Any Witches Here? Part 6

[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.

It's the same on Instagram. I follow the witchcraft hashtag because it does throw up some interesting images and posts, but you do have to sift through a lot of photos of v young and glamorous things. I have found a few older and very interesting witches on there though.

I am one of those social media users who posts the reality of my life rather than filtering through the 'best bits' to show some kind of perfect life.
Ha ha I just thought 'warts and all' and then realised that is such a child's view of witches but I don't mean it like that!

A post here yesterday felt like a signal to share a poem I had written on my own FB page. I was nervous as I have never shown anyone my writing before but people liked it. It's given me some confidence now in my writing.

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday. It will get noisy here later when my friend arrives with her children so I am making the most of the relative quiet of just my own 6 year old!

queenrollo

Sounds like you have a good day planned.
Will be quiet here, DD went back to her flat last night, she was planning a nigh out in town with flatmates, she is such a ball of energy the house is much quieter ( also more tidy and relaxed!).

Oh will be cooking today and my mother is out at church for most of the morning, so again I will be working.
I like to create a nice atmosphere when I work, scented candles, pagan music, lots of herbal tea on the side.
It becomes much more enjoyable then, and allows me to find the flow.
Candle making time this morning- apple, cinnamon and gold for abundance.
Just off for a sweet orange spa shower, feed the birds then off to start work at a leisurly pace.

I hope you have a lovely day.

@HillsBesideTheSea it's basically a small (usually fabric) doll that you make yourself and give it an intention. I have made mine to represent Imbolc with an intention for change and growth. I will be writing an intention to sew inside the doll and adding some herbs to her. The idea is that by making her by hand you are connecting in some way. I am no master crafter, but will post a picture once I've finished later in the week.

I quite like Pinterest as a mood board and get lots of craft ideas for myself and my daughter. But you are right it's not a good source for all things witchy!

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Good morning,

I like the sound of your doll Frosty, look forward to seeing it later in the week. I’ve never made one but have usually included herbs of some kind in most of my workings including pouches to project an intention/draw something in particular.

Lovely to hear about your poem quuenrollo

Completely agree about creating the right atmosphere for flow speakout I think it makes a big difference

I’ve got another ice candle in the freezer- this time I’ve used two measuring cups I have which are more like bowls. I really liked added scents last time from rosewater, cloves and bay leaves so I’ve added them again- I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out this time!

Hope everyone has a good day 💫

I like the idea of making a doll. I think that will be my project this week, it can live in my work bag and make me feel connected to home.

YashmisCrone

How exciting to hear of your ice candle- I love your ideas.
Tell me do you weight the inner bowl or tape it down?

I will be making some for Imbolc, it seems fitting to have one go through the melting/releasing stage through fire- it suits this festival completely.

I have the last of my Caillaich bowls in the freezer.
It will be cold tonight so I plan to use it outside, just outside my living room window, in a patch I plant, and right now is twitching with new buds.
I will light it as a blessing to the Caillach, this year she has blessed me abundantly- I have come to know her so closely in the past few weeks - like no other year I have known, and she has guided me in her wisdom

So a final thanks and farewell to her before we welcome Brigit.

Dear all, I haven't posted on the threads since the first one I think, but I keep dipping in and out. I love reading all your updates.

I'm in quite a bad place mentally at the moment, I've been signed off work for two weeks which is a huge relief.

So I'm going to focus on myself and do nice things, preparing for Imbolc being one of them. I don't like cleaning, but thinking back, even as a child, the beginning of February has always been a time for tidying and cleaning. Isn't that funny, I've just realised that!

Love to you all

Morning everyone, just popping in to say hello before I go to my yoga workshop. I'm really looking forward to it, we're going to be learning about meridians and using tapping and acupressure, before an hour of restorative yoga.

Frosty I love the idea of a spirit doll. Please post a picture when you're done.

Vallur lovely to hear from you and so sorry to hear you're in a bad place. I hope you can use the time off work to rest and recover. The energy on this thread is lovely, so I hope it helps you a little bit.

Hope you're all have a great day.

VallarMorghulis

Lovely to have you here again.

I hope these two weeks will be healing for you.

VioletCharlotte

Your yoga workshop sounds amazing- I am envious!!

I do have a yoga class tomorrow morning to look forward to though, but spending a whole day sounds wonderful.

Hello VallarMorghulis,
It’s good to have here. Sorry to hear you’ve been in a bad place but glad you have a bit of time out to focus on you. Yes, it’s funny about the ‘spring cleaning’ isn’t it? Interesting how many of our mundane traditions are tied into the sabbats- I’ve been thinking about that too.

speakout yes! I was thinking the same about the ice and fire being perfect for imbolc since you shared the idea- that’s what I’m having fun practicing for! Funnily enough I was thinking about using mine outside tonight too!

With this one, I filled the inner bowl with water too so it weighed it down a bit but was still suspended. Once it had frozen a bit I broke the ice in the small bowl, poured away the water and filled it with hot water so I could take it out. Turns out I did this too soon as the ice wasn’t fully frozen at the sides of the larger bowl. So I topped it up with water and put the smaller bowl back in. Before I went to bed I took the smaller bowl out again so I was left with a shell of ice in the larger bowl. This morning I’ve taken it out of the mould and returned it to the freezer. I noticed the base where the candle will go wasn’t even (possibly all my premature faffing with the inner bowl?) so I’ve topped it up with water until it’s flat and left it to freeze again. I’ll come back to it tonight. Fingers crossed!

A very long winded description of my faff and experimentation! I’m enjoying it

VallarMorghulis good to see you again although I'm sorry you are in such a bad place.
Queenrollo that has really given me a lift that you felt able to share your poem and that it was well received that is wonderful!
I have found a couple worth following on Instagram too although some of the younger ones are clearly just in it for the likes.
My dramatic weekend is continuing after Dd1 confessed to begging her fairy door for weeks to have a fairy we have had some odd happenings lately (obviously unconnected to concrete stairgate!) Today woke up to the wash I left going overnight smelling of fish and a perfect portion of smoked fish in the middle. (Not fun for a veggie!) I have threatened to leave them all to it and check into a hotel

Loyaultemelie

Oh that's awful ( but a little funny) about the fish.

I have a Scottish Brownie living in our home- worth his weight in gold.

He has a door near the hearth and another one outside so he can sun himsilf on warmer days.

Loyaultemelie

If your DD leaves out sweetmeats especially milky ones , but the door a brownie may move in.

I'm not sure whether to tell her that or not Speakout! Actually I think I will because it might stop her doing things like fish in the washing machine (and pasta in the hot press!) in an attempt to either encourage or blame one. However the fact she has any interest is I suppose encouraging

Speakout thanks for recommending Tylluan Penry, I'm working my way through her videos .
Turns out I'm already subscribed to Molly Roberts.
Hope everyone is well and looking forward to Imbolc .
I'm trying to be grateful every day and practising self care , small steps.
After months of procrastination I've found a yoga class , it's still hard to leave the house when it's dark at 5pm though .

Finally finished! Lots of Imbolc symbolism, stuffed with magical herbs and made with intention.
I am in need of new beginnings now. She will be coming to bed with me tonight before She tells me where she would like her forever home.

Hello everyone, hope you are all ok and having a relaxing evening.

Loyaul I can't help smiling at your story about your DD and her fairy door. Although I can imagine you were it smiling about the fish!!

Filled I'm so pleased you've found a yoga class. I do hope you enjoy it. I cannot tell you how much of a difference it's made for me.

I've had a lovely day. Really enjoyed my yoga workshop, learning about the meridians is fascinating. It's so interesting when you start understanding things a little more and making connections. During meditation I went very deep and was taken back to my old infant school. It was such a powerful vision, I could see and feel everything in such detail. I'm not quite sure what that was all about. I'm sure it must mean something so will ponder on it!

This afternoon I had a nice catch up with two of my oldest friends. This evening I've done a tarot reading for another friend.

Feeling very relaxed now and ready for the week ahead xx

Frostyapples what a sweet face she has.
I love her.
I'd love to do something along those lines but very small , small enough to hide, like a talisman .
VioletCharlotte thank you.
Did it take a long time to become proficient?
I'm very interested in the mediation aspect too.

Frosty that's so lovely ❤️ You are clever, I'm hopeless at sewing and making things!

Filled the thing I love about yoga is it's all about working at your own pace and doing what feels right for you and your body. All the positions (or asanas) have modifications to make them easier for beginners, or more difficult as you advance. When you first start, it's hard not to compare yourself with others, but it's important to try not to do this, and just focus on yourself. I've been practising for years and there's still loads I can't do and so much I don't know. And classes can be very different, depending on the teacher. Some are more like fitness instructors and teach yoga for fitness and to help build strength and tone, which is great if that's what you're looking for. I'm more interested in the spiritual side and it's taken me a long time to find a teacher I can really connect with. I really hope you enjoy it ❤️

Good evening all,

Lovely to catch up with everyone’s day. All this yoga talk reminds me I must give it a go at some point! I guess I worry a bit about not being fit/flexible enough! The benefits do sound huge though. I might see if I can find something for beginners on YouTube to try at home.

That’s really interesting about being taken back to your former school Violet I really enjoy being given something like that and the feeling of everything coming together when I realise the meaning in it for me.

Frosty I love your doll! That teal colour is one of my favourites- I love it with the green- very tranquil. Her facial expression is wonderful- so content and serene. Gorgeous.

FilledSoda one of our witchy sisters here, GrumpyOldMare is friends with Tylluan Penry IRL- says she’s a lovely and wise woman

Here’s my adventures into ice candle making #2 I’m pleased with the shape and solidity and really like the use of cloves and rose water for the scent it releases as it melts. The bottom is a bit high for my liking- I’d like the candle to sit lower in the holder but that’s because I topped it up to get an even base. I’d like to use more flower petals I think- lots to try and experiment with.Thank you for sharing the idea speakout, it’s giving me a lot of enjoyment and the bonus of all the positivity released as I practice

@YashmisCrone thanks, teal is one of my favourite colours too. Love your candle it looks amazing - I'm going to have a go this week in time for Imbolc.

Frosty that's really lovely! I love the inscription you have sewed into her
VioletCharlotte sounds like you had a lovely weekend
Filledsoda I hope you enjoyed your class
Speakout Dd1 has taken your advice on board with glee so hopefully there will be no more fish incidents anywhere.
We ended up not getting out much today between the storm and everyone was quite tired so we have decided next weekend we will make time to visit a stone circle to co-incide with Imbolc.

Yashmis I love the candle, it's beautiful ❤️

Aww thank you 💜

Just seen this- yet another reminder of the importance of ‘collecting joy’ through nurturing ourselves. I do like Brene Brown

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155763377456637&substory_index=0&id=43808911636

Love the dragon’s egg queenrollo. What a great gift for your son to find.

Vallar So sorry you are going through a bad time. I hope that you can use the time off to start to heal.

Yashmis NZ is a stunning country. I think Kaikoura is my favourite place of all. Nothing fancy, just a lovely big bay where you can really lose yourself as you sit watching the sea for hours. Love your ice candle – I can almost smell it.

speakout we’re in regional SE Queensland. It is a small city (more like a fair-sized town in UK terms though) and we’re surrounded by huge tracts of farmland and natural bush. I wish I could capture the sounds this morning – there are some wonderfully tuneful birds singing away right now. We’re hoping to start building our own house within the next couple of months a little further out into the country. This will be the view from our bedroom once it is built.

Loyal that’s an eventful few days you’ve been having. Hope the suggestions from speakout work for you and DD.

Frosty your doll is beautiful. I hope she brings you the new beginnings and growth you desire.

I have dabbled with yoga since I was a child, but have never taken it seriously until recently. I remember my Mum had a yoga book with very severe-looking black and white photos of impossible looking poses that I used to try and copy as a child. I have been having lower back/sciatica type issues, so I been doing some gentle yoga every morning, often heavily modified to what I can tolerate that day, followed by a meditation. I have only missed one day so far this month and I really did notice the difference. As Violet says, it's all about working at your own pace and doing what feels right for you and your body. Hope you can find time to give it a go Yashmis.

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday.