There seems to be a misunderstanding that these two practices are the same thing. It's almost like saying Wicca is Witchcraft; Hedge Witchery isn't Green Witchery.
A Green Witch is a Witch whose practice surrounds the use of gardening, herbalism, and generalized plant life, hence the title "Green" (not because of some color coding). Green Witches will be meticulous when it comes to their gardens, will grow lots of plants including herbs, flowers, foods and even things we would consider "weeds". Each and every plant seen around the Green Witch's home would have some sort of use to that Witch (yes, even the grass). Indoors you may see more plants, either being grown in pots, or being dried for use. A Green Witch will use plants in almost every aspect, from casting spells, to cooking their meals, and even cleaning their homes. They're practitioners who focus mostly on one aspect (unlike eclectics who focus on multiple aspects of Witchery).
Hedge Witches have little to do with plant life (though plants may play a role in the craft). The term "Hedge" refers to the border that surrounds ones property. Hedge Witches work between the two worlds; crossing the "hedge" between this world and the world beyond, or the "other world". They spend a lot of time communing with either deities, ancestors or random spirits of whom they meet on this plane, while also working within this plane.
A good excerpt from a class I took that included touching on "Hedge Witchery" says: "...a Hedgewitch's path is one mainly for their own personal knowledge and gain whereas many other paths are for the greater good of humanity and the Earth around them." Lady Scar-lotte Blacke
A good excerpt from a class I took that included touching on "Hedge Witchery" says: "...a Hedgewitch's path is one mainly for their own personal knowledge and gain whereas many other paths are for the greater good of humanity and the Earth around them." Lady Scar-lotte Blacke
I think the confusion between terms stems probably from the term "hedge", because when someone thinks of a "hedge", they think "tree", "plant" or "Green". Thinking "hedge" they automatically assume "Green Witch". Another misinterpretation may be the fact that they use psychotropic plants to enhance their experiences when "crossing the hedge". Using a plant doesn't make you a Hedge Witch.
I believe one of the most perpetuated misinformation on Hedge Witchery would be Silver Ravenwolf's book "HedgeWitch: Spells, Crafts & Rituals for Natural Magic". The description of the book itself describes Green Witchery. "Get a fast and fun jumpstart on the "Hedge Witch" path with a little help from [...] Silver Ravenwolf." From Amazon.com. Firstly, Hedge Witchery is far from fun. It's actually quite terrifying if one is not prepared for it. Visiting the other world is not like being in this one. Structure is almost non-existent.
To continue with the description from $RW's book: "A handy reference section offers tips, formulas, recipes [...] on topics such as soap making, tealeaf reading, butterfly garden magic and organically growing your own herbs". This is a (disgustingly syrupy) description of Green Witchcraft, not Hedge Witchery.
A much better book for a better understanding of Hedge Witchery would be "Hedge Rider" by Eric De Vries. It's description states: "Drawing from an extensive historical, folkloric and mythological body it re-attributes and re-defines Witchery [...] around the journey to the underworld and contact with the Unseen." From Amazon.com. An example of the kinds of things people have seen while "riding the hedge" as they say, are:
-a field of eyeballs and you're given the task of picking them
-a giant tree with a trunk full of baby pigs squirming
-being disembowelled and you're helping to remove your insides
**[Lady Scar-lotte Blacke]
Not exactly a "fast and fun start" to Hedge Witchery, now is it? To me that does indeed sound very terrifying.
-a field of eyeballs and you're given the task of picking them
-a giant tree with a trunk full of baby pigs squirming
-being disembowelled and you're helping to remove your insides
**[Lady Scar-lotte Blacke]
Not exactly a "fast and fun start" to Hedge Witchery, now is it? To me that does indeed sound very terrifying.
So as you can see, there is indeed a difference between Hedge Witchery and Green Witchery. While Green Witchery can enhance Hedge Witchery, and many Hedge Witches make use of many aspects within Green Witchery, that doesn't mean they're the same thing. Interchanging the terms makes as much sense as calling Wicca, Witchcraft.
Sources:
Lady Scar-lotte Black, Firefly Academy
Amazon.com
Sources:
Lady Scar-lotte Black, Firefly Academy
Amazon.com
I have never really studied either on, so your post was very informative. I too had this misconception and now I understand the difference.
ReplyDeleteGlad it was helpful.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! This was very helpful as i couldnt figure out which one i was, now i understand im very clearly a GREEN WITCH haha :) the other one seems intresting but not my thing and i appluad anyone who could possibly go through there lives and continue to witness things like "helping to disembowl themselves" that seems really scary but anyways, thank you again :)
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome
ReplyDeleteWould a crystal witch also be considered a green witch since crystals are found in nature? Or are green witches purely plant based?
ReplyDeleteGreen Witchery tends to focus on herbalism and working with plants. Can you use Crystals while being a Green Witch? Absolutely, but focusing on crystals wouldn't make you a Green Witch.
DeleteI follow the elemental deities that control earth, air, fire, and water. I write my own spells and many of them integrate these natural deities and also the astral realm and the beings that exist in the astral realm. My ability is strongest in winter, although this last summer I wrote a combination spell to call all the elements as others call the corners. It was raining at the time and I was angry about some stuff I had going on...The rain fell harder and I wanted it to storm. That next morning I watched the news and a barge hit the dam and the Arkansas River flooded half of Roland Ok and part of Fort Smith. It continued to rain for 2 more days. The first wedding anniversary after my divorce it was February and I was so angry. I wanted everyone and everything to be as cold as I felt. That day we had so much ice on everything, school was closed, trees fell, and the power went out all over. The ice was the worst in my town. I hide my true beliefs from my family, I grew up Baptist, and I live in the Bible Belt. I am solitary and self-taught, but I do have a spirit teacher, sort of like a spirit guide. I don't know where I fit into witchery. I don't know what I am. I would appreciate any information you can give. Thank you.
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