HELLHOUNDS have held Folkloric significance for a great many cultures since ancient times, especially as an omen of death. BLACK DOGS -not of flesh- can be seen patrolling crossroads, places of execution & archaic burial sites. Folk tales about shadowy pups as discarnate shape-shifting demons, or undead spirits haunting cemeteries are quite common in the British Isles, and some Germanic regions. In Celtic myth, the gatekeeper-dog was named DORMATH, meaning 'Death's Door', & ARAWN, the Celtic equivalent to HADES, leads the WILD HUNT with his HOUNDS OF HELL. In Greek lore, black dogs are symbolic of transition, the unknown & generally were protectors of secret wisdom; The black dog CERBERUS guards the mouth of the UNDERWORLD, & HEKATE is often accompanied by packs of wild black dogs, on her hunts & during her rites.
HEKATE is Goddess of Witches, & Goddess of the threshold: The original TRIPLE-GODDESS, supreme in Heaven, on Earth, & in the UNDERWORLD. Creative as she is destructive, she is the warden of crossroads, doorways, & graveyards. She is the Goddess of TRANSITION/TRANSFORMATION, keeper of the old mysteries, protector of all woman, witches, queer & trans people, & animals (especially hounds). She grants sanctuary for the marginalized, & shelterless, guiding liminal creatures to find home in the folds of her delicate veil. She eats the blood of cruel men, and devours the throats of those who dare oppress her.
HEKATE is Mistress of the Creatures, whom is only apparently visible through canine eyes. Black Dogs were the most sacred to her. Her wild companions would also eat blood, and like CERBERUS, the 3-headed familiar of Hell, she is said to possess 3 heads -but instead- head of snake, horse, & dog. As dominatrix of the lunar subconscious sphere she links us to our forgotten instincts, teaching us to nourish our souls & master our inner beasts, rather than starving & caging them.
The emphasis on the dog in many HEKATE myths -tracing back to pre-Hellenic, Egyptian, even Mesopotamian roots- symbolically connects her to the "DOG-STAR" SIRIUS. Dogs were both sacrificed to HEKATE, & 'SIRIUS', since ancient times, as "The brightest star in the night sky", was beloved to Isis & multiple other lunar creation/destruction Goddesses, and tied to many ancient cultures, calendars & systems of beliefs. Many nations of indigenous people of North America associate the SIRIUS star with canines, some names translating to: 'DOG-FACE', 'WOLF STAR', ''COYOTE STAR', and 'MOON DOG'.
This October (2014) was the second phenomena of the BLOOD FULL MOON - sacred to HEKATE, as the New Moon - which I allowed to seep influence into this EXPERIMENTAL EROTIC HORROR FILM, I present now before you (aka my personal homework assignments from the 'self-taught film-university-of-me).
We set our intentions forward as SAMHAIN / HALLOWEEN (the pagan 'New Year') enters our sphere. Myself, having sipped the living-blood-light of the recent full moon, set forth great intention for all of our physical, emotional , creative, & psychic bodies to be filled up with luminous supplies of energy, that will sustain us throughout the daunting cold months that begin the cycle. Rejoice in life, & with the living! Honour the dead; Our ancestors! Commemorate the passing year! Prepare for the germination of Winter's solitude! In the name of the Moon ( Guardian of Love & Justice) ! Enjoy the film!
Happy Samhain,
MIKEL MARTON,
Photographer/Film-Maker/Digital-Faun
Cast:Mikel
Tags:hellhound, mikel marton, photography, nude men, hekate, ghost, samhain, halloween, cerberus, blood, bdsm, leather, dog, blood moon, sirius and witchcraft