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

In this combo episode, I walk us through the historical origins on Honoring Hekate on the Dark Moon, to modern practice, and then through a meditative journey.   The historical practices conducted on the Dark Moon in propitiation of Hekate, focused on seeking her protection for the coming new lunar month. Known as Hekate's Deipnon (meaning "supper"), in parts of the ancient Mediterranean, hou...

Hekate's history is as complex as our personal experiences of her. From the Neolithic cave of The Great Mother through to the Roman depiction of her as the nefarious Queen of Witches, Hekate has travelled throughout the centuries, leaving a trail of mystery and magic behind her. In this first part, I discuss Hekate's etiology in The Great Mother, through to how the earliest Greek writers portrayed...

Attune to the flow of land, sea, and sky to unify emotions, actions, and thoughts. Find out more: https://members.covinainstitute.com/ Watch and read the transcript (click on the magnifying glass to open options): https://app.searchie.io/watch/mpqzX3PkDK Ethics: https://keepingherkeys.com/ethics

I think we're all struggling right now. The world seems to be tilting sideways, from extremist politics that seek to strip our rights to the economic woes. And yet, there is the light in the darkness. In this episode, I talk about how Hekate can help us navigate these tough times by leaning into her darkness and light. Seeing her as a spirit that guides us through catharsis, from our personal unbu...

In this combo episode, I talk about some of the so-called dark goddesses  that I write and teach about, the nature of the shadow and soul, within the framework of Hekate's triple nature. Then, in the spirit of Scorpio season, I guide you through a meditative journey to Hekate's Well in her sacred garden for deep emotional healing and reclaiming the dark goddess.  Goddesses discussed: Hek...

From Thessalian Enodia through the Greek version of Hekate to Diana Trivia, The Road Goddess is a compelling spirit who governs roads, children, women, the cast out, and guides us to the deeper world.  Angela Natividad and I explore the ancient history of Enodia, from the oldest records to where the archetype of this goddess shows up today.    IMPORTANT: Angela and I discuss potenti...

Join me for this guided meditation to The Witches Realm, the spiritual home of witches just beyond the moon. Samhain Blessings, Best Wishes for The Witches New Year, and Happy Halloween. Learn more about my teaching and writing at keepingherkeys.com

Hekate (Hecate to some), is an ancient goddess who evokes magic and mystery. Often known as the Queen of Witches, the Regina Maleficarum, t hroughout history and before, she is entwined with the archetype of the witch, from the healing arts to malevolent spirits. Through secret rites under the moon, in singing songs to her and in cursing in her name, Circe, Medea, and others across the centuries h...

Shielding from harmful energies, such as other's thoughts or emanations of toxic culture, is vital to healing. Yet we find equanimity through protection and openness. This meditation guides the listener through the process of self-protection and openness to nourishing forces, inspired by the "strong back, soft front," teachings of Roshi Joan Halifax. This meditation is an expansion of the Unifying...

Enter the mysteries of the deeper world by allowing the Sibyl within to awaken.  Angela Natividad and I explore The Sibyl, from the classical antiquity to contemporary oracles.  Angela and I talked for over two hours, with about the first hour being an intro and the second more on specific Sibyls and bringing this archetype to the present day The Sibyl was an ancient priestess of great p...

In the Keeping Her Keys book, I discussed what I believe to be three Key Principles for soulful living: the values of passion, kindness, and integrity. In the book, I wrote about the importance of principles for guiding our lives. These are sometimes referred to as “virtues,” but this word has such a loaded meaning to some witches that I’ve switched to “principles.” These are our personal keys. It...

This is a brief meditative practice that shifts our attention from embedded in the physical towards seeing from the wider vision of the soul.  It's the switch from our thoughts having us to us having our thoughts, so we may explore how we are so much more than regular experience.  Philosophy and psychology offer endless theories of the self, yet it's essence remains elusive. William Jame...

Medea, that mythical sorceress whose magic built a king and then destroyed him.  For over 2,000 years she has captivated our attention. Reviled by some for her unspeakable actions, understood by others as a woman robbed of any personal agency. Medea operated in the shadows, often crafting her spells in secret, and she can also be seen as being in the grips of the shadow self. Her longing for...

A meditation to claim the keys of autumn, by connecting root, heart, and crown, with an invocation of the goddess Hekate. Text of Hymn To Hekate on The Autumn Equinox: Hail Hekate Pasikratea, Queen of the Universe. Hail Hekate Aglaos, Creator of the Sun. Hail Hekate Erigeneia, Ruler of the Moon. On this day When the moon and sun are equal, I am once again awestruck by Your Power As Creatrix of the...

Welcome back, or if you're new to the podcast, nice to meet you. After a summer away from podcasting, I'm back with this episode discussing owning my own journey, what it means to be bitten by a brown recluse spider, desire vs. capacity, and what it means to claim (and keep) my keys. Mentions:  Tarana Burke: Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement Brené Brown: Cle...

Thanks everyone for listening to the first season of More Than This: At The Crossroads of Modern Life and The Deeper World. We'll be back in the fall with more explorations of archetypes, myths, magic, mystery, and psychology. Until then head on over to keepingherkeys.com to learn more about Dr. Cyndi Brannen's teaching and writing.  Join COVINA for the Season of Renewal.

AMA where I answer questions about feeling called by Hekate (or any healing spirit) to be of service to others, avoiding spiritual bypassing, how all emotions are sacred, and how I practice astrological magic.  keepingherkeys.com to learn more.

Dr. Cyndi Brannen and Angela Natividad discuss the history and mythology of Drakaina, which translates as She-Dragon and/or Serpent Queen. We discovered this as a title of Hekate (Hecate) in a few ancient texts, and then found art that supports this ancient goddesses' association with dragons and serpents. Interesting, just like everything to do with women, snakes and god(dess). From Medusa to Gam...

Medusa's story, like many myths, contains sexual violence, murder, and great suffering. If you are not in a space to feel safe while we explore these topics, you may want to skip this one. Angela Natividad and I go deep into the story of Medusa, from her ancient origins to the Me, Too movement. Medusa's story is one of victim-blaming, betrayal, isolation, and hidden potential. She lives on wheneve...

Recorded talk from MoonCon 2021. Dr. Cyndi Brannen discusses Hekate and her bestselling book, Keeping Her Keys: An Introduction to Hekate's Modern Witchcraft. Hekate (Hecate to some) is an ancient goddess typically associated with magic, the moon, and witchcraft. Yet, historical records equally show that she was understood by some as a Great Mother Goddess and even the World Soul. Answers to your...

Dr. Cyndi is joined by Angela Natividad, mythologist and marketing consultant, for this exploration of the Greek goddess Circe. Focusing on her powers of transformation, they weave through the two thousands years of Circe's mythology and art. You can read more about Circe in Cyndi's book, "Entering Hekate's Garden." Join The Covina Institute for deeper study of the crossroads of modern life and th...

We can heal our deep wounds from our mother by leaning into the embrace of The Goddess. The cultural mother wound we all bear is at least partially due to the denial of the sacred feminine. In this episode I explore the psychospiritual connections between our personal wounds and how we relate to The Goddess. Go to keepingherkeys.com to learn more about my work.

My reflections on Beltane, along with a guided meditation.

A deep exploration of Persephone's above ground aspects, from her maidenhood to her emergence from the underworld, including an analysis of The Homeric Hymn to Demeter, iconography of Kore, and more.  Psychological themes: openness, vulnerability, recovering from trauma, and Internal Family Systems. Note that we discuss themes of violence, trauma, and suffering. Take good care of yourself. ke...

Agape refers to the ancient Greek word for close affiliation, deep affection and secure attachment. In the 21st century, our definition of love has been so narrowly restricted by society that, until we begin to explore the meaning of agape, we are often oblivious to this universal love flow. Agape is the love for a child, a friend, a parent, and our Goddess. Boundless, eternal and without conditio...