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.

Hi can I ask for your wisdom please.

My son and partner are expecting a little boy and have had 3D scans done showing him. I don’t know why but I have found them intrusive on him and want him to be protected whilst he is in the uterus. It is totally irrational why I feel like this can anyone explain my concern. If it helps people say I have wisdom and I’m an empath. I don’t know why I just want him to be protected.

user1457017537 I think your feelings are entirely justified.

I am sure 3D scans are safe, but I would feel the same.

It is own private hidden world.

Speakout thank you that is exactly how I feel I just couldn’t articulate it.

Beautiful photos Zaphod

freaky I'm really enjoying it! I think earlier posters were right when they said to leave at the door what doesn't sit well with you so I'll learn about the mermaids & unicorns but not sure if I'll take them any further. Its worth doing though! :)

Evening to you all. Have enjoyed catching up on all your posts today and reading everyone's thoughts on moving between stages of womanhood. Especially hearing such positive experiences of moving from mother to crone. So different to depictions of female 'aging' in mass Western culture which focus on decline and invisibility once women are past the bloom of their youth. The witchy path allows women to embrace all stages of life equally and as a pp said, the crone stage embodies all the stages, a powerful cumulation of a path well-trod. I think that's wonderfully empowering. And a bit of a finger to the patriarchy.

I think calling ourselves witches and owning the word proudly is the ultimate finger to the patriarchy

Finally managed to get the toddler down at a reasonable enough time to sit out in the garden and enjoy the peace. There’s a definite chill in the air tonight!

And a bit of a finger to the patriarchy.

Ha ha- yes!

And I am enjoying the "invisibility" part of it to some extent.

Not to be viewed as a potential mate for reproductive purposes in public. Not to have wolf whistles, or cat call or unwanted sexual attention.
It's all so refreshing.

And alongside that my own confidence has grown, my self belief, my disregard of what many people think of me.

And alongside that sexual invisibility has emerged a new "visibility".
They eye contact from others- men and women- usually older themselves, but not always.
A look, a smile in a a shop, in the street, a very quick glance from strangers that speaks volumes, of mutual awareness, a look that is , that cognicent and shares humanity and recognises spirit. And I know I give other people that look, and there is very often a little smile too.

And this has been increasing in the past couple of years, and now happens to me several times a day.
And I don't really know what it is all about, but it's lovely, and special, u becoming a crone and part of why this journey into crone territory is such an exciting adventure.

Evening Fitz and everyone, yes def a bit cooler!

Morning all! I went to a divination evening last night which turned into a bit of a masterclass! I definitely learned a few new things - like how to use charms with tarot to add a whole new level to the reading.

Someone even brought the Transparent tarot which was very cool but I'm no way good enough at tarot to use it.

Your evening sounds fascinating Elphame
I've never heard of transparent tarot!
The idea of using charms with tarot sounds interesting too

Today I've decided to have a nice witch-y day with my baby DD, I'm taking her to the garden centre for lunch. We will admire the plants and herbs whilst we are there, I'm planning to buy a small bay tree for my kitchen window sill.

I love this thread!

Feeling more attuned to nature and the magical world with each passing year. Noticing a lot of incredible happenings that are way beyond coincidence. I don't do spells but I meditate on problems. Have always been guided by the spiritual world, Tarot etc but am currently wondering if I am developing something myself... I guess I'm a crone due to my life stage and mental outlook. Much prefer female company... not always comfortable with male energies. Love the term witch. Would like it on my tombstone

*sockportal- that sounds lovey. A day surrounded by herbs.
We often think of spring is as a a growing time, but Autumn is often called "nature's planting time".
So anything that needs to do some underground growing work- like trees or fruit canes are best planted at the end of summer.
Their roots work away underground while the soil retains some heat and gives them a head start for spring.

I love the metaphor of roots growing underground in the darker months, it's what we do too- the shadow work, working with the dark aspect of the year.

Insomma

Welcome!
I know how it feels to be so rooted in the feminine- I work mostly with goddess energies. and very drawn to the female aspect.
I was having a look at my music playlist- almost exclusively women singers and songwriters.

I love the word with too- we need to reclaim it!!

Hi everyone, I thought I'd tell you about what I got up to last night. I went to a guided meditation with shamanic drumming. It was amazing! I didn't know what to expect, thought it would be like other guided meditations, quite peaceful. But the drumming really took me off into a trance like state. We were encouraged to think about an issue and for me, I really felt I got some unexpected answers and support from (this sounds weird) my ancestors. I felt a really clear message. Incredible. And I would say I am quite a sceptic. When I got home I talked it over with DH and an issue I need to address from my past came up and I had an idea on what to do. And then I had amazing vivid (but dark) dreams.

I do a lot of work with my ancestors Blerg so that sounds entirely normal and completely non weird to me. If you want to do more of the same thing there are some really good drumming CDs available and probably on youtube too.

If you really want to start to build a relationship with your ancestors you could look at making an ancestral altar. It can be as simple as a collection of photographs of your relatives. It is important that they have already passed as you won't want to promote any living one to "ancestral" status before their time.

You can embellish it as much as you like. Mine all liked a glass of two of whisky so I will occasionally leave a glass out for them and maybe a slice of celebratory cake at times. I light a candle for them and decorate with seasonal flowers etc Mine are always there for me and I quite often call upon them for help and advice.

Thanks Elpame that is a great idea. It feel like generations stretching back and back to the stars - even that make any sense. So beyond those I know about and have photos of - though them too - is there a way to honour them too? Thanks for the input, I am learning a lot here.

And sorry, I spelt Elphame incorrectly!

I have a skull on my altar for the ancient dead... (well I did say you could embellish!)

If you want/need to be more discreet about it then you could dedicate a candle to them or maybe a statue - doesn't really matter so be guided by your own instincts and pick something that harmonises with your home especially if you don't want it to be noticed.

I will definitely follow that advice for working with ancestors too.. Thank you

Blerg and Elphame you have been busy! Both of those classes sound so interesting. The shamanic drumming must have been intense. I have been to singing bowls workshop before but I found it incredibly uncomfortable. I found myself getting more and more agitated and felt liked I wanted to yell and run away! Not the trance like relaxing state I was hoping for! Reiki had a similar effect. The practitioner said it was if I was trying to push her away. And I felt so irrationally cross Anyone good with energies and auras might be able to explain that as I’m not sure why that happened but it wasn’t what I was expecting...

The ancestor altar sounds great- although I am far more interested in my ancient ancestors than recent ones- all a bunch or rogues and alcoholics!!
Been doing some shadow work and meditation today, things have been a bit fraught recently, but this evening things are much calmer and lighter.

I sense I will sleep well.

Speaking of ancestors, I want to work on drawing some of the strength of my great nan. My nan was conceived when she was young and single, and she claimed the father was one of those WWII ubiquitous American GIs. My nan was then raised as her sister, only finding out as an adult who her actual mother was, and her then family then all had a massive falling out with Great Nan, not making up before the early death of Nan. On Great Nans death bed, she then reveals that Nan's father was in fact her own father :( she had kept that secret for years to protect her daughter, even when her daughter fell out with her over it. Even after the death of her father and her daughter, she still kept it, right up until she was dying. She was so misunderstood for her whole life, and she let it wash over her to not affect her daughter. If I can show even half of that strength for my children, I would be happy.

Sorry- In that scathing remark I do hold dear my maternal grandmother who started me on this path, and also my great grandmother who I never met, but was also wise women.

Beyond what a sad story, but she sounds so strong.

My Nan was a strong character, and my mum too, though in a different way. I wish I could be stronger for my kids, though I recognise I am probably more affectionate most of the time. My daughter looks and seems to have more on my Nan about her.