WW. Hedge Witch - What is one?

What is a "Hedge Witch"?

Hedge Witches.

The name 'Hedge Witch' originates from many many many moons ago when villages were separated by the forests.  The edge of these forests, where they met the village, were known a hedge.  You would often find, in most villages, a herbal practitioner who lived in or near the edge of the forest.  - These practitioners of herbal and/or spiritual practice who lived near the hedge became known as Hedge Witches or a Hedge Witch.

Today's Hedge Witch doesn't necessarily live in or even anywhere near a forest, or Village for that matter.  The term still is used based on the practice, though they do still tend to have a great relationship with nature.  Also most commonly known for always having a remedy, lotion, potion, brew or something for every occurring aliment or requirement.

A Hedge Witch is also known for not only herbal practice for medicinal and spiritual purposes but also for having an understanding of nature and is often seen encouraging spiders, wasps and other unwanted bug killers as a natural way to tend to their plants.

A Hedge Witch is a witch who practices a very eclectic path and is the one you would seek if say you were unable to see a Doctor or Dentist for example.  A Hedge Witch has many herbal remedies in his/her cupboard for many an ailment. For they know many medicinal and spiritual properties of many plants and how they can aid and treat many different symptoms.  This knowledge would usually be passed down through generations and each Hedge Witch takes pride in developing their knowledge and these skills through further reading and practice.

That said a Hedge Witch is a solitary practitioner.  She/He doesn't belong to a coven or follow any organised religion.  But she/he does follow their own craft and is very much a free spirit.  Their knowledge, as mentioned, usually handed down to them by their family.  Though intially through word of mouth and practice.  To this day no two Hedge Witches are alike in fact it is said that you can ask a dozen Hedge Witches what they think a Hedge Witch is like and each of them could come up with a dozen different answers themselves!!  That said while they follow the same general rules, ie properties and uses for various herbs and practice, they each follow their own unique paths.

Not all Hedge Witches follow Deity.  Though most do have just a general belief in The God and Goddess as in Nature.

Hedge witches are also known as shamans, charmers, healers, and, priest/esses, Rea Beth coined a great term Hedge Mystic. A person who studies and practices the Great Mysteries of Nature.

BB - Imogen 

Resources & Good Reading:

• http://www.angelfire.com/folk/greenwitch/sacred.html
• http://hedgewitchforest.com
• http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=caon&c=words&id=11899
• http://www.scottishpf.org/hedgewitch.html
• http://www.sallymorningstar.com/hed.htm

WW. Olde Herb Names!!

Collaboration Blog with Lee-Anne Mann

Back in the day, we would have used terms such as 'Eye of newt', 'Burning Bush' and even 'Dragon's wort' in our cauldrons for various brews, curses, spells, rituals and potions etc..  Until now we always thought that these words were pretend terms which would give Witches the creepy story embellishments for book..  Terms which are still used today in books but also Tv and Film.  These days its very unlikely to hear real witches use these names like our sisters before us...  Yes that's right!! - Low and behold they are just a simile of plants inc herbs we use today!  The old names refer to what 'it' looked like or what 'it' came from!! 

Listed below is a list of those such terms..  Enjoy!

The magical and ancient folklore name is in bold; the common name is in normal everyday modern name. For spell ingredients please check variations of the name, for example: Goose Blood = Blood Of A Goose, Dog = hound, Donkey = Ass = Mule, Pig = Swine etc.

Adders Tongue  or Tongue of Adder/Snake
Dogstooth Violet or Adder’s Tongue Fern

Ass’s Foot
Coltsfoot

Bear’s Foot
Hellbore

Beehive
Snail Plant

Beggar’s Tick
Cockhold

Bird’s Eye
Speedwell

Blood
Elder sap

Bloody Fingers
Foxglove

Blood from a Head
Lupine

Blood of a Goose
A Mulberry Tree’s Milk

Blood of Ares
Purslane

Blood of Hephaistos
Wormwood

Bone of an Ibis
Buckthorn

Bread and Cheese
Hawthorne

Bull’s Eyes
Marigold

Bull’s Foot
Coltsfoot

Burning Bush
White Dittany

Candlemas Maiden
Snowdrop

Candlewick Plan
Mullein

Calf’s Snout
Toadflax

Cat Gut
Hoary Pea

Cat’s Eye
Star Scabious

Cat’s Foot
Snake Root

Cat’s Milk
Wartwort

Cat’s Paw
Ground Ivy

Chicken Toe
Crawley Root

Cock’s Comb
Yellow Rattle

Crow’s Foot
Cranesbill

Crown for a King
Wormwood

Dew of the Sea
Rosemary

Devil’s Milk
Wartwort

Devil’s Scourge
St Johns Wort

Demon’s Scourge
St Johns Wort

Demon’s Curse
St Johns Wort

Donkey’s Eyes
Cowage Plant

Dove’s Foot
Wild Geranium

Dragon’s Claw
Crawley Root

Dragon’s Eye
Nephalium Loganum

Dragon Wort
Bistort

DwaleDeadly Nightshade/Belladonna

Duck’s Foot
American Mandrake

Eagle
Wild Garlic

Earth Smoke
Fumitory

Elf Wort
Elecampane

Enchanter’s Plant
Vervain

Eye of the Star
Horehound

Englishman’s Foot
Common Plantain

Erba Santa Maria
Spearmint

Everlasting Friendship
Goosegrass

Eye of Christ
Speedwell

Eye of the Day
Daisy

Eye of the Star
Horehound

Eye Root
Goldenseal

Eyes
Aster, Daisy, Eyebright

Fairy Fingers
Foxglove

Fairy Gloves
Foxglove

Fairy Smoke
Indian Pipe

Fat from a Head
Spurge

Felon Herb
Mugwort

Five Finger Grass
Cinquefoil

Flesh and Blood
Tormentil

Foal’s Foot
Coltsfoot

Frog’s Foot
Bulbous Buttercup

From the Loins
Camomile

Goat’s Beard
Vegetable Oyster

Goat’s Foot
Ash Weed

Golden Star
Avens

Grace Of God
St Johns Wort

Hare’s Foot
Clover

Hedgehogs
Medicago Intertexta

Hawk’s Heart
Heart of Wormwood

Honey Lotus
Melilot

Horse Tail
Scouring Rush

Horse Tongue
Hart’s Tongue ( Scolopendrium Vulgare )

Joy of the Mountain
Marjoram

Lamb’s Tongue
Ribwort Plantain

Little Dragon
Tarragon

Lion’s Hair
Leaves Of The Taproot or Tongue of Turnip

Lizard’s Tail
Breast Weed

Lizard’s Tongue
Sauroglossum

Love-In-Idleness
Pansy

Love Man
Goosegrass

Love Parsley
Lovage

Love Root
Orris

Lad’s Love
Southernwood

Maiden’s / Mother’s Ruin
Southernwood or you can also add a dash of Gin

Man’s Bile
Turnip Sap

Man’s Health
Ginseng

Master of the Woods
Woodruff

Masterwort
Angelica

May Lily
Lily of the Valley

May Rose
Black Haw or May Blossom

May
Black Haw or May Blossom

Maypops
Passion Flower

Mistress of the Night
Tuberose

Mother’s Heart
Shepherd’s Purse

Mutton Chops
Goosegrass

Nose Bleed
Yarrow

Old Man’s Beard
Fringe Tree

Old Man’s Flannel
Great Mullein

Old Man’s Pepper
Yarrow

Old Maid’s Nightcap
Geranium

Oliver
Olive

Ox Tongue
Bugloss

Pig’s Tail
Leopard’s Bane

Pig’s Snout
Dandelion

Password
Primrose

Queen of the Meadow
Meadowsweet

Rabbit’s Foot
Field Clover

Ram’s Head
Valerian

Seven Year’s Love
Yarrow

Shepherd’s Heart
Shepherds Purse

Sleep Wort
Lettuce

Snake Head
Balmony

Snake Milk
Blooming Spurge

Snake’s Tongue
Adder’s Tongue Fern

Sorcerer’s Violet
Periwinkle

Stag Horn
Club Moss

Star Flower
Borage

Star of the Earth
Avens

Starweed
Chickweed

Starwort
Aster

Swine Snout
Dandelion

Tears of a Hamadryas Baboon
Dill Juice

Thousand Seal
Yarrow

Thunder Plant
Houseleek

Titan’s Blood
Wild Lettuce

Toad
Toadflax

Toe Of Frog
Bulbous Buttercup

Tongue of Dog
Houndstongue

Torches
Mullein

Unicorn Horn
Helonias Dioica

Unicorn Root
Ague Root

Wax Dolls
Fumitory

Weasel Snout
Dead/Dumb Nettles or Yellow Archangel

Weed
Ox-Eye Daisy

White Man’s Foot
Plantain

White Wood
White Cinnamon

White Ox-Eye
Daisy

Witches Aspirin
While Willow Bark

Witches Bells
Foxglove

Witches Briar
Brier Hips

Witch Herb
Mugwort or St Johns Wort (depending on type of spell)

Witch Wood
Rowan

Wolf Claw
Club Moss

Wolf Foot
Bugle Weed

Wolf’s Bane
Arnica

Wolf’s Milk
Euphorbia

We must admit there are some we haven't even heard of before now!!  We hope you found this enjoyable and who knows it might even be helpful someday!! 

By (Guest) Lee-Anne Mann and (me) Imogen Cane
Blessed Be, x

WW. Lesson: Finding 'My' Element.

Hi everyone,

So I got talking with friends about elements or more importantly how to find yours and how to connect..  I thought it might benefit a few people to have a little mini lesson on this.  Please feel free to add more helpful information to the comment section of this xX

What are the Elements? 

(Please note this information is valuable).

• There's a lot on Elements here - http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/the_elements/the_months_of_the_year.asp 
• This is it. I felt there was a lot of useful element information on here - http://wiccansage.hubpages.com/hub/Wicca-for-Beginners-Elemental-Powers-and-Finding-Your-Element (as always take and use what feels right to you).
• Some more element stuff - http://bluemoonwicca.org/solitary.html
• YOUR ELEMENT & Element information http://wiccadreamersmary.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-elements-are-building-blocks-of.html 

What Element am I?

Now each of us is born under a certain sign (birth Sign) and there for each of us already have an element!  For me (Imogen) I'm a Sagittarius which makes me a fire sign.  - BUT I feel more so connected to Earth!  And I don't feel connected to Air and a little bit to water..  For the longest time I actually felt like I was cheating on Fire!!  Like me and Earth were having some secret love affair and it didn't feel good.  Then I learned that my Chinese Element is Earth!!  Woah!!  So I am born under both Fire and Earth!!  But regardless of this.  You can be born under Water and Metal and still feel you're a Child of The Fire Element.  

So first let’s address "what are my signs / elements" - I highly recommend this site:  https://www.myspiritualprofile.com/ simply because it gives you so much information on your stone, tree, number, day, signs, and elements etc...  

Having done that you should now know a little more about yourself.  How did that feel?  What did you learn? Has this affected you in any way?  - So I suggest writing this information down, also make notes if there's anything there you feel connected with prior, that explains a little about you didn't know about..  Perhaps you just made a few personal connections you didn't even realise - and yes I know how tempting it is to now run off and do the same for your boyfriend, girlfriend, hubby, sibling, parents, best friend, boss, your crush... and while that's fun...  for now I suggest save on confusions and just learn about yourself.  - Now while this is 'YOU' don't take this as 'IT' you don't have to be or feel any of these things.  Eg.  Maroon I hate that colour!  Fig? I don't feel connected to this tree and I definitely am not a fan of Tuesdays!!  Just simply use this as a guide.

I know a lot of people who are 'X' sign and are not connected at all, only a little or they're most connected. Some people are indeed equally connected to all. And some people are connected to none. - While both of these are seemingly quite rare traits it does happen.

How do I find my Element?

Exercise Part 1. I personally feel (credit where it's due) and I would suggest a couple of things.  First being a video by YouTuber 'TipToeChick' I honestly feel her lessons on this would help everyone / anyone and even if you already have an element it could still be a fun exercise for you and a learning curve even.  So here's her video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhAJa4w2Rrw I personally feel it 'starts' from Lesson 2 but feel free to watch Lesson 1.  I personally felt that Lesson 3 / there was no real follow up to this I don't know if she deleted that particular video or what.  But she suggests spending a day with each of the elements and obtaining items from that day and well watch her videos.  I personally love all her videos.  So for me she's a must see beautiful person.  - Full credit to TipToeChick.

Exercise Part 2. You can do this for each of the elements. http://www.wikihow.com/Connect-to-Your-Element cast a circle. making sure you call upon the elements and deity. I personally would bring a couple of items representing that specific element into the circle with you and spend a few HOURS with soothing very quiet music and just spend time meditating. Think about that element. How that element feels, smells, looks (I wouldn't suggest taste though lol). Think how that element came into your life. How do you feel about the element? How do you feel connected? Experiences. How often are you affected by this element? Etc etc. I'd take a notebook and make notes on thoughts and feelings. Also very much interact with your items. For example.

Fire. Candle, matches, charcoal (and cauldron) etc... Watch how the flame moves. The heat it radiates, the colours. The smell. The emotions etc. 

Water. Tap water, Sea water, Rain water, Spring Water, Storm.. Moon... Sun... Holy.... Different water temperatures? Is the water cloudy?  Can you feel the waters energy?  - I recently while on a beach trip found a bottle that had got filled with seawater. I brought this home - no idea what I'll use it for but you never know. But I notice this water is tainted with sand and other sea particles. It's cloudy not clear like tap water. Even rain water seems less transparent. Etc. Again feel how water feels on your skin. Does it smell? How do you feel about it etc.

Air. Feathers, incense (smoke), empty vial of 'air'. ...your lungs. Breath. Smell. Interact. I feel air is possibly the hardest yet the one we all do more so than the others.

Earth. Soil, herbs, plants, flowers etc. Feel textures. Smell... touch, other senses. Etc etc...

In the video TipToeChick did she suggests spending a DAY with each. Go out.. go places. Go to the beach, the woods, a field, your garden. Even big cities still have elements. Elements are everywhere.

Exercise Part 3. You do not NEED to cast a circle or spend a full day. You can simply just interact over any space of time. I would try and dedicate time to each element but you can also revisit this at any time or specific elements at any time. Always feel free to call upon the elements and talk to them. I personally use all elements in my rituals, prayer, spells etc etc. Even Tarot Readings and/or Dowsing. Here's another exercise where basically you can write down what you know about each element.. and then research to find out how accurate your knowledge is regarding 'that element' http://www.wiccantogether.com/profiles/blogs/your-personal-element 

I have my element, now what?

Practice! It really is that simple. Learn about it - this is important. Learn how to wield it to aid you in your magical and/or spiritual practices. As mentioned before I typically use all elements. Though I am more so connected to Earth and Fire. For me connecting to Earth and Fire can be something as simple as herbs for earth and an incense burner for fire. And burning these can enhance mood, state of mind, atmosphere etc. Aiding in relaxation, concentration, sleep, energy... and well a lot of uses. Though Air can also be used in this way and indeed an oil burner can represent water too. Fire connections in Candles and Earth connections in Plants. - This is just me personally. For Air you could try wind chimes. For Water you could try a small water fountain. There are many simple ways to connect with deep meaning.

Learn and study more about this element. How is it used? Who uses it? Deities (Gods/Goddesses)? Why is it used? Seasons and Wheel of The Year? Colour and item representations... Prayer, Ritual, Light Spell Work, Blessings... list goes on.

Challenge:

1. Read the information here and browse the links shared.

2. Write down your given element(s) from https://www.myspiritualprofile.com/ (please note that while your Chinese element may NOT be Earth, Air, Fire or Water).

3. Write down your elemental feelings prior to doing the exercise. If you like do this prior to any research at all and see how it compares up at each stage.

4. Pick one or more exercises to do / try.

5. Write about everything - this can be in a spider diagram, notes, pros and con's list, paragraphs - etc. However you feel comfortable writing, be sure you can reread this at a later date and it'll still make sense to YOU.

6. Keep learning and growing. Try different things. Do your own research.

7. Share any additional finds and helpful information, thoughts, suggestions, ideas, your journey and all that good stuff in the comments below (IF YOU WANT). Feel free to add more pictures to our growing galleries (or ask an Admin if they'd mind doing it for you).

REMEMBER THERE IS NO 'RIGHT OR WRONG' IT IS PERSONAL AND WHAT FEELS RIGHT TO _YOU_. I hope that might have helped some of you xX

Imogen xo