Keeping Her Keys: An Introduction to Hekate’s Modern Witchcraft

If you feel drawn to this book, Keeping Her Keys, there is a good chance Hekate is calling you. In my own personal experience, I felt her call and ignored her for quite some time; all I had heard was the Hekate was a dark Goddess. In all honesty, she scared me. I didn’t want to face the dark. I didn’t want to peek into the shadows. I didn’t want to look into the darkness and see what secrets it held. I had experienced life changing loses. I held my grief and pain inside. It was years until I slowly opened myself up and began to listen to Hekate. What I found wasn’t a scary, evil Goddess. I found one with deep empathy, that embraced me and accepted my shadow self and unresolved grief. I was able to release those dark shadows that had been holding me down and work thru emotions I kept hidden. Working with Hecate transformed me into a stronger, more empathic witch.

I have more family members on the other side of the veil than I do the Earthly plane. My experiences and grief has allowed me to be able to be open and help others. My journey thru the shadows has given me the ability to offer guidance and support to others who need it.

When I heard about this upcoming book on Hekate, I was excited. I didn’t know what to expect but was ready to dive in and explore. What I found was the author had experienced the same calling from Hekate (as many of you have probably as well) and I saw a connection that felt familiar.

The book is structured like a course, guiding you to work with Hekate and her seven keys. It’s an introductory course in modern Hekatean Witchcraft. The author guides you by the hand whether you are a beginner or advanced student.

Author Cyndi Brannen breaks down the course into 13 lessons. Each lesson is meant to correspond with a lunar cycle (there are about 13 cycles in a year). The book is meant to take a year and a day of study as in the traditional witch training. (While I did read thru the book to write the review, I am planning to go back and take each lesson again as meant in the lunar year.)

The lessons will cover the basics of Modern Hekatean Witchcraft, keeping Her keys, working with Hekate, Her names and characteristics, symbols, correspondences, divination, spell casting and more. Each of them is well written and easy to follow. The book also includes exercises, activities, prayers and an optional ritual for self-initiation.

I really enjoyed this book. For anyone who has considered working with Hekate and learning more this is a recommended guidebook.
 
~review by Amber Barnes

Author: Cyndi Brannen
Moon Books, 2019
pp. 272, $21.95