Sorita D'Este Knihy

Exploring the rich history and mythology surrounding Hekate, this volume presents a scholarly synthesis of various sources that illuminate her multifaceted nature. It delves into her myths and legends as detailed in Hesiod's Theogony, while also examining her connections to other goddesses. The book further investigates archaeological findings, literary references, and artistic representations, offering a comprehensive introduction to the divine ancestry and cultural significance of this extraordinary goddess.

The Goddess Hekate embodies the intersections of life, death, and rebirth, revered across cultures and eras. Her threefold representations, often accompanied by animal heads, symbolize her dominion over earth, sea, and sky. The text explores her influence through figures like Medea and Circe, and the witchcraft traditions of Thessaly, alongside philosophical insights from Hesiod and Porphyry. Hekate's immense magical powers even linked her to King Solomon and led to her integration with other deities, including Artemis and Isis, highlighting her enduring legacy.

The book explores the contentious origins of the Wiccan Tradition, examining various theories proposed by practitioners and scholars. It delves into the possibility of Gerald Gardner as its inventor, the connection to British folk magick, and the potential continuation of European Pagan Witchcraft. Additionally, it considers influences from Victorian ceremonial magick and the medieval Grimoire Tradition, providing a comprehensive analysis of the various narratives surrounding Wicca's development.

Exploring the profound impact of the Seven Wandering Stars—Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—this book delves into their historical significance in shaping magick across various cultures. It traces the lineage of Western Esoteric Traditions from Ancient Sumeria to the Victorian Occult Societies, highlighting how these celestial bodies have influenced rituals, symbols, and beliefs throughout the ages. The work serves as a bridge connecting ancient wisdom to contemporary practices in the realm of magick.

The Cailleach embodies various roles in British mythology, ranging from a nurturing earth-shaping giantess to a fierce winter hag goddess. This figure serves as a shape-shifting crone and guardian of sacred wells and animals, symbolizing the duality of nature. Her presence is woven into the fabric of myths and legends throughout the British Isles, reflecting themes of sovereignty and the interplay between life and death. The book explores these diverse manifestations and the cultural significance of the Cailleach in the landscape.

Focusing on the multifaceted nature of Artemis, this scholarly work delves into her roles as the goddess of the hunt, the moon, childbirth, and more. Sorita d'Este examines her significant influence and the various forms of worship dedicated to her across the ancient world, highlighting her connections to women, music, dance, and wildlife. The book offers a thorough exploration of Artemis's impact on culture and religion in antiquity.

The Morrígan is the pre-eminent and most powerful of the Celtic Goddesses. She is the Bestower of Sovereignty, and it is she who shapes the land and rules the faery as Queen. She is a Goddess of both sex and battle, and she uses her potent magic and sorcery to shapeshift, assuming the forms of numerous wild animals. In this book the many parallels between The Morrígan and other Goddesses and figures from both British and Gallic folklore, including Morgan Le Fay, the Banshee, Black Annis, Danu, Epona, Grian, Modron, Nantosuelta and Rhiannon are explored. Her manifold roles, titles and guises weave a rich and colourful tapestry showing the continued dominion of The Morrígan in mythology, folklore and literature. She was the tutelary Goddess to the ill-fated hero Cu Chulainn; she was the Faery Queen and the Washer at the Ford. She was also the wise crone the Cailleach, and the battle crow Badb, the frenzied Nemain and the Warrior Queen Macha. Her roles and guises which are brought together for the first time in this carefully researched volume, the work of many years of study, demonstrate clearly the significant status that she held in the ancient Celtic world and continues to enjoy today.