History of the Green Witch
“The Green Witch is a natural witch, a hereditary witch, a kitchen witch, a cottage witch, a hedge
witch, and generally, a solitary witch. This witch does not fear nature and the woods but finds
both comforting and homey. The Green Witch has a sense of belonging and connection with the
Earth and the universe”
-Ann Moura, Green Witchcraft II
Green Witch Defined
The path of the green witch refers to someone who incorporates a variety of herbs, plants, and flowers into their everyday pagan lifestyle to utilize their culinary, healing, and magical properties. Green witches focus on healing the entire patient and improving their overall quality of life, not just curing their disease symptoms.
Green witches look to heal a person’s body, mind, and soul, which results in an overall improvement in their quality of life. Green witches may employ techniques such as herbal medicine, plant magic, chants, rituals, spells, and divination to enhance a person's healing and well-being. The green path of witchcraft includes kitchen witches, hedge witches, herb witches, and more.
Categories of Green Witchcraft
Aromatherapists - use a variety of aromatic substances to facilitate healing, reduce stress, and promote
a sense of well-being. Aromatherapists may employ essential oils along with aromatic fresh or dried
plant material in their practices.
Cunning men/women - a herbalist known for his or her use of medicinal herbs who may also employ a
variety of magical techniques such as the recitation of spells to help rid their clients of evil spirits and
bad luck.
Druids - were the wise men, shamans, and priests of the ancient pagan Celtic tribes of Europe. Modern
day druids keep alive many of the ancient traditions of the druids.
Essenes - Jewish mystics who incorporated magical elements, similar to those practiced by modern-day
witches, into their way of life. They wore linen garments, practiced divination, meditated within
protective magical circles, and knew the uses of different healing plants and gemstones.
Ethnobotanists - botanists who focus on the study of plants in other cultures especially as pertains to
folklore, mythology, and religion.
Green witches - a witch that utilizes a variety of herbs and plants to tap into their magical occult
properties. Green witches may practice on their own or as a members of a coven. Green witches are in
tune with Mother Nature and feel a great affinity towards the natural elements of earth, air, fire, and
water. The green witch can often be found puttering around in their garden, exploring a forest trail, or
following recipes in their natural magic grimoire while creating their own lotions and potions that incorporate a variety of natural ingredients.
Hearth wizards - may be either the kitchen witch’s consort or a lone worshipper of fire and is often
more inclined to perform their magic outdoors around an open fire rather than in the kitchen.
Hedge witches - solitary witches not belonging to a coven. Hedge witches don’t follow any particular
tradition of witchcraft. They employ a variety of techniques such as spells, charms, divination and astral
projection while conducting their magical workings.
Herbalists - someone that is knowledgeable of the medicinal properties of herbs and uses these herbs
for their healing properties.
Kitchen witches - usually a solitary practitioner of folk magic and herb lore. A kitchen witch uses
whatever is found around the home to work magic and is focused on making their own recipes, lotions,
and potions which often feature herbs and spices. Kitchen witches may also be experienced gardeners
who grow many of their own herbs and vegetables.
Medicine men - tribal healers who use a variety of techniques including shamanism to communicate
with the spirit world. They may also have a vast knowledge of the healing properties of herbs and
plants.
Nganga - Bantu medicine men who incorporated elements of magic, herbalism, and shamanism in their
practice. They collected a variety of roots, bark, leaves, and flowers to use in their healing rituals.
Rhizotomists - They were one of the first magical herbalists in recorded history. Rhizotomists were
members of the Greek medical profession, they roamed the countryside collecting roots to be used in
their healing practice. They used a variety of chants while collecting the roots.
Root doctor - a folklore term for a healer that uses plants, including the roots of herbs, for their
magical, healing, and spiritual powers.
Shamans - someone who communicates with the gods to control natural phenomena such as wind, rain,
and the sun. Shamans go into a trance-like state to visit the spirit world. Dance and monotonous sounds
such as drumming or chanting to induce these trance-like ecstatic states.
Wise woman - a natural healer who is knowledgeable regarding the healing properties of herbs and
other plant materials.
Witch doctors - a village healer that combines the medicinal uses of herbs with magical spells and
charms to heal their patients.
Peace, Love, and Light
The White Witch, AKA Lynn Smythe
Founder of Craft of the Wise, the Essential Survivalist, and the Creative Cottage
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