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.

Queenrollo

That's so beautiful.

Yashmis

That illustration sums it up perfectly! Made me smile.

VioletCharlotte My garden is not really impressive. It's small, I do manage to grow some herbs.
Gardens can be an oasis in the city or built up areas, but as I surrounded by woodland I don't feel such a need to embrace gardening for some reason. i look on the woods as my garden,.

I dug over some lawn- sprinkled with a wild flower or wildlife seed mix - B&M stores do some nice ones, it is easy. I prefer my garden to be tussled and messy.

speakout your flower bed sounds lovely and queenrollo that witch hazel is beautifully spring-like. I have been looking at a plant catalogue and made a list of things I would like... if they all fitted into my little space which of course they won’t. And I planted some sweet pea seeds in pots with no clear idea of where they are going to go either!

Speakout
Wildflowers is a really nice idea, do you get lots of butterflies, bees and other insects? How lovely to be surrounded by woodland. I live in the middle of a big housing estate. I count myself lucky though, as I front onto a small green which has two, beautiful trees. I live watching the colours change with the seasons from my bedroom window.

I am incredibly lucky to have a large garden, and own an acre of land - though the latter is a car ride away.
I also live rurally, and am surrounded by wildlife.
I grew up on a council estate on the edge of a town, and within 5 mins could walk in countryside.

VioletCharlotte

Yes I have my share of insects.

There is a rural college very near me that teaches bee keeping- they have dozens of hives in the grounds, so my garden is awash with honey bees- not sure how that impacts the indiginous bee population, but I do plant lots of bee loving plants to feed them.

Phew! Am I glad to be home tonight!
PJ’s on, sandalwood incense burning, just polished off a bowl of Kizzy’s recipe Sambar, mopped up with peshwari naan and I’m admiring my 59p hyacinths that I treated myself to in Lidl on the way home. And breathe! They’ve got walking boots in there atm if you’re still after some Hills- well done on all that exercise!

I’m loving reading this gardening chat. Like Violet, I feel like I should be doing more with mine but don’t really have many gardening skills.. I love the thought of speakout’s wildflowers, Kizzys sweet peas and queenrollos witch hazel is beautiful. Lots of thoughts and ideas- thank you.

On a completely different note- does anyone know who these two are? I’ve had this picture for years, can’t remember where it came from. It fell down and the frame broke for no apparent reason at some point in the night

@YashmisCrone I remember that picture, it was very popular in the early 90s, my mum had one in our dining room. I can't tell you who it's of but you have bought back some warm fuzzy childhood memories.

I’ve probably had it since the early 90’s sockportal!

Glad it’s bought some warm fuzzy memories

Yasmis you could try (maybe with a slightly more carefully centred photo) putting it into Google image search? Glad the sambar is a hit.
I love plants and gardening. I don’t have a huge amount of space to indulge in this but then I don’t have a huge amount of time either! I’d say if you’d like to do more, try and find some plants that are fairly bullet-proof for the conditions you’ve got, look for long-flowering perennials and bulbs. Then play around with other things that look pretty or are edible and try and be stoic about some of them being totally ungrateful and dying on you. Go ask advice on the MN gardening board

Just back from a gorgeous yoga class. It was a challenging one, but feel amazing now 😊 Last week I struggled, so was really pleased that this week's healthy eating, plus practicing at home really made a difference. It's so easy to forget we need nourishing food to fuel our bodies. This weekend I'm going to channel Yashmis and batch cook lots of healthy meals (rather than baking cakes which I've been doing rather too much of recently).

I've seen that picture before Yashmis but not sure who the characters are.

Queen the place you grew up sounds similar to where I live. Very built up, but I can be in the countryside or forest within 5-10 minutes. It suits at the moment as my teen DC can walk to town and wherever they need to be, but I think I'd like to live somewhere more rural one day.

I hope you don't mind me butting in. I'm an occasional lurker.

Yashmis I believe that picture depicts Isis (seated) and Maat (kneeling, with wings spread). Maat was the goddess of justice.

Oh fabulous Tolleshunt! Thank you for that. Now I can try and work out why they’re suddenly trying to get my attention after all these years!

Kizzy thank you for the gardening starter tips. Good advice. I’m enjoying my herbs sprouting on the windowsill and was recently watching YouTube videos about growing veg from left overs (eg tomatoes from the seeds of ones that have gone off in the fridge)! I like the idea of things that look pretty too. I’m enjoying the bulbs I planted at autumn equinox

Violet that’s lovely that you can feel the benefits of your efforts and had such a good yoga session. Totally agree that’s it’s so easy to end up with skewed priorities around food. I’d veered way off the mark without even noticing. What the supermarkets try and sell us as ‘healthy’ doesn’t help either, but that’s another story. I think the batch cooking idea works a treat- especially when you’re busy with work all week. Im really pleased I’ve got into the habit of doing it.

Evening all.
Thank you for the warm welcome and advice regarding my bracelet. It didn't feel quite right after its moonlight bath so I took @BlankTimes advice and placed it on a saucer of salt. It felt better this morning and is back on my wrist now.

We had a lovely day yesterday. Took the little ones to a nature reserve and enjoyed the birdsong and being surrounded by nature. A little robin landed very close to us and treated us to a song. It wasn't phased by us being so close at all.

Today has been beautifully sunny here, but I only managed a short walk to the shops as the baby has been ill and very clingy. However I felt energised by the sun and the signs of spring that are appearing.

Your garden sounds lovely @speakout We have a ridiculously small, very overlooked garden which we keep trying (unsuccessfully!) with. I'm just not very green fingered it seems, although seem to have more luck with edibles!

I hope you have a more settled night tonight @YashmisCrone

@VioletCharlotte Enjoy your time off tomorrow, the gong bath sounds interesting.

Thanks to those of you who have posted links to various things. It's been good to learn new things.

Wishing you all a restful and peaceful night

Tearing hurry as usual, hello to everyone
For anyone not too green-fingered you can sprinkle veg seeds on a little compost on a saucer on a windowsill and eat the shoots when they appear. Most green veg ones are tasty, think pea shoots. Google microgreens.
Much less faff than sprouting seeds in jars and no risk of bacteria.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/26/eat-shoots-and-small-leaves-how-to-grow-microgreens-in-winter
Must fly!

Gardening wise - I will have spring onions and lettice in pots on the window sil. In the past we have done potatoes in potato sacks, courgettes in pots, tomatoes in hanging baskets. The only thing that was picky was the tomatoes and they just needed to be the right variety for use in the hanging basket.

The poinsettia is still alive. Looking really poorly but sprouting little shoots and baby leaves. Looking forwards to the point when it looks healthy again. Poor thing. But apparently the fact that it is still alive and sprouting is a rare feet to be celebrated.

I am lying in bed listening to an owl. We have three species locally. One day I will figure out which one it is that is making all the delightful noise.

Violet i have to admit I giggled when you said you were glad that I was taking some time to work on my things. Not sure that the planned curtains for mum and the various bits for ds counts Didn't get around to any of it was an unfocused day. That feels a bit unproductive in a productive way iyswim

Yashmis my thought when I saw your print was a story from Egyptian mythology but I am sadly lacking in my knowledge in that area. I hope you manage to figure out what you needed to figure out. Thank you for remembering me wrt the walking boots. Apparently no hill walking for a while...

Speakout the body will adjust but the mind is impatient and the body is in injury rehab so needs more attention than the mind atm.

The witch hazel, will it grow in the UK? I should have shares in distilled witch hazel suppliers. It is a fabulous healing plant! Definitely going on my garden wish list. when I say garden I mean a small forest with several large fields for all the things I would like. Wild flower meadow, medicinal garden, dye garden, food garden.....

I have a candle burning, and a knitting project (a gift) in my hands. Can't think of a better way to occupy my time whilst regretting the afternoon cup of coffee.

May you find restful and restorative sleep!

Loving all the spring vibes and gardening talk. If there’s no impact from the tropical cyclone that has been mooching around off the coast all week, then I’ll hopefully be able to get to the farmers’ market and acquire some more plants. My haul from my last visit consisted of rue, yarrow, tamarind, a beautiful frangipani and a rather troublesome variegated mugwort that keeps trying to leap out of its pot.

We had a decent rain shower yesterday which brought a stunning rainbow over the valley (sadly, not my own photo).

Yashmis it is definitely Ma’at kneeling but it could be either Hathor or Isis seated, although Isis is often portrayed with wings. This link shows what looks like the same image but in colour: www.ebay.com.au/itm/Egyptian-Hand-painted-Signed-Papyrus-Winged-Maat-Hathor-17-x-12-5-IMPORTED-/381426458906

I've been thinking about the house we're currently renting. It is only a couple of years old and has always been a rental property. We're the 3rd tenants and will only be here until our house is finished later this year. I think this may have given it a bit of an unsettled, disjointed energy which has been rubbing off on me of late. Besides smudging, any thoughts on how to create a more balanced, homely feeling?

HillsBesideTheSea yes the witch hazel grows in the UK, though mine is three years old and very slow on the growth. I am East Midlands based, 20 miles inland. It would grow better further south in the UK, but it does ok here.

My approach to gardening and growing is very much 'it lives or dies'....every year that goes by you learn new little tricks or methods of care and you become more efficient at it.
This year I plan to plant lots and lots of calendula. I fancy a huge drift of orange everywhere.
I am an 'untidy' gardener in that I leave the dandelions to do their thing (they are too precious an early food for bees) and I have some incredibly wild looking bits to the garden. As a result though we have a resident hedgehog and loads of frogs, toads and beneficial insects.

Sun is streaming in this morning, birdsong in the garden loud and plentiful. Friday is a busy errand day for me.

Good morning.

Just having breakfast and coffee after a lovely dawn yoga class.

It's a bit dull and overcast here, but is expected to brighten up in a while.
Up to date with work ( fo once!) so will turn my attention to some household tasks- and make minestrone soup for lunch- DDs favourite, sha often asks for it when she is home.

I would welcome some advice on how to settle the energies after a week of absolutely awful chaos. Two family birthdays which turned into total disasters due to the effect of one person whose issues are impacting everyone. I feel absolutely drained and frazzled and everyone around me is so upset. I feel like everything I do with the best intentions at the moment backfires on me. It is so so disheartening. I feel really upset.

Just a quick check in- busy day here. Thankfully I’m better rested, if slightly perturbed by the new phenomena of things going bump and throwing themselves off shelves etc in my house

Thank you for the thoughts on my picture, I’ve got some good starting points to work with, and also for the growing/planting inspiration- I love hearing about everyone’s growth/getting ideas.

Sorry to hear of those who are struggling with energy in their homes/ lives. When things are tough I’ve made sure I keep on top of cleansing/clearing practices- smudging, opening windows, sometimes I’ll use sound (a bell) to break up energy in tricky corners. After tense discussions/arguments I’ve sometimes used a bowl of ice to rid the room of negativity. I imagine it gathering the energy as it melts and then dispose of the water outside.

It’s been pointed out here that it’s also important to fill the cleared space with something positive- fresh flowers, favourite incense or oils, home made decorations that symbolise the kind of energy you’d like to attract etc.

Protection practices include use of shiny materials/mirrors to deflect back to the sender. Salt as a protective barrier, a small crystal carried inside your bra that says protection or strength to you, wearing colours that feel protective or generate the energy you’d like to attract, putting yourself inside a protective bubble mentally. I liked to wear an imaginary suit of armour when feeling under attack- imagining the ‘attacks’ pinging off it and not getting to me.

Self care, as ever is crucial, be that a salt/aromatherapy bath (I find rose geranium very comforting, rosemary and lime uplifting and sandalwood grounding) taking time to mindfully drink tea, giving a gift to each of my senses (eg, incense, music, nourishing food/peppermint tea, soft blankets/bedding etc)

Sometimes it’s just a really shitty time, which will pass but is painful in the meantime. I think it’s important to allow yourself to feel whatever it is and then find ways to soothe/show love to yourself in the moment. Like you would if it were a friend. It won’t fix the bigger problems but bit by bit it’ll get you through it.

I hope that makes some sort of sense- I’m dashing but wanted to respond x

Brilliant advice as always Yashmis
Certainlymerry so sorry you're having a bad time, I've just come off the phone to a friend who is going through similar. I'll echo Yashmis in saying that self care is so important. I know when I'm having a tough time, I have a tendency to neglect myself, as it all becomes too much like hard work. I also tend to eat all the wrong things, consequently feel worse, so quickly downward spiral.

I find cooking nutritious food, something with lots of flavour and aroma like lentil Dahl helps give me a lift. Try putting on some uplifting music while you're cooking. It's meant to be a nice weekend, so see if you can get outside into nature, this always helps me blow away the cobwebs.

certainlymerry

I had just settle down to post when I see YashmisCrone has posted some wonderfully wise suggestions- I would echo all that she says.

Try not to take on the upset of others- however much you love them, you can't carry everyon'es burden.
And you can't always "fix" everything and everyone in a timescale that you would like.
I hate upset too, and I have a tendancy to come in all hoves clattering trying to put things straight, not everyone appeciates my approach, even though it is well intentioned.

Some people need time to change, their energies have longer cycles, it doen't mean it's not happening, it's just at their own pace.

I am very mercurial, ( sun combust mercury) and I get a little frustrated when others don't respond as quickly as I do. I have learned to do what I can and leave it be.
Often in a day or so things will be more harmonius without me having to manage the situation.
I go for a long walk, soak up forest energy, sit by the river, do some excercise.

And again self care.

I hope things settle soon.

YashmisCrone

I am glad you are feeling rested- how interesting that you have some lively energy in your home. I wonder what could be cuaing that?

Thank you all for your wise words . I really feel the compassion and it means a lot to me. I am struggling with self care, it is really hard under the circumstances. This is an ongoing issue which won't unfortunately resolve, it's just trying to find a way to live with it without it completely wrecking my life.

certainlymerry

That sounds tough.

Are you sure this situation is indefinite? Is it something that affects you on a daily basis? Do you get any respite from the situation.

It sounds hard.

I think we have to find some separation in order to preserve ourselves. Separation on an emotional level and a physical one.

However much we may love others, untimately we have our own lives to live too, and that life is important.
We still need to find joy, and give ourselves permission to put our troubles on the shelf once in a while in order to laugh, to find enjoyment.

That can be really hard- I have struggled with this, but the more we value ourselves the more strength we can give to others.

Treat yourself with compassion-I hope you find a little pocket of enjoyment for yourself this weekend.

Thank you speak out. You are right. I appreciate your words of support.