A new book about the witches' goddess, Hecate, by Gary R. Varner. Just who was this goddess? Goddess of sorcery, goddess of fertility, protectress of women and children.

Hecate, goddess of witches, magic and the underworld. Feared and worshipped for thousands of years by many cultures around the world, known by several names and credited with many powers. Like most ancient gods and goddesses, Hecate’s story has changed over time. Originally, a goddess of wilderness and childbirth, she eventually became known as “Queen of Ghosts.” Her origins may be in Asia Minor among the Carians or in North Africa in the Nubian kingdom. For the most part Hecate is seen today as the Goddess of Witches and Sorcery—but this wasn’t always so. Hecate was at one time both protectress of women and children and Goddess of Death. She was, in her trinity aspect, goddess of fertility and prosperity, Goddess of the Moon, and Queen of Ghosts, shades and the night. It is interesting that she was seen both as the goddess of fertility and life as well as death. “Hekate can poison as well as intoxicate,” wrote Nor Hall, “turn ecstasy into madness, and cause death where incubation—or a short journey—was intended.” This book will examine her many facets and bring about a truer sense of the primal goddess known as “The Distant One” and “The Nameless One.” One of her titles places these in a softer light, for she was also called “most lovely one.”