What's in a Name?

I was trying to think of a good way to introduce myself, and by extension, the company I am trying to build. I have been practicing my craft so that I can provide a good product. I have been researching the business side of things, and am beginning to set myself up for success in the marketplace. In addition, particularly in today's time, a presence in social media is a requirement as well. That is why this blog exists, as an extension of my company's identity, and a way to connect with potential customers, or other soap enthusiasts, you name it. But where do you start?
So I thought I would start by explaining how I came up with the name 'Southern Hedgewitch'.
The 'Southern' part is easy. I live in South Carolina, and being 'southern' is a defining characteristic. I was not born and raised here, so in some circles I am still somewhat an outsider. However, I have lived in the South for so long, from the Lowcountry in Charleston to here in the Upstate in Anderson it feels like I belong anyway. I have always been enchanted by the history and charm of the South, (at least since I first read 'Gone With the Wind' in 7th grade) and I cannot imagine another place to call home. There is an air of romance and mystery that surrounds all things 'Southern' and by incorporating that into my name, I hope to enchant others with my products!

Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, in front of the Hollywood version of the quintessential Southern Home, Tara.

My decision to start a soap business stems from my interest in natural alternatives to household products, and a desire to live a more self-sustainable lifestyle. Originally, it was simply the thought that I might be able to make some things myself for my family to use that led me to making soap. As I researched the process, I found a whole world of craftspeople and artisans dedicated to soaping, and at first I was overwhelmed, and then I was excited at the prospect that I might be able to do something at home that might actually generate an income!

Becoming self-sustainable is now something of an obsession for me. There are a boatload of reasons for this, everything from economics (Have you noticed the cost of fresh produce or meat lately?), a love of the outdoors (As a child, I never wore shoes, and I could ride a horse before I could ride a bike.), a desire to keep my family healthy (My husband has sensitive skin, and I want us all to eat and live a healthier lifestyle rather than be surrounded by fast food and video games all the time.) and probably most importantly, a love and respect for history and traditions that are quickly becoming lost. 

I will wax poetic about history later, for now let's focus on how my obsessions developed into a workable business name. What could possibly set me apart, emphasize my love of nature and natural products, yet not put me so far out of the box that I would be unrelatable? When I think about who I am, from my own family history, and my natural inclinations, I am definitely that slightly weird lady who likes to putter about her garden, talk to her animals, cook up interesting concoctions in the kitchen, and tries to leave the world a little better in the process. If it were a few hundred years ago, I would be the lady who lives at the edge of town, selling an elixir or herbal or two... oh my goodness, I'm a witch!?

Ok, I will admit to a bit of curiosity about the pagan arts, though I am not actually a practitioner, by any means. I do think that the power of faith can take many forms, and paganism is absolutely one of those. My interest stemmed originally from my family history. My family is Irish on my mother's side, Scots-Irish and Italian on my father's side, and I heard a rumor that there might be some Native American in there as well. All of those heritages are steeped in rich traditions of paganism and shamanism. My mom's family is obsessed with everything Irish, and I admit to a teensy (ok, a lot) of interest in all things Celtic as well. It is high on my bucket list to take a trip to Ireland and see the same sights my grandparents did years ago.

Irish Cottage, photo credit: Graham Hall Images
(I could totally envision myself living in a cottage like this in a former life!)

I also will admit to an interest in natural healing: aromatherapy, herbalism, homeopathic medicine. I mean, what on earth did we as humans do before health insurance and advanced medicine? Granted, for one, we had shorter life-spans in general, but we figured a lot of things out, and I see no reason why ancient remedies for simple ailments can't work as well as anything you could buy over the counter at the drugstore, and if you really investigate, we're talking about the same ingredients anyway! For example, aspirin was derived from willow bark in 1763, a well-known herbal remedy for generations.

I also think that many would agree that our senses are very important to our state of well-being. Things like color, scent, and texture all contribute to how we feel. We wear perfume and colognes that make us feel attractive, or perk up our mood, or we hope it might have an effect on the people around us. (There's quite a market in pheromones these days...) Well, gee, soap encompasses all of those things! We pick soaps because they appeal to us in some way, either the scent is intoxicating, or the colors are interesting, or the ingredients may have desired effects for our skin... the combinations are endless!

So I dug into my interests, my heritage, my product, and I finally landed on a perfect way to describe who I am... a HEDGEWITCH!

But what exactly is a hedgewitch? I think the best description can be found here: Hedgewitch Forest

A Google Search will turn up similar results, and they all pretty much sum up who I am, or at least, who I would like to be. I am still learning and honing my craft, and I hope this blog will help to serve as a chronicle of my journey on my chosen path. I hope as well that anyone reading this will join me in support of this endeavor, and maybe even buy some soap! 

Hedgewitch: aka Green Witch