Hekate’s Tribe is not a reconstructionist Tradition. We are witches living today, in today’s world with today’s struggles. Some of what we offer has roots in the past but is firmly rooted in the present. It is our belief that we cannot engage in modern witchcraft without some form of radical activism. Our magic is all about making change. What better Goddess to guide us than Hekate?
Most people come to witchcraft from backgrounds of oppression. Our first goal in self-development, is to heal from that oppression. The natural follow-up to that is to next heal others and protect others from oppression. We are feminists to the core and ever strive toward a dynamic of “power with” or “shared power” and away from the patriarchal, “power over.”
Those of us who started Hekate’s Tribe had conversation about the future of our work together. Our concern started with a perception of us having hierarchy if were to use a degree system. We don’t want hierarchy within the Tribe. I have always worked with all members having a voice and as much as possible, reaching consensus with decisions.
- We do not call Hekate’s Tribe Wicca – but rather Witchcraft and ourselves not Wiccan, but Witches!
- We have no established hierarchy or a degree system.
- Members come in, try us and if it feels like home, we offer a Dedication Rite. After a Year and a Day, one may choose initiation if they are committed and aligned with our path, our work with Hekate, and our principles.
- We will use the title Mystai in our written work when referring to the leadership role in ritual unless we are using a person’s name. We do this to acknowledge that not all fall into society’s binary gendered rolls and out of respect for our beautiful differences as Mystai does not denote gender.
- Elders are considered Elders by their knowledge and years of experience in the Craft and are seen clearly as leaders within the group. They take on the role of service to others, writing and serving in
Our primary Goddess is Hekate and all Her many epithets. We will, when we think it appropriate, call on other Greek deities. We do try to stay within that one pantheon in our group work. No one is ever restricted in their own private practice, in calling upon deities of their choice, in any pantheon.
We teach and encourage daily devotionals as well as developing a personal magical practice. We do however, use our magic to produce change – change in our own lives, change in our own community, as well as change globally. We encourage our members to take a stand, to use that emotion to fuel their magic, individually as well as in our group. We work for what we believe in and stand against what oppresses us and others.
Some of our practices are our own. Others are borrowed from a plethora of public sources – borrowed because they work! We will always share the sources of what we borrow, when we know the source.
Our Circles are created to honor the Old Gods, to show our respect and our love. Some are celebratory, others are working rites, manifesting as we can, what is needed at the moment.
We include feasting in our rituals and we share with our deities. Everyone contributes to the feast as they can. We always wish to offer as best we can, in gratitude.