Sorita d’Este - Circle for Hekate - Volume I: History & Mythology (The Circle for Hekate Project Book 1)

CIRCLE FOR HEKATE

Volume I: History & Mythology

Sorita dEste

Published by Avalonia

www.avaloniabooks.co.uk

MUST we then speak of this subject also: and shall we write concerning things that are not to be told, and shall we publish things not to be divulged, and secrets not to be spoken aloud?
Julian the Apostate, Oration upon the Mother of Gods,
4th century CE, trans. C.W. King, 1888

Contents

It is ignorance which leads to profanation. Men ridicule what they do not properly understand.

The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries, by Thomas Taylor

BM Avalonia

London

WC1N 3XX

England, UK

www.avaloniabooks.co.uk

Circle for hekate - volume i: history & mythology
the circle for hekate project.

Copyright sorita deste, 2017

First edition, November 2017

this ebook edition, December 2017

Design by

Cover art: serpent circle for hekate (sigil), illustrated by rosa laguna, 2015.

Illustrations and photographs throughout this volume as credited;
otherwise the author.

Every effort has been made to credit material, and to obtain permission from copyright holders for the use of their work. If you notice any error or omission please notify the publisher so that corrections can be incorporated into future editions of this work.

The information provided in this book hopes to inspire and inform. The author and publisher assumes no responsibility for the effects, or lack thereof, obtained from the practices described in this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilm, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, or used in another book, without written permission from the author, with the exception of brief quotations in reviews or articles where appropriate credit is given to the copyright holder.

I dedicate this project, in service, to the Goddess I worship most of all, and who has chosen me as her helper, .

Volume I is also dedicated, in life, to my dear friend
Paul Harry Barron , who walked the Ridgeway and survived,
and who has completed many a devoted circle with me.
You are an inspiration.

Acknowledgements

This has not been a straightforward circle to complete, my thanks goes out to everyone who listened to my endless excited stories and everyone who encouraged me to not give up.

Blessings to all the Torchbearers of the Covenant of Hekate past, present and future. In particular: Andrea Angelos, Dorn Simon, Francine Derschner, Florian Schlie, Sosanna Renee Olsen, Palladia Soria, Paul Harry Barron, Robert Podmore, Larry Phillips, Mima Cornish, Tinnekke Bebout, Vikki Bramshaw and Hazel ; may your work continue to inspire!

Gratitude to David Rankine for being the psychopomp at the start of this journey.

Thank you to Rosa Laguna for understanding my vision and words, giving it form with your pen. The sigil of the Serpent Circle for Hekate which features on the cover and prominently throughout this series is perfect!

With gratitude to all the various people who made this project possible. The Andres Mata Private Collection (New York); Alexander Gherardi from e-tiquities.com; Steve from antiqueprints.com and A.S. (London). In thanks to all those who support and make possible the resources available through the British Museum and Library , the Wellcome Library , JSTOR , MetMuseum , CBd Budapest , Ashmolean Museum , the Campbell Bonner Magical Gems Database ; theoi.com and the many other online resources. Also to each and every single one of the researchers and authors listed in the Bibliography of this book - without your work this work would not be possible.

Thank you also to Sophie Childs , Tita M. , Carrie Kirkpatrick , Constantinos N ., Eirini T. , Marcel S ., Claudiney Prieto , Katie Gerrard , Vikki Bramshaw , Hannah WM , Georgi Mishev, Francis A., Colin Irving, Melissa A., Mat Auryn and the members of the Covenant of Hekate . You all provided help, inspiration, encouraging reminders and sometimes downright nagging and without that I may never have found the finishing line with Volume I!

Finally, thank you to L okabandhu who made this project possible in so many ways. Your support carries me, and your wisdom, kindness and calm continue to be an inspiration. I love you.

I call Einodian Hecate, lovely dame,
of earthly, wat'ry, and celestial frame,
Sepulchral, in a saffron veil array'd,
leas'd with dark ghosts that wander thro' the shade;
Persian, unconquerable huntress hail!
The world's key-bearer never doom'd to fail
On the rough rock to wander thee delights,
leader and nurse be present to our rites
Propitious grant our just desires success,
accept our homage, and the incense bless.

Orphic Hymn to Hecate
date unknown, circa 300 BCE 200 CE.
trans. Thomas Taylor, 1792