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.

LARLARLAND I see witchcraft as an extension of our "normal" abilities. You ask if it is wrong to curse- is it wrong to cause harm to others without magic?

DoubleNegativePanda
I agree about binding spells. They can be as powerful as a curse but without harm.
I have a recent example.

I have a close family member who has been bullied at work for the past year by two senior members of staff who were his bosses. Not just him but are vindictive to others too. Safety in numbers, backed each other up and felt invincible because they are in senior roles.
My family member was feeling powerless and although loves his job was thinking about leaving.
I listened then one afternoon recently I brewed up a storm. I knew who they were and performed a binding spell. I was livid, but wanted to stop their malicious actions and tie their hands.
A few weeks later my family member came in to tell me both individuals had been moved to different departments- both sideways shifts neither now his boss.
And they were separate. I was happy to hear this, but said nothing of my activities.
On Wednesday family member approached me and said "OK you can stop now- what have you been doing".
I admitted to having a little dabble, but he said that things were getting unpleasant now for the two bullies.
Now separate, their twisted little empire had fallen apart, and subordinate members of staff were now piling into them ripping them to shreds, letting loose with tons of resentment. The ( ex) bullies are now struggling.
My family member is feeling sorry for them!!

What an interesting thread - thank you all so much sharing.

There have been cunning women on my father's side for at least 200 years. I am not a witch (actually, I'm an Anglican ) but I can - and do- dowse, as does my father. Unlike him, though, I'll use pendulums too, and maps/questions etc: he only walks the land. My mother is an energy worker, and the heat and cold that come from her hands when she's at work would be totally inexplicable to someone who didn't believe in the idea.

I think we all have something within us that enables us to connect, in some way, with the larger rhythms: of life, of the world, of nature. And I suspect a lot of the ills of the modern world may be caused by our increasing disconnect from the natural world, though that's another thread

Aye Twatty. Nature Deficit Disorder is the basis of many Western issues!

Gosh speakout that's powerful. I'll be sure not to piss off any members of your family

That is incredible speakout It must have been a powerful binding spell.

I totally agree. I went to a talk once and people just couldn't understand that how we treat the earth is how we are also treating women as a society. I think we have lost the way of following cycles due to industrial life and working 9-5 etc. It's all so linear so I do my best to live as cyclic as I can in a linear world as I do believe all the small changes add up

I don't do curses or anything negative as I don't feel comfortable so I don't. I only do what feels natural to me.

I love the forest, I love the sea. I love sitting in circle with candles and other women and caves and fire. It all feels like some primitive flame awakening!

VileyRose yes I agree. I find Starhawk very inspirational for these reasons.. I think one of the first books I read about witchcraft was The Spiral Dance.
I saw her talk once - and all the subjects you mention she touched upon. Feminism, permaculture.
love sitting in circle with candles and other women and caves and fire. It all feels like some primitive flame awakening!
That sounds amazing.

That was one of my first books too. Amazing words. X

Did you go and see her talk somewhere? Sounds brilliant!

Yes she came to speak at an activist camp in Scotland some years ago. It was a small gathering- she was very powerful.

Wow. What an opportunity!
How is everyone today?

Feeling peaceful

Lying in bed thinking about all the candles & crystals & full moon images & rocks & pebbles & seasonal behaviours I already have.

Was going to order some of the books for guidance but would like an ethical source rather than the Amazon Warehouse. Do you know Amazon have their own publishing bit & republish books themselves to sell you. Scary.

I used to work in woodlands too. And never missed an opportunity to have a fire I also had a broomstick, but that's another story. The only thing troubling me......... I'm not really a cat fan

Am I getting mixed up with fairytales?!

I'm so pleased to have found this thread. I've used flowers and herbs to create beauty potions and products since I was a teenager, and was very attuned to nature as a child, but find it harder now I'm older.
I'm feeling more drawn to the moon cycles recently, and have tracked my own responses, and found I'm very tuned in to the moon, which explains some of my fast-cycling bipolar type experiences! Working with knowledge of moon phases certainly helps me to plan activities!
I'm about to embark on a huge spring vlean of my home. Any advice on how to incorporate practical magic in this would be wonderful. I make my own cleaning products, but only use oils to smell nice or for cleansing properties. Knowing how to bring happiness, light and joy and maybe some prosperity into the house would be amazing! Does anyone have any magical things I can do as I clean? 💫💥

I notice no ones mentioned Gemma Gary yet as an author. Her Traditional Cornish Craft books are great (although they are Trad in style rather than old - much practice has been lost so she has reconstructed a practice based on what has survived). You can buy her books direct from her at Troy Books

Marion Green is a lovely lady and I’ve been lucky enough to meet and learn from her.

I didn’t gel with Kate West. Too Wiccan and formal for me Im afraid. If I was to have to prepare oils and take a bath with them before doing anything then nothing would get done! I’m more a “something needs doing, better get on with it whilst I have 5 minutes” sort of witch!

It’s a glorious day here in Snowdonia so I’m just heading out to take a walk in the forest before I do some work in the garden (wish I could Magic the weeds away!)

amistillsexy. Being physically clean is more than half way there. You could try cleaning mindfully in that you sweep and wipe away all the nasty icky stuff that can collect. If you want to do more then I use Florida water to cleanse houses. Hard to find a good one in the UK (Underworld Apothecary do a lovely one though and are UK based) but there are plenty of recipes online and it’s easy to make.

When you sweep out stuff then you leave a space so it’s inportant to refill it with what you like. I play my favourite music and light incense but there are 101 ways to do it. Do what pleases you

My path went having children-becoming a doula-starting a red tent-rediscovering what has always been inside me! I do tarot, astrology, candle work, and dabble with some other things.

Someone said earlier on the thread about finding witchcraft through feminism and that definitely resonates, though for me it was more through being with and inspired by women. (Obviously intrinsically linked 😉)

Same for me ^. I also host red tents!

I'm in .middle of the decluttering of my home. Already donated 10 bin bags of clothes and junk. Still can't see an end in site!

Viley that’s awesome-I think red tents are the most empowering, wonderful thing and I wish all women could be in one!

gottaslowdown if you buy second hand books on Amazon that is a good ethical way of sourcing them.
I have sold second hand books on Amazon for 10 years as a small business, buying books from auctions and jumble sales- often the last step before land fill.
Most of the second hand books are in very good or even like new condition. You will get a bargain price and help a small seller.

I agree about cleaning- I am just about to give my downstairs living space a sweep and mop.
I like to bring in fresh rosemary and leave to simmer gently on the hob is some water as an air freshner, any woody herb will work I like doing this with thyme or orange peel, or you can do the same with spices, cardamon or anise are nice.
I don't use synthetic scents.

VileyRose your Red Tent work sounds very inspiring. I know of the movement, nothing near me, but I am in awe of you hosting. I would love to attend, but nothing within 250 miles of me. Can you tell us a little more?

Where are you speak out?

Sorry short reply,at a bbq and kids running riot!

There are a number of red tent (and purple tent) groups here in the SW.. certainly here in Bristol