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.

Hello to all!

I am finally all caught up with the threads. Of course, I have so much reading, listening and shopping to do now – a wonderful way to start the new year!

Sokere - thank you – both of my boys are total joys on all levels. I am very lucky.

Speakout - I hope all went with your mother’s hospital appointment. DS2 is 9 (10 next month – where has the time gone?!). DS1 is 12 (13 in April). They are like chalk and cheese but both beautiful, kind and loving souls. DS2 is an extrovert and loves to be around people (I’ve always said it was one of his sociable bee traits!), whilst DS1 is much more like me, quieter, far more introverted and in need of time alone to recharge and refresh.

Great photo YashmisCrone .

Following on from the themes of self-care, we’ve had a wonderfully indulgent week so far – a bit of pottering in the garden for me & DS2 when the heat allows and jigsaws, drawing and reading indoors when it gets too hot. DH was on leave last week and he likes to be constantly busy/active, so it can be a bit of a trial at times to maintain a balance that suits all of our different needs. Anyway, we're determined to savour the last couple of weeks of summer before the chaos of school starts again.

Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Good morning everyone- rushing about this morning- I slept too late, so will be chasing my tail all day!

mamuciana
Your children sound lovely, it's wonderful watching their personalities unfold isn't it.

YashmisCrone I hope your energy levels are on the increase, but there is wisdom in those words you posted.
Energy and moods ebb and flow- it's natural, we sometimes just have to accept the present and give things time.

Have a blessed day everyone.

YashmisCrone Thank you for that picture. My annual SAD is starting to tighten its grip on me and I could happily hibernate now until April. I always find Jan/Feb very hard.

I'm suffering with my mood too, and am experiencing extremes of emotion. Some of this is down to PMT which is a new addition to my month thanks to my age and hormonal changes. Some months it's awful and others I breeze through.

I am sitting at my desk with a scented tealight (bergamot and nettle) in my himalyan salt candle holder. I'm on herbal tea and working really, really hard at not sliding down the slope into sadness.
I would like to hibernate but in a couple of weeks time we have to deal with one of my children having a surgery and the subsequent recovery. I very much want to hide from life right now and I very much cannot. Am currently letting go of anything that is not absolutely necessary.

I am sending a little Imbolc fire energy to Elphame, queenrollo, YashmisCrone and anyone else that needs it right now.

The sun is shining and I can see snowdrops from my window.

Hold tight sisters, it won't be long until we are energised by longer days.

Good afternoon all,

Wise words as ever speakout, thank you. I agree, and find that reframing an ebb in energy as a natural cycle rather than a problem is helpful to me.

I also agree with the desire to hibernate and the jarring contradiction that life will just not let us! I think queenrollo’s approach of ‘letting go of anything that is not absolutely necessary’ is very wise. Life goes on and we can’t stop it but taking realistic steps to minimise and streamline is a very valuable step to take I think. Feeling some semblance of control is important to me.

I’ve been reflecting on taking control of thought patterns too- easier said than done but IME well worth working at. I’m no expert by any stretch but I’m really interested in neuroplasticity and the ability we have to change our thought patterns and therefore perspective this way. The statement in the picture really resonated with me in relation to this.

I’m lucky enough to be working from home today- holed up with my laptop and the work phone, I’ve opened the windows wide to let the cold air in. Time for a lunch break ,the sun is trying to push through the clouds and I’m trying to persuade myself of the benefits of taking myself out for a walk for an hour! I know that when I least feel like it I’ll get the most benefit from it.

I hope everyone is able to find a little bit of magic in the day

Oh speakout how wonderful!

I didn’t see your post when I posted mine but am now soaking up that lovely nourishing energy and definitely going for that walk!

Thank you so much xx

Yashmiscrone with regard to taking control of thought patterns - it is hard to move out of an existing groove but I have done it and it is one part of the jigsaw puzzle of my improving mental health.
I have always let negative thought patterns rule me, and I know that I was a very 'woe is me' type. I have worked very hard on not letting negative thoughts stick, and I now find it much easier to find the silver lining than to bemoan being stuck under the cloud.
I was a terrible sulker and could make my bad mood at a simple disagreement last days. I have talked about this a lot in my therapy - that I was holding on to the hot coal. It was damaging me more than anyone else and I had to stop doing it.
This has been the part of my journey, spiritually and mentally, where I have really faced my dark side. I acknowledge it, and I am learning the balance of standing my ground where I am right but not holding on to negative energy which does not serve a healthy purpose.

I have friends who have never suffered with mental health issues who give out the 'finding gratitude' line quite glibly, and I don't think they understand why it is such a damaging thing to say to someone who is depressed. Yes it works, but it is almost like withdrawing from a drug and allowing your body to adjust. The brain and the emotions have to transition carefully.

Thank you for the fire energy Speakout Oddly enough at the time that you posted that I had finally found the energy to get the fire in the dining room going. I sat on the little sofa to watch it catch properly and suddenly both my cats appeared for a cuddle. They are sisters but rarely will they accept both being sat with me together. So your energy definitely worked some magic for me.

queenrollo totally agree it’s no mean feat - a bit like redirecting the well established flow of a river. But so worth it for sustainable change. I think I’ve said it before but I really admire your strength and tenacity in what you’ve achieved with your re-wiring. I had to smile at the sulking thing- me too! I’ve worked hard on reprogramming that pattern! The hot coal analogy’s really good. And yes, the gratitude thing does work but can be a glib and patronising suggestion when you’re experiencing actual depression. It reminded me of this video from Ruby Wax where she describes her friends suggesting she ‘perk up’ like she never thought of that.

Yes speakout’s fire energy is magic

I agree with all these ideas about thought patterns.

Trying to re direct thought patterns is hard , but it can be done.
And the more we practice the easier becomes I find.
Once we open up new pathways it takes effort to direct outselves down the leafy pleasant lanes, but in time these become well trodden and the default route.
The pathways of angst, self doubt and anxiety will grass over in time, and be hard to even find over time.

Ritual and meditation can be very valuable tools, we can allow the subconcious to do a lot of the work for us, sometimes the concious mind is too lively, like trying to contain a ferret in a bag!!

Hello everyone, just catching up after a busy morning at work. Sorry some of you are feeling low. This time of year is always hard for everyone. The weather is bad, the sky is grey, money is tight after Christmas. And this year, the political situation is making everything even worse. It's a wonder we've all not just taken to our beds for the duration!

I think self care is the key to keeping going through the winter. Its hard to find the energy to look after yourself when you're feeling low and tired, but not doing so leads to a vicious circle. I know I bang on about yoga all the time, but it's what keeps me sane. If you can take half hour out to do some at home, it really does help 🙏

VioletCharlotte

You are so right about the self care.

I would actually include yoga as part of the meditation/ritual that I mentioned. Not to mention the endorphins and serotonin effects of the exercise.
I also find weight training a type of physical meditation too.
The focus, the repitition, the rythmn, it gives me a mental and emotional work out too!

Speakout yes, exactly. Lane swimming is relaxing too (so long as the pool's not too busy) I find it really clears my head.

I've had to take my poor dog to the vets this evening. He's got a really nasty cut at the end of his tail. I've got some antibiotics and instructions on how to keep it clean and covered. I'm really hoping it will heal, otherwise of it gets infected he may have to have it amputated, poor boy 😢

Totally agree about the self care, I think when we feel least like it we need it most!

Beautiful description of pattern changing speakout- I often use the analogy of well trodden pathways to describe it too- makes a lot of sense to me.

Sorry to hear about your poor dog Violet I hope the antibiotics do their job

Beautiful skies on the moors today

Good evening all. Would I be ok to join this thread? I've been on Mumsnet for a while so can't believe I've only just stumbled across it.

YashmisCrone

Beautiful photographs.

I am glad you resonate with my analogy.

I think of my thought pathways like a roadmap, with motorways, grassy paths, bridleways, country walks.
Some paths I have put up roadblocks deliberately (bad times and trauma) and I would need a machete at the very least to open them up again- thick with brambles and young trees. Impassable!!

Purplemoonandstars

You are vey welcome. Pullup a chair, I'll put another log on the fire.
We are a friendly bunch here, a huge mixture of interests, skills some experienced, some new.

Thank you speakout I'll take a bit of time to go through past threads and get to know everyone a bit.

Purplemoonandstars

That's great, but dive right in if you would like to chat about anything.
Even though a subject may have been discussed before no one minds talking about it again.

Absolutely speakout. Those of us 'hard of comprehension' are always happy to discuss the same subjects again

Welcome to all the new bods who've arrived recently. Am really enjoying the vibe. Get cosy everyone, frosts due here tomorrow ❄️

Yashmis more gorgeous photos ❤️ You live in a beautiful area.

Welcome purplemoom it's always lovely to have new people join in our chat 🙏

Enchanters good to hear from you 😊

I think "revisiting" the same subject is a lovely thing to do.
I love hearing different perspectives, fresh approaches, new angles, it's always food for thought.

Welcome purplemoon

I agree that it’s always good to revisit a subject- there’s always something new to discover and I love that!

Lovely to see you Enchanters!

Violet it is a beautiful area. I think feeling more connected with the help of everyone on this thread is making me engage with nature on a deeper level right now 🙏

I love the mental image your roadmap gives me speakout

Wishing everyone peace and comfort this evening 🕯

Just been reading this - another lovely reminder to tune in to and respond to our own needs in whatever way we can

www.kendracunov.com/2018/01/18/untame-yourself-the-undomesticated-feminine/

I'm just going to hide here for a bit

Long and short is a friend who has been repeatedly hurtful has been hurtful again and doesn't seem to care about me or want my friendship

I'd realised this a while ago but the final nail has hit the coffin and I just feel quite sad