Any Witches Here Part 4 [Edited by MNHQ]

[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 hope you're ok tempest, August is not that long gone, I hope you're healing xx

Violet I'm so sorry to read that there are several of us here. But it's such a positive that we are all here isn't it. I am happier than I have been in a long time. Life is still difficult at the moment but I am so happy being away from him. I had help from Womens Aid who were brilliant. Women being there for each other and supporting other women is amazing.

Perhaps many of us are empaths, drawn to the wounded, feeling the need to heal that we end up with abusive men, Who are usually in bad positions themselves, we have an instinctive feeling to heal.
But that is simplifying things and infantalising men who should no better.
I was brought up in a time when men were considered superior. Times haven;t changed much.

midnight thank you. So much has happened since August! I was a wreck at the time but kept going and I'm so glad I did. Things look brighter ahead.

Speakout I think you are right, for some reason we are drawn to want to help people who aren't deserving of it. I have also realised in a couple of experiences since my separation that I have become conditioned to being afraid to say no, or feeling pressured into doing something that isn't what is best for me. Although the realisation of this is helping me to learn and deal with it- and become more assertive and hopefully stand up for myself more. I think a little bit of magic would be useful here- polishing off that magical armour to protect myself a little to start with!

@speakout

That's so true.

I feel that damaged people are drawn to me in every sense but sometimes that very thing makes us vulnerable to abusers, and it can be very hard in times of need to find those willing to nurture YOU.

VioletCharlotte

Look up Merkaba, that's the word I think she said. It's part of sacred geometry depending upon which ancient teaching you follow.
www.crystalinks.com/merkabah.html

Going back to read the rest of the thread and see the image you posted now.

Back again,
Look up Platonic Solids - it's ages since I've had to use these terms, it's brought a lot of absorbed knowledge to the forefront again

The Merkaba is two interlocked tetrahedrons.

Also have a good rummage around Sacred Geometry, there's a lot of knowledge-based systems, then for good measure, have a look at Geomancy.

This is a good resource for all sorts of text based research. www.sacred-texts.com

I've often wondered how many of you are 'out' to your families /friends?

I'm not out as such but DH knows I tinker around with "stuff", he bought me my first Tarot cards over 20yrs ago and has been known to say to people "my wife is into all that witchy stuff" but we have never really discussed it. My (adult) kids know I like "that sort of stuff" but I'm not sure if they really know or think I just mess around with it like a hobby. I really don't think they would have a problem with it.

Extended family - I would never tell, although they all know that I grow herbs and forage to make all sorts of lotions, potions, teas and tinctures but I don't think they have made the connection.

I sometimes feel I would like to meet up with others but never do anything about it, I imagine it must feel quite liberating.

It is interesting that people are talking about abusive folk in their lives, in my case it was a female family member for many, many years. It was the fallout from that, that brought me back to my path (and this thread) and I am grateful for it.

I have found most people very supportive if they find out I am a witch.
I have had two people who have turned their back on friendship with me ( both christian), but that's their problem.

Good morning everyone, I was woken early by my 18 year old DD climbing into bed with me for a cuddle. OH and I have separate rooms- bliss!!
She has tonsilitis and seemed to be improving last night but is feeling wretched again today.
She wanted me to sing to her the songs I sang when she was a little one, and she fell asleep.
I have crept out leaving her asleep in my bed, showered and having a coffee downstairs. I can make some headway into a mountain of work I have to do.

Dd is worried because she has her first placement tomorrow ( child nursing student) and she doesn't want to miss the start of it.

But in the great scheme of things a day or two at home will not impact her studies.

Seems like we all share similar experiences in so many ways. I know most of you are much younger than me but I don't feel out of place and I feel I have so much to learn from all of you.

@Blanktimes.. I love those esoteric texts. I was home late last night so only intended to glance at the thread but your links were addictive. I used to read Kabbalah so many of the diagrams are familiar to me. I'm busy again today but it's inspired me to delve deeper over the coming weeks.

@"VioletCharlotte... I think that woman has given you something significant. You seem to be on such a journey and developing so fast.

@speakout... I hope your daughter recovers soon. Tonsillitis is so painful. How lovely though that you still have your young one coming to you for comfort.

ps.. I can't remember if I've asked this before but I'm having weird things happening with candle flames, oil burners (catching fire). None are new, never had this problem previously. Just a coincidence do you think?

bellecose For me that would not be a coincidence. I discovered patterns in my toaster and kettle killing activities. I would probably analyses that but I do over analyse everything so others who are less prone might not.

Speakout Sending healing thoughts to your daughter. Hopefully she gets a speedy recovery.

I found that I was attracting too many dangerous men, so I stopped dating. It was more sensible and less work that way. dying is not currently on my to do list, and emotional recovery is just exhausting.

My parents are incredibly religious, my father almost zealous in his believes. He has prayed for my soul everyday for the last 30 years because I don't believe in his god. My mother has softened in her views after a breakdown several years ago. She has an inkling, as we had to have a very frank conversation about the ghost that lurks in our garden whose presence was causing her a few issues (not friendly but will be drawn into a truce - long story) Generally in this house anything remotely religious has the "dick principle" applied to it.

Since my trip I have been binge reading the books I bought in Glastonbury. but every bit of reading is throwing up more and more questions. I fear that I shall never have all the questions I seek, let alone the answers. Does anyone else sometimes feel this way?

Good morning  it's very grey and cloudy here today. Im enjoying a coffee before tackling all the jobs I've been putting off 

Speakout your relationship with your DD sounds so lovely. I hope she feels better when she wakes up.

Bellecose and Blanktimes thank you for your advice on the geometric shapes, I'm going to read up on them. I think I'll order the set from Amazon and meditate on the shapes. I got the feeling it was important.

Hills like you, I kept attracting dangerous men and have also stopped dating (it's been 3 years since I've had a relationship). It's allowed me to grow and really opened my eyes to a lot of things.

Bellecose I'm not sure about your candles and burners, but I wouldn't leave any unattended for a while!

I'm lucky in the sense that there are two practicing witches where I work. My Oh supports me whole heartedly he even bought me a nice little celtic necklace when he went to sherwood forest.

It saddens me that as a young mum I got my one and only son christianed because my own mother wouldn't let up about it. It was a hard time and I felt I needed acceptance because of the breakup with ds father, and she pounced. I regret it to this day.

claryfray

How lovely that you have such a supportive OH. Mine is too- he tells everyone about me being a witch, he is very proud.

Don't beat yourself up about the baptism. We do the best we can in difficult circumstances.
You were trying to make it right for everyone- please don't regret it.

I have no regrets in life, I do my best, and I don't punish my past self.

Go back to that person you were then in your minds' eye and make peace with her.
Support her and tell her that you understand her decision at that time. Give her a hug.
That will support her and release you from the guilt.

Light two candles, one for her , one for you now.

When we nurture our past selves we nurture ourselves in the present.

Hope your DD is feeling better speakout

Don't feel bad Claryfray, all any of us can do is to make the best decision we can at the time with what we know at the time. It doesn't matter that he's christened if he doesn't want to be a christian. It won't stop him finding his own path.

Its raining here this morning, I lit some incense but tbh the rain laden wind through the door smells sweeter. This morning I've been cleaning and refereeing the DC, they're just sniping & bickering all the time. Going to a firework display tonight, I love a bonfire.

I was baptised as an infant. My mother and father did not want it (my father in particular is as anti-establishment as they come!) but his mother arranged it anyway. She was a bullying narcissist, very concerned with her public image.

It has made no difference to me finding the path I was meant to be on. I do now view it as simply a form of protection. My grandmother believed in protecting me with her faith. Ironically my grandmother was from a long line of mediums, my grandfather not at all religious in an orthodox manner but revealed himself to my father as a witch. My father is a witch. I did not meet him until I was an adult, and though we have been connected for a decade have only really talked about our path as witches recently.

Having a quiet day at home. I have a lot of energy coursing through me today and am planning to cast a spell tonight. Something I have been turning over in my head this week, suddenly I feel full of power to manifest it.
I cannot do this with the children around and it is making me restless, so I am channeling love and magic into preparing some meals for the coming week.

Violet So pleased you're interested in the Merkaba etc.

Bellecose2 Really pleased you like the links, I can get lost in the Sacred Texts for hours dipping in and out. I keep re-reading the Emerald Tablets of Thoth.

I'd say it's not coincidence that your flames are acting the way they are.

Speakout hope your dd feels better soon.
Sore throats and laryngitis are soothed with cold diluted homemade raspberry vinegar or hot diluted homemade raspberry vinegar.

Otherwise thyme tea with honey.

I make this for coughs, as ever always check for allergies before you give it to anyone.

Thyme Syrup

½ oz 15g dried Thyme
¼ oz 8g dried Sage
¼oz 8g dried Chamomile flowers or use opened chamomile teabags
2 teaspoons Fennel Seeds
1 teaspoon Aniseed
20 Cloves
2 cloves of Garlic
Pinch of Ground Ginger or Cayenne Pepper
Handful dried Elderflowers or a few opened elderflower teabags
1½ pints 900ml water
1lb 450g Honey

General method for making syrup.

Put the chopped or dried herbs and the water into a pan and bring to the boil. Cover with a tight-fitting lid, turn the heat down low and simmer gently for 20 mins.

Allow the liquid to cool a little and strain into a measuring jug or another pan. Press the herbs with a spoon in order to extract all the goodness.
Discard the boiled herbs, put them in the compost, and keep the liquid.

Return the liquid to the heat and simmer very gently, uncovered, until reduced to 7 fl oz/ 200ml.
The slower the reduction the better. The reduced liquid is called a decoction.

Add the honey to the pan. Dissolve slowly and simmer for a few minutes, stirring all the time, until it reaches a syrupy consistency. Let the mixture bubble for a moment, but do not overheat otherwise you will have toffee!

Pour the syrup into clean bottles and label with name, date and dosage.

2-3 teaspoons 3-6 times a day for adults.

1 teaspoon 3-6 times daily for a child.

Something odd has happened to me this week.

I am single and wish I wasn't

Someone started a thread about cheating excuses yesterday, and I related what my ex said to me when he cheated.

I looked him up on social media. It's been years.

What was quite eerie is that he posted something about a TV show which was exactly what I thought word for word

He has been going to watch the exact films I have ALONE

He has no DC and is single and this has led me in the last 24 hours to the nowhere land of Might Have Been.

But he used me and he cheated on me, and in general didn't seem to see other people as people with agency in their own right just as characters in his storyline in a game or a choose your own adventure

He was wrong for me, but it's still sad because I think we could have had a happy life without those things and we are both alone.

But he's still wrong for me, so I need some way of releasing it and not letting it become a narrative that repeats in my head and takes up headspace.

Pawnee I feel that you're being tested to see if you've really learnt and grown from your experience with your ex. He's still in your aura and I feel that until you can change your energy, unfortunately you're going to continue to attract types.

How long ago did you split?

Pawn The past is gone, let it lie, you can't change it. Don't waste your time on might have been(s) because all of the fantasies you conjure could just as easily be might not have been(s).

Concentrate on the present moment and moving forward.

If you have intrusive thoughts, tell them you will address them at [pick a 10 minute window in the day/evening when you can have the time]
then relegate them to the container reserved for them in your mind until the appointed time. then give them their 10 minutes if they really deserve consideration or bin them, then get on with your day/evening.

Don't tie yourself up in unnecessary mental knots. You are in control, your headspace is yours, give it a spring-clean (autumn clean?) and bolt its doors until you are in a position to welcome whatever you want to into your clean space.
You wouldn't leave all the doors on your house open for all and sundry to wander in and take control, don't treat your headspace any differently, it's yours, you are in control.

Speaking of Headspace, a lot of people rate the app very highly

Thing is though Pawnee, if you messaged him now & you met up you'd probably still have all the original issuers that led to you breaking up in the first place. If he was wrong for you then, then he would have had to change massively to be right for you now. Acknowledge the feelings & move past them :)

Is anyone up for a moon discussion? Do any non Wiccan witches celebrate the esbats, or is it generally a Wiccan thing?

If you do, do you celebrate all 13 or just some of them?