HEDGEWITCH INFORMATION

What is a Hedgewitch?

"Once upon a time when priests were proud and doctors dear, the counselor most villagers turned to in times of trouble in Europe (as in much of the rest of the world) was the local wise-woman. Usually also a midwife and undertaker, she was the keeper of the community's herbal lore and much else besides - spells and stories and secrets of the soul that most people had no time to explore.

Traditionally this wisdom passed from mother to daughter or granddaughter, growing and being distilled from generation to generation, but with the scattering of families and the diversions of the modern world much of it is being forgotten.

In the olden days wise-women (also known as hedge, kitchen, cottage, village or green witches) tended to live slightly apart from their communities, close to the woods and fields where they gathered their herbs. Besides this, living on the edge gave them an air of mystery that always helps when casting spells or giving advice. It also meant that people thought twice before calling on their services. For common ailments and troubles each family had its own store of women's lore anyway, also passed from mother to daughter - useful remedies and balms for the daily scrapes of family life. The wise-women were and still are there to step in when these are not enough.

They may not be as common or noticeable as they once were, but such wise women do still exist and carry on much as before with their herbs and spells and potions. In fact it seems to be a reviving tradition. It's true that not many wear pointy hats any more, like the traditional witches in our illustrations. In fact these days it's quite easy to pass one in the High Street without noticing, and often it takes getting to know them quite intimately to realize that you are talking to a modern witch. There are usually giveaway signs though - moon and star earrings perhaps, or a discreet pentacle or Brigid's Cross."

                                                                                          -Nigel Suckling, "Granny's Grimoire"

 

"With regard to the path of the Hedge Witch, the most important aspect is that of  'spirit flight'. A Hedgewitch is a path within a tradition, which could be thought of as a kind of Shamanism.   Hedge Witches are the ones that use flying potions and salves to achieve 'spirit flight' in order to gain access to the Other World.

A Hedge Witch is able to travel unhindered into the Other World and to call back the souls of those who are about to die. They are also able to contact and speak to those who have passed before. It is this gift that makes them very powerful healers.

As part of their ritual, some Hedge Witches wear a mask, others mark their face or body  with symbols so that the inhabitants of the Other World will recognize them.

During this Rite it is advisable to have another skilled crafter to watch over you and if necessary, help to guide you back. It is not always easy to return from the Other World as there are some inhabitants that still crave for the light and their previous life so they will cling on to the traveler in the hope of returning with you.

A mixture of natural plant extracts is used to make the salves and potions needed to achieve 'spirit flight'. Once made, the salve or potion has the hallucinogenic properties needed to induce spirit flight.  'Flying ointments' contain mixtures of natural poisons and are therefore dangerous if not made and used correctly, so my own mixtures will remain a secret as I do not  wish to endanger others."

                                                                                                                          -Hedgewitch

 

"A Hedgewitch is a path within a tradition that is somewhat shamanic in nature, for lack of a better term. There are many different titles that those who follow this inner tradition are called. This list provides a conceptual notion of some of the the terms that are used to refer to those who tread upon the boundaries of the hedge:

These are the ones who engage in spirit flight, and journey into the Otherworld. It is this inner path that utilizes such things as flying salves and potions in order to gain access to the Otherworld. However, there are certain prerequisites that must be met before one can learn this particular path.
A Hedgewitch is able to go into the Otherworld, and call back the souls of those who are about to die. They can, in this capacity, be very powerful healers. They are also able to speak with those who have passed beyond.

A bird of one kind or another is usually associated with the hedge path. Two of the most commonly associated birds are the raven and the goose.

A mention should be made that the hedge signified the boundary of the village. The fence or hedge represents the boundary that exists between this world and the spiritual realm. Not all cultures had hedges, though. Some had stone wall, or earthen works. Regardless, this term is adopted as a way to commonly identify these path.

It should be emphasized that not all Witches follow this specific path.

In regards to the hedge path, the most important aspect is that of spirit-flight. In the twelfth century, a reference is made to a myrk-rida in the C. E. Law of Vastgotaland:

"Woman, I saw you riding on a fence switch with loose hair and belt, in the troll skin, at the time when day and night are equal."


This excerpt refers to a Hedgewitch. She is wearing a troll skin, or mask, as a part of a ritual so that the inhabitants of the Otherworld will recognize her as their own. The liminality of her position between the two worlds is further enhanced by the timing of the ritual being held on an equinox meaning that the day and night are equal in length.

The Portuguese witch, the Bruxsa, ventures out during the night as a large sinister night bird. In Germany, the night jar is called the hexe, and is thought of in local folklore as being a shape-shifted witch who has gone out to suck the milk from the goats at night.

Often, these Hedgewitches were seen as riding upon a broom or riding-pole and flying through the air. In Old German, one of the words for a witch was Gabelreiterinnen and meant pitchfork-rider.

The broomstick, or riding-pole, represented the phallus of the Horned God. According to some traditions, the ends of these poles were carved to represent the erect penis and were concealed by being bound in either birch twigs or straw. The tops of these riding-poles often ended in two forked tines which represented the horns of the Horned God. Later these riding poles developed into the more common wand.

To achieve the sensation of flying, poisonous compounds known as flying ointments were used. These ointments contained strong alkaloids such as aconite, belladonna, and hemlock. The result of such ointments produced physiological effects such as mental confusion, impaired mobility, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, and shortness of breath.


The purpose of achieving this spirit-flight ranged from speaking to the ancestors, to healing those who were near death and "calling them back."

It is believed that on the Cross Quarter-Days (commonly known as: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltaine, and Lughnasdah), the ancestral spirits traveled on invisible lines that linked together burial places, graveyards, and mounds. Each culture had its own name for these lines:

During these times the boundaries between the two worlds are thought to be lessened, and so communication is easier. At Samhain, however, the boundaries between the two worlds are believed to be at their thinnest point, making interaction between them much easier."


                                                   -ShadowDrake