Hedge Witch: A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft

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THE LAMP OF THE GODDESS appears to be different. There are no instructions for hedge witchcraft in it at all. It is about reincarnation, the cycles of life, death and rebirth and the fate of Atlantis. And yet. And yet the book focuses upon the Dark Goddess (not an evil Deity but ‘Dark’ in the sense of hidden – like the scientific concept of ‘dark matter’ – and concerned with the realm of the dead as a place of healing and renewal. She has been known by many names, worldwide, and to the traditional hedge witch or priest/ess She is Huldra, Lady of Wisdom or Freya (the Lady) who is Mistress of Elves and leader of the Valkyries. (So for me, it is not so far after all, from the temples of Atlantis to the nearest hedgerow.) The shamanic nature of hedge riding appeals to many within the tradition who are aware of the hedge riding nature of this path. It is learning to access through journeys in the mind and spirit, as well as in the physical, information that can be useful in everyday life. It also re-enchants our world, allowing us to see the beauty that lies all around us, the magical and the wonderful, the awe-inspiring moments that transcend “normal”, mundane life. It can be compared to the Northern or Norse tradition of seith, an ancient trance-based oracular tradition that often uses communication with various beings while leaving your physical body and being between the worlds in an astral form. [1] While seith is usually a group working, hedge riding is a more solitary affair, though it may be used to benefit the community at large and not just the practitioner. It can be viewed as a form of astral travel, where the consciousness of the hedge witch travels to the Otherworld, but it can also be done on the physical as well, where we can use the real-life hedge or other liminal marker to move beyond this realm and into another (with all due precaution and skill). In either aspect, an altered form of consciousness helps us in the work.

I tend to critically think and use a gut instinct when determining if a concept ir my actions toward another are unhealthy or healthy to mine or another’s mind body or soul. I do like to learn I study everything. I am very cognitive aware. emotionally aware. I see myself as the master of my ship. I am fiercely interdependent. Rowan met new friends and the solving bit of the mystery at her aunt's town, makes it just a fun and light read. I definitely finished this in one seating and I just laughed at some of Rowan's antiques with her friends. The fact that Rowan is just this robust character with a brilliant personality makes this a good companion novella for the main series. Samhain/Hallowe’en (October 31st) is the time when we can most easily commune with those among the dead whom we have loved and also honour the ancestors who lived too long ago for us to have known them. Plus, we can bless the unborn – the generations who are yet to come.Rowan was also a great main character for this story. Mainly because she's in every way possible a typical teenager. She wants to belong. She wants some excitement. She wants a boyfriend and her first kiss. She doesn't want to be an outsider any longer. And that means that at times she does typical stupid teenage things. And then at times she doesn't, which makes her likable.

Hedge Riding – the practice of Shamanic and Astral voyage – is covered in-depth in her follow-up book: Pagan Portals Hedge Riding.

The book is presented in a series of letters sent to two apprentices who wish to follow the path and are seeking guidance and advice. As the book says "Her lyrical letters, accompanied by delicate pen-and-ink sketches, bring the reader towards a deeper understanding of the solitary witch's lifestyle and beliefs". not very tactful when dealing with others. I prefer my own company but do get lonely upon occasion. I am not celibate. I prefer to think I was born with a sexual drive to learn to.master it and be responsible choosing to use it in a healthy manner. So what is hedge witchcraft? Hedge witchcraft is often seen today as a solitary pursuit, crafting one’s life in a magical way that reflects the talents and abilities of the practitioner. The term hedge witch was coined by the author Rae Beth in her book, Hedge Witch: A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft (1992). She took the term “hedge” from “hedge priest”, one who preached from the hedgerow, and who had no physical place for a congregation. A renegade, a solitary, a priest who didn’t follow the rules. This still appeals to many today, myself included. What I really loved about this novella is the magic. There is so much magic! In the first book in the series our heroine is kept away from magic and we're seeing a little of it, but never its full capacity. This novella absolutely makes up for it. All sorts of magic are being shown and that also gives an idea of the endless possibilities within this world.

The title and synopsis implies that this is a nonfiction book about witchcraft. Although it does cover some areas of witchcraft, it is primarily focussed on Wicca. Wicca =/= witchcraft. But, this book does do a great job of covering the basics of Wiccan beliefs and practices and if that’s what you are looking for, this could be a good place to start. A lot of the beliefs in this do not line up with my own personal experiences with the gods, and unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. Great Lady and Lord of the golden Sun and golden days on Earth and the heart’s fulfilment, I call upon you. Let all be blessed with a sense of the beauty of this Earth…..Help us to celebrate love for one another and for all life. And help us also to put to flight forces that oppress love and deny justice. Make us strong in magic. Make us like summer trees. Make us like summer stars. Make us like summer seas. In dedication to the vision of untamed peace, set us free.” The Spells and Rituals are also very practical and at the same time informative, teaching you to use simple elements and at the same time guiding you in the process to understand why you are doing (the way of the ritual) and 'why' of each step. 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."For all hedge morris dancers, there will be ‘a “Dusking” celebration that will take place at 16.43 on October 31st. This will be to welcome the winter and the gifts of reflection, rest and replenishment that the darker months can bring……’ SPELLCRAFT FOR HEDGE WITCHES teaches the magic that can help a wise hedge witch to survive in a harsh time or to come through a personal crisis. It contains spells to banish bad spirits, to counter an ill wish, to bring psychic protection, to transform destructive feelings, to heal a trauma, to bring justice and to consecrate your life to a creative purpose. (These are some of the many ways in which we can help to heal wounded lives.) 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 WAY INTO FAERIE looks at what is on the far side of the hedge – the Otherworldly dimension – and at who lives there. It explains how we may relate to ancestral spirits and non-carnate species (known as faeries) as well as to nature spirits. This book is written from the point of view of a natural psychic – a fey person – rather than specifically a hedge witch. It is about our Pagan ancestors’ beliefs concerning the Dead and the faerie races and is based on a great deal of research. However, it is not scholarly but experiential and, I hope, also inspirational. In this book there are fictional sections interspersed with non-fiction and memoir. The fictional bits contain characters, an older woman and her apprentice, who are hedge witches. (Their male equivalents are described as well.) If so, then you build a spiritual time capsule inside your home. You have enchanted each corner of it, that so many people feel and want to be a part of.

A new book called Hedge Witchcraft,by Harmonia Saille, author of Walking the Faery Pathway, attempts to explain exactly what a hedge witch does, and how anyone with the willingness to learn can follow in the hedge witch's footsteps to learn her craft. Most people seemed to have hated the letter format. It took some getting used to but by the end it didn't bother me. While reading I marked passages dealing with the Sabbat rituals and trance work so I could easily find these later to reference.The magic of the Summer Solstice is linked with joy and fulfilment. In these difficult times, perhaps we need such spells and rites more than ever? (Some light relief. Oh yes, please.) Visit the trees mentioned above and bless them, giving an offering of fresh spring water or apple juice. If you can’t leave home for health reasons, do your best with bought flowers or leaves or dried rose petals etc. 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. Who or what are the spirits on whom you call for aid? They may be elementals, the Fae, kindly ancestors or nature spirits. You will need to have invoked them before saying the above charm. And after speaking it, make them an offering such as a garland of flowers or a freshly baked loaf of bread or a song or poem you sing or recite for them. However you see them, your relationship with those of the Otherworld (or of the unseen dimension of this World) is central to your practice as a hedge witch. There were many things that I thought this book did well. But it really hasn’t aged too well. I didn’t like how the book regularly implies that to be a spiritual person, (and ultimately a witch) one must embrace sexuality and sex. As an asexual, I do not agree with this. Also there are several sweeping statements such as ‘Like all men…’ and ‘Like all young people…’ that I feel stereotype people based on gender, age and sexuality. In the way that there are too many men speaking on behalf of women, Rae Beth does not get to speak on behalf of all men. in high school I graduate with honors in horticulture and agriculture. I was always gravitated to our high-schools green house. my teachers said I had two green thumbs and possibly a green toe.