Posts Tagged ‘Community’
Learning Hedgecraft
This question has come to me either through email, PM, Facebook or on the forum so I thought it was time for a quick post.
How do I train in Hedgewitchery? How does one learn Hedgewitchery?
As Hedgewitchery is such a personal Path it is hard to tell someone how to find formal training. After all everyone is going to practice somewhat differently.
First, you might be lucky enough to find a teacher or another Hedgewitch to train and/or practice with. Of course we are all, always, students. For example I can only teach what I know, share what I have experienced and explain the mistakes I have made. My personal tailoring of Hedgewitchery may not be exactly what you are looking for either, just as if I met another Hedgewitch who has more experienced than I, there might be much of her Path that does not resonate with me. Some Hedgewitches are more interested in herbalism and botany, while I am more interested in animal healing and animal husbandry than others. Quite the conundrum eh?
This is one reason why I set up the website and forum, so folks can share what they have learned, what they are experimenting with, as well as what they are hoping to learn. So we can all help each other along the way. You can join the forum (The Wild Geek Hang) at my website and there are a few yahoo groups and such kicking around as well.
Well of course if you are lucky enough to meet another Hedgewitch or someone who follows a similar Path then you can learn a great deal from each other.
There are books than you can read. Some are better than others of course. Some may be more or less along the lines of what you are looking for. There are some great recommended reading lists on the Hedge that myself and others have posted, go to the “A Witch’s Studies” section and then into the “Reading Lists and Recommendations” category.
You don’t have to go to another Hedgewitch to study hedgewitchery. This may sound a little odd but hear me out. Hedgewitchery is a jack-of-many-trades Path, the main ones being: Some type of shamanism or seership, some form of healing, working with Nature in some way and folk magick. So decide which types of these subjects interest you and study them. For example you could take shamanism workshops or study under a seer or sied worker. You could take a course on herbalism or reiki; I am going back to school to study to be a Vet Tech (not only as a career path but also as part of my hedgewitchery).
It also doesn’t hurt to study other forms of Witchcraft and Paganism. You can learn a lot from a Wicca 101 course, or taking a course through a Druid organization. Many Hedgewitches study the Feri Tradition, Faery Seership or heathen traditions such as Asatru.
Don’t forget to read/study up on wise woman, cunning folk, conjure practitioners and folk healers throughout history. Also mythology and any other subjects that interest you and you wish to incorporate into your Path.
How else it this Path learned? From your spirits of course. One place all Walkers Between Worlds gain knowledge from are the gods, ancestors and other spiritual helpers and guides they meet along the way and build a relationship with.
Wordless Wednesday: Catching Up
Breaking the rules with words: I have been a busy little bee these last couple of weeks. Many things to do, podcast, work, finishing my stang, a lot of writing and such. Also I gave the main website a make over. Most importantly (at least to you guys) I have created a new section on the main website for the Collection Casting (divination with bits and pieces) and am starting to transfer info over there, as well as working on making new articles and making the workshop I taught at KG make sense for online purposes. Keep checking the “newest articles” box on the main page!
Children
I see them and it makes me shiver
Teenagers teaching workshops
With confidence and skill
Children who had magick sung
To them each night
Over their cradles
As the Moon rose in the window
I know it sounds cliché
But the future is in their hands
*
Grey haired Elders
Who bitch and complain
Certainly they have the right
To say they’d never do it again
They talk and rant about things
Out dated by twenty years
Embittered by drama and gossip
They walk away tired and disillusioned
I know it sounds cliché
But the future is leaving their hands
*
I hear the whispers from people who know
Things are changing in a quiet sort of way
Some folks are scared and worried
What does the future hold?
I see children run by at the Gathering
I smile and I say
I know it sounds cliché
But expect to be similarly surpassed
In ways we can’t even imagine
I see them and it makes me shiver
With anticipation
Gone Festing
I will be away for about a week as Bren and I are off to Kaleidoscope Gathering. Bren has a couple of workshops, a ritual drama to run and a concert and i am also involved in a couple of workshops. Plus there’s volunteering and vending to be done!
Crash the dog will be coming with us as part of a pilot project for allowing dogs at the fest. So please folks, don’t pet the dogs without permission and keep your puppies on leash
We will be bringing our recording device for the podcast with us and hope to get lots of content for the podcast.
I won’t be around to post on the forum but moderators will be lurking. People are always so well behaved at the Wild Geek Hang anyways!
In the mean time, here are some articles, essays, blog posts and even videos worth checking out:
Channeling Deity vs. Regressive Trance
Archaeologists have discovered a second henge at Stonehenge
Land Spirits, Ancestors and Gods, Oh My!
Practice Practice Practice Daily or Regularly
When The Drummers Were Women
Sacred Weeds
Care for the caregivers
The Private Life of Plants
Zen: The Best of Alan Watts
Pagan Roots in the West
Digging Through the Archives
It’s Still Pagan
*
To the tune of “Its still Rock n’ Roll” By Billy Joel
*
What’s the matter with the robes I’m wearing?
“Can’t you tell that your cord’s too wide?”
Maybe I should buy a hooded cloak
Like back in the burning times
Where have you been in the broom closet honey?
“You can’t dress witchy ’till you spend a lot of money”
*
Everybody’s talking about the new Path
Funny, but its still NeoPagan to me
*
What’s the matter with the broom I’m riding?
“Can’t you tell that it’s out of style?”
Should I get a store bought besom?
“Are ready for us to laugh and smile?
Nowadays, you can’t be too traditional
Your best bet’s besom made exactly the way we tell ya”
*
Dark Goth, Light Fluff – even if it’s old junk
It’s still NeoPagan to me
*
Oh, it doesn’t matter what they say in the Circle
‘Cause it’s always been the same old scene
There’s a new Grove in town, but you can’t get the word
From a story in a magazine
Aimed at your average teen
*
How about a pair of pentacle tattoos
And a dress from the renaissance?
“Well, you could really be Selena Fox, baby
If you would just paint it all black
Don’t waste your money on a shiny new cauldron
You get more mileage from a cheap-o pot”
*
New Age, Faery, Wicca craze
Anyways, it’s still NeoPagan to me
*
What’s the matter with Coven I’m joining?
“Can’t you tell that they’re out of touch?”
Should I try to be a solitary Pagan?
“If you are, then you think too much
Don’t you know about the new Wicca, honey?
All you need are books and a whole lotta money”
*
It’s the next thing, Heathen, Druid, Celtic
Anyways, it’s still NeoPagan to me
Everybody’s talking about the new Path
Funny, but its still NeoPagan to me
*
By Juniper 2006
The Struggle
How can finding the right thing to say
Be so simple?
Words drip from their lips
Like flawless pearls
My mouth is full of marbles
The right thing to do
Seems as bright and clear as day
As they move gracefully
And with an inborn ease
While I stammer and stumble with each step
The right thing to wear and the perfect hair
Adorn their elegant bodies
Complimenting style and finesse
Eyebrows delicately raised in response
To my failed attempts at dignity
Did they have mothers
Who were just as refined?
Who taught them manners and propriety
Until it became as natural as breathing?
I cannot help but wonder
If only I had a mother capable of tact
Would I socialize with such
Utter nimbleness?
Intelligent conversation
Sails past my ears
Their words never take a wrong turn
As I struggle not to misspeak
To not interrupt or repeat
Mindless pleasantries surround me
I struggle to maintain a smile
Grateful that they deign
To tolerate my ineptness
At least for a little while
Then I take that inevitable misstep
Exposing my clumsiness
I cringe and shudder
As they cluck their tongues
Gossip behind my broken back
Speak over my bowed head
And assume only the worst intent
Silent tears slip unempathized
Down my burning cheeks
As I silently wish I had just half
Of their shine and polish
Excuse me please
Which way to the can?
I think I am about to have an anxiety attack
