I do not claim to speak for all Hedges out there, but I speak as one and from my study and practice I can tell you all Hedges encompass the same 3 aspects in their craft. Though before I get into those aspects I want to clarify what a Hedge Witch is, because from what I hear of New Age descriptions, theyre far off.
So, what is a Hedge Witch? A Hedge Witch is, by all means, a shamanic practitioner of Witchery. Though do not take this as the shamans of Siberia, Medicine Men/Women of Native Cultures because they do not practice a full form of Shamanism that those cultures do. So what do I mean by shamanic practitioner? I mean they partake in spirit travel or known in our craft as hedge-riding, where we cross the thresh of realms to retrieve knowledge or ask the spirits for aid. Hedges also engage in both physical and spiritual healing, via calling upon the medicinal and magical properties of herbs, stones and the like, to remedy illness and restore the spirits. Hedges also have a deep connection to the natural world, learning when to wildcraft (gather wild herbs), hunt and do ritual. A Hedge Witch is a wizen man or women, one could say. Living on the fringes of society, with a foot in each realm, acting as a medium.
Now if you recall from earlier I talked about three aspects that all Hedges encompass in their craft, no matter how vast it may seem to be. Those three aspects are:
-The Healer
-The Seer
-The Weaver.
At the core of Hedgecraft the three aspects are met, with some hedges being more so drawn to one of the aspects or more. Hedges are healers, when the doctor is too far, people come to them for remedies to keep them going till they can reach a hospital (do note, most Hedges are not actual doctors, there is a line where they can help and where they cannot). They are they seers, seeing both the spirits and of what is, what was and what will be. They are skilled to a degree in divination. Then and lastly, they are the weavers of spells, stories and crafts. Opting to take up working with their hands, making their own tools and such. Weaving spells be it of fortune or ill and retelling the lore of the land, connecting the mundane to the magical. So, that is what a Hedge Witch, is.
I do not claim to speak for all Hedges, but as a Hedge Witch I speak for myself and what Ive seen in my experiences and research over a decade.
Could you elaborate on the Healer-Seer-Weaver part? I'm still confused.. (I'm still researching and finding a path that works for me, and hedge witchcraft is on the list of topics I'm interested in.)
(so, I'll my best to clarify what the original user posted about the three, but feel free to add anything or to make it more understanding.)
But to my understand,
The three aspects the user mentioned are
The Healer: Hedge Witch usually have a good understanding of nature- and what herbs are good for medicine and healing. Since a Hedge Witch is known for using their plant knowledge in medicine. They are herbal healers.
The Seer: A Hedge Witch is somebody who is able to receive and send messages from the spirit worlds or just spirits in general. Some Hedge Witches prefer working with deities, while others prefer working with nature and the spirits of nature.
The Weaver: Using nature to make their tools. (ex: using vines, leaves, even flowers to make a wand)
I thought I'd expand what my practice involved and it feels very much like Hedge witch.
Healer, seer, weaver is a good description of my craft. I'm not sure this is all of it.
I'm able to mind travel easily. This could be hedgeriding. I'm knowledgeable on plants. I'm able to know what plants need to keep them alive. I'm often out pottering, tending to herbs. My tools are the secateur, wellies, gloves, waterproofs, hats.
I'm at peace near trees. I can often be out whatever the weather it doesn't bother me.
My main busiest time as hedge witch is Spring going into summer.
My intuition calls to hedgewitch by default. I can feel frustrated and tired during winter due to lack of getting out being able to tend to plants.(Due to lack of space).
I'm always researching and looking into ways to heal myself and others naturally.
