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.

Gosh, I'm absolutely loving this thread & learned so much. Thank you everyone.

Popping in quickly to say imo it’s better to choose a tarot deck that calls to you than try to learn with a deck that someone else has chosen.

Most of mine were gifts to me from me!

How interesting. So it could be that the reason I always struggled to learn them properly is because they were a gift from someone else?

So it could be that the reason I always struggled to learn them properly is because they were a gift from someone else?

Not the act of giving as such, but I have chosen my tarot packs because I feel an affinity to the ideas, type bought ms of imagery etc.

If someone chose on my behalf I may not feel that same resonance about them,
The deck I bought myself yesterday has blown me away so far.
I normally have to work with a deck for a little while before the power develop, but this one was just so powerful from the very start.

My DD used them to do a reading for me yesterday- and they were bang on accurate.

I spent a lovely night dreaming of my new cards, the characters came to life and danced with me in my dreams.

I woke happy and refreshed.

It makes sense that if you buy a deck for yourself that speaks to you and you are drawn to then you will find it easier and more meaningful to work with.

Hello all!

Phew finally caught up! I’d actually messaged my friend this morning (who is a green witch? ) and asked her to do me a spell and this thread popped up!

So so interesting. I can be thinking of something and dh will start talking about the exact same thing, what is that even called if it even has a name! I know it was way down thread when it was discussed!

I see most of you seem to focus on land things but I have always physically felt energy and a shift of emotions from being in the sea. Not sure if that means anything

I have suffered terribly with insomnia since becoming pregnant with my daughter last year, she is now 9 months old. It has been over a year since I had more than 5 hours of broken sleep, and that's a good night. I've tried everything I know of to fix this.

I tried lavender and chamomile drops on my pillow and in the bath. I banished my phone before bed. I tried different drinks at bedtime. Nothing has worked until yesterday...

I read amethyst helps insomnia. Whilst cleaning our spare dumping ground room I found a rock collection that my husband had from my childhood. He kindly said I could take the amethyst and put it under my pillow.

Last night I had 6hours 44 minutes sleep! This is amazing!

Today whilst out I noticed a store selling different rocks and gem stones. I bought an amethyst bracelet to go under my pillow and a rose quart bracelet for day today wear.

I wouldn't have done any of this is I hadn't stumbled across this thread.

I'm happy to take further suggestions to rid my insomnia.

Thedutchwife how lovely to hear of your affinity to the sea. Water is such a powerful source- we are made of water stuff after all.
Do you have a beach near you? I am 15 minutes from wild coastal landscape- on the look out for hagstones right now!

sockportal that is fantastic.

Amethyst has such powerful qualities to aid sleep. I would run with what is working right now..
I think this thread is growing power and legs!
A brilliant positive online community!!

Does anyone work with sigils? I had a dreadful night of insomnia and when I managed some fitful sleep something brought the word sigil to me.
I got up and did some reading and have drawn up my first ever one, which is now on the front door.
There is someone coming this afternoon (a stranger buying a large value item from us) and my 3 am anxiety was making me wary of him.
The process of drawing up and powering the sigil came very easily to me. I am hoping it works.

Yes, I make sigils, friends often ask me for them, and it's an easy thing to send by phone to help.

I love sigils and use them a lot. Once empowered they quietly get on with the job.

I have a sleep sigil painted on a pebble that I keep by my bedside. Others I don’t keep but release to do their work. I did a group ritual recently that involved chalking sigils on to pebbles.

I love the idea of a sleep sigil.

I agree this thread is growing in power! I find it very nurturing and strengthening to come here. Thank you all for that

Going back a bit but I also bought my own tarot deck. It just called to me in the shop about 25yrs ago and I've been working with it ever since. Mine is The Celtic Tarot by Courtney Davies, I'm attaching some of my favourite images from the cards.
I also have various other decks that have appealed to me at different times, for example Brain Froud's Faeries Oracle (other pic) served me well through a difficult break up some years ago. The Dark Lady in the centre of the picture would frequently appear to help me through!
I have to say though, I love the look of your new deck speakout- I'm very drawn to that one too! Good to hear you're connecting so well with it.
My maternal ancestors would read playing cards (and tealeaves)
dutchwife I also feel this with the sea. I'll be in it later today! It's probably the most 'spiritual' experience I ever have.
sockportal I love your amethyst story, really good it's working for you
I'd never heard of sigils! Something new for me to explore, thank you

It's strange to come back to this thread because since it started I have had the most enormous shock and things have changed for me a lot, but I think I am happier for it. I have a person in my life who is in enormous pain and I wish that I had the power to help them heal. It must be a wonderful gift to possess.

LARLARLAND I will light a candle and send healing energy to them today.

I am making a batch of candles today to ease depression. Jasmine and Juniper.

You are incredibly kind speakout. Thank you.

Love to you and the person in your life LARLARLAND
You have my empathy and I'm sending you both healing energy too.
I am completely confident that you do have a gift that will help this person.
See the video speakout posted yesterday for cindersrella

Thank you for your lovely words Zapholdbeeblebrox

LARLARLAND this is for the loved one in your life.

Thank you speakout. The profound struggles he has had throughout his life have caught up with him and he is very ill. I really cannot thank you enough for your kindness in thinking about him.

I am sorry your friend is in such pain LarLarLand (and you probably do far more to help him than you realise). I can add him to the healing work I'm doing at the moment if that's OK with you?

Speakout - you asked about my Lammas. I'm sorry - it's been one hell of a 10 days here and I missed it.

I follow the Sacred King cycle so Lammas is when the King sacrifices himself for the land and so that his people can live. Normally I do a bread man ( John Barleycorn) which is brought to life and then ritually sacrificed.

History is full of examples of the Sacred King archetype ( Jesus Christ being one) . It's a model that works for me.

It's the first of the darker sabbats as the days start to shorten and the wheel turns.

I would be more than happy for you to do that Elphame. We could do with all the help we can get. Thank you.

Love the sound of the candles you we're making yesterday speakout

I did some general cleaning at home followed by smudging with a home grown/made smudge stick - sage, lavender and rosemary tied up with cotton and dried out. I also burnt some Palo Santo wood- a recent discovery for me- I find the smell so uplifting!
Followed by a bath in Epsom salts with bergamot, camomile and neroli.
I'm feeling much more replinished and energised at work today, a reminder that it's worth taking the time for self nurture and cleansing work. You can't give from an empty cup as they say!

Zapholdbeeblebrox thank you- I had a lot of fun.

I also made some Aphrodite Love candles with Rose and Violet.