Hearth Witch, settled on The Hedge...

Welcome to new readers, and welcome back to old readers.

Now I have mentioned these spiritual paths before, not completely new. Yet not entirely old.

This post will begin with a quote from a book simply named "Hearth Witch" (a book written by Anna Franklin)

"A few years ago I invented the term 'Hearth Witch' to describe the witch who sees the sacred within the physical, the magical in the mundane, and uses this knowledge to incorporate spiritual practice into her everyday life. 

The way of the Hearth Witch is an uncomplicated, direct form of magic, deceptively simple and unspeakably profound. She draws her strength from the sacred flame that burns in her hearth, from the earth that sustains her, the water that nourishes her, and the inspiration of her breath. She finds her gods in the land around her: the spirits of water, stone and tree, Earth, Moon, Sun, Stars and Sky. 

She needs no watch, calendar or magical almanac to tell her when to work her magic, but works with the observable ebb and flow of the changing seasons, the rising and setting of the sun, and the waxing and waning of the moon.

 A Hearth Witch is drawn to the traditional ways, the rhythms of nature and the call of the wildwoods. The Hearth Witch of today inherits the mantle of the village wise woman or cunning man. She is part shaman, part seer, part herbalist, part spiritual healer, and all witch. Hers are the Old Ways of the countryside, once passed down from mother to daughter, father to son, crone to apprentice. It is as old as time and as new as the newest witch."

Truthfully I couldn't agree more with Franklin's perspective. But I think you are more interested in how I came to write about this?

Well first of all if you have read some of my former posts. I'm truthfully not very complex in my path of spiritual choice. I like things to be simple, and whatever tools I have are mainly from nature. I feel connections to Vetter (land spirits/fae) around the area I live in and have had that connection since I was a little girl. I do wonder sometimes why that belief never left me, I can feel the brewing storms at sea, the chill that tells of the first snow...subtle changes that few would know how..

Deities:  Like many spiritual paths there does appear some significant deities in this form of magical spirituality. Now what you will see just below here is some basic information of each deity mentioned in the book "Hearth Witch" but you can always find your own fiery deities.

Brighid:  

A Goddess of Fire from the Celtic Pantheon a former Sun Goddess. Known for her triple aspects and attributes with poetry, patron to blacksmiths and those of the smith craft, healing, agriculture, childbirth, hearth and home. People used to draw her cross upon the mantle of their fireplaces and hearths for protection. They made them out of straw from the last sheaths of barley or maybe even oats. 

Her well known Festival these days is Imbolc or Candle mass as the clever Catholics named it. It is a welcoming  of the spring to arrive and the frost to remove its claws from the soil .I personally experience Brighid as a kind of grandmother, ready to guide and prepared to reprimand for my bad mouth. 

Hestia:  

Hestia is from the Greek Pantheon, and she is a Goddess of Hearth and Home. She is also a sworn virgin Goddess of her own choice .Her place of worship is every hearth in ancient Greece. Although they say her form is in the fire only and that is the reason why she was never given a statuette or depicted in art. She is also the guardian of the sacred Fire on mount Olympus. Although not so much art associated with Hestia in the past, modern artists certainly have given their try.

Vesta: 

Vesta is Hestia's roman equal however their stories do vary a tidbit..

She is became the personification of the public hearth, and therefore her popularity increased more as her cult, stretched and gathered romans as an equal extended family. 

Hearth & Hedge:

 The Hearth shapes the foundation of the earliest settlements as a bonfire, it creates, destroys and sometimes heals. We as humans built tents, and eventually houses that surround the hearth, if you no longer have a hearth with fire wood, an electrical stove used in cooking can be just as useful. Or just light a candle...For a Hearth Witch this is his/her altar. You can gaze into the fire to read the crackles in the burning wood, predict the weather, read the future, help yourself and your family. The fire of a hearth gathers family, or you cuddle up and just lean back into your favorite seat or chair. You hear the violent crackles, the sizzling of slightly wet wood, and the wizzing of burning paper...that can be counted magical?

A Hedge is a boundary between civilization...and the unknown wildwood's... soo then a Hearth Witch, Share the same knowledge as a Hedgewitch, and a Kitchen Witch. The wild horn blows the calling into your ears, the wind rustles your hair. The tree's and animals "talk", the spirits in the herbs and stones whisper soft words of warnings and their stories. 

Maybe they are the same paths but with different roads of understanding. A Kitchen Witch, creates her magic in the mundane kitchen, to fill others with nourishment and happiness. A Hedgewitch keep watch of the forest and nature in their area. They walk and keep balance between the spiritual and physical. While a Hearth Witch becomes the combination of these two?

Book Suggestions:

Hedge Witch: A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft by Rae Beth
 - Over the years Beth has written several more books adding to her first book on the subject around the early 90's
Green Witchcraft: Folk Magic, Fairy Lore & Herb Craft (Green Witchcraft Series) by Ann Moura
 - Quite many stumble over this author from time to time. And although at a very beginners level,the recommendations from others have not been negative.
Hearth Witch (The Eight Paths of Magic) by Anna Franklin - My absolute favorite author out of the others.

Before I end this blog for this time. I will suggest that those of you who do read this, study into local lore, herbs and spices special in your area and fairy magic. Also old herbal remedies if that is of interest to you. 


I cannot claim to be an expert, however I do like to share what I have learned to know. bye for now 

Spirituality at the most quirky level

In these nightly hours I will do something different and write a small...mm what do we call it again? Ah! Recommendation! Of one site that may or may not appeal to you. Like many web communities their goal is to gather people of a similar mindset. When I first stumbled over some of these similar sites in my early spiritual searches.It becomes almost like opening that old fairytale book you used to love as a child...

At times it is like a thrill of "This is just what I need!" Other times you become the curious skeptic, observing, listening, processing information. It is and does create the impression of a constant library but isn't that life? learning something new every day?

 Ah! no no...don't touch the sparkly beakers...wait till you learn more...

.Many consider these communities to become their second homes. Other times you may feel intense pressure and lack of understanding and then you leave.. Sadly that becomes the end of many networks, forums and chat rooms.

Some posts ago I gave you some general information about Starseeds. And the site I will recommend is called Starseed Network they have their rough times and many of its members do aim for their spiritual jobs to be fulfilled some are healers of animals and people alike. And believe in doing good...the right thing.

Of course I will not say this site is perfection, but it is growing and reaching out to many people and species of different worlds. I have had my bad experiences on this very site, but then the selective special few is a reason for me to stay.


Is a reason that makes me stay, I might even greet you with a poem as a new member.. ack..maybe to old fashioned for you?

Passing by the small things that could change your future of understanding
And perhaps my own. Now I will not force you to visit Starseed Network, just...think about what I have said.. 

 To me Starseeds is a bit of a small sanctuary. Although I get bitten on a close to daily basis, I will not hesitate to bite back. And maybe just maybe one of you, happen to be some who have had. A loose tongue and tarnished the reputation of other sites. That is not good manners mind you...yes you..



Hundreds of differences and aspects of spirituality. May not apply to you? a tiiiinnnnyyy example?

Dark and ebil boo!

Ok poor example? Maybe a tiny bit...see my point here is although some embrace their spiritual jobs in purest love and light. But people like me, who prefer the earthly comfortable darkness of nourishment, like the rich soil. Some misunderstand this as evil..but in my spiritual beliefs it is not.

So now when This post has to come to an end. What better than these two lovely images to show some "diversity of being" One is starishly bright and blue and the blazing crimson hue glazes with wisdom from old stars and new ones to.

Maybe I'll see you around those web community corners, or will you hold out till my next post flies up too?