of the brick, so the bowl is elevated and above the water. Put the desired herb into the water, and put everything onto med-high heat. Put the lid on upside down (so the handle is pointing down) and let it steam/simmer. If you want you can put ice on the lid to make it colder, as long as the melt won't go into the pot.
The steam from the simmering herbs will hit the lid, condense and run to the middle of the lid to dripinto the bowl.
Traditional offerings to Hekate are garlic, leeks, onions, cheese, bread, cake, red mullet, red wine and "household sweepings". These were usually offered up at the New Moon, as this was the end of the ancient Athenian lunar month and sacred to Hekate.
Bay leaves are sacred to Apollon, they're used to make khernips (purification water) and were chewed by the oracle at Delphi to induce a sacred mindset in preparation for divination. They're not expressly connected to Hekate but they also don't seem to offend her.
You can do offerings "wrong", giving something that a deity finds repellent or offensive is never a good idea. For example offering Demeter red wine is considered unwise as she rejects such an offer as Eleusis, saying it is not lawful for her to consume red wine.
