Any witches here?

[speakout]

Or Wiccans. or Pagans?

I was raised as a witch- my grandmother was born in 1890 and taught me how to scry, knotwork, many magical activities. She was a dresser of the dead and a lay midwife ( before the NHS).
I now practice my craft with enthusiasm.
A little tricky as my extended family are not supportive.

I'm not sure cunning folk were simply "jobbing witches".

My grandmothers people were cunning folk
Some modern day witches will barter in exchange for spellwork after all.

"When we start to take a magical interest books will find us" YY to this!

I used to go along to my local pagan moot where I used to live and that is a great way to learn about magic and get other peoples perspectives. You can Google your towns name and pagan moot and there will probably be one near you. I should give myself a kick up the bum and go check out the moot here actually!

Just settling down to read a new book on preserves!
I tend to find I'm drawn to practical books, usually cookery, growing or food related and then I add my own magical element to things i create. But whenever I try to read a book directly about magical practices I just can't seem to take anything in. It's as though I don't want any of my magic to be perscribed; reciting someone else's spell or following anothers direction etc. It's more personal to me and much more adhock!
Does anyone else feel this way? Is this maybe quite a common approach?

I feel that our ancestors were more likely to exchange practical knowledge about which herbs healed what and how plants could nourish etc. Then the individual could work their magic into what they did in a personal, natural way that could only have come from them. Does that make sense?

That makes total sense Billydessert

I love reading other people's spells and books about magic, but once you master the basics then the real stuff is to be found off piste.

It's a but like cooking.
For someone starting out as a cook then a cookbook can be very useful- stuff is tried and tested you can follow a recipe and get good results.
But once you become more adept at cooking then you can read recipes or books and use only some new interesting ideas or twists and incorporate them into your own work rather than slavishly follow instructions.

Same with spell work. I know how I like to work, I know what works, I love looking for new ideas and constantly trying new things, but I am happiest working alone. My spells change according to my mood, my energy, the season, the weather.
I have good friends that join me in energy work, but covens are no longer for me.

Thank you Elphame no it’s not astrology,

I don’t know what is is, it’s weird It’s like a longing, it feels spiritual which is why I posted here. Like a certain drawing towards the sky. Almost like I am feeling less connected here, like there’s something “more” something I’m missing. I don’t know. I just sound a bit crazy. I’m not, I’m totally functioning professional person and have never said any of this to anyone in real life and even (obviously) name changed from my usual MN name.

starstruck- I love this woman Jonna Jinton- A Swedish Artist, Photographer, Blogger and Musician.
She works with starry skies,, Northern Lights etc She has a website and Facebook page.
THis short video gives you a flavour:

@Speakout thank you for the cooking analogy! It makes total sense of what I was trying to say

@Starstruck2020 you don't sound crazy at all! This might be completely off the mark but have you read Measuring the Universe by Kitty Ferguson? It's sort of astrophysics for normal people but also a look at the history of people's need to understand the sky and space.
Or if you are feeling a little lost spiritually or otherwise then perhaps you are being drawn to scrying the night sky in order to find answers for yourself.
I wonder if you being drawn to gaze upon the infinite night sky is a way to help you place yourself back on earth? A way for you to step outside of yourself and see clearly back in?

Thank you Speakout and billydessert I’ll look at the website and Kitty Ferguson’s book. I think you might be onto something there for me Billydessert.

I'm loving this thread 💜

I'd never heard of cunning folk either and am inspired to read more about folk history, I'm going to follow some of your author suggestions here.

I completely relate to the ad hoc spell work- I much prefer to 'feel my way' with it and work with my intuition. For example I mixed some essential oils recently to manifest a certain way of feeling in my life, yes I probably drew on what I have read but worked intuitively in the moment. I loved the result and also don't like the idea of it being prescribed.

I agree that intention is the key and think our magic needs our own essence at its core. Think the cooking analogy is fab.

Thinking about this and the women in my family, on my mum's side; they would read tea leaves, playing cards, lay on hands when healing was needed and just know things. They would craft and create and use special home remedies. This was all just part of Life and no one called it anything in particular. I fact they worried about others in the family who subscribed to specific belief systems- spiritualism in their case. It's a shame these traditions seem to have been lost in my generation and the younger ones. But reading this thread, I'm reflecting that this way of being is alive and well in myself and others here. I'm feeling the strength of ansestors behind us and the joy of carrying traditions that probably aren't well documented as 'women's history' tends not to be...

Yes. I think womanly wisdom is forgotten/lost. I’d love to know who my ancestors were. We left the uk when I was small so I have limited ties to my family, (and heritage maybe which is why I’m feeling like I am lately?). But thinking about them all, and myself, we have a definite trend of being in “caring professions” with quite a few of us health professionals and a teacher..

Yes I completely agree about witchcraft and women/history.

We seem to value only that which is documented in historical terms, I understand the need for that, but so much is lost because of that.
It gives bias and significance to men, to those in power, the church to the upper classes in terms of defining our history.
So much knowledge has been lost, our social history, the information held by rural woman, those who practiced the craft.
But we have pieces of the jigsaw, the snippets, some archeological evidence, the folklore, the music, the myth, the story telling and our instincts.
These are rich sources.

For me there is a big feminist aspect to witchcraft.

speakout can I have a link to your supplies, please?

Really fascinating thread.
I’ve always described myself as about as psychic as a brick, but that’s not quite true. I’ve had a couple of experiences - a dream or two that came true, dreams of passed relatives that felt very real. And once, most scarily, I was rolling a dice and felt this oddness come over me, then knew the number it would land on for a long run of rolls til I freaked out and shook myself.

I’d love to try cloud scrying, I always see images easily in these kinds of things.

Couple of questions.

Does anyone know how I can do some work linking food preparation / eating and my young son? He’s a non eater, and it worries me no end.

Also, any links between these traditions and Judaism?

FrankensteinsSister

Hi and welcome.
I will happily send you a pm. I don;t want to promote my business on this thread- that was never my intention.

Non eating child is an issue- I had one myself, I do sympathise, but perhaps this thread will give you the best support you need. Maybe if you start a thread on another board you will get more practical support.

Judaism- I see as another misogynistic religion. There are links to Kabbalah and esoteric practices.

Not my bag- other posters may help in that arena.

ThNks!
I’ve tried many routes with my non eater, the comment a while back about stirring with intent caught my interest

Being Jewish and of Eastern European ancestry, I feel like I can’t ‘claim’ any of the more Celtic traditions, if that makes sense?
Believe me, I am very attuned to misogyny!

C.S Lewis wrote a wonderful book about spirits tied to places and old mid eastern traditions called Til We Have Faces.

Hi all...long time lurker, first time poster etc. This is gonna be long so sorry in advance!

Like many I came to paganism through feminism. I remember getting a detention at school for 'promoting witchcraft' (ironic as I was merely exploring Celtic and Wiccan symbology - fun fact I grew up in the same road as Gerald Gardener but only found out about that last year!) I don't really identify as anything other than Celtic Pagan. I was raised by a Lapsed Catholic and my mother unknowingly had many paganistic things around her house. She collects Green Men! I have always collected crystals and set intentions (as well as many 'superstitious' things like a broom over the door, always having a bay leaf and pentacle in my purse, bowls of sea salt around the house, sageing, growing rosemary by my front door etc.)

With regards to altars, although I don't do much magical work these days I always have a place to pay respect to the elements. Even though I live alone in a 3 bed house I have always felt I wanted this in my bedroom, so I have a small area on the top of my chest of drawers that incorporates the elements. Similarly I always carry (in the small zippy pocket of every handbag!) a feather, a small shell, a pebble and a cinnamon stick to represent the elements. I also have a mint tin containing these and a penny and quartz crystal in the glovebox of my car. They are just small things but I like having them.

I have never felt the need to hide my stuff from my family (bit hard as it's everywhere. I have a huge 'Strega' apothecary cabinet full of tools, books and curios) and I'm lucky as they are open-minded enough to not mind me answering questions when children and teenagers ask me about it. Indeed my sibling's children love crystals and each have their own growing collections! As I just turned 40 (and am childless!) I suspect I'm in Maiden/crone limbo!

I recently gave a friend a book called Pagan Paths that she found very helpful. I got it on amazon. Also an excellent article on dowsing in Fortean Times recently that you can find if you google.

Hello unhinged!

I've been away for a few days in Derbyshire doing some walking and spotting an awful lot of pagan/witchy things!

Firstly the OH accidentally managed to book us into a pagan owned B&B which was a great start - we were able to pick their brains about the local stone circles and Neolithic standing stones as well as enjoy the shrines around the place.

We visited 3 circles, one where we gave an impromptu dowsing lesson to a group of young people on a field trip ( as you do ) and another where my camera decided not to work. That last one is still in active use with a lot of things left in the trees unfortunately. Clooties are great when made of natural fibres but a really bad idea when polyester or other synthetics

The church in the town was a rich source with some interesting stone carvings incorporated into the walls and some well dressing displays in the churchyard. We also found some practical modern love magic being practised in Matlock!

Magic is everywhere once you start to look.

I have been working with crystals today, sorting out stuff for work, and my own collection. I ordered a huge Selenite crystal which arrived and has pride of place.
So I have retired to bed for an early night with crystal stars in my eyes- I can see them when I close my eyes!!

Just wanted to say how much I’ve loved this thread, I keep coming back to see if anything’s been added. You all sound like wonderful people :)

ThatsNotEvenAWord That's lovely.

Are you walking a magical journey?

Green witch in Somerset here. Nature based path. I enjoy Tylluan Penry's books. Seeking the Green and staying on the old track are my favourites of hers.

GrumpyOldMare those books sound interesting. I haven't read them.

Yes I adore nature too, simple things like watching Geese in formation or seeing new flower buds appear give me most pleasure in life- apart from the love with my family.

Welcome everybody, I'm really enjoying this thread too.

@Unapologetic i like the sound of your 'superstitious ' things around the house.

@Elphame sounds like you had a lovely trip, thanks for sharing the pics. I used to go to Matlock often as a child but haven't been for years.

@Grumpy thanks for the book suggestions, I 'll be taking a look at those.

Got some nice preserve recipes lined up for the next few months. I walk along the hedge rows watching the bees pollinate the blackberry flowers and enjoying the roses that will eventually provide their delicious fruits. I keep sending them my blessings.
There is a lovely apple tree that I'd like to forage from but unfortunately people take their dogs to do their business under it. I can't understand why people don't want to look after it and cherish it. I feel it's sadness when I'm near it.

speakout I’ve always been interested/drawn to it... reading all this has sort of woken it all up again. Finding it hard to find the right words. It’s like there’s been all sorts of signs now I’m paying attention again. Going to keep reading this thread and see where I’m led.

ThatsNotEvenAWord welcome.

And I think your feelings are not uncommon.
We have busy lives, surrounded by the chatter and clatter of everyday life, it's hard to hear the inner magical voice speak sometimes. Plus when we do listen we are told that voice is silly, or childish, something that no longer applies to our modern world.

When we start to listen to that magical pull, we give it the time and understand what it says then magical things can happen in our lives.

Hello all!

I've ordered two books based on this threads recommendations, on my way to easing myself back into this more spiritual way of living.
Rae Beth and Kate West's cookbook.

I live in the middle of a town and would like to feel more connected to the natural world. I already have a lot of plants I love tending to, but I'd like to create a small place with more "wild" vegetation where I can sit for reflection and possibly have out a few bits and bobs.

Ive always had an altar although i didnt know it had a name. A small table packed full of trinkets, interesting stones, feathers, meaningful objects, little tokens, things I consider "magical"! But i packed it away into a plastic bag and havent unpacked it since i moved...I feel like a traitor!

Does anyone have a "familiar"? Do they contribute to your workings? I have two cats, one who is useless and not the brightest but one who has a very profound (or so i like to think) nature, who im very close to.