Any Witches Here ? Part 2

[speakout]

Or Wiccans. or Pagans? Or anyone who is interested in a magical path or feels some magical stirrings.

A place for support, learning, swapping ideas and magical inspiration

All welcome.

I might be making a massive religious error here - and apologies if I am - but surely it's relatively easy to explain an altar to a catholic, as it has similarities with the lighting of a prayer candle at the image of a saint?

Thank you @Blank Times. I don’t believe that that is a gift I have (although I find it interesting) but the warmth and companionship is good.

I bought a glue gun at the weekend in order to help make a wreath to decorate the door for the equinox. And a little pumpkin candle holder as I couldn’t resist! 🎃

RE Spells

Words have weight

I speak from experience

You don't really need the words of strangers, just your own words and the right strength of conviction and intent

Good Morning everyone,

@Blank..I think your advice on spell casting is invaluable.

I wonder how you all knew when you were ready to cast spells?

Can I ask if there are elements in Harry Potter that would suggest JK Rowling knows something about witchcraft? I am very much a novice and learning from everyone on this thread, but when I read them I thought she knows more than she lets on! Or is it all way off the mark?

Blank has it exactly right. There is far more to spell crafting and casting than just lighting a candle and reciting some words put together by a random person on the internet. The only time I've come really unstuck is when I was in a hurry and used a pre made spell. Luckily the outcome was quite funny even if it did cause me some huge stress at the time. I use it often as an illustration of what happens if you are lazy and sloppy in your spellwork.

As for my first spell - It would have been on my 3rd birthday! Like most British children who got a traditional British upbringing I blew out my candles on my birthday cake and made a wish! However even at 3 there was more to it than that of course. I was totally focused on my candles, I was told to close my eyes, focus on what I wanted and make my wish - and to tell no-one what I wished for. Pretty typical but the very first steps in spellcasting.

I did lots of other childish things like that too! I guess it sort of built up over the years with traditional forms of divination ( throwing apple peel over your shoulder to see the initial of your future husband), Tinker tailor , stirring the xmas pudding 3 times and making a wish etc etc By such means does a child learn magic :)

Thanks Belle Thinking you're ready is one thing, actually being ready is another. As has been said above, start small, stir, mix or knead-in good intentions into food you make, cleanse your home with salt or burn sage - warning all the smudge sticks I've had have dropped little burning embers, so be careful of singe marks on light carpets and furnishings and keep a bottle of water close by. Before you do anything, learn about Protection, don't do anything without it. Practise blessings, practise divination, practise raising your awareness. Learn, learn and learn some more. Study moonphases, study the seasons, the fire festivals, the ancient places. Find out what things suit you and what don't. It's a lot like growing up, you have to find whatever you're comfortable with and go from there.

Light I've not read the books, so I may be speaking out of turn here as they could well contain knowledge, but would say from seeing the films only that if JKR actually has knowledge or has practised, she had a great awareness-raising and teaching opportunity and missed it by a mile.
The only bits I thought were decent was the make fun of your fears in order to conquer them scene, but that's basic psychology anyway.
And maybe the scene where the Weasley family go up the chimney to Diagon Alley and Harry mispronounces it as diagonally and gets lost.
Sharp lesson on knowing what you're asking for and aligning will and intention.
Mostly I watched the films chuntering negative comments. Once I took my pointy hat off and watched it as just a complete fantasy it was okay.

If you want something written for kids, but with researched real happenings in it, try Sam Osman's 'Quicksilver' and 'Serpent's Gold' are definitely worth a look. www.samhepburnbooks.com/books/quicksilver/

I don't think you can learn much about witchcraft from reading Harry Potter books, no.

@Elphame... yes, I see what you mean. Ps did the apple peelings come true?

@Blank..Thank you, yes I'm keeping it small since studying the craft. Candle work for protection, gratitude. Using salt, rice, rosemary and Divination... a lot. I don't feel the need to rush into anything more than that right now. Also reading a lot of Wicca right now too. Seems no pressure at all to do spellwork as a Wiccan i. e you can be Wiccan without casting spells.

There's no pressure to do spellwork on any path as far as I'm aware.
It's individual choice and far too much emphasis is put on it by people who don't know what it is or how it works IMO. There's a lot of misinformation floating around.

You're doing fine Belle finding your own way like we all do.

Elphame- same here, I spent my childhood doing lots of magical work- although I never considered it wicthcraft, just thing my grandmother taught me.

I did my first " proper" spell when I was 12.
During my teens I dabbled a little, then in my 20s I became involved in High Magic with others.

Since then I have preferred to work alone as a hedgewitch.

I still use quite a bit of ceremony in my magic at times, but not often.
I like to potter, heal do some divination these days.

As lightonthewater asked about Harry Potter, I have to also ask... how do you view Terry Pratchett’s witches? To me his later books always seem to have quite a lot to say about human relationships and belief among other things, and some very strong female characters, but I just wondered what it would be like to read as a practising witch!

I hope everyone has had a magical day.

Been a sunny but windy day, I have been clearing and sorting all my magical and craft stuff.

I too like a clear out at this time of year.

I also have a pot of cassoulet bubbling away, it's getting to the time of year for these good substantial dishes.

Looking forward to my trip to TK max tomorrow, I hope I can find a small cauldron.

BlankTimes, interesting what you say about intention when kneading bread etc. I have a theory that food tastes like the inner life of the person making the food, it picks up their moods and emotions. So eating at a chain restaurant etc is not a very good idea if this is true!!
Sorry if I sounded like a complete Muggle regarding HP. I just like some of the concepts in the books , but appreciate they may be completely off the mark so far as proper witchcraft is concerned!

Hello lovelies! Still doing the home ed teaching thing. My child has needed lots of breaks today. She has adhd and opp, so much patience is needed. I spent a long time last night asking the Goddess for help and assistance for helping my child. Today brings me a calmer and easier approach.

@speakout, you were an inspiration for me. I read your thoughtful comments on the “three year old and discipline” thread. Your response has helped me rethink the way I think about discipline.

It is pouring buckets here today. I have set a glass jar out to catch the rain water. I find it awesome to use in spells for cleansing.

Wishing everyone a happy evening...✨✨

Oh, I forgot to thank @BlankTimes for the tray suggestion! I do not have a large enough drawer to slide my altar into but I’m thinking of putting all my objects on a tea tray and setting them in a large box, which I will store in my closet. These items are so precious to me and I have some very tiny things on my alter, ie, an arrow head found in Oregone and a very small shell my best friend brought back from Hawaii.

SecretWitch

Thank you.

NVC is close to my heart, I really don't think punishment works.

But I don't want to derail here.

I have some very tiny things on my alter So do I! I was so afraid of them getting lost that I made a special consecrated box for them. It also saves on the dusting....!

Funny books should be on the agenda here. I just got back from my first ever trip to Alderley Edge. I read the Weirdstone of Brisingamen when I was 7 and it really sparked an interest in mythology. Even then I had a conviction that there was much more to the beings he populated the Edge with than just his imagination although it was many years before I was able to find the Norse mythology he was drawing on.

It is an amazing place and didn't disappoint. I even had my picture taken on Stormy Point! Now I need to re-read the book.

Hello all, just checking in. Some really interesting discussion today, so much to learn here.

I have so many medical visitors to my room & a Home Help, so I have my altar in a nice tin. If enough energy (every 2 weeks or so?)
& am alone, I open it & set it up on my bed around me. Even the lit candle

Lying here listening to very vocal male tawnies in the woods & thinking of my sisters Ooh a female tawny has just answered 🦉

@Enchanters...That's a good idea. I had no idea how I could set up an altar without attracting attention

@Elphame.. Talking of books, I wish you would write one....it would be a best seller that's for sure with all your experiences.

@EnchantersNightshade - I didn't realise male and female tawnies had different calls! I've heard the hoo hooo one many times but I've just googled and now I know what makes the weird kwick one I hear sometimes. Thank you!

Belle Absolutely no way! I don't have a thick enough skin....

Hello everyone.

I’ve had a busy day gardening in the drizzle, planting lavender and rosemary.

I have taken some berries from our rowan tree to chain onto red thread, as suggested earlier in the thread.

Interesting discussion about casting spells,when and how. I’ve yet to cast a spell. There hadn’t been a need to, as of yet. My understanding is that spell work is for manipulating circumstance and chance to engineer a specific, desired outcome.

I just have an inkling that all that will come, in time. As a natural progression. My path is slowly meandering towards it so I feel no need to hurry ahead - there’s lots to take in along the way. It’s a scenic route.

That’s not to say I’m not connecting with magic already. I think I am and have been for a long time. And I think as I become increasingly aware I’m making many more meaningful, intentional gestures. Voicing my thanks to the forces around me. Recognising my energies and almost feeling the thrum when my vibrations are high and understanding how to nurture myself when they are not. Sending love and support when I blow out a candle.

Learning to respect my own personal power. That, in particular, is a game changer.

Evening all

@Enchanters - I often hear the local owls go past my window around 1am. Some make a very distinctive shriek which makes me jump but it’s lovely to hear them.

@Fitz - great post which really resonated with me. All about growing and developing and allowing things to come over time. I loved the description of that meandering scenic path.