Any Witches Here? Part 7.

[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.

Just having a cuppa by the aga on this lovely stormy Sunday. I’m appreciating every minute of my precious day off after a long week. Thanks for the good luck wishes yesterday Violet it really wasn’t my thing but it’s done now!

Today I’m pottering, cooking, clearing and tapping into Freya’s energy to blow some cobwebs out of the corners. Perfect!

Welcome to those joining us and returning. Glad you could join us and I look forward to learning with you.

I agree that coastal and woodland energy has a different feel to it, both powerful in their own ways. I’m lucky enough to have both in fairly close proximity.

I’m loving this herbal tea talk. I’ve just started growing some herbs and am inspired to find more that would be good for tea making. Following with interest.

On the subject of stones/crystals, these are some of my favourites right now. I use the smoky quartz and hematite balls for grounding. I place the quartz between my feet as I stand, hold the hematite in my hands and tap into the energy to connect me to the earth.

Grounding is a practice I’ve had resistance to for many years- I’m very ‘airy’ by nature and it’s felt restrictive to me. In the last few years I’ve felt the benefit of doing it though. I’m glad I stuck with it until I found something that worked for me.

I’ve also been enjoying and connecting more with my foraged sea and riverside treasures. In addition to the ethical issues I’m finding a deeper connection with things that have found me. I’ve always collected nature treasure but the deeper connection is thanks to the learning I’ve done on this thread.

longnight I love that idea of painting sigils onto the walls

I hope everyone’s warm, safe from the storm and able to harness some of her lovely power wherever it’s needed 💫

The storm energy is unsettling things here. The whole house hold was up around 3am. Some fell asleep again, some didn't. Tempers are fragile today. Also I swear ds is half an inch taller today then yesterday! Leaving them to it and running a few errands which require time on a motorway. Lots of time to clear my thoughts.

Interesting Yashmis part of my grounding allows me to fly with the wind. Maybe I need to investigate what I intuitively do more and possibly correct my terminology.

Thank you Bloopdebloop I haven't tried yarrow

BlankTimes thank you I am only learning about herbs so I'm trying to read as much as possible before trying anything (I don't want any more mishaps!)

Longnight what a great idea

Yashmis sounds like a lovely day, the grounding is something that appeals to me

Hills yes, I can see how grounding can allow you to fly with the wind. I think intuitive practice is usually the most powerful and right. I tried all sorts over the years. I worked with a shamanic teacher who suggested visualising tree roots from the soles of my feet growing into the ground. It just made me feel stuck! I’m much better with visualising more fluid energy like light so it transpires!

Loyaul I got the ritual (see pics) from this book: www.energymuse.com/book

I don’t do these things by rote but the general concept works for me. I’d recommend the book for anyone looking for ritual ideas with crystals. I followed their advice for cleansing the energy of an old relationship from my bed and ended up manifesting a new bed!

Hi, so windy here today too.

I have to admit I struggle a bit with the wind, I find it unsettling, and avoid going out on windy days.
My cats don't like wind either, they prowl the house on edge looking quite spooked, and only spend as much time outdoors as is absolutely necessary on windy days!

Morning everyone. Stormy day here too, but I'm feeling much calmer today after an amazing nights sleep 😊 A friend of mine did some healing on me yesterday and has lifted the cloud that was hanging over me, all the heaviness and weight has gone... such powerful stuff! Some friends are coming over later for a lovely, cosy afternoon of tea and tarot ❤️

Interested to read the posts about the different energy by the sea and in the forest. I absolutely agree. I've always found the seas energy extremely powerful and healing. It makes me feel like I can do anything! Forest energy is softer and gentler somehow, but equally powerful.

Hope you all have a relaxing Sunday ❤️

The wind is building up here and we keep having bits of rain. I'm finding the fact the storm has the same name as my toddler just spelt differently and the fact she is just a big ball of energy quite amusing. She's normally very placid but has been revered to as a whirlwind more then once today.

I find the wind unsettling too speak.

Often it seems like a portent of oncoming turbulence?

Still on the hunt with the crystals but on a separate note really curious as to ways crystal can be used in workings

Oh that book looks VERY worth a purchase Yashimi

Thanks for that

with the caveat of oh God here's another thing I need to buy

speakout oh the cats really don’t like it do they. Hope you, the cats and others here unsettled by the wind feel more settled soon.

Violet so good to hear of your powerful healing experience. Your afternoon sounds lovely. Just the thing for a stormy afternoon.

longnight hearing about your toddler made me smile. I love how in tune LO’s are

Barton you’re welcome/sorry about that!

Just flicking through and wondered if these pages might be useful for your current crystal identification quest

I haven't read about the abortive feature of yarrow, but it is a stauncher of blood so perhaps linked to that feature. The Romans used it on the battlefield and it comes up in my herbal books as the go-to medicine for children. I find it a great mental stimulant and mood improver. Need to make more this year. I'm out...

I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned rue. It is a witchy herb you can also brew. I grew it one year but I have to say I developed an intense dislike to the smell of it. Bit disconcerting as it's meant to ward off evil things - and I don't consider myself that way inclined!

It's a bit breezy here today. Still managed a walk on the beach though before it got too bad. We are meant to be heading out tonight for a meal but I'm thinking I just want to curl up in front of the wood burner.

I've always understood rue to be toxic and it's not one I would want to make tea from?

And on the subject of herbs I've just signed up for a workshop on making planetary spygaric tinctures... That should keep me out of mischief for a bit

My herb books says this about Rue " Rue is toxic in excess. Never take during pregnancy. The fresh plant frequently causes dermatitis, so wear gloves whilst handling it. Taken internally, rue may cause an allergic skin reaction to sunlight." Apparently it used to be used to bring on menstrual bleeding and to induce abortion. It does indicate that the are parts that have been used but it seems one to give a swerve to if you are not skilled in dosaging knowledge, also that you have to be careful as to the exact species that you have as there are variations by species.

Seeing as it's Storm Freya right now

An interesting read...

www.northernpaganism.org/shrines/freya/who-is-freya.html

My 1986 paperback herbal whose pages are now brown with age "The Herb Book" by the wonderfully named John B Lust says the same as Hills about Rue.

Would love to join in that workshop Elphame it sounds fascinating.
No matter how much we learn, there's so much more to understand.

‪I was interested in the discussion about rue and looked up a bit more about rue online. Despite the potential for toxicity apparently it is used as a culinary herb in some places. And BlooDeBloop it was suggested that it may have got a reputation for keeping away evil from the fact that cats dislike the smell.

Good morning lovely people.

I have missed you all and this thread but needed a break from all things MN. If anyone knows of a witchy forum I'd love to hear about it.

Back at work today after a week off but I am mostly part time and working from home this week so still in bed with tea, having a catch up.

I love this talk of herbal teas, I grow several herbs for teas and tinctures but Nettle is probably my favourite for general health and wellbeing. I can't wait until I can pick some fresh leaves again.

Elphame I love the sound of your workshop, I have never heard of that, is it similar to biodynamics?

kizzy this was way I said it was very important to know which variety of rue you have. The toxicity varies between species. Also why unless you have knowledge of the dosing it was probably not one for untrained people. There is a species which is less toxic than the others but mix it up and you will not be mixing it up again. Also being investigated for poisioning probably a pain in the ass. Herbs have to come with a warning to be very very well versed in not only what the use is but also which sub species is responsible. Particularly with the more toxic ones. Especially as one person's ability to process and tollerate chemicals is different from the next so toxicity can be variable between people. Dose A supposed to be safe. Person 1 fine, Person 2 not fine. Happens with everyday meds too. Aspirin - fine for most people, me? i am allergic it can kill me.

If some has the number for the trunk that ran me over in my sleep, you will find me curled up by the aga. This sinus trouble has hit my lungs and intercostal muscles. Yay fun fun times

unfortunately reality is not that kind and I have an evening training meeting and little chance for rest and calm today

Hills that makes sense. I was a bit taken aback that people were blithely adding it to their salads but I guess the local variety in that country may be one of the less toxic ones. I definitely wasn’t suggesting people start experimenting with it (except maybe to grow to keep cats out of the flower beds!)

Oh and sorry you’re feeling rough today!

Lapetus sorry, no idea about online witchy fora.

Excellent point about the Rue Hills and for herbal information in general.

Hope everyone's survived Storm Freya, guessing some of us will be without electricity after those ferocious winds. Let peace be restored.

A witchy forum I agree would be lovely but lots of issues present themselves in the organisation that I am not personally skilled in, and privacy issues.

Lapetus

There are hundreds of chat groups online, including Facebook, I am a memeber of a few, I am yet to find one that is of great value.

If you find a good one- let me know!