Hedge riding is a form of astral travel in which the rider first reaches an altered state of consciousness before traveling to the Otherworld. Unlike meditation, guided meditation, or pathwalking, the rider loses control of the vision and the beings they interact with and therefore does not determine what will or will not happen during the journey. The only control the rider has is over themselves. Furthermore, hedge riding differs from astral projection in that it takes place outside of our realm in the Otherworld, while astral projection occurs within our plane of existence.
There are much confusion and misinformation floating around about hedgewitches and the practice of hedge riding. I have created this page to help dispel some of these misconceptions and link those interested in the practice to some valuable information and resources. It should be noted that under no circumstances should hedge riding be taken lightly. The act of reaching an altered state of consciousness alone can be dangerous, not to mention the spirits you encounter in the Otherworld. Should you wish to learn how to hedge ride, do so with caution, and always remember to protect yourself.
From Flying the Hedge
What is a Hedgewitch?
Hedgewitch vs Kitchen Witch
Meditation, Pathwalking, and Hedge Riding: Making Sense of it All
Meditation, Astral Project, and Hedge Riding: What's the Difference?
What is Hedge Riding?
Realms of the Otherworld
Focusing the Mind: Getting Ready to Ride
Preparation + Hedge Riding Sachet
Hedge Riding Etiquette: Do's and Don't's of Interacting with Spirits
Hedge Riding Safety Tips: Staying Safe Outside Our Realm
How to Hedge Ride + Flying Ointments
Seeking Your Animal Guides + My Animal Guides
Questioning Spirits: Is This Spirit My Guide?
Developing a Relationship With Your Spirit Companions
After You Hedge Ride: Coming Back to Earth
Setting Up Your Astral Garden/Office
Sigils for Hedge Riding
5 Crystals for Hedge Riding
My Hedge Riding Experiences
How Do I Know If My Journeys Are Real?
Hedge Riding Tea to Aid in Reaching an Altered State of Consciousness
Books
Hedge Witchcraft by Harmonia Saille
Hedge Riding by Harmonia Saille
Witches, Midwives, and Nurses by B. Ehrenreich and D. English
The Book of Hedge Druidry by Joanna van der Hoeven
The Witch's Book of Spirits by Devin Hunter
Hedge-Rider: Witches and the Underworld by Eric De Vries
To Fly By Night: Craft of the Hedgewitch edited by Veronica Cummer
Cunning-Folk and Familiar Spirits: Shamanistic Visionary Traditions in Early Modern British Witchcraft and Magic
Elves, Witches, and Gods: Spinning Old Heathen Magic in the Modern Day by Cat Heath
This post is not officially archived under "Resources" which includes tons of books, blogs, shops, podcasts, apps, and more.
What a tremendous (and wonderful!) resource you've compiled for us here, dear Willow. To my mind, you and your blog are synonymous with hedge riding, and I truly want to thank you for everything I've learned on the subject from you and the ways in which it has enriched my own hedge riding practises.
ReplyDeleteMany blessings & the happiest of wishes for January!
Autumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life
Awww, of course! There is so little on the topic and it brings me great joy to continue to add more and more hedgecraft resources every year.
DeleteI just wanted to thank you for all of this.
ReplyDeleteOf course! Thank you for reading and commenting. :)
DeleteHello is this all real
ReplyDeleteI think so. The problem with defining reality is that everyone sees and processes things differently. Two people can watch the same car accident but see very different things. This is why eye witness testimony is not reliable evidence. Hedge riding, spirit flight, and communication with spirits is very real to me and others who practice a similar craft. In the end, that's all that really matters.
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