Hekate Keys to the Crossroads edited by Sorita d'Este
HEKATE KEYS TO THE CROSSROADS
A collection of personal essays, invocations, rituals, recipes and artwork from modern Witches, Priestesses and Priests who work with Hekate, the ancient Greek Goddess of Witchcraft, Magick and Sorcery.
Edited by Sorita d’Este
Hekate is one of the most fascinating goddesses of the ancient world. Loved, feared, honoured and worshipped throughout history, the Torch-Bearing Goddess of the Crossroads remains a powerful and compelling presence for many practitioners today. Depicted as three-formed and facing in three directions, she continues to inspire those who seek her wisdom, guidance and mysteries.
This book brings together the experiences and perspectives of more than twenty modern Witches, Priestesses and Priests working with Hekate in the United Kingdom. Through their essays, rituals and artwork they offer a unique insight into the many facets of this complex and enduring Greek Goddess.
Part I - Hekate's History, Myths & PowersIn this section, author and priestess Sorita d'Este presents a detailed study of the history, mythology and powers of Hekate. This invaluable introduction explores her roles, relationships and significance in the ancient world.
Part II - Hekate's WitchesThis section contains essays by sixteen Witches, Priestesses and Priests who work with Hekate on a regular basis. Each contribution is unique, illustrating how the many faces and mysteries of Hekate continue to manifest in contemporary magical and spiritual practice.Hekate is a Goddess of transformation, initiation, childbirth, death and rebirth. She is the Mistress of Magic, Witchcraft and Sorcery; the Key-Bearer who illuminates the pathways through the mysteries with her bright torches. Guardian of thresholds and guide between realms, she moves between Heaven, Earth and Sea, bestowing blessings upon those who honour her with sincerity and devotion.
Part III - Recipes, Rites & RitualsA collection of modern invocations, pathworkings, incense and food recipes, together with a group mystery play based on the Abduction of Persephone, in which Hekate plays a pivotal role.
Combining history with a wide range of personal experiences, this anthology opens doorways into many of Hekate's realms. Enchanting, thought-provoking, magical and informative, it offers a rare glimpse into the diverse ways in which modern practitioners encounter and honour this remarkable Goddess. Whether you agree or disagree with the views expressed within these pages, one thing is certain: there is always more to discover when it comes to Hekate.
2006, 156 pages. Paperback & Kindle editions available.
ISBN 978-1-905297-09-2
B&W 5.5 x 8.5 in or 216 x 140 mm (Demy 8vo) Perfect Bound on Creme w/Gloss Lam
Table of Contents
Part I - Hekate's History, Myths & Powers A detailed and comprehensive study of the history, myths and powers of Hekate. This invaluable section offers the reader insights to some of the roles, relationships and powers Hekate held in the Ancient World.
Part II - Hekate's Witches This section contains essays by sixteen Witches, Priestesses and Priests who work with Hekate on a regular basis. Each contribution is as unique as the person who wrote it, clearly illustrating through both their differences and similarities that the many faces presented by Hekate in the ancient world continue on today in the twenty-first century.
Part III - Recipes, Rites & Rituals A collection of modern invocations, pathworkings, incense and food recipes, together with a group mystery play of the Abduction of Persephone by Hades in which Hekate plays a key role.
About the Editor & Contributors
Sorita d'Este is an author, researcher and priestess whose interests include mythology, magic, ancient religions and the many ways in which people experience the sacred. Her personal practice draws upon Hellenic, Egyptian and Hermetic traditions, together with Initiatory Craft and other Western esoteric teachings.
A long-standing student of Hekate and goddess traditions, she is particularly interested in the relationship between mythology, spirituality and magical practice. Through her writing and research she seeks to encourage a deeper understanding of both ancient wisdom and contemporary spiritual experience.
Hekate: Keys to the Crossroads emerged from a collaborative project involving a group of friends, students and practitioners in London during the early 2000s, brought together by a shared interest in Hekate, magic and contemporary pagan spirituality. The anthology reflects the diversity of voices, experiences and approaches that characterised this vibrant period of exploration and discovery.
