Sosanna - Voices of the Covenant

Over the years, Sosanna has contributed an enormous amount to the Covenant of Hekate – supporting many of us in our work – while also developing her own way of honouring the goddess through her Sanctuary and personal practice. Much of what she has done has been quiet, steady, and behind the scenes – the kind of essential work that often goes unnoticed, yet holds the community together. It is important that our community knows just how much of our foundation has been strengthened by the dedication of Sosanna - and of course others who volunteer their time to make all of this happen.

Sosanna has also an example for many through her service to those in need – devotion lived through action. As a long‑standing Torchbearer and Keybearer, she has supported everything from Noumenia News to website management and core administrative work – always reliable, always present, always contributing more than most ever realised.

Her Sanctuary, HecateBrimo.org, reflects the depth of her commitment and the integrity of her path – a testament to her devotion, her work, and the quiet strength she brings to our community. She currently holds the role of Companion

1. When did you first join the Covenant of Hekate, and what inspired you to become part of it? 

I joined the CoH in 2012 after winning a book that referenced her in a blog contest.

2. What first drew you to Hekate, and how has that initial connection developed over time? 

I had a history in paganism and was initially drawn to the Dianic traditions for its female-focused and empowering energy of the feminine divine. Being a lesbian, the idea that a group of women could come together in the face of patriarchal control was exactly what I needed in my life and felt drawn to all personifications of female power. After I moved to North Carolina I began working on a project called “Find a Grave” which involved mapping cemeteries. I would go to them and photograph them and put them in an online registry. As I began working with the dead and death energy Hecate came up in my studies in her role as guide and keeper of the restless dead. I did a blog post on my cousin who had passed young at the hands of his brother and won a book that focused on connecting with Hecate to connect with the dead. One thing led to another and I found the Covenant of Hekate. The wheels were set in motion and I began what became an 11-year journey of education, dedication and exploration.

(Above) Animism Hecate - Sculture/Photographer - Sosanna

3. What led you to become a Torchbearer or Keybearer within the Covenant? 

Being someone who grows, the natural progression for me was to become a Torchbearer. Immediately in 2014, I completed the rite for Torchbearer. I began working on projects within the Covenant, including the first oracle deck created for the goddess. I was a founding member of Askei Kataskei, our e-zine, along with Ken Payne. I participated in several devotional groups exploring the magical energy of Hecate. I was never one who was a “believer” as such but more interested in the connection with energy, or working with divination. I established Noumenia News, as a membership newsletter that allowed a space for our members to send in poems, essays and devotional arts in assorted mediums. One of the most powerful moments for me was working with the team to create the Five Virtues. These were something that transcended paganism, religion and magic but were something that the everyday person could do to make the world a better place. I took the “bull by the horns” and delved in head first creating written works around these virtues and shared them across my assorted media outlets. This along with the Epithets project were foundational for the Crossroads Oracle. A deck that I am very proud of.

On July 20, 2018, I was invited to become a Keybearer. In this role, I served as Scriba (Scribe), a position dedicated to the preservation and documentation of the community’s collective wisdom. I viewed my work as a bridge between the past, present, and future of the Covenant, ensuring that the stories, fables, and legends of Hecate’s followers were recorded and shared. As part of this, I focused on several administrative projects, including the migration and management of the Covenant of Hekate website, the migration of the FB groups and the establishment of the Torchbearer Training Guide. AlsoI managed the collection and publication of video material related to the Covenant including, Sanctuary updates, Rite of Her Sacred Fires videos and managed the YouTube Channel.

4. How do you understand your role as a Torchbearer or Keybearer today? 

My role has transitioned out of day to day runnings of the organization and now I have the role of Companion, which is more associated with a consultant of sorts. My roles as both Torchbearer (shining the light) and Keybearer (unlocking the mysteries) in my opinion never really end. Instead those roles continue as part of who I am at my core. Always looking, always learning and always sharing. 

(Above) Rite of Her Sacred Fires 2024 - Photographer - Sosanna

5. Has your understanding of Hekate changed since joining the Covenant? If so, what has shifted? 

Yes, when I first joined I was an eager participant in the rituals and rites and expected that everyone would have the same desire to complete tasks or participate with the same vigor that I did. I think this is part of my neurodivergence, and I now understand that life happens. People have other directions and other priorities that sometimes don’t align with the original direction of the project. I learned a great deal of patience from Sorita, and her introduction to Non-Violent Communication helped me a great deal. I think that’s one of the best things I learned working with CoH.

6. Which name, title, symbol or image of Hekate is most meaningful to you, and why? 

I think the crossroads has the most symbolism for me. After I started learning about her, I realised my house was at a crossroads. Even today, as I wait to close on my house, across the street from me is a church called “Crossroads”. From Papa Legba to Robert Johnson, I find the crossroads a point where change happens. We cannot grow without change, and for me this is one of the most critical and often overlooked symbols of Hecate. We have to remember, we cannot step into a new path without leaving the other behind.

7. How does your devotion to Hekate shape your personal work, practice or service? 

I would say that my devotion to the personification of the values we have attributed to Hecate are visible in my work with the food and house insecure. I spent most of my life in NC, working to provide food, clothing, and personal items for those in need by making and selling goods on my websites and offering readings. I have since moved to a new location and will, I’m sure, return to this after I’m settled in. I don’t believe devotion is a sedentary thing.  Devotion requires action. It requires movement. Saying a prayer, or reciting a hymn does nothing. You have to get off your ass and make the change. 

8. What role does community play in your Hekatean path? 

Unfortunately, I found the actual connection to others to be lacking. In my role as administrator, I spent a great deal of time chasing after and reminding others of deadlines. Requesting follow-up and/or handling issues. The community itself was work for me. The individuals were great to support but it was just that, a role that I supported, not one that supported me.

9. How do you balance personal experience, devotion and historical sources in your work with Hekate? 

I find it extremely interesting that we have more written historical documents related to pagan gods than Abrahamic ones. I also find it much more interesting how many parts of mainstream model religions are basically regulations of paganism. I treat all of this as mythology. All religions, including paganism are simply personifications of attributes that we want to either emulate or avoid. I prefer to focus on the virtues and I couple that with the Eight Noble Truths of Buddhism in order to help align my moral compass. From a physical perspective I do appreciate the many artistic renderings of the Goddess and I pull those associated items (key, crossroads, bulls) into my day as a reminder to follow those virtues. 

10. What do you feel is most often misunderstood about Hekate in modern Pagan or magical communities? 

The crone aspect of the MMC construct to me is the most misaligned view of Hecate. That along with treating Hecate as the “new Jesus” are where I feel that most people just don’t understand the concept or what she represents.

11. Is there a Hekatean practice, prayer, ritual or observance that has become especially important to you? 

I would say my reinterpretation of Hecate’s Supper is the most important. I started out as a devotee participating in the same way as everyone else. Creating my “meal,” putting it on the altar, conducting my rituals and then dropping it at the crossroads without turning back. I did this for years and one day I saw a little squirrel out eating the food. I then remembered how often I went to bed hungry when I was young because we had no food in our house, and here I was throwing away food. I then remembered the quote—"Ask Hekate whether it is better to be rich or starving; she will tell you that the rich send her a meal every month and that the poor make it disappear before it is even served.” It was transformative for me. I began working immediately to change the direction of my monthly rituals to be a collection and distribution of food and personal care items for those in need.

Above- The Crossroads Oracle - Self Published - Creator/Photographer -  Sosanna

12. Is there any Hekate-related work, project, group, writing, art, ritual or service you would like to share?  

I think my main point of sharing is the works I created on the Sanctuary of Hekate Brimo- HecateBrimo.org. There’s a lot of written materials, and when I get settled, my products will go back up for sale there so I can continue my work for the food and house insecure.

13. What advice would you offer to someone who is just beginning their path with Hekate? 

Read, Read, Read and listen to yourself. Learning about Hecate from the literature and then connecting that with your own personal direction. Understanding her from a historical perspective will help you understand what you’re seeing and feeling. An example is for 8 years I grew my hair in dreadlocks based on historical references to “… hair like snakes**.” The** process for me was lifechanging not only from a connection to powers that were mentioned in the associated texts but also in a cultural way connecting with Black people personally in my area who came up and talked to me about my journey as well as seeing the change in how I was viewed when I entered public spaces. I would have never experienced these things without my exploration of E.M. Berens and the PGM.