Asteroid Hekate

At a Crossroads: Hekate’s Myth and the Dangers of Psychic Dependency. When many people today hear the name Hekate, they think of witchcraft or the occult. Yet, the figure of Hekate is far older and more complex than these modern associations suggest. Her story spans thousands of years, evolving from a figure of light and guidance into one of darkness and fear. Exploring this transformation helps us understand how cultural symbols change—and why one should be cautious about giving certain myths too much weight in our spiritual lives.

Ancient Origins

Some scholars trace Hekate’s origins to early Mediterranean or Egyptian influences. The Egyptian goddess Heket and the concept of heka—meaning “magical speech”—may have shaped her identity. Hekate later became linked to thresholds, crossroads, and liminal spaces, places of both potential and danger.

The ancient Greeks honored her as a powerful yet mysterious figure. In the earliest myths, she was said to be blessed by Zeus and to bring favor and prosperity. She carried torches, lighting the way through darkness, and was considered a guardian of travelers and the lost. At this stage, Hekate represented wisdom and transition—the light that guides through uncertainty.

From Light-Bearer to Shadow Figure

As centuries passed, Hekate’s image darkened. Artists and poets began to portray her as a goddess of ghosts, witchcraft, and the underworld. Her “triple form”—often depicted with three faces or bodies—was said to represent the past, present, and future, or the phases of womanhood: maiden, mother, and crone. Yet as the focus shifted toward her crone aspect, the nurturing and life-giving sides of her myth faded.

In later depictions, Hekate was often shown accompanied by black dogs—creatures long associated with death and the underworld. Her presence at the crossroads, once a symbol of life’s choices, came to represent the dangers of spiritual confusion and the temptation to seek hidden knowledge apart from God.

We sometimes call depression the ‘Black dog’, the weight of fear that can settle over us when we face uncertainty. Hekate’s other ancient symbol, the cross of the crossroads, reminds us how easily we can become caught between paths—longing for guidance, yet looking to the wrong sources to find it.

When people are uncertain about which direction to take, they may be tempted to turn to oracles, fortune-tellers, or other means of divination. But such practices only deepen the sense of being lost. Like those trapped between worlds in Hekate’s myth, we can become stuck in spiritual limbo—hesitant to move forward, afraid to trust God and ourselves with the next step.

Lessons from the Myth

Hekate’s story can be read as a reflection of humanity’s fascination with power, mystery, and control over fate. The same impulse that led ancient people to pray to her for guidance at life’s crossroads still tempts people today—to seek knowledge or direction through questionable sources.

Christian scripture warns that the desire to know “hidden things” or to manipulate spiritual forces apart from God leads only to darkness (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). The myth of Hekate shows what happens when a culture’s symbols of wisdom and guidance become entangled with fear, secrecy, and the illusion of self-made power.

Finding True Light at the Crossroads

The crossroads, a central symbol in Hekate’s myth, can remind us of something deeper when viewed through the lens of esoteric Christianity. Life often brings us to places where we must choose a path—between light and darkness, humility and pride, trust in God and trust in ourselves.

Where Hekate stands as a torchbearer, we also recognize Christ as the true Light of the world (John 8:12), who can also guide us through uncertainty, but without the risk of deception or danger. The story of Hekate, then, becomes not an invitation to invoke her spirit but a reminder of humanity’s longing for guidance. This longing can be fulfilled through connecting with inner gnosis and our supreme creator, rather than from cryptic communications from the lower realms.

A Word of Caution

While it can be historically and culturally interesting to study mythological figures like Hekate, it’s important not to romanticize or internalize them as personal “archetypes.” When people identify too closely with such symbols, they risk giving them spiritual authority in their lives. What begins as fascination can become fixation. Seeking guidance from psychics can quickly become addictive, opening the door to spiritual deception and oppression from negative entities.

Instead, we are called to seek truth, clarity, and protection through one’s intuition and our connection to the Holy Spirit. Myths like that of Hekate can serve as reminders of humanity’s spiritual hunger—but they cannot satisfy it.

In Summary: The myth of Hekate reveals both humanity’s creativity and its spiritual vulnerability. Once a symbol of light, she became associated with darkness and confusion—a pattern that mirrors what happens when people turn away from the Light. Her story is a sober reflection on the need for discernment when seeking spiritual guidance.

Hekate Image^[1] by Marina Marchione at Heavenly & Holy on Etsy