*IN PERSON* BORBOROPHORBA & THE DETRITIVORE: EXPLORING HEKATE AS THE EATER OF FILTH THROUGH THE LENS OF THE BIOLOGICAL CYCLE OF LIFE & DEATH

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Death is not just the end of life… It also leads to new beginnings and makes new life possible. A deceased and decomposing plant or animal material, with the help of beneficial insects, bacteria, and other organisms, feeds nurtients back into the earth, creating fertile soil from which to grow anew. With this concept in mind, we can meet and work with one of Hekate’s many epithets, Borborophorba (The Eater of Filth), as a way to purge the metaphorical and literal things in our lives that we can no longer use to make space for a fresh start.

Hekate is a multi-faceted goddess, as anyone familiar with her may know. She is known by many titles, including Enodia (Of the Crossroads), Phôsphoros (Light-bringer), and Sôteira (Savior), to name a few. In this class the epithet we will focus on is Hekate Borborophorba, Eater of Filth. This may seem like an unusual or unseemly title for a deity, but to me, this is a very important role that she fills, particularly to a witch or magical practitioner who wishes to develop a relationship with Hekate in their practice.

In this class, we will discuss how Hekate can be found all around us in the guise of the filth eater. We will explore the world of detritivores and other ‘filth eaters’ of the biological world and how they relate to Hekate Borborophorba. Learn the history of the Deipna (Suppers), ritual offerings left for the goddess at the crossroads and leave with suggested rituals and ideas for honoring her with a Deipnon of your own.

You may wish to bring a pen and paper to take notes, otherwise just come with an open mind and a curiosity for the dark and often hidden parts of our natural world.

Although we will dive into some important historical information regarding Hekate, this is not necessarily a class on the history of the goddess or an introduction to developing a relationship with her. It is not necessary to be already familiar with or dedicated to Hekate to join this class, although some baseline knowledge of Her will be helpful.

Jess is an artist based in Denver, CO who creates imaginative miniature worlds honoring elements of nature and science. These sculptures contain magic in the form of preserved insects, bones, stones, moss, and plants. Inspired by the natural curiosity assemblages of the Victorian Naturalists and the Wildlife Halls of modern science museums, Jess hopes to inspire wonder, curiosity, and understanding for our natural world. Each piece she creates is a reminder of the beauty that lies in death and its importance in the cycle of life.

Jess teaches classes which stitch together magic, art, and science with an aim to inspire her students to to approach the world, and their practice, with endless curiosity.

Connect with Jess via Instagram @atropos_curios