Hag
The Hag. Rider of hedgerows and chests. She conjures nightmares. The word “hag” is probably derived from haga from the Old English, meaning hedge. Hags (witches) were known for their “hedge-riding” abilities, for crossing the boundary of enclosed settlements into the wild forest and return safely. Generally it was thought that staying within the hedges was the safe and secure option and beyond was a dangerous wilderness. This can certainly be linked to the enclosure acts and 'housewifization of women' in the Eighteenth century. When hags were able to go beyond the hedges into this treacherous world and return unscathed they were thought to be colluding with dark forces when actually, they were just wise and canny enough to know their way around. The rural superstition still survives that by planting holly into your hedgerow you can foil witches because they are naturally repelled by holly. The word Hag, however, has other derivations including the Old Norse word hogg meaning gap. This origin points toward the hag's ability to travel between worlds with her “wizened” and “witchy” ways. This becomes increasingly interesting when thinking about hag stones (a stone with a naturally occurring hole through) which are found on beaches, near rivers and streams or anywhere close to water. Hag stones are traditionally used for protection and finders can wear them as necklaces, hang them above beds, above doorways and even in stables to protect from witchcraft and spells. The stones also offer protection from being hag ridden which involved a hag sitting on the chest of a sleeper giving them nightmares (from Middle English night + mære) and sleep paralysis. I love collecting hagstones and I have a double figure collection sitting along my bedroom windowsill. The photo above was found by a friend of mine on a beach in Sussex. It’s very big so I use it as a bookend and candle holder. Today the Hag is most commonly known as a ugly, old witch often depicted as grotesque, malevolent, and solitary.