And yes, the well water would actually be FAR better than the running stream as it comes from the depths of the earth, over which Hecate rules. Well water has seen the light of NO MOON AT ALL, and thus is even better suited than river water. Most people don’t have access to a well though. The fact that you thought of it and made so many connections to how it would work well — you are thinking like a true Witch and Priestess there! Good job!

I’m looking forward to hearing about your experiences (if you care to share).

Next I live in the southeastern Arizona desert on a small horse ranch with a cross roads only a half mile from the house. Since all roads out here are dirt, I will have no trouble finding a safe place to bury my key, and also since country people tend to go to bed early, the possibility of being interrupted during my ceremony is very remote.
Now I also have my cross roads.

And last, although I have never worked with Hecate, She is the Crone aspect of my personal Goddess Artemis, so I have done some research on Her. Also being in the Crone stage of my own life, helps me feel closer to Her and what She stands for.

See this is what I mean. When something is meant to be, everything you need to make it happen just seems to flow together.
All I need now is the black ribbon and I will be ready for my ritual.

I will spend the next week getting ready spiritually for this ritual and also plan on doing more research on Hecate so I may understand Her and Her powers better.

I do have one question though. Since I live on the desert and this year has been dryer than usual, it will be next to impossible for me to find either rainwater or a running stream for the water to wash my key. We do have our own well though and a windmill we use to pump the water for our animals and garden. Since this water comes directly from the Mother and is brought to us using Her own power, the wind, would it be appropriate if I used it to wash my key? When I bring my key home the night of the New Moon, I can wash it with under the water as it flows from the windmill pipe.

I am so excited about this, but a little scared too. This is the first time I have communicated with any Deity other than Artemis so I have no idea what to expect. It gives me butterflies just thinking about it. : )

As for the Key, first you need to find one. Antique malls, yard sales, or craft stores all sell vintage or vintage-looking keys. If it’s small, you can string it on a ribbon and actually wear in for the duration of doing this working (makes it easier). Once you find the Key, take it to a crossroads.

People will dither about how many roads need to come together to make the crossroads — some say three, others say four. I say it needs to be a true crossroads (two roads crossing perpendicular). The main reason I say this is, if you read the legends of Hecate, the traveler (the departed soul) comes to the crossroads and goes to one of three places based on his life: (1) the Elysian Fields, (2) the Plains of Asphodel, and (3) Tartarus. If the departed soul is already *ON* one of the roads coming from the realm of the living, and if the departed soul can go down three paths *FROM* the crossroads, then there are FOUR incoming roads. Personally, I’ve sought out crossroads both three and four pronged, and I’ve felt Hecate’s presence at each one, but strongest at a true crossroad.

At the Crossroads of choice, as close to true midnight (precisely the hour exactly between sunset and sunrise), take the key and bury it on that third day before New Moon. Say a prayer to Hecate that you ask Her to impart Her powers of choice and unlocking to this talisman that you may set free your own inner wisdom so you may follow your own path more effectively. Leave a gift of garlic where you bury the key, but I suggest marking the exact spot of the burial with a stone because the garlic will likely disappear. Once you bury the key and turn to leave — and THIS IS *VERY* IMPORTANT — DO NOT LOOK BACK UNDER *ANY* CIRCUMSTANCES. Walk away in faith, no matter what you hear behind you.

In the three days from when you bury the key to when you plan to return to retrieve it, set your hands to making something small to leave as a gift of your own energy and power. It can be something baked (but make sure that NO ONE ELSE gets to eat of whatever you cook… else it turns the offering mundane), or something woven, or something written, etc. Whatever you feel is a suitable gift to Hecate. Return again at true midnight on the day of the Dark Moon (three days later) with your gift in hand. Offer your gift in silence and wait for a signal that the gift is received. Most of the time, the darkness seems to close down upon me for a moment, or the wind will pick up and blow past me rather sudden, or I’ll hear a dog bark or howl or an owl cry. Something will usually occur right as you offer the gift. Once you know the gift is accepted, retrieve the key. Again, when you leave the crossroads, DO NOT LOOK BACK. You may wash the dirt off the key but ONLY with rainwater or water collected from a stream beneath the Dark Moon (this is known as “black water” as opposed to “silver water”, which is collected at Full Moon). Once the key is washed clean of dirt, string it on a ribbon — I prefer black, or a green or purple so dark it looks black in certain lights. From there, you may wear it around your neck (preferably at bedtime or in ritual). If you find yourself having too many “Aha!” moments, restrict when you wear the key otherwise, you’ll get tired out from the constant epiphany process.

Does this make sense? We’re in the waning moon right now, so you have a little time to find a key if you’d like to go ahead with this soon. Another appropriate time to do this would be at the Dark Moon just before Samhaine or you could do it at the Dark Moon near Mabon (as this feeds into the Elusinian mysteries of which Hecate is a part).

I keep a Key on my altar at all times — it is my reminder that I hold all the Keys to all the doors I need. I also work with Hecate, and it is my talisman for Her.

How true this is. I didn’t find this path until I was well into my Crone years, 63, but once discovered it, I found it wasn’t something new, but something I had know all my life only now I had a name for it.

“Reach out your hand if your cup be empty,
If your cup is full may it be again,
Let it be known there is a fountain,
That was not made by the hands of men.

There is a road, no simple highway,
Between the dawn and the dark of night,
And if you go no one may follow,
That path is for your steps alone.”

Ripple – The Grateful Dead