Transitioning into a Green Witch

Transitioning into a Green Witch

Most modern Wiccans are traditional Witches, following a path that resembles Gardnerian, Alexandrian, or Dianic Wicca. This is especially true of those that belong to formal covens. However, solitary witches tend to forge their own path, choosing a practice that aligns with their spirit more than someone else’s traditions. There are many different paths. Kitchen Witchery is one. Another popular path is becoming a Green Witch. If you are looking to focus your practice and being a Green Witch interests you, hopefully, this will help guide you on your journey.

So, What Is a Green Witch?

You’ve probably heard the term “green thumb” when it comes to someone who can really make plants thrive. The green in Green Witch works the same way. While all Witches have a connection to and appreciation for nature, Green Witches’ practices are centered on nature and the properties of plants in particular.

There is sometimes confusion between the terms Hedge Witch and Green Witch. However, the term “hedge” can make it sound like it is related to plants, a Hedge Witch practices Hedgecraft. Hedgecraft is a combination of shamanism and witchcraft and is generally not considered part of Wicca (but certainly Pagan and related). Though the pathways aren’t new, the terms are, so don’t feel bad if it feels overwhelming! The term White Witch might make it seem like another colored Witch is related. You can be both a Green Witch and a White Witch, as white witchcraft is merely using the powers and energies you work with for good.

Many Green Witches don’t have deities in their Craft, worshipping the seasons and aspects of nature instead. As each Witch’s practice is deeply personal, it varies from Witch to Witch. There are Green Witches who consider themselves Wiccan and honor the Triple Goddess and Horned God, who honor other deities as aspects of the god and goddess, and who focus on deities associated with nature, agriculture, and plants.

Green Witches are herbalists, naturalists, embracing the power of nature. Energy is drawn from the Earth and the Universe. Natural objects beyond plants, like stones and crystals, are also a part of the craft. Every living being is respected and honored, no matter their size. Green Witches understand the delicate balance in ecosystems and how each living thing, plant and animal, contribute to the balance.

Though Earth is obviously a focus, Green Witches still work with all the elements, with Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit still being integral to the craft. Green Witches work to develop a deep connection to their local environment. Often, they begin down the path because they’ve already felt a deep connection and want to deepen it, explore it, strengthen it, and draw on the power that comes from it.

Everyone is different, and no two paths look the same, but at its root, Green Witchcraft is dedicated to nature above all things.

Becoming a Green Witch

Now that you know what a Green Witch is, you might be wondering how to become one. It’s like the old joke goes. “How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, Practice, Practice!” If you think the Green Witch path is the journey for you, you need to dedicate time and patience to the practice and work towards your goals. Don’t let that scare you away! We are all always learning and growing in our practice and craft. Don’t expect to have the same power and connection immediately that a Green Witch who has been practicing for over a decade does.

Becoming a Green Witch will likely mean making some changes not just in your craft but also in your lifestyle. Green Witchery focuses on herbalism, yes, but also on natural living and accepting spiritual lessons from nature. If your practice before focused on using the gifts of deities, it will shift to viewing nature as the provider of everything needed to transcend beyond the mundane.

If you are in a coven, no need to change to being a solitary witch. You can still be a Green Witch and be part of a larger coven with a less focused path. Nature will be your temple for solo rituals, but you can bring your knowledge and skills to the coven.

As we’ve said, the path of a Green Witch is highly personal. While there are books out there about it, there is no central doctrine, Book of Shadows, Grimoire, or Rede. That means you’ll be forging your own path and developing the Craft in a way that is deeply personal to you.

Getting Started

Since herbalism is a basic tenant of Green Witchcraft, knowing the properties, uses, correspondences, and energies of plants is a great place to start. You can do this in a few ways. Buy a book on being a Green Witch, with overviews of herbalism and the Craft. From there, move on to more specific skills within the Craft, such as tonics, salves, teas, or incense. If you have a connection to a particular part of nature, you may wish to start diving into that more and getting into the basics as you branch out from that specific focus.

Whichever way you start, be sure you keep a Book of Shadows and Grimoire to record your path and save important information that you learn and will use in future spell and ritual work. As you begin to get into the uses of specific plants, look back through the issues of Wicca Magazine for instructional articles. We have articles in every issue that talk about specific plants and their uses in Witchcraft.

Get Gardening

This might be the scariest part for new Green Witches, but I promise, it isn’t as bad as you think! Even if you believe you’ve had a black thumb all your life, with practice, guidance, and focused intention, you can turn that thumb green.

If you have the space for a large garden filled with plants, herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables, and trees of all types, that’s wonderful! Plan it out carefully, making sure you are planting not only for the best possible physical conditions but metaphysical as well.

Don’t fret if you don’t live somewhere you can’t create a large outdoor garden! You can likely still grow the plants you use most commonly inside. Windowsills are great for growing herbs to use in the Craft. Also, you should have some plants that aren’t meant to be harvested but are instead meant to bring nature inside to you so that you can form a relationship and connection to nature through the plants.

That connection is why it is so important to grow at least a few things as a Green Witch. While you can buy a decent amount of the herbs and plants you’ll work with, a key component of being a Green Witch is their relationship with nature. The best way to promote and cultivate that connection and relationship is through caring for plants yourself.

Start with one plant and study it. Connect with it. Speak to it as you care for it. Listen for its energies and powers. Visualize its aura. Get to know its scent and feel so that you would recognize it even blindfolded. Study its cultivation practices. Know its cycles, needs, and the best time to harvest its different parts. Learn its uses, properties, correspondences. Begin to work with it. Use it in ritual and spell work. Once you’ve built the connection, you’ll be able to use it in spell work intuitively. And once you’ve done one, it’ll make adding in more plants easier.

Natural Living

As we said above, being a Green Witch is about more than being an encyclopedia of plants. It is a lifestyle that requires a deep appreciation and respect for nature, which means shifting to a lifestyle that is more sustainable, natural, and “green.” We have articles in previous issues about transitioning to a more sustainable and “green” lifestyle slowly through small changes.

Reducing your consumption of single-use plastic. Starting to compost. Using reusable bags. Volunteering with organizations that are dedicated to protecting and renewing nature. Not only do these things honor nature, but they also help you grow that important connection needed to be a Green Witch.

This won’t happen overnight. That’s too drastic for most. Make small, consistent changes and slowly adjust your lifestyle. You can set your timeline yourself, but a common one is committing to incorporating a single change each moon cycle.

There are a few other ways you can connect with nature and shift to a more natural lifestyle:

Try to visit a local farmer’s market or crop share each week (or every other week) during each season to support the local ecosystem and use seasonal, locally grown ingredients in your meals.

Switch to greener, more sustainable cleaning products. Either make your own or purchase verified “green” products.

Learn to treat mild illnesses and pains with natural remedies, using the herbs you harvested from the plants you have grown. Get out in nature at least once a week and go for a walk.