Hades

Hades is the ancient Greek god of the underworld and the dead. Often depicted with a solemn and stern demeanor, he embodies the darker aspects of the divine, overseeing the realm of the dead and the riches found beneath the earth's surface.

Originating from Greek mythology, Hades is the son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea and the brother of Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. He rules the underworld alongside his wife, Persephone, whom he famously abducted. Despite his fearsome role, Hades is also associated with wealth and prosperity, as precious minerals and gems are found underground.

Hades embodies properties of transformation, death, wealth, and the hidden aspects of existence. He represents the cycle of life and death, the inevitability of mortality, and the potential for transformation and renewal that follows. Invoking his energy can bring about profound personal transformation, insight into the mysteries of life and death, and protection.

Herbs and plants associated with Hades include cypress, black poplar, asphodel, and mint. These plants symbolize mourning, protection, and the hidden aspects of nature. They are often used in rituals to invoke his protection, aid in transformation, and honor the deceased.

Crystals connected to Hades include obsidian, black tourmaline, onyx, and garnet. These stones resonate with his energies of protection, grounding, and transformation, promoting emotional resilience, deep insight, and connection to the earth's hidden treasures. They are used in rituals to enhance personal strength, provide protection, and support transformative work.

Hades’s elemental correspondences are Earth and Water, reflecting his dominion over the physical underworld and the emotional depths associated with death and transformation. The Earth element emphasizes stability, grounding, and the nurturing aspects of the underworld, while the Water element symbolizes emotional depth, purification, and the flow of life and death.

Hades is linked to the celestial body Pluto, the planet named after the Roman counterpart of Hades. Pluto’s energy aligns with Hades’s influence over transformation, death, and rebirth, making times when Pluto is prominent in the sky particularly potent for working with his energy.

His zodiac associations include Scorpio and Capricorn. Scorpio represents qualities of transformation, mystery, and the exploration of hidden depths, while Capricorn embodies endurance, resilience, and the connection to the earth and its resources. Working with his energy during these astrological seasons can enhance personal transformation, grounding, and insight into the mysteries of life and death.

The times most auspicious for invoking Hades include Samhain, the dark moon, and during times of personal transformation or mourning. These periods align with his domain over death, transformation, and the hidden aspects of existence, making them ideal for connecting with his energy.

In rituals, tools such as a dark-colored cloth, skull symbols, and representations of the underworld are used to invoke Hades’s presence. Offerings of pomegranates, dark wines, and coins are traditional ways to honor him. Rituals often involve creating a sacred space with symbols of the underworld, lighting black or dark-colored candles, and using herbs and crystals associated with protection and transformation to connect with his energy and receive his blessings of strength, insight, and protection. Meditating on themes of death and rebirth, or engaging in shadow work, can also deepen the connection to his transformative and protective energies.