Customer Reviews

The Way of the Hedge Witch: Rituals and Spells for Hearth and Home

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this book last winter near the time of its release. I had no idea what to expect but was intrigued by the title, hedge witchery and ways for making your home more special.

I must say that while I was relatively uninformed when I read this book about hedge craft, I thoroughly enjoyed the authors explanations and emphasis on the elements of hedge craft (which I interpreted as "Trust your gut"). This book helped me to connect with the more divine knowledge that I have (that we ALL have) and helped me to focus less on formula, someone else's script, and more on what feels right to me as a witch. This book is written in every day easy to understand language and is very down to earth. It's abundantly clear to me that the author was divinely inspired to pursue this information!

I think that this is a great place for a beginner to start. However, a more experienced hedge witch may disagree. I think that most people would be able to find something in this book that is useful. Take what you need, leave the rest. Also personally, after several years of moving from sub par apartment to sub par apartment, I really enjoyed this focus on making your home a sacred place and had overlooked the significance of such an act. (I think it helped me to manifest the wonderful apartment that I live in right now!)

Finally, my only bone to pick with the author has to do with a section on hearth deities. This also explains my 4 star rating. I do understand that compiling deities from around the world takes a great deal of time, sleuthing, and effort. Particularly if not of the Western world- so I do acknowledge and applaud her effort in this regard. However, as a witch who also happens to be African American heritage, it seemed incomprehensible and hurtful to me that no deities of the continent of Africa were included. Now of course, I know the old saying- 'you can't please everyone.' (And I would not at all read into her actions or beliefs due to this!!) Africa is a pretty damn big continent to "overlook." IMHO the information included from Egypt really overlooks divide on the continent that exists today. It's hard to read a book that is so personal when you are not reflected in the material. As I stated, it's my only bone with this book. I know that some will choose to ignore, or agree to disagree with me on this point and that's fine.

Otherwise, I heartily recommend it (even if you are of African heritage). There is a great deal that you can take and use TODAY to make your home truly yours and consider adding more hedge witchery into your personal spiritual practices.

I am relatively new to the pagan path, but have read many of the beginner books out there. I was looking for a way of making my everyday life feel more significant... rather than washing dishes and thinking "I'm washing this dish for the 100th time". This book pointed out how all of the little things we do can make our house a very energetically different place, how to bring about that change, whether through altars, spells, ritual, or just plain attitude. It was well written, pleasing to browse, and had chants/spells/ideas that really resonated with me. This is the only pagan book I've bought for other people... and both have also loved it. In fact, I gave my copy away, so I'm here to buy myself another!

This is definitely more a book for a hearth witch than a hedgewitch. Green, kitchen and cottage witches will probably find this book interesting as well and possibly even helpful. However, if you're wanting to learn about hedgewitchery, this is not the book to find the answers. I believe the title is misleading because while a hedgewitch may be doing a lot in her home, every day life is magical, etc. there is a step to the hedgewitch that makes her different than the others and that is because she goes "beyond the hedge" and that is a place very much outside her comforts of home. Like I said, good beginner book on hearth crafts but not if you want to learn hedge craft.

I enjoyed this book. Although, I did find it to be more about hearth craft than hedge craft. I look forward to reading more of the author's books.

I picked up this book hoping for a clear (er) guide on Hedge witchcraft than I had been able to find just perusing the net. This book focuses exclusively on the practices and beliefs that pertain to the traditions associated with the Hearth and inside the home. As I understand it, Hedge witchery also deals with trance practices, herbalism, etc. so this is by no means a complete a guide. However, after one gets through the lengthy first chapter on what the book will be discussing, there are many pearls of wisdom regarding hearth-based practices that make this book a worthwhile read.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in hearthcraft. Upon reading this book, I realized that crafting magick can be as simple as sweeping my home, and in fact can be practiced by simply sweeping my home. It is a great read for all levels of witchcraft.

As another reviewer has mentioned, this is less a book for the hedgewitch and more one for the home-oriented witch. It is hearthcraft, and this is the word she uses throughout the book. I don't know why she (or the publisher) went with the title she did! Hedgewitches may want to look elsewhere - but once you get past the title, there is much of practical use here for the hearth-focused witch or general spiritual practitioner.

Pros:
- No assumption is made as to your religion; this is a spiritual path and home-based craft, not a religion in itself. This is a welcome change from books on witchcraft that are mostly about deities and religious rituals.
- Practical advice on caring for tools such as the cauldron.
- Ideas and suggestions for building shrines, purifying rooms, and working with your hearth and home as a spiritual place that can be utilised and adapted to one's own personal practice.
- Discussion on mundane aspects of life such as eating and cleaning as spiritual acts when done mindfully.

Cons:
- Occasionally forgets to explain why something is done; some rituals are given as examples but why this was said or that action was taken is not discussed.
- The minor disparaging of feminism here and there (for example at the beginning of chapter 6) made me uncomfortable.
- The assumption is made that you like or will spend a fair bit of time in the kitchen. Not every hearth-based witch likes to cook!
- Her info on particular gods and spirits can be a bit off, so double-check if you intend on working with any she mentions (despite her comments, boggarts aren't nice!!).
- A few basic errors - confusing deosil with clockwise, for example.
- A tendency to be a bit unspecific when discussing history. The term "the ancients" was used more than once, alas.
- Not actually about the way of the Hedge Witch.

I enjoyed it, actually. There are definitely places where I stopped and thought "the hell you say?!" - for example, when she suggested palm oil was a more environmentally conscious choice than olive oil (certainly depends where it comes from!) and when she suggested using the rune Gebo as a protective ward for your door (very odd choice...), but overall it is a practical book on home-based spirituality. There are bits and pieces I disagree with, but for the most part these are issues of personal practice. I do wish there was more of a WITCHCRAFT focus but I think she achieved, in a general sense, what she set out to do with this one. Tone-wise, it feels like one is being talked down to a little, which can get irritating.

Recommended for those who want some more ideas on how to integrate their spirituality into their day-to-day life and their homes. I think it is best read with a mind to adapting rather than working just with what it gives you, and indeed I think this was part of its intent.

Those more interested in Hedge Witchcraft, try "To Fly By Night" ed. Veronica Crumner and "Hedge Rider" by Eric de Vries for starters.

The Way of the Hedge Witch arrived in excellent condition. Prompt delivery! Thank you so much!

I bought this as a Yuletide gift for a lovely witch I know, mostly because the subject matter reminded me of her.

She's only leafed through it so far (she's fairly busy), but she has said she definitely thinks it's going to be extremely useful.