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.

sockportal hope your little girl recovers quickly.
elphame what's this dragons blood? I Googled but got face cream/pads so not sure that's right!

sockportal Hope your little one is OK. I use these sites.

nourishingjoy.com/homemade-dusting-spray-and-wood-polish/
crunchybetty.com/category/crunchy-home/

Gammeldragz dragonsblood is a dark red resin from the sap of a number of trees. I use Dracaena myself. I use it as a general space cleanser before I do a working as a magical equivalent to dusting and hoovering and often just because I like it. Combine it with other herbs and you have the magical equivalent of Domestos!

If you google dragonsblood resin you'll get the useful results. It's a very popular resin

sockportal nice to see you.
I hope your daughter is feeling better.

I use a lot of oils, I tend just to add as I go, a few drops into cleaning water, I may use a few drops of peppermint on a hot day, I just add to a sinkful of hot water with your choice of detergent/bicarb or soda, then use as I wipe down surfaces, or clean the toilet.
I keep a range in the kitchen, I love using edible oils, - orange, lemon, lemongrass, rose, lavender, violet, grapefruit.
In wintertime I will use pine and cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus.
Put a few drops on a cotton ball in the vacuum or sprinkle on the floor before hoovering.

Trust your instincts and likes, read about the properties, but think about how they make you feel which is even more important.
There are some oils I dislike- tea tree is the worst for me, so I don't use it.

Well it's been an expensive day!

I arranged to meet a friend in Glastonbury for lunch and unfortunately it coincided with the Wytches Market. That is a dangerous dangerous place especially when my favourite ceramic artist is there! Ah well it could have been worse..... I only bought one sculpture...

She does some really lovely figurines and set pieces www.etsy.com/uk/shop/WynAbbotCeramics

The one I bought is not on the site but the tree altar is very similar.

And I only went to buy some more eucalyptus oil!

Afterwards we headed up into the woods a few miles away for some herb gathering and some ritual work amongst the trees.

A lovely day - what has everyone else been up to?

That sounds lovely elphame. Been so busy with family things today but every time I hang clothes on the line to dry now I think about what speakout said about it being an act of magic. I love that. I really want to buy some more essential oils, I need to read back through this thread to find the book suggestions again as I’m feeling a bit lost still.

ThatsNotEvenAWord

Please don't feel lost. Feel secure- and supported,. There are so many of us on this this thread. We all feel insecure and afraid at times. It doesn't mean you are weak. Help is here.

What speakout says - we are all learning all the time and I certainly have my moments when I really have no idea what I'm doing!

Elphame- exactly.
We are all learning, this is a journey- not a destination.
Whether we have been learning the craft for 3 months or 30 years there is still so much more to learn.
And it's the process that keeps up the excitement, the hunger. I learn new things every day.
And I don't always get it right.

Morning all,
I hope you don't mind, but I feel drawn to asking you wonderful wise women for some advice?
What do you do to keep your 'vibe' high/ peaceful/ strong when it feels like others around you on 'on the attack' I don't believe their intentions to be bad but linked to depression about their own circumstances. I guess I'm asking about 'protection' for myself, an overly sensitive soul! I'm fairly solitary and have lots of time on my own, which is great for me, but recently I've found it difficult to feel nourished by this as I can't seem to get away from this 'heavy' and frankly unkind energy that comes my way from this circumstance. I feel like I'm absorbing it and it's weighing me down. I need to find a way to stay strong in myself whilst still in this situation, stepping away isn't an option atm.
I hope this makes sense and apologies for bringing negativity here, I'd just be really interested to hear what practices etc you'd use to help yourself through difficult times?

I've been a bit busy these past weeks and not been around, but I want to answer the query about the witch/Wiccan bit. This is just my take on it, you understand...
I am a witch, and have been for many years. As a child, I made my own spells and charms, and worked magic in the wood we lived in. As I got older, I met other pagans at moots and in Earth mysteries gatherings, hedgewitches and Wiccans at moots and conferences, Dianic witches at Greenham Common and women's groups; and eco witches at environmental protests. So at one time or another, any one of theses labels could be applied to me.
But not Wiccan. They were hierarchical, too prescribed, too formal, too structured, too exclusive, too up themselves, etc, etc. I didn't need an initiation to make me a witch....
But I kept meeting them, and they were nice, knew what they were talking about and their open rituals were tight and effective.
To cut a long story short, I went to a teaching circle and finally was initiated. Finally realising that initiation makes you Wiccan, not a witch. I know it's not for everyone, but this is what I’m doing..
I still carry on my hedgewitchery, in my everyday life, as well as the Wiccan circles, as do other members of my coven. Working alone has taught me a lot about myself.
But as I said before, being in circle with a bunch of witches who know what they're about is the most incredible experience. I get this mostly from working with Wiccans; sometimes I get this from working with non Wiccan witch friends, that I know well and are attuned to.

Morning Zaphod - when in that situation I find shielding myself from them is the way to go. Much less hard work and a very useful skill! It prevents the constant drain from you that occurs when other people are affecting you badly.

The usual method recommended is to envisage yourself in a ball of white light. It does take a bit of practice but once you get the hang of it you can get the shields up pretty instantly. There are many other visualisations you can use though - doesn't have to be light. I often use a stone tower if I want it to be impenetrable or a light mist if I just want to dampen things a bit.

I have taken this further and shielded the entire house from the neighbours! - I even got the house removed from google streetview and was amazed at the energetic difference that made! It did a lot of the work for me and although the house is in plain view from the road and has the name clearly displayed, many people just don't see it!

I find meditation just doesn't work for me for raising my own vibrations. I have the sort of mind that doesn't happily shut off so I have adopted other methods. Dance, movement, music or binaural beats usually do it for me - basically anything stimulating.

Protection can be anything from really easy to very complicated depending on your circumstances.

One of the easiest is just take some breaths, sprinkle yourself with a few grains of salt and envision a protective cloak around you of material that's shiny on the outside that will bounce back any negativity at the sender.
If you're not a great visualiser, a bit of tinfoil on your heart chakra (middle front of bra) shiny side facing outwards is fine, or wear a top with sparkly thread in it if you like them.

The whole point is to find something you can do for yourself that you feel comfortable with to make yourself reflective instead of absorbent when you are around those people or places.

I have a reflexologist friend who could not stop absorbing all her clients' ills, she tried all sorts and one day bought herself a doctor's white coat. For her, that works like a dream, it wouldn't work for me.

I'm a fan of flaming blue pentagrams and mirrors or shiny things to deflect, other people like salt or oils or smudge sticks or purifying baths or verses said three times or a load of other things. Experiment until you find something you're comfortable with. It doesn't have to be complicated to work.

If you go for the reflective methods, (hi viz jacket for the inner self) don't forget to take them off or end the process when you're out of the situation as sometimes people can be so protected and deflecting they forget to let the good things in too.

Welcome Giggorata! I agree - circle work with a group who know what they are doing is an amazing experience. I am a coven initiate myself (non -Wiccan). You can do things within that structure that are just not possible (or safe!) in solitary work.

Since I moved I am now nowhere close to my coven so I rarely get to practice with them now and I really do miss it. There is nothing comparable locally unless I join a Wiccan group but I'm too set in my own trad to make the theological switch that would be needed.

BlankTimes and Elphame- some really good practical advice there.
When I am in challenging circumstances I wear a piece of rough quartz that was fashioned into a pendant for me by a Shaman friend. He dug it from the dirt near to my most sacred spot on earth for me.

Thank you so much for your replies and for taking the time to support me. I'll try some of your suggestions
I think the lesson here for me is to use some of these practices regularly, before I get to the point of being worn down by it all!
Sensitivity can be a double edged sword can't it.
Thank you all

What is everyone up to today witchy wise?
I have just made a batch of 100 "Abundance" votives, now cooling.
And delighted to see a plant present itself yesterday to me as a gift from the universe.
We moved house a couple of years ago- our old house was tiny n a remote location, I loved the garden and Gaia came to park herself, the garden was beyond abundant, wildlife, butterflies, birds, badgers, deer. Everything just vibrated life force. I planted lots of plants, trees and shrubs, and one Buddleia a variety call " Black Knight" which rampaged - we literally had hundreds of butterflies, hover flies in our garden.
We moved- a much larger house, and amazing because we are surrounded by native woodland, but my new garden is small. Previous residents left concrete shed foundations through much of the area and I have struggled to find places to grow. I have managed small patches, where the soil is good, and this year I have been rewarded by my efforts as I feel that Gaia sense returning.
So yesterday- in Morrisons of all places I found a solitary specimen of Buddleia, looking rather withered and forlorn for 50p. And yes you guessed the variety was "Black Knight" a very dark deep purple- and the same one that provided butterfly hotel.
So I soaked the plant for several hours, then found a sweet spot, I have been pouring water on it every few hours, and even since yesterday I can see it has perked up, it looks well hydrated and happy.
As am I. It;s a sign that life energy will flourish despite adversity.

I hope you don't mind me sharing this simple pleasure.

zaphold- yes.

Being an empath is very hard work.
Be careful not to look on magical practices as another burden however. That's a game I refuse to entertain.
Take small steps to nourish yourself so it doesn't seem like a chore.
I keep a bottle of essential oil near the shower. ( I'm using orange at the moment) Before I get into the shower I sprinkle a few drops on the floor of the shower, the warm water releases the fragrance as I wash, and gives my spirit some nurturing.
I often light scented candles- tiny tea lights as a small gift to myself through the day.

That's wonderful speakout,
Enjoyed reading your simple pleasures and the witchiness of your day to day life
I was given a rose as a present. I planted it on the full moon, along with some rose quartz, an old key and a tiny laughing Buddha, symbolising love, happiness and security.
I thanked Mother Earth for the gift and asked that as the rose grew, I would feel these aspects growing in my life.
I tend to it and give thanks for what is to come

Zapholdbeeblebrox that is so beautiful thank you for sharing. I love roses, rose quartz and Bhudda- all so positive.

Planting is so self nurturing isn't it.

You are making me feel guilty as I lounge on the sofa! After yesterday I'm taking a rest and watching the dogs....

I do have some agrimony infusing though and I have added my new sculpture to my sitting room shrine before flaking out. It's like a steam room here. We are forecast thunderstorms though so I'm hoping they are right. I love a visit from Taranis.

I'm not doing a lot of planting this year - the house is up for sale and I've lost all motivation. It's just harvest and maintain other than for my tender exotics that are in pots and will go with us.

Elphame you enjoy resting!

There is a time for that and a time for activity. Circles and spirals.

And I am envious if you have a thunderstorm. An electric storm energises me to my core. I lived in the tropics for a while and the thunder storms were a massive and daily occurrence during the monsoon season. I loved them, and still do.

I lived in the tropics for a while How odd- so did I! I spent part of my childhood in Sri Lanka and the 4pm daily downpour was something to look forward to.

It's partly why I ended up pagan I think. Although I attended the local Catholic convent (only English speaking school for 70 miles) my friends were Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim as well as Christian and I attended many of their rituals so never got the monotheistic programming that I would have got had I never left the UK

Elphame oh wow! I didn;t live in Sri Lanka, but I have visited that amazing country- I was there for a month.
I lived in SE Asia- animism is a bit part of every day life. Daily life , offerings, incense, just lovely.

what a wonderful thread.nice to see the many sisters/brothers out there.scottish gm was a "hedgewitch".mom not so much.
other gm was american indian,i have combined all the medicinal teaching of both.gm had a very old convex mirror and used it to scry.i have a huge hand cut obsidian"plate"
i do celebrate the festivals,all good things should be.
i follow the indian way more so.understanding plants and animals and interaction with nature the abilities of them both.
local kids call me doclady and bring me thier sick animals.a few folk(am in bible belt)come for advice and medicine.no charge unless the medicine needed is very expensive or i have none.then i tell them where to get it themselves. on a limited income so had to resort to that as a compromise.i do house cleansing for free.indian way is called smudge and usually invovles white sage and cedar.
husband had his "bank account".it was a pouch full of drawings and hand done "cards" from the children he had helped for many years.he is gone now and i don't know what to do with the account.
don;t know if i could give myself a title.probably more akin to druid than anything.a combination of animism and arborial i suppose is the best description.
keep on doing good things

Wonderful to hear everyone's stories and learn from you all. I too am hoping for a storm. I could use it to clear the current energy around me
I have just given myself permission to rest. Beats feeling that I 'should' be doing this that and the other.

I think I need some reflective time and to prepare my (shiny!) psychic armour for the week ahead!
I'll be spending time with the lovely gentle rose energy in the garden.
Comments about ritual here have really resonated with me today. Thanks for the reminder. It's something I benefit from but am currently out of the way of.
Wishing you all a blessed day