{"id":634,"date":"2016-08-07T18:45:11","date_gmt":"2016-08-07T08:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/hearthwitchdownunder\/?p=634"},"modified":"2018-01-24T13:32:45","modified_gmt":"2018-01-24T03:32:45","slug":"30-days-of-hekate-7-names-and-epithets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/hearthwitchdownunder\/2016\/08\/30-days-of-hekate-7-names-and-epithets.html","title":{"rendered":"30 Days of Hekate: 7 – Names and Epithets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

This post is part of a blog challenge series, 30 Days of Devotion to Hekate. \u00a0It\u2019s day 7 and we are looking at Hekates names and epithets.<\/p>\n

\"30<\/p>\n

This is a really hard one.\u00a0 Hekate has a lot of names and epithets, and I mean a lot! There is nothing I can write, really, that hasn\u2019t been done better by the lovely Sara Neheti who has devoted time and energy to researching every name and epithet she can find<\/a>.\u00a0 She has listed hundreds of names, with sources cited where possible. And she is still in the process of writing individual posts<\/a> about each of those names.\u00a0 It\u2019s a massive project and none of us can do any better.<\/p>\n

So today I will simply look at a couple of the names and epithets that I find interesting or that matter to me personally.<\/p>\n

Propolos \u2013 Guide, Companion, Leader or She Who Leads.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This one is perhaps obvious to anyone who knows anything about Hekate, or has read my previous posts in this series \u2013 it refers of course to Hekate being the guide for Persephone each year, out of the Underworld.\u00a0 But She is also the guide for the dead, the ghosts on leaving the Underworld and wandering the world.<\/p>\n

Trioditis and Enodia \u2013 Of the Crossroads<\/strong><\/p>\n

These epithets are also perhaps obvious, Hekate is often referenced with crossroads, especially threeway ones, but also fourway ones sometimes.\u00a0 She is commonly seen at the crossroads, and it is where we are meant to place Her Deipnon offerings.\u00a0 The crossroads are considered liminal places, obviously, being of no road, but of all roads at once.<\/p>\n

Propylaia \u2013 The One Before the Gate &\u00a0Kleidoukhos \u2013 Keeper of the Keys.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the Keybearer Hekate is the one who opens the gates to the Elysian Fields, or not, it is She who is said to decide who can enter.\u00a0 Thus of course She is also the one before the gates.\u00a0 She has long been connected to various boundaries and entrances, doorways and gates being the prime example \u2013 people would keep small shrines to Her just outside of their doorways, these would, for the Deipnon, serve as makeshift crossroads as well.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The epithets above are all connected in my mind, and I think many devotees and worshippers of Hekate would agree with me for the most part.\u00a0 So let\u2019s break down what they all mean on a more personal level and how they connect together.<\/p>\n

I am not the only one to note that Hekate can be felt as an almost constant presence in your life, a constant companion<\/strong> who is always there, even if only lightly.\u00a0 It\u2019s kind of like seeing someone out of the corner of your eye.<\/p>\n

She is our Guide<\/strong> and She does lead<\/strong> us, but I note She seems to do so in a subtle kind of way.\u00a0 She doesn\u2019t drive us on with a whip or anything, She pushes us, gently and subtly, trying to make sure we don\u2019t get stuck where we shouldn\u2019t be.\u00a0 When we are coming up to a time where we need to make a change, when we need to make a choice She will gently push us towards that choice.<\/p>\n

Towards the crossroads<\/strong> that we must face, the place where we must choose our next path.\u00a0 She doesn\u2019t, usually, ask us to make any specific choice, She pushes us to make a choice, any choice, but let us not stand there stagnating.<\/p>\n

And She is always there, behind us and beside us, pushing us on, but She is there before us, before the gates<\/strong>.\u00a0 It is She who pushes us to take the keys<\/strong> and unlock the gate or door to our next stage \u2013 whether that is internal or external, it is She who helps us face what must come. \u00a0It should be noted that Her epithet as Torchbearer<\/strong> also plays into all of this, as She lights our way forward.<\/p>\n

As the Keybearer<\/strong> and Gatekeeper<\/strong> She also brings us something else though.\u00a0 For me, and I know this holds true for many Devotees of Hekate, these epithets also refer to knowledge, secrets, mysteries and wisdom.\u00a0 That which is hidden, is that which She guards and can unlock for us.<\/p>\n

This is perhaps one of the things that many of us Hekateans have in common, indeed many of us Pagans and Polytheists in general \u2013 our pursuit of knowledge and unlocking the mysteries of the past, the present, the future, the world and the universe and even other worlds. \u00a0I think this is one of the reasons why Hekate is so attractive to so many of us.<\/p>\n

\"Hekate
Keys. Public domain, via pixabay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kourotrophos \u2013 Nurse of the Young<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a mother first and foremost, Hekates nurturing and child protecting aspects are of course a standout point to me.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what else to add, I am a mum, I have kids, it\u2019s a no brainer really.<\/p>\n

Soteira \u2013 Saviour<\/strong><\/p>\n

In truth I never really paid much attention to this one before this year, I thought it looked and sounded nice (assuming I pronounce it right), but I didn\u2019t really care about it.\u00a0 But I guess it\u2019s a natural by-product of joining the Covenant of Hekate that I started to pay more attention to this epithet and what it means.\u00a0 So it has come to mean more to me, especially over most of Her other names and I am learning more about this aspect of Her \u2013 but I don\u2019t know a lot yet.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now that is done I suggest you go look at Sara\u2019s blog posts<\/a> on Hekates epithets, she includes sources too which is always fantastic.<\/p>\n

\n

30 Days of Deity\u00a0Devotion<\/span><\/p>\n

1\u00a0<\/span>\u2013 A basic introduction of the deity<\/a><\/p>\n

2<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 How did you become first aware of this deity?<\/a><\/p>\n

3\u00a0<\/span>\u2013 Symbols and icons of this deity<\/a><\/p>\n

4<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 A favourite myth or myths of this deity<\/a><\/p>\n

5<\/span>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Members of the family \u2013 genealogical connections<\/a><\/p>\n

6<\/span>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Other related deities\u00a0and entities associated with this deity<\/a><\/p>\n

7<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Names and epithets<\/p>\n

8<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Variations on this deity (aspects, regional forms, etc.)<\/p>\n

9 & 27<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Common mistakes and worst misconceptions about this deity<\/p>\n

10<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Offerings \u2013 historical and UPG<\/p>\n

11<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Festivals, days, and times sacred to this deity<\/p>\n

12<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Places associated with this deity and their worship<\/p>\n

13<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 What modern cultural issues are closest to this deity\u2019s heart?<\/p>\n

14<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Has worship of this deity changed in modern times?<\/p>\n

15<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Any mundane practices that are associated with this deity?<\/p>\n

16<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 How do you think this deity represents the values of their pantheon and cultural origins?<\/p>\n

17<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 How does this deity relate to other gods and other pantheons?<\/p>\n

18<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 How does this deity stand in terms of gender and sexuality? (historical and\/or UPG)<\/p>\n

19<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 What quality or qualities of this god do you most admire? And find the most troubling?<\/p>\n

20 & 21<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Art and music that reminds you of this deity<\/p>\n

22<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 A quote, a poem, or piece of writing that you think this deity resonates strongly with<\/p>\n

23<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Your own composition \u2013 a piece of writing about or for this deity<\/p>\n

24 & 25<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 A time when this deity has helped you, and refused to help<\/p>\n

26<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 How has your relationship with this deity changed over time?<\/p>\n

28<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Something you wish you knew about this deity but don\u2019t currently<\/p>\n

29<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Any interesting or unusual UPG to share?<\/p>\n

30<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Any suggestions for others just starting to learn about this deity?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

30 Days of Devotion to Hekate, Day 3. Today we are looking at some of the names and epithets of Hekate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2764,"featured_media":585,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,71,13],"tags":[112,66,22,113,8,9,34,41,32,19,29,25],"class_list":["post-634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hellenism","category-lore-myth","category-paganism101","tag-30-days-of-devotion","tag-blog-series","tag-deities","tag-hecate","tag-hekate","tag-hellenismos","tag-history","tag-mythology","tag-paganism","tag-personal","tag-polytheism","tag-religion"],"yoast_head":"\n30 Days of Hekate: 7 - Names and Epithets<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"30 Days of Devotion to Hekate, Day 3. 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