Author: A Solitary Pagan
The Hedge – Ritual to Enter the World of the Hedge Witches Craft
This rite can be used to dedicate yourself to The Hedge Witches Craft, to walking between the worlds. If you can, begin your work by standing in or near a hedgerow itself, looking away from civilization. If this is not possible, you can create a hedgerow by standing between two plants. Many potted trees will do well indoors, so you can research their properties and see what kind would be suited to...
Hedgewitch: Dollars and Cents Aren’t Always Required
When starting out in witchcraft, it is natural to wonder what resources are necessary. Many people believe that practicing magic or following a spiritual path requires spending money on special tools, rare ingredients, or elaborate altars. In reality, this is not always true—especially for those interested in hedgewitchery or similar traditions that value practicality and resourcefulness. Consider...
The Hedge – Boundaries and Walking Between the Worlds
In many spiritual traditions, the word “hedge” describes a path that is not limited to one tradition, group, or strict set of beliefs. Instead, it refers to an independent and flexible approach, where people can explore different sources and practices. This way, individuals can learn and grow on their own terms, without needing to join a specific group or follow a single doctrine. In earth-based s...
Hedgewitch: A Gateway to the Universe
Life can be viewed as a fertile patch of ground, ready to nurture personal growth and potential. It may be helpful to reflect on what one wishes to cultivate in this space—such as success, good health, financial stability, or fulfilling relationships. Each moment presents an opportunity to foster these aspirations. Whether the goal is to develop a business, improve well-being, form meaningful conn...
Personal Empowerment for the Hedgewitch
The Hedgewitch guide is organized into fourteen segments, each called a “night,” as these are typically the times set aside for the rituals. Each day begins in the morning by reading an affirmation and focusing on a specific theme. For instance, the first night centers on the element of wind, which is associated with Spirit. To begin, find a quiet moment to close your eyes, calm your thoughts, and...
Rite of the Enchanted Woods
The Rite of the Enchanted Woods is a foundational practice for those starting out in witchcraft, especially within the HedgeWitch tradition. This rite is intended to support a connection with the inner self, ancestors, and the natural world, while also encouraging the development of a personal quality that may be helpful for growth. There are two main ways to approach this rite. One option is to v...
Clutterbuck, Old Dorothy (1880–1951)
Dorothy Clutterbuck remains an enigmatic character in the annals of Wicca and witchcraft. She was born in Bengal on January 19, 1880, and later relocated to England, where she enjoyed a prosperous life. For many years, little was known about Clutterbuck, prompting some to believe she was a creation of Gerald Gardner. In 1980, Doreen Valiente, one of Gardner’s early coven members, embarked on a mis...
CROWLEY, ALEISTER: An Opinion from Doreen Valiente
Aleister Crowley earns a place in witchcraft, not because he was a witch, but because he was not ! This, of course, does not stop Crowley’s name being dragged into every Sunday newspaper’s latest “Exposure of Witchcraft and Black Magic” (they seldom know the difference). But perhaps if a brief sketch of Crowley’s life is given here, it may help to a better understanding of what this very remarkabl...
Alex Sanders. A Magic Childhood
Left to himself, Alex might have ended his foray into witchcraft there and then, but family circumstances forced him into contact with his grandmother almost daily and before long he found himself becoming interested and then totally absorbed in the secret teachings. A quick learner-he had been able to read at the age of three-he was never fully extended by his school work and had no difficulty ma...
Margaret Murray (1863 – 1963) Part Two
Murray, drawing connections to her Egyptology background, began examining documents, and in 1917 she released “Organizations of Witches in Great Britain” in the Folklore Journal. That seemingly mundane paper evolved into her book, The Witch-Cult in Western Europe, sparking a line of research that would dramatically alter the perception of witchcraft. At that period, academic literature on witches ...
Doctor John (19th century Witch)
Renowned American witch doctor, Doctor John, also known as Bayou John and Jean Montaigne, was a free black man who owned slaves in pre-Civil War New Orleans. A towering figure, Doctor John claimed to be a prince from Senegal, captured by Spaniards and taken to Cuba. In Cuba, he became a skilled cook and persuaded his master to grant him freedom. He then worked as a sailor, return...
Alex Sanders- The Haunted Hill
In 1939 David was born, the sixth and last of Alex’s brothers and sisters, and soon afterward war broke out. Alex, with most of the other children in Manchester, was evacuated to the country to escape air raids. It was a wrench leaving his parents, and his sisters and brothers, who were sent to separate foster homes, but most of all he hated leaving his grandmother. ‘Remember your vows,’ she told ...