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.

VioletCharlotte lovely! Two hours peace and quiet on the train followed by a glass of mulled wine and stollen.

Speakout oh so true! The tsunami (great phrase!) of Christmas has often washed over me - busy at work and busy at home - I’ve then been ill with a Christmas bug and felt that I’ve missed out on everything after so much effort. I also suffer from the “wanting to hibernate” feeling in the winter. This way I get a little time for myself to enjoy the run up to the festivities.

Tealslate there are lots of ideas online but this was the one that I first saw several years ago on Facebook.

www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/204280533077416672/#details?amp_client_id=BlFSacI46aAtkp_li08zURL-bsEoklt2oiX4J5cpt5BeDvlrwFJRcO9fNCoYaF9N&mweb_unauth_id=64152b6f9d53e741fa97ecb65d2fc355

I also particularly like this one

bearhugsgifts.com/blog/2016/12/1/random-acts-of-kindness-advent-calendar-bearhugsraok

Have a 🌟 day everyone

I love the drip not tsunami philosophy! Brilliant. Great advice as always.

I also like the random acts of kindness approach, certainly shifts the focus. I’ve decided to give to charity some items I was planning on trying to sell in this spirit.

Just on my way to post DS a ‘care package’ in hope that it’ll arrive by Christmas. Just some food treats- but I know Yorkshire tea and Cadbury’s chocolate help provide comfort when you’re miles from home!

Hope everyone is having a good day and has a chance for a little self care.

I’m thinking about moving to Norway!

Hello you lovely lot
I've just been catching up on the chat since yesterday.

Speakout you really are a thoughtful generous person. Lucky children to have you for mum.
I will take you up on your offer to ' stick with us' thank you.
Even reading the posts from yesterday and this morning have given me inspiration.

It's so reassuring to read about the power of reframing the season to better suit our own rhythms and energy. We can make this whatever we want.

I find it helpful to not watch tv , I was never an avid viewer anyway but I really benefit from not being exposed to the pure materialism and associated guilt and feeling like nothing is ever enough.
I watch a lot of films and YouTube but I can pick and choose and watch what inspires and educates me .
I don't go into the big department stores at this time of year either , it doesn't nourish me in fact I think it leeches something from me.
I've purchased gifts within my budget, for the first time actually and it feels so much better.
I want to stay local , buy local ,make things , donate and appreciate the things I have.
This probably just sounds like common sense to most of you but I used to be so irresponsible, I'm learning now finally .

Hillsbesidethesea the deep cleaning , is that a family tradition ?
Are you preparing for visitors?
It's a healthy mental endeavour but I imagine takes some willpower at this time of year . I bet you feel great when it's all done.

I love everyone's ideas and I hope we can inspire each other.

I hope to get some mediation time this evening . Mr Soda is heading out so I can play my drumming app and not worry about jumping out of my skin when he walks up behind me

Have a blessed day everyone.

Hello all, this does seem like a gem of a thread. I follow the gnostic traditions of Hermeticism which is basically just a school of thought that propagates the pursuit of mystical experiences. I could describe oneself as an initiate of the practices of the “thrice greatest”. I am a student of Jewish Qabalah which in my view is a reflection of the Universal consciousness in the microcosm of the human mind. These two paradigms together have formed the pillars of my esoteric practise, so, yes, I practise sorcery.

My chosen paradigm may be vastly different to that of Wicca but I find a commonality of purpose in the unity of all paths and I take a more pantheistic view of Divinity.

I am quite fascinated by Hindu cosmology, which to my mind comes closest to giving us a glimpse of the cosmic grandeur. I practise and teach transcendental meditation, which I consider to be the gateway to all spiritual elevation. I have been an adherent of Tantra - the path to the Divine- for more than 30 years, for me it is a path with heart.
Accordingly, I give freely of what was received freely.

filledSoda We are expecting visitors (of the family kind) but it is actually tradition. My mother grew up in an environment where everything got a deep clean before the major festivals so intense deep cleaning before Christmas and Easter. And then in the summer you cleaned out the house, sanded and varnished the wooden floor - leaving it to dry whilst you went on your summer holiday. I suspect this was a multi generation traditional thing. But for me it is partially practical as I have a severe dust allergy. Hence with the combination of chronic illness I am so exhausted by Christmas prep I don't enjoy the actual day. January otoh I have recovered enough to properly appreciate it... But I love fact the feel of the house when it has been properly cleaned.

I have been reflecting on a few things, The idea of buying fresh pumpkins to decorate and not eat them felt uncomfortable to me the other month. I think that it was a reaction to the throwaway consumerism that is so prevelent. So I am hoping to make some reusable cloths to be used for the kitchen - I have dish cloths already but I have seen a pattern for the equivalent of paper towels using toweling and poppers. Also some facial cleaning pads so that I can reuse rather than throw away the cotton ones. Neither of these things are difficult nor would make a huge impact on my daily routine but would reduce waste hugely. And feels more in line with how I want my whole person/lifestyle magical journey. Mindful. Is this a common theme with the witchy lifestyle or just my personal brand of crazy?

Spent a very needed morning doing nothing. Well my body has been doing virtually nothing. My mind has been running 101 miles an hour figuring out how to achieve what is needed with as minimal expenditure of energy as possible. I would like to enjoy my Christmas for the first time in decades.

Wishing you all magical weekends.

FilledSoda

You are so kind.

There are many aspects to the festive season, all the little things add up to make it a magical time, you are right not to watch too much TV!.
I don't get dragged down by the commercial aspect of christmas, I seem able to put on my commercial filter goggles- I see a lot of it for what it is- peddling plastic .
But amongst that are the gems, the little things, the traditions.
Decorating the house can be fun, I love to sit and stud oranges with cloves, tie ribbons around them, hang them in the house. I buy cinnamon sticks in bulk, tie them in bundles, douse with cinnamon essential oil for extra fragrance and tie them up.
I make a wreath- or easier buy a simple cheap one, and pimp it up . I make ice candle holders in the freezer, stunning on a table or just to enjoy one evening. These activities can be enjoyed at any age, fun and crafts are not just for children.

OH is very " old school" we have a " Carols from Kings" in the conservatory on Christmas eve, have a few friends around late afternoon, mulled wine and mince pies.. Gives us a chance to pretend to be posh!
I do all these activities and lots more over the whole month, you are more than welcome to join!!

Sarassin

Welcome- your path sounds very interesting. Many of us here are a happy eclectic bunch, all flavours.

I am a witch, not Wiccan, and an atheist.

Pull up a cushion, I will make some tea.

Speakout

Thank you, once again a lovely thread.

Ive taken some of the advice from yesterday on board, and today have decided to just relax and do very little. So I got up at 8.15, and had breakfast but didn't actually get dressed till gone midday! It was very dark here until mid morning and I just didn't feel like it. I certainly couldn't face the hubbub of the town centre and the shops and the supermarket now that December and silly season is upon us.

Ive done a bit of tidying around and have had some lunch, but that's all I intend to now.

ManicUnicorn

Sounds perfect.

I just need to nip to out local town - a short drive to pick up some tissue paper, then it will be an evening of wine and candles.

@Sarassin How interesting your path sounds! I was drawn to reading both Kabbalah and Gnosticism many years ago. I can still remember how I related to the opinions of Gnostics on the old and new testaments because that was how I felt from a very young child.

Kabbalah reminds me of cognitive therapeutic theory in so many ways. Such common sense. Esoterically, I resonated with so many of Kabbalah's descriptive passages on the levels of understanding /knowing the 'light' " to the extent I am not sure what came first, the reading or my own understanding.

Anyway, welcome. I am neither one thing or another. Just learning but drawn to eclecticism.

To everyone else, agree wholeheartedly on re-framing the season according to our own needs. It is so much more enjoyable if we don't force ourselves to follow rules.

HillsBesideTheSea

Yes I agree, the pumpkin thing does leave me a little uncomfortable too, but at least if they are returned to the soil or composted then some of the damage is limited.
I am a fan of cotton for most household jobs. I use a cloth for face washing too, a roll of kitchen paper lasts a long time, and only really used for very stinky jobs.

I generally dislike " stuff" , fashion, and the rebel in me refuses to yield to he marketing men. I don't want to be told what to buy.
99% of my clothes, furniture, linen, crockery, cars are second hand.
By choice.

You talk of what you need to achieve over the festive period.
Are you hosting? Lots to do?

Lovely having a quiet evening here, quietish, just brewing up some wax to make my anxiety ease candles , so soon the house will be suffused with violet and lavender .
If I have a glass of wine tonight I will be asleep by 8pm at this rate!!

Hello everyone, I'm on the train home after an enjoyable day browsing the Christmas markets and catching up with a couple of old friends.

Hills and Speakout for me, living more ethically is something that has developed as I've become more in touch with my spirituality. I no longer eat meat and use reusable cloths, make up wipes, etc. I try and avoid all the consumerism and plastic tat much as possible. It's all such a waste of money and resources.

Speakout your violet and lavender candles sound heavenly, do you sell them in your online shop?

Feeling frustrated, if you guys don't mind hearing this out.

As I've mentioned on previous threads I've had issues with a woman who works with me. There was a sustained period of bullying that went on and it isn't that I don't forgive, it's just that the nature and the reasoning of the bullying was so insane, that it's really changed how I view her.

So anyway she asked me for a Card Reading - I didn't feel I could decline on the basis that I was doing another colleague that same evening.

The cards revealed that she is a terribly sad lonely person who feels she has to work long hours in order to please people (something I suspected) and also works so much so as not to be alone and also by having work as an excuse she doesn't have to put herself "out there"

I don't glory in that in the least, but it's this odd situation of being the victim of bullying and discovering that she probably picked me because she saw me as having the appreciation she craves

And feeling sorry for her, but still not being able to like her and feeling quite guilty.

We are hosting a family christmas not on christmas day, Logistically easier. But mostly it is the normal supporting of elderly parents and SN child whilst making sure all the things happen whilst battling failing memories which means the needed information is not always communicated. A lot of the more physical tasks I need to do, the decluttering of grown out of ds' stuff etc etc. Once the house is clean most is delegated in task but still needs mental space for the coordination, so it gets a lot easier after the deep clean.

I made time to sit at my spinning wheel for a break of the stuff this afternoon. It was pleasent, just the big push for the finishing of the sorting out and tidying ready for tomorrow's deep clean that requires time to dry. Will be glad when tomo is over and I have a few days to rest the body. That said will also be glad when tonight is done so I can light my candle.

@Pawnee I think that often happens. I've witnessed negative people in action and they are, almost without exception, the saddest, loneliest people that walk this planet. It's hard to hate them because they often evoke such pity.

I don't know how I'd feel in your position. Bullying is cruel and unforgivable. Have you ever confronted her?

@VioletCharlotte I'm trying to do the same. Rejecting consumerism. Being environmentally aware.

PawneeParksDept

It is hard isn't it.

Damaged people sometimes go on to damage others. It is an inescapable fact.
And extremely sad.
So difficult.

No need to feel guilty.
However the mechanisms that turned someone into a bully does not negate the damage they.
THese are two separate issues.

You were very kind to do a reading, but we can't fix everyone who is broken.
You are lovely to have such consideration, I have had people in my life too with such difficulties. XX

@Sokere

It was complex

I couldn't account for what she was doing or why, and I initially went down the route of trying to meet it with politeness and kindness to start with and then something tipped it over the edge, and when written down I realised how bad it had become.

It turned out that a complaint I had no knowledge of had been made and she incorrectly linked me with it in a 2 + 2 = 5 kind of way.

The issue and her disproportionate reaction to it was baffling but completely make sense if it was an angry, hurt toddler or teenager taking something legitimate in a SO UNFAIR way

She is a troubled soul, and I think in the wrong job, but her loneliness and sadness is easily attributable to her own behaviour I think

This might be a breakthrough for her. You may actually have helped her. It takes a lot to move on and no one could blame you if you couldn't, but I think you've done well to give her that reading.

I'd keep your guard up, but she knows your power now.

Can;t keep up with this thread!

PawneeParksDept you may now feel sorry for your colleague, maybe understand her a little better, even to pity her but you are really not required to like her.

I've had a full day out with friends at the Glastombury Wytches Market (again!). I seem to be spending a lot of tie in Glasto at the moment even if I really don't like the place. I did want to have a chat with Wyn who makes some lovely pottery as I've commissioned her to make me a statue of Cerridwen. I don't like any of the ones available so this will be a one off. I love her work so I know she'll capture the essence I'm looking for. It's going to be a Yule gift to me from me. I strongly suspect the DP bought me another piece of her work as he was hanging back and looked a bit shifty. We'll see!

I also bought some hand made stained glass mistletoe ornaments to send to a US friend and a cauldron for me ( as you might guess my self care means I buy presents for myself!) I am however now done and won't be near another shop until February ( supermarket excepted). My way of coping with the season is to get it all done early and then ignore it until it starts.

Elphame

So lovely to hear reports on your activities- you are an inspiration.

Fascinating and thought provoking discussion here as ever,

I love how there’s always something I can relate to/ want to find out more about when I read.

I’m feeling sad this evening. Candles are lit, pjs on and I have a lovely soft blanket to snuggle under. Just the thing I need!

@YashmisCrone So sorry you're feeling sad.

Agree with speakout, Elphame. You are an inspiration. You always cheer me up.