Entering Hekate's Garden

September 14, 2020
Energy healer Brannen (Keeping Her Keys) presents a wide-ranging botanical grimoire based on the traditions of ancient Greek goddess Hekate and her daughters, Circe and Medea. Brannen opens by reframing the mythology around the goddesses, suggesting that rather than being dark and evil sorceresses, they are empowered practitioners who use their extensive knowledge of the natural world for both “bane and blessing.” Brannen’s “pharmakeia” (“part art, part science, part intuition and part experience”) is made up mostly of spells and rituals, and covers the basics including banishing, protection, and spell building, as well as a variety of astrological, elemental, and magical correlations. At the heart of the guide is detailed information on 39 plants (among them dandelion, fennel, frankincense, juniper, lavender, and mugwort) explaining their physical and metaphysical properties, and how they can be incorporated into spells. For instance, moss can be added for slow-acting spells, and olive oil is best for “consecrating sacred icons.” Brannen mixes her recipes with poetry and explanations of Hekate’s influence as “Queen of Witches.” This’ll be a handy resource for witchcraft practitioners.