The Virtuoso of Nothing

I re-worked the last wallpaper set since they didn't seem very popular. Hopefully you all like these better- I know I definitely do. xxx

Ethel Cain requests by @the-mysticmoon

The Many Epithets of Hekate

An epithet is an honorary and praiseful descriptive title used as part of a name. For example, Alexander The Great. In polytheistic religions, specifically that of Greece and Rome, an epithet was not only a praiseful description, but also a focus on a specific aspect of that divinity and their powers that you are petitioning for purposes related to that aspect. The following is a list I compiled of Hekate’s many historical epithets. These epithets come from the Greek Magical Papyri, The Chaldean Oracles, Greek poetry, hymns & myths and ancient inscriptions. A few of the epithets have unknown meaning. Other epithets are unverified but speculated to belong to Hekate. Either way - the epithets are definitely fitting for Her and I don’t think She’d reject them.

You will find as you go through the list of epithets of this ancient and vast goddess that many of the epithets are contradictory to others. Being a goddess with such an ancient history with many evolutions and having domain over so many realms, it’s only natural that for example, the Greek Magical Papyri epithets which tend to be darker are going to vary greatly from that of the Chaldean Oracles which view Her as a universal power and axis mundi and anima mundi.

This list would not be possible without the work of Sara Neheti Croft, author and artist of Knowing Hekate: A Spiritual Coloring Experience, particularly her posts here. Also the work of Leonardo at Voces Magicae, particularly his post here. I’m extremely thankful for their research, work and devotion. They did most of the actual research and compilation, I’ve just merged them into a master-list for easy reference.

Abronoê ‘Gracious-minded’, ‘Providing Grace’, ‘Gracious’ Adamantaea ‘Unconquerable’, ‘Untamable Goddess’ Admêtos ‘Indomable’, ‘Unconquered’ Aenaos ‘Eternal’ Agallomenen Elaphoisi ‘Rejoicing in Deer’ Agia ‘Sacred’, ‘Holy’ Aglaos ‘Radiant’ Agriope ‘Wild-eyed’, ‘Fierce-faced’, ‘Savage-watcher’, ‘wild-voiced’ Agrotera ‘Huntress’ Aidônaia ‘Goddess of Hades’, ‘Of the Underworld” Aimopotis ‘Blood-drinker’, ‘Murderer’ Aiônos ‘Eternal’ Aizêiοs ‘Vigorous’ Aktinochiatis ‘Radiant haired’, ‘With Rays for Hair’ Aktiophis [Of Unknown Meaning] Alexeatis ‘Averter of Evil’ Alkimos ‘Powerful’, ‘Strong’, ‘Stout’, ‘Brave’ Amaimaketos ‘Unconquerable’, ‘Raging’, ‘Invincible’, ‘Unapproachable’, ‘Uncontrollable’ Ambrotos ‘Immortal’ Ameibousa ‘One That Transforms’ Amphiphaes ‘Circumlucent’ Amphiprosopos ‘Double-faced’ Amphistomos ‘Double-mouthed’ Anassa ‘Queen’ Anassa Eneroi ‘Queen of the Dead’ Androphonos ‘Killer of Men’ Angelos ‘Messenger’ Antaian Theou ‘She Who Meets’ Antania ‘Enemy of Mankind’ Aôroboros ‘Devourer of the Prematurely Dead’, ‘Devourer of the Untimely Dead’ Apanchomene ‘The Hanged One’ Apotropaios ‘Averting’, ‘Averter’ Aphrattos ‘Unnamed One’ Arêgos ‘Helper’ Archikos ‘Royal’ Ariste ‘The Best’ Ariste Cthonia ‘Best of the World’, ‘Best in the World’ Arkuia / Arkyia ‘Spinner of webs’, ‘Entrapper’ Arrhetos ‘Ineffable’ Astrodia ‘Star-walker’, ‘Star-Courser’ Atala ‘Tender’, ‘Delicate’ Atasthalos ‘Pretentious’, ‘Reckless’, ‘Presumptious’ Athanatos ‘Immortal’, ‘Of Immortal Fame’ Autophyês / Autopheus ‘Self-generating’. ‘Self-begotten’ Azonos ‘Without Borders’ Azostos ‘Ungirt’, ‘Without a Belt’ Baridouchos ‘Barque-holder’, ‘Skiff-holder’ Basileia ‘Queen’, ‘Princess’ Bolos ‘Far-Thrower’, Boôpis ‘Cow-eyed’ Booporos ‘Ox-Herder’ Borborophorba ‘Eater of Filth’ Boukolos ‘Ox-Herder’ Brimô ‘Angry-One’, ‘Terrifying’ Buthios ‘Abysmal’, ‘Of the Depths’ Charopos ‘Ferocious-aspected’, ‘Fierce’, ‘Grim’, ‘Flashing’, ‘Bright, ‘Having blue-grey eyes’, ‘of the Sea’ Chthonia ‘Chthonic’, ‘Of the Earth” Chrysôpis ‘Golden-faced’ Chrysosandalos ‘of Golden Sandals’ Chrysosandalaimopotichthonia ‘Goddess of the Lower World Wearing Golden Sandals and Drinking Blood’ Chrysostephanos ‘Golden-Crowned’, ‘Crowned with Splendor’ Chrysostephês ‘Golden-crowned’ Dadophoros ‘Torchbearer’ Dadouchos ‘Torch-bearer’ Daeira ‘The Knowing One’ Daidalos ‘Cunning’ Damasandra ‘Dominator of Men’, ‘Subduer of Men’ Damnamene ‘Means of Constraint’ Damnodamia ‘Subduer of Subduers’ Damnomeneia ‘Dominating Force’ Dasplêtis ‘Horror’, ‘Frightful-one’ Deichteira ‘Teacher’, ‘Revealer’ Deinos ‘Terrible’ Despoina ‘Lady’, ‘Mistress’ Dione ‘Goddess’ Doloessa / Doloeis ‘Astute-one’, ‘Subtle’, ‘Wily’, ‘Cunning’ Drakaina ‘Serpent’, ‘Dragon’ Eidôlios ‘Phantasmal’, ‘Ghostly’ Eileithyia ‘Nurse of Childbirth’, ‘Goddess of Midwives’ Einalian ‘Of the Sea’ Einodia Thygater Demetros ‘Daughter of Demeter, who is of the Road’ Ekklesia ‘Of the Assembly’ Ekdotis ‘Bestower’ Elaphêbolos ‘Deer-huntress’, ‘Shooter of Deer’ Elateira ‘Driver’, ‘Charioteer’ Ellophonos ‘Fawn-slayer’ Epaine ‘Awe-Inspiring’, ‘Glorious’, ‘Sublime’ Empousa / Empusa [Of unknown meaning, related to the monster Empusa and the idea of phantoms and specters] Empylios ‘At the Gate’ Empyrios ‘Empyrean’ Enodia ‘Of the crossroads’, ‘Of the Roads’, ‘Of the Path’ Ephodia ‘Traveling Expenses’, ‘Provisions for the Road’, ‘Traveling Supplies’, ‘Resources’ Ephoros ‘Guardian’ ‘Overseer’ Epigeioi ‘of the Earth’ Epiphanestate Thea ‘the Most Manifest Goddess’ Epipurgidia ‘on the Tower’ Episkopos ‘Guardian’, ‘One who Watches Over’, ‘Overseer’ Epiteichea ‘The Stronghold’, ‘Fort’ Epi-tymbidia ‘Sepulchral’ Eranne ‘Lovely’ Erannos ‘Lovely’ Ergatis ‘Energizer’ Êrigeneia ‘Daughter of morning’, ‘Early-born’ Erôtotokeia / Erototokos ‘Bearer of love’, ‘Producing Love’, ‘Who Bore Love’ Eukoline ‘Good Tempered’ Eupatepeia ‘Noble-born’ Eurippa ‘Horse-finder’ Geneteira ‘Mother’ Genetyllis ‘Birth-Helper’, ‘Goddess of Childbirth’, ‘Midwife’ Gigaessa ‘Giant’ Gorgo ‘The Grim’, ‘The Gorgon’ Hecatoncheires ‘Hundred-handed’ Hegemonen ‘Guide’ Hêgemoye ‘Queen’ Helike ‘Revolving’ Hersechthonia ‘Speaking From Below’ Hexacheira ‘Of Six Ways’, ‘Of Six Hands’ Hiera ‘Holy One’ Hieros Pyr ‘Holy Fire’ Hipparete ‘Horse-Speaker’ Hippokyon ‘Mare Bitch’, ‘Horse Dog’ Hippoprosopos ‘Horse-Faced’ Hypolampteira [Of Unknown Meaning - possibly related to light or brightness] Iocheaira / Iokheaira ‘Arrow-shooter’, ‘One who Shoots Arrows’ Indalimos ‘Beautiful’ Ippokyôn ‘Mare-Dog’, half dog/ half horse Ippoprosôpos ‘Horse-faced’ Kalkaea ‘Wearer of High Boots’ Kalligeneia ‘Bearing Beautiful Offspring’ Kalliste ‘Fairest’ Kapetoktypos ‘Tomb-disturber’, ‘Causing the Noise of Lamentation’ Kardiodaitos ‘Heart-Eater’, ‘Feasting on Men’s Hearts’ Kareia ‘of Karia’, ‘Kraus’ Karko ‘Lamia’, ‘Child-Eating’, ‘Nocturnal Spirit’ Katachthonia ‘Subterranean’ Katakampsypsaychenos ‘Bender of proud necks’ Kelkaia [Of Unknown Meaning] Keratôpis ‘Horned-faced’, ‘Horned Looking’ Keroeis ‘Horned’ Kthonia ‘Of the Underworld’, ’Of the Earth’ Kleidouchos / Kleidoukhos ‘Key-holder’, ‘Key-keeper’ Klôthaiê ‘Spinner of fate’ Kore ‘Maiden’ Kourotrophos ‘Child’s Nurse’, ‘Nurse of Youths’ Krataios / Kratais ‘Powerful’, ‘Dominator’, ‘Of the Rocks’ Krokopeplos ‘Saffron-Cloaked’ Kunolygmatos ‘Doglike Howler’, ‘Who howls doglike’ Kydimos ‘Glorious’ Kynegetis ‘Leader of Dogs’ Kynokephalos ‘Dog-Headed’ Kynolygmate ‘Howling Like a Dog’, ‘Who Howls Dog-like’ Kyôn ‘Bitch’, ‘Dog’ Kyôn Melaina ‘Black Bitch’, ‘Black Dog’ Kyria ‘The Powerful’, ‘The Supreme’ Laginitis ‘Of Lagina’ Lampadephoros ‘Lamp-bearer’, ‘Torch-bearer’, ‘Who Warns of Nighttime Attack’ Lampadios ‘Lamp-bearer’, ‘Torch-bearer’ Leaina ‘The Lioness’ Leontoukhos ‘Holding a Lion’ Leukophryne ‘White-Browed’, ‘Of the White-Browed Hill’ Limenitis ‘Harbor Goddess’ Limenitikos ‘Of the Harbor’, ‘Harbor Goddess’ Limenoskopos ‘Of the Threshold’, ‘Watcher of Havens’, ‘On the Harbor’, ‘Watching the Harbor’ Liparokredemnos ‘Of the Bright Headband’, ‘Bright-Coiffed’ Liparoplokamos ‘Brilliant-Braided’ Lochias ‘Protector of birth’, ‘Goddess of Childbearing’ Lykaina ‘She-wolf’ Lyko ‘She-wolf’, ‘Wolf-formed’ Maera ‘Shining’ Mageus ‘One who Kneads’ [Possibly related to Magi] Makairapos ‘Blessed-one’ Medeousa / Medusa ‘Protector’, ‘Guard’, ‘Gorgon’ Meisopomenos ‘Laborer of the Moon’ Meisoponeros ‘Vice-Hating’ Megiste ‘Greatest’ Melaine ‘Black’ Melaneimôn ‘Black-clad’, ‘Wearing Black’ Melinoe ‘Soothing One’ Mene ‘Moon’ Moira ‘A Share’, ‘Fate’ Monogenes ‘Only Child’ Monoprosopos ‘With One Face’ Mormo ‘She-Monster’ Munychia [Of Unknown Meaning] Nekuia / Nekyia ‘Goddess of death’, ‘Mistress of corpses’ Nerteria ‘Infernal’, ‘Subterranean’, ‘Nether One’ Nerterios ‘Infernal’, ‘Subterranean’, Nether One’ Nerteron Prytanin ‘Mistress of the Dead’ Noctiluca ‘Light of the Night’, ‘Night Shiner’ Noeros ‘Intellective’ Nomaios ‘Pastoral’ Nychia / Nykhia ‘Nocturnal’ ‘Nocturnal-One’ “Goddess of Night’ Nyktairodyteira ‘Night Riser and Setter’, ‘She that Rises and Sets by Night’ Nykteria ‘Of the Night’ Nykti ‘Of the Night’ Nyktiboos ‘Night-Shouter’, ‘Night-Crier’ Nyktipolos ‘Night-Wandering’ Nyktophaneia ‘Night-shining’ Nymphen ‘Bride’ Nyssa ‘Goader’, “Goal’, ‘Beginning’, ‘Turning Post’, ‘Ambition’ Oistrophaneia ‘Manifester of Madness’ Oistroplaneia ‘Spreader of Madness’, ‘Causing the Wanderings of Madness’ Oksyboê ‘Shrill-screamer’, ‘Shrieker’ Oletis ‘Destroyer’ Opaon ‘Follower’ Opheôplokamos ‘Coiled with Snakes’, ‘With Snaky Curls’ Oriplanos ‘Mountain-roamer’, ‘Mountain-Wandering’ Oroboros ‘Tail-Eating’ Ourania ‘Celestial’, ‘Heavenly’ Ouresiphoites ‘Wanderer in the Mountains’ Oxythymia ‘Gallows’, ‘Quick to Anger’ Paggennêteira ‘Mother of All’ Paiônios ‘Healer’ Pammêtôr ‘Mother of All’ Pandamateira ‘All-tamer’, ‘All-powerful’, “All Subduer’, ‘Master of all’ Pandina [Of Unknown Meaning - Possibly related to ‘whirling’ or ‘rotating’] Pandôteira ‘All-giver’, ‘One who gives everything’, ‘Bestower of Everything’, Bounteous’ Pangaios ‘World-wide’ Panopaia ‘All-seeing’, ‘One who sees everything’, ‘Panorama’ Panta Ephepousa [Of Unknown Meaning] Pantos Kosmou Kleidokhos ‘Keeper of the Keys of the Cosmos’ Pantrephô / Pantrophos ‘All-nurturing’, ‘All-sustaining’, ‘who feeds all’ Parthenos ‘Virgin’ Pasikrateia ‘Universal Queen’, ‘All-powerful’, ‘who dominates all’ Pasimedeonsa ‘All-guarding’, ‘All-protecting’ Pasimedousa ‘Ruling Over All’ Pasiphaessa ‘Wide-Shining’ Patrogenes ‘Father-Begotten’ Pege ‘Source’ Pege Psychon ‘Source of Souls’ Persia ‘Persian’ ‘Daughter of Perses’ Phaennô ‘Brilliant’ Phaesimbrotos ‘Bringer of light to mortals’ Phaethô ‘Radiant’ Pharaea ‘Of Pharaea’, ‘Daughter of Zeus and Pheraea’ Philêremos ‘Lover of Solitude’ Philoskylax ‘Lover of Dogs’ Phoberos ‘Terrible’, ‘Fearful’ Phoebe ‘Bright’ Phoinikopeza ‘Ruddy-footed’ Phôs ‘Holy light’ Phôsphoros ‘Light-bringer’ Phôtoplêx ‘Who smites with light’, ‘Who strikes with light’ Phroune ‘Toad’, ‘Frog’, ‘She-Toad’ Phthorênês ‘Ruin-Bringer’, ‘Corruptor’ Phylakê ‘Protector’, ‘Guardian’, ‘Who Keeps Watch and Ward’ Physis ‘Nature’ (personified) Podarkê ‘Quick-footed’, ‘Fleet-footed’ Polyboteira ‘Generous Giver of Nourishment’ Polykleitos ‘Famed’, ‘Much Renowned’, ‘Far-Famed’ Polyplokamos ‘Of Many Tentacles’, ‘With Many Feelers’ Polymorphos ‘Many-formed’, ‘Of many forms’ Polyôdynos ‘Full of Pain’, ‘One who suffers much’ Polyônymos ‘Many-named’, ‘Of many names’ Potnia Theron ‘Mistress of Animals’, ‘Lady of Wild Beasts’ Presbeira ‘Ancient’, ‘Elder’ Prodomos ‘Of the Vestibule’, ‘Before the House’ Prothegetis ‘Leader’ Prokathegetis ‘She who goes down before’, ‘Leader’, ‘Teacher’, ‘Guide’ Promêthikos ‘With forethought’ Propolos ‘She Who Leads’, ‘Guide’, ‘Companion’, ‘Servant’ Propylaia ‘One Before the Gate’ Prothyraea ‘Before the Gate’ Prostistos ‘Primordial’, ‘The Very First’ Psychopompe ‘Soul-Guide’ Pyriboulos ‘Of fiery counsel’ Pyridrakontozônos ‘Girt with flaming serpents’ Pyriphoitos ‘Fire-walker’ Pyripnos / Pyripnoa ‘Fire-breather’, ‘Breathing Fire’ Pyrophoros ‘Fire-bearer’, ‘Torch-bearer’ Pyrtania ‘Invincible Queen of the Dead’, [Possibly related to ‘Council Chamber’] Rêksipylê ‘Door-breaker’, ‘Gate-breaker’ Reskichthon / Rexichthon ‘Bursting forth from the Earth’, ‘Earth-Cleaver’ Rhododaktylos ‘Rosy-Fingered’ Rixipyle / Rexipyle ‘She Who Throws Down The Gates’ Sarkophagos ‘Flesh-Eater’ Skotia / Skotios ‘Somber’, ‘Of the Dark’, ‘Of the Gloom’ Skylakageia ‘Dog-leader’ Sôteira ‘Savior’ Speirodrakontozonos ‘Girt with Serpent Coils’ Stratêlatis ‘Leader of hosts’, ‘General’ Strophaia ‘Standing as a porter at the door hinge’ Taurodrakaina ‘Bull-Dragon’, ‘half bull/ half serpent’ Taurokarênos ‘Bull-headed’ Tauromorphos ‘Bull-formed’ Taurôpis ‘Bull-faced’ Tauropolos ‘Bull-Herder’ Taurôpos ‘Bull-aspected’ Tartarouchos / Tartaroukhos ‘Ruler of Tartarus’, ‘Controller of Tartarus’ Tergeminus ‘Of Triple-Birth’ Terpsimbrotos ‘Delighting men’, ‘One who delights mortals’, ‘Gladdens the hearts of men’ Tetrakephalos ‘Four Headed’ Tetraoditis ‘Of the Four ways’, ‘Of Four roads’, ‘Haunting Crossroads’, ‘Four-Road’s Mistress’ Tetraônymos ‘Four-named’ Tetraprosôpos ‘Four-faced’, ‘Four-Headed’ Tetraprosôpinos ‘Four-faced’ Thanatêgos ‘Death-Bringer’ Thea Deinos ‘The Dread Goddess’ Therobromon ‘Roaring like a Wild Beast’, ‘Of the City of the Beast’ Thêroktomos ‘Beast-slayer’ Thrinakia ‘Triple-pointed’, ‘Of three extremes’, ‘Triple’ Tlêtê / Tletos ‘Patient’ Triauchenos ‘Triple-necked’, ‘With Three Necks’ Triceps ‘Three-Formed’ Trikaphalos ‘Three-headed’ Trikaranos ‘Three-headed’,’Three-faced’, ‘Triple-headed’ Triktypos ‘Triple-sounding’ Trimorphos ‘Three-Formed’ Trioditis ‘Of the Three ways’, ‘Of the three roads’ Triônymos ‘Triple-named’ Triphthoggos ‘Triple-voiced’, ‘Having Three Voices’ Triprosôpos ‘Triple-faced’ Triva ‘Of the Three Ways’, ‘Goddess of Three Roads’ Tymbidian ‘Sepulchral’ Tymborychos ‘Gravedigger’, ‘Grave-Robber’ Zatheiê ‘Divine’ Zatheos ‘Divine’ Zerynthia ‘Of Mount Zerynthia’ Zônodrakontis / Zonodrakontos ‘Encircled by Serpents’, ‘Covered in Snakes’, ‘Intertwined with Snakes’ Zootrophos ‘Nourisher of Life’

“She stands overlooking a great void. The endless darkness stretches out before Her, empty but anticipating Her divine inspiration.

She lifts Her finger. The void trembles. Then, a bright flash in the darkness - a galaxy is born. 

She smiles, and the void sings. 

She inhales, and the newborn galaxy is filled with a trillion lives.

She closes Her fingers into a fist, and then, catastrophe. In the distance, a sun explodes, and a trillion lives are brought to an end. 

She weeps, and the void sings. 

She exhales, and a trillion souls are delivered to their Afterlife.”

Hekate the Greek Titaness

Warning: This post is extremely long. Sorry for the length, but this was mostly a devotional act to Hekate anyway

While the Titans ruled the world, Hekate was ordained supreme in the realms of land, sea, and sky. She was highly-respected, if not also a bit obscure. When Zeus began his rebellion, though, she favored him over his father and empowered him to successfully usurp the Titans. After these events, Hekate retained her supremacy in the three worlds, receiving great honor and praise from Zeus himself. Some legends even state that Zeus - the king of the gods - calls upon her mighty power whenever a mortal prays to the gods for favor.

Hekate the Goddess of Crossroads

During both ancient Greek and Roman times, Hekate/Hecate was considered a goddess of transitional states and in-between periods. Among many things, she ruled over entryways and roads, and her altars could often be found near crossroads and city gates. Travelers, traders, pilgrims, and sailors all prayed to her for safe travel. It was also believed that she could bar entry to intruders or evil-doers, and so people erected private altars to her in their homes beside the front door.

She also ruled over transitions in the metaphysical sense. As psychopomp, she trecked across the land on the night of every Dark Moon and gathered the spirits of the newly deceased and the restless dead, shepherding them safely to the afterlife. She embodies this role explicitly in the tale of Persephone. When Persephone first goes to the Underworld, it is Hekate who alerts her mother, Demeter, where she’s gone. Hekate then descends to the Underworld to retrieve her, only to find that Persephone can never fully return to the upper world because she’s already eaten the food of the dead. As a result, Persephone must journey to and from the Underworld twice a year, spending only half the year in either world, and Hekate accompanies her on these journeys.

Hekate the Queen of Witches

The idea of Hekate as a ‘Queen of Witches’ wasn’t extremely popularized until she appeared in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In it, she is literally depicted as THE Queen of Witches, counseling and dictating the actions of the three Weird Sisters throughout the play. 

She does appear as a Goddess of Witches prior to that, though. Most famously, perhaps, she is the matron goddess of the witch Medea. In that ancient Greek tale, she is a protectress, empowerer, and teacher. Every act of magic that Medea performs is in Hekate’s honor, and in several instances she directly requires Hekate’s assistance to accomplish her goals. 

Hekate has always been associated with witchcraft, enlightenment, and the secret arts of herbalism and magic, however. She is called upon extensively in the Greek Magical Papyri, a 2nd-century-BCE compendium of spells and rituals meant for everything from obtaining a lover to invoking the primordial forces of creation. She also plays an extremely important role in the Chaldean Oracles, a 2nd-century CE set of writings that laid the foundation for Neoplatonic Gnosticism, in which Hecate is seen as the mediating Female Intellect that arose from the original (male) spark of Creation. She was also one of the few exclusive deities honored at the Eleusinian Mystery rituals performed in Ancient Greece, wherein celebrants spent several days imbibing hallucinogenic liquor and channeling the gods in order to uncover the mysteries of life, death, and the universe.  

In some mystery traditions, she is known as the Cosmic World Soul - a subtle life-force that animates everything in nature, similar to Gaia. In this capacity, she embodies everything within our world, including us. 

Some traditions know her as the Axis Mundi (World Axis) - an energetic singularity that our world originates from. It is metaphorically the ‘center’ of our world - a point where the four cardinal directions meet (echoed by the modern technique of casting a Circle and calling the Corners) - where energy can be harnessed and used to commune between higher and lower dimensions. 

Some traditions call her the Soteira (the Savior) - an ultimately beneficent being that actively helps every creature in our world reach spiritual evolution. In this role, her goal is to help us fully integrate our Shadows so that we can escape the cycle of physical reincarnation. 

Regardless of tradition, religion, or historical period, she is always viewed as a strange, liminal, and omnipotent force of both order and chaos. She is powerful, respected, and vital to every story she appears in. She guides and progresses the menial affairs of mortals, and she orchestrates grand paradigm shifts in universal energy. She is both extremely worldly, and also unfathomably celestial.

Hekate in Modern Times

One of the strangest things about Hekate is how universal she can be. Even in ancient times, she was a very wide-spread goddess. She may have been popularized by Greek and Roman culture, but most historians agree that she did not originate in either of those places. Most likely, the ‘Hekate/Hecate’ we know is a Hellenized version of an even older, more obscure goddess. No one is even sure of where her name comes from, because it doesn’t directly translate into any languages of that time period. The best guesses we have as to its meaning? ‘She who wills’. ‘She who works from afar’. ‘The Far-Reaching One’. 

Her transience and universality are true even today. I have met Santeros and Mambos who work with Hekate, and I have met orthodox Kabbalists who work with her as well. I’ve met followers of hers who were Buddhists, Hindus, root workers, Reiki healers, Nordic pagans, and even Native American spiritualists. Somehow, she finds a way into the lives of all her chosen children, and she carves out a spot for herself in whatever paradigm they already follow. 

Those who choose to follow her path often walk a very solitary journey, but she has so many followers within the modern Pagan community that it’s quite hard not to run into a few. She has experienced quite a resurgence within the last hundred years, and dozens of books have been written describing her and her mysteries. She has devotees the world over, and is honored by thousands of them every year in the Rite of Her Sacred Fires - a synchronized, world-wide ritual that occurs every year in May. 

Hekate in My Practice

Hekate tried multiple times to get my attention, and every time she sat back and patiently waited as I ignored her call. It wasn’t until I had been practicing witchcraft for almost five years that I finally was receptive enough to answer. 

When I did, a whole world opened up that I never knew existed. It was as if my eyes had been opened to everything I had been searching for, and - one step at a time - she helped me to achieve all of it. 

She is the goddess of crossroads and transitions, of death and of rebirth. She rules of the affairs of men, and she chooses the victor of every mortal competition. She bestows both providence and damnation, and she leads humans to their ultimate destiny - for better or for worse. She imparts wisdom, compassion, and mercy. She strikes down oppressors and those who wrong her children. She is a devout protectress of travelers, children, and dogs, and she possesses the hidden knowledge of every thing in Nature. 

She is an ever-present, ever-watchful goddess who never, EVER misses a thing. Many of her devotees report that her actions are present in everything, and that she speaks through every occurrence within our day-to-day life. I find that this is entirely true. Her messages can be so subtle yet speak so loudly. She calls out to you in ways that only YOU would understand. A feather falling in front of your face. A specific song playing on the radio. A phone ringing that only you can hear.

Energetically, she feels like a heavy, titanic presence when she enters the room. When she is called upon, everything around you begins to vibrate. It’s as if everything in nature responds when her name is called. She is a goddess that you can tangibly FEEL, and sometimes that doesn’t even accurately describe the experience. She is capable of bending reality in ways that shatter the ego and undo the psyche, and her presence reflects that immensely. 

Symbols

Hounds, especially black ones, whom travels with through the night

Crossroads, especially three-way crossroads (”forks in the road”)

Tridents

Cliffs, especially where the land meets the sea

High places, such as the tops of buildings, trees, or mountains

Keys, for she holds the key to every locked door

Torches, especially when depicted as a pair of twin torches

Serpents, for she facilitates rebirth and contains all hidden knowledge

Cemeteries/Graves, for she shepherds the dead

Epithets

An epithet is effectively a title added on to the end of a name to give further meaning or description of that person. In the case of deities, epithets are used to describe a specific ability or domain of that goddess or god, especially when petitioning them for a specific reason. Hekate’s epithets are many, but here are some of my favorites: 

Adamantaea - the unconquerable

Apotropaios - the averting

Brimo - the terrifying

Chthonia - of the earth

Damasandra - the subduer of men

Damnomeneia - the dominating one

Enodia - of the path

Kalliste - the fairest

Phosphoros - the bringer of light

Propylaia - the one before the gate

Soteira - the savior

Trimorphos - the three-formed

Trivia - of the three ways

To Call Upon Hekate

I would never advise AGAINST calling Hekate into your life. Even if you don’t work with deities, or even if you already work with specific deities, she will find a way to fit into your life and help you to improve both your life and yourself. However, she is a demanding task-mistress, and calling upon her should never be done lightly. A common belief among her followers is that, once you open the door to her, she will never leave you alone again. To open the door to her: 

Seclude yourself in a dark, quiet place where you can remain undisturbed. 

Light a single candle - preferably black or red - and set it in front of you. 

Lay out three keys around the candle (they can literally be keys to anything, but a key to your front door is always good to include). 

Meditate with the candle flame, and when you are ready, call her name three times. Speak from the heart, and tell her what it is you seek from her. Finish by thanking her for her time, and by inviting her inside. 

Extinguish the candle and, if possible, allow the smoke to drift out a window. 

The more introverted Leos often display a uniquely balanced alignment of masculine firmness and feminine mystique;

Hellenic cheat sheets

[image:  Triple-formed representation of Hecate. Marble, Roman copy after an original of the Hellenistic period. Museo Chiaramonti.]

Suggested reading for the goddess Hekate.(This is a big list so I’ve put in bold a few titles that I’d consider essential.)

Historical: (these do not all focus on Hekate but are important for gaining a good perspective of ancient times.)

Circle for Hekate - Sorita d’Este (Volumes 1 – History & Mythology and Volume (2017) 2: Devotion (TBR) Avalonia, UK.

Hekate Liminal Rites: A Study of the rituals, magic and symbols of the torch-bearing Triple Goddess of the Crossroads - Sorita d’Este & David Rankin (2009) Avalonia, UK.

Hekate Soteira - Sarah Iles Johnson (1990) Oxford University Press; 1st edition. 

The Restless Dead - Sarah Illes Johnson (2013) University of California Press.

Mantike: Studies in Ancient Divination – Sarah Iles Johnston (2005) Brill     Academic Pub.

 Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship - Christos Pandion Panopoulos (2014) Labrys.

The Chaldean Oracles - Ruth Majercik  (2013)  Prometheus Trust.

Greek Magical Papyri in Translation - Hans Dieter Betz, (1997) University of Chicago Press.

Thracian Magic - Georgi Mishev (2012) Avalonia, UK.

Arcana Mundi: Magic and the Occult in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Collection of  Ancient Texts – Georg Luck (2006) Johns Hopkins University Press.

Magic, Witchcraft and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook     – Daniel Ogden (He also has a book called Greek and Roman Necromancy I’ve not read yet.)

The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World’s Classics) - Apollodorus (Author), Robin Hard (Translator) (2008) Oxford University Press.

The  Goddess Hekate – Stephen Ronan (1993)  Chthonios Books.

Magika Hiera: Ancient Greek Magic and Religion – Christopher A. Faraone.

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Theogony - Hesiod

The Orphic Hymns – Orpheus

The Homeric Hymns - Homer

The Voyage of Argo: The Argonautica – Apollonius of Rhodes

Medea - Euripides (Greek play)

Medea - Seneca (Roman play)

The Aeneid – Virgil

The Metamorphoses of Ovid – Ovid

Macbeth – William Shakespeare (play)

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Modern books from a historical perspective: (There are many more than this but my reading interest is mainly historical so I’ve read very few of them.)

The Hekatæon - Jack Grayle - (2019) Ixaxaar Occult Literature.

Evensongs for Hekate: Poetry, Hymns, and Prayers - Sara Croft (Self published).

Hekate: Her Sacred Fires -  Sorita d’este editor/various authors (2013) Avalonia, UK.

The Temple of Hekate - Tara Sanchez,(2011) Avalonia, UK.

Hekate: Keys to the Crossroads: A collection of personal essays, invocations, rituals, recipes and artwork from modern Witches, Priestesses and Goddess of Witchcraft, Magick and Sorcery - Sorita d’Este editor/various authors.(2006) Avalonia UK.

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I’ve not read these but have heard good things, they are all contemporary:

Hecate: Death, Transition  & Spiritual Mastery - Jade Sol Luna, 2nd Edition 

Hecate II: The Awakening of Hydra – Jade Sol Luna, Tara International /JSL INC Press.

Lunatik Witchcraft - Shay Skepevski. 

Queen of Hell – Mark Alan Smith (2010)  Ixaxaar Occult Literature/Finland.

Liber Khthonia - Jeff Cullen (2020) Chicago, IL: Brujo Bros LLC.

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Websites:

http://hekatecovenant.com/

https://www.theoi.com/

https://nehetisingsforhekate.tumblr.com/post/87604951156/hekates-many-names-part-1-of-3

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Bonus! Recommended courses!

http://www.strategicsorcery.net/sorcery-of-hekate/

https://www.theblackthorneschool.com/courses/hail-hekate-walking-the-forked-path/

and I’d recommend this course for anyone interested in the PGM:

https://www.theblackthorneschool.com/courses/pgm-praxis/

Need some help with pronunciation in the PGM?

i know my parents loved me. but i think they loved me all wrong.

joan tierney “interview with the machine woman” // personalmessage.blogpost.com // the front bottoms “father” // pinterest // sophie king // @thesolitarywordsmith​ on promptuarium // matt maeson “grave digger” // anonymous on promptuarium // catherine lacey “cut”// simon de beauvoir “the woman destroyed” // @heavensghost

[ID: a collection of text excerpts and images:

an interview that reads: “I: did you hate him? / MW: who does not hate the person to blame for their existence? Just a little?”

an image of a green notebook with a dark green left border. on it, a handwritten sentence reads,“You are what is wrong with me.” the background is red.

lyrics that read, “And I believe that yes, Dad, maybe no one is perfect / But i believe that you are pushing your luck”

“They burned the bridge, then ask why I don’t visit.”

a simple embroidery of the outline of a canvas on its stand in the corner of a room done in black. text embroidered in red on the canvas reads, “you inspire me to be nothing like you.”

“Tell me, father, which to ask forgiveness for : what I am, or what I’m not? Tell me, mother, which should I regret : what i became, or what I didn’t?”

“i can’t run to you, father. I need love”

“i don’t hate you. I’ve just lost all respect for you and have nothing left to say to you anymore.”

a black and white picture with black text, each in a white box, over it. the picture is of a man standing and is on fire. the text reads, “If you’re raised with an angry man in your house, there will always be an angry man in your house.” the text becomes a bit glitchy towards the end.

“Fathers never have exactly the daughters they want because they invent a notion a them that the daughters have to conform to.”