The Magickal Cottage

I’ve had an old armoire at the Magickal Cottage that I’ve been meaning to fix up and use in some creative way. After painting it I decided it would make a great place to dry and store herbs.

So here is a link to my YouTube video showing how I created my magickal apothecary:

https://youtu.be/S8-3bI7DUBQ

How do you dry and store your magickal herbs? Let me know in the comments below!

Bright Blessings,

SARINA

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Taking further inspiration from the whimsical water colors of Regan Ralston, let’s travel outside the witches’ cottage to the realms of the green witch and hedge witch.

As I mentioned in the last post, it’s possible to possess the traits of more than one kind of witchy aesthetic, and in many cases the lines between two or more paths might be a bit blurred. So it is with the green and hedge witch; so I will try to point out the main differences between the two.

The Green Witch

So, putting it bluntly, the green witch is an “herb head”. As they walk down the street they peer over peoples’ fences to see what’s growing . If you go hiking with them they will know the names of most of the plants along the path. If another green witch accompanies them they may even argue over a plants Latin or common name. But the arguing is all in good fun. To the green witch, plants are fun!

The green witches’ home may be filled with house plants and pots of soil containing their latest plant propagation projects. And a green witch doesn’t have a “dream home”; they have a “dream garden”. Not only does this witch know the names of LOTS of plants, but they know the plants’ magickal and medicinal properties as well. Got a problem? The green witch has a tea for that!

I know one green witch whose entire kitchen has been taken over by bottles and containers of her witchy brews. I mean, it’s jam packed with herbal vinegars and herbal infusions and herbal everything……It’s so cool!!!

The green witch may be an active environmentalist and/or they will send energy to planet earth and all its creatures on a daily basis. They truly understand the term, “Mama Gaia”. They connect with nature and feel their best when they can go on a hike out in nature in every season.

They love essential oils! They’re from plants, right? So picking just one for the green witch would be hard. Something herb-ally smelling like rosemary oil or thyme oil might get their attention. They probably place clear quartz crystals in and around their flower pots, but moss agate, malachite and green aventurine would inspire them as well.

I’ve just touched on some points about this green path. Want to explore green witchcraft even further? Here are a couple of book suggestions to get you started:

The Hedge Witch

In the British Isles much of the farmland is separated by plantings of hedgerows. Inside of the hedgerow was considered a safe place to be after dark for humans and livestock. Traveling beyond the hedge was considered risky. The term “hedge witch” comes from the practice of “flying beyond the hedge” which refers to astral journeying. This can be done with or without the aid of mind altering substances. The hedge witch shares this practice with those we call shamans or shamanic practitioners. The purpose of the astral journey is to gain spiritual knowledge and answers to pressing questions. This practice is what distinguishes a hedge witch.

The hedge witch does everything with intent and they enjoy their little daily rituals. So if you see an individual having a conversation with a noisy crow, or you observe them saying “goodbye, see you later” to their house as they exit the front door, they might be a hedge witch.

That individual might also be wearing practical walking shoes (none of those black, pointy toed Halloween costume shoes!). And they might be carrying a walking stick and a backpack. They are going on a mystic hike! The hedge witch shares an interest in herbology with the green witch so they may be into foraging like their witchy green cousins.

If you happen to be lucky enough to accompany them on the hike, you may observe the hedge witch pause a moment to seemingly stare at nothing. Then they will point their finger at a space under a bush and say, “There’s a lot of fae activity in there.”

Is the hedge witch loony? Some might say so, but if you understand the path of hedge witchery you will get that this person has decided to challenge the mediocre concept of reality to explore other realms. The hedge witch dares to follow their own path and enjoys keeping their own company. Sounds pretty admirable to me! BTW, if they have invited you to come on a hike with them, you may have what it takes to be a hedge witch. They just know things! That’s why you were invited to come. 😉

The hedge witch may enjoy the scent of oak moss oil or pine oil and fir tree oils. Think “trees“. They may make their own incense and can come up with some original blends to burn while in a dream state. Their best stones will be those they found out in nature. They can be lucky this way. They may find some gorgeous agates and moon stones, and I know one hedge witchy lady who found a good sized crystal point on one of her hikes

There’s lots more to know about being a hedge witch so here are a couple of books to nudge you along past the hedge:

Let me know what you think about these two paths of the green and hedge witch. Do either of them resonate with you? Tell me in the comments!

Herbal Blessings,

SARINA

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Lately I have been inspired by the work of the whimsical witchy water color artist, Regan Ralston, to write a series of blog posts on the various types of modern witches. With her gracious permission I am featuring her beautiful water color drawings as part of my posts. (BTW, you will love exploring her website, so please check it out!)

https://waterofwhimsy.com/

Understand, please, that this is not an attempt to typecast or pigeon hole anyone, but rather a fun way to help people explore their magickal paths. You, like me, might be a blend of a few of these witchy types. So let’s explore!

First off are the witches of hearth and home. These witches love their home and garden. They are the nesters and the crafters whose homes enchant you with a sense of comfort as you step through their doorway.

The Hearth Witch

No florescent lighting for these magickal ones! Candles and vintage lamps decorate their homes. The hearth witch may have a favorite comfortable chair where they sip their coffee or tea. At their feet you might possibly see one or two contented furry companions. If they don’t have a fireplace to sit by, there will be some hearth-like area in their home they have created near that favorite chair. It might be a table with a grouping of candles or a glowing salt lamp, but it will be a place that gives off the warm glow of the home hearth. They may, in fact, have a spell candle glowing in the fireplace at any given time.

For me the hearth witch brings to mind the Scandinavian word, “hygge” which connotes a sense of comfort and coziness. So “witchy hygge” is what the hearth witch is all about.

The hearth witch is the journaling type who likes to write down their musings and magickal wisdom. Their bookshelves are filled with a wide variety of well used books on a variety of magickal subjects.

Whether the hearth witch decorates in hippie/boho style or “witch cabin in the woods” style, there will be an emphasis on comfort. So, pillows and soft throw blankets and comforting smells will prevail.

They may prefer grounding scents like patchouli or cedar wood or homey, coffee, spicy smells. Crystal geodes and sodalite are good for amplifying their mental acuity for reading and writing, and smoky quartz or black tourmaline will help them feel protected and grounded.

Anna Franklin has written a series of books on the hearth witch worth exploring for further hearth witch info:

The Cottage Witch

The cottage witch is happiest when they are working or sitting in the cottage garden, or planning their next witchy craft project. They will cherish grandma’s antique tea set and serve floral teas in their rose water scented parlor.

The cottage witch may amaze you by salvaging an old garden gate and recycling it into a shabby chic (enchanted) wall decoration. Their outlook is the rosey one that sees trash as possible treasures. They may make their own clothes and are always dressed in a creative way to fit the current occasion. A witches’ tea party or picnic in the garden would be their idea of the perfect get together.

They make an effort to always have a fresh bouquet of flowers placed on the home altar. And they may know the magickal properties and mysterious messages of many of the cottage garden flowers. Even if the cottage witch lives in an apartment they will likely grow flowers on their window sill or balcony. Creating scented sachets and dream pillows may be one of their favorite types of spell craft.

Their home may smell of lavender oil, rose absolute or rose water. They may wish to display and meditate with rose quartz, amethyst or selenite which possess a loving high vibration.

If you think you are a cottage witch you might want to read more on the subject. One of my all time favorite books on cottage witchcraft is Cottage Witchery by Ellen Dugan:

The Kitchen Witch

As one might assume, the kitchen witch is a good cook. More than that, though, their kitchen skills extend beyond the culinary. With the kitchen witch there is always something brewing!

When you enter their home you will always be drawn straight to the kitchen by the delicious smell of something fresh from the oven. Their hosting skills are excellent and they will ply you with home made brownies and a warm cup of tea.

You will feel immediately at home, but don’t be fooled! Kitchen witches can be mighty magickal. When they cook with intention they can influence the stubbornest of minds through their scrumptious creations. There have been some who would malign the kitchen witch with tales of enchanted gingerbread cottages and poisoned apples, but the kitchen witch typically has a heart of gold.

They, no doubt, have a kitchen altar and light a candle to their chosen deity before starting a spell …..I mean recipe! They have a wooden spoon for a wand, a certain enchanted kitchen knife and they may wear a special apron as their kitchen witch ritual garb. They use only the highest quality ingredients, and if the don’t have a kitchen garden they will frequent the local farmers market. Many kitchen witches grow and dry their own herbs to include in their food and herbal remedies.

Beyond the obvious delicious food they create, the kitchen witch may craft salves, lotions, soaps and candles. They may make their own enchanted cleaning supplies and floor washes. You name it. If they can brew it, they will!

Lemon and lavender essential oils may be their favorites because of their cleansing properties, but cinnamon oil may liven up the atmosphere while rosemary oil is the all purpose enchanter. A quartz crystal cluster may be on their kitchen altar radiating its helpful energy.

In addition to their kitchen cookbooks, they will own books that name the magickal properties of foods and magickal cooking methods.

Here are a couple of the many good books to explore:

If you are discovering that you are a witch of hearth and home, I hope this post has been useful in helping you along your path.

If you feel this witchy aesthetic doesn’t resonate with you, stay tuned. We will explore more witchy types in future posts!

Magickal Blessings,

Sarina

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