#hades devotion

[rottenstocking]

Hades (or Haides); King of the underworld, god of the dead - not of death.

[aesthicalmess]

A picture of my Hades and Persephone altar from the other night :D

The statue I got for Persephone was waaay bigger than I thought it was going to be lol. I dont think the photos are very well lit but thats okay :P

(All statues were from Amazon, the photo of Persephone is from MoonglowGallery on Etsy)

[starw0man]

Hades: Greek god of the Underworld and god of the dead

Hades is the Greek God of the Underworld and King of the Underworld. He is the ruler of the dead and his domain is the Underworld. His name is sometimes thought to be “the Unseen One.” Hades is not the God of death and He doesn’t bring about death (the Greek god of death is Thanatos). He just rules the Underworld and is a stern ruler who oversees the trial and punishment of wicked souls. He presided over funeral rites and defended the right of the dead to due burial.

Hades is also the god of hidden wealth of the earth. He rules over the wealth from the soil and the mined wealth of gold, silver, and other metals. His Roman counterpart, Pluto, is the god of wealth because diamonds and jewels come from the underground.

The ancient people did not worship Hades and they actually feared Him and were even afraid to say his name. There is evidence of offerings being left in at one of Hades’ sacred sites in Ellis, where a priest left offerings in a temple once a year. It’s highly debated among scholars and archaeologists whether Hades was venerated or celebrated at the Eleusinian mysteries, which were performed for Hades’ wife, Persephone and her mother, Demeter.

Hades wanted a bride and asked Zeus to grant him one of his daughters. Zeus offered Persephone, the daughter of Demeter. But since he knew they would oppose to a marriage, he assented to the abduction of Persephone. There are others who believe that Persephone chose to go with Hades and followed him into the world to discover a new place and escape from her overprotective mother. It’s up to the practitioner what myth they prefer or believe in. Once Demeter found that Persephone was gone, she was furious and refused to care for the crops which caused a great winter to befall the earth. Zeus decided to get Persephone from the Underworld and reunite her with her mother, but they found out that Persephone ate 6 seeds, which meant she had to stay in the Underworld for 6 months of the year and the other 6 months, she’ll be with Demeter.

Most notable epithets associated with Hades:

Hades has many epithets associated with them and these are the most popular or common ones:

☆ Hades Chthonius - Hades of the Underworld

☆ Hades Pasiánax - Hades, the Universal King

☆ Hades Adesius - Hades of the Grave

☆ Hades Orkos/Orcus - Hades of Oaths, Hades, the Avenger of the Perjured

☆ Hades Moiragetes - Hades, Guide of the Fates

☆ Hades Ploutos - Hades of Wealth

☆ Hades Hagesilaos - Hades, Leader of the People

☆ Hades Aidis - Hades, the Unseen

☆ Hades Zefs Khthonios - Hades, Zeus of the Underworld

☆ Hades Polydemenos - Hades, He Who Welcomes All

☆ Niger Deus - Hades, the Black God || Hades of the Infernal Regions

☆ Hades Larthy Tytiral (Etrurian) - Hades, Sovereign of Tartarus

☆ Hades Khamaizilos Dios - Hades of the Earth

☆ Hades Eubuleus - Hades of Good Counsel || Hades, the Consoler

Symbols and signs associated with Hades:

☀︎ Pomegranate: His sacred fruit

☀︎ Orchard: an orchard of pomegranate trees grew beside the Underworld palace of the King of the Dead. They were the source of the fruit that trapped Persephone in the Underworld

☀︎ Helm of Darkness: Hades’s helmet made the person wearing the helm invisible

☀︎ Scepter: a symbol of Hades that he’s often depicted having

☀︎ Bident: A two-pronged weapon associate with Hades

☀︎ Cerberus: Hades’s three-headed dog who is also the guardian of the Underworld

☀︎ Screech owl: Hades’s sacred animal

☀︎ Cypress: symbol of Hades

☀︎ Narcissus: symbol of Hades

☀︎ White poplar: symbol of Hades no

☀︎ Mint: symbol of Hades

☀︎ Asphodel flowers: symbol of Hades

☀︎ Serpents: symbol of Hades

☀︎ Cornucopia: symbol of Hades

☀︎ Black horses: the horses that pull Hades’s chariot

☀︎ Black rams: known as Hades’s favorite sacrifice

☀︎ Cattle: King Hades had a herd of immortal sable-black cattle that roamed the asphodel fields and were cared for by the herdsman Menoites

☀︎ Volcanic areas: Hades was associated with areas with steam vents and sulfurous vapors

☀︎ Keys: the gates of Hades were securely locked to prevent the escape of souls and Hades, or his doorman, Aiakos, kept the golden keys

☀︎ The number 13

☀︎ The colors black, dark grey, light gray, dark purple, silver, and dark blue

Offerings to give to Hades:

★ Any stones (preferably jagged or black/dark) or metals

★ Fruits like pomegranates and apples

★ Asphodel

★ Herbs like mint, rosemary, and thyme

★ Coins

★ Crystals like hematite, jet, black obsidian, black tourmaline, and onyx

★ Black coffee or tea

★ Ethically sourced animal bones

★ Bones and skulls

★ Black and/or silver candles

★ Alcohol (red wine, bourbon, or strong whiskey are some of the best)

★ Cypress leaves or bark

★ Photos of Cerebus or depictions/art of him

Devotional activities to do for Hades:

✮ Visit your local graveyard and maybe help to clean it up

✮ Learn about funerary rites across different cultures and backgrounds

✮ Learn about how gravestones are made

✮ Clean graves (properly and with permission)

✮ Leave flowers or coins on old graves

✮ Assist bereaved people (with food, money, and company)

✮ Do ancestor work

✮ Visit and tour caves

✮ Do shadow work

✮ Do spirit work or work with the dead/do mediumship

✮ Learn about death magic

✮ Do money or abundance workings or spells

✮ Make chocolate cake or brownies for him

✮ Honor his wife (Persephone) and his children

✮ Volunteer at a retirement home

✮ Wear black, purple, and silver

✮ Spend time with pets (especially with dogs)

✮ Pour liquid offerings onto the ground

✮ Donate to those who can’t afford to hold a funeral

✮ Donate to suicide prevention organizations

✮ Donate dog food, toys, or blankets to animal shelters

✮ Keep a budget and save money/spend it wisely

Teachings:

Being able to withstand any obstacles you face and being resilient, perseverance, the strength to stand alone, being able to cope with being ostracized or misunderstood, accepting that life and nature has its cycles, being able to accept change, being able to maintain balance and be disciplined, leading with example and being a fair and honorable leader, the importance of duty and responsibility, how to maintain abundance and stability, to better understand death and the afterlife

For the full post about Hades and for more Hellenic polytheism content, check out my Patreon @starw0man4

[wwolfeus]

small ways to devote your time to the gods <3

as a hades devotee.🖤

• incorporate elements of them into your hobbies.

for example, i wanted to watch slime videos. i specifically searched for videos of burgundy and black slime. when i paint, i try to use darker color palettes. when reading books, i underline words or phrases that remind me of hades/persephone. when walking, i pick up sticks (best case scenario, i find discarded animal bones) to wash and anoint and leave on his altar. even little things like that can let your chosen deity know you’re thinking of them.

• when doing tarot readings, add a card to the spread to allow for their insight.

if you’re reading tarot to connect with spirit or any other entity that is not the god you’re seeking to worship, add a card at the end to ask them for their personal insight. or, add a card at the beginning to ask them what to expect from the entities moving forward. my favorite questions: do these entities have my best interest at heart? how can i cultivate the following messages?

• make a pinterest board of/for your deity.

i have a separate pinterest account to honor hades and persephone. here, i pin altar inspo, prayers and hymns, herb blends, and aesthetics that remind me of hades. not only does it allow for me time, but it opens up doors for quiet introspection and positive attitudes regarding deity worship. it associates pretty images and pleases not only your heart and mind, but the gods.

• make a playlist for your deity.

i have a hades playlist. here, i have folk songs about death, ethel cain songs, gabe’s songs from next to normal, and songs about strength and healing. i play this in the car, on my TV in my room, and as filler music when im doing my makeup or rearranging his altar.

• meditate in bed while you’re trying to sleep.

i do unguided meditation. just lay down, get comfortable, and think. no fancy yoga poses. ask your deity to listen and give feedback. fall gently into sleep as you give away your troubles and anxieties. let them soothe you and tell you how you can do better. let them be your guide. offer them entrances into your dreams, and ask them to further communicate during your next meditation. from there, sleep.

• make subliminals for manifesting.

it’s actually pretty easy. include affirmations like: ___ is with me. i am connected with ___. ___ is helping me overcome my struggles. customize it to your own liking and save the audio file to your files app on your phone. allows for wifi-free enjoyment. great for when you’re drowsy on a plane or, if you’re the kind of person who needs noise to sleep, overlay your subliminals ontop of white noise/nature sounds. soft gregorian chants are always a safe option as well.

[adharaantheia]

🖤 Hades Epithets 🖤

Adhara's post introduction: Helloooo!! Here it is King Hades Epithets!! I will also like to thank everyone who is liking, rebbloging and even sending me asks about my posts regarding Epithets!! And also a biiiig thank you for anyone who started to follow me!! Things are being crazy right now since I'm a uni student and I'm in the middle of exams/projects period. So please be patient while sending asks or comments!!!

Adámastos: Unsubdued, inflexible;

Chlotonius: Infernal (A name assigned to him by Orpheus in his hymn to the Eumenides);

Ploutôn: Of Wealth (ploutos);

Polyxenos: Host of Many;

Nekrodegmôn: Receiver of the Dead;

Agelastus: Expressive of his attracting all people to his empire;

Agetes: A name assigned to him by Pindar, as to one who conducts;

Ánax: King;

Clymenus: Renowned;

Moiragetes: Guide of the Fates;

Opertus: The concealed;

Órkos: Signifying oaths; Hades being the avenger of the perjured.

Adhara's random fact about the Theoi: He had few shrines in the ancient world but was honoured during funeral ceremonies and played a role in the Mystery cults. His only significant cult centre in Greece was the Oracle of the Dead in Thesprotia.

[brigitte-poetry]

Prayer to Hades for hard times

This prayer was written by me, and is part of a series of prayers to recite when going through rough times. Everyone is going through the ringer right now, given the state of everything, so hopefully this can help you get through some tough things too. Enjoy!

Praise be to great Lord Hades, ruler of the underworld,

The fair judge of souls one meets upon death!

Your words are firm, and yet so gentle,

Like the tender mercy of death to the sickly,

And you provide for all in your kingdom,

Alongside all those who call your name in life.

For you are the great father,

The shepherd of the departed,

A good husband to your queen

And a fair ruler for the deceased within your care;

I pray to you, Lord Hades,

That you may guide me down a better path,

Like how Charon and Hermes guide souls to your realm;

Bestow upon me your wisdom

And share with me your tender blessings

As I cry out to you from this place of anguish. 

You are the ultimate comfort for us mortals,

A promise of life after death,

A sweet relief from the pains of living,

And so I trust you to help me out of this pit,

To take me by the hand and guide me to a better life,

For you, O Hades, are so kind to humanity

And take such good care of us both before and after death,

And for this I shall praise your name until the end of time!

[alkalia]

If Morpheus were to love a mortal....

(for maximum effect read it in Sandman's Morpheus voice, i wrote this poem in his voice)

Return to me my dearest love

I'm in the Dream calling your Name

Cuz I can sit and wait no longer

Like a picture in its frame

When the Wakeness kills Delight

The Dream, however, will protect you

To my embrace you’ll come by night

I’ll sit in Darkness and await you

Cuz when your eyes are wide awaken

And you must leave from my embrace

I feel as if my heart is taken

Somewhere out there without a trace

And as I wait for your returning

My Dreaming turns to Dark Despair

The fields of poppies start to wither

My sanity begins to tear

I, however, in Fear and Sadness

Am aware that day will come

When you will choose to stay in Wakeness

And willingly will leave my side

We only live if Mortals love us

And we love Mortals in return

But as Gods we know, alas

That reciprocity is earned

I do confess my love is Endless

And I’ll release you have no doubt

But when Despair turns to Delight

Is Dream reflected in the Wakeness

But to avoid my turn to Madness

Come visit me from time to time

Cuz even if I am one Endless

I’ll find my Ending if you don’t

Do remember when you loved me

And your love was wild and lilac

For all the times I’ve come to answer

Have mercy and sometimes come back

For I have done the gravest crime

And came to love a mere mortal

And that one love skins me alive

And sorrows started to unravel

For In my Kingdom of the Dream

A perfect world I have constructed

For you to love and see it gleam

And never be departed.

But I have come to realize

Existence's reocurring trend

That happiness is ephemere

And all good things come to an end

[autumnswitchyinn]

Some conversations I had throughout elementary with my dad when I had little to no concept of religion outside of Orthodox Christianity:

——

Me : Hades seems cool and really nice

Dad : What do you mean?

Me : Idk, he just seems like a really sweet cool guy. Kind of want to make him something.

Dad : What do you mean you want to make him something?

Me : Well he works so hard taking care of the souls of the dead he deserves at least something

Dad : You know Hades doesn’t exist right?

Me (on the verge of tears)?: why not???

——

Me : You know what I’d love to have like an organization that takes care of cemeteries in Hades’ name

Dad : You know that Hades doesn’t exist?

Me : Well yeah sure whatever. Still at least in his honour of what he represents.

Dad : Okay… Still again he doesn’t exist the only god that exists is The God.

Me : Well who decided that?

——

Me (during spring) : Hades must miss his wife right now

Dad : Again [name] we’ve been over this Hades doesn’t exist

Me : Well still if he existed he’d be sad about not seeing his wife

Dad : he doesn’t exist

Me : I know

Dad : There’s only one god

Me : Ehhh maybe, or maybe Hades is real

Dad : No

Me : Well I can dream

Dad : What-

———————

Anyone surprised I became a Hades Devotee?