Hedge witchcraft can be closely associated with shamanic practices as well as green witchcraft.
It encompasses topics such as journeying, spirit work, healing, herbs magical and medicinal uses, and divination.
Shamanic practices often include healing of others and the self. This can be done numerous ways and much of healing a community involves emotional healing and release.
Spirit work can include both passed human spirits and working with non human spirits as well. Protections and cleansings play an important role in this practice.
Within this practice is an inherent emphasis on community. Often one finds oneself called to help those whom need it or sincerely request it. Often I find it necessary to take time for self care to rest and recharge.
My experience of being a hedge practitioner has been an ever evolving process of learning. Finding what works and what does not, which spirits to learn from and which to avoid. When to cleanse and when to charge. What plant will help a common cold, which helps with swelling.
I am interested to hear from other hedge practitioners what their experience has been? What are key components to the practice in your opinion?
I am not too familiar with it, but I always found it funny that one of the etymologies for the Dutch word "heks" (witch) is "heggerijder".
This of course is very similar to the English "hag ridden". But in Dutch, the word "heg" means "hedge". So, one who rides a hedge.
The word also makes me think there is a link to Hekate. And one of her sacred plants, the yew, is often planted as a hedge.
I think it also alludes to being a person who straddles the line between the physical and the spiritual. To step over the hedge is to cross a barrier from one realm/territory into another. While to ride a hedge would be to straddle it, or have one foot on each side.
To me it makes sense that a hedge-witch practice would bear a lot of common ground with shamanism, as being an embodiment of both worlds is a fairly significant portion of both practices.
