Here are some small animals associated with the shadow, and our craft, but this list is by no means a limitation:

Crow or Raven

Toad or Frog

Owl

Cat

All of these animals listed carry the same correspondences that I mentioned above for Hecate and the shadow and they also carry their own specific correspondences. I am choosing not to list their specific correspondences here because I believe that it is important for the witch to develop their own specific relationship with these animals and their energies. Ask and see what comes to you.

Before scooping up the dead, ask: Is this right for the spirit and for you? Is there a connection? Is the spirit asking you something? Respect and reverence is number one. Are you to come back with an offering to the spirits of the land from which you are taking this animal? If all lights are green, do not touch the dead with your bare hands as this will spread bacteria from the putrefaction process (if the animal already has a lot of bugs the organs may be gaseous. Do not harvest the body. Leave it long enough for the bugs to do their work. Putrid exploding organs are not fun and it could be a health hazard).

I am in the habit of always carrying plastic bags on me in the event that I come across an animal corpse. Put a bag over each of your hands like big gloves. *Never use your bare hands*. Use one bagged hand to scoop the animal into the other bagged hand. Once the animal or a good part of it is in a firm grasp use the now freed bagged hand to pull the bag around the animal so that it is now inside one of the bags. Double bag it by taking the other bagged palm under the base of the bag with the animal in it and pull the outer edges up and around it. Tie it off.

Once you are home

*Put your gloves on* then gently empty the bag outside of your home in an undisturbed area. If you have a bird (with gloves on) clip off the wings at the joint and remove as many feathers from the corpse as possible. You can make these parts an offering to the land. Put the animal body underneath your bucket and place the cement block or other very heavy object on top so that animals will not be able to knock it over and take your body. Wash your hands thoroughly with hot water and strong soap. I also wash and disinfect door knobs, the sink handle, and anything else I may have come into contact with. With your animal safely under the bucket, the bugs will go to work decomposing the organs and flesh of the body.

The time needed for decay will vary depending on the size of the animal. It could take a week or a couple months. While this process is happening endeavor to connect with this spirit through sitting outside and moving between listening and stating your intentions. You can also include the animal spirit in your rituals, or dream work. Write a song or chant than evokes the spirit of this animal. An example is: “Spirit of Crow (or whichever animal) who knows the Night, a familiar may you be, by my side. Protect and teach me your secret ways, create with me, a bond that stays”. Make it personal. Make it brief so that it easy to remember and get into the rhythm. When the rhythm hits you in a certain way, and you will know... ride the energy of the connection.

Check on the animal from time to time to know that it remains undisturbed and to observe progress. Wear gloves and cover your face. When the organs have diminished and what you have left are mostly bones, maybe some flesh is left, maybe some fur or some feathers, and some tendons it is time for the next phase.

Engage in this practice on the dark moon: Put your gloves on and tie your bandanna around your nose and mouth or put your mask on to retrieve the animal. It's not advisable to inhale putrefaction. Put in your boiling pot of water. After you have stirred a bit you can take off your bandanna. If you have access to an outside fire pit awesome, if not this is okay, just be sure to open the windows and light some incense. If you have created a song or chant do this now or if it's right for you, create a new incantation for this next process and perform this while you are stirring the pot. An example is: “Stirring pot and swirling bone, familiar of the Toad be known (or whichever animal). I call you in, on this hour to bless me with your gifts and power”.

As you stir interact with your craft as you are stirring not just the body, but the energy, and the spirit that is still very much alive with the relationship that you have been cultivating. Bones will fall away and there should be a decent amount of separation. If you're not already outside, then take the pot outside. Wait for it to cool and then with gloves on remove any remaining feathers or fur.

You may have to gently cut away tendons with your knife or gently hand separate (*Wearing gloves*) vertebrae, and remove the skull from the spine. If you are working with a bird be sure to cut and save the feet. The crow foot is especially connected with Hecate. Next place your bones (and bird feet if applicable) in the cardboard box with a heavy layer of cornmeal already on the bottom and pour more cornmeal on top to completely cover up the bones. The bones should be buried at least a few inches under the top layer of cornmeal. The cornmeal will soak up moisture from the boiling as well as any natural juice of the bone. Let this sit in a dry place. The larger the animal the longer it needs to sit a frog or a toad may take no time at all but a larger animal the longer the process. It could take two to six months.

When you check on your bones always wash your hands when you're through. (Please forgive me for this) you will know when they are ready, when they are bone dry. Brush off the cornmeal and place them in your bin with fifty percent peroxide and fifty percent water. Cover and let sit for up to two weeks. This is for whitening as well as disinfecting. Do not use bleach it is too harsh and could destroy the bone. Bones of the toad or frog may not need that much time so keep an eye on them and when they’re white take them out. Do not leave birds feet in the peroxide for that long. I left my crow’s feet in for maybe about an hour and then put them back in the cornmeal box for a few weeks to dry out again and they were just fine. Once they are whitened lay the bones out to dry in a protected area.

** CAUTION **

Hedge Witchery is not dainty. It’s dangerous, it’s dirty, and it’s not always kind. The practitioner engages in this craft at their own risk. Working with this kind of decay can spread sickness or disease if precautionary measures are not taken and instructions are not followed. Dead animal bodies are filled with bacteria and may carry viruses. It is the practitioner’s responsibility to administer caution and use a combination of intuition and common sense when working hands on with an animal corpse. Follow ALL of the instructions. Always wear gloves. Always wash your hands thoroughly with hot water and antibacterial soap when finished. Always disinfect your working space when finished. Do not touch your face or any part of you after handling an animal corpse. Be present with what you’re doing and always disinfect what may have been contaminated. I mentioned above that if the body you come across already is significantly bug infested then leave it in nature because if you try to pick it up and the organs are gaseous it can explode. Are there bugs swarming the body? Does the body look bloated? Don’t touch it. That means blood, guts, feces, and bacteria all over you. If you’re meant to work with those bones they will still be there after the organs decompose. Harvesting an animal corpse is best when the death is fresh. Boiling is part of the disinfectant process as well as the peroxide bath. There is no way to take the nitty gritty, the risk, or the morbidity out of Hedge Witchery otherwise it’s not Hedge Witchery. Hedge Witchery is dear to my heart. Take precautions, be smart, have fun, and love the process.