Path of the Moonlit Hedge: Discovering the Magick of Animistic Witchcraft

by Nathan M. Hall, Christopher Penczak (Foreword by)

Overview

Rewild Your Soul and Deepen Your Relationship with Our Interconnected World

Discover an exciting approach to witchcraft that teaches you how to see and work with the life in all things, from animals and plants to rocks, rivers, and beyond. Nathan M. Hall provides an in-depth and thoughtful exploration of animism, guiding you down the path of the moonlit hedge with more than thirty exercises that support the needs of your wild soul.

This book builds your magickal foundation through journeying and trancework, helping you connect with natural energies and patterns of the earth. You’ll meet and partner with spirits of the land, perform meditations and spells that strengthen your commitment to the craft, and learn how to cross the hedge (enter the spirit world) to participate in the Witches' Sabbat. By adopting this magickal worldview, you can create balance within yourself and empower your work as a witch.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738772738
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Publication date:	05/08/2023
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	415,856
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Nathan M. Hall is a witch, animist, initiate of the Anderson Feri Tradition, and member of the Temple of Witchcraft. He serves on the board of the annual Mystic South Conference and is a contributor and editorial advisor for The Wild Hunt, a daily news source for the Pagan community. Nathan has two decades of experience working as a journalist and editor, has lectured at media conferences, and has sat on a variety of panels.

Christopher Penczak is a Witch, teacher, writer, and healing practitioner. He is the founder of the world-renowned Temple of Witchcraft and the Temple Mystery School, and he is the creator of the bestselling Temple of Witchcraft books and audio CDs. Christopher is an ordained minister, serving the New Hampshire and Massachusetts Pagan and metaphysical communities through public rituals, private counsel, and teaching. He also travels extensively and teaches throughout the United States. Christopher lives in New Hampshire. Visit him at ChristopherPenczak.com.

Table of Contents

Contents

Exercise—xii

Acknowledgments—xiii

Foreword by Christopher Penczak—xv

Introduction—1

1. Hedgewalking, Witchcraft, and Animism—5

2. Fundamentals—19

3. The Healing Journey—25

4. Art and Magick—55

5. Rewilding Your Soul(s)—71

6. First Contact: The Spirit of Your Land—85

7. The Decompositional Magickal Model—97

8. Meeting Your Spirit Guides, Allies, and Other Fretful Beings—117

9. Time—143

10. The Gate at the Edge of the Garden—159

11. The Witches' Sabbat—167

Conclusion: All Paths Under the Moonlight—183

Appendix: Additional Exercises—187

Selected Bibliography—199

Editorial Reviews

"Nathan's work offers practical, lifeway-building rituals, meditations, and tools to inspire and guide those interested in reclaiming the universal mantle of animist into their spiritual life...He beautifully brings us back to center to ponder the magic of the simple flame engulfing the candle wick and springing to life, mirroring, as above, so below, the universe and all their awe-inspiring mystery. He also does not skip over important issues such as systemic racism and the challenges faced by queer and trans people while walking this way. A wonderful work."—Rebecca Beyer, author of Wild Witchcraft

"Combining folklore, personal experience, several rabbit holes' worth of research, and a dash of popular culture, The Path of the Moonlit Hedge is unlike any other hedgewitchery book I've seen. The author uses narratives from their own life, from history, from fable and parable, and so the work of hedgecraft feels like spending time poking at a bramble thicket border with someone who knows what they're looking for."—Cory Thomas Hutcheson, author of New World Witchery

"An illuminating exploration into the world of animism and witchcraft. Not only does it provide an incredibly in-depth and thoughtful exploration of animism in a witchcraft context, but it also provides unique and insightful perspectives on the subject...This book is sure to expand your tool kit of connection through its many wonderful exercises and give you a better understanding of the power of animism."—Mat Auryn, bestselling author of Psychic Witch

"The Path of the Moonlit Hedge follows Nathan's journey of healing and transformation to become enmeshed with the life of nature and the calling of his soul. The insights, techniques, and rituals he shares are the summation of his experience and are new and meant for this new era. At the same time, the blood of the ancients informs this book, and the timeless hands of many spirits have touched this work. If you are looking to refresh your connection to the primal powers or begin the work for the first time, The Path of the Moonlit Hedge will serve you well."—Ivo Dominguez Jr., author of Four Elements of the Wise

"An important guide for self-care and personal development...This book, geared for the newcomer and long-term practitioner alike, will help you to create daily practices that are rooted in the power and stability of the natural world."—Rev. Wendy Van Allen, author of Relighting the Cauldron

"A book for anyone and everyone who is interested in animism, witchcraft, and the intersection and relationships between them...A beautifully written book with pure magic in its pages!"—Emma Kathryn, author of Witch Life

"Nathan Hall's Path of the Moonlit Hedge is personal, practical, and downright powerful. Nathan is a spirited storyteller who guides the reader on a path of partnering with the natural world to build resilience, heal the soul, and ignite one's inner magic."—Nicholas Pearson, author of Crystal Basics and Flower Essences from the Witch's Garden

"With a writing style as witty and informative as it is accessible, The Path of the Moonlit Hedge is a gift to those who wish to delve deeper into their magical practice. Loaded with practical exercises and stories from the author's life, this book makes available what has often been obscured: the philosophies and techniques of shifting our consciousness so that we may free ourselves from the death-grip of the ego and learn to hear the whisperings of the natural world all around us."—Storm Faerywolf, author of Betwixt & Between

From the Publisher