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 love reading this thread! I've sometimes wondered about the fact that I often know something before I'm told about it - nothing ever particularly earth-shattering, but I just get a feeling.

I'm increasingly convinced about the effects of positive & negative energies - I'd love to know more about salt cleansing, for example.

I will keep reading & hopefully I will pick up some knowledge! Thankyou all!

And I love thunderstorms too!

undertheoak-

This is a lovely and very simple cleansing spell- only need a bowl, water and salt.

speakout, thankyou! Will definitely try this out.

Reading about cleansing reminded me of a ritual I did that turned out to be very powerful.
I wanted to cleanse the bed I had shared with an ex, ideally I'd have bought a new one but couldn't afford it.
I cleaned the mattress and scattered white rose petals all over it. Put a glass of salt water at each corner and asked for any residing unwanted energy to be removed. At the end of the day I returned the petals and salt water to the earth with thanks.
2 days later I was gifted a brand new bed! Completely unexpected.
A wonderful gift in response to my request and intention

Zapholdbeeblebrox

That is a lovely story- I have had many many similar results to my workings.

Results from witchcraft never cease to stun me.

Zapholdbeeblebrox

That is a lovely story- I have had many many similar results to my workings.

Results from witchcraft never cease to stun me.

For the past year or so my OH has been bullied terribly at work- one guy ( his immediate boss and senior manager) and another ( not his boss - not his senior but in cahoots with boss)
Really petty, picky things, making him the scapegoat for everything really wearing him down.
He loves the actual work and clients, but was getting to the stage of looking for another job.
It was sad because in every other way the job is perfect for him.

I performed some spell work a month or two ago- nothing malicious, just to bind and stop the negative energy I was in a flying frenzy.

I didn't tell my OH ( although he knows I am a witch)

Two days later my OH came home, looking slightly pleased and bemused.
He said " OK what have you done to my colleagues?"
At first I said " I don't know what you mean"
He gave me that knowing look.

Turns out a management meeting had been called- the two men who were bullying were given a sideways switch in the company- to two totally different departments- not a demotion, but they would no longer be working together, so splitting up the nasty work.

OH no longer had to work with either of them and his new boss is someone he likes and works well with.

He has been much happier at work since then.

Just bought myself a new Tarot deck- arrived today ( like I needed another!!)
I was so drawn to the picture, not the usual stuff I enjoy, but they are so whimsical and nostalic. I love them.

Nice work on your OH's job situation speakout and nice tarot deck!

I'm still recharging so witchy stuff is on the back boiler until next week. I do need to venture bravely into the spider infested garage and see if a book I want for Lammas is in there. It's been missing for years and I would buy a new copy if I knew the name!

speakout what an incredible result! Really enjoyed reading about your successful workings What lovely cards too. I've never seen ones like those. What is the deck called?

Good luck braving the spiders Elphame I opened my garage door to look for something the other day, took one look and closed it again!
Hope you are recharging well and finding things that nourish you

Elphame- that sounds interesting- you are bound to find some interesting things in your garage! What do you do for Lammas?

Zapholdbeeblebrox the deck is called the Everyday Witch by Deborah Blake- I have been working with them all afternoon- they are lovely.

Hello all!

Sending love and light to you and your father Elphame

I love thunderstorms too and like to run outside and get drenched by them! There is actually a change in the negative and positive ions in the air, or some such, before a storm. I think that's the reason people experience headaches beforehand.

I have been visited by a pair of magpies for the last couple of weeks. They keep doing joyful swoops and calls in my garden. I feel it's a positive omen.

Over the past fews years I have come to realise that my spiritual path is there for me to walk but I have to have my eyes open to in order to stay on track. I've also learnt that sometimes I need to be daring and have conviction to be able to grasp opportunities as they present themselves. It's one thing to set an intention and to ask for something but when it then comes it's all too easy to suddenly lose confidence and not take the prize! We may spend weeks and weeks praying for rain so when the rain comes we should dance in it and indulge in the fruits it brings forth!
I have no idea why I'm sharing this but it feels right so I'm going with it!

It's one thing to set an intention and to ask for something but when it then comes it's all too easy to suddenly lose confidence and not take the prize!

Wise words and a very relevant reminder. Thank you Billy

I agree too billy.

We need to work on the physical plane too.
It's no use casting a spell for a new job then not applying for any, or a love spell and staying indoors without speaking to anyone.
We have to be open and active for manifestation to happen.

No thank you, it's refreshing to have others to talk about my path to. It suits me to be solitary but I'm learning that it might be helpful to have people in my life with a common thread.

Morning billy!

I work solo too.

I prefer it that way. I am not a social creature by nature- very happy with my own company most of the time.
I have been a member of a couple of covens and moots in the past few decades, but often find there are always power hungry ego types lurking.
And I hate any type of hierarchy- anything that involves initiation or has high priestess etc, turns me off.
I have a dislike of authority.

Initiated 3rd degree witch here but mostly work solitary now.

madcatladyforever morning!

Can anyone be a witch or are you as a witch... it fascinates me! I'd love to be a witch 😀

Should say.... or are you born as a witch

cindersrella I would actually say that there are very few of us that don't have the ability to practice witchcraft.

Part of my work is showing people how to develop their own skills.
I run workshops and make kits to give people an easy way in to casting spells and develop their magical ability.

Whether the craft is hereditary or learned at a young age is debatable.
Perhaps a bit of both. When we have witches in the family children are often taught- even subconsciously magical ways by witch parents.

I think even without being "born" a witch or having ancestors who are witches each and every one of us can develop the craft in some way.

And no two witches have skills that are the same. Some may have the ability to heal or be an empath, or be able to scry, or divinate. Some may be good with herbs or incantations, or weaving magic into materials, or wrap love into the food and preserves they make. Some may have a gaia touch when it comes to growing and have an abundant garden, others may be able to communicate with animals, or create wands and wooden work some can find power though crystals.
. Some may have the ability to protect or allow others to find their voice, or be good with children, or storytelling, or make magic through painting or visual arts. Some may be talented at Tarot or runes or blending oils or see spirits or astral travel.

Almost no one will have all these abilities, most of us will have a couple or a few.
It's worth trying out new projects, see what you are drawn to, see where your abilities lie.

This is such a lovely video for inspiration

Can I ask a question? I was always told by DM that you should never buy your own tarot deck or other divination tools, they should be given to you as a gift. She bought me my first deck, but I can't find them. They've been missing for two years nearly. Ive tried to find them but to no avail. It's odd to say the least. Ive searched everywhere. I wasn't that good at reading them and struggled to remember the meaning of all of the cards, but I did enjoy asking them questions from time to time. They were always very accurate as well.

Apparently you can use playing cards instead. I do have a deck of those to hand. Might have a go. Has anyone else ever used them?

Tarot and normal playing cards share the same history, tangled throughout history.
You can use normal playing cards in the same way as the minor arcana, and you can use Tarot cards for playing ordinary card games like pontoon.
I like to use Tarot cards for divination and guidance- the images help me coalesce and visualise the meaning of the cards.
While you can use a normal deck for these purposes - if you struggle to remember meanings then it may be even more difficult without the visual clues that Tarot gives us.

As to never buying a Tarot deck for yourself?
How do you feel about that?
Does that seem something to avoid or does it sit happily with you?

I have a dozen or so Tarot sets- I bought them all for myself.
It's a way of self nurture.

It wouldn't really bother me buying my own. DM is very superstitious about lots of things, broken mirrors, walking under ladders, crossed knives etc. This is probably just another manifestation of that.