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.

So happy I came across this thread. I’ve always felt something inside me was a bit different and quietly used any guidance I have been given. Now DD (14) has developed a huge interest in Wicca, although I’ve never mentioned my believes to her. She is incredibly gifted and quite special she genuinely wants a living and owacheik works and goes above and beyond for her friends and family.

Anyway I am so dawn to nature, I am happiest in the early morning, walking my dogs and cats and just being in the moment when the world is waking up each day. I feel so mush better outside and particularly beside the sea.

I love mornings too. I used to hate them but I reached breaking point after my previous relationship broke down. It sounds funny but nature healed me. Seeing the sun rise and set each day made me feel part of something bigger and longing for each season kept me going.

Your daughter sounds like she is on a good path for her. I started off in wiccan ways but eventually trailed off to my own style of things and am still finding my way. I love how everyday is a journey. Maybe you should tell your daughter how you feel about things too?

X

Hey everyone!
What a lovely thread!
May I join in?
I'm Sam and I do tarot 😊..

Reading all of these is making me feel content haha!
Hoping everyone Is okay x

Aw, nice to see all these witchy people in one place! Can I come and lurk in the corner?
I practice practically nothing now; there's a huge block to it in my life, and I'm still trying to manoeuvre round it. The block is an ex boyfriend;- a well respected witch, and somebody I greatly admire intellectually and magically, but not necessarily a nice person in other ways. Ever since we split up years ago he has badmouthed me to all and sundry, and given me evil looks every time our paths cross. And he's involved in everything magical in this area. I got quite excited when I heard about a new moot starting in a local town - no mention of his name, so I thought I was safe....no, we turned up and there he was.
I really would like to practice/ learn in a group, to give me more focus- the obvious solution would be to find a women- only group, but all the ones I know lean towards Wicca etc, and I think I'd be pretty much firmly Western Mystery Tradition.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of this block I'm feeling might be down to some work he's done, also. Like I said before, admirable/ knowledgable/ respected doesn't always equate to nice .

stubbornstains I am angry on your behalf.

But don't allow your ex to continue to control you in this way. OK he may be a powerful witch - but don't give him your power too.
Do some goddess work with yourself. He may be powerful, but you are female
You don't need others to become powerful as a witch. You have yourself, your inner strength, explore your core.
Moots and covens can be good, but in my experience are often full of people who are needy or want to exploit others, so best taken with a huge pinch of salt.
If you feel your ex has cast some spell around you then do some curse removal work and protection.
Your power is as strong as you want it to be- at least as strong as his if not much greater. Find your anger- meditate on a goddess like Kali and whip yourself and him into shape.

@speakout would also be interested in a link for your shop if you have a website (of course I understand if not re: privacy etc)

SheStoodInTheStorm I'll pm you- I don't want to be doing any self promotion on this thread! Was not my intention x

Thanks for your kind words speakout

Hi all...not sure if I'm a witch per se but I inherited my English granny's abilities with psychic stuff (she used to do tarot). I knew nothing about this growing up. I've spent a long time trying to hide from it, now I've decided to try & learn more.

I also do reiki - I volunteer in palliative and they like people to learn it to help with breakthrough pain/distress etc. I've definitely had some messages etc through it and it does seem to help a bit.

Lovely to see all these witchy folk! I’ve spent the morning scrabbling on slate heaps to pick up some nice pieces for a fellow witch - oh and a few more for me too...

What a fab day Elphame

I am very envious!

Still loving this thread.

Elphame that sounds lovely.

What do you make with the slate?

Hi! (((Waves shyly)))

orenisthenewblack Welcome!!

Gosh, didn't mean to post.

I'm very interested in reading all your posts. I have explored my spiritual side in the last few years, going to a psychic development circle, learning reiki, angel cards, crystals etc but actually it's been taking a back seat for a while now. But, it's nagging me and I get signs and little nudges to get back into it.

My great gran was a tarot card and tea leaf reader, but my close family does not dabble in anything at all. I was interested to read about fire scrying, as I'd not heard about it before. It does offer me an explanation to how I was able to give people readings though, as I found messages, words, and symbols by staring at the carpet and once on a table cloth. Very peculiar, but I think it's the same thing. Tried with a crystal ball but with no success. Tried with tea leaves and I could see symbols and pictures.

I really need to get my head back in the game.

Just come across this thread as I don't check this area as often as I should 😁

I'm both Wiccan (Gardnerian initiate) and a general witch. Not really too sure about the hierarchy stuff as I've not come across it in nearly 20 years but most people I know take the piss out of the folk pushing Maxine to be Witch Queen. I tend to find that it's the groups with no real authority who tend to insist on hierarchy and the most truly great priestess I ever met was a humble and self-effacing person. I bumble about mostly as a solitary in a network of people though I live in central Scotland. Much more of a mixture of Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg 😀

I really can't be doing with all the bells and smells but I love being surrounded by nature - and the may in my garden is aboot to be oot! 😂

TooManyPaws Hi,
I'm a witch, not a Wiccan, and I too love nature ( like us all) I also like the bells and smells!! I do have a background in Chemistry though, so I like pottering around with potions, salves and magical oils.

I've so loved reading this thread, it's been fascinating

I have no witchy ancestry that I'm aware of but I've always felt very attuned to others emotions and to knowing what they're feeling and what they need to work through.

I work in a healing profession of sorts (psychotherapy) and I'd never say this to my very evidence based psychologist colleagues but I feel a big part of what I do is deeply intuitive and maybe a little bit psychic.

I did my reiki levels one and two and will sometimes use the energy to 'hold the space' when doing intense work such as trauma processing or chair work. I sort of imagine a bringing down a protective light that envelopes the client and keeps them safe.

Elphame I am also in Bristol! any suggestions of local groups etc would be great if that's not too intrusive?

So lovely to 'meet' you all here ❤️

PsychedelicSheep welcome!!

Interesting about the healing- I discovered I could channel this energy too many years ago. ( Even though I am a scientist)
My ( nearly grown up) kids will ask me to sit and lay my hands on them if they have a headache or are unwell.
I am a great believer in the healing powers of touch ( now I have Reiki 1&2 too) but even before that I would spend time with my sick children cuddling or snuggling up to them.
And in fact - we all do that don't we as parents? I think because we instinctively know that touch can be very healing.
I worked in academic research for quite some time- many of my friends ( and OH were pHD scientists, researchers, heads of large Units or lecturers in Chemistry/Physics.
A lot of them were very spiritual people- none religious that I knew, but opened minded regarding ideas with no scientific basis.

Hi. Waving VERY shyly
I'm not a witch, but I was very drawn to this thread. I love nature, the environment, im becoming very feminist and not long out of an abusive religiously stifling marriage.

I bought one of Kate West's books on the recommendations from this thread. The only bit not sitting right is the Goddesses/Gods and any ritualistic structure.

I'm loving the idea of the five elements, but I'm not drawn to the pentagon. I think it's because of the religion and harm from it in my marriage.

I like the thoughts of cleansing my home, of oils and incense, of herbs and potions, that feels very natural to me and I would love to learn more. I think I shall collect objects that represent the 5 elements and maybe have a special bowl for them.
I like the idea of what we put out there we get back threefold, and I already believed in checking my intention before an action.
So for example, If wanted to make a potion or candle to remedy something. Is it possible to set my intention, carry it out mindfully and make it then use it? Or is prescribed ritual integral to the process.

Are there any good favebook pages or groups to learn more from?

I'm also central Scotland...

I think I'm going to re read the full thread again now. Thank you all for sharing here

@SparrowWoman, welcome! There is no need to prescribe to a ritualistic style of witchcraft such as Wicca, to be a witch. Some people find comfort and meaning in ritual and hierarchy, and some don't. In the same way, a person who believes in Jesus but hasn't joined a denomination is no less a Christian than someone who belongs to a church.

The pentacle is associated quite heavily with Wicca at this point, but the meaning behind it is much older than that. The five points represent the five elements, and that's pretty much all there is to it. If that imagery doesn't resonate with you, no matter. Imagery is very personal.

So for example, If wanted to make a potion or candle to remedy something. Is it possible to set my intention, carry it out mindfully and make it then use it? Yes, absolutely. Some people recite words for a spell, some people think the words for a spell, some people simply meditate their intention over it. My sister feels pretty strongly that the spoken word has strong power and speaks her spells. I feel stupid when I do that, so I'm usually more of a thinker over my spells. When we cast a circle together I always feel like a numpty when it's my corner to call, but it's hard to have a silent circle!

I haven't joined any facebook groups, only because I'm quite private (although not secret) about being a witch.

@SparrowWoman, this year I'll be six years out of a religiously stifling, emotionally abusive marriage. The first year or two were at times rough. If you ever need someone to talk to who's been there, send me a PM.

Panda yes of course- I am a witch but not a Wiccan.

I have been in a coven but prefer solitary practice.
I don't hold with "rules" or the Wiccan rede.

Despite not being Wiccan ( and atheist) I work with God and Goddess ( particularly) energies.

Gosh I'd love to sit in a room and have a little chat with you all about this stuff. Totally fascinating. Going off to have a little think about the five elements.

PsychedelicSheep Just sent you a message with some links for the Bristol pagan/witchcraft/occult group.

speakout. Bits of slate make great candle plates! I also use them to scratch sigils on before empowering with the candle on top. I've got a big one that I engraved a labyrinth onto to use for meditation purposes. I'm not sure what my friend has in mind for hers - sometimes I really would rather not know!!!