The Wiccan Path: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

by Rae Beth

Written in the form of letters from an experienced witch to her two apprentices, solitary witchcraft is offered, not as a substitute for coven worship, but as a fulfilling lifestyle in its own right. This book provides spells for all the key festivals of the witch's calendar - describing the therapeutic powers of trancework and herbalism and outlining the Pagan approach to finding a partner. Her lyrical letters, accompanied by pen-and-ink sketches, bring the reader to an understanding of the solitary witch's lifestyle and beliefs.

Note: Originally published in Britain as Hedge Witch: A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Paganism, Wicca, Occult, Religion

190 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1989

Reviews

[Willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most people seemed to have hated the letter format. It took some getting used to but by the end it didn't bother me. While reading I marked passages dealing with the Sabbat rituals and trance work so I could easily find these later to reference.

However this book is about Wicca, not headgecraft. Hedgecraft is not a solitary Wiccan and Wiccan are not the only witches as Rae Beth seems to believe. Futhermore, hedgewitches are not overly formal and do not create and execute formal rituals like the ones found in this book. Rituals, if performed, are simple and simply honor the earth, dieties, and nature. One thing she does get right about hedgecraft and hedgewitches is that the tradition is based on the old wise woman or man who lived on the edge of town, by the hedge rows. They were healers and earth lovers who worked magic out of their home and gardens.

If you are looking for an intermediate guide to Wicca and some lovely Sabbat rituals this is the book for you. The trance work or meditations are lovely too and will help you hone your visualization skills.

[Anna Katherina · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's old and so out of date it's irrelevant at this point, and it's less than interesting. It's not even "Hedge Witch" anything, to be honest... It's just your typical 20th century Neo-Wiccan nonsense- complete with your fairly typical Silver Ravenwolf-esque rhetoric of the era, and only a thin veneer of Hedgecraft (even then, that veneer is so thin it might as well not exist).

Save your money.

[Jessie]

Along with Marion Green's "A Witch Alone" this is one of the best resources for those on a solitary path.

[Abi Pellinor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an unusual book for me, but my other half was doing an unhaul and I just had to save this one from the pile. I was really curious to learn a little more about "modern" (this edition was published in '92) witchcraft and paganism.

This was definitely an interesting book. I learnt a lot about some traditional practices and how they've evolved to fit into a modern day lifestyle. This book primarily focuses on Wicca, although it never actually states that - just witchcraft - and as far as I can see from others it does a great job in covering the basics of these beliefs and practices. But I do think it should have been clearer about this as without other reviews I never would have know this was Wicca specific.

Additionally, there have been some aging issues. There is continuous implications that you must embrace sex to be a witch (which I feel like people under the asexual umbrella are not going to enjoy), as well as a lot of broad assumptions about genders and ages which felt odd to read. Partly because they are, of course, stereotypes, but also because these assumptions have changed over the past 30 years and they didn't even fit right!

Despite this, and despite this not really being a book for me, I did learn from this book and found it a fairly quick study. I won't be keeping this on my shelves, but I do appreciate the insight that it gave me into a religion that is all too often hidden away.

[Sam Hicks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Written at a time when people still unquestioningly believed that Gardner had 'discovered' the Old Religion of Wicca, rather than having, ahem, creatively reimagined it, and the author happily continues in this same fiction as fact vein. There is a thin line between archetype and stereotype, and the dual deities of her 'Old Religion', fall heavily into the latter camp-a goddess defined by her reproductive status (maid, mother, crone) and a horned god who gets to run around around doing the fun wild stuff. I'd rather have Cthulhu, if that's all you've got. Gave up on this when she suggested a ritual trance where one imagines oneself in a woodland glade with 'moles burrowing' and birds tweeting, making wishes for world peace.

[Sophie Ingley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful introduction to Hedge Witchcraft. I especially enjoyed the format, being that of sent letters.
Very interesting and would definitely recommend.

[Lily Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hedge Witch was the first book I read relating to the subject matter, in fact the first book I read that related specifically to witchcraft that captured my imagination, spurred my creativity and set off a spark of inspiration for me. It is also a book I find myself returning too when I find I am feeling a little flat and uninspired. Why is this I wonder? Personally, I find Rae Beth's writing quite accessible and also inspiring. Hedge Witch is no exception. The book potray's key festivals in the pagan and witch calender and the celebrations, rituals and spells that a solitary witch may wish to follow throughout the year. Rae Beth also manages to explain the key gods and goddess and how they fit into the spirituality of a Hedge Witch in a way that does not preach nor expects one to follow, merely to understand.

The book is presented in a series of letters sent to two apprentices who wish to follow the path and are seeking guidance and advice. As the book says "Her lyrical letters, accompanied by delicate pen-and-ink sketches, bring the reader towards a deeper understanding of the solitary witch's lifestyle and beliefs".

I have often found myself looking at the book again, usually at key times of the year. The letters are dated and speak of what festival, celebration and cycle is upon us at that time. I often find reading the letters around that time of year has helped to inspire me, encourage creativity and encourage me to standstill for a brief moment, take a deep breath and look around at what is happening within and without...

[D.S. West · Rating 3 out of 5]

For 75 cents, and considering my disdain for the presentation of the material (Rae Beth provides instruction for two prospective Wiccans in the guise of letters), The Wiccan Path contains a surprising amount of information about Wicca, nature religions, and trancework. I integrated some of her recommended visualization exercises into my inchoate meditation routines, and to beneficial results (i.e., I learned a thing or two about myself and had a bit of a spiritual/creative outpouring). In addition, I learned a good deal about modern Wiccan practices and the symbology of the seasons, which I must admit is more fascinating than I had thought.

If you're curious about separating actual witchcraft from apocrypha, and considering you can look past the somewhat cheesy presentation, this is actually an informative book. Wicca is all about creating an "inner space" and strengthening the practitioner's connection with the earth and Ether. I'm not pursuing Wicca myself, but Rae Beth's approach to "hedge witchcraft" is in line with mysticism, and I found that my own ideas were influenced to a great degree by this strange little book. Best Goodwill Bookstore purchase I've made yet! (Although Gopi Krishna's The Evolutionary Energy in Man, purchased on the same day, is shaping up to be an edifying read as well! We'll see if it takes the proverbial cake.)

[Nyx Vera · Rating 2 out of 5]

This gets a 2.5 (if I could give it), which is less than I was expecting before I started, but more than I thought once I was a little in. The first half is literally just solitary Wicca 101. It's SO heavily Wiccan, that it's quite jarring when she suggests she isn't, because that's the "new" version of Gardner's so-called "Ancient Religion". The absolute 'historical' nonsense gets a bit of a pass, because I don't feel she's being intentionally misleading - in the days before the internet or was much harder to fact-check anything that wasn't mainstream, so I'm assuming the information was in good faith, she'd just been mislead like so many others.

The second half of the book was slightly redeeming, discussing trance work (albeit from a heavily Wiccan angle). There was some interesting information, and much more original than the first half, plus justified the title somewhat. There have definitely been titles published in the 30yrs since this that would be more valuable on that topic, but it was interesting for the time capsule it provides.

[Asha - A Cat, A Book, And A Cup Of Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and thoughtful read, but one that is specific to Wiccan practices rather than general hedgewitchery. I prefer a more practical, less spiritual approach to hedgewitchery, but I did find this informative about other traditions.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this book. I found the narrators voice challenging to listen too, as there was a slight robotic quality to it which was very jarring. This was a shame as the format of the book, a series of letters was very interesting.

I find it frustrating how some statements seem to have been made in order to avoid criticism or comment. For example there is a lot of talk around wishing for world peace. And then in a later letter she says something to the effect of because one day the power of all these witches must bare fruit. But surely the fact that witches have been wishing for it for possibly hundreds of years proves that to not be the case? Does this mean the personal wishes will take hundreds of years to? And if this isn't the case why are personal wishes prioritise over world peace?

According to the author a lot of visualisation is needed for witch craft. But what happens if your one of those people who can't visualise things. And if everything you imagine appears on the astral plain, how can that work? Do they just wink in and out of existence? While I found this book interesting, it left me with me questions and scepticism than when I started.

[Oliver Calder · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was passed onto me by an acquaintance, so all I knew before starting it was the title and I was excited to learn more about Hedgecraft.
I was unfortunately disappointed to find that this book is nothing about hedge witchery and it's not even about Witchcraft - it's more of a basic Wicca 101 book, but in letter-format. It's very telling of the time where Wicca and Witchcraft were conflated as the author makes constant overgeneralized statements like "Witches believe...[insert common Wiccan belief]".

This, along with outdated "essential" ritual practices and Neo-pagan practices confused as 'ancient' folk practices, means that this book is packed with misinformation.

Perhaps this book should be aimed at beginner Wiccans, but information on witchcraft should be taken with a pinch of salt

[Carlotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Content aside, can I just talk about about this book physically? It has the absolute perfect size, and somehow it's really light, lighter than you'd expect, the spine flops the pages open beautifully; there's no effort involved at all, and the pages themselves are a beautiful cream colour and ever so slightly textured. I don't know if it is just the comparison to the LOTR book I was reading at the same time (which is very big, with quite white pages, which are for the most part also nicely textured, but the pages with the illustrations (and they are lovely illustrations) are glossy and plasticy and make my skin crawl).
The illustrations add a very nice touch (though technically not necessary), and a surprising amount of atmosphere. The cover is quite fetching too; I like the simplicity, the muted white, the style of "Hedgewitch". It is very appealing.
Was expected there to be answering letters, rather than the one sided conversation it was, but no matter, it is simply more of an informative non-fiction book than one that tells a narrative. It was almost more amusing this way; using the very, very few hints and trying to puzzle out a relationship between Rae, Glyn and Tessa.

[Val the Virgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a great read. There are some outdated and even problematic aspects, but the underlying teachings and techniques for ritual and trancework are very insightful.

Very important note: this is not a book about Hedge witchcraft. This is about Wicca; a religion which incorporates witchcraft. I believe this has been clarified in later editions but needs to be kept in mind when reading this particular edition.

I would recommend this to anyone starting out on their journey with Wicca. Please do keep a critical mindset when reading this. It might even be ideal to read up a bit more about Wicca before getting into this one as some information is inaccurate. Despite this, I believe this book teaches some valuable lessons and should absolutely be on the bookshelf of any Wiccan.

[Amri H]

I will not rate this book.
I read through the first 5 letters and didn’t finish it.

1. Let’s not call Indigenous peoples, any kind of title that specifically focuses on the color of their skin.
2. Wicca, which is what this book is basing a lot of its beliefs on, is not an ancient Neolithic religion, and is in fact only about 50 years old.
3. I’m just not a fan of the sentiment that witchcraft is a religion. It’s a practice.
4. I don’t like hyper specific gender roles in witchcraft, especially when it comes to sex. Because it’s closing off to queer witches.

Rae I hope you are doing well, the choice to turn letters into a book was a genuinely fun idea that I like a lot, because it does connect the reader to the material, but I think the content needs to be revisited.

[Casey Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more, but it was hard to follow. I saw that it was in letter style when I picked it up, which I was cool with. But it really wasn't letter style.

It only had the letters from the author, not the letters TO her. So you never really got an idea for the interest of the other party, making the book seem more like a collection of community college lectures on a subject. That was not what I was looking for. I wanted a conversation about the path, not a one-sided lecture.

Also, the path taken by the author is very far from my interest. However I learned that by reading the book, so that was beneficial.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for beginners, curious folks or just those that are wondering "what the heck is a witch"?
Most if witchcraft is the usual, everyday stuff but with conscious intent and clear purpose. Yes, there are rituals and you can wear robes and light candles and all that BUT it's not a must. It's your pure intentions and dedication that make it magical...after all, half of magic is just the belief.

[Maeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a series of letters, author Rae Beth shares her knowledge and practice of witchcraft with two apprentices. Gives an introduction to solitary witchcraft and an overview of the deities, the sabbats and esbats, and rituals.

The letters and writing were charming; but I was disappointed with the content. I assumed that this would focus on a more earth-centered approach to witchcraft, but it seemed like wicca for a solitary practitioner.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't say it's outdated, exactly, but I do see all the places that would today upset us with their binary focus. She apologizes for that and reiterates that these are her beliefs and that no one should ever think she was stating her way is the only way.

I do question a great deal of the history and mythology, as she's given no references for it other than scattered bits of Gardnerian and Alexandrian lore.

It's not a horrible place to start, but not much more than that.

[Rebekah Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a phenomenal introduction into the world of being a Hedge Witch. My copy is covered in highlighter. It teaches you about the pegan holidays, their purpose, their origin, and ideas on how to celebrate them. This will be my witch bible for the rest of my life.

[Wyrd · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not Hedge Witchcraft at all. A solitary Wiccan practitioner, very heavy on the "Wiccan" although claims to the contrary. Very typical of the time it was written in. Some unfounded statements, could be misleading for the beginner.

[Georgie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an interesting read, but the trance work information got a little long winded.

[Pagan Hare aka Ellie McConnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book the first time. Lost it. And bought it again to re read when I get the chance

[Jacq Calvert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written, but with some very dated ideas about sex and gender, and some very bad history.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorge

[Sarah Himes Greer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little Wiccan heavy, instead of only witchcraft, but a good overview of natural rites and witchcraft.

[Justyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of useful things and exercises, but some of the views of the author ate a bit dated (especially the het cis notice if bot unkind ones ).

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent for us Hedge Witches! One of the first books on witchcraft I've ever read.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not really what I expected, but nevertheless one of the better books about Wicca/Witchcraft. I especially liked the second part about trancework.

[Hannah Lubell · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF