Hekate Tarot Spread - Connecting with the dark goddess Hekate
Last Updated: February 17, 2023
Hekate is a goddess who bridges the worlds of light and dark, known for her powerful magic and ability to unlock secrets. She can help us connect with our own power and find insights in the shadows.
In this article, we will discuss how to connect with Hekate using a tarot spread designed to help unlock insights from the shadows. We’ll also explore how to use Hekate’s energy in your tarot practice, including ideas for special asteroid astrology, oils, herbs, and drinks.
Who is Hekate?
From the Ancient Greek pantheon, Hekate is a cthonic goddess who bridges the worlds of light and dark. She is known for her powerful magic, which she uses to unlock secrets and hidden knowledge. Hekate is often associated with crossroads, ghosts, and necromancy. As a goddess of death, she helps us transition from one phase of life to the next.
Hekate’s symbols include the strophalos wheel, dogs, owls, corvids, the Triple Goddess symbol, and keys. Hekate is often depicted holding two torches, lamps or candles, which represent her role as a guide in the dark. She is also known as Hecate, and it is pronounced “heh-kar-tee” or “heh-kaht-eh”. Whilst she is thought to be of Thracian descent, her parents are Perses and Asteria according to Hesiod; we know that you don’t need to be born into a family to have parents, and her specific origins encourage a deep dive further (such as her ties to “hekat”, the female witches of Ancient Egypt, and the Sumerian “Tiamat”).
Why Connect with Hekate?
This goddess can help us connect with our own power and find insights in the shadows. She can also help us transition through difficult times. If you are seeking guidance from the dark goddess, Hekate can help you find answers in the shadows.
As the “Goddess of Witchcraft” and with her being one of the older deities, her wisdom isn’t to be ignored. Much like Circe, her love of gardens and herbs feeds fiercely into “pharmakeia” or the act of using drugs and potions for magickal purposes.
Related Reading: Hecate’s Call: Recognizing The Signs She is Calling You
Hekate Asteroid Astrology
There are many ways to connect with this powerful goddess. One way is to find her in your birth natal chart, and see what is happening in current transits. This Hekate asteroid (100) can help you unlock hidden knowledge and understand the dark goddess’s role in your life. Find her when pulling up your natal chart via “Extended Chart Selection” on Astro.com.
Astrologically she supports us in a time when we can reflect on our shadow selves and work with her energy for transformation to face our fears, and face up to our power. She can show us how magickal we really are.
She helps shed insight on how we can set intentions for what we want to manifest in our lives with more power (so if she’s transiting Cancer, look to elements of family magick, working with The Moon and remaining levelheaded in our emotions). Guidance from Hekate can help shed light on the correct direction when we feel stuck or heading down the wrong path in life.
Hekate's Correspondences
Hekate is associated with the Dark Moon and New Moon phases. She is also associated with crossroads, which can be physical or metaphorical. There are even days specific to Hekatean worship: November 16th, February 13th, May 15th, and August 13th.
- Rider Waite Smith tarot cards associated with Hekate are; Queen of Swords, The High Priestess, and Death.
- Herbs and oils associated with Hekate include Mugwort, Wormwood, Cypress, Pine, Juniper berry, and Black Pepper.
- Stones associated with Hekate include Jet, Onyx, and Obsidian.
- Colors associated with Hekate are black, silver, royal purple.
- Items you may associate with Hekate include rope, daggers, keys, and torches.
- Food and drink offerings for Hekate include black coffee, dark chocolate, and red wine.
- Animals associated with Hekate are dogs, cats, owls, snakes, mares, red mullets, polecats and lions.
Hekate Divination Oil
A divination oil is a great way to connect with Hekate and attune yourself to her energies. You can use them to anoint yourself, your deck, your candle, your spellwork, or whatever feels right to you. It can help you connect with them when you are trying to face difficult decisions and receive insight from multiple realms. To make a Hekate divination oil, you will need:
- 3 drops of Mugwort Essential Oil
- 2 drops of Wormwood Essential Oil
- 1 drop of Patchouli Essential Oil
- 1 drop of Cypress Essential Oil
- Per 10ml of Carrier Oil Base (can be hemp, sweet almond or jojoba)
- Sprinkle of Black Peppercorns
- Sprinkle of Juniper Berries
- Small black obsidian
Hekate-themed drink: "Crossroads"
With potions, elixirs and brews we find a way to connect with the elements and our magick. The heat of the cup, the scent of the ingredients, the flavour and of course the liquid itself that nourishes us. For Hekate, this “Crossroads” brew will help you take time to pause to take in insight so you can focus your power moving forward.
- Milk of Choice (I go for Oat milk)
- Dark Chocolate shavings of at least 75% cocoa (about 300gms per 500ml milk)
- 1 tsp food-grade Activated Charcoal
- Homemade mint simple syrup and fresh mint leaves to decorate
Light some incense such as sage, or burn an intention candle specifically for Hekate, to cleanse your space and to start your work with them. Mix all ingredients in a pan on medium heat, being careful not to let the milk burn or bubble over, stirring them together in an anticlockwise direction to cleanse away any cloudiness within yourself.
When to your desired temperature, pour into a cup and decorate with the mint leaves. Milk for comfort, mint for clarity and success, and chocolate for love & connection. Sit, sip, scry if you like, and contemplate your thoughts. This drink is perfect with the tarot spread below.
Hekate tarot spread layout & questions to ask
This tarot spread is designed to help you connect with the dark goddess Hekate, and to tap into the energy from either themselves as a deity, the asteroid energy or from the archetype personality. It can be used to find answers in the shadows or to transition through a difficult time.
Hekate can show you what should end for you, and what will end for you. At the end of your spread, share your gratitude with this energy.
To begin, shuffle your tarot deck and draw a card for each position in the yearly tarot draw as shown in the below layout.
Place a Hekate card in the centre: (Queen of Swords/The High Priestess/Death).
Finally, take some time to reflect on the questions that each card position represents and what message the tarot cards in that position might be trying to tell you. If you’re just starting to learn tarot, or if you’re still getting to know your deck, you may find my in-depth articles on the meanings of every tarot card helpful.
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Tarot card #1: The key thing to know right now
This card will show you what you need to know that can help you move forward, that you may not already know.
Tarot card #2: How to unlock better boundaries
When challenges come forward, it’s important to have strong reinforcements (like knowledge and boundaries) on your side.
This card from Hekate will show you how to unlock stronger boundaries and offers the advice you need during this time.
Tarot card #3: Where to spend time right now for better manifestations (Sky/Earth/Shadow)
Hekate is across three realms and has the awareness of all the beneficial elements. If you are working towards something right now, whether a manifestation, a goal or a decision, the card placement here will suggest where to focus more energy.
Whether in the astral, the physical or the shadow. Whether using fire, water, earth or air. The cards will show you exactly what you need.
Tarot card #4: How Hekate can help you at this time
This is the personal advice Hekate has for you at this time, it may be something you need to work on, or it may be a message from your subconscious
The additional two cards not necessary if you're short on time, but either side of two and four can be for:
Optional card #5: A shadow element to remain hidden at this time
This shows you what can remain hidden at this time so that energy is depleted or wasted if something more serious is going on.
Optional card #6: An element of strength within you to light up the situation at this time
This shows you why Hekate believes in you, and what you have that can help you take things further.
Try this 4-card Hekate tarot reading below
What to do after this Hekate tarot reading
After you’ve finished a tarot reading, there are a few things you can do in order to reflect on the experience and integrate the insights you gained. Here are some suggestions:
Use a tarot journal to record your findings
Jotting down your thoughts in a tarot journal after reading can be helpful in a few ways. First, it can help you remember the details of your reading later on, such as how you felt at the moment and perhaps your first impressions of what a card meant. Second, it can provide a space for you to process the information you’ve received and explore what it means for you. Third, it can be a way to keep track of your progress over time as you revisit your journal entries and reflect on your journey.
Take a picture of the cards
If you want to remember the position of the cards and what they meant in relation to your questions, take a picture of the spread. This will help you look back on the reading later and review the insights you received. Sometimes, clarity is better acquired after you’ve stepped back from the situation for a little while and had some time to process it.
Some people create Instagram accounts or Pinterest accounts specifically for this, and if you use any of our spreads please tag us @backyardbanshee if you feel comfortable!
Take some time to meditate and reflect
Immediately after a tarot reading, it’s important to take some time to sit with the insights you’ve received. This can be done through proper meditation, visualisation, or simply taking some time to reflect on the reading. It can be helpful to think about what the messages from the cards mean for your life and how you can apply the advice that was given to you. That time can also be used to replenish your energy level and cleanse your tarot deck.
Get a second opinion from a close friend
If you have close friends who also happen to be tarot practitioners, it can be helpful to get their take on your reading. They may be able to offer additional insights or perspectives that you hadn’t considered before. This is also a good way to get feedback on your own interpretation of the cards.
Ensure to ask permission before just blindly sending your cards across in a message and saying “what does this mean to you?” as your friends may not have the energy or have a boundary with this sort of thing – manners cost nothing, and this is especially to note if they are a professional tarot reader who normally gets paid to interpret readings.
Layer your reading with more divination
Why not try adding astrology dice or a pendulum reading to your tarot session? Your intuition will guide you on how to best use these tools, but they can be helpful in providing more clarity around the messages from your tarot reading. We have lots of methods for you to utilise here on the website.
Do the same reading a month later
This is a great way to check in on your progress and see how far you’ve come. It can also be helpful in understanding the cyclical nature of our lives and how our current situation is likely to change over time. This can be especially useful if you’re struggling with a decision or trying to figure out which path to take as to offer suggestions, provide perspective and encourage your confidence to move forward.
At the end of the day, tarot readings are meant to be a helpful tool, not a replacement for your own intuition. The best way to use tarot is to combine the insights you receive with your own understanding of the situation. Trust your gut and follow your heart—the answers you’re looking for will come.
It is my hope that these tarot spreads on my website help you with clarity and articulate whatever is going on. Let me know what you think of this tarot spread in the comments below and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.
I have been passionate about reading divination for more than 15 years. This gives me a unique perspective when it comes to creating fun, supportive and creative tarot spreads. I hope they help you find the clarity and insight you are looking for.
More tarot spreads for you to try ✨
This page is part of our collection of free tarot spread layouts. If you enjoyed the read, then you’ll love the following articles.
In this article, I’ll share different tarot cards that are often associated with various deities from throughout mythology.
