Any Witches Here ? Part 3

[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.

Hello everyone. Woke up to heavy rain, but it's cleared up and we now have beautiful sunshine. I'm off out for a dog walk in the woods shortly to welcome in the new season.

@StewPots I'm a newbie too. Like you, I've always had an interest in witchcraft and all things spiritual, but I've never really done anything about it. Over the past year or so I've been trying out all sorts -tarot groups, spiritual development, lots of yoga and meditation - as well as following the wheel of the year. I've only really scratched the surface, but I know now I'm in the right place. I feel content with where I am and excited about the future. This thread is a great place to ask questions and learn from some wise and knowledgable people.

@VioletCharlotte thank you. Yes I'm already finding it very informative and interesting :)

Happy Equinox sisters,

I’m loving the energy here today. I could happily spend the day talking to all you wonderful wise women, thank you so much for everything you share. It’s incredible how many times a question of my own is answered without me having to ask it or an interest of mine is sparked by others’ posts.

It’s wonderful to have so many join us too- welcome all- it’s so good to have you here.

Having lost another post into the ether I’m now heeding BlankTimes advice and copying from an email!

speakout I’m so pleased to here your son’s news. I do remember what a tough time he’d been having and he’s been in my thoughts. Wishing him all the best for his positive new start.

Ray thank you for asking questions about sea witching and how to connect with where you live. Both subjects and the answers given by others to your questions held great resonance for me. I have a collection of sea treasures that looks very similar to yours! I haven’t connected well with my current home/town and can now see that I need to make an effort to do so. I now intend to make an offering and find ways to actively connect myself rather than yearning for other places. I’ve visited Munster many years ago and am sending good wishes to you with that image in mind. Paws suggestions and knowledge sharing about the area sound exciting!

Fitz - your posts always seem to vocalise my own thoughts ditto! I feel like we have a similar energy somehow and it’s very comforting to read your posts in that way. I can sometimes feel like an observer rather than a participant IRL so it’s very nourishing to feel that connection. Thank you.

I didn’t know what Uluru was either! I had to look it up. My son informs me it’s disrespectful to use the ‘white man’s’ name for the place that I was familiar with. He seems to have got a lot from his visit and told me about the ‘sorry rocks’ returned by visitors that someone described earlier on in the thread. I’m just so pleased he’s having this opportunity to see the wonders of our world. Not so doable a generation ago.

Gee, I love your analogy of the underground reserves of water. Far from imaginary- I’d try and take it as a comfort to have ‘tapped in’ to it and have faith that it’s always there for you. It’s harder sometimes than others to connect with it (like when the mundane takes over) but more tangible in moments of ‘flow’ I think- but I guess it’s ebb and flow that make this life what it is..

I love to notice synchronicities such as you describe. The more you notice, the more you see and likewise have faith in your ability to influence. Magic!

Belle I’m fascinated by the discussion on sigils. Thank you for bringing it. I love the thought of you mentally practicing whilst being on the train. It sounds very powerful to me. I’m going to look up the book suggested by Elphame

Your words about the thread feeling like a safe oasis to the point of having to remind yourself it’s not private resonated with me. I feel the same.

Hills I disagree that you brought the ‘wrong’ kind of energy to the thread. I think you’ve brought valuable contributions. It’s a very special place to both give and receive support.

StewPot sorry to hear you’ve been having a bad time recently. Sending you good wishes for a turn for the better as you tap further into your own gifts and power.

👋 to Enchanters. Hoping you’re able to feel some sense of balance from the equinox energy. And thank you for the previous reminder about balance and self care. It struck a chord with me and I’ve resolved to take heed

Oh. And I enjoyed reading the discussion about Ronald Hutton. I’m sure a lot of you have seen it but for those who may not have- I really enjoyed this video:

So many more posts I would love to respond to and enter into discussion about but as I said I could be here all day!

I’m spending time in the garden connecting with much needed earth energy. I’ll be planting some spring bulbs in honour of the equinox and of my ancestors. Relishing these moments of equal balance between light and dark whilst looking forward to yielding to the coming of the reflective winter months

Happy equinox. I love reading the posts on here - the support and knowledge is so refreshing compared to so many other places. Thank you all for creating such a great space.

Yesterday I went for a short walk with my family through some farmland, some woods and by a lake. It was so peaceful but energising at the same time. Along the way I collected small branches with acorns still attached, a small clump of berries, moss and other things that had been blown on to the path. I explained I wanted to arrange them when I got home to mark the changing seasons and DH and DC helped me gather extra things. I got Home arranged them, taken a photo and DH suggest d we frame it.

I think he has noticed a difference in me and where my focus is and a few times has commented that if I want to go for a walk or just be in the woods or by the lakes by myself then I should do just that. It’s a small but significant step for me as I’ve struggled nurture myself since becoming a mother. I know I’m not alone with this but my very tentative steps along this path are giving me direction to do just that.

Happy Equinox all

I never know how best to mark these occasions, as the only practitioner I know

@stewpots Welcome and blessed be.

You really don't need much if anything of a witch's kit. There's a lot that is nice to have but nothing that is actually essential. A lot of the books out there are very much basing themselves on the more initiatory, religious forms of witchcraft, but even then it's used as a means of representation or of focusing intent. I'm an initiatory priestess and witch but most of the time I don't use my physical tools to do witch work. A circle can be drawn with the hand or in the mind (and, yes, someone can feel themselves bumping into a mind-drawn circle). You can scry in a candle flame, a fire, the back of a spoon or anything reflective. It's the actual changing of your mind into alpha waves that it doing it, not the focus. Similarly, the biggest bit of spell work I ever did was accomplished by popping a bead into an envelope and sending it to someone, both with intent; the recipient, my RAF pilot of an ex-bf, was completely gobsmacked and not a little scared as to how his situation resolved in less than an hour of receiving it. 😁

You don't need to go out looking for something either, wait for it to fall into your life or hop up and down on a shelf screaming me, me! 😂 I made my knife handle from fallen wood in the trees over the road from the house in which I was conceived and I have another piece in process which came from the wooded churchyard in which my parents' ashes are buried. I have many beautiful wands from friends who are Craft craftsmen in Edinburgh (Gemini Aspect for those on Facebook and shopping 😉) which I use for particular purposes, eg oak wood for a Midsummer circle, but I have no idea where My Wand came from. I found it as I was looking for wood for a wand, but I found it in my home around 20 years ago on top of the piano bought by my great-grandfather... It was and is seasoned wood, debarked, with old cut ends, the thickness of my thumb and the length from the inside of my elbow to the inside of my wrist - all the traditional measurements. 😯 I'll pop into my local Pagan shop when I'm in Edinburgh to have a nosy for nice stuff and talk to the witches who own it though. 😀

Follow the seasons in your own area rather than being tied by the calendar, as the non-solar cross-quarters days are moveable festivals. Beltane at my home is late May when my hawthorn hedge blooms; Lammas is when the barley field behind the house is cut in late September and I take my sickle out to collect the remaining stalks to make this year's Old One, hence I tend to roll Lammas and Autumn Equinox up into a generic Hairst (English Harvest). Of course, it's good to follow the calendar when celebrating with others.

As for books, Elphame and I will agree that Ronald Hutton is the best for history; 'Triumph of the Moon' is available in an up-to-date version in paperback and Kindle, as are 'Pagan Britain' and 'Stations of the Sun' (the history of the ritual year in Britain). Ronald is Professor of History at Bristol University and has written in one of his books that he was brought up in the UK Pagan community. Most other histories of the Craft are taken from his research or just Plain Wrong (yes, Aiden Kelly, I'm looking at you and your risible decision to drive a horse and cart through Welsh mythology with your complete and ignorant invention of the name of Mabon for Autumn Equinox).

For lighter reading, you can learn an enormous amount about the Craft from Terry Pratchett's books with his witches such as Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Magrat and Agnes; his series for young adults on Tiffany Aching - 'The Wee Free Men', 'A Hatful of Sky', 'Wintersmith', 'I Shall Wear Midnight' and 'The Shepherd's Crown' - is stuffed full of real knowledge of witchcraft. Like Ronald Hutton, the late great Sir Pterry was connected to the UK Pagan community, but be warned that his last books are affected by his Alzeimers (hence the authorship of '& Another' for his assistant) though still enormously well worth reading. Steeleye Span's collaboration on their Wintersmith album is utterly fabulous too.

TooMany, I love that Wintersmith album. One of my favourites to listen to over winter.

I agree about the effects of dementia on TP’s writing. His last book was a bittersweet read - I felt that in his prime it would have had more depth. There is still a great sadness that he is not here to breathe more life into the world he created. His writing was Craft in a different way.

Mavis it’s lovely to hear how your ‘shift’ has filtered through to your OH as something that’s important to support you with.

Pawnee I don’t do anything particularly clever to celebrate such days. Just ‘tapping in’ to its energy and going with what that makes me feel. Hence the gardening based work today!

Paws Thank you for sharing your experiences- it’s interesting to read. I love it how the things we need find us in this way!

For those who enjoy kitchen witchcraft I’ve just found this blog with some lovely food ideas. Haven’t studied it in depth yet but I like it from a first look

gathervictoria.com/

@TooManyPaws thank you. I always wonder about Wands! I'm not crafty at all and useless with making things (except for food 😁) so maybe that is something to think about!

Thank you for your reading suggestions. As the nights draw in I'm keen to get into a subject or three, and the craft and divination shall be the subjects I will try to focus on. There's some good workshops around my area as I've been looking today so hopefully will be able to go to those.

I'm planning to try Scrying later on tonight along with some meditation. See if I can get anything from that.

A cat came into my life (some of you may recognise my male from the thread in fact) last year. The whole story was bizarre but she generally sticks to me like glue so I have wondered if there is a link with her somewhere... I have heard the term familiar but don't know much about it that hasn't been in the negative!

Hi all,

I wouldn't class myself as a witch as such, but all my friends do.

I'm a crystal healer and Bach flower practitioner. I love working with and clearing spaces as much as dealing with people. I have been trying to sell crystals, but at fairs/stalls it's hard work. I'm moving it all online now and need to work on that a bit more.

I'm fairly good at divination (cards, intuition when doing healings, palm readings etc). I keep meaning to work on that but time keeps eluding me, and will keep eluding me for the foreseeable.

Yesterday I said goodbye to a house I'm selling. Haven't lived there for 15 years. I had one point in the house that I felt was its energy 'heart', bizarrely it was just outside the bathroom door and not somewhere 'snug' but who am I to tell a house it's energy make no sense to me? I spent a few minutes saying goodbye and wishing it happiness in its future.

My house is filled with incense, crystals, energy sprays. I've started cooking meals that are spells; picking herbs and other ingredients for their energy, and adding vibrational essences. The 'Happiness' Mint-Choc Chip cupcakes seemed to work, but it might be because they were yummy :) My friends don't mind trying my spell experiments.

I pay some attention to the elements and the seasons. It's probably not a coincidence I came across this thread on the equinox.

Im moving soon, so your post struck a chord with me xx

Sooo sad packing up all my alter goodies. Cant wait to get them out again.

Hope everyone had a good Equinox..

Stewpots, I am reminded of an old friend (no longer with us) that I used to work with magically in the woods we were protecting.

She would always say “what's wrong with your finger?” if people enquired about athames or wands.. and we had the most amazing times....so I agree that you don't need to go out and buy loads of kit. Like Paws and others, my stuff has come piecemeal over many years, and is all the more personal for that.

BTW, I couldn t bring myself to read Sir Pterry's last book for around 2 years after he died..

The sky this evening. Really noticed it today, the different things it has been doing. Also collected conkers because I love their colour and smoothness.

@YashmisCrone
Thank you for the good wishes, let's hope that we will feel connected soon

I've just enjoyed seeing the moon on an evening walk, now time for a bath. I have salt but no oils yet, is there something I can do to make it healing and foster positivity? Or is just the intent enough?

Sorry lots of questions today!

@RayRayBidet that sky is beautiful. There was definitely something in the air today. I went out this afternoon, the energy in the trees, the earth and the sky was so powerful it overwhelmed me a few times. I just stood and let my body absorb it.

@VioletCharlotte
It was the calm before the storm, the rain and wind are raging outside now.
I agree something in the air today.
I went to a beer garden for lunch with the kids and some friends and when I drove home the sky was incredible blue and vast. It reminded me of my favourite place Northumberland where the sky always seems to tower over me and I can always see the horizon. But where we live it's hard to see. I took that picture from our attic bedroom. I need to spend more time gazing at that from our bedroom.

I've dug out my animal oracle cards and my Gilded Tarot cards today,it's been a long time since I used them,but have been inspired to get to know them again thanks to you guys. I've drifted a lot of late,I haven't even done anything with my Book of Shadows for months! This time of year always seems to call to me to get back in touch with my path.

Well I had my bath. I just used salt and rosemary plus some essential oil stuff I had from a beauty box - all smelt and felt amazing. I imagined a white light around me and the bath, drew a sort of circle with my hand and stated (in my head) that I wanted to cleanse myself of negative thoughts and feelings. I also stated that I wanted to give thanks for the help and guidance received this week.

I cleansed myself with the water, reinstating my intentions, then sat staring at the candle flames. Nothing came but I did feel at peace. I drained the water, keeping a cup full, cleaned the bath then myself with the shower and patted dry. Then I threw the water out towards the moon willing the negativity to be gone, then have thanks again.

I don't know if what I did was a load of whatever but I felt very peaceful and it seemed right to me if that makes sense?

I’ve been wondering whether to post this picture as it’s not exactly ‘autumnal’. But after a very rainy morning the low evening sunshine caught the lavender as I walked past. Usually when I try to take a picture of something like that it doesn’t do it justice but I just caught it before the sun moved on.

Beautiful picture!

Love the pictures Ray and Kizzy! Both beautifully capturing aspects of energy from the turn of the year’s wheel. There’s cloud scrying to be done there

The bath/intuitive cleansing ritual sounds perfect! And the feeling of peace sounds like a very positive result too. I love the confirmation of something ‘just feeling right’ and much prefer to work intuitively too.

Grumpy I like the sound of the animal oracle cards, I’m reminded of a reading I had from a friend years ago with hers. IIRC it was very accurate. I must ask her if she still has them...

Grumpy I like the sound of the animal oracle cards, I’m reminded of a reading I had from a friend years ago with hers. IIRC it was very accurate. I must ask her if she still has them...

It's this set. Beautiful. www.amazon.co.uk/Druid-Animal-Oracle-illustrated-book/dp/1859060072?tag=mumsnetforum-21

From the Doreen Valiente Foundation:

Hope everyone has been enjoying the beautiful harvest moon.