Official Covenant of Hekate Membership Center
The Covenant of Hekate is a community of people united by their devotion to the goddess Hekate, by her many names, in her many forms, and through her many faces. We are not a spiritual, religious, or magical tradition; instead, we are a collaborative network through which information about Hekate worship, both historical and contemporary, is shared.
What is the Covenant of Hekate and how to join?
The objectives of the Covenant of Hekate:
1. Create an international society through which the history and mysteries of Hecate as the Soul of the Cosmos are studied, shared and experienced.
2. Ensure that every member is committed to realizing his or her full potential, in all that he or she is and in all that he or she aspires to become.
MEMBERSHIP PROCESS
Membership in the Covenant of Hekate is completely free, and the Covenant is open to all devotees of Hekate, regardless of tradition, practice, or experience. To join, simply send an email to the Sanctuary requesting information about the membership process. Interested devotees who speak English are encouraged to visit the Covenant's official website and carefully read the CoH presentation, the introduction to Hekate, and the section dedicated to the 5 virtues. Non-English speakers can request translations of the texts via email.
If you wish, you can join the CoH through this sanctuary without necessarily joining the Sanctuary's activities. The Sanctuary of Hekate Potnia Theron currently manages the activities of the Italian CoH Patto, the Italian CoH group.
THE 5 VIRTUES OF THE COVENANT OF HEKATE
In 2013, some members of the CoH collaborated on a shared project to compile a list of Virtues that could be associated with the Goddess Hekate.
These are the Virtues they chose:
Compassion
Courage
Temperance
Justice
Wisdom
The chosen Virtues are very similar to the Platonic Virtues of Antiquity, a set of moral principles based on the ideal state of being. As such, the Five Virtues of Hekate lend themselves to further development and now form the foundation of the Covenant’s Ethical Code. Each member is invited to reflect upon, discuss, refer to, and aspire to the attainment of these Virtues in daily life, in relationships with other devotees, and with the Goddess herself.
The beautiful prayer that follows was written by one of our Italian members and may be used as a daily prayer to manifest these Virtues in one’s life:
Prayer for the Five Virtues of Hekate
Sacred Goddess Hekate,
Help me to manifest Justice in my actions,
Temperance in my soul,
Courage in my choices,
Wisdom in my words,
Compassion toward every being.
What Are the Five Virtues of Hekate?
(Article written as part of a group project by members of the Covenant)
Compassion
Compassion and concern for all those who suffer or are going through a difficult time. Those who seek to develop the Virtue of Compassion should strive to alleviate every difficult situation or, when that is not possible, at least refrain from making it worse.
Example: you can help those who are homeless or less fortunate, whether they walk on two legs or four. Volunteering at an animal shelter or a local refuge, or contributing to food distribution, are wonderful ways to demonstrate Compassion.
Courage
Courage, or strength of spirit, in defending one’s beliefs and facing adversity and hardship without fear. Those who cultivate the Virtue of Courage should be willing to engage with those who question their beliefs and have the bravery to speak openly against those who harm or damage others.
Example: defending someone who is considered (or is perceived as) unpopular. Or, when someone shows remorse for their wrong actions, instead of continuing to express anger, calmly state your point of view (which in itself is an act of Courage) and then let go of the anger so that the situation may be resolved.
Temperance
Moderation and self-control are both acts of Temperance. Those who wish to develop this Virtue should seek to moderate a part of themselves—an action or a thought—in order to find balance, avoiding swinging between extremes.
Example: refraining from certain types of food or drink, or maintaining composure in online discussions. Another good example is learning to control one’s tongue: speaking less and listening more, instead of jumping to conclusions and starting an argument.
Justice
Moral and material fairness are both aspects of Justice, as is the sometimes complex act of behaving equitably toward others. Those who cultivate this Virtue should strive to act with fairness, honesty, and personal integrity, both toward others and toward themselves.
Example: treating others fairly, in actions and in words, both in person and online. Avoid judging based solely on personal feelings or hearsay. There are often multiple versions of the same story, and the truth almost always lies somewhere in between. Whenever possible, try to verify facts impartially.
Wisdom
Common sense, foresight, and the ability to think and act in the most objective and beneficial way in any situation. Those who wish to develop the Virtue of Wisdom should strive to apply knowledge and experience in a prudent and practical manner.
Example: sharing a subject you know well with a local group or cultural center. Offering yourself as a blogger for an online project or writing an article for a magazine about a topic you love.