Mitchell - The Hedgewitch book of days

Mandy Mitchell's Hedgewitch Book of Days is the book I wish I'd had when I was a witchy new mom. Laid out month-by-month, it's simple to pick up and check the lists of magical correspondences when you're in a hurry, but it's also the book you'll want to peruse when you have a bit more time. Each chapter is stuffed full of ideas for spending quality time with your family, ideas for magical works, and simple rituals that can be pulled off in the time you have between chauffeuring back and forth to after-school activities and trying to get dinner on the table. Speaking of dinner, there are some fabulous seasonal food lists and recipes to help you get a jump on them. A fabulous addition to the libraries of both beginner witches and those who've been on the path for ages and want a few new ideas for simplifying. Definitely two (busy) thumbs up!

KRIS BRADLEY, author of Mrs. B's Guide to Household Witchery

In Mandy Mitchell's Hedgewitch Book of Days the author brings the old Hedgewitch right up to date. Emphasis is on food but also touches on magicrituals and spells. All is delivered in a pleasant easy-going style that makes the book easy to read and tempting to just dip into on occasion. In many ways the Hedgewitch was the true witch, in my opinion. It's about time we had a good book that focused on that wise one.

RAYMOND BUCKLAND, author of Buckland's Book of Gypsy Magic

Hedgewitch Book of Days is a fantastic find! Perfect for the beginner and a fun, worthwhile read for the experienced, this book explains why we Pagans do what we do along with great ideas of ways to do it. The author's writing style is practical, down-to-earth and full of wry observations that will bring a smile to your face as it enriches your spiritual practice. Recipes, ideas for simple observations of the Sabbats and Moons plus practical insights about Pagan practice and more are highlighted in Hedgewitch Book of DaysI recommend this book highly!

KAREN HARRISON, author of The Everyday Psychic

Mandy Mitchell manages with ease a rare combination of humor, truth, insight, and usable information about living as witch. Her path is witchcraft as kitchen magicthings that anyone can do while being a parent and running a home. This is a book of real practical magick, written by someone whose dedication shines through every page.

VIVIANNE CROWLEY, author of A Witch Alone

First published in 2014 by Weiser Books

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

With offices at:

665 Third Street, Suite 400

San Francisco, CA 94107

www.redwheelweiser.com

Copyright 2014 by Mandy Mitchell

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Mitchell, Mandy.

The Hedgewitch book of days / by Mandy Mitchell.

pages cm

ISBN 978-1-57863-556-6 (alk. paper)

1. Witchcraft. I. Title.

BF1566.M653 2014

133.4'3dc23

2014023340

Cover design by Jim Warner

Cover image: Blue Fruit DesignMorris, William (1834-1896 British)

Victoria & Albert Museum, London, England

Bridgeman Art Library, London / SuperStock

Interior by Kathryn Sky-Peck

Typeset in Centaur

Printed in the United States of America

EBM

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

www.redwheelweiser.com

www.redwheelweiser.com/newsletter

This book is dedicated to the five girls in my life, my own two babies, Alexandra and Bethany, who make me proud everyday, and my three oh so amazing and beautiful granddaughters, Fae, Ella, and RubyGrandma loves you so much. You all make the world a more magical place!

P icture this evocative image if you can:

You are walking into the forest. The trees tower tall all around you. The path is slippery and muddy and the light is poor. You are with a group of like-minded people and you are all carrying flaming torches as you silently make your way to a clearing in the trees, to a stone circle. The fire is lit; the circle is closed. You all connect within this sacred space. An evening of rituals and magic ensues, with incense, the sharing of beautiful food and thoughts, incantations, and song. Offerings are made and bonds formed.

You spend your days magically gathering herbs in tune with the moon, creating balms and lotions, spells and potions, as soothing birdsong floats through the window of your immaculate witch's kitchen. You are wise and capable, unflappable and ethereal all in one go, with a little mystery and a lot of fairy dust thrown in. You float on a cloud of velvet and chiffon, handcrafting tokens and amulets; you spend many an hour advising friends, with your cat familiar perched calmly upon your graceful lap.

Sounds absolutely wonderful, doesn't it?

Now picture this not-so-evocative image:

The alarm is screaming, as are the kids. Breakfast, teeth, uniform, school run, and so to work. Endless phone calls, traffic jams. Shopping, bills, and bath times. Packed lunches, homework, Internet. Friends, family, and that annoying neighbor with the endlessly yapping dog driving you nuts! The news, the soaps, the endless football season. Washing, ironing, rubbishoh, and don't forget that litter tray needs changing! Grandchildren's sticky paws and: Of course, darling, no problem, I will just whip you up an exquisite costume for your play tomorrow! No, I haven't forgotten your trip money or the cupcakes for the school fair on Friday.

You are haggard, sleep-deprived, and endlessly losing things. You have the conversational skills of a two-year-old and the attention span of a gnat. Rather than Mother/Father Earth, you are just Mum/Dad, bringer of all things needed. Your kitchen hasn't been cleaned properly since the last time the in-laws came and your partner barely receives more than a grunt for the entire day. You're not even completely sure who your friends are, as, quite frankly, you haven't spent time with them for soooo long! You barely make it out of your PJs all day and haven't been able to a read decent book since goodness knows when. As for going out in the eveningwell, evenings are for flaking out in front of the TV, aren't they? Is there even a world outside after dark? And then comes the question that puts dread into the heart of every seemingly stable person: What's for dinner?

What do you think? Not quite as beautiful as the first scene, right? But I bet it's more real to you. And that is exactly what this book is aboutthe reality of living a magical life today, in the realities of our everyday lives. We all long to follow the old ways and traditions of our ancestors, to get back to basics and work our magic throughout our time here. Unfortunately, our families and friends, our work, our pets, and day-to-day life in general all seriously disrupt our plans.

So this is a book for the here and nowa book to help bring a little magic into your home. I want to show you how you can make everything you do more magical, no matter how chaotic your daily life may be from time to time. I want to demonstrate how daily chores can become magical rituals with the potential to enrich and transform your lifeeverything from the way you form relationships with your family and friends to cooking, cleaning, and healing.