Between the Paths – How Hekate Led Me Back to Druidry

Sometimes, it takes detours, breaking points, new beginnings – and a Goddess who waits patiently until you are ready to truly hear Her call.

My spiritual journey has long been shaped by seeking: for truth, for depth, for a home for my soul. Over the years, I explored various spiritual traditions – some deeply, others only in passing. I breathed, prayed, burned incense, called out… and often doubted. I was inspired, but also exhausted by the constant search.

Then life intervened. Or perhaps it was life itself that finally made the call unmistakable. After a series of heavy personal blows – a profound health crisis, the loss of my parents, and the crumbling of my old life in many ways – Hekate stepped fully into my life. Or rather: I finally consciously opened up to Her.

The Shrine of the Sanctuary of Hekate Kourotrophos. (c) 2025 Sandra Maria

Because She had been there all along. I had felt Her – in moments of intuition, in the magic of transitions, in the dark nights when I still knew: I was not alone. But only when everything else had fallen apart was I truly able to receive Her. And since Her torches began to light my path, so much has become clearer. So many pieces of my spiritual puzzle have found their place. Still, one thing was missing: structure – a ground on which I could truly grow.

That framework had already been there, though I hadn’t fully seen it. I had joined the OBOD – the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids – back in 2013. But what followed were years of hesitation. I began the Bardic course, dropped out, came back, lost the thread, wandered other paths or none at all. I made a few fresh attempts, but never completed the Bardic grade.

It was The Morrigan – with whom I also share a deep connection – who nudged me to take a deeper look at Druidry once more. Maybe it was a combination of Hekate’s quiet guidance and The Morrigan’s fierce prompting. Whatever the case, I found myself once again drawn to the old teachings – but with new eyes.

And then, as often happens with Hekate when the time is right, a door opened: on the OBOD community site, I came across a group called Hekatean Druidry, led by two Covenant of Hekate members – one of whom I knew from my time in the Torchbearer bootcamp. It felt like a sign. I reached out, read, remembered – and picked up the Bardic course once more. This time, with an open heart and the deep sense that I was ready.

And indeed, everything began to fall into place. I realized how beautifully my Hekatean Path could weave together with Druidry. That Hekate’s teachings and presence not only complement my Druid practice, but in many ways are at its heart. Through this, I found my way back to Druidry – and finally, a true foundation and sacred structure for my spiritual journey.

It shows once again that Hekate often leads us along unexpected paths, illuminating corners we might have missed before.

Today, I submitted my Bardic grade final report. And I sincerely hope to take the next step soon – into the Ovate grade.

Hekate guides us along winding ways. She shows us places we didn’t know existed, lights up hidden spaces we might have avoided – always with the quiet certainty: there is a path. And we are not alone.

I look forward to sharing more about this unfolding path – and to continue exploring how these traditions shape and enrich each other in my daily practice. I don’t know exactly where the journey will lead… but with Her torches lighting the way, I walk it with open eyes, an open heart, and deep trust.

With torch in hand and roots deep, Sandra Maria Torchbearer - Sanctuary of Hekate Kourotrophos