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.

Nevada

I work with deities, I have an altar, I invoke powers, I love working with goddess powers, imagery and archetypes.

I also consider myself a atheist.

Teaandtoast I will give ginger ale a go, thank you.

Nevada I personally think you could have your altar however you like. Just a collection of things you like or that mean something to you. That's what I plan on doing.

speakout thank you. I'm hoping a combination of medicine and magic can help me along

Hello all, I’ve posted here before and I’m sorry it’s been so long since I last joined you. My energies have been very inward looking since Autumn hit. I need to read through the thread and see what I missed! I hope you are all well and I’m sure this is still is a wonderful, warm corner of the Interweb.

Gee and YashmisCrone I have the green witch book. It suits my style better than a number of those on my bookshelf that I have had for decades. There is little focus on a deity/deities, it is more about energy in particular the natural side of things. The tree magic/energy is right at home with the book. I really enjoyed the idea that whilst seasons mean certain things in culture that actually it can mean something else to the individual and it is important to explore it. It is not the same as books like Ancient ways, walking the moon but I found it enlightening and interesting. I also liked the layout and writing style. I realised recently I am very much a book snob in terms of layout and some of the books recommend here and on earlier threads did not appeal simply because of it.

That's piqued my interest as well. I haven't come across any green witch books.

Is the Sky a feature of green magic too Hills?

More indirectly than specifically from what I can see. It touches on a number of areas and I do think everyone gets something different out of the same book. So it is entirely possible that there is more empathises than I found because of what I was looking for when I read it. I am hoping to carve out some time to reread it. There is more I want to focus on.

sokere you just made me take another look at my bookshelf. ON there I have "Earth, air, fire and water" by scott cunningham. I think this one might have more what you are looking for in terms of sky magic. It comes under the heading of natural magic rather than green witch. But I can't attest to how good the book is as I have no recollection of having read it. Having had a reasonable flick through I think once I get more comfortable with performing more magic this is a book that will connect more with me. So it might be something that you might wish to investigate.

Also i was wrong about one of the other titles I mentioned. It should have been embracing the moon rather than walking the moon.

Thank you... they both sound interesting.

Hello everyone, just catching up on all the posts.

Inthetempest I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling so rough. UTIs are awful aren't they? Yours sounds particularly bad. Have you tried any of the things that were recommended to me? The d-mannose seems to have helped.

I've had an interesting day. Long drive to Devon for my yoga retreat. It's near Totnes so thought I'd stop there first as I'd heard about it and thought it would be like Glastonbury. Have any of you been there? I didn't like it at all, really unpleasant energy that made me want I leave immediately.

Arrived at the retreat in the dark, feeling stressed and anxious. Found myself in floods of tears during the welcome meeting. Not like me, I think I've been holding on to a lot of stuff. Almost got in the car and drove straight home! Feeling better now after a relaxing yoga session, should sleep well. I'm totally out of comfort zone though so will be interesting to see what comes to the surface this weekend!

Night all 😴

Morning
Sending supportive thoughts VioletCharlotte.

I am sure you will have a lovely weekend.

Remember we are here if you need us.

Thanks Speakout it's really reassuring to know x

VioletCharlotte

There will always be one of us around.

Tap into the power of the group when you need us.

Morning,

Nevada I agree with Tempest that your altar can be whatever you want it to be. I’ll sometimes set up and altar if I’m working on something in particular (a ritual involving lighting a candle and chanting over a period of a month for example) But apart from that, I just seem to end up with clusters of things in different areas of my house. For example, my living room fireplace has one end devoted to ancestors, my dressing table has a collection of stones, feathers and a box containing different coloured ribbons for spells etc...

I think an altar can be a useful point of focus for workings and have also found that they ‘naturally’ assemble in different places around the house!

Hills, that’s interesting about the book. Thank you. The Works have sold out but I could get it on amazon. I need more space for all the books I want (already have a lot) I’ve always dreamed of having a library!

Violet glad you got there ok- I did wonder if you’d be near Totnes when you said you were going to a yoga retreat in Devon! I’ve never had a particularly strong reaction to it energy wise but do find it an overly ‘woke’ vibe for my liking.. (but that’s probably me being a bit judgmental tbh) That said I do like the bookshops, the Friday market, and the charity shops. Did you go to the high street (on the hill?)
Sounds like quite a release you had during the intro. I hope you find in beneficial overall. Like speakout says- we’re here for support if you need it.

Good to see you again Fitz 👋

Nevada

In my main space I have an altar which is a collection of things precious to me, that stay all the time. Then I have a couple of seasonal elements, the main being felted fairies/ladies that represent each season. I don't necessarily change these over with the 'official' season change but when I feel my garden moving into the next one. Then through that season I will add little things. Often feathers that my youngest son gives to me. Sometimes he even sneaks things on there, usually stones/leaves/seaglass/broken pottery from the garden. I don't mind this as he is very respectful of the things on there, and I feel it is a gentle way to include him in my beliefs (I firmly believe in allowing children to find their own faith)
I cast spells in very informal way mainly, as the energy/feel comes to me. But if I am working something bigger that I feel needs a devoted ritual and energy then I set up a separate altar with a set of things that I use only for this purpose.

I am reading the thread and following you all. Sorry to hear of UTI's troubling some of you. Hopefully you are on the mend.

speakout I never feel you are bringing negativity to this thread, it feels to me very much that this is a place we can come if we need to safely share things where they will be understood, and we can offer comfort during those times.

I am hoping to get to a local witchy shop today. They have odd opening hours which make it difficult for me to visit around school runs. I really, really want a broom. Hoping they will have one for me. Last year when I needed to prune our holly trees (I have two magnificent ones out front of my house) I had a couple of branches that I took to her for wand making. I haven't been back since then, and it was this time last year!

Have a lovely weekend all.

@Yashmis and @Sokere

I’m really enjoying The Green Witch book. I dropped into The Works following a recommendation on here about a different book and this one found me. It was right at the front, the last one and reduced to £4.

Like @Hills I find it deals a lot with natural energy. It even says no high ceremonial magic here. It concentrates on the hearth and the earth (both of which I enjoy) and working within yourself rather than just following what is “supposed”’to be happening. As you would expect its quite down to earth even referring to green witches finding the magical in the mundane and the sacred in the everyday. Its not any less sacred for that though of course. 😊

Its a natural practical style and other than spilling my raspberry tea over it im really enjoying it.

I should also mention that I did buy the book I went in to The Works to get and it’s untouched! Lol

Sorry I meant to add this too.

I too really enjoyed The Green Witch. It was an unexpected gift from a friend.
I think it particularly good for those just starting the journey as it's very accessible. I really liked the way it is laid out and it's a lovely size too.

Hello wise ones,

I've posted on here before and have been following with interest, really enjoying the warmth and sense of community on this thread.
Just popped on to say that Aldi have 'make your own Christmas decoration' packs...transparent baubles in boxes of 6 for £1.99...ideal for witch balls! I shall enjoy making them and adding to the magic of Christmas in my own individual way.

freakydeaky

Thanks for that.

Aldi and Lidl do some lovely decorations, I have bought some really nice wooden things there too.

Just finishing off some work, DD is home but working till 3 o clock, so may treat myself to a rummage through my local charity shop.

Hello everyone just checking in. Hope you're all enjoying your Saturday. I like the look of the 'Green Witch'. I'm reading 'The Hedge Witches Way' at the moment.

I'm taking a little time out from the retreat as we have the afternoon free. There was an option of a walk on magical Dartmoor, but felt the need to be in my own for a bit. This morning was intense, we did yoga, then an alchemy of breath workshop, which was like nothing I've experience before. Extremely powerful, I spent about 45 minutes sobbing like a baby. I've been for walk by the sea, which has cleared my head a bit, and having tea and cake before I go back.

I didn't realise quite how much I've been holding on to. I need to work out how to deal with if all now. Does anyone have any book recommendations for shadow work?

VioletCharlotte

Glad you checked in with us. Sounds like a challenging weekend.

Emotional release is OK in my book when we start to move in the deeper strata. I have cried at many yoga sessions.

Sounds a very sensible idea going for a walk, cake and tea.
You are having some deep work right now.

Shadow work can be helpful, but I need also think that keeping secure places can enable us to function.
Recent PTSD research supports this interestingly.

Not everything needs to see the light of day to enable us to be happy and whole.
I have some parts that I prefer to remain buried.
I use them as foundation stones. Tread on them, minimise their impact.
But all choices are valid.
And not all shadow work is conscious.

Be kind to yourself..

Thank you Speakout such lovely, kind words. You've made me cry again, but in a nice way.

Thank so much to everyone on this thread for all your love and support. This is such a special place ❤️

Mumsnet has managed to lose my post again.

@giggorata
Pagans and witches have been taking part in interfaith for many years. Here in Scotland, the Scottish Pagan Federation sits as a full member of the Scottish Interfaith Council which advises the government on matters of faith. Hence, we have legal pagan marriage and officiants for open rituals such as naming and funerals, as well as pagans giving the Thought for the Day at Holyrood. I've always got on well with the parish ministers in my village and was even cub leader in the church scout group in my previous village, much to the hilarity of a friend who was an elder of the kirk! 😂

I have a friend in Yorkshire who is a witch and takes part in local interfaith. Remembrance Sunday saw a great picture of her in a cloak amongst the assorted interfaith clergy at a public service. There is a Police Pagan Association working to put forward the rights of pagans, as officers, staff and "clients". Pagans have also been visiting prisons and hospitals for years as clergy thanks to interfaith.

A witch friend of mine lives in the Netherlands and is the Head of the Pagan Federation International; she has just returned from the Parliament of World Religions where photos show plenty of clergy happy to spend official and social time with pagans. 😂

Sadly, it would seem that speakout's mum and her friends are from the more evangelical and possibly bonkers wing of Christianity. Personally, I love it when pagans have a better grasp of what the Bible actually says and can quote it to these people (I know a witch who was a Jehovah's Witness) to put them right 😉🤯😈😁. speakout, I would be telling your mother that either she leaves your possessions alone or she entertains her friends in her own room and you will not be catering for them without several days notice and contributions to the cost of food.. 😉❤️