Merry meet!
Welcome to Magical Minutes,
A series of short talks on topics of interest to Wiccans,
Pagans,
And Witches.
Whether you are new to the craft,
An experienced practitioner,
Or simply curious about nature-based spiritualities,
All are welcome and honored here.
Let's spend a few Magical Minutes together.
In this episode,
We'll be taking a look at Hedge Witchcraft.
The term Hedge Witch originally referred to a wise one who lived on the outskirts of town,
Lived in harmony with nature,
Practiced their craft with an emphasis on herbs and healing,
And found magic in everyday experiences.
Then and now,
A Hedge Witch is typically a solitary practitioner,
With the home and hearth being pillars of their practice.
There is an emphasis on the local land,
And the spirits of that land.
The term Hedge describes a boundary both physically and spiritually.
On a physical level,
Hedge refers to a demarcation between the countryside and more urban areas.
Spiritually speaking,
It is a separation between this world and the otherworldly.
Practitioners of Hedge Witchcraft perform what is known as Hedge Riding,
Whereby the participant uses astral projection to enter the otherworld,
To interact with spirits of the land,
The elements,
And the Fae.
The old High German word for Hedge Rider,
Hagazusa,
Was later shortened to Hag,
From which it eventually became a derogatory term.
Chiefly,
Living in harmony with nature and the seasons is the very foundation of Hedge Witchcraft.
In its truest sense,
Hedge Witchcraft is not as ritual-centered as Wicca,
But there are many commonalities,
Including the practice of divination,
Creating sacred space,
Being in tune with nature,
Casting spells,
And honoring all forms of life.
Magical tools,
Such as the cauldron and besom,
Or broom,
Are shared by both spiritual paths for similar purposes,
With the stang,
Or staff,
Predominantly used in Hedge Witchcraft.
Thank you for joining me for this episode of Magical Minutes.
May you walk in love and light,
And may all your days be filled with magic.
Blessed Be.
