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.

I started yoga last year as a way to get back into shape after having DD. I was fortunate to find a class that is run by a yoga teacher rather than a fitness instructor which has meant I've been encouraged to explore the meditative effects.

I keep having dreams about my Nan who died about a year ago, I feel she is trying to tell me something. Hopefully if I dream enough the message will come through!

Morning everyone, just catching up- my goodness what amazing things you have all been making.
I love when people post pictures of their work.
I have just had an early morning yoga class, just as dawn was breaking , home now, washed the cats blankets, tidied tha kitchen and mopped the whole of downstairs.
I have arranged a big vase full of Hazel catkin in a vase on the kitchen window, I cut it on my way home from yoga.
It looks lovely fo Imbolc, and hopefully later it may take root and I can plant it in my garden.

Good morning lovely people!

I've had a very busy but very productive weekend.

It is so cold here this morning but the sun is shining and could easily fool me into believing it's a spring day.

Yashmis Thank you so much for your comment about staged clearing, it really has made a difference. Your candle is just so beautiful, I love it.

I managed to get that walk in the woods yesterday that I couldn't find time for last week. There are some bushes there that have dangling "bits" at this time of year and I remember reading an "old wives tale" many years ago that the timing of these (I'm assuming seed pods) appearing is significant as to when spring will arrive. Can anyone identify that bush with my very vague details? I'll be very impressed if you can lol, I need to take my phone next time and get a photo.

Morning lovelies,
On the topic of creating things one thing I like to do in the spirit of Imbolc is to make a St Briggs's cross.
Brigid is an old irish triple goddess , christianised into St Brigid whose feast day is Feb 1st.
The cross will protect your home from danger , hunger and fire , which all sounds very pagan to me and may be related to sun cross .
It's a symbol of Ireland , much like a shamrock.

Lapetus

The dangling things are catkins, a type of primitive "flower", seen at this type of year on birch, hazel and many other shrubs and trees.

That is exactly what I picked this morning! ( see my previous post)

FilledSoda

Beautiful!

I was thinking about these this morning on my way home from yoga- I would love to try making them.

You definitely should speakout, they are so quick and easy. If the grass or rushes or whatever you use is brittle give it a bit of a soak .
So funny you taking about catkins.
I'm flicking through a children's book and came across this illustration by Margaret Tarrant.

Hi everyone, haven't visited for a few days some old wounds (both figuratively and literally) have opened up so haven't felt too good.

Beautiful pictures! They have cheered me up. So too the references to St Brigid... I think she is just what I need to read about right now. Imbolic energy is uplifting and I'm grateful for that.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Sigh.

You know the phrase not my circus not my monkeys?

That's very much me right now

My sister has engaged my DM in something and I find that though my DM subjectively just wants her child to get what she wants they have both lost sight of how from an objective standpoint what she wants is entitled, toxic and delusional and if someone else was doing the same they'd be outraged.

I can't say much more than that, but importantly neither is breaking the law, they're just breaching acceptable ways of doing things.

My opinion solicited or unsolicited would very much NOT be welcomed as factually accurate as it is so I'm just going to have to seethe quietly.

I may take a look at Tyullan Perry's Magic On The Breath for it later.

I wonder does anyone know where I might buy, in the UK a Brigid cross? I can't make one because I lack dexterity in one hand

@bartonhollow

I googled Brigid's Cross and then chose the shopping tab.

www.carrollsirishgifts.com/irish-st-brigid-s-cross-crosog-bridge.html?___store=com_store_view&currency=GBP&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7briBRD7ARIsABhX8aCV5vkLZ_slV635-QsznBaD0jsQm4slU6-MlJZYFl-zS9boPiF8MbYaAshaEALw_wcB

Thank you Paws

🤔 would it come on time I wonder?

On Saturday - 2 February - I'm off to an event which Fife Gaelic notified me of. An outdoor event "a brilliant opportunity to come together with a diverse group of women to share skills and stories and celebrate St Brigid/Bride." Gaelic background, stories, discussions, clarsach playing, sharing "craft skills including making St Brigid's crosses and dolls from reeds and rushes." I think it should be both fun and interesting, and I think I will take along my Carmina Gadelica to have a look at the Brigid /Bride stories and prayers.

There's a lot of interesting events put on by cultural and historical organisations which can be spiritually useful.

Barton it says 2-4 working days by courier but had a Google. There were also some on eBay.

Pm me your address barton and I'll pop one in the post in the morning .

Awww @FilledSoda that's awesome - I will do so now ❤️❤️

FilledSoda, I thought that was one of the Flower Fairy illustrations at first, but I see it’s a different artist. I used to have some Flower Fairy books as a child and when looking at them as an adult I feel that I ought to find them over-sentimental but actually rather love the way that Cicely Barker obviously had an eye for detail and affection for the plants she painted.

I’ve done a job today that made me happy. In my two little flower beds I have some big purple wallflowers that have been flowering all through the mild winter in a very unseasonal way. They’ve grown like thugs and have flopped all over where the bulbs are. Today I cut them back, removed the decomposing leaves and discovered lots of green bulb shoots underneath which can now enjoy the sunshine. And I put some of the wallflowers in a vase. I would like catkins but sadly no hazel trees round here that aren’t on private property!

I love how much there always is to catch up with when I check in at the end of the day. Such creative and insightful women. Thank you 🙏

Thank you for the NZ info mamuciana, lovely to hear.

Really glad that resonated for you Lapetus

Love the Brigid’s Cross FilledSoda and the thought of your Hazel Catkin speakout

I’m a bit weary today and have a headache I’ve been unable to shift but I’m excited about Imbolc. I’m further experimenting with speakout’s ice candle holder idea ready for it. I’m freezing a holder in layers- each containing different herbs, flowers and other correspondences to represent the magic I’d like to manifest as we move into spring. So far I particularly like the way saffron strands colour the ice. It might turn out a bit much overall but I’m enjoying the process!

Sending love to those having a tough time right now, be kind to yourselves x

Love the sound of your flowerbeds Kizzy, and your positive energy having done that

I completed sourcing the spices for your recipe today- I’m excited to try it!

Just checking in from French Alps. Need more mountains! Lousy WiFi so I may vanish til next weekend. Love the Brides Crosses. I need to source one for the 9th

Hello everyone, catching up on all the conversation from today, this thread moves quickly! I love catkins, I saw quite a few when I was out walking at the weekend. I always feel they're that first sign is the earth coming back to life. Loving all the Brigid's crosses too. I've been reading up on Imbolc customs and rituals this evening, many lovely ideas. I'm going to an Imbolc sound bath on Friday to welcome back the light. The idea is to enter a deep meditation while energies are channeled through the sounds of flutes, gongs, singing bowls and chimes. I can't wait!

@Elphame... The French Alps? How exciting. I love the freshness of alpine air and the scenery is just beyond beautiful. I wouldn't miss wi fi being somewhere like that so hope you enjoy it.

@VioletCharlotte Haven't heard about about an imbolic sound bath so thank you for posting that.

PS I'm loving these Brigid crosses. I noticed there's jewellery too. I might buy a charm that I can wear.

Just flying by amongst it all.. I was thinking how wonderful it was that we all seem to be such nature loving witches. It made we remember this book I bought myself last year- a response to some nature based words being lost from the dictionary. It’s a beautiful thing- I have a romantic image of sharing it with my future grandchildren!

www.waterstones.com/book/the-lost-words/robert-macfarlane/jackie-morris/9780241253588

I also thought this quote on self care was very reflective of the discussions we’ve been having recently.

Wishing everyone a good day x

Absolutely glorious here today. Perfect skiing conditions but I’m sorry it looks like I’ll miss the UK snow

Love Margaret Tarrant, love the Lost Words book & feel lifted by everyone's ice candles & Imbolc planning. A Sound Bath sounds fascinating. Might be a bit energetic for me at the moment but I'd be curious to try it or hear more about it.

I have an ENORMOUS list of all your wonderfully creative ideas to tackle when I'm upright again

I'm just enjoying watching woodland frost thawing out & winter sun. Had a woodpecker fest earlier, both hammering & yaffling away in the woods.

The dried lunaria seedcases in my bedroom window box are now gently rustling above the radiator heat. Feeling peaceful ❄️

YashmisCrone

That's lovely- it's not about "stuff" really is it.

It's about treating yourself with compassion.

It's a cold grey day here, with sleet,. I'm just back from a shopping trip to buy mundane food items, everyone in the small town had their heads down, scrunched up against the biting cold.
I stopped in Lidl- they had a carousel of seeds and I lingered there a while, and allowed myself time to browse.
I imagined that wildflower mix planted outside my sitting room window, how many times I have planted those nasturtiums with my children and their delight at seeing caterpillars munching on the leaves.
So many different types of beans, I love the big fat seeds, and I love growing them for their decorative use- so fast growing and vigorous, and always bright funky flowers.
I may grow some basil this year, it never does well outside here, but is lovely to grow in the conservatory, then cut and fill the house with that strong perfume.
Those cornflowers would look lovely in some terracotta pots that I didn't get round to planting with bulbs last autumn.
The Aubrieta reminded me of holidays in The Lake District, stunning little clumps of colour poking out through dry stone walls.

I could plant some courgettes or maybe pumpkins for later in the summer......

I didn't actually buy any seeds- I will in time,

But I did give myself the treat of time to relax and think of lovely things, to remember with happiness, to look forward with excitement, each picture on the seed packet triggered a happy place in my mind.

I allowed myself to feel that way, and as I left the shop I was smiling.

To me that's self care.