Hedgehogs & Witchcraft

[Bexxie82]

Does anyone know if hedgehogs were ever or still are used in witchcraft, or had any superstitions linked with them?

[bluevern]

thats why witches are ugly,cos they smash each otherin the face with hedgehogs,,,,,,

[heathfield]

long ago it was thought by some people that hedgehogs were witches in the shape of their 'familiar'

[spudqueen]

heathfield - a 'familiar' was not the witch in another shape, it was the devil (or accomplice of the devil) in another shape. In the case of the Lancashire (Pendle) witches one woman was hanged because someone saw a toad in her kitchen which was never seen again. This toad was supposed to be her familiar.

[annavc]

Cats were most often believed to be witches' familiars I believe. I read somewhere that cats with extra toes were in particular thought to have this role. My cat has extra toes - does that make me a witch?!

[heathfield]

Aww heck, Spudqueen - on reflection, you're right! What was I thinking of, then, when witches turned themselves into something else?

[CrazyWolfman]

Apparently being born on friday the thirteenth is supposed to qualify me as being a werewolf, but much to my annoyance it doesn't seem to work. Therefore I don't believe any of this stuff about witches, not unless I get to stalk the woods by the full moon at least.

[Andwyn]

Yes! the hedge represents the line drawn between the realm of reality and possibility. a Hedgehog is there for a totem animal among us. To witches we use many animals as holders of a specific symbol or Mystery of wisdom. the hedgehog is one of our sacred animals as it lives between two worlds.