Hedge Wizard

A pejorative term for a lesser magician who can never master the ultimate forms of magic and who is unworthy or unwilling to form the pacts and contracts necessary to be a warlock.

**Hedge** **wizards** can cast spells from a limited number of schools, but never master higher-level spells or the full scope of arcane magic.

The term “Hedge Wizard” comes from the English words *hedge* and *wizard*. In proper usage the word “hedge” is an adjective which means *of, related to, or designed for a hedge; born, living or made near hedges*. It is also used as a derogatory form of adjective meaning “inferior”. Many attribute the word “hedge” in hedge witchcraft to be the noun form, meaning *a barrier or a limit, primarily for protection*, but this would not be the proper usage as the “hedge” in *hedge witch*, *hedge wizard*, or *hedge witchcraft* is obviously an adjective used to describe the type of witch, wizard, or witchcraft.

More likely than not, the word
“hedge,” as it was and still is commonly used in signifying a hedge
wizard or witch, was intended as a connotation of inferiority, meaning
the hedge wizard or witch was looked down upon by more ceremonial
magicians who viewed the informal practice of magic by hedge witches as
vulgar. This would be expected—even in ancient pagan societies—as
 society typically applauds formal religious practices while shunning
informal or individualistic spiritual pursuits. The reason for this is
mainly due to the very structure and intent of society, in which
spiritual traditions have always been used primarily as a means for the
dissemination of moral instruction to the masses who either were
incapable of understanding the philosophical reasoning behind moral laws
 (thought-out by the elites of a society), or who were unable to access
such materials.

Still, it is likely that the term
 also came into use because of the natural location where most hedge
wizards and witches undoubtedly resided – the edge of town. Before the
rise of the industrial revolution, and even still today in some corners
of the planet, hedge wizards and witches would often be found living
near the edge of town where the plants and minerals they required in
their craft were readily available. Just as fishermen lived near the
water or coal miners lived near mines, the hedge wizard or witch was
sure to be living near the resources necessary to his/her trade.

Hedge wizards and witches were
essentially what is known as “cunning folk;” that is, they were
practitioners of some ceremonial magic, but mostly focused upon what was
 clearly self-evident to others as *practical witchcraft*, such as herbal medicine, midwifery,
 counseling, practical chemistry, weather forecasting, veterinarian
skills, and various forms of low magic. They did not practice in covens,
 but did often have an apprentice or two (often their child or a
relative) whom they passed their knowledge onto.

It
 is likely true that hedge wizards and witches were somewhat skilled at
what are deemed to be “shamanic practices,” but spirit journeys were
likely only performed during special occasions
 or when direct intercession between the people and the spirits
(typically ancestors) was deemed to be necessary. Otherwise, hedge
wizards and witches were very much down-to-earth and well-thought of by
local villagers and townspeople, which was likely the reason that many
of them escaped serious persecution during the Witch Hunts. Had they
spent the majority of their time in the Otherworld one can be certain
they would not have been very well respected by the other members of the
 community who depended upon them for healing and consultation.

Because of
the practical nature of hedge wizards and witches, during the Witch
Hunts many (but not all) escaped persecution due to the clear
distinction made by the people between witches, whom they deemed
harmful, and hedge wizards and witches, or *cunning folk*, whom
they deemed useful. The practical nature of hedge wizards and witches
can largely be attributed to the fact that their craft was much more of a
 way to make a living than a spiritual practice. It is true that they
were very spiritual, yet their practical skills were often called upon
and were the primary source of income for most hedge wizards and
witches, since their services were often rewarded with gifts or used as a
 form of barter.