Customer Reviews

Hedge-Rider: Witches and the Underworld

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Excellent beginners book into a Western European viewpoint on Hedgecrafting. A good beginners book on anyone interested in the true old ways. It shows the influence of Anglo-Saxon Heathenry on Hedgewitchcraft as I know it.
I have a few gripes, but I would still highly recommend the book. English is his second language and it shows to the point where it makes the book a difficult read. Oh well! I would say read it anyway. The second is, he does borrow information without giving references and one of the things that I think is missing from books published by a certain new age publisher is references. This is a huge gripe for me. I know where he got his information, but new readers may not. I still will say 'read the book' but maybe in the future he can provide references, in fact, maybe Mr. de Vries could write some more books?

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's a refreshing change from much of the Wicca-inspired witchcraft out there. It's one of the few books around that doesn't confuse Hedgecraft with kitchen witchcraft or something to do with gardening. For that alone it's a refreshing find for the burgeoning hedgewitch looking for some guidance. The book focuses on hedgecraft as a form of "shamanism" linked particularly to Germanic practises - which then came to Britain, particularly England, via the series of Germanic invasions prior to 1066. This cultural basis, and the focus on Germanic tradition, is uncommon and quite interesting, but as a result the book will not appeal as much to those without an interest in Germanic-inspired witchcraft or traditions.

The spells included are interesting - although not to be performed by someone very new to witchcraft - and the tone of the book is much darker than is common in books on neo-pagan witchcraft, which is something I personally quite appreciate.

I was disappointed, however, with how much space de Vries uses trying to convince the reader that Hel is the Goddess of the (hedge)witches. Freyja I could understand - she taught Odinn the art of Seidr, after all - but Hel? Yes, she is goddess of the underworld, but she stays there. I can appreciate her place in the faith of a hedgewitch... but not why she would be named specifically the goddess involved with this practice, rather than Freyja. On top of this, de Vries tries to link Hel to Frigg and to Freyja as if they were all the same goddess, without much to support the claim. He certainly tries, but his reasoning is not particularly convinving, and as someone whose religion has a basis in Nordic Heathenry, I found the equating of the daughter of Loki to the Vanadis quite irritating. It just doesn't mesh. And if Hel's position as goddess of hedgecraft is valid, why is it necessary to spend that much time and effort attempting to convince the reader? I was not convinced by the time he was done, and I feel that space could have been put to better use.

The value of this book lies in the fact that it is "different". I would say it is certainly worth a read, but whether you choose to actually purchase it is up to you. I'd recommend it to a person fed up with reading the same sort of neo-Wicca-derived witchcraft over and over, and looking for something new. You may not agree with what he writes, but it's nevertheless quite interesting and worth exploring, even if you reject his ideas when you're done.

In short, I'm glad I purchased it, and I can see myself referring to it again and again, but I am a tad disappointed with some of the content, and don't agree with all of de Vries's ideas.

That's about what I got from this book; personal interpretations of Northern lore with little or no documentation to back him up. My main issues is that he tries to make Witchcraft (or, at least hedgewitchery) a wholly Germanic shamanic practice (when I can think of at least one other European cultural group that also felt that the between times were closest to the other world and used burial mounds for shamanic practices). I think he also makes it far too narrow of a practice.

He pulls most of his evidence for traditional Witchcraft practice from records of confessed Witches during the witch trials (which, since most confessions were given under torture should be taken with a grain of salt the size of Gibraltar), loosely added with the Frau Holle folktales (who is, understandably linked with the Norse goddess Hel, but inexplicably linked with both Freya and Frigga) who is called the goddess of the Witches.

He mentions that in the Norse myths, there are nine worlds, but only focuses on Hel as having any real merit, even placings elves (who live in Alfheim, one of the higher realms according to Norse myth), and giants (who live in Jotunheim, a middle realm) in the underworld. He mentions Odin's Valhalla, but does not state that it is located in Asgard.

His focus is on gaining knowledge through shamanic practice (which can be useful) but he gives no real practical application for his methods. "Go to the underworld to be with Frau Holle and the Terrible God (Odin)for the Sabbaths." What is gained from this practice, what purpose the Sabbaths have, what is done there, is never described. It makes me wonder if he has ever made it there himself, if he even practices the path he has created (which he states is a Reconstructionist view of Witchery, when, based on his mincing of Norse/Germanic Lore, it most certainly is not).

I give this book two stars, instead on one because I was able to get through it (instead of most of the drivel I buy in hopes of finding non-Wiccan witchcraft), and it does have some good discussions on varying ways to enter shamanic trance. This book just isn't the book of "true Witchcraft" it claims to be. If you buy it, buy it for the interesting interpretations, as a starting point for your own research, and a guide for varying shamanic techniques, not as a guide to a true, historical Witchcraft, because it's simply not.

There are so few books on Continental Traditional Witchcraft (no Wicca here) which is the true source. The author mentions the Stang, Shamanism, what real hedge Witchery is and gives valuable sources. My only complaint is and I almost gave the book only 4 stars was the whining of political correctness by the author in several places. Other than that it is a fine intro for a matter that needs attention.

This book is for the serious witch who is seeking answers as to how they practiced and who the ancient witches were. It is not filled with fluffy white only mystical ideas but shows that witchcraft had its dark side, and not meaning evil but the human side. Goes on to tell what a hedgewitch was then and that way,the reader knows what a hedgewitch today should be.

If you are serious about being a hedgewitch, this is a book that should be read by any witch who is considering this path so that they walk into with eyes wide open.

An interesting look at Cochrane-esque Witchcraft, something that has never been my cup of tea. Nevertheless, the way it was presented in "Hedge Rider" makes me want to learn more about it!

While there were some flaws (style and tone, typos) I felt that this slim volume was a good beginner's look at Traditional Witchcraft, as well as touching on some very important subjects that anyone with a mind to Underworld work should definitely keep close to their heart.

All in all, enjoyable!

At last, here is a good intro book into the world of true Hedgewitchery. This isn't a book about nature magick or garden magick (which is what Silver Ravenwolf seems to think hedgewitchery is, go figure, as she hops on yet another pagan bandwagon in the hopes of turning a buck), but of the old practice of going beyond the hedges, ie. traveling in spirit to the Otherworld for magick, knowledge, and mystery. The hedges represent boundaries and this book is about going beyond those boundaries.

It also ties into European (particularly German) Craft, an area which many pagan writers have barely dipped a toe into. There is so much more to the Craft than Celtic Gods, Goddesses, and beliefs.

I wish this book had come out 20 years ago. My only quibble is that it definitely needs a follow-up, one that explores more deeply. This is but a taste and I think many of us are hungry for more, much more.

This book was an excellent introduction into the world of Hedge Witchery. The author takes you down into the depths of the underword -- shows you how to get their and how to get back. The author also includes a great ritual for dedication into the ways of Hedge Craft, also includes various spells such as the Spell of the Wolf and the Spell of the Hawthorn. Great book overall.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
Thorn Nightwind

Another "wiccan" book of fluff and "neo-pagan" ideas attempting to be passed off as Traditional. Stick with Mastering Witchcraft, Witching Way of the Hollow Hill and Horn of Evenwood. Dont waste your money on this.