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30 Days of Hekate: 24 – What I Want to Know About Hekate

30 Days of Hekate: 24 – What I Want to Know About Hekate

Last updated on: January 24, 2018 at 1:32 pm by Bekah Evie Bel

30 Days of Hekate: 24 – What I Want to Know About Hekate 2018-01-24T13:32:37+10:00 Bekah Evie Bel

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This post is part of a blog challenge series, 30 Days of Devotion to Hekate. Day 24 and we’re looking at what I don’t know about Hekate, but wish I did know.

30 days of devotion hekate

I think this is a funny question really, my immediate reaction to it was, “But, how can I know what I don’t know?” But of course after some thinking I realised there are things about Hekate I don’t know about fully, just sort of surface knowledge only.

Hermekate

There is just so little information about this. Neheti has found only found this referenced in the PGM (Greek Magical Papyri), and nowhere else. We don’t know who or what Hermekate actually is. There are assumptions of course,

The child of Hermes and Hekate

This is the going theory. After all, Hermes and Aphrodite have a child named Hermaphroditos, so why not Hermekate? But is it a daughter, son or both, like Hermaphroditus?

A merging of Hermes and Hekate

This is the second most popular idea from what I can tell. And someone did share a theory about it with me, but it’s not my theory to share and I will leave it for him to do so in future. Sorry to be so obscure.

A herm that is for Hekate

A herm is a type of statue shrine of Hermes. That friend I just mentioned also mentioned this theory to me, it’s the first time I have seen this idea for Hermekate, though others have suggested it and Neheti notes it in her post. It’s actually a good theory, and also goes along with that other theory I can’t talk about.

A merge of their names

Because of the close relationship between Hermes and Hekate, kind of like Brangelina or Shamy or Bubbeline. If Hermekate were a modern conception then I would consider this a pretty likely option! But, Hermekate is not a modern conception and so I highly doubt this one. It’s not impossible, just unlikely in my opinion.

The World Soul

In the Chaldean Oracles Hekate is described as the World Soul, the one from whom all souls come. I honestly don’t know much about this aspect of Her at all, and is why I haven’t actually brought it up in this entire series. I don’t even know what I want to know about this, I don’t know what questions to ask.

Following on from this, I wouldn’t mind looking a bit more into the whole angels and demons thing, in connection to Hekate. Actually, I have barely scratched the surface when it comes to the Chaldean Oracles, so maybe I should just start there! But there is a lot in them, I know, that is quite different from the older information we have on Hekate. I would mind knowing more about all of that.

And while it is easily fixed by studying the Oracles in more depth, I know that I can only get so far that way. We are missing so much information, and She doesn’t always answer our questions – She seems to prefer to lead us to answers about ourselves rather than about Her.

More Questions

What were Her priesthoods like? We only know of some, but what about the others?
Why puppies? She loves hounds, so why sacrifice puppies?
Does She have a favoured ‘pet’ hound? What’s its name? Funny question I know.
Why doesn’t She help the restless dead find peace and become not restless anymore?
Where did She comes from? Who were Her first worshippers? What were their myths about Her?
What is really meant by that ‘rich vs starving people’ quote?
The Eleusinian Mysteries, just everything about them.

Well I suppose I have more things I want to know about than I realised. But that’s okay, as it just gives me more to look for and learn about.

Eleusis, home of the Eleusinian Mysteries

Phryne at the Poseidonia in Eleusis. Public domain, via wikimedia commons.

30 Days of Deity Devotion

1 – A basic introduction of the deity
2 – How did you become first aware of this deity?
3 – Symbols and icons of this deity
4 – A favourite myth or myths of this deity
5 – Members of the family – genealogical connections
6 – Other related deities and entities associated with this deity
7 – Names and epithets
8 – Variations on this deity (aspects, regional forms, etc.)
9 – Common mistakes and worst misconceptions about this deity
10 – Offerings – historical and UPG
11 – Festivals, days, and times sacred to this deity
12 – Places associated with this deity and their worship
13 – What modern cultural issues are closest to this deity’s heart?
14 – Has worship of this deity changed in modern times?
15 – Any mundane practices that are associated with this deity?
16 – How do you think this deity represents the values of their pantheon and cultural origins?
17 – How does this deity relate to other gods and other pantheons?
18 – What quality or qualities of this god do you most admire? And find the most troubling?
19 – Art and music that reminds you of this deity
20 – A quote, a poem, or piece of writing that you think this deity resonates strongly with
21 – Your own composition – a piece of writing about or for this deity
22 – A time when this deity has helped you, and refused to help
23 – How has your relationship with this deity changed over time?
24 – Something you wish you knew about this deity but don’t currently
25 – Any interesting or unusual UPG to share?
26 – Bonus: Hekate in popular culture – TV, movies, plays, fiction books
27 – Bonus: Hymns to Hekate
28 – Bonus: Beginners Ritual Outline
29 – Any suggestions for others just starting to learn about this deity?
30 – Bonus: Resources and Sources about Hekate

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30 Days of Hekate: 23 - Changes to Relationship with Hekate

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