When the world feels unfamiliar, and the light dims, don’t despair. Not for one second should you worry about who or what might be lurking in the dark.
Instead, focus on the one that you know is there.
Hecate.
As a Triple Goddess with roots weaving together cultures and civilizations, Hecate takes many forms. But, she’ll often appear as a woman clad in a hooded cloak, speaking with spirits and animals while she tends to her plants. Look for her at crossroads, beneath a dark moon, and when dogs howl.
Or, whenever magick is afoot.
In ancient Greece, when Hecate’s followers sought protection, they would meet her where three roads intersected. There, at the crossroads, they would collect a broken stone or shard of pottery and anoint it with myrrh oil and magickal incantations.
Under the watchful gaze of Hecate, the Queen of Night, a protection talisman was born.
And now, we will do the same.
We designed this ritual to enchant an object, whether it be an amulet, a piece of jewelry, or another item we hold sacred. We ask that Hecate meet us at a crossroad and allow us to drink from her infinite well of sorcery and wisdom.
Begin by finding a small bag (an empty tarot bag works well) and slip your amulet inside. If you know a place where three roads meet, go there. If you’re unsure, try using an online map to find a three-way junction near your home.
When you arrive, take a moment to survey your surroundings. Take in the earth, the sky, and the small details that would otherwise be overlooked.
This place is special. It’s sacred. Can you feel it?
Introduce yourself to Hecate. Even if you don’t see her, she sees you. Ask to borrow a handful of earth in exchange for an offering (non-invasive seeds are almost always well received). If she accepts, scoop a fistful of dirt into the bag with your amulet, scatter the seeds, and head home.
Once you’re back in your sacred space, prop up the bag so that it sits open on your altar. Select a few protective plant allies like mandrake root, lavender flowers, myrrh resin, pomegranate seeds, or the papery covering that envelops garlic bulbs. Lightly crush them between your fingertips before dropping into the bag. If you have a piece of black tourmaline, smokey quartz, or another black stone, add it now.
With the bag still open, light a black candle and write a short incantation on a piece of parchment. We encourage you to create your incantation instead of relying on a generic charm, as we believe that personal spells carry more weight in the magickal realm.
Whatever words you choose, ask Hecate for protection against unwanted attention and the ill intentions of others. Ask that she visit you in the dream world, in visions, and that she shares her three-way gaze so that you too can see beyond the boundaries of physical sight.
Read the incantation aloud before folding the parchment into a small square and dropping it into the bag. Cinch the bag closed and snuff out the candle.
For the next twelve days, light a black candle on your altar. Only while the candle is lit should you open the bag. After you whisper your incantations into the pouch, cinch it closed once more and snuff out the candle.
On the 13th day, after you light the candle and recite your incantation for the final time, remove the amulet from the bag. When your skin makes contact with the amulet for the first time since the start of the ritual, you might experience a tingling sensation, a wave of warmth, coolness, or you might sense a presence other than your own.
That’s Hecate.
Express your gratitude to the Goddess, and if you’d like to work with her again, now would be a good time to voice that sentiment. When ready to say goodbye, snuff out the candle and adorn yourself with the enchanted amulet.
If possible, return to the crossroads and bury the remnants from the bag. If you cannot revisit the crossroads for any reason, bury the soil, plant material, written intentions, and stones in your garden or within a potted plant. Bury the stones near the top of the earth so that you can remove them after the next moon cycle if you desire to do so.
