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 am loving this thread! Long may it continue...... it’s given me a nudge to return to the magical..... just what I needed........ thank you 😊

Speakout I would love a link to your potions

petitepeach welcome!

I see no reason to set up a thread part 2 when this one is full!!

I'm loving the depth and power of this discussion. For me it's reflective of the empowering nature of our witchiness and a finger to the patriarchy indeed!

Very interested to hear about the ancestor work. Reading through I realise that I already 'accidentally' have the beginnings of an ancestor altar on my mantelpiece, and often draw strength from my ancestors through tuning in to their energy. I'm very grateful for it.

I'm moved by your Nan's story Beyond. Such strength in terrible adversity. It's made me think not only about drawing strength from ancestors but also about working to heal the pain carried through family lines.

The shadow work and 'journeying' also feel relevant to this.

I've got a lot from the Shamanic journeying I've done and have been reminded of a book that 'jumped out' at me in a charity shop years ago about Celtic shamanism

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/156718166X/ref=cm_cr_srp_mb_bdcrb_top?tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8

I'm not sure how 'credible' it is as a text but I got a lot from it at the time so have dug it out again.

One of the things I love about a witches path is the eclectic and unique nature of everyone's journey. Piecing together things that resonate and building practices that are your own.

Can I share this with you?
My intuition is telling me that tonight would be good for me to do some work on releasing/banishing negative patterns/influences.

There are individual circumstances that have been having an impact but it feels right to work with the bigger picture- i.e the type of energy I find coming my way. There are patterns at work and my aim is to shift my energy to a more positive and resilient place so that the oppressive and draining influences simply have nothing to 'hook onto' if that makes sense. My energies need to have no receptivity to any of the unwelcome patterns.

I've done some shadow work and have been working to nurture and strengthen the parts of me that have been allowing this.

I'm thinking about some binding/ knot work (like a plait in different colour threads perhaps) in which I'll pour in the patterns and feelings I want rid of, then I'll burn the cords with the intention of cutting cords in all directions of time, finally filling the vacuum I've created with new, light and positive energy through an act of self care, I'm thinking a bath (I love a magical bath!) with oils, candles and a visualisation.

It feels like a big shift for me- a cumulation of ongoing works and intuitions/synchronicity.

Hope this makes sense rather than being a gratuitous ramble! I love being a solitary as it all feels so personal, but also love the support and wisdom of our moot

Any thoughts/experiences from you wonderful wise women gratefully received!

Fitzfool that sounds like stuck energy to me that needs released?
When I started doing energy work it was anger that came up first. Meditating used to leave me furious.
I'd try again and sit through it, and feel into it?

I'm thinking about some binding/ knot work (like a plait in different colour threads perhaps) in which I'll pour in the patterns and feelings I want rid of, then I'll burn the cords with the intention of cutting cords in all directions of time, finally filling the vacuum I've created with new, light and positive energy through an act of self care, I'm thinking a bath (I love a magical bath!) with oils, candles and a visualisation

Nice - I like that you'll be filling the space with something good.

Burning the cord will release everything you've trapped in it into the ether so you may want to be careful how you frame that intent so it doesn't come straight back at you. Would burying the cord instead or simply throwing it in the bin serve the same purpose?

Hate that there's no edit !

Would cutting the cord physically and then burying the cord instead or simply throwing it in the bin serve the same purpose?

Thank you Elphame
Good point- I think I might throw it in the bin!

Oh Beyond the story of your Great Nan, what strength and fortitude and a testament of a mother's love! She must have been a remarkable woman.

One of the things I love about a witches path is the eclectic and unique nature of everyone's journey. Piecing together things that resonate and building practices that are your own.

Very much agree with this ^^

Love the way this discussion continues to develop everytime check in. It’s so interesting to hear everyone’s insights and experiences and ponderings. All these little tangents that the conversation keeps going to are like different coloured threads of some enourmous tapestry. And we are all on our own paths trying to see the bigger picture.

Apologies for once again resorting to cheesy analogies. A terrible habit that no amount of magic can fix. 😁 Yes Yes Speakout to a second thread once this one is full.

Zaphold I hope tonight is a good night for your workings as you hope.Beyond what a strong woman your Nan must have been. What a sad story.

Indiemum how funny that you also encountered anger when first dealing with energy work. I agree that my reaction must be symptomatic of some kind of ‘blockage’. I can think of possible negative experiences in my life that might account for that and I have been taking cognitive/physical action such as counselling and cathartic activity to deal with those experiences. I guess I may need to address them on a deeper level too. How might I do that?

Sorry Beyond, I mean your great -Nan of course.

All these little tangents that the conversation keeps going to are like different coloured threads of some enourmous tapestry. And we are all on our own paths trying to see the bigger picture.

Beautiful. Yes!

Thinking about the reaction to meditation etc. I can relate too. When first taught a pretty standard grounding meditation using tree roots coming out of the soles of my feet and into the earth I felt such a strong resistance. I felt trapped and could not abide it. I felt like I had to run and escape!

On further thought, (and with the help of journeying meditation) for me it was about a violated inner child turned fiercely independent in order to avoid further hurt. I switched to white light in grounding meditations which seemed more reasonable to me and worked to nurture and support my scared inner child. I think awareness of what it is really helps with the healing. As PP said, I think really feeling whatever it is is very healing, we tend to try and avoid dark and unpleasant feelings and I think often 'the obstacle is our instrument' for growth.

Thank you for your best wishes with my workings. I'm preparing as the light fades

Morning witchy friends.

I fell asleep last night to the sound of an owl lullaby in trees near my bedroom window,.

Woke up this morning to soft rain pattering on my window and the cooing of wood pigeons.

I love these nature sounds.

I am making talismen today and awaiting a delivery of crystals.
Maybe go to a yoga class this afternoon, or Body Pump if I am feeling a little more energetic!

Morning everyone , I've been trying to focus on hekate the last few weeks and my dreams are full of wolves and dogs , one sad dream a giant female wolf was injured and no one would help her she represented all women ( in my dream ).
I see 3 everywhere .
I'm going to make time today to catch up on this thread and read all your wise posts .

Morning Mumsnet Coven!

I've enjoyed reading all your posts over the last few days.

I never did find a good time to get to a stream to get rid of my salt-cleansing water... So I flushed it down the loo . Hopefully that'll come to the same thing.

I'm very interested in all this talk of shadow work. Would someone mind elucidating a bit, as long as it's not too personal? The negative experiences of meditation resonate with me: I think we can panic without lots of noise and activity to drown our thoughts: although I now find meditation a complete tonic.

I'm imagining your owls and rain now, speakout. . It's quite green where we live, but I mainly hear pigeons and crows. (I do love crows, though).

FilledSoda such powerful imagery.

Hecate is so complex, often maligned, but can be one of our most helpful and powerful deities.

Enjoy your shadow work

Fab dreams, FilledSoda!
I live on a crossroads with my black dogs and have a shrine to Hekate, who I agree, Elphame, is multi faceted and complex and so misunderstood..
I offer a “Hekate's Supper”at the crossroads at the Dark Moon and love the idea that this could possibly be the origin of candle filled birthday cakes! 🎂 😀

I think I instinctively do “witchy” things. Several years ago I received a very venemous poison pen letter. I took it into the garden and burned it. I like thunderstorms, the sea, nature, candles, firelight.

Morning all

@KetoME Sorry I meant to reply to you but got distracted. The old way of course would be to bury a skull at each corner or a body under the threshold. We really can't get away with that now!

You could instead incorporate a crystal ( tourmaline maybe?) in each corner of the foundations ( or drop into the cavity if the walls are already up). I'd use hagstones myself as I have hundreds but a crystal may be easier for you. Another possible method from the past is to hide an old shoe in the walls. All these are empowered by years of traditional practice and hold that power today.

speakout I too have the rain. I haven't seen an owl for a long time but I did enjoy the bats feasting on the midges in my garden last night. They do a sterling job!"

Zaphod Hope it went well for you last night

Hekate eh? Now that could be fun! I went on a workshop with one of her priestesses a while back which was very educational. I have however held back from any further contact with her. I already have a couple of demanding Goddesses in my life and I'm not sure I want another but I'm not sure how long I can avoid her. She can be persistent!

I'm very interested in all this talk of shadow work. Would someone mind elucidating a bit, as long as it's not too personal?

For me it's about finding and working with parts of myself that I wouldn't necessarily be aware of. So for example I'm very independent and fairly solitary as a person. I generally see this as a strength but through meditation and journeying work I can see that there's some pain from earlier on in life behind it. So I'll focus on being kind to my inner child, nurturing and honouring her through self care and ritual, so 'bringing the shadow into light' I guess it's about integrating all parts of myself, especially parts that seem more 'icky' rather than just presenting the 'best' bits. Accepting and working with the parts of me that make me behave in ways I'm not proud of rather than simply 'trying to be good' and minimising the less palatable parts of my character!

I guess for me it's quite a psychological thing fitting within a witchy framework. being self aware and 'working on my stuff' to be the best version of me that I can is a really important part of my path. It's hard to separate my personal development and growth from my witches path- it's all one and the same for me.

I'm guessing it's all very personal and others views/experience of shadow work will be very different. But that's how I experience it for what it's worth!

Thank you Elphame
Yes, a well knotted cord, disposed of intact! My deck gave me the queen and ace of swords to work with moving forwards, which feel powerful and positive to me!

I like this as a sentiment for shadow work

Thank you Zaphod that's very helpful.

I'm going to have a good think about it.

New moon today witchy friends, lets hope this brings bright new beginnings.

Saturn - 2nd Return

I've only recently read up on this astrological phenomena but it resonates with me deeply.

By my calculations, the first Saturn turn in my life was between 29 and 31. Those years were pivotal for me in terms of how I completely turned my life around for the better... No great surprise, many would say at that age, but in comparison to how my life had been it was a major transformation.

Fast forward to its 2nd turning... I believe it came this year (calculations say it could be any time between two years prior and one year ahead) I cannot convey how different I feel... I am almost 100% attuned to my inner world and seem to have finally mastered the peer pressure to conform, which swamped my younger life and led me down so many wrong paths just to 'fit in' and be liked.

I mentioned earlier in this thread that I felt I was developing into the crone stage, mentally, emotionally. Within days I came across this possible explanation. I suspect the difficulties arise when we resist the transition. I for one have no such reluctance, but embrace it with open arms.

Any of you recognise your own transitional stages?