The Way of the Hedge Witch: Rituals and Spells for Hearth and Home

by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

As every good hedge witch knows, the best magick is made right at home. This book shows them how to transform their homes into sacred spaces, where they can:

Create magickal cookbooks of recipes, spells, and charms
Prepare food that nourishes body and soul
Perform rituals that protect and purify hearth and home
Master the secrets of the cauldron and the sacred flame
Call upon the kitchen gods and goddesses
Produce hearth-based arts and crafts

With this book, witches learn all they need to know to make home a magickal place to live, work, and play.

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

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Currently a resident of Montreal, Canada, Arin works as a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of Power Spellcraft for Life: The Art of Crafting and Casting for Positive Change (2005), Solitary Wicca for Life: A Complete Guide to Mastering the Craft on Your Own (2005), The Way of the Green Witch (2006), The Way of the Hedge Witch (2009), and Pagan Pregnancy: The Journey From Maiden to Mother (TBA). She is also the editor of the anthology Out of the Broom Closet (2009).

Arin is a third-degree Wiccan High Priestess in the Black Forest Clan, a tradition linked both by lineage and practice to several other branches of Wiccan thought and philosophy including the Caledonii Tradition, Druidism, Gardnerian practice, Seax-Wicca, general Celtic Wicca, and German witchcraft. She works as a priestess in her community performing rites of passage and giving occasional workshops, and leads a private coven.

Her hobbies include playing the cello, handspinning, and weaving.

Reviews

[Steve Cran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hedge witches were traditionally known as those who lived on the outskirts of the village. They had all soprts of knowledge of herbs, plants and various shamanistic techniques. Hedgewitches also used to travel to the spirit world and venture over to the otherside.

This book focuses on magic that can be done at home and most preferably in the hearth or the kitchen. The home is important which is why the author focuses on it. It is a place of centering and strength and hence the most important aspect of our life. In the old days of the Celts things centered around the hearth. It was the central fire where everything was kept warm quite literally. Everything centered around the hearth.

Now a days it is the kitchen. The book goes into some detail about how to set up an alter and a shrine and the difference between the two. A list of deities that pertain to hearth and home are listed as well. In the middle of the book are rituals that spiritually cleanse the house and protect it. Some general prosperity spells and over health spells are thrown in for good measure.

The last third of the book deals with recipes and herbs. I figure who needs recipes as anyone can access a cook book but the I guess of this nature would be complete without it. There are some great herbs and recipes and even some spell crafts which might be fun for little kids. But for herbs you really might want to check out Scott Cunningham's various books. A nifty little book for solitary home practice.

[Alexia ✨]

I'm not gonna rate this one because I did not know but this book is exactly the same as The House Witch: Your Complete Guide to Creating a Magical Space with Rituals and Spells for Hearth and Home by the same author. As in even the Content List is the same and only some subtle changes in names were made.

I've read House Witch more than once, so I'm not gonna re-read it again in a different format but will mark this book as read.

[Rachel “Koala” Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information, Wrong title

This book holds a great deal of good information but is centered primarily around the hearth and home so be careful if you are looking for a book on traditional Hedge Craft, which is being able to travel through the hedge between this world and the spirit world.

[Briar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed the new perspective on spirituality and the home, this definitely isn't one of my favorite books. I wasn't thrilled with the overall writing style and the layout (particularly how so many things were repeated about a thousand times through the book), but I did find a few things I made note of for possible tweaking and use. From what I know about the more "natural/simple" forms of spirituality and witchcraft, I would not call this "Hedge Witchery," and that term isn't even really used throughout the book. It's all about "hearth craft" and therefore the title is misleading in a way. This is basically a combination of something I haven't seen before (hearth craft, I assume), cottage witchery and kitchen witchery, with hints of green witchery thrown in.

[Anna Katherina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite being titled as being Hedgecraft oriented- and the author making a big show of Hedgecraft being a part of the path they're writing on? This is not a book about Hedgecraft; if anything, it's a book almost purely on the Domestic Crafts (Kitchen, Cottage, and Hearthcraft)- with the slightest hint of Greencraft... Which is great if you're into those particular subjects, I guess... But the book is horribly and utterly useless if you're looking for any sort of legitimate Hedge-oriented practices.

It's wonderful if the author wishes to incorporate them into a seamless tradition themself. But for anyone else as unaware as the author seems to be: There's overlap in some areas, certainly, but Hedgecraft isn't the same thing as- nor inherently connected- to the Domestic Crafts; the title really should far more accurately reflect its contents.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. As other reviews have mentioned the title is a bit misleading but overall I enjoyed it. I anticipate referencing this book frequently!

[Sanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for someone who wants to read about simple, down to earth, home based witchcraft. A word of caution though: the name is misleading. I've always connected the term hedge witch to green witchcraft and this book is definitely not about that. Minus points for usage of of the term smudging, which is cultural appropriation, and the slightly disparaging feel I got from the way the author writes about feminism.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to be honest, I only skimmed the last half of the book so I could mark it as read. Though I think this is a great resource for beginners, it didn't offer anything new or groundbreaking to my craft, and as other reviewers have said this is more hearthcraft than hedge witchery. There are some nice rituals and recipes so it will stay in my library as a reference item, but look elsewhere if you're interested in more advance learning.

[Kimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Just a lot of general stuff that I could probably find elsewhere, but it was an okay beginners book. I really REALLY liked how the author went out of her way to make this about spirituality, not a particular religion. You wouldn't have to be wicca or pagan or anything else to do some of the things in this book. I liked that.

[Joshua Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I was looking for, simple and basic and to the point, with practical information.

[Coaldust · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arin seems to have confused hedge witchery for kitchen witchery. This is not the end of the literary world but will no doubt cause understandable confusion in most people, and blown out of proportion outrage in some others.
Ignoring this error though I still found the book to be a very insightful and helpful read. The tone is a little repetitive at times but I found this helped to take in the information rather than an irritant. I especially liked Arin's tone, as it felt more like an instructional chat that flowed easily rather than a dry academic slog that a lot of nonfiction (and some fiction) has a nasty habit of falling into.

[Jessica Donegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It gave some great tips on how to make mundane housekeeping and home care have greater meaning. This book shares great insights meant to help inspire others to find their own personal practices. I could see many different religious paths using these suggestions in their own practices. Because this book could work for many different religious practices, there is no deep religious actions and there's very little lore offered in this book. I would have liked more depth, but I understood why this author and perhaps no author can give depth to a practitioner. We've got to find that in our own time.

[Hali Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arin Murphy-Hiscock is a good author to read if you're only just beginning to delve into the lore and practice of witchcraft, but after having read several of her books, I can attest that one is enough, and after that, it's mostly regurgitated. Being autistic, I totally get that for some people, this is really awesome, since each read is new but familiar, so it's not as stressful. So, three stars.

[Dani Rae · Rating 1 out of 5]

I lost interest in this book rather quickly. I was disappointed to see that this book is mostly about hearthcraft and kitchen witchery, not hedgewitchery like the title says. It did have some good ideas and correspondences, but reading all of it was a slog, so I mostly skimmed the book.

[Amanda Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

thoughtful primer

Arin Murphy-Hiscock is one of the core contemporary writers of the craft. Her approach is welcome and readable. Here she offers a wonderful primer to hedge-witchery and hearthcraft.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read with lots of tips and recipes. Worth a read if you are interested in alternative approaches to spirituality and homemaking.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very useful introductory. I was hoping for a bit more in-depth, but don't let that sway you if you're very new to witchcraft.

[Crankyfacedknitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Some simple spells and a lot of advice, but this does seem to be hearth- and kitchen-focused rather than traditional hedgecraft. Which is fine for my research needs and personal tendencies.

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good guide to adding/increasing spirituality in your home, no matter what religion you are. Lots of nice recipes, crafts and mythology mixed in.

[Kurtbg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The power of belief, mindfulness, intent and purpose to imbue the home and daily needs with a narrative, affect images, and realization of ideas.

[Autumn Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Very pleasant and informative. Something I will come back to time and again throughout each season of the year to try new things.

[Jenna Burdick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d borrow it from the library again

[Sarah Holt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute ways to think of intention.

[Alexandra AP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some nice recipes, but the concept was very basic.

[Rowan Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful

This book is chocked full of information, rituals, recipes, and spells. A really useful guide to have in one's library.

[Jo Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basic dime a dozen witchcraft book.

[KJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite criticisms from some sources, this book delivers what it promises, no more no less.

Whats good:
It is easy to read, clear, and concise to those new to witchcraft, and those too busy for an archaic trudge-read. It is light to read but contains some nice little snippets of back-history, which in a way I prefer as a looker to the future, it doesn't bog you down with talking in riddles, elitist snobbery and long in depth historical details. It is witchcraft for the Modern practitioner.
Beginner and eclectic friendly, with no pomp, and little ceremony the Author speaks to you as an adult and an equal, recognising that everybody starts somewhere no matter how humble.

What is bad:
What is bad is perhaps subjective, it may not appeal to everyones tastes, it will not share everyones opinions.

(I would have liked it to be perhaps a little longer and have a few back pages dedicated to footnotes elaborating on some things, like the definition of a Hedge witch. And although I already know how it relates to other types of witchcraft felt it could have been included for those that do not. But the book's lack of this doesn't discredit it.)

A good read, and I would recommend it to others.

[Lisa A Nofzinger]

Excellent book on hearthcraft

This book is very practical and easy to understand. The author coined the word hearthcraft to explain her hedge witch practice, which makes a lot of sense to me. She includes a lot of practical tips on home protection, cleansing and honoring. I would recommend this for beginners through intermediates.

[Amie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some nice recipes but incorrectly titled IMO. Either that or the author learned about hedgies from Rae Beth or even $ilver Ravenwolf. Hearth witch, kitchen witch or cottage witch are much more appropriate titles.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book quite a bit. Murphy-Hiscock writes in a very relate-able tone.