If you have an interest in Hekate then this book is for you. I think there is a lot in here that will serve you well. Currently there is a flow toward Hekate and a lot of questions and interests in her. I think this does well to answer some of that.

Not a historical account or information about Hekate. More of a UPG account of the author, which is not a bad thing. The information does seem to lean more towards a Wiccan stance though.

Keeping Her Keys by Cyndi Brannen

302 Pages
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing, Moon Books
Release Date: April 26, 2019

Nonfiction (Adult), Religion, Spirituality, Self-Help, Magic, Witcraft, Goddess Studies

The book is divided into the following chapters.

Lesson 1: modern Hekatean Witchcraft
Lesson 2: Keeping Her Keys
Lesson 3: Working with Hekate
Lesson 4: Hekate and her Many Names
Lesson 5: Hekate’s Characteristics
Lesson 6: Honoring Hekate
Lesson 7: Hekat’s Wheel of the Year
Lesson 8: Hekate’s Symbols
Lesson 9: Correspondences
Lesson 10: Hekate’s Garden
Lesson 11: Divination
Lesson 12: Types of Sacred Space
Lesson 13: Spell Crafting

The author recommends starting this book with the new moon. It is written to be completed in a year. She also includes a self-initiation at the end of the book. This book is a complete resource for anyone interested in Goddess studies and/or followers of Hekate/Hecate.

Lovely book on Hekate - a personal view but also a good point from which to start our own personal journey with her. Really enjoyed reading it.

This was interesting to read. Went into the book with a total lack of understanding or knowledge of witchcraft and Hekate other than in fictional reading, gaming, and movies/tv. This book allows you to get a practical understanding of the history and legacy of Hekate and how to apply it to your personal life.

Not quite for me, but a great resource nonetheless. I liked how this book blended personal development, ancient beliefs being brought to modern times, and witchcraft. I think this would probably be better suited for those who lean towards a similar single=goddess path (which I don't). I did find it really interesting overall, and I'm glad I got the chance to read it!

It feels right to write this review in November (for December’s PaganPagesOrg), a month when Hekate is celebrated by many. Cyndi Brannen’s Keeping her Keys is an introduction to Modern Hekatean Witchcraft. It’s not just a book, but a workable course which leads to the possibility of self-initiation.

One of my favourite things about this book is the “You do you” attitude. Although there are guides to how to do the work and how to connect with Hekate, there is no authoritarian overbearing message of exactly how to go about this. This book gives you the tools to make the connection; it’s up to you to do the rest.

Commitment is required to follow this course, so this isn’t really a book for the casual “dip in and dip out” reader- although for those already dedicated to Hekate, it’s a fantastic reference and an intriguing look at the different ways to honour the Goddess of the Crossroads.

This book is also a great Witchcraft primer and a reminder of the core tenets of the powers of intention and setting goals. Cyndi talks about the benefits of witchcraft including personal growth and self-discipline. She explains the pitfalls of imprecise spell work and offers step by step guides to creating effective intentions.

Hekate has become more and more popular in recent years. There are many ways to honour Hekate, and this book emphasizes that point- one of my favourite things about it. With a clear timeline and lesson plans, this book gives an ideal framework for developing a relationship with the Goddess, from keeping a journal to ritual to the idea of living a magical life every day.

Highly recommended, particularly for those who wish to forge or deepen their connection to Hekate, but also for anyone who wants an insight into the phenomenon of modern Hekate worship and witchcraft.

Reviewed by Mabh Savage of PaganPages.org
https://paganpages.org/emagazine/2019/12/01/book-review-keeping-her-keys-by-cyndi-brannen/

I tried to really get into this book. I literally picked it up a least 12 times in the last 2 months alone trying to gan some knowledge and usability from it but it is simply not meant for beginners. I found myself having to do research to be able to figure some of the things mentioned. I am still too new to the practice to really be able to appreciate this guide the way it was meant to be.

I enjoyed this but felt that it was geared more towards novices rather than beginners. I really like the cover & reading it has made me want to learn more.

Keeping Her Keys by Cyndi Brannen is the perfect book to help you hone your spiritual practice and connect more deeply with Hekate energy. Anyone who chooses a pagan. nature based or magic based spiritual path is choosing to follow an non-traditional religious practice, but you can still find yourself craving some form of structure and guidance. This book allows you to find that and use Hekate as the focus of you devotion. It's especially helpful if you are a solitary practitioner and do not have the support of others/ a coven. This is a female centered, inclusive approach that is easy to understand and incorporate. The book is set up as a course/initiation in working with Hekate formally, but even if you do not follow the course directly you will learn so much that will deepen your personal practice and you will learn everything you need to know about connecting with Hekate. If you are a beginner to the magical path there may be a slight learning curve, but Cyndi Brannen strikes a nice balance, as to appeal to the more experienced witch. Personally, I learned a lot and I found reading keeping her keys a pleasurable experience.

Keeping Her Keys: An Introduction to Modern Hekatean Witchcraft provides the reader with a thirteen-month course in working with the Goddess Hekate. This is not the same as some Hellenic Reconstructionism, wherein modern practitioners seek to reconstruct ancient rituals, but rather an adaptation of historical documents and practices for use in the current day and age. There is a focus on personal development and social justice as well as the practice of witchcraft in this book, and I feel that this blending works well.

The lessons throughout the book are a combination of information, exercises, chants, meditations, rituals, recipes, and journaling prompts. There is a richness to the information given as it draws from historical texts such as The Orphic Hymns, the Greek Magical Papyri, and the Chaldean Oracles, and brings forward that ancient knowledge for adaptation into rites and practices that are relevant to the modern practitioner. The exercises are varied and range in ease and ability. The lessons culminate in an initiation ceremony, with additional prayers and reflective questions at the back of the book.

It’s worth noting that this is an introduction to working with Hekate and specifically Her symbols and energies, and therefore isn’t another beginner’s guide to Wicca or witchcraft in themselves — it’s rooted firmly in the devotional practices and magical workings related to this Goddess. That said, it is an introduction — so a lot of the exercises will be familiar to more experienced witches and other magical practitioners, as well as the more general information about crystals, herbs, tarot and suchlike, but the laser focus on which correspondences are relevant to Hekate is refreshing.

Speaking personally, I really wanted to like this book — and I do, mostly. It’s perfect if you are just starting out on your path or want to deepen your practice by working specifically with Hekate. There is much rich fodder here and Brannen’s passion and knowledge are obvious throughout. But, as someone who has been walking the path for a good while now, I wanted more. I wanted deeper experiences and practices — which I realise may be coming in a later book — and to go beyond just the foundations of working with Hekate. Saying that, many of the exercises and practices given can be taken deeper on one’s own initiative, whilst consistent repetition of many of the chants and rituals will no doubt add flavour and richness to one’s daily spiritual practice. I particularly appreciated the Three Keys Incense and the discussion of the Holy Darkness, as well as intentional prayerwork and spellcraft. I liked how Brannen encourages daily connection, deep reflection, and service to the world as part of the reader’s devotions to Hekate, and her no nonsense style of writing is appreciated, as are the glimpses into her own magical practice and experiences.

In all, if you are interested in working with Hekate, or intrigued by what one interpretation of modern witchcraft looks like, this is a great place to start. It’s comprehensive and empowering, and offers much to the solitary practitioner as well as groups. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Moon Books, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Furthermore, in the interests of transparency, I know the author via her blog and Facebook, and am a member of the community she moderates there.

I was given the opportunity to read this book through the awesome Cyndi Brannen and I'm really glad I got this chance, because this book is, no doubt, a first of it's kind. I'm a Priestess of Hekate (and Persephone) through the Fellowship of Isis and I'm also a member of the Covenant of Hekate. I've been working and worshiping Hekate since my teen years and this book would have been SO USEFUL when I was younger.

This book is intended a course, through the period of one year and a day, on Modern Hekatean Witchcraft which is a Modern Witchcraft traditional dedicated and created around the Goddess Hekate. I was a bit fearful whether there would be more UPG or historical references, since I'm a big fan of having historical background and I was so happy when I saw that Cyndi took the time to mention both and distinguish them! This is amazing and rarely seen in books, having the carefulness of saying "this is the historical way but you can also do it this way, it's not historically correct, but it's not wrong either!". This is so good!

I also love that the author gives tons of resources, sources and notes on where the information is from and allows the reader to explore more, if they wish (and I recommend they do!). A quote I loved, and saved, was "(...) we aren't attempting to reconstruct the past, but we adapt historical documents and practices for use in the 21st century". Which is great! Giving value to historical resources and origins but, at the same time, allowing them to be adapted. It's the perfect balance.

I really liked the way the book was organised as well, divided into several lessons which are to be performed and studied throughout the time of training, giving sources for the information, explaining how they're being adapted into modern practices and how they can be adapted. Giving also tons of space for the practitioners to do the path their own way but following the tradition nonetheless. And, finally, ending with a self-initiation ritual into the Modern Hekatean Witchcraft. It's interesting to see a new tradition, so to speak, come up and be open to anyone who feels connected to it. I find it really interesting.

Overall, I really enjoy this book and can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of it :)

This book is actually more than an introduction to Modern Witchcraft, it’s a whole course to take you through to a self -initiation ceremony and start to embed some of the practices within your life. I found it interesting, well researched and linking to positive psychology. While I don’t think I’ll follow the course myself, I did enjoy the book and learnt a great deal from it.

KEEPING HER KEYS is a comprehensive and fascinating exploration and course in the practice of "Modern Hekatean Witchcraft," by its founder. This practice lends itself to both solitary practitioners and covens, and is framed to take a year and a day. Practitioners were learn of Hekate and her worship while simultaneously fomenting their own individual Spiritual Evolution.

This is such a wonderful guide to the Goddess Hekate . This is the perfect book for all seeking further knowledge on spell casting, the Goddess and the meaning of the Goddess to the craft. I loved this book and will often refer to it in the future.

The author has expertly included the history of the Goddess which is a fascinating addition to this book. . Included is the Hekate Wheel of the Year and symbols with a addition of correspondences. What I found fascinating is that the author teaches the reader how to create their own Hekate garden with a full list of plants and uses in spell crafting. This is a fun spring project I look forward to . Here is great guide to meditation , activities and prayers .

This is perfect for the novice witch, any green witch and the more experienced . I high ly recommend this for any and all witches and anyone seeing information on the Goddess.
Thank you for the ARC. My opinion is my own. .

Keeping Her Keys
By Cyndi Brannen
Copyright © 2019 Moon Books
ISBN 9781789040753)

Recommended: 4 Star

I read this book as a pre-release e-book obtained through NetGalley, provided by the publisher.
As a further disclaimer, I am a former Wiccan, trained in conventional Wicca, and no longer practicing. I found this book because of my wrong impression of what this book was about because of its title, but found the matter intriguing. It is not the type of book I would normally read. Indeed, when I read the book, I was in somewhat of an emotional crisis, and I found some comfort in revisiting divinity as I had previously believed in. If I understand the book correctly, Hekate "put" this book in my path, with Her finding me at "just the right time".
This book outlines and gives 13 “monthly” lessons in “modern Hekatean Witchcraft “ that eliminates much of the problems I found extant in the Wiccan community as well as members of other religions, being a “one right true and only way” to understand or practice the religion. In this new “modern Hekatean Witchcraft” the emphasis is on the individual, their own understanding of the world, how the world and relationships and associations work for that person. Keeping a journal of such things is of utmost importance. These may change throughout one’s life, and that’s okay!
As a person who no longer believes in the objective existence anything supernatural, I was able to help myself emotionally through the crisis that I was in, and the suggestions in the book were extremely helpful. I still do not believe in Hekate any more than I believe in any deity, but the matter of Hekate "calling" me has its lure.
The confusing issue over the title is the reason I gave it 4 stars – it would have been 5 otherwise.

Blending Hekate, witchcraft and personal development together to create a powerful new magickal perspective. As an eclecticly spiritual pagan, I loved reading about the different aspects of these perspectives. Showing you how to become your best self, the information throughout the book is invaluable, there are 13 lessons in the book and instructions on how to personalize them to your own experience and path. All-in-all a very engaging and informative read.

This was a good look into Hekate based witchcraft. I found it quite interesting especially the parts about how Hekate has evolved in through the centuries.

I knew I was going to love this book. I found myself taking copious notes knowing full well that I will be dipping back into this book again and again.

More than just a course book in the modern witchcraft tradition, Cynthia explores the history of the Goddess Hekate and provides readers with a clear and concise understanding. Also included is a full Hekate Wheel of the Year, a solid explanation of listings of all Hekate symbols and correspondences. The author also guides the reader through establishing your own Hekate garden with a full list of plants and uses in spell crafting. Three main plants are focused on which is perfect if you are feeling overwhelmed at that point. The information provided here is perfect for all green witches and those practicing herbal magic even in the shamanic tradition.

'Keeping Her Keys' has everything one needs including practice, self initiation, prayers, guided meditation and activities. This is self paced however does uniquely set a course timeline such as when is the right time to start.

This is most definately one of the best texts on the subject I have encountered and is perfect for the novice and the more experienced that find themselves drawn the Hekate or have already heard her call.

I have been fascinated with Hekate for years. Trying to find something that gives you simple, factual information has not been easy. This books leads you step by step in finding what you need to in findings Hekate. Some things that are discussed takes you through many subjects such as writing down spells, feelings and thoughts on what you learn. The ritual of initiation really spoke to me of taking the next step and beginning your new life. She includes thirteen lessons but makes sure to let you know that everyone is different and you don't have to follow everything down to the letter. These ate guidelines. I enjoyed this book very much. Thank you to Net Galley and John Hunt Publishing for allowing me to read this book.