Hekate, Desire & the Beltane Fires

At sunset April 30th begins the fabled Walpurgisnacht of German folklore, when witches are said to meet on the Brocken mountain and hold revels with the Devil. Neo-Pagan traditions that observe the Wheel of the Year will also know it as Beltane Eve and it is often linked with witchcraft, the fae, moonlit trysts and woodland shenanigans.

Beltane itself on May 1st is a festival long associated with fertility, virility and fire. Whilst not historically linked to the festival, Hekate can be celebrated at this time both through her associations with sacred fires and her lesser-known epithet of Erototokos (“bearer of love”).

Hekate was called upon in the Greek Magical Papyri as Erototokos (Erototokeia) meaning producing love, bearer of love or who bore love. The spell (PGM IV 2441-2621) concerns attraction, where the caster calls on various Goddess names (Aktiophis, Ereschigal, Artemis, Persephone, Selene, Hekate, Mene, Aphrodite) and a list of other epithets. The spell is one of coercion of the intended victim/target, causing them to become obsessed and incensed to the caster.

"Mother of All, who bore Love, Aphrodite, Lamp-bearer, shining and aglow, Selene, Star-coursing, heav’nly, torch-bearer, fire-breather, Woman four-faced, four-named, four-roads’ mistress."

~The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation by Hans Dieter Betz

Overall, I see Hekate Erototokos as governing both the inherit sacred fire within us all and also being able to help us achieve our desires (not just those carnal ones). Beltane Eve is a great night to “get your witch on” with Hekate in mind, celebrating with others, revelling into the night, hold a bonfire. It could also be a great time to call on Hekate as Queen of Witches, especially if you plan to dedicate your practice or devotion to her, or renew previously established dedications.

Beltane’s counterpart of Samhain is well known for spirits and thinning veils and similarly (but not always as well recognised) the same veils are also said to be thin at this time and it is said that the Fae (sídhe) especially are more active, especially on May Eve as well as any other nefarious spirits or forces such as the fabled witches of Walpurgisnacht.

Hekate governs the roaming spirits of the untimely dead and some see her in line with the Queen of Elphame and so it is not beyond the realm of possibility to ask Hekate to help protect you and your property from the carousing Fae during this time.

An Irish May Eve folkloric tradition involves collecting bunches of yellow flowers before sunset and placing them across thresholds and windowsills to protect against wayward Fae and witches. This tradition could also bring in Hekate’s favour. Simply gather 3 dandelion flowers and tie them with a red hemp or cotton thread and as the sun sets, place them outside your front door and ask Hekate to watch over your property and keep the spirits and fae away.

As a final note regarding the fertility and sexuality of Hekate Erototokos stirs the fires of passion and desire within us. This doesn’t have to be purely physical, nor does it rely on the static concepts of dual genders. Desire/attraction is a universal principal, embodied by the Orphic Eros and I feel it is more a personal, internal seeking of balance and unity between the gender poles within us.

Everyone’s balance is different. Masculine, feminine, binary, fluid, trans…find the balance of your power and use it to manifest your desires.