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.

Our snowdrops are out, the daffs are shooting, the winter jasmine is trying to flower but it was butchered too later last year for it to look good. And the hazel has catkins.

My books are on the bookshelf in my room. I used to keep them well hidden but out of sight out of mind. They are visible but only if you look for them. My room is mostly respected as my space. Ds knows where they are but as an aspie with no interest I am not worried about that. However, as he has an interest in cards (epescially having been given some lovely sets of illustrated cards this christmas) any tarot cards will be a different matter. They will have to be hidden, else we will have to have a chat.

Morning. Looking forward to my drive through the hills later, it is getting to the point where it will be daylight on the way out soon. Can't wait. Was hoping to do something to help with my intentions and resolve for change and focus this new moon. But I am not sure I have purified my intentions enough ifyswim. My thoughts are a bit too cluttered atm to put out clear intentions and muddled intentions imo just invites unintended consequences. So I think I will leave it this month.

I think you are wise Hills. I’m not working this moon either. I haven’t had the mental energy and my own thoughts are too cluttered to focus with any certainty.

Yes we must work when it feels right.

I will be doing a simple working for clarity this new moon, simplicity and calm are al I need right now.

With this view from my bed can you blame me for not getting up! Can’t delay any longer. The gardening won’t do itself and the poor dog is waiting patiently for a walk.....

A beautiful view Elphame, those of us surrouded by nature are so lucky.

@Moononthehill28 - The Peter Paddon enchantment book. He mentions peripheral vision and eye anatomy, in particular it was the reference to cone and rod cells in eyes that had meaning to me so nothing really to do with the book's subject matter. It was very significant to me but would probably mean nothing to anyone else reading it.

Elphame that view is enough to keep my lying in bed all day.

What a beautiful view Elphame I wouldn't want to move either!
VioletCharlotte sending you calm thoughts I'm still traumatised from ikea on Friday night I quite genuinely thought we were never getting out at one point.

The question about books is an interesting one, until quite recently I kept almost everything upstairs but since about November I have gradually kept more downstairs, including my tarot cards and my crystals which were always "around" are no longer hidden behind things etc. It's as though my true self has clearly come out more (and obviously my dm recognised this) and I either can't or no longer want to hide that away.

Loyaultemelie

I do lock my Tarot cards away.

I don't like anyone else playing or touching my decks except when I am doing a reading for someone.
My DD uses one of my decks which we "share", she doesn't even know I own other decks, they are locked away in a big trunk.

A couple of points

Books

I am new to all this and so far only have about 5 on the craft. (Have had many specific for Tarot for years. )

But my home is something of a thoroughfare of people and I have just placed them sideways on a shelf

No one has yet asked, out of politeness I suspect but a bit like the Queen I want to be a bit "never explain" about it. I was asked some questions IRL about my prep yesterday and I just replied "it's personal"

But I'm aware that when it comes to this there are 3 responses :

1. Spells? How utterly ridiculous, I thought you were more intelligent than that

1. Spells? But that's evil/Unchristian I'd stop meddling if I were you

1. Spells? Ooo can you do me one for...

And I don't feel adept/experienced enough yet to cast to order

So I'm not sure how to respond if asked because I don't want to justify

Music

Does anyone have any suggestions for Music To Cast Spells By?

I used Enya's A Day Without Rain last night and I've used the Harry Potter theme before, because I wanted Classical

Classical or New Age really, ambient music

I feel the same way about my decks speakout

I only have two - my newer one is lovely and has a real power to it but I still feel a bit reticent about it

My main deck is my old faithful and I hate People messing but in general they are respectful

BartonHollow

Regarding music- I do use it often in rituals, but tome it's a personal thing, I don't use general or ambient music, I have used specific pieces which are meaningful to me.

Responses from others- I don't tell those I suspect may be hostile.

Since this thread started I have been a little bolder in telling some people I am a witch and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Many years ago I had a witchcraft book on my bookcase in the front room, one day I had guests visiting and I came into the room with a tea tray for them, just in time to catch one nudging the other and pointing at the book and both making horrible faces, it made me feel awful so I keep everything out of sight now.

Some close family members know but I present it more like a fun hobby rather than serious witchcraft. Sometimes I feel like it is not supposed to be shared with people although I do have occasional hankerings to belong or seek out others.

Lapetus

How very rude of your guests!

I don’t cast to music. Industrial metal doesn’t really work!

I tend to use intonations instead which as they tap into the power within me really boost my results.

A nice exercise is to settle yourself somewhere comfortable where you won’t be disturbed . Outside if you can but your sofa will work.

Then you simply play wth sounding out the vowels. Breathe in and exhale whilst saying ahhhhhhhhh. Try it at different pitches and volume. When you are ready move on to ehhhhhhh and so on. You can then combine them like oooooooo eeeeeeee. It’s a very simple method of inducing a meditative state and if you are outside in woodland and hit the right sounds you may be lucky enough to have the trees sing back to you.

speakout it was very rude but in hindsight it was nothing compared to what would follow over the years to come. I am rid of them now but still feel the battle scars at times. A guilt hex has been helpful.

Elphame I do similar, almost like OM ohhhmmm. I must try it in the woods.

Howling in the woods- beautiful!

Like this woman in Sweden, a vlogger I follow.

WOW!

Loyaul Ikea was indeed traumatic! I only needed to go to the market place, but I find it so stressful! So many people and noise, I came away with a huge headache. I got what I was looking for though (an ergonomic pillow) and stocked up on candles while I was there. Also found a peace lily in the bargain corner for £1 so decided to bring the poor thing home for some tlc!

This afternoon I went for a long dog walk which calmed me down. I'm so much happier when I'm outside amongst nature. And I found some leaves for the little new moon ritual I want to do tonight.

I like to have music that's puts me in the right frame of mind. I normally select a 'chill out' style playlist from Spotify. There's some nice shamanic drumming ones too.

VioletCharlotte sounds like a lovely way to destress after though, enjoy your peace lily!

Speakout I have my cards up on a shelf and stupidly it never actually occurred to me anyone would actually touch them or mess with them as it's not something I would think to do in someone else's home. (Dh and dds wouldn't touch) I might rethink that one!

Lapetus how awful

Tips for surviving Ikea:
know what you want exactly,
use all the short cuts possible to get to the department you need
eg some you can cut through from the entrance straight through to the market palace, some you can skip and entire level
after 7pm is much quieter and more sensible - just watch out for special events.

I’m just glad it’s not just me who can’t stand Ikea! I’m going to have to brave it for some replacement glasses and I’m dreading it already!

My tarot cards I keep in a box but I’m ok with other people touching them. I am fairly laid back actually about most of my witchy stuff. Provided it’s handled with respect that is. The exception is my initiate cord and my measure. The cord I will show but my measure is kept well hidden from everyone

Yes Ikea strategies.

I really only use the marketplace for candles etc,

There is a door ( easily missed) to avoid going through the furniture Dept,
Alternatively I go in the Exit (have to wait until someone is coming out as doors are only activated one way) I nip through the tills, but the candles are close to the end of the marketplace.

Both the coffee and hot chocolate at Ikea are worth the trip though!

Having an early night (again).

Early morning yoga class tomorrow.
DS working every day, this week although later short shifts, DD not back at Uni until Thursday.
OH away tomorrow with work for a few days, and I am starting to work again, so will be keeping the troops fed at home, not sure how much pottering will be done this week.

New moon blessings to everyone.