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Hedgewitch Book of Days: Spells, Rituals, and Recipes for the Magical Year
Down to earth and humorous, Mandy Mitchell is a modern Hedgewitch whose passion is finding magic in simple everyday tasks and turning them into rituals and spells along with cooking wholesome, hearty, and tasty food based on the seasons of the year. Her book echoes these passions and serves as a tapestry of real-life stories and time-honored folklore laced with a hint of magic! It is aimed at the practicing or would-be witch whose life is more jeans, chaos and the never-ending question of what's for dinner than it is black robes, cauldrons, and incantations.
"Hedgewitch Book of Days" features recipes and wisdom as it reveals the hidden properties behind the things we use all the time. The author shows how to turn the simplest tasks into meaningful rituals, opening our eyes to the extra special world behind the mundane and how to celebrate it! A new broader approach to old beliefs, there is something for everyone to take away--whatever path you are on.
Journey through the wheel of the year with one eye on the kettle and the other on the magical!
"Hedgewitch Book of Days" features recipes and wisdom as it reveals the hidden properties behind the things we use all the time. The author shows how to turn the simplest tasks into meaningful rituals, opening our eyes to the extra special world behind the mundane and how to celebrate it! A new broader approach to old beliefs, there is something for everyone to take away--whatever path you are on.
Journey through the wheel of the year with one eye on the kettle and the other on the magical!
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2014
191 people are currently reading
1362 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 23, 2015
This book has been a real treat to read each month from what veggies & fruits are in season, recipes, meditation, healing remedies and so on, all accompanied by a family tale. Even though I am not of the witchy way, I still came away with great new knowledge that I can then share! All you need is an open mind, accompanied with the desire to want to know a culture & way of life.
The American I am, being able to hear the English accents just made reading this that much more enjoyable(even when converting metric measurements for the recipes). Must read, must own.
The American I am, being able to hear the English accents just made reading this that much more enjoyable(even when converting metric measurements for the recipes). Must read, must own.
October 22, 2014
This book spans the seasons and is rich with information on how to get the most from everyday. With correspondences and references to recipes and practical magic, this book is a boon for all those who practice a more traditional life. What seems mundane can often be a ritual. Every stitch in a sampler a spell...every ingredient in a weeknight dinner a way to say I love you...everything has meaning and Mandy Mitchell does a great job of showing you how to look at your world just a little bit differently.
November 13, 2014
this book was a nice surprise I woke up to. I loved this book. it has every month and different spells & recipes to do. I can't wait to try them out!
December 28, 2019
A bit chatty in tone, but this would be a great started guide for many new witches.
November 17, 2014
this was an enjoyable mix of recipes and lore! very interesting idea for a book! I am about to try some of the spells!
February 14, 2015
This is a great book with simple ways to bring magick into your life every day! Loved it!
November 28, 2015
This has been my favorite of the witchy books. Recipes for the whole year AND it made a point not to focus on wicca as the end-all be-all of witchcraft. Kudos, book. I liked you.
September 21, 2019
Hedge Witch Book of Days
Plot: Month by month this book you how to incorporate witchcraft into your day to day life.
My Thoughts: Even though this book wasn’t what I expected and I felt like it strayed just a little bit too far into the aspect of how to use incorporate witchcraft into activities with children -and I have none so I really didn’t find this useful and a little unnecessary (but just my opinion It did have some good tips in it. And it did have a cozy, warm, feeling about it. I’ll share the things I found useful for me.
March: I learned about the relations of animals to the elements and emotions. I learned that baking soda can be useful to eliminate foot order (a good one because I wear high top boots ALL the time). Then it talked about how to keep your witch stuff discreet. It is SO easy to do this if you do it the right way. I have a 3-panel picture of a set of moons over my bed and the people in my family just think it’s a set of moons. The truth is unless people really are aware of witch symbolism and what it’s tied to they can easily see and don’t see. Signs can be all in their faces and they don’t even realize. And she points this out with the example of a dish of salt.
May- WHAAT? So, I learned that in May married people use to that take off their wedding rings and leave there vows at home for the day which sounds like in the month of fertility it’s permissible to have affairs. Like there needs to be a special month. I learned how we’re in us the triple aspect of the maiden, the mother, and the crone. It talked about the Goddess and how we are the Goddess and we don’t need to seek her because she’s within us and this to me is empowering to read. That loving yourself is loving her. Did not know asprin was made from the substance of a willow tree.
September-Teaches us to be grateful for the pain and suffering not just for what we have, which is a good lesson to keep in mind.
November- I learned that a small bell by your bed when rung can chase away negative thoughts. There was a good idea about how to celebrate the darkness by drawing the curtain and spending time alone by candlelight
December- I learned about the holy (male) and the ivy (female) and thought about why you see TONS of Christmas cars but no Yule cards. And even tho I don’t care for honey how it can be used to soothe an upset stomach
January- I never thought about how our New Year is celebrated in October.
February- I learned that bath oil can be added with milk to make the tub not slippery. I use a lavender bath oil sometimes that works wonders to help u relax and sleep. I also learned that milk can make a paste for burns. Wish I had known that before I read this when I burned my hand taking something hot out the microwave. As well as milk can soften skin.
Rating: 6 I like that it keeps it interesting and while there were some things you’d find in a typical 101 type Wiccan book, it keeps it light and didn’t bog you down with long list. But it did stray off-topic with stories of the author’s family which while it brought a personal touch, I just didn’t feel like it was a good fit. I did like the recipes added and there are some that I would try.
Plot: Month by month this book you how to incorporate witchcraft into your day to day life.
My Thoughts: Even though this book wasn’t what I expected and I felt like it strayed just a little bit too far into the aspect of how to use incorporate witchcraft into activities with children -and I have none so I really didn’t find this useful and a little unnecessary (but just my opinion It did have some good tips in it. And it did have a cozy, warm, feeling about it. I’ll share the things I found useful for me.
March: I learned about the relations of animals to the elements and emotions. I learned that baking soda can be useful to eliminate foot order (a good one because I wear high top boots ALL the time). Then it talked about how to keep your witch stuff discreet. It is SO easy to do this if you do it the right way. I have a 3-panel picture of a set of moons over my bed and the people in my family just think it’s a set of moons. The truth is unless people really are aware of witch symbolism and what it’s tied to they can easily see and don’t see. Signs can be all in their faces and they don’t even realize. And she points this out with the example of a dish of salt.
May- WHAAT? So, I learned that in May married people use to that take off their wedding rings and leave there vows at home for the day which sounds like in the month of fertility it’s permissible to have affairs. Like there needs to be a special month. I learned how we’re in us the triple aspect of the maiden, the mother, and the crone. It talked about the Goddess and how we are the Goddess and we don’t need to seek her because she’s within us and this to me is empowering to read. That loving yourself is loving her. Did not know asprin was made from the substance of a willow tree.
September-Teaches us to be grateful for the pain and suffering not just for what we have, which is a good lesson to keep in mind.
November- I learned that a small bell by your bed when rung can chase away negative thoughts. There was a good idea about how to celebrate the darkness by drawing the curtain and spending time alone by candlelight
December- I learned about the holy (male) and the ivy (female) and thought about why you see TONS of Christmas cars but no Yule cards. And even tho I don’t care for honey how it can be used to soothe an upset stomach
January- I never thought about how our New Year is celebrated in October.
February- I learned that bath oil can be added with milk to make the tub not slippery. I use a lavender bath oil sometimes that works wonders to help u relax and sleep. I also learned that milk can make a paste for burns. Wish I had known that before I read this when I burned my hand taking something hot out the microwave. As well as milk can soften skin.
Rating: 6 I like that it keeps it interesting and while there were some things you’d find in a typical 101 type Wiccan book, it keeps it light and didn’t bog you down with long list. But it did stray off-topic with stories of the author’s family which while it brought a personal touch, I just didn’t feel like it was a good fit. I did like the recipes added and there are some that I would try.
April 6, 2021
I loved this book so much. It's like reading a book written from your sweet aunt or grandma, who's passing down her witchy knowledge to you. It's the coziest witchcraft book I've read to date. It's sometimes aimed at moms or people with children, and as I am not one of those people, those parts weren't for me, but I can appreciate the content of the book regardless. It had a lot of great ideas and recipes, and I really like Ms. Mitchell's philosophy. I bookmarked many pages and I'm sure I'll come back to this book time and time again!
October 27, 2018
This was a nice reference book, when looking for ideas for ritual or cooking. The simple, one word description of each month, as well as the days that could be honored were also well thought out. Some of the lore I was a bit iffy on, and the rituals and recipes didn't all work for me, but I was able to be creative with what I had. The way is was laid out was also very helpful, focusing on each month and not the seasons or the high days.
All around, a decent book.
All around, a decent book.
July 30, 2024
DNF: author lacks knowledge
“Hedgewitch” is a relatively new term. It refers to the old village folk who were revered in their communities as healers and keepers of wisdom. For women, they may have been midwives; for males, I think they were known as “pellars”—particularly in Cornwall.” This was what the author wrote in the intro and I have to say that this lack of authority on the topic they write about left me not finishing the book at all.
“Hedgewitch” is a relatively new term. It refers to the old village folk who were revered in their communities as healers and keepers of wisdom. For women, they may have been midwives; for males, I think they were known as “pellars”—particularly in Cornwall.” This was what the author wrote in the intro and I have to say that this lack of authority on the topic they write about left me not finishing the book at all.
May 15, 2018
Absolutely lovely! The recipes are good and I really enjoyed Mitchell's writing style. Very down to earth with rituals I can actually see myself doing. It is everything I wished the 'Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials' series would be. Hoping Mitchell will write more books in the future; I'd happily read along.
March 27, 2024
**3.5/5
I did enjoy this book. Often witchcraft books can be very dry and read almost as a textbook. This was not the case with this book, I really liked the author’s personal side stories. I did not find this book to be particularly revolutionary or ground breaking - it didn’t really move me, but it was well written
I did enjoy this book. Often witchcraft books can be very dry and read almost as a textbook. This was not the case with this book, I really liked the author’s personal side stories. I did not find this book to be particularly revolutionary or ground breaking - it didn’t really move me, but it was well written
May 27, 2024
As a busy mom trying to fit my spirituality into daily life with two young children, I thought this book was great. I did read it straight through but will absolutely be referring back to it throughout the year. It also had a great overview of general witchcraft practices that were very approachable without being too watered down. My only qualm is that there were a few typos.
December 1, 2024
I enjoyed the journey through the year and the sweet anecdotes from the author's life to accompany each thing. I love to see things from other perspectives, and I always find myself taking a little part of it with me. I took a lot of notes on correspondences because they were all in one place for each month. It was a nice little read, and was easy to digest.
December 12, 2018
I'm taking the author's advice after having read the introduction I skipped to the season we are entering and plan to return to address each upcoming season. I like a good reference book.
January 15, 2020
Very handy book for modern day Wicca practitioners. Some discrepancies in colors and herbs for each month, but as to be expected from a neopagan religion.
July 5, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It has given me some excellent tips on things I can easily do about the house and garden.
January 23, 2021
I’m not quite sure what I was hoping for, but this book didn’t have it for sure. Too simplistic for me, too wishy-washy and boring.
August 20, 2022
Love this book. Great addition to your collection.
June 4, 2023
Great book for starting hedgecraft. The chapters are laid out by months showing which foods are in season and then gives fun little recipes and tips basic on that month
June 6, 2024
I've read this book several times throughout the years, it's a great way to get in the spirit of the holidays.
August 7, 2024
It's really refreshing to see a witch book that follows the order of the modern calendar and helps us to embrace the year on a month by month basis. I enjoyed this one immensely. 💜
May 19, 2015
As per the guidelines, I won this book through a Facebook giveaway but I'm not obligated to review (good or bad) the copy. I'm just obligated to state that I didn't pay for the book when I review it.
For a hedge book, it's filled with a few interesting tidbits and ideas. There isn't a bog down of charts and lists, rituals, and other items you typically see in metaphysical books. Each section, for each month, does start off with the typical association chart though. My only personal twitch from reading was the Wicca tones (such as the "Harm None" rule) since I'm not Wiccan. One of her best ideas that I cheered for when I read it was to wear gloves while harvesting whether it be in your own garden or in the wild. Not too many books do that when they should because of the various reactions plants can cause over time.
The author also includes recipes with each month. With the author being from the UK, the metric notes before standard notes will jarring for some American readers. This doesn't deter the recipes and adds to the fun personal stories about the months in her writing.
For a hedge book, it's filled with a few interesting tidbits and ideas. There isn't a bog down of charts and lists, rituals, and other items you typically see in metaphysical books. Each section, for each month, does start off with the typical association chart though. My only personal twitch from reading was the Wicca tones (such as the "Harm None" rule) since I'm not Wiccan. One of her best ideas that I cheered for when I read it was to wear gloves while harvesting whether it be in your own garden or in the wild. Not too many books do that when they should because of the various reactions plants can cause over time.
The author also includes recipes with each month. With the author being from the UK, the metric notes before standard notes will jarring for some American readers. This doesn't deter the recipes and adds to the fun personal stories about the months in her writing.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews