Pagan Portals - Magic for Hedge Witches
Teaching the magical side of the Hedge Witch’s Craft.
Teaching the magical side of the Hedge Witch’s Craft.
Teaching the magical side of the Hedge Witch’s Craft.
Magick studies, Wicca, Witchcraft
If you are a witch interested in folk magic with a connection to the natural world, you will find suggestions on how to source ingredients and connect with them, sourcing old spells, witch bottles, magical sachets, familiars, how to put a spell together, and for hedge witches, how to use magic in hedge riding. With useful correspondences, and sprinkled throughout and practical exercises and spells, Magic for Hedge Witches offers something for every witch to help you on your journey.
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Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Very informative book. Full of a lot of useful information. This book will also be very useful for future reference ~ Lori Ruth (Reviewer) , NetGalley
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Magic for Hedge witches was a great read but like other reviewers have said I would recommend it to folk who have some previous knowledge for spell work. Its a book you will go back to time and again as a resource. Well written and researched. I enjoyed that the Author gave you listings on other books to follow up with as well. ~ Hazel Thomson (Reviewer), NetGalley
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Another good jumping-off point book. Nice topics like building up your ingredient supplies, correspondences, magical space and more. ~ Alexandra Roth (Reviewer), NetGalley
Here in Harmonia Saille’s immaculately written Pagan Portals - Magic for Hedge Witches: Sourcing Ingredients, Connection, Spell Building, she not only teaches the magical side of the Hedge Witch’s Craft but moreover brings with it a history lesson that, when all put together, becomes a quite wonderful, and wholly encapsulating resource for any witch (new or old) to embody (although, in truth, it’s prose tends to be more for the experienced practitioner). Broken into many sections, such as The Rudiments of Hedge Magic, On Sourcing Old Spells, Other Magical Ingredients Found in Nature, Runes, Candle and Color Magic, and amongst others, both Magic Bottles and Charm Sachets and Magic Bunches, and inclusive of inner chapters such as Putting a Spell Together, Connecting with Trees, How to Use Runes in a Spell, various Spell examples, A Quick Guide to Animal Symbolism, and amongst others both Ritual Preparation and Hedge Riding Incense, the blending of traditional practices and those from folklore with more modern-day beliefs and rituals, makes for a most wonderful sowing of magical seeds throughout the book for the reader to find. FULL REVIEW: https://annecarlini.com/ex_books.php?id=349 ~ Exclusive Magazine, Review
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. An informative, clever, and easy to follow book. I liked the style of writing and the ideas. Will surely try some of them. It was an excellent read, full of food for thought. Highly recommended. ~ Anna Maria Giacomasso (Reviewer) , NetGalley
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Are you a budding witch? Well, this little primer will be sure to help get you started, with hints on how to create candle spells, the spells to attract more money with a little help with the semantics on getting what you wish for), spells for improving health and starting anew emotionally and spells evoking the four elements of fire, earth, air and water. There is also a section giving delineations on rune symbols - alas, on my Kindle, only the interpretations appeared m, but no rune symbols! This book is not afraid to draw on really old and traditional Craft practises, some of which seem to hark right back to what is reported in the museum of witchcraft at Boscastle, Cornwall. Some practitioners for exams might be leery of creating a witch bottle, which may involve peeing into one spiked with nail clippings and sharp objects: it is meant to be buried at the threshold of a house, to bring psychic protection. Sources include the wisdom of Culpeper and other traditional times of witchcraft dating from the times of James the First. The reader is, however, advised to adapt spells for the present, alongside not misusing magic for negative ends, although this writer professes an open mind on whether to use spells such as binding rituals. There is much about the use of herbs and found objects in Nature included here, alongside exhortions to get closer to Mother Nature. Therein lies the true value of witchcraft, in my opinion, beyond any concerns of any kind of manipulation: this is a natural Shamanism that allows its practitioner to cross the hedge of the title here, to enter a level of awareness that recognises signs if the sacred all around us. Especially in animals, plants and trees. ~ Lynda Stevens (Reviewer), NetGalley
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review. Such a great book, very educational, very interesting. ~ Ellina Doroshenko (Reviewer), NetGalley
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. This is the first book on Hedge Witch magic I've read and I've really enjoyed learning about an area of witchcraft that I haven't done much reading around. It's also the first book by Harmonia Saille that I've read I must say I really enjoyed her writing style. It's a well-written informative book and I definitely will be looking for her other books on the subject to expand my knowledge. ~ Krystina M (Reviewer) , NetGalley
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I so enjoy the Pagan Portals books. I'm really happy to have discovered this one in particular. I had no idea what a Hedge Witch was until I opened this book. I just considered myself to be a solo practitioner of the craft, turns out, there's a name for what I do! Ms. Saille does a wonderful job of writing about what we convenless witches practice. I think it will offer much insight into our magic and help beginners find their way in the craft. Trial and error is involved and a bit of intuition, but it's so wonderful that someone had written this down to aid beginners. This book covers all things in nature, herbs, stones, trees, etc... spell creations, tarot and other forms of fortune telling, types of magic, where to find spells and ceremonies -and how to use the old ones in the modern world. So much info! So exciting! Wonderful history of hedge witches. Highly recommend this book to readers who want to learn more about us and what we do. ~ catherine hankins (Reviewer) , NetGalley
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This book by Ms Saille is remarkable in that it not only gives magick workings but tells why they are used and what they mean. Also directions are given to substitute if needed. I really am amazed at the common sense sequencing of the works and chapters and how it flows together to really work for positive change in a persons life. This book reminds me of a course that all people can follow. Not for just Hedge Witches this is practical Magic for anyone who wants to effect change in their lives . ~ Patrick Carmen (Reviewer), NetGalley
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. For someone who has always felt a link to nature and the natural world but has never done much more than hugging the odd tree and growing plants of all kinds, this book was just the inspiration and guidance that I needed to take my spiritual journey further. I love that the author encourages the reader to explore for themselves and to develop their own rhythm with natural world. This isn't a comprehensive textbook with lots of spells in it and the author makes this clear that that is not her intention, rather, it acts as a catalyst to prompt people to take their studies and practices further to achieve their own harmonious style. I received this digital copy in return for a fair and honest review but I will be buying a physical copy to enjoy at my leisure and gain further inspiration from. ~ Lou Whitehorn (Reviewer) , NetGalley
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed this book! The information was laid out very clearly and it presented information and insights that were totally new to me. I am definitely looking forward to reading the other books in this series. ~ Lauren Goncalves (Reviewer), NetGalley
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. This informative book reads like a reference book, which isn't a bad thing necessarily. I learned a lot about history and took away from this more I wanted to learn, specifically about hedge witchery. This book feels like a reference book, but also like a guide to getting to where you want to be as a witch, with very few actual spells but a lot of recipes. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is already familiar with folk-magic or hedge witchery more than to a complete beginner, however. ~ Lauren B (Reviewer), NetGalley
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. A fantastic reference book for those who are maybe a bit more advanced in their witchcraft journey. I enjoyed the references to witchcraft in history throughout the book, and I have written some suggestions down for things that have caught my eye to look up. I particularly enjoyed the clear and concise guides to certain objects and their meanings. This would be useful to have on hand when you want to look up a topic quickly. I would have liked to have seen more examples of recipes and concoctions, but I believe this book is more for giving us an understanding of the basics first, walk before you can run! Thank you to the author for also referencing specific books throughout. This is useful when it comes to finding other books on a certain subject matter that the reader may have more of an interest in. ~ Katey Page (Reviewer), NetGalley
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Magic for Hedge Witches gives developing practitioners the framework to craft a more personal magical practice. In particular, the connection exercises and the discussion regarding making old spells new are absolute gold for someone with a serious interest in using the world around them to connect and manifest their own personal magic. This book contains not just the wisdom of crafting personal magic, but basic apothecary knowledge for a beginning natural healer with encouragement and additional resources to expand their growing practice. Very few magical instruction books contain actual practical information about how to craft a magic spell. Most give you the ingredients and the words and the implication is that you perform it as if in a play. This is the definition of ritual and a reasonable expectation for a "spellbook". Magic for Hedge Witches by Harmonia Saille is a different kind of book. It gives readers a new perspective and empowers them to develop their own organic magical practice firmly rooted in the traditions of natural healing and built around the practitioner's own surroundings, interests, and needs. ~ Kate Peragine (Reviewer), NetGalley
With its foundations firmly in creating meaningful connections to nature and beyond, this book feels like a warm welcome into a magical world that many live alongside without even realising it. Harmonia explores folk magic and practices, recommends eco-friendly ways of working, and emphasises the power of using the right ingredients. Any solitary practitioner can take much from these pages, from mindfully choosing to reconnect with trees and plants to seeking the spirit within a stone. I feel like it’s never been more vital to take the advice from Harmonia’s book, to pause to notice the tiny details in nature, and the everyday magic that imbues our incredible world. Truly a book that helps rekindle the spark of magic in all of us as well as a practical volume and “how to” guide for the aspiring Hedge Witch. ~ Mabh Savage, author of Practically Pagan: An Alternative Guide to Planet Friendly Living.
The first thing that struck me was just how much information there is in this book. Full of anecdotes, practical exercises, and information from a range of sources, this book is perfect for anyone who is looking for a hands-on approach. Whilst the author herself has described this as a ‘short guide or introduction’, this book feels like so much more thanks to the wealth of knowledge included. As someone who has been practicing witchcraft in one form or another for the past twenty years and has read a lot of ‘introduction to...’ books, Magic for Hedge Witches really does stand out from the rest. And yet despite all the information in this book, it is clear that we are just scratching the surface of the author's knowledge and experience with hedge magic. One section which really stood out to me was the section on sourcing old spells. Harmonia does a fantastic job of showing us how we can take spells and charms of old and rework them to make them suitable for modern magic without losing any of their connection to their origins. This blending of traditional practices and folklore with the modern is prevalent throughout the book in a way that is genuinely inspiring. Another section which really interested me was the section on witches’ bottles. It includes several witch bottles you can try making yourself, including a scrying bottle. I love the idea of a scrying bottle, and this whole section is again another example of how this book successfully blends more traditional magic with our present day. I believe that anyone who feels a connection with the natural world and uses that as a focus for their magic would benefit from this book. It is one I can see myself going back to time after time. As you may have guessed I loved this book, and highly recommend it. ~ Jessica Howard, Author of Pagan Portals – The Art of Lithomancy
As someone who works shamanically I am always fascinated by the similarities and differences between the way I work and the way of a Hedge Witch such as Harmonia Saille. This book drew me in immediately and had me hooked completely well before the second chapter. This is not just a book for beginners, despite being under the Pagan Portal’s umbrella, but a book that reaches out to everyone who uses ‘magic’ in their lives and work, Witch or otherwise. The author’s personal practice and experience is delightfully interwoven with historical references, practical exercises and suggestions, making it both a guide and a resource for coming back to over and over again. ~ Yvonne Ryves, Author: Shaman Pathways Web of Life
Hedgewitchery is experiencing a revival within the pagan community and Harmonia Saille is publishing her third captivating title in the Moon Books Pagan Portals series on the subject : Magic for Hedge Witches, Hedge Witchcraft and Hedge Riding. It might also be referred to as ‘green’ or folk-craft because its focus is on the practical side of folk magic which incorporates much in the way of natural ingredients, the elements of nature, and the magic of hedge riding, which the author terms ‘hedge magic’. Coming from a highly experienced magical practitioner, there are suggestions on how to source spells and ingredients, and connect them with rituals, practical exercises, useful correspondences, familiars … and not forgetting how to put a spell together from your own recipes, in order to give a good grounding in the rudiments of hedge magic. As Harmonia says, the practical side of her magical practice is based on folk magic, an uncomplicated magic brewed up by cunning folk and wise-women. “Uncomplicated does not mean “uninteresting” or “requiring little learning” though. Folk magic is a craft taught or self-taught over years and nowadays is often gleaned from or based on the ancient mixed in with modern knowledge or practices.” Within traditional British Old Craft it is the lowly level of the ‘parish-pump’ witch whereby we seek out “natural ingredients along with using natural amulets and making personal connections with them”. Hedge riding helps us take the practice to the next level by entering an altered state of consciousnesses to travel to the Otherworld to contact spirit guides, teachers, and ancestors to seek spiritual guidance on a level that Jung referred to as the collective unconscious. The ‘hedge’ has multiple meanings, the most prominent being the boundary separating our world from Otherworld. The hedge also represents a physical and psychic protective boundary, separating spirit from human and hedge-riders routinely cross the veil into this spirit world. But what exactly is hedge riding? Simply put, hedge riding is a spiritual journey into the Otherworld realms, the collective unconscious of racial memory. Harmonia Saille takes us on a journey into the world of the hedge witch so that we can learn to explore these magical practices for ourselves ~ Melusine Draco – author of the ‘Traditional Witchcraft’ series
Magic for Hedge Witches is a fillerless information-packed handbook for those looking to continue their journey of exploration in hedge magic. Harmonia Saille uses her years of personal application to great impact, passing on decades of research in one handy guide. Harmonia’s works are a consistent joy which allow readers to fruitfully add to their voyage through pagan practice. This is a home library must-have which cuts through the treacle and gets the must-know of magic. If you have not had the pleasure of reading this author’s other works then this is a brilliant introduction. ~ Johnnie Maguire; Hedge Witch, Playwright and Author: KITTY Queen of the Washhouse, WEAVE, The Liver Bird.