Culinary Psychopomp: Hekate's Suppers, Soul Retrieval, and Kitchen Witchery
Gather round the kitchen table with me and Christen for our conversation blending soul retrieval, kitchen witchery, and the ancient practice of Hekate's Supper. This chat is rooted in the Psychopomp chapter in Entering Hekate's Cave. We were both in the thick of wintry weather, so the warmth of the hearth was especially compelling, and our conversation reflects this. We discuss how we are culinary psychopomps, chatting about the the sacredness of food and how it can be a source of nourishment and connection to our ancestors. From family recipes, and the importance of connecting to the departed in food preparation, to the ancient practice of leaving meals at a crossroads on the dark moon as an act of propitiation to Hekate, Christen and I go deep into the ways we can retrieve our souls right in Hekate's Kitchen. Ancient Hekate's Suppers, known as Deipnon, is a centerpiece of our chat; we dive into the context of these offerings, including the meaning of the ingredients, the significance of red mullet, and why garbage was an important part of the ritual. Hekate's Kitchen is a place where we can become culinary psychopomps, connecting deeply to the food we make, practice kitchen witchery, honor ourselves and beloveds, and cultivate a soulful hearth. Christen Bennett is an executive pastry chef living in the southern U.S. She's one of my fave humans, who also does the transcriptions for pod episodes AND is my partner in teaching pharmakeia in Covina. Watch with CC and searchable transcript HERE. Click on the magnifying glass to open transcript. Share your thoughts, and answer our question, "What does Hekate's Kitchen Mean To You?" HERE in Hekate's Crossroads, part of The Covina Institute. I read from Ronan, Stephen (ed.), The Goddess Hekate, Chthonios Books; Hastings; 1992. https://keepingherkeys.com/ethics