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Any Witches Here? Part 6

986 replies

speakout · 17/01/2019 17:43

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.

OP posts:
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speakout · 22/01/2019 20:33

IsBadLuckaThing

I am glad you have seen your GP.
You have been prescribed medication- did you get a diagnosis?
If you are depressed it can feel like a darkness- it doesn't mean there are evil forces at work though.
Have you been offered any talking therapy?

Please continue to nurture yourself, the medication you have will hopefully improve things soon.
Trying to magic your way out of this may only make things worse, you need to be in a solid place first.

You may like to get some crystals- they can be a source of comfort and uplifting energy.
Or if finances allow having an aromatherapy massage, some Reiki or head massage may lift your spirits.

I hope things improve soon.

OP posts:
IsBadLuckaThing · 22/01/2019 20:52

Speak out- I am really very grateful for you replies. I have been diagnosed with sever depressive episode. Haven't started medication long, so hoping that it will start working in few weeks. Still waiting to see a psychiatrist. I have been going to a therapist and doing other activities to keep myself going.
I used a intuitive therapist sometime ago but it didn't seem to make a difference. So sticking to normal routine therapist at the moment. Can a witch help heal other people?

VioletCharlotte · 22/01/2019 20:57

IsBadLuckaThing
So sorry to hear you're feeling like this. I've suffered from depression in the past so I understand how hard it is. I'm glad you've seen your GP. Medication helped me to cope so I hope it works for you too. Did the GP offer you any sort of counselling? In my area they often offer what they call Talking Therapy, which is CBT based. I've been told some people find it very helpful.

Apart from that, I can only echo everyone everyone else has said. But for me, the two things that have helped the most are getting out into nature for walks and yoga.

Loyaultemelie · 22/01/2019 21:33

IsBadLuckaThing sorry to hear you are in a bad place right now. I echo what pps have expressed about no rituals but there's a lot to be gained from self care (something I'm not very good at but have been making much more of an effort recently) and simply lighting a candle or taking a bath with some essential oils and a warm drink can make a huge difference. It's not that they are a "cure" but an acknowledgement you are worth taking time to do something nice for. Like VioletCharlotte I find getting out into nature and clearing my mind (much easier than indoors for me) also makes a difference.

YashmisCrone · 22/01/2019 21:47

IsBadLuckaThing

Just adding my voice to the amazing support you’ve had already here. Totally agree with what the others have suggested. Such wonderful important advice here.

Please re-read what people have suggested as often as you need and let it sink in. It can be harder to take things in and remember them when we’re unwell or struggling.

Depression is a dreadful illness, often underestimated and your task right now is to get through each day. That’s more than enough for now.

Break it down and congratulate yourself from getting through another day (hour, minute etc) if any other illness had floored you like this then you’d need to rest and recover. It’s really no different in this way. Depression is a physical illness with a physical impact. Do what you can in terms of self care and tell yourself you’ve done well when you accomplish anything (and I mean anything- brushing your teeth, making a cup of tea etc)

The anti depressants will take a little while to kick in and sometimes it can feel worse in the meantime. Know that this will pass. It can also be trail and error to find what works best for you. Be as kind as possible to yourself in the meantime.

Notice if something makes you feel a tiny bit better- even temporarily. Milk it for all you can! (Really focus on that feeling)

I read somewhere that any feeling of intense emotion tends to last no longer than 8 minutes. We might feel like we just feel utterly wretched all the time but when we are able to notice our thought patterns they do go in waves. Break down timescales and remind yourself that each intense emotion will pass and they’ll be a slight respite to come.

Like when you’re emotionally distraught and crying. Once you’re all cried out in that particular moment there is a slight feeling of relief or numbness or exhaustion or something else, but it’s not the same as the intensity you felt while you were crying. Try and notice this happening and look forward to the lulls in the intensity of what you feel. It really is about baby steps right now.

There will be a time when you don’t feel like this- it’ll come from taking baby steps and you’ll notice a lift in your depression when you one day notice that you feel a bit more like yourself/it hasn’t been an effort to shower/you enjoyed a tv programme- whatever it is for you- but it will come. By then, without even noticing, you’ll have a tool box full of things you can use to heal yourself when you’re unwell, you’ll be proud of yourself (rightly so) for getting through such a dark time and you’ll be able to explore all the witchy ways of making life better.

Right now you’ve got to find ways to look after yourself- no matter how small a task of self care you can manage, it’s an essential building block towards the foundations of the future you want for yourself Flowers

YashmisCrone · 22/01/2019 22:07

Just wanted to add that what I’ve listed is what’s worked for me when I’ve felt like I’m in a very dark place.

Any successful/powerful witch IMO honours and values herself and in this way self care is the perfect place to start your journey

IsBadLuckaThing · 22/01/2019 22:43

Violet- I am going for counselling but I think I need the medication to kick in before I see any benefit.
Loya- I am trying to take little steps at a time

Yashmishcrome- I am overwhelmed by the kind words you have written. Thank you taking out the time for me. I wish I was surrounded with people like you in my real life.

BlankTimes · 22/01/2019 23:42

Just a quick word about healing, as in healing other people, being able to heal other people as it was mentioned upthread and I feel a ramble coming on.

Outside of the allopathic medical system, no-one can claim to heal another person or animal. Typically in the UK there are stricter rules about healing for animals than there are for people.

Anyone who claims to be a non-allopathic healer and says they personally can heal another person is to be avoided like the plague. If anyone claims to do that, they cannot obtain complementary therapists insurance which is essential if they wish to run a practice.

All that healers can do at the very most is to help the person who wants healing kick-start their own energy system, so that person can maybe heal themselves. I say maybe, because even if the healer can spur the person on to clear an energy-blockage, often over quite a few sessions and often with the same sort of advice that's been given here, it's not always a given that the person will be permanently healed because most people don't want to make the effort to keep on with the mindfulness, the self-nurture, the healthy food, the healthy lifestyle, the reframing thoughts, the gratitude and all the other things it may take to be the best they can be. Mostly they say they are too busy to carry on, yet generally we're all as busy. Making time for self-nurture is difficult and like all the rest of self-development, it takes time and effort.

These days the quick fix is promoted for everything. Life is structured so no-one has to wait for anything, you can order things and have them delivered the same day, no problem if you haven't the money, just tap an app and it's there for you Shock Become a healer or a shaman over a weekend course. Struggling to do Y? Buy X and you will be able to do Y immediately.
Never has there been more instant gratification and life hacks for everything.

Taking a different route in life to all of that and often whilst having to co-exist with it and experiencing peer-pressure is a harder journey and it's not for everyone. It's not a bed of roses. It's often solitary and involves a lot of self-realisation, some of which takes quite some time to fully understand. Once you've reached a point where you reckon you've understood and can progress easily, often something else happens and everything you thought was right or good on some level can be turned on its head and you have something else to work out and work through.

No-one can do that for you. Another person can possibly help initially if you choose a system that will suit you, but no-one else can heal you.

Do look up Locus of Control because it does make a big difference to a person's outlook. It can be shifted, but as above, it's a long work in progress for many.

I'll get off my soapbox and put it away now Halloween Smile

BlankTimes · 23/01/2019 00:27

Frostyapples wow, well done for mastering mindfulness when you had two tinies, I'm in awe. I know what you mean about falling asleep at first. Doesn't help that sometimes the only time you get to practise is just before you fall asleep anyway!

IsBadLuckaThing Try a long soak in the bath with some Himalayan Salt (pink) and/or some Epsom Salts (magnesium) Do some calming breathing, inbreath through nose, outbreath through mouth dispelling negativity slightly longer than the inbreath, don't strain, keep a comfortable rhythm.

YashmisCrone · 23/01/2019 00:35

That’s really interesting BlankTimes. Thank you, it’s given me lots to think about (and a new word- I had to look up allopathic Grin )

What you were saying about quick fixes- problem with X buy Y etc made me think of this extract from Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive (The World) and while I think of that I really like the other one for times of depression.

I also think Locus of Control is a really useful theory. Very helpful in terms of taking control of our own journeys

Any Witches Here? Part 6
Any Witches Here? Part 6
HillsBesideTheSea · 23/01/2019 00:53

I like your soap box Blanktimes it makes sense.

BlankTimes · 23/01/2019 01:39

Yashmis I've just looked it up now and found it's classed as a perjorative. Eek, I didn't mean it in a derogatory way at all Blush I'm not anti mainstream medicine at all but couldn't think of a blanket term for it, in retrospect, mainstream would have been much better.

I just didn't want to use the term 'traditional medicine' because what GPs and the NHS use isn't traditional, it's rather modern; traditional in the western world is herbalism and in the eastern world it's energy) and I don't like the term alternative for anything non-NHS or non-mainstream because that's divisive and means you favour either/or.
Case in point. So many people tell me acupuncture is useless or doesn't work yet when I ask which sort they've had, they don't know there are different types. The acupuncture on the NHS is a very watered-down version and says the meridians and Chi do not exist, it only uses a very limited number of acupoints. Some private clinics also use that system and others use the Traditional Chinese energy medicine of meridians, Chi, blocked Chi etc.

I think there's a great scope for using things that are effective for the individual irrespective of which system they come from, so complementary for me is a much better description.

That Matt Haig quote is great, the power of advertising is something else, the ones he's mentioned are called Problem Solution Advertising. First you convince people they have a problem then you provide the solution - and then you make a vast profit. One that made me smile recently was an ad "for the dirt you can't see" talk about instigating and then playing on people's paranoia!

BlankTimes · 23/01/2019 01:42

Thank-you Hills I hope things become easier for you soon Flowers

mamuciana · 23/01/2019 01:55

Good morning all,

I hear you have snow back in the UK - we're still sizzling in the mid-high 30s down here, so a snowy walk is very appealing right now.

We spent the weekend in a local wine region enjoying the peacefulness. I had a lovely hour sat out in the early morning sun whilst everyone else was still in bed and my thoughts began to turn to Lammas here in the upside down. As a newbie to this, I am going to scoot back to the earlier threads and see what you guys like to do, read more books/blogs and see what I feel is a good fit for me. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge, wisdom and rituals here - it is really does help me to learn and grow.

IsBadLuck - it looks as though you are really struggling right now but you have had some great advice and support from pps. I just wanted to add a mantra that I know some people use when they find themselves struggling: depression lies. You are worthy, you are loved and things will get better. It may take some time but you will get there. There will be small victories and positive changes along the way - hold on to those good feelings. You will get through this. Sending you positive, healing thoughts to help you through.

Have a wonderful day everyone Flowers

Any Witches Here? Part 6
Any Witches Here? Part 6
Any Witches Here? Part 6
YashmisCrone · 23/01/2019 02:09

Oh no BlankTimes, I don’t think your post came across as derogatory at all. It was very clear ,insightful and thought provoking. My cogs are turning thinking about what you’ve said..

And I just love learning new words! ( I’ve just looked up perjorative too!) I’ve got a real interest in words and language and my lack of knowledge in this area makes it all the more exciting if that makes sense?!

That example of problem solution advertising you describe is brilliant! Grin

speakout · 23/01/2019 06:29

Good morning everyone.Another white bitterly cold morning.

Reading with great interest the posts from last night.

I love that quote about happiness and stuff.
I totally agree.
I don;t do "stuff". It actually leaves me cold to thing of buying excess that I don't need.
I can think of very few items I own that are not second hand- and even then I don't buy much more than I need.

I am up early to take DS to work- he isn't used to early mornings yet!!, Plus it's on my way to the gym, and when I get back I have the house to myself- totally. Doesn't happen that often.

Time to crack open the incense!!

OP posts:
HillsBesideTheSea · 23/01/2019 08:45

Yesterday I woke to a snow storm, today my car is encased in ice. I am grateful i don't have to leave the house yet.

Medical test day - yipee which means I can hopefully then stop doing the things that I know makes me ill and they will have their proof that it does make me ill. Only a wait until the other appointment before I can retake the meds I need to take. Day is looking up already (although I am really really not feeling clever this morning, it is just the end is in sight!)

YashmisCrone · 23/01/2019 09:19

Good morning everyone,

mamuciana aww, I hadn’t noticed that we were here in the kitchen at the same time! As I was having my final ramble and heading off to bed you were up and making sure it’s all cosy and warm for us this morning! I love those photographs- thank you for them. That heat sounds quite something!

speakout oh lovely, enjoy your incense burning and glorious solitude Smile

Hills glad to hear whatever it is is now over. Hope your symptoms ease a bit with not having to do it anymore and that this leads to more answers for you.

Continuing through the busy week I’m hoping I’ve got time to connect with nature/ground myself today. It’s quite an intense week for me and I end up struggling to switch off. I need to stop residing entirely in my head and be in my body- any of the suggestions made yesterday would help I know.

Wishing everyone a good day

BeyondShattered · 23/01/2019 09:27

Morning all :) no snow here but it's very icy. I am bloody knackered this morning, and I have work to do - not good.

Loyaultemelie · 23/01/2019 09:28

Good morning everyone, a white one here too!
Good luck with your appointment Hills hopefully you will begin to feel better now you can stop.

I'm really tired this morning I keep having the same dream repeated the last few nights and then I'm so sad (literally feel ripped away) to wake up it's impossible to get back to sleep. I've never been any good with interpreting dreams so whatever the world is trying to tell me I'm missing.

Enjoy your incense Speakout

Lapetus · 23/01/2019 10:05

Good morning lovely people!

Absolutely freezing up here earlier this morning but the sun is shining and things are very sparkly and beautiful.

I have a few hours to myself and decided to make a start clearing out the kitchen cupboards, I've been putting it off for way too long. Started with the baking cupboard, there are so many opened packs of different types of flour (some really out of date) so I'm now baking bread which means the diet is off for a few days as I can't resist it.

KizzyWayfarer · 23/01/2019 11:20

Snow in London! Just a sprinkling but I’d started to think we wouldn’t have any this winter. I took a detour to a park after dropping the children off at school. All very quiet and peaceful, and there seemed to be more birds around than usual on the way home but maybe I was just noticing them more.
Enjoy the bread Lapetus!
Getting some work done now, cat asleep on the sofa, planning to cook dal for lunch and use some of the ingredients from my recent visit to an amazing spice shop. All good!

YashmisCrone · 23/01/2019 11:54

I am loving hearing about the snow, and everyone’s nurturing grounding activities. Just what I need!

I really fancy a bowl of dhal with a big chunk of freshly baked bread now!

YashmisCrone · 23/01/2019 12:16

P.s Kizzy I’m always interested in trying new dhal recipes if you don’t mind sharing yours Smile

Lapetus · 23/01/2019 13:25

P.s Kizzy I’m always interested in trying new dhal recipes if you don’t mind sharing yours

I have never made (nor tasted) dhal, always mean to try it so I would love a recipe too :D

Dough is still not in the oven yet, I got distracted (not hard these days) gave it a second kneading and it was so therapeutic I was in trance.