Hedge Witch: A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft

Product Information

The author's practice and knowledge skews towards the rituals and practices that she seems most familiar with; the Celtic, Druidic, Norse, Roman, and Greek roots of witchcraft, with some European history thrown in for good measure, but I couldn't help but notice the heavy Christian influence over all of it. So many of the significant dates correspond to Christian holidays, as do the way they are celebrated, and at least one of the sources that was cited co-opted from Jewish religious texts, essentially stealing from a closed religious practice. I would have liked to see how other religious systems practice witchcraft, or how those are drawn into more modern practice, but I think I'd probably have to dig a little deeper into that. In addition, I'd also probably have to study a little deeper to see how these practices could be put into action in a different setting, such as in North America as opposed to the UK, since the flora/fauna are different, as are the seasons and tides. I was delighted to hear from Lucy Wright about her inspirational work as a ‘hedge witch morris dancer’. This is self-initiated solitary morris and is for everyone, particularly those who normally feel excluded from morris ‘on the grounds of gender, race, class or disability.’ She goes on to say, ‘I’m busily trying to invite as many interested people as possible (they can dance wherever in the world they happen to be) and sharing the resources they might need to give it a go.’

If you’re a fan of The Worst Witch, love a talking cat (looking at you Nevermoor fans) or have always wanted to visit a bookshop run by a hob, which is a very distinct entity from a goblin, then you need to read Hedgewitch💫 Here in Harmonia Saille’s immaculately written Pagan Portals - Magic for Hedge Witches: Sourcing Ingredients, Connection, Spell Building, she not only teaches the magical side of the Hedge Witch’s Craft but moreover brings with it a history lesson that, when all put together, becomes a quite wonderful, and wholly encapsulating resource for any witch (new or old) to embody (although, in truth, it’s prose tends to be more for the experienced practitioner). Threadneedle was one of my favorite 2021 novels. It had such a rich magical world, such intriguing and layered characters and such a brutal plot-line. I was therefore very excited that we were gonna get more books in this world! Of course, I had hoped for the sequel, but while waiting for that I take what I can get, among which this novella. There were so many holes in the plot and unbelievable situations. The one that stands out most to me is the rescue of the children from the goblins. Jane was stolen at the beginning of the story, at least three month earlier, but it’s talked about as if she’s just been nabbed recently. Where was she kept? What kind of food did the goblins give her?And they escape through and underground tunnel yet Jane doesn’t remember which tunnel of three paths she was taken down even though they are quite distinctive, like one is so small you have to crawl through and the other is covered with sharp stones, and the third one is fine. Gee I wonder which one it is?

Shapeshifting occurs in dreams, astral projection, in meditation and trance. Sometimes it’ll happen naturally, without your willing it to be so, while other times you will want to try it yourself. During meditation try holding a feather, bone, or some other animal item in your hand. Focus on the energy, the life, and the soul of that particular animal. This is the beginning to learning how to shapeshift – getting into the mind and “body” of the being you want to shift into. 7. Flying Ointments I am about 60 now. my home is my sanctuary. I love to cook. the kitchen is like a lab to me. I never cook the same thing twice. Hedge Witch was the first book I read relating to the subject matter, in fact the first book I read that related specifically to witchcraft that captured my imagination, spurred my creativity and set off a spark of inspiration for me. It is also a book I find myself returning too when I find I am feeling a little flat and uninspired. Why is this I wonder? Personally, I find Rae Beth's writing quite accessible and also inspiring. Hedge Witch is no exception. The book potray's key festivals in the pagan and witch calender and the celebrations, rituals and spells that a solitary witch may wish to follow throughout the year. Rae Beth also manages to explain the key gods and goddess and how they fit into the spirituality of a Hedge Witch in a way that does not preach nor expects one to follow, merely to understand. For the edge witch, the path may be simply one of life's work, a way of life that honours the cycles of nature without needing the label of religion or spirituality attached. Then again, a hedge witch may honour the gods and goddesses as they please."

By and large van der Hoeven does an excellent job of breaking down hedge witchcraft in all of its components, starting with the history of witchcraft. In fact, the whole first section of the book is dedicated to word origins and history. While fascinating, most of it is not new information. From chapter 5 onwards you are more in the world of fantasy and actually I feel that the writing is then more suitable for a younger audience. My five year old very much enjoyed listening to parts of the story, especially any parts with the cat Montague in! For my 8 year old I chose to omit some parts of the first few chapters as she is a more sensitive soul. But a hedge witch is much more than that, and the hedges she crosses can be those that represent the barrier between this world and the world of the spirits as much as the boundary between a field and country lane. However this book is about Wicca, not headgecraft. Hedgecraft is not a solitary Wiccan and Wiccan are not the only witches as Rae Beth seems to believe. Futhermore, hedgewitches are not overly formal and do not create and execute formal rituals like the ones found in this book. Rituals, if performed, are simple and simply honor the earth, dieties, and nature. One thing she does get right about hedgecraft and hedgewitches is that the tradition is based on the old wise woman or man who lived on the edge of town, by the hedge rows. They were healers and earth lovers who worked magic out of their home and gardens. Unlike similar books on the subject, which often blend the tradition with other paths (Wicca being the most common) this book stays true to the roots of what Hedge Witchcraft is, and isn’t.In today’s world of war, disease, social injustice and environmental harm, it is easy to succumb to cynicism or to feel despair. But a hedge priest/ess or witch works on the boundary between this world and the Otherworld – between what is here and happening and what remains to be seen. With the help of the gods and goddesses of the Earth, we can hold bright visions of the future – and hold them as a magical act of the soul. And we can cast many spells to help make the World a better place. The hedge witch engages in many trance-like states and rituals including “flying” to other realms. This is done in conjunction with dreamwork and trance ritual – making your own flying ointment is a powerful experience. Do your research on what herbs and oils will work best together. Read our article here for non-toxic recipes and the history of flying ointments. The idea that witches can fly comes from the old school witches using flying ointments to put them in an otherworldly state of mind. 8. Connect to the Land Via Local Parks and Forests I enjoyed taking this journey with her, even if it did not do much to invigorate my own practice beyond emphasizing the importance of practical application and dedication in solitude. I would definitely recommend this read to anyone who is new to their craft and struggling to find structure as a solitary practitioner. Cassie is holed up in a harsh, unkind boarding school, where she has been since the last time she saw her mother years ago. She got through the bullying & drudgery by finding the best hiding places & burying her nose in books about faerie and magic. Not that she necessarily believed there were faeries & goblins - but it passed the lonely hours.

Hedge Riding – the practice of Shamanic and Astral voyage – is covered in-depth in her follow-up book: Pagan Portals Hedge Riding. The Autumn Equinox is a big switchover point in the year. It is a day on which the light and the darkness are equally balanced, day and night being of equal length. If we take the light to symbolize the state of rational consciousness and the darkness to be the realm of dreams and psychic perceptions we can spin many a spell around the theme of bringing a balance between the outer and inner dimensions. And we can go even further and aim to help heal the balance between this World and the Otherworld of spirits. Such work is the primary concern of a hedge witch, anyway. But now the time is very propitious. And we can help it along with a charm like this. The author really discusses the Hedge Witch in great detail, from hedge riding (The art of travelling between this world and the Otherworld), ritual concepts, tools, rites and rituals, and many other aspects of being a Hedge Witch.

I grew up in the Wye Valley area of Wales and moved to London in my twenties. I worked as a journalist for various publications and at a creative agency, before finally doing what I'd always wanted to do. I quit my job and wrote a book about magic. Cassie fails basic witch training, but only because of evil influences of Faerie trying to get at her (for spoilerish reasons) Set in a modern day magical world, The Hedge Witch follows Rowan on a summer visit to relatives in a small town, nestled in the Welsh countryside, before she starts sixth form. This places Rowan in her mid-teens and the themes of the novella match her age, with Rowan trying to fit in, make friends, assert her independence. As Harmonia says, the practical side of her magical practice is based on folk magic, an uncomplicated magic brewed up by cunning folk and wise-women. “Uncomplicated does not mean “uninteresting” or “requiring little learning” though. Folk magic is a craft taught or self-taught over years and nowadays is often gleaned from or based on the ancient mixed in with modern knowledge or practices.” Within traditional British Old Craft it is the lowly level of the ‘parish-pump’ witch whereby we seek out “natural ingredients along with using natural amulets and making personal connections with them”.

Name what you need e.g. constant prosperity, good fortune, success…..Name it three times.) Then say: This book is an absolute joy to read. It is both simple and profound. It guides the reader step by step in the core practice of the hedge witch (spirit travelling into the Otherworld – known as ‘hedge riding’.) And all is presented in the context of natural magic and nature’s cycles. The author’s approach is non-dogmatic, encouraging everyone towards an individual and creative approach. She knows from experience just how to walk with one foot in Faerie and one in the Everyday World – without recourse to hallucinogens – and she tells us about it and what can be gained from it. This is the real deal. And although it is written for beginners, it made me think and it reinspired me. I give it ten stars!This book... was not bad, and its good for a light read. I had loved Rowan in Threadneedle due to her quirkiness and her personality, and in the Hedge Witch, being in her POV with her family is such a gem. Rowan is a plus size teen with worries on her own, and I kind of liked how the whole series focused on them as teens and the dramas and worries that comes with it. This kind of thing is called a petitioning. It works effectively if you have made, through the plant, a connection with Nature that is respectful and of goodwill. (Some other plants that can help with prosperity magic are flax, oats, wheat, pine and oak. But each species has its own particular take on matters such as sufficiency or abundance. Your spells can be framed accordingly.) Light a candle to the Goddess as Queen of the Dead, She who brings peace and renewal of harmony. And light one also to the God as Lord of the Wild Hunt, He who brings the souls of the dead home to the Otherworld where they dwell between lives.