Hedgewitchery

I have lots of things to say at the moment, but as we’re now only 8 days away from our big move from Rome to Italy I am a totaly whirl of activity, with a slight undercurrent of panic, so I don’t really have the time I’d like to dedicate to this blog yet.

But in honour of my very first comment (thanks butisitpc) a quick description of hedewitchery.

Hedgewitchery is a form of neo-paganism. I came across it through the books of Rae Beth, who is a fantastic woman (I heard her speak at a conference once – very inspirational). It’s all about connecting with nature, wild energies and walking your path with a foot on either side of the boundary between the mundane and the spiritual (the hedge). Most hedgewitches are solitary practitioners, although they can be members of other pagan groups. For me, I came to paganism after much searching, thinking and reading, because although I did have a faith that there is some form of higher consciousness, I totally don’t buy into the idea that it is male, and for me Christianity’s story seemed totally full of holes. I read a lot of books on Buddhism, but it never really spoke to me. In the last few years i’ve read a lot about gnosticism, and have come to the conclusion that these gnostic faiths share a huge amount in common. But Paganism inspires me for many reasons – because it feels more of my cultural heritage, because it is a faith which empowers women, because it takes time to honour the feminine divine as well as the masculine and finally because it is a very personal faith. Because Paganism was driven almost to extinction (there is an ongoing debate about how much if at all our modern faith is connected with those practitioners of the ‘old ways’) it has no holy books and no church hierarchy. It is a religion where people are free to choose their own practices and inspirations, and the only overarching tenet is ‘if it harms none, do what you will’. Which, along with ‘know thyself’ is what I try to live my life by.

Many people come to paganism by way of Wicca, as it’s probably the best known. Personally I felt myself a little uncomfortable with the ritual form which this brings. I understand where Wicca developed, and I’m thankful that in the 1950s people like Gerald Gardner went against the prevailing religious atmosphere to revive this old faith. But for me, I prefer a more organic and personal communication with deity as I see it. And hedgewitchery is about an individual shamanic connection with nature, which makes more sense to me.

I wouldn’t say that my faith, or my way of practicing is set in stone. In terms of archetypes, I wouldn’t have been the village shaman, I’d say I’m more intellectually driven (i.e. I tend to think myself into inactivity). So in my own way I bumble along, and if the practices I have wouldn’t be considered ‘proper hedgewitchery’ then I don’t beat myself up about it.