There are numerous totally different perception systems in trendy Paganism, and one which’s seeing a resurgence in popularity is the path of the hedge witch. Though there are loads of completely different definitions of what a hedge witch is and does, you’ll find that for the most part, there’s numerous work with herbal magic, as well as an emphasis on nature. A hedge witch may work with gods or goddesses, perform healing and shamanic actions, or perhaps work with the altering seasons. In different words, the trail of the hedge witch is as eclectic as those that apply it.
Ask any trendy hedge witch, they usually’ll probably inform you that the reason they call themselves a hedge witch is an homage to the past. In days passed by, witches—usually ladies, but not always—lived alongside the fringes of a village, behind the hedgerows. One side of the hedge was the village and civilization, but on the other lay the unknown and wild. Typically, these hedge witches served a twin purpose and acted as healers or crafty ladies, and that involved a variety of time gathering herbs and plants within the woods, the fields, and—you guessed it—the hedges.
The hedge witch of old usually practiced alone, and lived magically everyday—simple acts like brewing a pot of tea or sweeping the floor were infused with magical ideas and intentions. Maybe most importantly, the hedge witch realized her practices from older members of the family or mentors, and honed her skills by means of years of observe, trial, and error. These practices are typically referred to as green craft, and are highly influenced by folk customs.
Similar to the observe of kitchen witchcraft, hedge witchery often focuses on the hearth and residential as the center of magical activity. The home is the place of stability and grounding, and the kitchen itself is a magical place, and it’s defined by the energies of the individuals who live in the house. For the hedge witch, the house is typically seen as sacred space.
If the house is the core of the follow, the natural world types the basis of it. A hedge witch typically spends a lot of time working on herbal magic, and infrequently learns related skills like herbal medicine or aromatherapy. This practice is deeply personal and spiritual; a hedge witch does not just have jars of plants. Chances are high good that she grew or gathered them herself, harvested them, dried them, and has experimented with them to see what they’ll and cannot do—all of the while, she’s been writing down her notes for future reference.…
