Hedgewitchcraft is one of the hardest paths to explain, partly because it refuses to be neatly defined. It is not a tradition you can copy exactly from someone else. It is a practice shaped by solitude, instinct, the earth, and the unseen world that presses close at the edges of ordinary life.

Ask several hedge witches what a hedge witch is, and you will get several different answers!

But here is a brief description. A hedge witch works with the liminal.
The hedge is a metaphorical term used to explain where otherworlds meet and overlap. It’s a practice that is rooted in connection with otherworlds and the ability to move awareness through liminal space, where the seen and unseen interact.

It is tied to solitude, trance work, spirit communication, and dreamwork, which is known as hedgeriding, more on that later.

There are also so many different paths you can follow, for example, Celtic hedgewitch, HedgeDruid.

MY Path

For me, hedgewitchcraft is as much about the nature around me as it is about crossing into the otherworlds. I enjoy tending to my garden at home, where I grow herbs and flowers. I also find hiking grounding. Woodlands are my favourite place to walk, they always help to balance and clear my mind. Folklore weaves into my practice, too. The old stories are tied to plants, animals, landscapes, and the fairy folk who live among them, along with tales of gods and goddesses.

Where does the word hedgewitch come from?

Rae Beth brought the term hedgewitch into the mainstream with her book Hedgewitch: A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft. , but the word itself has older roots.

The term hedge priest referred to a priest without a congregation, someone outside the official church system. The hedgerow was both a literal and a symbolic boundary. A place on the edge.

There is also the German word ‘hagazissa’ meaning ‘hedge sitter.’ Then we have the early Saxon word haegtessa’, which means hedge rider’. Both of these words refer to hedgerow, a symbolic term that describes the divide between the everyday human world and what is beyond it.

That is why hedgewitchcraft is so often connected to crossing between worlds.

A solitary craft

A hedgewitch is not part of a coven or group; they are usually solitary. This doesn’t mean they don’t occasionally get together with others. They do not usually follow any set rules or guidelines. Which suits me just fine, thank you!

Some hedgewitches choose to work with gods and goddesses, while others prefer to walk their path without them. Personally, I walk a Celtic path and honour a few goddesses who guide and strengthen my practice.

When it comes to spellcasting, hedgewitches do not have a strict set of tools they use. I do not do a lot of spell work, but if I do, I have a small toolkit which includes candles, my trusty cauldron, the herbs I grow, and my crystal ball. I also have a ridiculous collection of journals, one for general scribbling, which I do a lot of, one( or two!) for writing things like herb notes and card meanings, and one for dreams and dreamwork.

Divination has always been a big part of my practice. I tend to use tarot and oracle cards.

Most of my craft is working with the spirits of this world, the land, and the unseen realms. I work closely with the earth itself.

Sometimes I keep an altar table, especially during seasons like Samhain, but more often than not, I end up at the hearth in front of the log burner if I need to do a ritual.

A hedgewitch may incorporate other crafts into their practice, such as green witchcraft or kitchen witchcraft. Personally, I lean heavily towards green witchcraft, and working with the natural world has always been at the heart of what I do.

All of these things can sit alongside the main focus of hedgewitchcraft, which is working at the boundary between worlds. For a hedgewitch, this is known as hedge riding.

What is hedge-riding?

Hedgeriding is the journey a hedgewitch takes into otherworlds. To take these journeys, a hedgewitch may use mild trance, deep meditation, or astral travel to visit them. The otherworlds consist of different realms, but things can get confusing, as it really does depend on which path you choose to follow.

It can get very complex, and honestly, it is best to read up all you can about hedgeriding before you practice. I have listed a few books below that I have found helpful. I have been practising hedgewitch craft for a long time, but I am still learning. You do not stop learning.

Hedgewitchcraft is not one single tradition. It is a solitary craft shaped by the land you live on, the folklore you are drawn to, and the way you choose to work with the unseen. Some hedgewitches lean more towards herbs and earth-based practice, others towards spirit work and divination, but at its heart, it is always about walking the boundary and making your own path.

If you feel drawn to hedgewitchcraft, trust that pull. Take your time, study properly, and let your practice grow slowly. The best hedgewitchcraft is built over years, not days.

For tools for your craft and personal path, visit The Psychic Tree. For tools for Use my code HEDGEWITCHJOURNALSBLOG for 10% off.

Hedgewitch craft books.

There are not a lot of books on hedgewitchcraft, but there are new ones coming out all the time. Here are a few I have read.

Pagan Portals: Hedge Witchcraft by Harmonia Saille.

A good place to start. It contains lots of information but not too much to take in.

Hedge riding by Harmonia Sailles

Harmonia Sailles book on hedgeriding: A straightforward guide.

The Path of the Hedgewitch by Joanna van der Hoeven 

Rae Beth coined the term hedgewitch. So her books are a must. I have linked others below.

Hedge Witch: A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft by Rae Beth

The Hedge Witch’s Way: Magical Spirituality for the Lone Spellcaster by Rae Beth

The Green Hedge Witch: 2nd Edition by Rae Beth

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