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.

Sokere

I leave the question of what the gods are up to the gods; they are what they are and it is beyond our brain, as much as we are beyond the brain of an ant. I do tend to the individual though, with a reflection within ourselves. If a particular deity is close to us at a time, that to me is either a warning of events in our lives or an opportunity to work with the similar energies within us. Conversely, we can call upon those internal energies to work with the deity. Their morals and viewpoint may not be what we expect though.

TooManyPaws

Yes, a lovely little book.
I bought it several years ago, and have just finished re reading it.
It's a nice series.

Wow. I’m loving this discussion!

So interesting and enlightening. I can feel the cogs turning and things clicking into place!

speakout your words ring so true with what I inuit to be my path. I feel such recognition and comfort reading them.

To me a path is about empowerment and immanence.
In a culture that has so many power systems that seek to control , judge and direct us - expecially women- this is a path where we can take back control and find our own energies

Yes!! This is absolutely how I feel about it too.

Elphame that’s such a useful distinction for me re: Traditional/traditional witchcraft. It makes sense of so much for me! It’s funny because I generally struggle with what I tend to see as the restrictions of categorising belief systems, but reading that and seeing my natural resonance with traditional folklore magic feels like coming home. Wonderful.

There’s such a rich wealth of diverse knowledge here. I love the respectful way it’s shared without competition about what’s ‘right and wrong’ So enriching. Thank you all so much for this.

On another note- I saw this today. Unfortunately there isn’t an exhibition near me but it looks really interesting

www.wakingthewitch.uk/about.html

I thought this may be of interest to any novices. I like how she doesn't berate us for errors.

How To Reverse Spells When Everything Goes Wrong — The Traveling Witch
thetravelingwitch.com/blog/2018/4/10/how-to-reverse-spells-when-everything-goes-wrong

@speakout Yes, I'm attracted to solitary craft for the same reasons. In as much as I enjoy and have a great interest in learning about other people's beliefs, I don't want them rammed down my throat or to be judged for my doubts. It's nice to find a spiritual home but not at the expense of personal freedom.

@Paws..Thank you for that. I relate to psychological archytypes but something nags at me that they are far more than that. But I can't move beyond that frustration of not knowing /understanding /accepting. I've let my reading slip so am going to return to this.

Sorry to everyone if I'm waffling

YashmisCrone

That is an interesting link, thanks fo posting it- no wher near me unfortunately.

I agree about the diversity and acceptance on this thread, it is so refreshing and welcoming, no one insisting that their way is the right way, just a lovely supportive atmosphere.

speakout

no one insisting that their way is the right way, just a lovely supportive atmosphere.

Yes, it’s a rare and beautiful thing- particularly in relation to belief systems. (I think as humans we have a predisposition to know we are right and others are wrong and try and argue as much!)

Very special and makes for the best learning environment I think. I love what we have here 💜

Sokere

It's nice to find a spiritual home but not at the expense of personal freedom.

Totally agree, that’s very important to me too. Another reason why it’s so wonderful to hear about everyone’s unique path.

Paws

Thank you for the link to the books, just having a browse and already have my eye on a book on seashore witchcraft!

I had a lovely find in a charity shop yesterday- I think it is a Welsh spinning chair ( just found that out today though) it cost literally pennies.

It has some lovely delicate carvings of flax on the wood, it's small, comes up just above my knee.

I love the idea that it is a spinning chair- witchcraft has a long asscociation with spinning and weaving.
A nice little addition to my home.

Oh wow speakout 😍

I’ve never seen one of those, but what a beautiful thing it is!

I want to shop in the charity shops near you!!

Cailleach Bheara is mentioned a lot in Irish folklore, particularly for being Shaper of the Land.
She has a whole peninsula named after her in the southwest and from the angle of approach, a geological oddity large rock on the shore outside Eyries looks like the seated figure of a woman in a white shawl looking out to sea. It's said to be Cailleach, awaiting the return of her lover Manannan mac Lir.

leithincluan.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/b-is-for-bhearra/

i.pinimg.com/474x/22/f4/8a/22f48a1377a20a5f5f2178fd22fcfe4f--mother-art-winter-solstice.jpg

www.alamy.com/stock-photo-signpost-cailleach-bheara-hag-of-beara-eyeries-beara-peninsula-county-34626353.html

Violet hope you've enjoyed exploring Avebury, do try and spend some time inside West Kennett Long Barrow, its acoustics are amazing.

Speakout love your spinning chair/spinning stool.

Yashmis "I think as humans we have a predisposition to know we are right and others are wrong and try and argue as much!"
I agree!

Speakout I have spinning stool envy. It is on the list of things I would like to go with my wheel at some point. Maybe I should just build one. It would be quite a project to do. That said I have learn to spin with flax, linen and nettle on my list too. They might be more achievable as my time is rather over allocated atm.

I don't know where I stand with the concept and interaction with deities. Things at Christmas opened my eyes a bit but I feel like a deer startled in headlights on this topic atm tbh

Well a mixed day today. Lovely walk up to Grey Hill stone circle with some gorgeous views. I was much less happy to find some idiot had tied these ribbons around a tree there. They are thick polyester, double knotted, double bowed and will last for ever. Tying these around the trunk of a young tree can only damage or kill it as they will never rot away.

I have mixed views on the Pagan Portals books. I've had some good one but also some truly terrible ones. The quality depends very much on the author.

And I have serious spinning stool envy. I have the wheel.....

BlankTimes

Re the Caillach, yes Irish folklore- Scottish too. And Scandinavian culture has the Kælling a hag who creates landscapes.
One of my deep spiritual places- Gozo, the oldest Goddess temple in the world, also has a fierce mountain moving goddess.
Ancient Celtic culture was a dominant force in Europe, so none of us escape the myths and influence.
Celts are now asscociated with Ireland and Scotland, the so called Celtic fringe, but that's simply because hoards of marauding Gaels and Romans couldn't be arsed to go.

And no matter wher we live or our heritage the Caillaich is present in all cultures and places. Still touchable in all our lives.

Elphame

I agree about the trees, such an unthinking thing to do.

The phloem will be strangled an the tree will struggle to survive, be deformed and die.
And to use plastic materials is plain nasty.

You are right to be angry.

speakout Cailleach seems to be everywhere - and why not

Elphame I'd have cut those off. Several people I know who visit the ancient places always take a rubbish bag in their pocket to collect and dispose of anything that's not easily bio-degradable.
Don't get me started on idiots leaving tealights on stones or in areas where there is livestock.

Take nothing but your memories and leave nothing but your footprints seems to be in need of revival.

@BlankTimes - I did! I do carry a sharp knife for such occasions but I was able to pick the knots apart so I have 3 18" lengths of ribbon to either find a use for or dispose of. I don't think they'd been there very long or I'd have had to cut them

I’ve also got spinning chair envy - lovely find!

Elphame, I hate finding things like that at a site. People need to think their offerings through.

I used to think of deities as archetypes but I’ve had too many interactions which left them feeling very real.

@Elphame Attagirl, well done! I'm sure the Genus Loci is happier now.

Many sites have someone who lives nearby and assumes the role of caretaker which is great, but others don't seem to have that level of human protection so it's great for them when visitors also help out.

Speakout I have charity shop envy! The ones near us never have anything anywhere that nice. What a find!

Elphame people really don't think about the impact of their actions do they? Well done for cutting them down.

I enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at Avebury. I'm going to read up on the history of it this evening. When I go there, I get so carried away with the lovely energy and feeling all floaty, I've never taken the time to research the place!

BlankTimes

Your idea of Genus Loci has been uppermost and nudging me for more than a week now.!
How coincidental that you mention it. Or perhaps instigated it. What an energy you have!
I have been collecting things to set up a Genius Loci for the past week

I love your contribution to this thread.

You are a gifted woman.

Thank-you Speakout
I just love the ancient places and love to connect with their GL whenever I visit. Energy's my thing I guess.

I’m learning such a lot from this thread.
Love your stool speakout

I love Avebury! Have moved away now and don’t know if I’ll ever be back!

Oh dear. this chair has caused so much upset in my family.
I have it next to my bed. Not sure what to do with it.