Hecate is an ancient Greek Goddess, who embodies the three faced nature of the Great Goddess. She is lady of the crossroads, mistress of the witches, and the most great sorceress this world ever knew. She is daughter of titans, an Ancient One, first Witch. Since a woman started to learn Magic ways, she'll have to go through three stages of her formation as a Witch. Through three faces of a Hecate: a Maiden, a Mother, a Crone.
Maiden Hecate is an archetype of a knowlegless and inexperienced Youth itself, still beautiful like a first flowers in the spring. She walks with snakes, who see dangers in high grass, which Maiden Hecate could not see, while she is dancing and laughing. Then a Maiden Hecate transforms into a Mother Hecate. It's an experienced and full of knowledge lady, but her knowledge is not enough to become a wisdom. Black barking dogs serve her, they guard Mother Hecate from dangers she see but can not defend herself. And after all a Mother Hecate grows into a Crone Hecate, old one. Crone Hecate is a physically old women, she is a hermit, a teacher, a master. Only jingling keys and old lantern are her companions - for she is showing the way through the darkest secrets and holds keys for all doors to Magic.