What's the difference between hedge, hearth and kitchen witches?

Question

Everyone seems to have a different idea of what each of them is, and none of those ideas are like each other. I'm confused. Is a hedge witch a gardening one? Does kitchen witch have to do with cooking? What on earth is a hearth witch?

Answer 1

In my own learning's and teachings they are all the same thing.

What is different about them is location and personal perception.

It seems a Kitchen witch is more of an American term. A Hedge witch is more of a British term and a hearth witch is easily used in both areas.

I don't mean to confuse you, but there is another term that roughly means the same as Hedge, Hearth and Kitchen witch... Green witch. You may also hear cottage witch which is roughly the same thing.

Some of the common threads in these type practices of Wicca or Witchcraft is that they tend to be more natural and more nature inclined. Meaning most do not tend to use a lot of fancy tools. They tend to keep it simple and use what has been provided by the earth, what is near the hearth(fire place) and what might be found near the hedge, such as herbs and out door items from nature.

Here is a little more info, there are several different kinds of witches, and the practice of Witchcraft and Wicca are not one and the same thing, yet each have folks that call themselves witches?:)

The practices that are listed below are not all "Named", but share the idea of the practice... hope it helps?


1. There are some that do not worship at all, they do not see the Craft as a religion, but often more of a tool, a means to and end...

2. Then there are others that see Witchcraft as a form of reverence and wisdom, an attunement with the earth, but still not a religion.

3. There are also practitioners of witchcraft that do see it as a religion, but instead of worshiping gods and goddesses they pay homage to ancestors, and view them almost as gods and goddesses, but not the same.

4. Then you have those that practice Witchcraft AS a religion, with the ancient gods and goddesses of choices, or how ever they were raised.

5. And do not doubt for a moment that there are those that have taken witchcraft and incorporated it into Satanism or visa versa. But Witchcraft and Satanism are not the same thing. (Neither is Witchcraft and Demonology.) But you will find that as well.

6. The Kitchen Witch, those that work magick with mainly kitchen type items and handy stuff.

7. The Green Witch, those Witches that grow their own herbs, and work well with herbs and plants.

8. There are those Witches that crave POWER...and seek to bind demons/daemons, or spirits to their will and other darker stuff.

9. The healers, Witches that have very strong natural healing talents and they are always trying to help, or heal or protect, not only people but animals, plants, other-kin, and all they can.

10. You have your Wiccan Witches...often called white lighters...because of the harm none rede.

11. You have the Witches that can and do work well with the 'Wee folk' or Fairy's...

12. You have the Witch that is more mage or magick user then anything else...and you have many others that I can not even remember...

13. Then you can have a MIXTRUE of any of the above Witches...or with 'otherkin' as well.

14. Never ever doubt that there are those out there that CALL themselves a witch that WILL cause harm, sicko's that will do what they want and how they want to ANYONE they want, especially those that seek them out for 'knowledge'. These types of witches do exist and they will do anything from steal personal energy away from an individual , to rape, physical abuse, mental abuse, and worse, they could wind up killing. Click here to find out more on what to or NOT to do...

15. One type of witch I really DON'T believe in...is a 'Born' Witch...meaning that you are a Witch simply because one of your parents practiced the craft in some form.... I think you may have a jump start on your learning's...but I am not totally convinced that Witchcraft and Magick is in the DNA. I personally was BORN to a family that is of the Craft, and did not believe that JUST because my foremothers were witches that it made me one as well. I just don't think you are BORN a Witch...the only manner that I believe one is BORN a witch is the fact that most often in many past lives we are Witches...and if you were a witch in a past life, then maybe just maybe your 'SOUL' retains some knowledge for this life...and that would be the ONLY way you would be in any way...born a Witch...and I just don't think that is the same thing.

I personally hate labels - I feel if you NEED that label to be a better you? Then you are lacking in belief, or confidence, or maturity - what ever it may be. I am a third degree High Priestess - and I am also an ordained Reverend and I don't need either of those titles to make me more of or less of a person then I already KNOW I am! I don't need the titles...they are only as good as the person, the knowledge and the belief that comes before them...

Not to mention as show by your question... these many different titles and labels tend to confuse just as often as they help clarify! To top it all off, many of the practices above are mixed and bleneded together?

I hope this helps a bit?

Answer 2

a hedge witch uses various natural things within that craft. mushrooms, ect. they use a trace state to hedge between the astral and real world. the word (hedge) haegtessa, which translates to "hedge-rider".

i know nothing on hearth witches except it has to do with wicca.

a kitchen witch practices in the home. they are practical witches and make good wives... ;)

Answer 3

They're all very similar which is why it's confusing. Hearth and kitchen witch are pretty much interchangeable. They use tools from within their home and their rituals are normally not formal. They are more indoor than outdoor based.

A hedge witch is one that uses plants, herbs, trees, their garden etc.. more outdoor than indoor.

I hope this helps.