The text, Hymn to Demeter, tells the tale of Persephone’s abduction by Hades into the underworld and Demeter’s grief-stricken search and recovery of her daughter. Much has been written on the mother-daughter relationship and on Persephone’s abduction but very little attention has been given to Hekate’s central role, as guide and active witness, to the loss and recovery of Persephone. Using my paper as a starting point, we will bring Hekate to mind to re-establish our connection to Her, and to consider how She might serve as a guiding archetypal symbol in our wisdom years.

Brianna Luna Pendleton is a psychoanalyst and depth-psychotherapist in private practice in Annapolis, Maryland. She has a PhD in Clinical-depth Psychology and an MS in Clinical Pastoral Counseling. In 2021, Brianna graduated from the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis. Since then, she has returned to her study of Jung’s work through the DC Jung’s Society Reading Seminar. Brianna is currently working on a book, related to her dissertation research, on The Numinous: Depth Psychology and Shamanic Perspectives on Soul Loss and Recovery. She is also a student of Zen with a daily meditation practice that includes gardening and playing with her two cats.

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