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.

Keeping Her Keys
An Introduction to Hekate's Modern Witchcraft
by Cyndi Brannen
John Hunt Publishing Ltd
Moon Books
Religion & Spirituality , Self-Help
I'm going t give this a solid 5 over the way it was laid out and presented. Anyone who is interested in ways to try and connect with Hecate and show her devotion can use this as a modern clean concise course that included a lot of prayers and actions., I would recommend this book highly as it is a breath of fresh air. This is not Deity of mine but I respect her and have dealings with her both in requested guided meditations or rituals I have put on and aided for friends as well as feeling her ear me in the past. She is a Titan imo, she doesn't answer to Zeus or to others in the Roman or Greek pantheon. Her and Diana are the only ones I have tried to work with in any way. I respect Strega [as I have practicing Sicilian friends and others I hold dear] but never drawn it it as a path. I always honor the Ancients, which she very much is but have different ways which is nt to say down the line I won't set up something to her.

I found this book difficult to read as I am unsure which audience Cyndi is aiming at with this book. Sometimes it reads as a beginners guide to Wicca and then switch to an advance Wicca guide to initiation guide to a deity. To inviting new reads to her blog and then assume all the reads are following her blog and some times written as Cyndi personal autobiography. This book could have been split into 3 different titles with more detail and would have gain Cyndi more audience for her works.

The other annoying thing and this my do with my scientific and librarian back ground is the lack or the badly referencing used as I am assuming like most Wiccans' myself include read and research what we want to know widely. This can be easily fix by hiring someone or learning to do this properly so her work and research she has done is well recognized.

After all this I did take some positives from this, the hymns and chants were beautiful and powerful. It also gave me some more information I need to make imitation even if I don't think I am ready for the next step. I really liked the person story/journey part and would like a book more on that part.

The lesson part which was really the main focus of the book I found to be good but the instructions a bit weak. Example guide meditation with words is hard to do when reading at the same time. Either rough guide to visualization and allow the person meditating on their own way of doing it or sell on your blog the audio for guide meditation. The lessons would be easier to follow if in dot points instead of paragraphs as this can get people lost quiet easily which is a shame as the lesson themselves are quiet detailed.

These are my opinions this format my make sense to someone else give it a try and see what you think.

My first impression of this book was that it was similar to many beginning books on Wicca, but the introduction explains that it's meant to be a training course, practiced over a year and a day, for a solitary self-initiation dedicated to Hecate. After I read the first exercise, I did see a different slant arising.

The lessons, while not offering anything really new, would be good for someone new to this path and the choice of Hecate as a patron goddess is as good as any other. It's a good choice for someone who wants to learn self-development and overcome limitations in their life.

Mostly it felt like the author's personal path, but could be followed as if being guided by a personal teacher. Not a bad choice for someone who is new to Wicca or who wants to become familiar with genuine study rather than television depictions of the path.

I’m so glad this book found me! I’ve been looking for a year and a day course that fits my path and this could not be more perfect. I’ve not completed the course (clearly) but have read through it and am waiting for the next new moon to start. The information provided is invaluable and I’m so excited to start the various practices and exercises. *ARC provided by NetGalley for review.

I enjoyed reading about Hekate and how to use exercises and prayers to become the best me.

I also discovered the author's YouTube channel and can highly recommend checking this one out simultaneously.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy.

Keeping Her Keys -- An Introduction to Hekate's Modern Witchcraft is a sincere, experienced and easy to understand introduction to Hekate. The author, Cyndi Brannen, acquaints the reader with the multitude of Hekate’s aspects.
I picked up this book because I have enjoyed reading Brannen’s blog on Modern Hekatean Witchcraft and wanted to know more. Although I was not disappointed, my knowledge of Hekate has barely begun and my desire to know her more has been whetted. Brannen accomplished her task!
She includes 13 lessons. Her instructions not only include how she would go about the exercises, but how they can be personalized to make them your own. The book culminates with a three-fold initiation rite to devote one’s self to the goddess. In other words, it’s just the beginning and, if I read it right, she has plans for two more books down the line.
Her modern adaptation to becoming a follower of Hekate is reasonable and relevant. There are no ancient sacrifices of black dogs recommended, but rather sacrificing one’s time through actions like volunteering at the local animal shelter. She offers the down-to-earth advice of a teacher that has been down the road already and knows how to guide the reader through.
I found Brannen’s daily hour of power recommendation invigorating to my own personal practice --renewing journaling, which I am notoriously bad at (the one action I probably need most as I have no earth signs in my astrological birth chart). I particularly enjoyed making the salt Strophalos, which was challenging and fun.
While reading the book I found Cyndi Brannen’s YouTube videos, which I found to be quite helpful as well. I recommend reading this book to those interested in developing a practice of Modern Hekatean Witchcraft and I eagerly await Brannen’s next blog and book!
My thanks to NetGalley and John Hunt Publishing, from whom I received a digital copy of this book for a free and honest review.

A very good book, engaging and informative.
I'm not of follower of Hekate and knew very little about her cult but this book supplied tons of information in a clear and entertaining way.
I liked the style of writing, the clear explanations and the examples.
I look forward to reading other books by this writer.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to John Hunt and Netgalley for this ARC

Wonderful read! I did not know much about this Goddess. But this particular book fulfilled my quest and then some. A must read for those who follow this path. I voluntarily read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

More of a manual than a book. Hekate isn't for me unfortunately but I still appreciated how easy to read and understand these steps were, so that even a novice can practise and decide on her own terms.

Cyndi Brannen's "Keeping Her Keys" is more of a step by step guide to modern Hekatean Witchcraft than a book. There are 13 lessons to go along with the 13 lunar cycles of the calendar year. It is suggested that one take a full year to complete the lessons, however, there's no harm in reading through it at your own pace. There a many exercises and activities in each lesson to help you grow your understanding and connection with Hekate . I highly recommend this to anyone who has a curiosity about Hekate and by the end you may find yourself a keeper of Her keys.

This book is amazingly handy - perfect for those who have already begun to practice with Hekate, and for those who are new to Her.

The course, as the author refers to it, is well researched, laid out nicely and in a way that makes sense and gives a lot of background as well as hands-on work to do, which I think is the best way to start a new spiritual journey, to get right into it and make some mistakes, create lots of questions for yourself and also get some field work in. Messy hands-on experience is always best over reading a million books, and yet, this guide/course helps to do just that - create a relationship instead of having you just read about one.