Keeping Her Keys: At The Crossroads of Modern Life and the Deeper World

Let's circle around my original audio guide to the Keeping Her Keys Book in this episode. Since this perfectly imperfect book was published for years ago this month, it's unlocked Hekate's Witchcraft for thousands around the globe. Something I never imagined.

Hail Hekate and HER glorious witchcraft.

Learn more: keepingherkeys.com

Join the Keeping Her Keys Read Along HERE.

This episode guides you through Entering Hekate's Garden: The Medicine, Magick, and Mystery of Plant Spirit Witchcraft by me, Cyndi Brannen.

I begin by answering a listener's question about mugwort.

Rooted in plant spirit witchcraft, Entering Hekate's Garden: The Magick, Medicine and Mystery of Plant Spirit Witchcraft guides the reader through exercises, practices, and rituals, teaching respect and gratitude for the plant world and embracing spiritual, physiological and magical properties of plants. Hekate's Garden is a mystical experience that offers transformative effects through plant spirit witchraft, drawing wisdom from Hekate, Medea, and Circe as The Triple Goddesses of Witchcraft.

Hekate's Garden is a sacred space filled with plants associated with Hekate, the goddess of witchcraft and magic. The most extensive list of plants associated with her is found in the fourth-century version of the tale of Jason and the Argonauts, which describes a sacred grove in the innermost recess of the enclosure shaded by green trees, where Medea performs her spells.

1. Welcome to Hekate's Garden

2. Exploring the origins of Hekate's Garden 08:34

3. Defining Pharmakeia and Plant Spirit Witchcraft 16:03

4. Awakening to The Magick of Botanicals 23:29

5. The Power of Plant Spirit Medicine 30:44

6. Unlocking the Mystery of Plant Spirit Witchcraft 37:59

7. Claiming Your Place as a Pharmaka 45:09

Especially splendid for the Witches' May Eve Sabbat, often referred to as Beltane today. Beltane was a traditional Celtic fertility festival, while the May Eve Sabbat comes from folklore about witches' gathering to celebrate the season, such as the stories about Walpurgis Night. Around the time of May Eve, Cyndi hosts an annual retreat drawing inspiration from the tales of the May Eve (aka High Spring) Witches Sabbat, focusing on the splendor in Hekate's Garden.

The meditation attunes to the mythic witch, Circe, and others as well as ancestral spirits. Recorded during The High Spring Sabbat of 2022, this meditative journey draws us to the secret Witches' Realm, through transforming into Circe's hawk. Through relaxation and breath, the portal to the deeper world opens, awakening us to the mystical powers of The Witch within. Shapeshifting into hawk unlocks the power of transformation, a key skill of all witchcraft.

Dr. Cyndi Brannen is a witch and psychologist, who teaches and writes from the crossroads of modern life and the deeper world. She's the founder of Covina: The Coven of Hekate, an online school that merges psychology with the esoteric, centered around the magick, medicine, and mystery of The Goddess Hekate.

Join The Hekate's Garden Beltane Full Moon Retreat from May 5-7, 2023 for FREE.

Learn more at keepingherkeys.com

As part of our ongoing project researching ancient Hekate's Suppers, we are cracking the mystery surrounding raw eggs as part of an otherwise fully prepared meal. Hekate's Suppers, also known as The Deipnon, were important rituals of purification and protection that were conducted in areas of the ancient Mediterranean.

Eggs were a key feature in the ancient suppers left for Hekate at the crossroads. These suppers, which are sometimes referred to as The Deipnon (which means "supper") were part of the monthly ritual of propitiation to Hekate on the night when the moon was hidden (aka the modern new moon).

"As is usually the case with offerings to the dead, the regular Hekates deipnon on the thirtieth of the month consisted of food. The specific articles, so far as they are mentioned, were magides a kind of loaf or cake, the shape and ingredients of which are not clear; the mainis or sprat; skoroda, or garlic; the trigJe, or mullet; psammeta, a sacrificial cake described by Harpocration as "somewhat like the psaista;" eggs, cheese, possibly the basunias a kind of cake." - Stephan Ronan, The Goddess Hekate.

Eggs have a rich history throughout many religions and cultures, symbolizing life, purification, and rebirth. In ancient Greece and Rome, eggs were used for spiritual rituals, including offerings for the goddess Hekate. In particular, Hekate's Suppers included raw eggs as a means of both purification and protection from evil spirits. Eggs, as well as many animal based foods, were viewed as chthonic, which means they were connected to the underworld, and deities who were associated with it. Through the Christian tradition eggs are linked to the purification ritual of communion, and the resurrection of Jesus. In particular, Mary Magdalene was associated with eggs, particularly red ones. Today eggs still have spiritual significance and can be used to achieve spiritual transformation and protection.

Watch this as a video with CC and searchable transcript HERE.

View the PDF of the slides HERE.

Eggs and Ancient Hecate Suppers: Exploring Symbolic Meaning and Use in Rituals

Historical Practice Associated with Hecate 08:19

Dialogues of the Dead: Eggs, Purification and Hekate 15:49

Hekate Suppers: Protection and Purification of the Restless Dead 22:27

The Complexity of Hekate: Threatening and Philanthropic 30:18

The Unsettling Side of Hecate's Suppers, Rituals and Ancient Curse Tablets 37:57

Purifying Restless Dead and Pollution In Ancient Greek Religion 45:56

Cleansing Through Diet: A Portal to Ancient Practices of Purification 52:50

The Complexities of Purity: Exploring Orphism and Ancient Greek Dietary Practices 01:00:18

Understanding the Mythos and Misconceptions of Hekate Suppers 01:07:14

Connecting the Ancient Hekate Suppers and Practices to Lent 01:14:16

Purifying the Soul: A Comparison of Hekate Suppers and Christianity 01:21:31

The Fascinating Mythology of Mary Magdalene and the Red Egg 01:28:03

Eggs in Ancient Times: Unravelling Ancient Rituals of Protection and Cleansing

Witch, heal yourself. If there is one key that has unlocked my own soul more than just about any other (besides mother and teacher), it is embracing that I am a witch. With all it's glory and pain, to me, being comfortable with one of my core identities has healed me like no other. In this recording, I discuss my own journey from being so in the broom closet that I was behind the brooms to being a public figure, as well as share tips for navigating different spaces, and reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of both staying in the closet and coming all the way out. Of course, Hekate, Goddess of Witches, is a KEY part of this journey, so let's Hail Hekate and claim The Key of Witch.

Chapters:

The Witch in the Room: Exploring Life's Myth in the Mess

08:013 Exploring the Depths of the Witch Within: A Portal to Self-Love, Catharsis, and Healing  

15:09 Exploring the Depths of Witchcraft and Ancient Mythology

22:47 Navigating Hostile Rooms: An Exploration into the Richness of Dreams, Intuition, and Natural Magic

29:51 Self Healing and Embracing Identity

35:57 Occupying the Margins: Reflections of a Healer-Witch in the Mainstream

43:24 In or Out? The Broom Closet And Being A Goddess-Loving Warrior 

50:20 Unveiling the Witch Within: Relationships and Authenticity 

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS TALK AND IF YOU'RE IN/OUT OF THE BROOM CLOSET HERE.

View as video with CC and searchable transcript HERE.

More about Cyndi Brannen's teaching and writing can be found at keepingherkeys.com

In this episode, Luxa Strata and Dr. Cyndi explore the practice of Pharmakeia - Witchcraft Medicine - and its ancient roots connected Hekate, Circe, and Medea. We get into a deep discussion of the poison path's intersection with these goddesses. We start out with a simple ritual, awakening The Sacred Fire, and finish up with a meditative journey into Hekate's Garden. The seven forces associated with each of the seven planets of the ancient world and botanicals associated with each is covered, as well as speaking and singing to plants. They also emphasize importance of respect and mindful practices when using plant medicine. Finally, they give recommendations on books and resources to explore Hekate's Garden on a deeper level.

Entering Hekate's Garden is available wherever books are sold.

Learn more about Cyndi at keepingherkeys.com

Check out Luxa's LinkTree for ways to connect, including how to listen to the Lux Occult Podcast.

Listen with CC and view the transcript HERE.

1. Reclaiming The Sacred Word: Pharmakeia & Plant Witchcraft Medicine (00:00 - 07:41)

2. Reclaiming Pharmakeia: The Poison Path, Aconite and Its Roots in Ancient Witchcraft (07:42 - 13:42)

3. Hekate's Garden: Uncovering the Potent Power and the Mythical Relationship Between Medea and Circe. (13:42 - 19:50)

4. Hekate: Queen of Poisons, Green World, and Roads. (19:50 - 26:54)

5. Unlocking the Power of Kronos and Kairos to Enhance Divinatory and Astral Work. (26:54 - 33:27)

6.The Witch's Voice and Plant Spirit Possession (33:27 - 39:30)

7. Developing Magic Through Voice and Relationship: A Guide to Plant Spirit Witchcraft (39:30 - 45:09)

8. Exploring Hekate's Cave: A Journey of Intentional Healing, Magic, and Ritual. (45:10 - 51:16)

9. The Nourishing Darkness (51:16 - 58:47)

10. Hekate's Garden Meditation (58:47 - 01:06:16)

I was delighted to speak with Nicholas Pearson, author of so many wonderful books and fabulous teacher. Nicholas is my go-to source for information on stones, as well as his books on energy healing and floral essences. Liz Westlake, owner of Materia Magikeia and Stone Instructor in Covina, joined in this conversation where we covered so many topics, from how stones are connected to Hekate (and other goddesses) to practical methods for working with our beloved rocks and crystals. Nicholas and I bonded when we discovered we shared a love for ancient magical gems. Be prepared to spend time researching them.

Watch (with CC) and access the transcript HERE.

Learn more about Nicholas:

https://theluminouspearl.com/

Check out Materia Magikeia:

https://materiamagikeia.com/

Learn more about COVINA, our online coven:

https://members.covinainstitute.com/feed

More about Dr. Cyndi:

https://keepingherkeys.com/

Hekate's connections to other goddesses and mythic witches, including Artemis, Selene, Persephone, Demeter, Circe and Medea, are explored in this episode from the archives.

View the transcript and watch with CC HERE.

A meditative journey to connect with the energy of early spring, for some spiritual cleaning.

Blessings for the Spring Equinox.

Coyote Mae and Dr. Cyndi explored the intersection of spiritual programming and liberation through witchcraft. Focusing on their personal journeys and observations, they discussed the insidious nature of spiritual conditioning, from how it shows up in pagan practices to the unconscious restrictions on personal practice. Respect for varying spiritual paths by seeking to understand rather than dominate, and how self-discipline is a key of personal liberation are also covered.   

This chat goes well with "Rixipyle: The Liberator," in Entering Hekate's Cave: The Journey Through Darkness To Wholeness by Cyndi Brannen, PhD. Available wherever books are sold.  

Watch with CC and access the searchable transcript: https://app.searchie.io/watch/YxDWXy7MNg