10 Ways to Connect to the Land (Patreon)

Are you curious on how you can connect with the land that is around you? How do you connect with the land in your area? Here’s a great article Other Worldly Oracle with different suggestions!

The hedge and green witch feel a deep connection to Mother Earth. He or she is drawn to all things green, wildlife and stones. A hedge witch also bridges the gap between the physical and spiritual world. The genius loci (land spirits) will aid in your spiritual growth and magickal endeavors if you get to know them on a personal basis. Not sure where to start? Here’s 10 ways to connect to the land where you live.

1. Your Backyard

Have you spent time in your own backyard lately? Have you identified the plants, trees, and wildlife just outside the walls of your home? Speak to the birds, insects, and animals there. Ask the trees what lessons they have for you.

2. Local Parks and Forests

If you live in an urban or suburban setting, you might not have a lot of backyard or garden. Not a problem! Most cities and suburban areas have local parks or nature preserves. If not, try a local cemetery (often they are the only places left in a city with a little bit of peace and nature!) If you decide to visit the cemetery, check out how to protect yourself spiritually here. Once you’re in nature, observe, record, and just be still.

3. Divination

Something that’s aided me in working with the land where I live is to use divination to speak with the spirits of place. I’ve talked to nature spirits in my garden and also at a local park. A pendulum is helpful for this, or whatever form of divination you prefer. Be sure to cleanse before and after a session. Take notes!

4. Local Workshops

Where I live, we have workshops and classes for almost anything you can think of. This includes gardening, bee-keeping, urban homesteading, and more! Look into your local libraries, universities, nature centers, etc. to see what they offer. By learning how to garden or bee-keep, you are learning how to intimately care for the land where you live.

5. History and Landmarks

The land carries memories of the past, believe it or not. It remembers things like war, illness, and tragedy. It also recalls good things. Dig into the history of the land where you live. Who lived there before you? What events took place before you lived there? Are there any historic or natural landmarks in your area you can visit? Once there, use your divination skills to speak with the spirits.

6. Create A Genius Loci Profile

A genius loci profile is a page in your grimoire or Book of Shadows that details the land spirits in your area. The trees, plants, insects, birds, mammals, amphibians, landscape (river/mountain/etc), and climate. By understanding the land where you live, you get to know the land’s spirits (the genius loci). Every tree, plant, insect, bird, etc. has a spirit, and the hedge witch knows this.

7. Grow Native Plants

I was a terrible gardener for YEARS. Until someone finally taught me to grow native plants. Why was I then successful? Because obviously plants grow better where they were born and raised, so to speak. Look into local nurseries that may carry native plants to your area. If not, do some google searching and make a list of native plants. Then order seeds/cuttings and start growing!

8. Support Wildlife

There’s so many ways to support your local wildlife. It sounds crazy, but most people don’t care about their local wildlife. As a green or hedge witch, you should! Wildlife teaches us so much, particularly when it comes to paganism and the craft. By growing native plants, you support local wildlife like the pollinators (butterflies, birds, bees, etc.) If you see a hurt animal or bird, call a local bird/animal rescue. Stop using pesticides and chemicals in your yard. And many more.

9. Find Local Ley Lines

Ever heard of a ley line? If we look at some of the world’s ancient sites on a map, we can draw straight lines between one and another. These lines end up forming a grid-like pattern across the entire globe. Ley lines are energetic roadways across the globe that the ancients knew well. They’re all over the place! Look up a ley line map and see if you have a local ley line to visit. Take your pendulum or cards with you!

10. Offerings to the Spirits

In addition to caring for local wildlife, leaving biodegradable offerings to the local land spirits helps one connect. It shows your gratitude and humility. Biodegradable means things like: flowers, eggs, organic fruit (GMO and non-organic fruit doesn’t biodegrade quickly!), vegetables, herbs, etc. You can also use sticks and stones, things from nature, and draw mandalas or symbols as offerings.

Sources:

https://pixabay.com/photos/forest-trees-sun-rays-sunlight-fog-1072828/

https://otherworldlyoracle.com/connect-to-the-land/