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.

Violet the pictures on my last post show up in the wrong order. The second and third images should be the other way round. Here’s the final image from James Duke’s chapter and an extract from this one:

www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/susan-curtis/natural-healing-for-women-caring-for-yourself-with-herbs-homeopathy-and-essentia/GOR001798239?keyword=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxtC7hdrU3gIVS7ftCh3_yAxWEAQYASABEgJjwvD_BwE

I like the sound of the soothing aromatherapy bath 🛁

Hope it eases soon

Rivierliedje Bealtaine Cottage really looks beautiful, I have been in the area many times and it's gorgeous I'm not surprised someone found it so inspiring
Violet sorry to hear you have been having recurring uti's my Nanny was a sufferer and swore by a combination of dandelion and parsley (unfortunately I don't remember the amounts) but she seemed to drink it 2-3 times daily when she had one

Yashmis thank you so much! This is so helpful and has given me a bit of hope. I'm going to try a bath with aromatherapy oils this evening.

Do you know where I can get things like Bearberry? Is it best to get in touch with a herbalist?

Pleasure Violet
I’m not sure tbh but I think places like Holland and Barrett do supplements. It’s probably a good idea to talk to someone like a herbalist as I know herbal/homeopathic remedies can interact with other medications.

I also really like Hazel Courtney for herbal remedies/healing with food. I couldn’t lay my hands on the book, but this one has been my go to over the years:

www.amazon.co.uk/Most-Important-Health-Tips-Youll/dp/1904991378?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I also tend to look at ‘meanings’ behind recurring physical symptoms I have and try and work on anything that comes up. For example, I had a period of frequently injuring my toes at a time when I had some fear about moving forward... I needed to work on feeling safe with change.

I don’t know if you buy into it but is there something that frequently ‘pisses you off’?!

I don’t totally agree that all physical illness has a psychological root especially when it comes to serious illness. I don’t like the implication that people somehow ‘invite’ it and i think that adds a layer of self blame to already dreadful situations. I also think the toxicity of our modern world/environmental factors have more to do with increases in serious diseases.

However, I have found that sometimes with less serious but recurring issues there’s a ‘block’ of some kind I need to remove

What a wonderful series of threads. I've read this one and most of thread 1, so far. So interesting.

Violet - have you heard of D-mannose?

Thank you again Yashmis. I'll try Holland and Barrett tomorrow. Like you, I believe these things have a 'meaning'. When I've had reiki in the past, I've been told my sacral chakra is unbalanced, and bladder issues are a symptom of that. Also, I had an auric photography reading a couple of weeks ago and she picked up on bladder issues. Low and behold, a couple of days later I get an infection

Nevada I've heard of d-mannose. Have you tried it?

Yes, I've tried it. It has seemed to help me in the past.

Welcome Nevada

These threads are wonderful aren’t they. Such a wealth of knowledge and support. Glad you found us

Interesting you should say that about the sacral chakra Violet. It seems to be the one that’s most often out of balance for me too. I’m no expert on chakras by any means but understand the general concept.

I read that centuries of female oppression have meant that this is a common imbalance for women. I don’t really understand why oppression would cause that particular chakra to be imbalanced- (I guess it could be to do with female sexuality?) I’ve got more learning to do there!

You’ve reminded me that I have a book somewhere that I bought to learn about rebalancing chakras, with the specific intention of working on my sacral chakra. A timely reminder to dig it out again!

Hills yes, critters galore, I love it. Cats, hedgehogs, a plethora of insects, occasional dragonfly, bees, they are all welcome.

Elphame glad you found your jet. When I first started out, it was very much 'make do' and make it yourself with ordinary household things when it came to finding things like a scrying mirror or stone.

Yashmis glad you like the flowers.

Rivierliedge thanks so much for that site, looks like she thinks the same of Monsanto as me. I've been to Ireland a few times, I could settle there and do similar, but I'd also want some involvement with the community and a way to be financially self-supporting. I have something in mind.

Violet The National Institute of Medical Herbalists NIMH are the people if you want herbs and a herbalist who can advise on something specific for you. Holland and Barratt aren't in the same league.

www.nimh.org.uk/about-nimh/
www.nimh.org.uk/find-a-herbalist

Welcome Nevada glad you're having a good read, there's a wealth of information here every day.

Thank you both.
I've ordered some of the books mentioned on the first thread. I feel a need to understand spiritual stuff much more at the moment. Almost like there's a space in my life that needs to be filled.

violet I second the recommendation to try a medical herbalist. In the meantime, it may not hurt to add a daily cranberry supplement; I rather enjoy drinking cranberry juice as I had quite a history of UTIs.

To cover all avenues, it might be worth trying your doctor again. I had constant trouble, leading to kidney infections and abdominal pain. When I moved villages and therefore doctors, they did slightly different tests and discovered an infection which was banished by a completely different antibiotic. Touch wood, it has been so much better since, but I have been left with problems.

And on a completely different note, I have quite a collection of trees in the garden - ash, silver birch, rowan, oak, holly, lilac, as well as hawthorn and beech in the hedge. I would like to plant elder and willow as well as a blackthorn hedge and fruit trees. The silver birch is a huge one, right in the middle of the grass, and silver birch always means home to me. I am from the north-east and silver birch is all over Aberdeenshire. My staff is birchwood and I try to get as many tools as possible in birch.

Good morning- I am enjoying all this tree talk.

I have a small garden so not much room for planting trees, but my house is surrounded by native woodland, so I consider that an extension of my garden, and spend a lot of time there,

Again I have slept so late today, not sure what is going on with my body clock right now. I have been a 6am riser for decades.

@speakout You must be needing this extra rest. Darker mornings too can effect us. My sleeping pattern varies, but isn't good at the moment. Sometimes only getting 4 hours.

I've added a link to the angel oak tree for all the tree lovers. I've never seen one in real life.

scpictureproject.org/charleston-county/angel-oak.html

Morning all,

I've been lurking and trying to catch up with what I've missed, been a busy few days... Just wanted to say thank you for all of you posting advice and suggestions for UTI's- this is something I nearly posted about myself the other day! I have never had a UTI in my life until early last month (think it would be what could be referred to as the 'honeymoon' kind ) and I have found it really difficult to get any help from GP's, walk in centres etc. I have an appointment tomorrow to hopefully get some antibiotics but its wonderful to read your advice as well.

Lovely sunny morning here, I hope everyone has a good day.

My garden is mostly fruit trees. I have 6 apple trees, a plum and a couple of greengages. I do have an oak, rowan and elder and we planted a hawthorn/blackthorn hedge a few years ago. I'm trying to cultivate the native trees as they provide food and a home for our native wildlife.

Has anyone visited one of our ancient oaks - the Curly oak in Wentwood Forest. It's entirely hollow but still gamely putting out leaves

I never realised I loved trees so much until this thread! That is such a powerful, magical looking tree Elphame.

Morning everyone. Thanks so much again for all the uti advice. I've taken the day of work to look after myself and go into H&B for some d-mannose or Bearberry. I'm then going to look to make an appointment to see a herbalist and read up on balancing my sacral chakra. Feeling more positive already now I have some possible solutions , rather than just endless antibiotics that don't work and make me feel awful.

Changing the subject, I'm enjoying the tree talk. I have a small garden, but there's some beautiful trees at the front of my house. I love to watch them change as we move through the seasons.

@VioletCharlotte I suffer with an overactive bladder and I've had to change my diet to include more bladder friendly foods/ drinks.
Avoid:
Caffeine
Tomato
Cranberry ( I know this goes against other advice)

Try:
A glass of water with a teaspoon of bicarbonate soda, tastes horrible but it resets the acid in your bladder
Peppermint tea
Blueberry juice

I've got to have a camera but in my bladder next month, I understand how frustrating uti's are. I hope you feel better soon.

So frazzled today- far too much work, I'll have to put things on hold until I can clear my backlog.

Meanwhile my mother has asked if I can make lunch for 5 of her Mormon friends - with two hours notice!
They are coming around soon for a bible study afternoon at short notice.
Mother is now in a panic trying to make sandwiches for 6 people and annoyed that I won't help.

She has picked up all my witchy stuff from the room they use and dumped it in a cardboard box- as she doesn't want to have to explain any of my "goings on".

And breathe.

speakout
Big breath, in and out very slowly , 4 times, then relax.

Sokere

Thankyou.

I envy you your beautiful trees Elphame! The picture of that tree is amazing!

Speakout - you sound very patient and kind. I hope your Mother appreciates you!

Evening- an bit calmer here today, turns out DS was sorting out a fall out with a friend in the past day- I can feel these things bubbling.
Mother's church friends ended up tidying the garden, clearing leaves etc. so worked out OK.
Winding down now- making dinner- ( although have a water bath of max melting on a hob)

Will have salt bath before bed and an early night tonight I think!

"Wax" lol