Instagram story viewer> @hedgerow_healing> Posts
Seren Hawley-Plows(@hedgerow_healing)'s profile avatar Download

Seren Hawley-Plows

@hedgerow_healing

318
posts
278.8K
followers
1027
following
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇪
Author of The Ancient Ways ⬇️
✨️ Hedgewitch |Storyteller |Traveller
🌿 Folklore, History, Herbs
[email protected]
POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED
Download All
I WROTE A BOOK! ✨️📚And you can pre-order it now!I have had to keep this a secret for what feels like a lifetime, and I am SO excited to finally announce it 🙌 I wrote The Ancient Ways to show that, when we begin to discover the folklore behind a plant or the reason why we practice seasonal traditions, we regain a lost connection to the natural world. The Ancient Ways is a book that takes you on a journey through the seasons, exploring the forgotten tales, folkloric customs, and secrets of our past. It's a book for everyone. Whether you live in the countryside or in the city. Whether you are someone who loves the natural world, or just someone who is starting to reconnect to nature. It is, in essence, a book to help you reforge a fractured connection to the land through stories, recipes, ancient customs, and personal experiences. Mapping the cycle of the seasons and blending the ancient ways with the new. Pre-order now through the link in my bio! The official release date is September the 3rd 2026 🙌I can't wait for you guys to read this book and to see the final cover image with the gold leaf! 🩵🫶Much love, Seren xx✨️...#theancientways #folklorebook #paganbritain #author #storytelling by @hedgerow_healing
399
4 months ago
Download
Why I love exploring the sacred sites of Britain and Ireland 🌄☀️These places keep alive the old customs and folklore and reconnect us back to the land. They're often found in beautiful, quiet areas of the countrtside, surrounded by unique archaeology that showcases the belief systems of our Neolithic ancestors. I will never tire of exploring these sacred places, far away from the sounds and sights of the city. Contemplating just how long humans have been visiting this exact same spot to celebrate a Solstice or to bury the dead. In a way, these sacred sites connect us across time and allow us to continue the ancient ways of our ancestors. .....#stonecircle #burialchamber #burialmound #sacredsites #standingstone #Avebury #stonehenge #Neolithic #neolithicsites #archaeology #ancientarchaology #ironage #bronzeage #solstice #summersolstice #burialrituals #sacredlandscapes #hedgerowhealing #theancientways #theancinetways by @hedgerow_healing
139
a year ago
Download
The Wise Woman ✨️💚For centuries, communities held a base knowledge of healing plants, trees, shrubs and waters. They could recognise common ailments and often work with what grew in their garden or locally to help combat issues. But what they could not cure themselves, they would seek from the wise woman of the village for. The herbalist. The hedgewitch. The healer. Every village had their own wise woman, and her knowledge was often passed down generationally. Her skills were so sought out that many common folk relied on her to keep them alive and well. That is exactly what King Henry the 8th saw amongst his subjects. Suprisingly, for all his faults when it came to women, he passed a law that protected the rights of the wise woman.Henry the 8th was a keen herbalist himself, and was also not a fan of the modern physicians who were monopolosing medicine. He recognised that the poorer of his subjects couldn't afford these extorionate fees, and created the Herbalists Charter of King Henry the 8th. Allowing anyone who was skilled in herbal knowledge to practice freely without fear of prosecution. And, dare I say, we have him to thank as one reason why we can so readily practice herbalism at home today. Now, this isn't to say that modern medicine does not have its place. Of course it does. But sometimes you would be better off looking at whats growing in your garden before popping to the pharmacist. 🌿🌱As someone who was taught this, and is a third generation herbalist and hedgewitch, I personally don't like to see how innaccessible some people make herbalism out to be.It doesn't have to be complex or even neat! I'll still gather herbs in an old shopping bag, or write on jars with masking tape. It's all about practicing in whatever way is accessible to you, and of course, making sure to identify all herbs correctly before use. I think it's time that we bring the practice of the wise woman back 🙌✨️'Two things my Lord, must ye know of the wise woman.First, she is, a woman!And second, she is...Wise?' (10 gold🌟 if you can identify this very niche quote) ....#medievalhistory #thewisewoman #villageherbalist #herbalmedici by @hedgerow_healing
97
2 days ago
Download
Ogham script ✨️The Ogham is possibly the oldest written language of Britain and Ireland, surviving in very few places across the Celtic lands. While it is not necessarily a runic script in the same way we know Norse runes to be, there is a similarity especially given one of its purposes was for magic and ritual. But it was mostly used to write down short, quick messages and names, and was a primitive way of recording data. In neo-paganism and spirituality, mamy link the 20 letters of the Ogham script to the 20 indigenous trees of Britain and Ireland, each letter connectrd to the old Celtic name for that tree or shrub. For example the H is for the Huathe (Hawthorn) tree, and B is for the Beithe (Birch) tree. But scholars have noted that this link came a bit later on, as a few of the Ogham letters do come from tree terms and the letters are often called 'trees'. But when Ogham is used in this way, it links the trees magic and symbolisms to that particular letter. Transforming the Ogham from judt an alphabet into something that works as both literary script and for magic & ritual. Given that much of the ancirnt Druidic practices were lost, we won't know for certain how the Ogham was used in Druidry. Possibly it was used in a similar way as the Norse runes, and this link to the magic and symbolism of trees might have more to it than meets the eye 🌱🌿✨️....#celticdruids #paganbritain #druidry #ancientmagic #runes by @hedgerow_healing
51
9 days ago
Download
This weather is just 🙌☀️ Some little snippets of what I've been up to lately. Making the absolute most of the sunshine and immersing myself in the land 💚Mythology & folklore retellings in roundhouses, gathering in the summer herbs, making herbal concotions, and just immersing myself in the wild Celtic rainforests and cooling rivers watching the iridescence of damsel flies glint amongst the trees ☀️If you look closely you might even spy a wild The Ancient Ways book also immersing itself in the landscape! I've been reading through the May & June chapters again and oh myyyy am I excited for you guys to explore them soon! The wonderful team at @panmacmillan have been doing SO much BTS work in preperation for the publication date, including getting as many pre-order discounts for you guys as possible, which is amazing! They've asked me to let you all know that it's currently 20% off on the @waterstones website until the end of June with code ANCIENT26 If you want to learn more about ancient folklore and traditions, or are just seeking a deeper connection to nature, then this book is definitely for you ❤️☀️✨️......#theancientways #storytelling #naturalskincare #britishfolklore #herbalist by @hedgerow_healing
70
13 days ago
Download
You're a New-Age traveller kid keeping the old customs and traditions alive 🎻🎶I'm always asked where I learnt the knowledge I put up on here, and a large part of it comes from being raised in this UK sub-culture.From living in a bender, attending Solstice gatherings, and travelling around the UK festivals with an Irish folk-punk band (Kilnaboy), I ended up learning a lot very quickly ☀️🙌This video gives a very small glimpse into my upbringing, and how I keep the old ways alive through everyday life and my practice ☀️For those who don't know, the New-Age travellers are a UK sub-culture who primarily lived in converted horse boxes, horse-drawn wagons, buses and bender tents. They were huge pioneers of the UK festival and rave culture, and many often worked seasonally and lived communally where possible on shared land. Or travelled from camp to camp. Unfortunately this way of life is diminishing, and there is a lot of prejudice against this culture. But from living in it, and still continuing to immerse myself back there when I can, I can tell you the majority of New-Age travellers are well-meaning folk who care for the land and the old ways of life. ✨️....#newagetravellers #stonehengesummersolstice #travellermovement #right2roam #theancientways by @hedgerow_healing
407
15 days ago
Download
Coastal Flower Folklore 🌸 Sea Thrift is a flower that adorns the coastline and alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It's renowned as a plant that can survive and thrive in harsh conditions, especially in places where not much else can grow. This ability to survive meant that imsea thrift quickly became associated with endurance, strength and protection, and it became the protective symbol for seafarers. The wives of those who worked on the sea would either gift their loved ones this flower or pick it and bring it into the home to ensure that they would come back to shore. In Irish Folklore, there is a legend about the Borrowed Days. A legend about an old, brindled cow who survived the winter. Furious at her ability to endure harsh conditions, March 'borrowed' three days from April to extend the winter and ensure the old cow would dwindle. This is the folklore behind those times in April when winters chill lingers on, and snow adorns the hills.Sea Thrift, in Scots Gaelic is tonna chladaich which means beach wave, while in Welsh it's Clustog Fair meaning Mary's flower. Sea Thrift, as it's common name suggests, was linked to being 'thrifty' and so was used on one side of the British threepenny piece as subtle hint to be 'thrifty' and save money during WW2.Do you have Sea Thrift growing near you? 🌸🌅....#coastalfolklore #flowerfolklore #coastalflowers #britishcoastline #seafarers by @hedgerow_healing
39
23 days ago
Download
The Ancient Ways is currently available to pre-order with an exclusive promotion at @bookshop_org_uk A booksellers that supports local and independent bookshops! ✨️Code: PREORDER20 So much has gone into this book - tales, traditions, history, herbalism and more. It's beautifully illustrated by the wonderful @mclarenjoe and takes you on a journey through the ritual year ☀️🌙It's a book for everyone. Whether you live in the city or the country. Whether you're interested in nature and ancient folklore, or you just want to discover more. And it is especially for anyone who is wanting to deepen their relationship to the land 🌄Also yes this is a true story and was not the only time I was kicked out of a class (or school, for that matter) *This discount runs from May the 14th-17th* @panmacmillan@booksbybluebird....#theancientways #independantbookshop #supportlocal #welshauthor #folklorebooks by @hedgerow_healing
176
25 days ago
Download
|AD A very rare bathroom selfie! Spring is here 🙌 Well, in theory, anyway! It’s still pretty cold high up in the hills, even if the sun is warm ☀️I’ve been loving getting home and diving into this @triton_showers ENlight that I got from @bandq_uk 🌱I honestly love this design and the little nudges it gives you to create more mindful changes to daily habits. ENlight is designed to help reduce water and energy use, with a built in Eco mode and timer which makes it SO easy to build better habits without overthinking 🙌Product details below! It’s also available at B&Q stores! Triton ENlight Matt Grey Thermostatic Electric Shower Use this link for more information 🫶 https://diy.pxf.io/en1moZ #SustainableShower #eryrinationalpark #springmountainwalks #environmentalism #YouCanDoIt by @hedgerow_healing
59
a month ago
Download
|AD Who doesn’t love a shower? And when you spend 90% of your time outside it is essential to have a decent source of heat waiting for you when you get home!@triton_showers recently sent me one of their overhead showers to replace our old one, and honestly I adore it! The design is so nice, and the rainfall showerhead fully immerses me in the water 🩵Not only does it get quite hot, it also helps reduce our environmental impact as the Eco-mode with its 5-minute timer encourages shorter showers and uses less water and electricity, such a bonus! The shower is called the Triton ENlight and is available to shop at @bandq_uk now 🙌 Coming back from this walk and being able to just jump into a warm and working shower was such a nice way to finish the day ☀️✨️.#mountainwalking #environmentalism #watersustainability #eryrinationalpark #YouCanDoIt by @hedgerow_healing
42
a month ago
Download
Flower Folklore - Red Campion 🌸❤️Sticking to the folklore here and didn't pick this one for the video, even if it meant leaning into a load of nettles 😅Red Campion is a beloved flower of the hedgerows and forests, and where it geows wild it often is an indicator of an ancient woodland. It usually starts to flower just as the bluebells go to seed, and lasts until late July/August. Red Campion is enriched with folklore, from death to snakes, lightning to champions. Much of the folklore says that if you pick it then death will come to the family, and in many parts of england it was called 'mothers die'. In Wales it was believed that the thunder god Taranis would strike you down if you picked the stems, or a snake would appear at its roots and bite you. But although a lot of the folklore warns against picking it, it was often planted near homes and in gardens to bring protection and encourage faery favour, being a beloved flower of the little folk. Red Campion is alsp rich in folk magic & medicine, and was widely used across Europe as a natural soap for washing clothes and bedding die to its saponin content found in the roots. ....#flowerfolklore #flowerfairies #welshfolklore #thundergod #hedgerowplants by @hedgerow_healing
57
a month ago
Download
PLANTAIN 🌱💚Ribwort & greater plantain are low-lying plants found in fields, gardens & roadsides. There are many varieties of the plantain family, but these two have specifically been used in herbal medicine and first aid since the Neolithic era.Archaeological evidence from bee pollen shows that plantain spread easily across early farming fields and was used in early herbal medicine to draw out infection. Plantain is an amazing first-aid herb, and due to its hardyness can be found growing in most places. It's a herbal best-friend of any mountaineer or outdoor enthusiast, and is not one to be missed!Its bioactive compounds (such as allantoin & aucubin) work as antimicrobial & anti-inflammatories, promoting skin repair and fighting infection. The leaf can be torn up and infised with a carrier oil for 1-2 weeks, then strained and heated in a doible boiler with beeswax or stirred into a base cream for a herbal first aid that promotes healing of cuts & wounds, heals sunburn and eases insect bites. DISCLAIMER:As always, do your own research. Make sure ypu identify the herb correctly. Look up how to use properly and (unless stated otherwise) don't consume any plant that you have just learned about online. Also be cautious and gather your herbs from a clean, fresh source to avoid contamination of uneccesary bacteria. ...#herbalmedicine #herbalfirstaid #firstaid #mountaineeringherbs #herbalfolklore by @hedgerow_healing
50
a month ago
Download
×

Download all media on this page

Photos Videos
back to up