Almond Moon Cookies for Hekate

The new moon is a great time energetically to take moment, clear what needs to be cleared, be grateful and offer thanks. To give myself a way of Honoring Hekate with moon cookies that you've made is a beautiful way to connect with the Hekate during her sacred time, the Deipnon (the night of the New/Dark Moon).

For some, this is a time to honor Hekate clean altars, offer charity to those in need, and reflect. It's also a time to cleanse the home and yo-self of negativity and impurity build up. In ancient traditions, celebrants would offer charity to those in need. In this post, I thought I would offer a recipe here for those who feel drawn to do something extra special this month since it's Mother's Day (here in the states).

The Meaning of the Offering

Making sweets or crescent-shaped breads are traditional offerings to Hekate during this time. These "Moon Cookies" symbolize her ancient association with the moon and her role as a triple goddess who guards the liminal spaces between worlds.

Making Your Moon Cookies

When baking for Hekate, you might purposefully add ingredients historically sacred to her and make the item with intent.

• Honey & Egg: Traditional staples for "Hekate's Supper".

• Seeds: Poppy or sesame seeds are frequently used to honor her underworld aspects.

• Shape: Most importantly, shape your dough into a circle or thin crescent moons.

• Intent: Sift your flour and mix your ingredients while focusing on cleansing the past month's energy and asking for protection for the cycle ahead and offering gratitude for the protection and guidance She provides.

  
  

Moon Cookie Ingredients: 🗝️

Cookies:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold (but not too cold that you can't work with it.)

• 3/4 cup white sugar

• 1 teaspoon almond extract

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/8 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup sliced almonds (optional)

Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 2 teaspoons almond extract

• 2 tablespoons water

Moon Cookie Instructions 🗝️

 Make Cookies:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (about 200 degrees Celsius) and line a few baking sheets with parchment paper or baking mats.

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and almond extract with a hand mixer.

• In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients: the flour, baking powder, and salt.

• Add the flour mixture, 2 Tablespoons at a time, to the butter mixture until completely combined.

• Roll cookie dough into small 1-inch balls. Shape into crescent moons or full moon shapes, pressing down to flatten slightly. You might even find a moon shaped cookie press for the occasion.

• Cook for 7-9 minutes. Cook until they are solid but they don't look quite done.

• Cool cookies until they are just warm. While the cookies are cooling, make the glaze. Make the Glaze:

• Combine powdered sugar, almond extract, and water. Food coloring is optional but go crazy if you want to do more decorating than just drizzling the cookies. Piping a sigil is one way of doing this.

• Drizzle a spoonful of glaze on top of the almonds and cookie when they are cool.

• Optional: While glaze is cooling, place a few almond slices on top of each cookie. (optional) You can also make shapes with the almonds.

  
  

The Deipnon Celebration

These cookies may not be for eating. I have heard varying advice on so here are a few options: 

• Offer all the cookies to Her on your altar or leave a plate on the table

• Consume some of the offering like a communion. 

• Make them without harmful ingredients to wildlife and leave them outside.

• You can also leave them on the threshold of your door and remove them the next day.
  

For me I don't eat the cookies that I make for Hekate. But also since I have kids, anything made in the kitchen is fair game. So, I split the dough and keep some for the kids and decorate some that are especially for Hekate. As always, this is your ritual and I suggest doing what resonates with you. 

Deipnon Ritual 

A Deipnon ritual traditionally focuses on the three pillars of: purification, making amends, and a symbolic meal. Many modern practitioners might take a ritual bath or calming shower, clean and tidy altars, and prepare a meal (Supper of Hekate)

• Ritual cleansing: This is both a physical and energetic clearing for yourself, your house, your space and altar, or some other aspect that your life you feel needs purification. You can also offer these "sweepings". 
  

• Ritual Meal and Offering: Stand in sacred space after you have cleansed and cleared. You might light candles, recite a prayer, place the cookies or meal. The take a few moments to reflect and journal. Commune with Her.  Historically, they would leave offerings at the crossroads. In modern times I struggle with this since it feels more like littering. So, personally I don't leave these offerings at crossroads. I compost them and offer them to be reborn. But if you feel drawn to leave an offering at the crossroads, I might offer instead to leave canned goods or hygiene supplies in a place where a homeless person might find them.
  

• The Invocations: You might write your own but here is an invocation you can use for the ritual. Call upon one of Her titles that speaks to you, like Phosphoros (Light-bringer), Enodia (Of the roads) or Kleidouchos (Keybearer), or Dadouchos (Torch bearer). 

  
  

  "Hekate Soterira, Savior, accept this offering and take away what no longer serves this house.

  
  

  "Great Hekate... I stand before you... As I honor the dead and cleanse my home... Grant me the strength to release what no longer serves, and protect my home... Hekate, Averter of Evil, please hear my prayer and grant me your favor."

  
  

• The Departure: Traditionally, once the offering is placed, you should walk away and not look back.
  

• The Sign: Many believe that hearing or seeing a dog, snake, or other sign after your ritual is a sign that Hekate and her hounds have accepted you're offering.
  

Some journal prompts: 

• What's lingering in your life that needs clearing?

• How has my practice brought to my life; what do I notice?

• What have I gained by letting go of something this month?

• What unexpected blessing am I grateful for?
  

I hope this moon cookie recipe gives you a fun project to do this Deipnon. I would love to hear if you make some and how it went for you!