Websites and companies mentioned listed below:
www.Hedge-Witchery.co
www.Hedge-Witchery.com
www.Wyld-Fire.co.uk
www.kieldercampsite.co.uk
www.staykielder.co.uk
www.yha.org.uk/hostel/kielder
Showing posts with label hedge witch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hedge witch. Show all posts
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Update: April 2013
Websites and companies mentioned listed below:
www.Hedge-Witchery.co
www.Hedge-Witchery.com
www.Wyld-Fire.co.uk
www.kieldercampsite.co.uk
www.staykielder.co.uk
www.yha.org.uk/hostel/kielder
Sunday, 20 January 2013
Book Review: Hedge Witchcraft, by Harmonia Saille
“Hedge Witchcraft” is written by Harmonia Saille, and published by Moon Books as part of their Pagan Portals series.
The description reads:
“This book will guide readers to read more about hedge witchcraft as a pathway, or are already following such a path and wish to progress. It only has a little about hedge riding as this book has too small a scope to include it. Please read the accompanying book in the Pagan Portal series, Hedge Riding.”
This is a really nice little book about traditional British witchcraft. It ties all the information together with personal accounts from the author which heavily adds to the readability of this book. I enjoyed the section about tree lore, and liked the healthy does of folklore that was included in it. I also really liked the section on "Spirit of Place". This is a topic woefully overlooked in lots of similar books, and Harmonia does a fantastic job of eloquently, but unpretentiously, describing this.
However, I can’t help but feel quite disappointed with this book, simply because it isn't specifically about Hedge Witchcraft. As the description indicated, it made little mention of hedge riding, referring you to another book by the same author. Given that neither book is hugely long I don't see why they weren't integrated, especially given the importance of hedge riding to this path. Although it made the very truthful claim that all hedge witches will follow a slightly different path, it didn’t highlight the key points that unite them.
If you are after a short guide to traditionally based witchcraft then this is a really interesting little read, it will provide you with a general overview of pagan festivals, and examples of how they are practiced. It also goes into elemental correspondences, and how these tie the everyday world to the magical one. But, if you have a decent background knowledge of general traditional witchcraft and modern pagan spirituality, then you may be left feeling a let down by this title.
The book market really needs some good titles about true hedge witchcraft, and if can be in a small, easy to read format like this, then so much the better. Unfortunately I don’t think this book does that. It will however keep it’s place on my bookshelf, due to the traditional folklore facts, interesting personal antidotes, and the style of writing, with turns this from a reference book, to an enjoyable quick read.
This is a really nice little book about traditional British witchcraft. It ties all the information together with personal accounts from the author which heavily adds to the readability of this book. I enjoyed the section about tree lore, and liked the healthy does of folklore that was included in it. I also really liked the section on "Spirit of Place". This is a topic woefully overlooked in lots of similar books, and Harmonia does a fantastic job of eloquently, but unpretentiously, describing this.
However, I can’t help but feel quite disappointed with this book, simply because it isn't specifically about Hedge Witchcraft. As the description indicated, it made little mention of hedge riding, referring you to another book by the same author. Given that neither book is hugely long I don't see why they weren't integrated, especially given the importance of hedge riding to this path. Although it made the very truthful claim that all hedge witches will follow a slightly different path, it didn’t highlight the key points that unite them.
If you are after a short guide to traditionally based witchcraft then this is a really interesting little read, it will provide you with a general overview of pagan festivals, and examples of how they are practiced. It also goes into elemental correspondences, and how these tie the everyday world to the magical one. But, if you have a decent background knowledge of general traditional witchcraft and modern pagan spirituality, then you may be left feeling a let down by this title.
The book market really needs some good titles about true hedge witchcraft, and if can be in a small, easy to read format like this, then so much the better. Unfortunately I don’t think this book does that. It will however keep it’s place on my bookshelf, due to the traditional folklore facts, interesting personal antidotes, and the style of writing, with turns this from a reference book, to an enjoyable quick read.
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Poem: The Minor Arcana Rhyme
I put this together for the Tarot - Part 2 course I hope to be teaching later on in the year - (need to get some Part1 courses done first, lol). It's not my best literary work... but am a little impressed with myself that I got the meanings to rhyme... well, mostly! lol
Cups is
the emotion, the joy and the cares,
it's both
our elation, and our fears.
1 of cups,
is abundance and gain,
2 of cups,
the joy of another's name.
3 of cups
is joy and happiness,
4 of cups
says beware, of it in excess.
5 of cups
re-assess, after the good gone bad,
6 of cups
the past, may be, re-had.
7 of cups
speak of ambition and hope,
8 of cups
is disappointment, but widen your scope.
9 of cups
is about, peace and contentment,
10 of cups
is all that but with added achievement.
The Knave
of cups is helpful, the Knight a lover and bright,
The Queen
of cups creative and the King brings insight.
Swords are actions, often needed the most,
they slay our demons and, chase our ghosts.
1 of swords, is about achievement and success,
2 of swords gain, from having much less.
3 of swords, a door opens, paths are clear,
4 of swords a rest, from what you fear.
5 of swords shows struggle, and defeat,
6 of swords sees you, back on your feet.
7 of swords show hurdles, be brave and careful,
8 of swords patiences over comes what you thought fretful.
9 of swords failure, be steadfast,
10 of swords disaster, but it will end at last.
The Knave of swords is often clever, the Knight is strong like a soldier,
The Queen of swords quick witted, and the King brings order.
Coins are what we do on this earth,
our house, our home, what's in our purse.
1 of coins is prosperity, to have and hold,
2 of coins says a disruption may unfold.
3 of coins brings achievement in the intellectual
4 of coins show wealth, says we'll be successful.
5 of coins, is financial disaster and ruin,
6 of coins is help, something to stand firm in.
7 of coins success, but please be careful,
8 of coins, hard work will see you successful.
9 of coins is wealth and achievement driven,
10 of coins says there will be a gift you're given.
The Knave of coins is sensible, the Knight is just and true,
the Queen on coins is generous, the King advises to you.
Wands is the need to change, it is our passions,
bringing our ideas into worldly fashions.
1 of wands is inspiration, sees something new begin,
2 of wands sees good luck finally come in.
3 of wands success from being brave,
4 of wands success, and the popularity craved.
5 of wands says there may be, a set-back,
6 of wands gives encouragement, gets your will back.
7 of wands shows things aren't as bad as they seem,
8 of wands sees you closer to your dreams.
9 of wands be strong ,and hold your ground,
10 of wands, struggles may make you frown.
The Knave of wands is lively, the Knight energy beckons,
the Queen is practical, the King a force to be reckoned.
Swords are actions, often needed the most,
they slay our demons and, chase our ghosts.
1 of swords, is about achievement and success,
2 of swords gain, from having much less.
3 of swords, a door opens, paths are clear,
4 of swords a rest, from what you fear.
5 of swords shows struggle, and defeat,
6 of swords sees you, back on your feet.
7 of swords show hurdles, be brave and careful,
8 of swords patiences over comes what you thought fretful.
9 of swords failure, be steadfast,
10 of swords disaster, but it will end at last.
The Knave of swords is often clever, the Knight is strong like a soldier,
The Queen of swords quick witted, and the King brings order.
Coins are what we do on this earth,
our house, our home, what's in our purse.
1 of coins is prosperity, to have and hold,
2 of coins says a disruption may unfold.
3 of coins brings achievement in the intellectual
4 of coins show wealth, says we'll be successful.
5 of coins, is financial disaster and ruin,
6 of coins is help, something to stand firm in.
7 of coins success, but please be careful,
8 of coins, hard work will see you successful.
9 of coins is wealth and achievement driven,
10 of coins says there will be a gift you're given.
The Knave of coins is sensible, the Knight is just and true,
the Queen on coins is generous, the King advises to you.
Wands is the need to change, it is our passions,
bringing our ideas into worldly fashions.
1 of wands is inspiration, sees something new begin,
2 of wands sees good luck finally come in.
3 of wands success from being brave,
4 of wands success, and the popularity craved.
5 of wands says there may be, a set-back,
6 of wands gives encouragement, gets your will back.
7 of wands shows things aren't as bad as they seem,
8 of wands sees you closer to your dreams.
9 of wands be strong ,and hold your ground,
10 of wands, struggles may make you frown.
The Knave of wands is lively, the Knight energy beckons,
the Queen is practical, the King a force to be reckoned.
Monday, 17 December 2012
Friday, 5 October 2012
Treasuring our naivety
I spent last weekend at a large MBS event at the Olympia in London. This was a much bigger event than we normally attend, and put me in contact with an entirely different set of people. Lots of the people approaching the stall were drew by the name "Hedge Witchery Books", and not having had any contact with witchcraft before wanted to know all about it. Answering their questions put me in a somewhat reflective mood, not about witchcraft or Hedge-Witchery, but about learning, knowledge and our attitude to it.
You see, unsurprisingly, there are lots of things I do differently after 10 years plus of magical/pagan practise than I did in my first few years. Had I started the websites and business now rather than then, I may have chosen to call it Haegtessa, to avoid the modern misconceptions of the practise. I may have written about the moons and festivals differently, tying them to the natural calender I now use, rather than the Gregorian one I used to, and still refer to in articles and beginners books. But in some ways I'm very thankful I started the site and business whilst I was still a little more green.
Way back when I was first starting out on this path, there is no way I could have worked to an entirely natural calender... it would have baffled me. There's no way I could have pronounced Old-English terms and charms... let alone used them. There's no way I would have felt comfortable using different names for festivals and celebrations, to the majority of people on a similar path to me... let alone go into details as to why the ones I use seem more appropriate.
Now I'm meeting people in the same position, just starting down their paths and looking for few helpful sign-posts and a way to make the journey easier.
Some people will say that I should only pass on the practises I practise now, that the reason I have evolved my practises over the years was because what I learnt earlier on was "incorrect" or "modern mis-teaching"... or in the case of one writer I had this debate with recently "uneducated". However, as all spiritual and magical practises have a personal relevance to each individual, this is not the case.
Hedge-Witchery.com has always been a "beginner friendly" site... and it always will be. Although we've recently started providing resources for people a little further down there path with the online and in person courses, we'll never -(I hope!)- lose the way absolute new-comers can jump into the beginners articles and books and find a way to practise that they can easily relate to and fit into their lives.
The lessons I learnt and the way I practised in the past is what enabled me to be comfortable and build skills in my path and what led me to where I am now. Had I not learnt those lessons I would not have learnt all the ones that followed. You will no doubt meet writers who have turned the first lessons they learnt, and the people who still pracise them, into negative things that they now point to as "inaccurate", wielding them like hammers to be thrown at new-comers they find disdainful and un-deserving of their self-supposed advanced knowledge, but, in my humble opinion, you should pay them no heed.
I will always hold onto the terms and practises I learnt in my more naive days, although I may not use them in all situations, they are still very relevant. They hold a certain magic of their own, a kind personal to me, a kind of energy that relates to wonder, excitement, curiosity and a desire to learn more. Who knows, another 10 years down my path and the terms and practises I use now may hold the same magic.
You see, unsurprisingly, there are lots of things I do differently after 10 years plus of magical/pagan practise than I did in my first few years. Had I started the websites and business now rather than then, I may have chosen to call it Haegtessa, to avoid the modern misconceptions of the practise. I may have written about the moons and festivals differently, tying them to the natural calender I now use, rather than the Gregorian one I used to, and still refer to in articles and beginners books. But in some ways I'm very thankful I started the site and business whilst I was still a little more green.
Way back when I was first starting out on this path, there is no way I could have worked to an entirely natural calender... it would have baffled me. There's no way I could have pronounced Old-English terms and charms... let alone used them. There's no way I would have felt comfortable using different names for festivals and celebrations, to the majority of people on a similar path to me... let alone go into details as to why the ones I use seem more appropriate.
Now I'm meeting people in the same position, just starting down their paths and looking for few helpful sign-posts and a way to make the journey easier.
Some people will say that I should only pass on the practises I practise now, that the reason I have evolved my practises over the years was because what I learnt earlier on was "incorrect" or "modern mis-teaching"... or in the case of one writer I had this debate with recently "uneducated". However, as all spiritual and magical practises have a personal relevance to each individual, this is not the case.
Hedge-Witchery.com has always been a "beginner friendly" site... and it always will be. Although we've recently started providing resources for people a little further down there path with the online and in person courses, we'll never -(I hope!)- lose the way absolute new-comers can jump into the beginners articles and books and find a way to practise that they can easily relate to and fit into their lives.
The lessons I learnt and the way I practised in the past is what enabled me to be comfortable and build skills in my path and what led me to where I am now. Had I not learnt those lessons I would not have learnt all the ones that followed. You will no doubt meet writers who have turned the first lessons they learnt, and the people who still pracise them, into negative things that they now point to as "inaccurate", wielding them like hammers to be thrown at new-comers they find disdainful and un-deserving of their self-supposed advanced knowledge, but, in my humble opinion, you should pay them no heed.
I will always hold onto the terms and practises I learnt in my more naive days, although I may not use them in all situations, they are still very relevant. They hold a certain magic of their own, a kind personal to me, a kind of energy that relates to wonder, excitement, curiosity and a desire to learn more. Who knows, another 10 years down my path and the terms and practises I use now may hold the same magic.
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Friday, 1 January 2010
What is a Hedge Witch?
This is a question I get asked a lot it's also one with a lot of different answers, this is mine.
Hedge Witch has become a term that is often used for any solitary practitioner, or those between covens. A Hedge Witch is what used to be the old village wise woman, apart from, they aren't all old, they don't have to live out in the countryside - (though most prefer this atmosphere)- and they aren't all women... but hopefully you get the picture I'm trying to paint here.
Hedge Witches practice very organic forms of magic, spells are usually very simple and focus of the elements of the spell that is being cast (i.e. the stones, herbs, plants etc) and personal words and meditation, as oppose to the ceremony of the spell (i.e. doing set things in a set order and following pre set out patterns).
The reason they practice magic in this way is due to their ability to "cross the hedge". A lot of people think the "Hedge" in Hedge Witch refers to the fact they are often out collecting spell components from the local hedge row, although this is true it is actually referencing the "Hedge" that symbolizes to boundary between this world and the usually unseen world. A lot of magical paths talk about "Hedge Riding" as it's also known, as a "thinning of the veil"or "journeying", this can be experienced in different ways. Hedge Witches do go journeying into the other world when spell casting, to seek answers or for simply for a sense of solace, but they are said to walk with a foot in either world a lot of the time. Due to this they are able to see the magic in everything, they notice patterns and symbols in nature that would normally go unnoticed and work with them. This isn't a practice that quick to learn, it involves lots of practice and lots of time spent in the right atmosphere casting spells and practicing witchcraft in a particular way.
Hedge Witches may or may not work with deities and if they do it is more a personal relationship built over a long period, rather than working with lots of different deities depending on the work they are doing, festival they are observing or time of year. Hedge Witches so not follow the Wiccan Rede "An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will", but do live by their own personal code of conduct that they feel comfortable with and will adhere to it strictly.
Hedge Witch has become a term that is often used for any solitary practitioner, or those between covens. A Hedge Witch is what used to be the old village wise woman, apart from, they aren't all old, they don't have to live out in the countryside - (though most prefer this atmosphere)- and they aren't all women... but hopefully you get the picture I'm trying to paint here.
Hedge Witches practice very organic forms of magic, spells are usually very simple and focus of the elements of the spell that is being cast (i.e. the stones, herbs, plants etc) and personal words and meditation, as oppose to the ceremony of the spell (i.e. doing set things in a set order and following pre set out patterns).
The reason they practice magic in this way is due to their ability to "cross the hedge". A lot of people think the "Hedge" in Hedge Witch refers to the fact they are often out collecting spell components from the local hedge row, although this is true it is actually referencing the "Hedge" that symbolizes to boundary between this world and the usually unseen world. A lot of magical paths talk about "Hedge Riding" as it's also known, as a "thinning of the veil"or "journeying", this can be experienced in different ways. Hedge Witches do go journeying into the other world when spell casting, to seek answers or for simply for a sense of solace, but they are said to walk with a foot in either world a lot of the time. Due to this they are able to see the magic in everything, they notice patterns and symbols in nature that would normally go unnoticed and work with them. This isn't a practice that quick to learn, it involves lots of practice and lots of time spent in the right atmosphere casting spells and practicing witchcraft in a particular way.
Hedge Witches may or may not work with deities and if they do it is more a personal relationship built over a long period, rather than working with lots of different deities depending on the work they are doing, festival they are observing or time of year. Hedge Witches so not follow the Wiccan Rede "An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will", but do live by their own personal code of conduct that they feel comfortable with and will adhere to it strictly.
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