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Entering Hekate's Cauldron: Spells, Spirits, Rites, and Rituals
“Cyndi Brannen brings a grounded and complete understanding of Hekate and witchcraft, as has rarely been seen before. Her joy and her craft shines with every word.”
—Amy Blackthorn, author of Blackthorn’s Book of Sacred Plant Magic
A comprehensive overview of modern Hekatean witchcraft, Entering Hekate’s Cauldron is about doing witchcraft, specifically witchery centered on the beloved goddess Hekate, with her etheric cauldron as the source. This book is for anyone interested in deepening their spiritual journey as a witch. Entering Hekate’s Cauldron completes Cyndi Brannen’s trilogy, including Entering Hekate’s Garden and Entering Hekate’s Cave, which may be read in any order.
Written in the style of a traditional Book of Shadows, the contents cover many of the common practices of modern witchcraft, ranging from personal development to spells, rites, and rituals. Beginning with foundational practices, such as setting up an altar and connecting to a spirit guide, the book then offers instructions for understanding and honoring Hekate. A deep dive into correspondences follows, including a guide to spellcrafting, connecting with animal spirits, crafting rituals, and performing initiations.
—Amy Blackthorn, author of Blackthorn’s Book of Sacred Plant Magic
A comprehensive overview of modern Hekatean witchcraft, Entering Hekate’s Cauldron is about doing witchcraft, specifically witchery centered on the beloved goddess Hekate, with her etheric cauldron as the source. This book is for anyone interested in deepening their spiritual journey as a witch. Entering Hekate’s Cauldron completes Cyndi Brannen’s trilogy, including Entering Hekate’s Garden and Entering Hekate’s Cave, which may be read in any order.
Written in the style of a traditional Book of Shadows, the contents cover many of the common practices of modern witchcraft, ranging from personal development to spells, rites, and rituals. Beginning with foundational practices, such as setting up an altar and connecting to a spirit guide, the book then offers instructions for understanding and honoring Hekate. A deep dive into correspondences follows, including a guide to spellcrafting, connecting with animal spirits, crafting rituals, and performing initiations.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 14, 2025
Entering Hekate’s Cauldron by Cyndi Brannen is an exploration through the lens of ancient wisdom and modern witchcraft. As someone on a personal journey to connect with the divine feminine, this book has been transformative.
Brannen explores the thresholds of mythology, ritual, and spiritual practice, introducing not only Hekate but also other ancient Greek and Roman deities as they relate to her. The result is a multidimensional view of the goddess and her sacred mysteries.
Whether you're a practicing witch or simply curious, I highly recommend this book. I’ve already bought another copy and shared it with a friend looking for moon ritual inspiration.
Take it from this Shadow Witch; Please get this guide, let it illuminate your path like the moon casting light on a midnight walk. There is much to learn and much to gain.
I’m grateful to learn and to grow from both Brannen and Hekate throughout this magical manual.
Brannen explores the thresholds of mythology, ritual, and spiritual practice, introducing not only Hekate but also other ancient Greek and Roman deities as they relate to her. The result is a multidimensional view of the goddess and her sacred mysteries.
Whether you're a practicing witch or simply curious, I highly recommend this book. I’ve already bought another copy and shared it with a friend looking for moon ritual inspiration.
Take it from this Shadow Witch; Please get this guide, let it illuminate your path like the moon casting light on a midnight walk. There is much to learn and much to gain.
I’m grateful to learn and to grow from both Brannen and Hekate throughout this magical manual.
September 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It's packed with information on the goddess and has some great rituals. I highly recommend reading this if you work with Hekate. You won't be disappointed.
December 23, 2025
Cyndi Brannen is one of the few experts on Hekate, having started with a blog and Facebook group (Keeping Her Keys) and later transitioning to a traditionally published author, podcaster, and teacher. I have deep respect for Brannen and the work she has done over the past decade, watching her small corner of the world grow exponentially as more and more people turn to the dark goddess for insight, self-reflection, and strength. More recently, Brannen has started publishing books centered around Hekate's "tools," including entering her cave, garden, and now cauldron. While I have not had the opportunity to read all of the aforementioned books, I have no doubt they are inspiring. Luckily, however, Wesier reached out with the opportunity to read Entering Hekate's Cauldron: Spells, Spirits, Rites & Rituals, and there was no way I was going to turn down the opportunity. As the Wheel turns toward winter, this is the perfect time to enter Hekate's cauldron and see what mysteries she has in store for us.
The cauldron is traditionally associated with magic and mystery, as well as wisdom and self-reflection. This makes it a wonderful tool to get to know during the winter months as we spend more time indoors, resting, reflecting, and even learning new hobbies. Entering Hekate's Cauldron delves into using the cauldron in Hekatean witchcraft as both a teacher and a tool. Unfortunately, there is the assumption that you have read or will read Brannen's other works, referencing spells, rituals, recipes, and journal prompts outlined in previous texts, particularly Entering Hekate's Garden. Because of this, I do not suggest skipping the other books as I have, as they apparently build on each other. There is also the assumption you have experience with Hekatean witchcraft, so again, I wouldn't start with Entering Hekate's Cauldron as your first encounter with the dark goddess. Despite the need for prior knowledge and understanding, Entering Hekate's Cauldron offered up wonderful and ingenious spells, rituals, and recipes that can be easily adapted into anyone's practice, making it well worth the read, despite your beliefs.
Entering Hekate's Cauldron is broken down into four parts: The Foundation, The Knowledge, The Craft, and The Mystery. I felt this was an excellent way to approach such a topic, but Brannen failed in some aspects to keep the book cohesive. Some chapters and information were completely out of left field, leaving me confused as to how the knowledge and work built upon itself as the reader progresses, as it was suggested in the beginning of the book. That isn't to say there isn't any structure, just sometimes things felt awkward or forced, like Brannen had a lot of say but wasn't sure where exactly to put the information she wished to share.
Now I hate that I opened this review with two criticisms, despite rating the book very highly. Brannen redeems the structural issues and the need for prior knowledge with some of the most creative, thoughtful, and downright ingenious spells, rituals, and remedies I have ever encountered, on top of well-researched insight into the spirit world and spirit communication. The Craft and The Mystery sections really redeemed this book for me, making it one of my top recommendations for the year for hedge witches, whether you follow Hekate or not. There are incredible recipes for spirited oils, guides to enlivening and renewing sacred objects, letter writing to communicate with the goddess, recipes for magical glues/fixatives and paints (which blew my mind completely!), talismans, incantations, and even shapeshifting. The list of rites, rituals, spells, and spirits is listed right at the beginning of the book, making it super easy to go back and find any that caught your attention during your first read through. I am going to have to dedicate time in the future to rereading the content to continue digesting all of the incredible information and insights Brannen has to offer.
Part of Brannen's ingenuity comes from her ability to weave words into magical spells, a talent she teaches the readers in Part III: The Craft through the use of acrostics. These then get added to talismans, knot magics, spell bags, and even turned into sigils, creating potent spells unique to their creator. You really have to read this work for yourself to understand where I am coming from. I could spend the next several paragraphs espousing Brannen's work, and I still don't think I could do it justice.
However, it's Part IV: The Mystery that I really enjoyed. In this section, Brannen breaks down the different types of spirits, offering a wonderful guide to all that you could encounter as a witch, especially hedge witches. For each spirit type, Brannen offers a brief description of each, how to connect with different spirit types while staying safe in the process, and even has a breakdown on meeting your spirit guide and making a spirited mirror for scrying. The ritual to meet your spirit guide is a pathwalking ritual, which Brannen refers to as a meditation. I prefer to hedge ride to meet guides, but it is possible to meet them during a meditation or path walk if you so choose.
Part IV also includes working with animal allies and how the different animal attributes can be used in one's magical practice. This is also where Brannen includes a brief guide to shapeshifting. I really wish this chapter alone was longer than it was, but I realize that would have been outside of scope of this book. Entering Hekate's Cauldron is about Hekatean witchcraft, not animal allies and shapeshifting, but I hope that one day someone will pick up the mantle and right a more detailed book on this exact topic.
My favorite chapter, however, was Chapter 17, which delves into mystical and shamanic experiences. While there is no hedge riding mentioned here, it does include looking into your past lives using Hekate as a psychopomp and helping to guide souls to the other side. These are all roles a hedge witch can easily fill, and are well worth the time and care to read through, even if you do not follow Hekate. The rituals and information can easily be paired with deities from other traditions, such as Freyja. That is one of the great things about this book. Despite it being specifically about Hekate, the foundation is witchcraft and deity worship, skills that are easily applied to anyone's practice.
While I deeply enjoyed Entering Hekate's Cauldron overall, there are two other things that 'bothered' me that I haven't already mentioned. The first was the inclusion of the modern Wheel of the Year. I understand the need to modernize witchcraft, but it felt off, knowing what I know about Brannen, that she still follows the Wheel of the Year. It doesn't seem to jive with Hekatean witchcraft, but that's probably just me. Last, but certainly not least, there were some points in the apothecary chapter where some alt-right pipeline rhetoric was used, specifically in suggesting that you can't use iodized salt or chemically treated tap water in your magical practice. I have never found there to be a difference in the salt varieties, unless of course we are talking about pink vs black salt, and while water does have different properties based on its source, chemically-treated tap water is fine in almost all cases. I may be overreacting, but I would rather err on the side of caution than potentially continue harmful, dated rhetoric.
Overall, I deeply enjoyed Entering Hekate's Cauldron: Spells, Spirits, Rites & Rituals by Cyndi Brannen and believe it is one many of you will enjoy having on your shelf. A word of caution, though: I recommend picking up Brannen's earlier works before jumping into this one. I know you will not be disappointed!
The cauldron is traditionally associated with magic and mystery, as well as wisdom and self-reflection. This makes it a wonderful tool to get to know during the winter months as we spend more time indoors, resting, reflecting, and even learning new hobbies. Entering Hekate's Cauldron delves into using the cauldron in Hekatean witchcraft as both a teacher and a tool. Unfortunately, there is the assumption that you have read or will read Brannen's other works, referencing spells, rituals, recipes, and journal prompts outlined in previous texts, particularly Entering Hekate's Garden. Because of this, I do not suggest skipping the other books as I have, as they apparently build on each other. There is also the assumption you have experience with Hekatean witchcraft, so again, I wouldn't start with Entering Hekate's Cauldron as your first encounter with the dark goddess. Despite the need for prior knowledge and understanding, Entering Hekate's Cauldron offered up wonderful and ingenious spells, rituals, and recipes that can be easily adapted into anyone's practice, making it well worth the read, despite your beliefs.
Entering Hekate's Cauldron is broken down into four parts: The Foundation, The Knowledge, The Craft, and The Mystery. I felt this was an excellent way to approach such a topic, but Brannen failed in some aspects to keep the book cohesive. Some chapters and information were completely out of left field, leaving me confused as to how the knowledge and work built upon itself as the reader progresses, as it was suggested in the beginning of the book. That isn't to say there isn't any structure, just sometimes things felt awkward or forced, like Brannen had a lot of say but wasn't sure where exactly to put the information she wished to share.
Now I hate that I opened this review with two criticisms, despite rating the book very highly. Brannen redeems the structural issues and the need for prior knowledge with some of the most creative, thoughtful, and downright ingenious spells, rituals, and remedies I have ever encountered, on top of well-researched insight into the spirit world and spirit communication. The Craft and The Mystery sections really redeemed this book for me, making it one of my top recommendations for the year for hedge witches, whether you follow Hekate or not. There are incredible recipes for spirited oils, guides to enlivening and renewing sacred objects, letter writing to communicate with the goddess, recipes for magical glues/fixatives and paints (which blew my mind completely!), talismans, incantations, and even shapeshifting. The list of rites, rituals, spells, and spirits is listed right at the beginning of the book, making it super easy to go back and find any that caught your attention during your first read through. I am going to have to dedicate time in the future to rereading the content to continue digesting all of the incredible information and insights Brannen has to offer.
Part of Brannen's ingenuity comes from her ability to weave words into magical spells, a talent she teaches the readers in Part III: The Craft through the use of acrostics. These then get added to talismans, knot magics, spell bags, and even turned into sigils, creating potent spells unique to their creator. You really have to read this work for yourself to understand where I am coming from. I could spend the next several paragraphs espousing Brannen's work, and I still don't think I could do it justice.
However, it's Part IV: The Mystery that I really enjoyed. In this section, Brannen breaks down the different types of spirits, offering a wonderful guide to all that you could encounter as a witch, especially hedge witches. For each spirit type, Brannen offers a brief description of each, how to connect with different spirit types while staying safe in the process, and even has a breakdown on meeting your spirit guide and making a spirited mirror for scrying. The ritual to meet your spirit guide is a pathwalking ritual, which Brannen refers to as a meditation. I prefer to hedge ride to meet guides, but it is possible to meet them during a meditation or path walk if you so choose.
Part IV also includes working with animal allies and how the different animal attributes can be used in one's magical practice. This is also where Brannen includes a brief guide to shapeshifting. I really wish this chapter alone was longer than it was, but I realize that would have been outside of scope of this book. Entering Hekate's Cauldron is about Hekatean witchcraft, not animal allies and shapeshifting, but I hope that one day someone will pick up the mantle and right a more detailed book on this exact topic.
My favorite chapter, however, was Chapter 17, which delves into mystical and shamanic experiences. While there is no hedge riding mentioned here, it does include looking into your past lives using Hekate as a psychopomp and helping to guide souls to the other side. These are all roles a hedge witch can easily fill, and are well worth the time and care to read through, even if you do not follow Hekate. The rituals and information can easily be paired with deities from other traditions, such as Freyja. That is one of the great things about this book. Despite it being specifically about Hekate, the foundation is witchcraft and deity worship, skills that are easily applied to anyone's practice.
While I deeply enjoyed Entering Hekate's Cauldron overall, there are two other things that 'bothered' me that I haven't already mentioned. The first was the inclusion of the modern Wheel of the Year. I understand the need to modernize witchcraft, but it felt off, knowing what I know about Brannen, that she still follows the Wheel of the Year. It doesn't seem to jive with Hekatean witchcraft, but that's probably just me. Last, but certainly not least, there were some points in the apothecary chapter where some alt-right pipeline rhetoric was used, specifically in suggesting that you can't use iodized salt or chemically treated tap water in your magical practice. I have never found there to be a difference in the salt varieties, unless of course we are talking about pink vs black salt, and while water does have different properties based on its source, chemically-treated tap water is fine in almost all cases. I may be overreacting, but I would rather err on the side of caution than potentially continue harmful, dated rhetoric.
Overall, I deeply enjoyed Entering Hekate's Cauldron: Spells, Spirits, Rites & Rituals by Cyndi Brannen and believe it is one many of you will enjoy having on your shelf. A word of caution, though: I recommend picking up Brannen's earlier works before jumping into this one. I know you will not be disappointed!
September 24, 2025
This isn’t just a book. None of Brannen's works are. In fact, most books aren't just books.
Entering Hekate’s Cauldron is a ritual in ink, a soul-forging journey through the heart of Witchcraft, Shadow, and transformation.
Cyndi Brannen doesn’t merely write about the Dark Goddess—she channels Her, beckoning us to step boldly into the Cauldron of Rebirth, not as tourists of Mysticism, but as Initiates of our own Alchemical becoming.
Every page pulses with raw energy—dripping with the blood of ancient Rites, veiled in the smoke of forgotten Temples. Brannen offers us not comfort, but catalysis. She speaks not to the mind that wants Magick, but to the Soul that remembers it. That IS it.
This is Sacred work. It’s for those who are ready to shed their skin, for those who understand that healing doesn’t mean softening—it means burning away what no longer serves, and forging the Sacred Self in the fires of the underworld.
Hekate’s keys are not handed to you here—they are EARNED. Through devotion. Through descent. Through the courage to sit in your darkness and call it Holy.
If you are walking the Crooked Path, if your dreams are haunted by torchlight and hissing serpents, if your Soul stirs at the Crossroads in the dead of night—this book is your invitation and your initiation.
Entering Hekate’s Cauldron is not for the dabblers. It’s for the Witches, the Mystics, the Seekers, and the broken who are ready to be re-made. It is blood, breath, and bone.
It is spell and scripture.
It is Sacred fire.
Read it. And don’t just read it—let it consume you.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews