Kitchen/Green/Hedge Witches and theism

[gwendar]

Hi, just a quick question for you!
Do people who practice green/hedge/kitchen witchcraft generally believe in god(s)?
Is this something that can be practiced regardless of what gods a person believes in, or even if a person is non-theistic?
Thanks! =)

[Juniper138]

I've come across such Witches with just about any belief system. I've even met athiest Greenwitches! Most who do have a belief in deity seem to follow a European panthenon. As yet I haven't met a Kitchenwitch who honors Sumerian gods, but it wouldn't shock me.

I'm more of an poly-animist myself. Mainly Celtic but the Anlgo-Saxon and Germanic gods stick their heads in now and then and I've stopped fighting to be a purist about such things now.

[Windsmith]

My experience has been that because these kinds of witchcraft really are about practice, they can be meshed easily to any belief about the nature of the Divine - even that there is no Divine. I think kitchen/green witches do tend to have particular beliefs about the properties and abilities of plants (and hedge witchcraft is a whole different kettle of soup that I don't consider myself equipped to speak to), but I see no reason why you would have to believe in deities to do kitchen magic. Of course, I only say that because I'm a cottage witch who doesn't believe in deities. :)

[EntwinedScylla]

As yet I haven't met a Kitchenwitch who honors Sumerian gods, but it wouldn't shock me.

*extends a hand* Nice to meet you. I'm a Hedge/Kitchen/Greenwitch with Mesopotamian gods. Now you've met one! :P

As an Elder of my Trad (which is heavily Mesopotamian in influence) my specific line is noted for being less "temple" oriented and far more "in the dirt", even to the point of a distinction needing to be made between line titles. My -personal- practice is more in line with Kitchen and Hedge, where as the line I teach is more in-the-middle.

There's been some suggestion amongst scholars of British Traditional Wicca, that the genesis of their Faith may've come from a synthesis of Sumerian and Mediterranean beliefs, something that would've occurred naturally through a migration of people out of Africa, through the Near and Middle-East, and into Europe. So, the idea of a European witch-practice having Mesopotamian deities isn't wholly incompatible, nor is it beyond thinking.

Mind you, my Trad's view of the gods isn't exactly re-constructionist, either. My parent-"Coven" only really gave much attention to two deities, Tiamat and Abzu, and viewed them as "shattered". I.e. Primal gods that, in creating the world, rent themselves asunder and now are somehow diminished in scope.
Within my specific line, we honor them as the wellspring of creation, but not as over-arching cosmic gods... and thus, recognize them as more "tribal" and personal, requiring our aid to act in and on the world.

However, the Tradition is focused on creating good people -before- honoring any gods, or working with them beyond "rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub". We spend years working on our own little inner demons, mental hangups, personal problems and whatnot.

That said, there is not -need- for theism in a -craft-. You don't need to believe in a Great God of Beading to use a bead loom. You don't need to believe in a Little God of Knitting Needles to pearl. You do not need to honor a Rebuilder of Engines to be a mechanic. You don't need to be theistic to be a witch.

[brymble]

There are those of us who are of the opinion that the existence or non-existence of gods is completely irellevant.

[gwendar]

Thanks for the replies!
I ask because I'm fairly non-theistic. Or agnostic. Or possibly somewhat pantheistic. I haven't quite figured it out. But I'm still kind of interested in spirituality and religion. Think I might read through this sub-forum and see what you guys do/believe. =)

[GoldenOak]

Do people who practice green/hedge/kitchen witchcraft generally believe in god(s)?
Thanks! =)

I've been practicing hedgecraft for many years, and I am a monotheist, who is a child of the Creator, but I am also an animist, who believes that the Creator gave all of her living creatures, not only us humans, spirits. IMO, to ask me if I believe in god(s), is to ask if I believe that the sky is blue, or that snow is cold. It just is. There is no need to believe. I could ignore what my senses tell me, and many people do just that, but I don't believe that the Creator exists, in whatever form(s) she reveals herself as; I know it.



Is this something that can be practiced regardless of what gods a person believes in, or even if a person is non-theistic?
Thanks! =)

IMO, it depends upon what aspects one wishes to practice. If one has the awareness and can see and behold the Creator's touch, a greater understanding of nature will be opened up and that understanding will enable one to have a better grasp of natural magic. To continue my analogy, it is hard to comprehend that the sky is blue, if one has ever only looked up at night and seen the stars.

[TuathaSidhe]

Hi, just a quick question for you!
Do people who practice green/hedge/kitchen witchcraft generally believe in god(s)?

Yes and No, depends on who you ask. I am of the mindset that Witchcraft is a practice, so, technically an Atheist could be a Witch.


Is this something that can be practiced regardless of what gods a person believes in, or even if a person is non-theistic?
Thanks! =)


Yes (see above, lol) For awhile I just considered myself a Witch and nothing more until I started hearing the call of Brigid (and now Danu) more..er, clearly (although with Brigid it was more of a bonk on the head and a "wake up child!" type thing, lol)

[TheLittleWitchy]

Each one is different. I personally don't believe in deity, however I am interested in certains deities. I am more of a pantheist though. :)

[Bird]

For awhile I just considered myself a Witch and nothing more until I started hearing the call of Brigid (and now Danu) more..er, clearly (although with Brigid it was more of a bonk on the head and a "wake up child!" type thing, lol)

Hecate did that to me some years ago. But her's was more of a kick up the backside and swearing at me kind of call. Subtle, she's not. She doesn't appear to care much for hanging around my kitchen or garden, but she shows up when I'm burying my head in the sand about something and takes aim. Other than that, it's mostly just the Lord and Lady that get honoured with my practice, or Mother Moon and Father Sun as my son puts it! (He's four!)

[MamaWytch]

As yet I haven't met a Kitchenwitch who honors Sumerian gods, but it wouldn't shock me.

For a long time, Inanna was my patroness, though we have grown apart as I've gotten older. That was also before I claimed the title of hedgewitch & hearthwitch---does that count? :hahugh:


I am of the mindset that Witchcraft is a practice, so, technically an Atheist could be a Witch.

This sums up my thoughts as well. I believe that the spiritual aspect of honoring and working with deity can compliment and enhance the practical aspect of hedge and hearth magic, but neither requires the other to exist on their own.

As for what sort of theist I am... I am still figuring that out; the answer to that question isn't what it used to be.

[~*Sacred*~]

They can be separate or together.

I never was into deity, but Hekate and Artemis called me and now I've been stuck in a conundrum for the time being on what type of theist I am. However I'm not focusing on it too much at the moment, there are some things I want to read about before I "define" myself if I even do.

[Bugscuttle]

For me, Arianhrod was my initial Patron, but now it's Gaia. It wasn't really something I stewed over or devated with myself. She just made it apparent to me that She had what I need for my spiritual focus.
I really can't be bothered too much about pantheons. What IS...just is!

[electricpeppers]

I'm a Polytheist. It's been the Anglo-Saxon/Germanic gods for me mostly. Although I'm being pulled back towards the Greek Gods, which meshes rather badly for me with Hedgecraft practices. *Sigh*.

[fay]

I tend to find that what defines most kitchen/green witches is what they do and practice rather than what they believe. Therefore a lot of people practice kitchen/green witchery and believe something completely different. That is how you get atheist green witches, hellenic kitchen witches etc.