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.

Yes, of course. Thank you

veterinari so sorry about your relative. I'm sure you will be a comfort to them. You are not a fraud and a liar for trying to protect them; I understand the feeling though. I had a similar situation with a dearly loved relative who had a serious accident, the medical staff were not expecting them to live long at all. My relative was asking me if they were going to die, and that they didn't want to, and it was very hard to know what to do or say. I do believe now that my family and I really were a comfort to them at the end though, just being there, holding their hand, talking to them.

Speakout if you have chance later on to pull a card for me too, I would be so grateful. Having a very turbulent and stressful couple of days and a little guidance of some kind would be good.

Morning, hope everyone's well? Im wondering if anyone could recommend some books I can read to understand more about the wheel of the year? I'm off work next week so will have lots of time to relax and read

InTheTempest

No problem

Afternoon wise women,

Violet I’ve got a couple of books about the wheel of the year- they’re both quite old now- fairly simple introductions that I’ve enjoyed-

www.amazon.co.uk/Wheel-Wiccan-Year-Gail-Duff/dp/0712612300?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I’m not Wiccan, but it still appeals to me!

www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Wisdom-Seasonal-Festivals-Rituals/dp/0806970561/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ref=plSrch&keywords=celtic+wisdom+vivianne+crowley&dpPl=1&dpID=615R1KTN3ZL&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1538145886&sr=8-2

They’re both books that ‘found me’ at the right time- always the best way I think. I hope you find something you can get your teeth into next week

I’ve been low in energy so have given myself permission for an afternoon off. I did what absolutely had to be done this morning then called it a day.

I’ve enjoyed the sunshine albeit less bright today and done a bit of retail therapy- I treated myself to a new bedding set from dunelm- it appealed to my witchy self with it’s folk art style- purple with nature based print including moon gazing hares

I’ve found some podcasts about goddess archetypes to listen to and have some home made (not by me- bought from the local farm shop!) lentil and spinach daal for later.

I think it’s really important to give ourselves permission to have times like this. I used to spend time thinking about what I should be doing - now I see it as essential.

speakout thank you very much.

YashmisCrone it's very true about giving ourselves some time out when needed. I am struggling a lot at the moment with my divorce and horrible ex, and the fallout from it all, as well as other problems that I've allowed in. I really need to get going with the protection stuff don't I! I have just found it hard to keep going, am very unhappy with myself as have fallen woefully short as a mother lately. It's very selfish of me but I just feel like I can't do any better until I have more of a life myself again. I read on one of the earlier threads about saturn returns and wonder if this is something happening to me right now? I'm 30, perhaps the right time. Unless I've misunderstood completely!

I will be moving from the marital home at some point and am looking forward to having a new bedroom, just for me, and definitely want to incorporate some of this witchy stuff in it!

InTheTempest
I know it’s easier said than done with all you’ve got going on. I’m lucky that I have the freedom to take an afternoon to myself these days.

I think it’s about doing what’s realistic at any given time- it could be mindfully drinking tea or positioning yourself in the sun for a few minutes.

When I was having a tough time post break-up I wrote myself a list of self care ideas to remind myself when I really didn’t feel like I could do anything. It included very simple things like 3 deep breaths, look at the sky, make yourself a cup of tea etc. Sounds silly but it helped me remember that I was worth looking after.

Please don’t beat yourself up about parenting- we all just do the best we can with the resources we have through different phases. The last thing you need is a message to yourself that you’re falling short in some way.

I agree at the protection practices along with whatever self nurturing you can manage being a good idea.

I like salt cleansing and smudging to clear negative energy from a place, followed by filling the space with new, positive energy- burning oils, a piece of nature brought indoors- anything that gives you a message of hope.

I think sometimes the best we can do is put one foot in front of the other and tell ourselves we’ve done well to get through the day.

I like speakout’s earlier reflections about nurturing your inner child (I think they’re on this thread) when going through a dark time.

Sending you love and comforting energy

Here’s the bedding I bought today if you fancy some window shopping ahead of your move! (Although it’d be great to do something nurturing for yourself for now too!)

www.dunelm.com/product/willow-plum-reversible-duvet-cover-and-pillowcase-set-1000093824

YashmisCrone

You read my mind- I was just about to ask if you could post a link to the duvet set!!

Hello, lovelies..just been catching up on the thread.
@Veterinari, I’m thinking about you at this time. What a gift you are giving to your relatives. Your time and compassion is certainly felt by all. I find candle lighting to be a very powerful means of communicating prayer. If I am thinking of someone specific, I might have something meaningful with me at the time of candle lighting...a photo of them, a sea shell, if they loved the ocean, a flower, they particularly loved.
Sending strength and peace to you.

Elphame, yes please to your apples. They are close to my heart. I attempted to make apple butter once. Once, is the operative word.

To all you fabulous witches, speakout, VioletCharlotte, YashmisCrone, Bellecose2, InTheTempest, PawneeParksDept*, and any other lovely witch, I may have forgotten, bright blessings for a happy fall weekend.✨✨

Yashmis love the duvet! My absolute favourite colours! So lovely for the fall.

YashmisCrone thank you for your kind words. One foot in front of the other is very much how I've been living for a long time now. I suppose it's a good thing in a way that I am craving so much more than what just feels like 'existing' at the moment, although it probably makes me more unhappy that things aren't as I want them to be. Patience was never my strong point! I'm so glad to be away from my ex and am desperate to have a life of my own again, but I feel in a bit of a limbo and the opportunities to get on with life are a bit limited right now. I know what I want to happen- whether the chance of it is now gone, or whether I can make it happen, whether it will come of its own accord, I don't know.

I love the bedding set by the way, I was looking at some of the other hare things on Dunelm. Also noticed that John Lewis have some nice hare christmas/yule cards at the moment.

www.johnlewis.com/the-almanac-gallery-leaping-hare-christmas-cards-pack-of-6/p3745527

Lovely duvet- and I love that card too.

When times are tough it's often the small things like these that are important- and often the things that fall by the wayside when life is hard.
They may seem trivial, unimportant, self indulgent even.

These things are crucial.

I walked through the woods today and brought back an armful of rowan branches full in fruit, they are in a vase on my kitchen windowsill.
A gift to myself.

Other people may depend on us, but self care is so important- and in caring for ourselves we are more able to care for others.
If we neglect ourselves we become empty, and have less strength for others around us.

It's a lesson I have had to learn - and it has been difficult.
I was brought up to think that self nurture is a vain and indulgent thing to do.

Only when I started to care for myself more I realised that those around me benefit too.

It's a win win!!

Those cards are gorgeous! I can see my retail therapy extending to online! I bought this one recently. I might put it in a little frame and put it up on the wall. There’s some lovely ones on this site

www.theheartofagarden.com/cards/

I agree with speakout about having to learn the lesson of self care being so important. I think many of of are taught that it’s selfish (especially as women) it’s a tough message to undo. I tell myself now that if it feels self indulgent then I should definitely do it

I also think it’s interesting about limbo. We’re so adverse to it aren’t we? That’s another big lesson I’ve had to learn (I can relate to the impatience) The necessity of limbo. Like a winter season of our lives or the hanged man in tarot. I might want the bulbs I planted at equinox to grow and bloom as flowers now but they’ll do that when they’re ready. They need that time to grow under the surface. I think we’re the same- particularly when we’ve been through a difficult time. It’s taken me a long time (!) to see it like this

SecretWitch they’re my favourite colours too

Love that duvet set!

@YashmisCrone thanks for the links to the books, I'll take a look this evening. Looking forward to having some time to do some reading. I've got a whole week off work, teens will be at college, so I'll be free to do exactly what I like 

@InTheTempest so sorry that you're having such a tough time. I know it probably isn't much help right now, but it will make you stronger. This is all about your learning. In the meantime, try and protect yourself. This too shall pass.

@SecretWitch thank you. Hope you have a fabulous weekend too ☺️

Thank you @ secretwitch. I hope you are feeling better..... I am a little behind with some of the posts so sorry if I've missed anything.

I've enjoyed a beautiful autumn day too. Completely indulgent day of retail therapy. Inspired somewhat by Elphame, I now have apples baking with cinnamon, melted butter, sugar and raisins in the slow cooker. Won't be ready until midnight but I couldn't wait until tomorrow.

Thank you all. I'm so glad I found this thread, and that even though certain events may not have gone how I would have liked, they have provoked many questions within me and brought me back to 'witchy' things. That it is coinciding with my divorce, turning 30, all makes it feel like a significant new chapter in my life. It feels the right path given this thread has given me a lot of enjoyment. I can see the positive in many things, but I must take care of my mental health, as it really has been a lot to go through. Funnily enough, its the little things that shouldn't be so important that have really got me down. I was delighted to get rid of my ex so that has been an easy transition

I get the idea of getting used to limbo. It's all a learning process isn't it. Must work on the patience, that's probably my issue. It has been a beautiful autumn day where I am too, I have been going for a walk most evenings as I like being in the fresh air so may do so again tonight.

Must be a day for it (retail therapy) Bellecose

Love the sound of the apples cooking away- I bet they smell divine

I was delighted to get rid of my ex so that has been an easy transition grin

That’s the spirit!

Enjoy your walk, sounds lovely

Bellecose2

The fool.

Embrace the unknown. Sometimes in life we have to take a leap of faith.
There are no guarantees , sometimes we have to trust our hearts.
What is holding you back? Fear? Old habits?

Trust yourself.

InTheTempest

Page of pentacles.

This is a positive card. . You have all you need at your feet- in the picture the page has money, a map and a broomstick. Now is the time for new beginnings.
This card may also represent children or people who depend on you. Make sure the help you give them encourages their own independence.

Ah interesting....The Fool, very apt.

It is, yet again, a complete left turn and I'm holding back because I hadn't planned to take on anymore. Plus, some uncertainty about whether this was suitable for me /fitting in with the other people so some insecurities /confidence issues.

Thank you Speakout. Very helpful.

@Yashmin...Yes, the aroma is wonderful right now. Sweet and spicy, so autumnal. I love this season.

speakout thank you so much. That card makes a lot of sense to me now- definitely a time of new beginnings for me. Makes sense with regards to my children too.

Bought myself a present...

BeyondAdultHumanFemale

That looks an interesting book.