Hedge witch or Coven

I guess a question I have pondered on is whether to join a coven or to go it on my own. A coven would provide friendship and support. That is appealing as I think it can be tough sometimes trying to find your way without other like minded souls to lean on.

However, I have been in christian churches in the past and grew frustrated with organised rituals/chanting etc. I want to find the Goddess and Lord in the wilds, among trees and streams and to have a personal relationship with them, without human intervention and rules.

This way feels more traditional and real to me. It may be harder but I feel ultimately I will gain so much more this way. the craft belongs outside where there are no walls and roof to contain it. There are so many good books out there that can offer me guidance and I'm sure I will find others following the old ways who can provide friendship and support.

my staff or wand

Today I was helping a friend cut back his overgrown hedge and this seemed the perfect opportunity to 'make' my staff. Marian Green suggested it be made of either ash or hazel. The hedge is made up of native plants, which included both ash and hazel so I decided to take one of each!! I carefully cut out a length, about as tall as my shoulder, from branches thick enough for my requirements. I carefully trimmed off the side shoots. I chose a length which had a fork at one end. Tomorrow I will round off the edges of the fork and cut the other end to a point, so that it can be driven into the ground. If I am feeling artistic in the future, i shall carve symbols into the bark.

As the stems had been cut already, I didn't feel so guilty about taking them for my staff, but I shall make a gift to the mother plants of some water next week, when I return to complete the clearance.

Hopefully the staff I choose from my two specimens will become my altar to the Lord and Lady and I shall treasure it, in the knowledge that it has a personal significance to me and not bought in an occult shop!!

It is important to me that I keep my magical tools as natural as possible, as they would have been centuries ago. I have no need of ornamental daggers and swords and am fairly certain that the wise man or woman of the village would never have had the opportunity to possess such luxuries! A kitchen knife, a broom and a cooking pot would have served them well!

I have started my lifelong journey today and it feels good - really wholesome! Blessings be!

Introduction

I've finally decided to properly start my witchcraft course, organised by Marian Green, using her superb book A witch alone.

My wife has been nagging me for months to start my own blog and I have resisted, albeit less vigorously recently, but finally I have given in to the inevitable! One of my chief stumbling blocks has been...........what to blog about??

And then, in a rare moment of inspiration, it suddenly came to me!! To record my book of shadows (every Witch must record their spells, inspirational poetry etc) as my blog!

I spend an inordinate time on the computer - unhealthy I know - so why not do something spiritual and hopefully entertaining!! Only time will tell on the former and I hope you, the reader(s), will advise me as to the latter!

This blog will undoubtedly grow in sophistication as I shed my inexperience of matters blog and emerge, transformed as both a witch (with just passed plates still firmly attached) and a seasoned blogger!!