Hekate Liminal Rites

A Study of the Rituals, Magic and Symbols of the Torch-Bearing Triple Goddess of the Crossroads

By: Sorita d'Este, David Rankine

Narrated by: Leslie Howard

Length: 4 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Wherever you look, be it in the texts of Ancient Greece and Rome, Byzantium or the Renaissance, the Greek Magical Papyri or the Chaldean Oracles, you will find Hekate. The magical whir of the strophalos and the barbarous words of the voces magicae carry her message; the defixiones, love spells, and charms all provide us with examples of the magic done in her name. She was also associated with the magic of death, including necromancy and reanimation, as well as prophetic dreams, nightmares, healing herbs, and poisons. The temples dedicated to her and the important role she played in the mysteries of Eleusis, Samothrace, and Aigina all provide us with clues to her majesty. The popular shrines at the doorways of ordinary people, offerings left at the crossroads, and guardian statues of her at the entrance ways to cities and temples all attest to her status in the hearts and minds of those who knew her mysteries.

In this book, the authors draw from a wide range of sources, bringing together historical research which provides insights into the magical and religious practices associated with this remarkable goddess. In doing so they provide an indispensable guide for those wishing to explore the mysteries of Hekate today.

©2009 Sorita d'Este and David Rankine (P)2021 Tantor

Easily digestible Brimo

A wonderful contribution to Hekate and her Torchbearers.
A gateway to those who bear her keys.
A great foundation of comprehensive study.
A understanding of how to worship Hekate, where to look and how to start in your own life.

Fantastic

This was a great overview. I appreciate getting to listen to more about Hecate and her history. We need more books like this.

Really good information on how to work with Hekate

Loved the history on worship of hekate, her meaning, her aspects, her fellow Gods and Goddesses. The history shows what verses the folks of the past used and you could also adapt them for your own practice. With a lot of references to the PGM, past practices for necromancy, curses, rites, offerings, her different forms, etc.. Definitely a book I would always refer to or listen to on Audible.

Scholarly work

This book is a must for anyone devout to Hekate. It took several listens to only do to my not too fond of the narration (not that is bad by any means) but I felt as though I was back in a college classroom. This is not a book for beginners wanting to learn candle magick, it is a scholarly source that really brings the history and background forth. I recommend reading the book also.

Great historical accounts

Enjoyed learning about the history of Hekate but not much practical application that would be useful today

Crucial Starting Point For The Hekate Seeker

When people ask me what book they should read to learn more about Hekate, Sorita d’Este and David Rankine’s Hekate Liminal Rites is always my first recommendation. In my opinion it is the best historical crash-course on Hekate that there is. The authors cover Hekate throughout the ages from some of her pre-Greek origins to the Hekate of the Classical Era to Hekate Soteira of the Chaldean Oracles to Hekate of the Greek Magical Papyri. The power of this book is it’s broad scope and the authors’ ability to easily convey areas of research in an extremely understandable manner with a clear writing style.

The book covers some of her main symbols and animals and their significance, historical spells and offerings as well as devotes of hers both historical and mythical. Diving into the Greek Magical Papyri or the Chaldean Oracles can be difficult for someone new to Hekate. Works that focus on Hekate in one era of history like Hekate Soteira: A Study of Hekate’s Roles in the Chaldean Oracles and Related Literature by Sarah Illes Johnston or Hekate in Ancient Greek Religion by Robert Von Rudloff, while fantastic as well, can be a bit inaccessible, complicated and confusing for someone completely new to Hekate. The authors do a great job of providing a quick, accurate and informative platform for the seeker to have enough of a crash-course in these areas to start exploring other texts that dive a bit deeper on Hekate.

Wish it was longer

Great information- wish there was more! I would love to hear more about the connection to Greece.

So good for History

this book helps me in my workings so often and has for a long time thank you Sorita

enjoyed

I liked the many things pulled from many places and learned so much from it. I will be suggesting this book to many of my friends to check out and learn from it aswell.

Great book

Very informative, lots of spells ,history,diferent names of Hekate,rituals, love it,
Totally a most read for the Hekate devotee.