#The Night Witch

[thegoodmorningman]

Is there a goodnight man?

[miniaturemoonheart]

Lupercalia was an ancient Roman festival celebrated annually on February 15th. It was a fertility festival dedicated to Lupercus, the god of shepherds, and Faunus, the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Pan. The festival was believed to purify the city and promote health and fertility. Lupercalia rituals were performed by a group of priests known as the Luperci, who would gather at the sacred cave of Lupercal on the Palatine Hill. They would sacrifice goats and dogs, whose hides were then used to make whips or lashes called "februa."

One of the most well-known customs of Lupercalia involved the Luperci running through the streets of Rome, striking people with their februa. It was believed that being touched by the februa would bring fertility and ward off evil spirits. The festival also included matchmaking and fertility rites, with young men drawing the names of young women in a lottery to be their partners for the duration of the festival or even longer. While Lupercalia was celebrated for centuries, it eventually fell out of favor with the rise of Christianity, and in 496 AD, Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with the Christian feast of St. Valentine's Day, which is celebrated on February 14th.

[2000s-angell]

[moodboard-d]

[veguinsky]

That's true love (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) ♡

[whimsigothwitch]

Witchy summer

[maviyenot]

[lewajek]

[rose-colored-tarot]

Personally I've never been a fan of the "magic is a beast that needs to be tamed" metaphor. Magic is more like the ocean: powerful, terrifying, capable of unbridled force. But at the same time, it is gentle, warm, the lifeblood of millions of people. The folk who know the ocean know you cannot harness it's force, you must work within or around it, lest it destroy you. Similarly, magic is great and terrible and gentle and kind, all at once. And those who work with it need to work WITH it, not reign over it. Because the primordial forces have no rules about biting the hand that feeds you.

[detailedart]

Details: Portrait of Urania, 19th century, British School.

[the-wolf-and-moon]

IC 2118, The Witch

[hopeidontgetaddictedtothis]

Dead Boy Detectives | 1.01: The Case of Crystal Palace

[miniaturemoonheart]

Hecate makes her inaugural appearance in Greek mythology within the narrative of Persephone. When Hades abducts Persephone, her distressed mother seeks aid in locating her. Hecate assumes the role of guide and protector, leading the desperate mother through the underworld to reunite with her daughter. While the myth delves into the origins of spring's beauty, Hecate’s significance lies in her pivotal role as a guardian and guide. The Night of Hecate serves as an occasion to delve deeper into her character.

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲

The History of the Night of Hecate unfolds annually, commencing at the onset of sunset on an autumn evening and spanning twenty-four hours until the following sunset. Hecate, sometimes spelled as "Hekate," stands associated with diverse realms, including witchcraft, magick, childbirth, and the underworld. Some followers link Hecate with practices like necromancy, involving communication with the departed.

In Greek mythology, Hecate is revered as a triple moon goddess, embodying the maiden, mother, and crone aspects, wielding power over the heavens, earth, and sea. Additionally, she is perceived as a goddess of transitions and crossroads, championing the protection of those marginalized or caught in-between, akin to Persephone's plight.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲?

The Night of Hecate offers practitioners an opportunity to celebrate their patron goddess. Modern pagans and witches dedicate the evening to feasts, offerings, and rituals in worship of the deity.

Modern witchcraft and pagans hold that the veil separating our world from spiritual realms is the thinnest in the fall. The thinner veil strengthens magic and makes it easier to commune with beings from beyond, offering the perfect opportunity to honor an otherworldly being.

The timing of Hecate's influence coincides with the Dark Moon, symbolizing the release of the old and the onset of renewal. In ancient times, the Night of Hecate was marked by her adherents gathering to present offerings such as food, wine, and items personally significant during Hecate Suppers. Offerings might encompass honey, eggs, garlic, fish, mushrooms, or pastries and bread shaped like crescent moons.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲

Individuals intrigued by Greek mythology, magick, or witchcraft can partake in various rituals during The Night of Hecate. Consider these suggestions for commemorating this event:

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀:

Engage in a ritual involving the consumption of offerings, including wine, mushrooms, and bread, which were traditionally presented. Some may choose to leave these foods on their front door threshold, symbolizing the metaphorical "crossroads" between indoors and outdoors, or at an actual crossroad.

𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆:

Harness the energy of the Night of Hecate to contemplate personal transitions or crossroads. Write a poem, create artwork, or compose a letter expressing desires and intentions for a transformative period. Given the late autumn setting, use this time to plan and set creative intentions for the forthcoming winter months.

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆:

Deepen your connection with The Night of Hecate by exploring her role in Persephone's narrative and other Greek myths. Delve into her associations with Artemis, Demeter, and Selene, gaining a more profound understanding of her multifaceted character.

[2000s-angell]

[rienafoutre]

[veguinsky]

I can't find a flaw in her logic ╮(. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) ╭ WebToon: "Walpurgis Night ☾"