Any Witches Here Part 5.

[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.

HillsBesideTheSea

I can echo what you say regarding being "truly calm".

Like you my mind is a beehive in summer, frenetic, alway thinking, planning,. very mercurial.

Yoga and meditation shows me focus, but mostly my "calm " is having an organised mental approach, a bit like herding noisy children, or cats.
So the chatter doesn't stop completely, but I can find some internal architecture to be able to focus.

Don't know if that makes sense!

Good evening lovelies,

It's interesting that a lot of us seem to be feeling similarly about the impeding festivities , and taking similar steps to remedy it.

I may have missed a few posts , despite opting out of the seasonal self imposed madness I still can't seem to carve out any time for my witchy interests.

I made a few purchases lately and am very impressed with this incense if anyone's interested . It smells beautiful.
Would any of you kind people know much about incense?
Why do many of them all have the same stale aroma ?

Speakout what do you like in Lush?
I was thinking about you the other morning at 9am in Sainsbury's, 9am on a Tuesday was your recommendation as being the best time , you were right
I'm glad you're feeling better.

Violet can you get an emergency appointment ?
Please don't put yourself through this if there is any alternative .

YashmisCrone ' she's a witch like us ' how intriguing! I wonder how she knew. Did you know that about her ?
I think we give ourselves away in all sorts of ways , I try not to , the witch's pyramid and all that ' be silent ' .

How are everyone's dreams ?
I feel like mine are stepping up, I feel as though I'm building up to something.
Visions too are coming easily.
I had photos fall out of a book today of the very two people I asked help from yesterday , I can't tell you how comforting that was.

I'm not an expert on astrology but aren't we at the tail end of a difficult time?

Be well everyone , look after that vessel .

Filledsoda

I have the same incense- I bought myself this a couple of months ago- which includes the same one you have. They are all fantasic.

Yes to the dreams tight now- I am on a roller coaster.

Lush- I am not a fan.
But DD ( 18) loves the stuff, I was there to buy her gifts.

A big part of my problem is non selective processing, my hearing is hypersensitive and other senses can be over sensitive too. So I end up drowning out the additional stimulus so that I can focus on one, but it is ultimately exhausting. I love the activity I am going to do because my body is focused on proprioception but if i think about what i am doing accidents happen so I have to feel what I am doing iyswim. I totally tune out and just be so for me it can be a very mindful activity that would not have a mindful effect on others.

HillsBesideTheSea

I can relate to that- I am a an absorber too, but rather than becoming too focussed on the input data it helps to focus on my inner core.
If I strengthen my core and focus inwards then all that external chatter bounces off- that's the idea anyway.
It only works 80% of the time, but enough for me not to be blown over by stormy weather- mostly!!

I limit my interactions and exposures to unwanted chatter.

Filledsoda like you, I'm not managing to carve out any time to do my stuff at the moment. I do minimal socialising, but still feel far too busy.

Thanks to the suggestions of making an emergency dentist appointment. I've managed to get one for 8am. It may well be a long night! I hate taking painkillers, but I've dosed myself up on Neurofen plus in the hope of getting some sleep. Is so frustrating as I've got so much to do and this was meant to be my weekend for getting the decs up, shopping, etc 😢

Morning all.

Woken up so so late, very unlike me, but OH and I shared some wine last night talked for hours and had a lovely evening. It's rare for us to have the time to do that.

It can be hard to carve out time and allow magic into our lives.

Up until last week I have been working 50 hours a week.
Family responsibilities are heavy too.

I am very lucky that my work is so nurturing to me, making candles, working with herbs and oils it's fun, but still work. Making 2 candles can be fun, making 200, can be heavy.

I make a top priority to visit the gym.
Even at my busiest I make my environment nurturing- I light my flame, I diffuse oils, I play some music.
I stop on my way back from the post office to take even a 10 minute walk in the wood and pick up some tiny treasures.
I make moon water and feed the wild one to thank Artemis , I kiss my s favourite gem every day, a wild rough crystal picked up from the roadside in Gijantia by my Shaman friend
These things take moments, and I do them without actually thinking.

Sometimes it is when we are at our busiest that we need magic the most.

Finding time has been difficult for me recently too due to visitors and various commitments that are now piling up. I don't have anywhere to escape to, even the train (which used to be my alone time) barely has a free seat so I'm becoming grumpy. I wish I had your forest to escape to speakout, atm I just need to escape people for a little while.

@VioletCharlotte.. I hope your appointment went okay this morning? Toothache is horrible.

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday.

Ps Yes, I'm experiencing vivid dreams too. Coincided with the dark moon.

Sokere

I sympathise Sokere

Use the sky, the moon, as an escape, even just for a moment.
The light reaching your eyes has arrived at their destination, forged in the heart of a distant furnace, taking thousands of years to reach you.
That single photon has been absorbed by your retina and was produced in some distant galaxy in a furnace of a deep star. many light years away.
That same sky have helped ancient mariners and has met the gaze of the Neolithic people, of our ancients.

The sky can nurture us- and we al have access to it.

Violet glad to hear you’ve got an emergency appointment this morning, hope it has helped ease the pain. Dental pain can be terrible. Sending love your way

Elphame Hope that all went well for your DM’s birthday. Absconding to Wales for a while sounds lovely! Hope the decorating isn’t too much work.

speakout I’m impressed with your speed shopping skills! Totally agree about trying to pop in at quiet times- I’ll be planning strategic dashes as absolutely necessary! I’m too absorbent so it too. Even in tescos the other night (when it was relatively quiet) it was like a bad Xmas party, load music, people in costumes and a tangible edge of stress amongst the shoppers. I’m doing as much online as I can. I love your little tips and hacks about fitting in a few moments to connect and ground. Such a helpful reminder that some essential care care is always possible, even if it’s a slight tweak or ‘reframe’ of what we’re doing already. Good to hear you and OH had a good night

Sokere not getting any space makes me grumpy too. I hope you can grab a few minutes here and there at the moment. When I had a houseful I used to sometimes just take a few minutes to sit on a bench on my way back from the shops, or go to bed earlier to read just to get time on my own.

Gigg Good to see you! And what lovely news about your new grandson

FilledSoda I love satya incense and rarely buy any other type now- I agree many of the others just smell musty. It was so lovely to read about your answers to requests for help- a powerful and quick response!

With my ex colleague, I remember her having a similar background to mine (being brought up in a crazy evangelical ‘cult’ type church) and being interested to note that she seemed to be choosing a more ‘alternative’ path now- she was interested in drumming and I think she once went on a sweat lodge retreat. But as for me, I hadn’t discussed my own beliefs or practices at all. I’d probably listened with interest about the above and appeared ‘open’ I guess, but the jump from that to ‘witches like us’ surprised me!

I’m no astrologer either but hasn’t there been a mercury retrograde? ( they seem to happen quite often?) I don’t know but I certainly feel like I’m on a bit of a rollercoaster energy wise.

Yesterday I was like a whirlwind- I batch cooked, cleaned and tidied, went to the tip and delivered more things to a charity shop, shopped, visited my DM and tidied for her- helped her get organised for Xmas (her mind is whirring but she’s physically unable to get the things done) came away with a big ‘to do’ list, came home and did internet shopping! The day before I could barely manage the basics. Strange!

I woke from dark, disturbing dreams this morning. Nothing gruesome but certainly a churning up of my deepest insecurities. The feeling has stayed with me and I feel like these things are maybe bubbling to the surface as they’re ready to be dealt with. I don’t feel like I’ve got time! But that’s not really the way it works is it?! Sometimes just feeling it and acknowledging it is enough IME.

I’m waiting on a friend to tell me if they’ve time to meet today to ‘forage’ for wreath making materials, and I’m going to have a quieter day- try and recoup some energy for the working week ahead, although I do seem to be riding the energy as opposed to being in control of it at the moment!

Wishing everyone peace today 💫

@speakout... So beautiful. That has moved/resonated with me in some way, very deeply. Will try to hold on to this feeling that your writing inspired.

Thank you

Sokere

xx

Speakout, that is beautiful....and numinous.
May I quote it in circle? I love to incorporate cosmic imagery into ritual..
I sometimes use Rolf Jacobsen's poem Just Delicate Needles in the opening invocation of our Winter Solstice ritual.

Giggorata

Yes of course you can use it, I am humbled that you feel it significant.
X

The cosmos has the amazing ability to minimise us.

When we gaze at the grandeur and majesty we can feel insignificant, like a speck of dust, but when we feel ourselves minimising we also feel our problems minimising, we can gain perspective .
I find it useful as a tool to allow us to stand back a little, and regain that childlike wonder that we are actually alive, that we are able to see, and process information in such a complex way- to have the ability to feel awe at all

Morning everyone. Feeling much brighter. I've been to the dentist and had an emergency filling. Mouth is pleasantly numb at the moment so I'm really hoping to be pain free when that wears off!

Speakout such lovely words, so inspirational. Just what many of us needed to hear, I think, at this just time.

Hope you all enjoy your Sunday.

VioletCharlotte

I am so glad you are feeling better, that's fantastic.

It must be such a relief.

I thought about having a Solstice/Yule Candle Connection on the 23rd December- Sunday around 4pm?

As a way of celebrating the season, honouring the divine within us, as a thanks, and as a gift to us a group here.

Would that work for you?

Who would like to join?

Really pleased you’re feeling better Violet, great news.

speakout I love the idea of a candle connection but won’t be able to join until later on- probably 7/8pm (got a family thing that day) I’m come home and light my candle then

I would definitely like to join candle connection

YashmisCrone and PawneeParksDept - great that you will be joining.

Can anyone help me find a christmas gift for my MIL.

She suffers from arthritis in her knees- I see her only twice a year, she is lovely, I give her healing with my hands when I see her which brings huge relief.
I know some arthritis is hot and inflammatory ( she is also having medical treatment from her GP), but her knees feel ice cold.
When I place my hands on her knees I feel a burning fire created within my hands and she can feel the energy flow into her joints.

I charged a carnelian stone and she uses that on a daily basis which also helps.

Anyhow I thought a warming massage oil may help- maybe something with some warming spices?
I could make something, but I fear my family are getting a little tired of my homemade gifts!!

Any ideas of a nice oil I could buy? I don't want anything that looks too medicinal, more of a pampering/pretty package thing.

And note to self- do not google massage oil!!! Brings up some unexpected results

Maybe one of these speakout?

starchild.co.uk/collections/blended-massage-oils/products/dragon-massage-oil?variant=12523863474247

www.nealsyardremedies.com/aromatherapy/aromatherapy-oils-and-blends/massage-oils/1402.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyfigoPCS3wIVj0PTCh2IrACeEAQYASABEgJbbvD_BwE#fo_c=1916&fo_k=1e4b6e0e8f1a8c206c78b56c832ab7bc&fo_s=gplauk

www.nealsyardremedies.com/wellbeing/herbal-remedies/herbal-creams-salves-and-oils/8250.html

YashmisCrone

Those are all lovely- thanks.

Quick zoom in as I'm currently up a stepladder removing all dust from the kitchen

Love the idea of the candle, just let me know when

For Arthritis I've made Nettle cream and cayenne oil (seperately!) which have been very successful but the nettle cream leaves tiny bits of ground leaves when the cream's absorbed and the cayenne oil stains anything it touches bright red/orange.
Black pepper infused oil is also beneficial but it needs to steep so not time to make before the festivities.

Olbas Oil can be used on the skin, it has wintergreen which heats up, do read the label as people change ingredients so frequently it's hard to keep up.

However, how about a heated cushion or hot water-bottle, the gel filled type she can put in the microwave, or an electric plug-in heated pad or a cuddly furry heated throw, really similar to an electric blanket but designed to be used when you're sitting in the daytime - caution, they must not be used folded-up. They are much more controllable and lighter on a painful joint because it gives heat where she needs it.

Must fly, greetings and energetic wishes to everyone!