Hedge Riding Series: My Hedge Riding Experiences

As I mentioned in the last post, I considered leaving this post out of the series altogether. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized many of you may actually need to hear about my experiences to help you validate your own. Many times witches think that what they are experiencing isn't real or just all in their head. One of my favorite lines from Harry Potter is part of the conversation that occurs after Harry is "killed" by Voldemort and is talking to Dumbledore at King's Cross purgatory.

"Tell me one last thing," said Harry. "Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"
Dumbledore beamed at him, "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?

There is a reason this is one of my favorite lines because, for anyone who travels astrally or communicates with spirits, we sometimes doubt our abilities. Even if it is just happening in your head, it is still very real. Doubt is a plague that will destroy your magic; don't let it rule you or your magical abilities.

I'd like to briefly share two of my hedge riding journies with you guys today. Please be aware there was much more that occurred during this journies then what I am sharing. I want to keep some aspects of my travels private, as the messages I received were for me and me alone. However, the gist of the journey is still there and should help you get an idea of what to expect.

Journey 1:

This journey occurred on June 15, 2017. I followed my normal route to enter the Lower Realm, walking the dark, earthy steps down until I reached the cave floor below. The cave is always cold and smells of damp earth, but it feels like coming home every time I enter. I make my way through the tunnel and push aside the vines that cover the opening, protecting this entry into our world from prying eyes. From the outside you can't tell there is even a cave here, making me feel even more comfortable that my passage to and from the Lower Realm will be safe. I've asked Meka and Rocar to meet me outside the cave and sure enough, they are waiting. Rocar has an expression that says I kept him waiting too long. Meka is overjoyed to see me, rubbing up against my leg and nuzzling me softly. She is always happy to see me. I asked them to meet me here to ask them if they have any messages for me. Meka says we would be more comfortable in my garden, so we travel through the woods, upwards toward the Middle Realm where my garden gate is located. This is essentially my astral office, but much more enjoyable.

Upon entering we make our way to the lake and stump I like to sit on when we converse together. Rocar takes off ahead of us, soaring through the trees impatiently. Meka walks slowly beside me, silent the entire way. When we make it to the stump, I sit down and wait. I've found sometimes the best way to ask a question, is not to ask at all. Suddenly I begin seeing a series of images, all showing turmoil. I'm taken aback by these images and my anxiety grows. I can feel myself wanting to return to our realm and leave these disturbing images behind. But just as quickly as they began, they were gone. I was breathing heavily and Meka and, surprisingly, Rocar looks concerned. Meka explained these images are how I feel about myself and my depression, and she's right. I often feel in constant turmoil, not just from depression, but anxiety as well. Rocard explains the self-hatred I feel is not a true reflection of who I really am and my loneliness is about to get much worse, but it is unjustified. Meka rubs up against me again and Rocar nuzzles my cheek, a rare sign of love from the stubborn, sassy bird. I am loved, they both chime in unison. Meka explains that we will tackle my depression in the future, but first I need time to heal physically (I was suffering from an infection at the time). I thank them both for the reassurance and the lesson and make my way back home.

At first, this journey was very upsetting, yet comforting at the same time. What I didn't understand, and what Rocar was trying to gently tell me, was that soon I was going to be faced with extreme turmoil that was going to set my depression into a tailspin. He mentioned things were about to get worse, and boy was he right. A month later my now ex-husband walked out on me. My guides knew this well before it happened, and were trying to tell me to prepare for the worst in their own way. Spirits, even our guides, often speak to us indirectly. Sometimes they can't express themselves in a clear manner we will understand. Instead, it is up to us to decipher the message. Thankfully when the time came, I was prepared and while I was still caught off guard, I managed to navigate my way through a really tough time in my life gracefully.

Journey 2:

This journey is more recent, occurring on July 12, 2018. The purpose of this journey was to see what my New Moon intentions should be. I began my journey as always, traveling to the Lower Realm to meet my guides. Upon arrival, Meka and Rocar were there to greet me. I asked them both what I should set as my New Moon intentions and before I could finish asking, Meka took off running through the forests and fields for what seems like miles until she reached a lake where she laid down to rest. I cooled myself in the lake, enjoying the cool water on my sore muscles. After a while, we were all well rested and Meka set off again. She led me to the House on the Shore. I told her I was not ready to enter today. The place still fills me with a sense of dread. Whatever is in there is not friendly, at least not toward me. Meka has brought me to this house several times. Obviously, I'm meant to enter, but today was not the day.

The next thing I know I am riding on a dappled horse through the plains. I hear a cry to my left. I am surrounded by Native Americans. I feel a weight on my back. I'm carrying arrows. I'm one of them are we are hunting buffalo. My tribe manages to isolate one and bring it down. I sit on my horse watching as it dies. I see the buffalo's spirit rise from its body and dance away into the heaves. The carcass is cleansed and the animal thanked for its sacrifice. We begin carving the animal, bringing its remains back to camp. That night a meat stew is severed and the elders smoke pipes and tell stories. I am tired so I retire to my bed for the night. When I awake it is morning and my hands are stained with red. Blood? I stumble outside my abode, confused and concerned but Meka is there to calm me. Its just the paint I used to mark myself, she assures me but says it is time to go before she takes off quick as the wind through the fields.

I begin to feel my time is short. When I look up I am surrounded by unfamiliar faces. I spin around and around trying to take it all in, but they are endless. Their voices grow louder, hurting my ears until I am forced to cover them and close my eyes. I scream "Enough!" and the voices stop. Are these my ancestors or past lives? I saw faces from all races and nationalities, mostly women, but a few men thrown in as well. I feel Meka between my legs calling me back. I open my eyes and they are gone. She smiles at me and says, "Next time." in her all-knowing tone. I can hear the drums calling me back, so I find the cave entrance and make my way back up the stairs and back to our realm safely.

There were several other things that happened during this journey that I do not wish to discuss openly, but this particular journey still sticks out to this day. If I'm being honest, I still haven't entered the House on the Shore, nor explored the people I saw any further. Every time I journey there is something else that must be tended too. Meka and Rocar often give me little nudges in the right direction, letting me know that the time will come to face my demons and those of others I have brought along with me. Your guides will likely do the same. I went to set New Moon intentions and came back with much more than I bargained for. There was a lot to think about from this journey, and I am still working on the intentions set during the New Moon in July. You will likely find yourself doing the same.

***

I sincerely hope that this series has been helpful for those of you interested in hedgecraft and hedge riding. This guide is nowhere near complete but is enough to get you started on your journey into the Otherworld. I will continue to post about hedge riding and my experiences in the future, especially regarding shapeshifting and setting up your own astral office or garden. I'm even planning to discuss summoning your guides to our realm, if they are willing, and how to bind them so they may aid in your magical workings on our plane. Until then, happy travels!

Interest in the rest of the series? Make sure to keep an eye out for upcoming posts!

Hedge Riding Series

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

Developing a Relationship With Your Spirit Companions

After You Hedge Ride: Coming Back to Earth

My Hedge Riding Experiences

Looking for more information on hedge witches? Check out my posts on the topic:

What is a Hedgewitch?

Hedgewitch vs Kitchen Witch

Meditation, Pathwalking, and Hedge Riding: Making Sense of It All

Book Review: The Witch's Book of Spirits by Devin Hunter

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

I've been pretty behind on my reading this year, but that's okay because what I have read has been fantastic. Quality over quantity, right? I recently finished The Witch's Book of Spirits by Devin Hunter, and while there were some things I disliked, this is probably one of the best books I've read this year regarding spirit work.

Hunter's book covers spirit work in great detail, including mediumship, flying (think astral travel), and conjuring. Being Wiccan, there are Wiccan undertones throughout the book, but it doesn't detract from the information nor drive the principles outlined in the book. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like Hunter's take on spirit work. I rolled my eyes a couple of times in the first chapter or two and remember saying to my boyfriend that I didn't think this was going to be the book for me. However, the more I read, the more I started shaking my head in agreement instead of rolling my eyes. Hunter takes a ritualistic approach to spirit work,  pulling from his knowledge and experiences of being a medium and spirit worker for several years. His stories, which are sprinkled throughout the book, offer insights into the fine art of spirit communication.

Hunter offers a fresh perspective, discussing in detail rituals and exercises he uses to focus his mind, contact spirits, and even summon and bind spirits to our realm. Thankfully, Hunter also touches on some topics other witches tend to gloss over in regards to spirit work, the first being demons. Hunter, like myself, knows demons to be destructive, necessary forces that oppose order. Unlike other witches, Hunter makes it known demons are not evil creatures; however, some are up to no good and may, in fact, wish us harm, but that doesn't mean we should avoid working with them altogether. His description of other spiritual beings, including angels, faeries, and guides, is on point, aligning extremely well with my personal experiences, making this book very real to me. I've read several other books on spirit work that describe beings and places of the Otherworld in such a way that I have never seen or experienced, which makes me feel like those authors may be writing a book for money, not to share real knowledge. Hunter's book is not one of those. He clearly knows what he is doing and has been in contact with spirits who have shared their vast knowledge with him. In one of the final chapters of the book, Hunter introduces what he calls the VEXNA-KARI and 33 other spirits who are part of this group. I've never heard of these spirits before Hunter began describing them, but there is one in particular that wished to speak to me almost immediately, Sugar Momma. Hunter briefly mentions that Sugar Momma was the first of the 33 spirits he met with before writing his book. As soon as I read her name, the smell of perfume and laughter filled my living room. I looked up to see a plump, dark-skinned woman dressed in New Orleans style garb sitting on the velvet chair across from me. She smiled at me and when she spoke it was like honey. This is one of the most profound experiences I have ever had while reading the work of another witch. After a few moments she was gone, and I continued on with the book, reading Hunter's description of Sugar Momma some 15 or 20 minutes after meeting her myself. Upon reading Hunter's description, I was 100% sure that she had decided to visit me first as well, probably excited someone was reading about her. This is just one of three similar experiences I had while reading this book, which is part of the reason it will be added to my must-have list.

For those looking for a more ritualistic approach, Hunter has you covered. His Keys of Hecate, which he states were presented to him by Hecate herself, offer that ritualistic Wiccan display of high magic many witches crave. From personal experience, however, I have found that no such "keys" are necessary to communicate with the spirit world nor to summon or bind a spirit in our realm. However, I know other witches rely on such steps to bring their magic into reality.

While the book is wonderful, there are a couple of things I don't agree with, most notably his description of the realms. His setup is slightly different than mine, which is based off the World Tree. I'm not saying Hunter is wrong, I'm simply stating his outline is not supported by my personal experiences, but this is probably two minds attempting to reconcile the same information in different ways. Furthermore, I am slightly wary of the Wiccan undertones in his exercises. I don't disagree with his practice per se, but I am personally not a ritualistic witch, preferring to work with my intuition and often on the fly.

Overall, this book is a must-have for any witch, new or old, looking to work with spirits. It offers some wonderful insights into traveling to each of the realms, how to work with different spirits, and how to build relationships that last multiple lifetimes. Hunter's work is inspiring, easy to read, and, in my opinion, reliable. If you are looking to begin your journey to working with the Otherworld, this book is a good place to start.

Yule Altar 2018

Happy Yule, ya' filthy pagans! A couple nights ago I put together my Yule altar using some items found around my home. When possible, I prefer living decorations over fake ones. Just feels more witchy to me. For this altar, I chose a skull, antler, pyrite, white candles, a bell, and some fir and berry garland mixed with Christmas lights to celebrate the season. Furthermore, I chose white, green, red, and gold tones to pull the altar together and represent the season.

1. White Candles with candlesticks- The white candles represent the  Sun who is reborn at Yule. White also represents purity and protection, warding off negativity and evil and ensuring a safe winter. As Yule is the longest night of the year, candles, Yule logs, and other lights are commonly lit for protection against evil spirits that may wish harm on the inhabitants of the house. (Where did I get it: Dollar Tree; Cost: $1 for 2 candles, candlesticks $1 each)

2. Evergreen Branches and Berries- The evergreen branches were cut from one of the few evergreen trees in my yard to represent the Holly King, everlasting life, and protection. Boughs of evergreen were commonly hung above doorways and placed on altars to prevent evil from entering the home, especially on the longest night of the year. The red holly berries also are a tribute to the Holly King, but also to represent blood, as the Holly King begins to die after the solstice and the Oak King is reborn. The ever-present cycle of birth and death is represented by the evergreen branches being intertwined together.  (Where did I get it: Branches Found & Berries purchased; Cost: $5)

3. Golden Bell- A common practice this time of year is the ringing in the new day after the solstice, thus ushering the Sun back to life. The golden bell symbolizes this tradition to "ring in" the "New Year." (Where did I get it: From September's House of Rituals Subscription Box; Cost: Estimated $2) 

4. Antler- The antler circling the coyote/dog skull represents regrowth/rebirth, as deer routinely shed their antlers each year to replace them with new ones, as well as the Wild Hunt, which occurs during the solstice. Furthermore, deer are spirit messengers who are able to walk between worlds the world freely, thus the antler represents the spirits of the season and communication with them. After the solstice, the days begin to lengthen and the Earth is reborn, just as the deer regrow their antlers each year.  (Where did I get it: Found; Cost: $0) 

5. Coyote/Dog Skulls- I love decorating with skulls, and Yule is no exception. This particular skull is of a coyote or dog, representing cunning and resilience, traits needed to survive long, dark winter nights when food scarce and temperatures drop below freezing.  (Where did I get it: Found; Cost: $0) 

6. Pyrite- Being gold, a common color associated with Yule, pyrite represents wealth, stamina, and health. Furthermore, pyrite is a crystal of the Sun and fire, representing the rebirth of the Sun after the longest night of the year. As winter continues, pyrite ensures those within will survive the season and have continued prosperity during the new year. (Where did I get it: Purchased or Subscription Box (?); Cost: $2) 

7. Wooden Acorns- While the Holly King is at his most powerful on Yule, this strength begins to wane and make way for the Oak King to reign once more. I placed two wooden acorns on either side of my altar to represent the return of the Oak King in the upcoming months, as well as to symbolize strength and protection to make it through the cold nights ahead. (Where did I get it: Gifted; $0)

TOTAL COST: ~$12

Like my other altars, most of the items I use are found or purchased for around $1, although if the items must be purchased by you, then the cost will be higher. I hope you find this sort of break down helpful, especially those of you looking to create Instagram perfect altars on a budget!

How did you celebrate Yule this year?

Magical Properties of Pine

Magickal Folk Box Review: November

November's Magickal Folk Small Combo box focused on the feminine. As mentioned previously, the small combo box comes with a tea ritual, meditation kit, and crystal alchemy kit, essentially a little bit of everything they curate for the month in one box for just $24.

The first item from the box is the Tea Ritual Kit, which contained a tea called Feminae. According to the packaging, the tea is a blend of white tea, red rose, hibiscus, skullcap, vitex berry, rose hips, and pomegranate flavoring. Not going to lie, this tea is a beautiful rose color, smells like heaven, and tastes like a flower garden. I'm so in love with it. When I read the ingredients after removing it from the box, I knew in an instant I would enjoy this tea. I am a sucker for rose, rose hips, and hibiscus. To add to it, the base is a white tea, which is milder and sweeter in flavor as it comes from young tea leaves. The ritual suggests imbibing this tea with your fellow lady witches to inspire conversation, especially during our "moon cycle" or consumed ritually in tribute to the Morrigan. Honestly, I would pair this tea with Dulsky's Holy Wild. The book is all about taking back our Goddess powers and the message pairs amazingly with this tea!

The next item is the Meditation Kit, which focused on the sacred Wolf. The purpose of this meditation is to connect with the wolf in your life as well as honor the spirit guides in your life. As a hedgewitch, I absolutely love that this month's kit included ways to honor and connect with your spirit guides. They are so crucial to our development as witches and the meditation outlined by Candice at Magickal Folk is beautifully written and easy to follow, even for a beginner witch. The kit included a cauldron recipe card to record the ingredients included in the kit as well as any other items you add to the ritual to connect with your guide. There are two beautiful Lapiz Lazuli crystals and an herbal incense mixture that contains cedar and juniper tips for protection, star anise to carry your messages, wood betony for removing doubt and opening communication, and elderflowers to bring ancient wisdom. I love how well thought out this mixture is and that is can be used during hedge riding or a normal ritual to communicate with spirits.

The final kit, the Crystal Alchemy Kit, contains a large piece of peacock ore and a witchcraft oil both of which are designed to increase magical intentions. The oil contains jojoba, olive oil, and sunflower oil infused with dragon blood resin, honeysuckle flowers, and vervain herb. Candice suggests using it as a base spell oil during rituals or to banish, heal, and enchant. There are no essential oils in this product, which I think it great because many people are allergic to essential oils. This also allows the oil to be more versatile so it can be placed on the skin, the third eye, or used to anoint candles and other objects used in spell work. The oil has a sweet, subtle scent; nothing overpowering here!

Overall, I love the diversity in this month's box. I'm not going to lie, the tea is my favorite part! Once this subscription is complete, I may purchase the monthly tea ritual for just $5. Considering how many cups I tea I get per bag, $5 is a steal! On average, I get 7-10 cups of tea. Remember, you don't have to throw the tea out after one use. Using freshly dried herbs means you can get at least 2 cups out of most teas, so don't throw it away after one cup! Besides, the tea leaves can be used in later rituals as an offering or just to enhance your spell work!

Have you subscribed to any witchy or pagan subscription boxes lately? Have something you would like me to review before you commit to a purchase? I am on the lookout for something new to try next year and would love to hear from you in the comments below!