Shamanism Vs. Hedge Magic
Since the advent of the New Age trend, many people are confused and curious about the modern practice of magic throughout the world. Two interesting traditions include hedge magic and shamanism, which have some similarities but can be quite different in practice. Hedge witchcraft, also called hedgecraft, is a practice that has its roots in the folk magic of Europe. The modern practice of hedge magic is closely tied to nature and overlap to some extent with herbalism. Additional overlaps can be found between hedge magic and Wicca, although practitioners of hedge magic often work alone, while Wiccans often meet in groups called a Coven.
Like Wiccans, hedge witches celebrate festivals like Beltane, Samhain and Midsummer. Shamanism is a term that describes a wide range of beliefs and practices from all over the world. A shaman is a person who has the ability to communicate with the spirit world, often through the use of a trance state. Like hedge witches, shamans usually work alone, although this is not always the case. The word “shaman” was first used in Mongolia and Siberia, though shamanistic practices are found in Africa, Eastern Europe, among Native Americans, and the Inuit people.
The terms “Shaman” and “shamanism” have a strong negative connotation for some- they call up images of the racist idea of the African “witch doctor,” and additionally, many anthropologists concur that the term is much too general and broad to correctly describe any single group of followers. Rather, each shamanistic-leaning culture should be described as a separate entity. Perhaps the most interesting comparison can be drawn between modern hedge magic and what is known as “neoshamanism.” This movement draws from shamanic, Native American, and Eastern traditions.
Original practitioners of shamanism consider this New Age movement to be a somewhat inappropriate cross-cultural appropriation of their beliefs, and find that some practices of neoshamanism can be harmful (spiritually and physically) to its adherents. Hedge magic, on the other hand, is more often seen as a continuation of local tradition, rather than an appropriation of someone else’s. Overall, Shamanism tends to describe a more global drive towards making the connection with spirituality concrete, while hedge magic is a more focal term that describes practices in a specific area and time. Both terms cover a wide range of beliefs and practices.
