Any Witches Here? Part 8.

[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.

Evening everyone, followed the scent of incense and peppermint tea and found you all here - another thread of learning and kinship, very glad to be here with you all.

I'm looking forward to joining the candle connection. I will be lighting my candle with gratitude for all of you here and for the support and empowerment that comes from collective feminine energy.

Something has been guiding me this past year or so. So many sources of inspiration and wisdom have landed across my path in recent months. Keys to unlocking the truer parts of myself. This thread has been part of this experience. The synchronicity has been mind boggling.

Blank Times I love what you said about open minds and open hearts. So true. The mind can be a noisy old thing, even if it considers itself to be open. Opening the heart...well that takes real courage. It exposes our vulnerability. And yet that is the only action that will allow us to live with true integrity.

The mind can be a noisy old thing, even if it considers itself to be open. Opening the heart...well that takes real courage. It exposes our vulnerability. And yet that is the only action that will allow us to live with true integrity.

Such wise words Fitz, and beautifully put as ever. This is something I’ve been learning with the help of my sisters here over the last year. I’d previously thought an open mind was enough. I was wrong!

FilledSoda really interesting to hear about your new levels of awareness and synchronicities. I do think this can happen following times of change, and as Hills says, the grief that can accompany that. It’s like we shift a gear somehow I think. Glad you’re feeling optimistic

Hope you’ve arrived to find the cottage intact Elphame, leaving more time for witching..

The sun shone through in the end here today, lovely following the rain.

Does anyone have any Beltane plans?

Good morning sisters.
A bright blustery day here energy flow seems high- unlike my own, still nursing a cough and a headache.

I so agree with these words too Opening the heart...well that takes real courage.

Very wise.

And just an examply of why I feel so blessed to have met so many amazing women on this thread.

I have a house full of church people this afternoon, I will leave them to it, plenty of biscuits, but I have no time for their discourse. Other fish to fry!!

I hope everyone is having a good day.

@YashmisCrone The cottage seems to be missing the summerhouse roof so DP is out in the rain replacing it! I feel a little sorry for him but I've been busy updating the website for it with some lovely guest reviews :)

I think it'll be a wet walk on the beach this afternoon - I'll be looking for beach glass and some pebbles to tumble.

Beltaine really is coming up fast - Some friends and I are planning a field trip to a remote part of Wales and a working on one of the old sites there.

Don't forget to leave your mother's guests plenty of hot chocolate speakout :)

Crikey Elphame that sounds like a big job Lovely guest reviews and the beach in the rain would be my preference too! There’s some wonderful places in Wales I think, I’ve loved the energy of the parts I’ve seen- wild and beautiful.

Hope you’re soon on the mend speakout it’s annoying when these things slow us down isn’t it. My headache still lingers too although I think for me it might be a ‘structural’ thing. Some regular visits to an osteopath sorted me out for a while a few years back, maybe I’m due some ‘realignment’!

I’ve been thinking about vulnerability too and how this community is helping me with that. As described in this popular ted talk, connection and feeling worthy of love and acceptance are key I think and that’s something I’m very grateful to my sisters here for

www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

A wild blustery day here, I’m working from home on a potentially exciting new direction, patio doors open and I can feel the energy adding to my flow. I’ll have to pop into town soon so I might see if there’s any treasure waiting for me in the charity shops. Little things again!

My headache is still here, not as intense but lingering in the back ground. I also feel like I am trying to swim through treacle today.

My gran gave me a book about herbs and I'm gong to try and grow some Bergamot as I love the smell of it. Has anyone got experience of growing it?

Many blessings for the day

@GrumpyOldMare - they had Nag Champa burning in a shop the other day, it was gorgeous. Got 3 different blends at the weekend, can't wait to burn some later. I'd love to visit Glastonbury, what exactly is there?

@SalemSpellman Hope the headache eases, I swear by lavender oil on pulse points as a cure all for everything, on your wrists / neck / temple.

@YashmisCrone thank you, I'll definitely look at the TED Talk, it's a recent thing but focusing on self care.

@Elphame I love, love, LOVE, beach combing. I was actually getting moaned at for picking up too much, but it's all fascinating. I really want to find a hag stone or sea glass.

@speakout The weather has been overcast & rainy here, but it's sunny down south apparently. This group looks fantastic, it's great being able to chat with like minded people.

@FitzsFool What was the candle connection? People think I'm crazy for picking up feathers, paying attention to angel numbers etc. I'm glad you're being guided, it feels so good when you know you're not alone in a spiritual way. I believe you should focus on positive thoughts, as it's scary what you can manifest.

@FilledSoda Hope you get plenty of rest this weekend. Dealing with health issues is always hard, having people you can talk to always helps. Part of being chronically ill is grieving your old life / what you'd like to be able to do.

If you burn sage do you always open a door or window?

Since a couple of weeks ago I've been thinking more about self love and self care. Im doing a course that should be helpful.

I'm wondering also how often you cleanse your stones / cards, plus what method you use? I know about using the moon to charge things. I charged everything through the super blood wolf moon.

YashmisCrone

That is a very powerful talk you posted. i love the way she talks of courage. She also says " we can't treat others with true compassion until we treat ourselves with compassion".

Beautiful.

@StarStruckStarGazer
Plenty of witchy shops. The Tor is amazing....once you get up there,the energy is amazing and always windy which is a blessing especially on a warm day!

The White Spring isn't always open,it's a very different energy there to the Chalice Well across the road.Both very healing in different ways.
My favourite shop is The Cat and Cauldron -I know the owners,a lovely couple,popped in the George and Pilgrim (a lovely,old,haunted pub) and had a lovely chat with one of the owners of the shop.
Glastonbury Abbey is a nice spot to visit too,full of history.

I love the place,I'm Somerset born and bred and Glastonbury is a very special spot for me for many reasons,it's where I first met two people that I first knew knew online and have since become two of my dearest friends.

I know Liz and Trevor too GrumpyOldMare . I wonder if we know each other in real life!

StarStruckStarGazer I picked up a pocketful of beach glass, actually strictly speaking I think it was river glass and a small hagstone. Like you I love beach combing.

I rarely cleanse things. I only really use stones I find myself and picked straight from the ground they really don't need it. Likewise I make a lot of my own ritual stuff and commission from artists. Again i just doesn't need it.

Roof is fixed. Poor DP hadn't banked on roof repairs but he's made a good job of it. Just in time too as the weather has now closed in. I had some cottage bookings to sort out so he's cooking supper too bless him whilst I sit here playing on Mumsnet. He's definitely a keeper.

Grumpy we were in Glastonbury last week and went in the Cat and Cauldron. Is a lovely shop and the owner was so friendly. I bought some incense.

Elphame sounds like a nice beach walk, I've never found a hag stone, I always look for them.

I've been feeling tired and emotional all day so I'm looking forward to an early night.

@GrumpyOldMare have you and your family lived in Somerset for generations? Some my ancestory is from Somerset and I find it all very interesting. I'm planning to visit Glastonbury next month.

Today I went to the park and sat in the car in the rain. It was a very cleansing experience for me as I realised I could let go of some things from my past. I heard a phrase a few days ago which I based my cleansing around, "to keep a man in a ditch, you must join him."

I took that to mean I can't change the things that have happened to me. I can however leave them in the ditch where they belong. I imagined myself crossing a beautiful stone bridge over the ditch. I'm going to focus on the here and now and the future.

Salem I love bergamot too- so uplifting-no tips on growing it I’m afraid but I’d be interested to hear how that goes.

It sounds like it’s a really powerful time of clearing for you at the moment. I love your bridge visualisation and the thought of the rain adding to your cleansing work. Beautiful.

StarStruck I do tend to open the windows when I cleanse my home with sage or do any other type of clearing. To me, it releases any unwanted energy and fresh air blowing through adds to the sense of clearing. Like Elphame I don’t do much cleansing of tools I work with. I quite like the thought of them absorbing the energy of my workings. I do ‘charge’ things with moon and sun light or place them on the earth sometimes or if something I’ve bought feels a bit ‘off’ I’ll smudge it with sage or wash it in moon charged rainwater.

Im interested in the course you’re taking- would love to hear more if you’re happy to share here.

speakout I love that quote you’ve taken from the video. Beautifully sums up a powerful message. Such an important reminder for us all. Powerful stuff indeed.

Grumpy I really enjoyed reading about your Glastonbury day- the connection you have with the place is tangible in your post. Some places just resonate with us don’t they, like our energy matches somehow.

All these Somerset connections are fascinating!

Violet I’m yet to find a hagstone too! I hope you feel better for a good sleep. Sending love x

Elphame you’ve got a good ‘un there! I hope you’re having a relaxing evening. What fabulous beach finds!

It’s turned cold, almost wintery here this evening- I just made it home from the charity shops with my new sundress before the heavy rain came! I’m enjoying being cosied up at home listening to the wind and the rain outside. A welcome reminder of the root strengthening work of winter and it’s energy coming to fruition now.

Wishing everyone a restful and replenishing night 💫

We're going to Glastonbury this summer for a long weekend, before the summer holiday crowds, it really is such a special place. It's amazing so many of you here seem to have a Glastonbury connection.

I'm wondering also how often you cleanse your stones / cards, plus what method you use?

Hi StarStruck Charging under the super blood moon would certainly have your stones a great boost.

I cleanse my cards after every use. I do a reading, write it all down in a log book, then smack the deck hard to shake out the energy (I then put my deck back in order but this is not necessary for all decks) I store it with a clear quartz crystal and visualise a ball of light surrounding the deck which stays until I take it out again.

Crystals/stones, I charge under the full moon every month or try to! Many prefer to use sunlight to charge, which is good too, but personally I work with the moon so I find it's charge more meaningful.

The best cleansing method for crystals/stones is river water (but not to be used with stones such as Selanite which actually dissolve in water!) I use cold running tap water because I live in a city. Leaving out in the breeze is a good cleansing method, as ever visualisation is key, imagine the water / wind removing all unwanted energy.
Don't let other people handle your stones.

I will cleanse stones after working with them, eg if I have used a combination of stones in a layout to work with the great goddess I will allow the layout to stay say, overnight or a day or two, then cleanse before putting everything away. If working with a stone by putting it against your body for any amount of time, you might want to keep your energy and the energy of the stone connected for a longer period of time or even, in the case of jewellery, never cleanse the stone at all.

It's very personal, ultimately just do what feels right to you.

Good morning everyone, I feel refreshed this morning, a good peaceful sleep, and off to yoga in a few hours.

Glastonbury sounds amazing, I have never been, but is over 400 miles from me, so would be quite an undertaking.

Has anyone visted Ġgantija ? On Malta ( Gozo) is the oldest Goddess temple in the world- 5000 years old.
I was lucky enough to visit a couple of years ago, the energy of the place just blew me away.

Just reminded me of crystals- my favourite piece of jewellery is a piece of rough quartz fpraged from near there, made into a necklace for me by a local Gozitan Shaman. I never cleanse that stone.
Other crystals I do cleanse, often they have been used to absorb energies or to heal so I use a variety of methods, sun, moon, flame, smoke or water.

I iopne the windows when I cleanse my home, I often cleanse on the back of cleaning, once I have swept and hoovered, it seems right to open windows and doors to let out the old energy and bring in fresh.
I use a variety of cleansing methods whatever feels right, I use incense or salt, or sprinkled salt water, smudge spray ( I'm not fond of the smell of burning sage) my Tingsha bells, whetever seems right.I ioften say an incantation to clear and bless, somerimes not.
I will fill the space with music or chants, incense, sprinkle essential oil herbs. bowls of salt for protection, I like to bring a small pot of water to the boil and throw in a handful of crushed Roasemary. I keep citrus peel too, a small pan of that boiled up fragances the house beautifully in just a few minutes.

I don't think too much about my cleansing rituals, I just go with the flow, when I am in the zone I just allow my actions to unfold- it all feels good.

Oh and Tarot.

I rarely cleanse my deck, but it depends who has been touching them.
If I am using them for my own use they are never used- my DD uses them too, but her energy feels good so no cleansing after she has used them.
I try to keep them for personal use, but if others touch them then I will cleanse them.
I don't keep notes or journals of Tarot use, I use them in a chaotic way, sometimes a formal spread, often a one card pick. Sometimes I just play, creating stories, or feeling cards together, finding relationships between the characters and cards. I gave several deacks and have been using Tarot for over 30 years so any system would have been abandoned long ago!!
I am a haphazard witch!

Bright Blessings to everyone today.

Good morning Speakout

I have a tarot question this morning. Basically i think i might have bitten off a bit more than i can chew and need someone more experienced just to cast an eye. To learn my deck I decided to shuffle it and just try to focus on the what do i need to know today question (not always worked but the answer to the question was needed even if I didn't know I needed to ask the question) I have shuffled until I felt drawn to put down one card. And learn its meaning as I went. This has been going well and I feel at home with the deck that I chose to learn on.

This morning the deck had other ideas. When I was shuffling various cards fell out of the pack. My coordination is a bit off and i glanced at them before putting them back and continuing to shuffle. But the same cards fell out. So I now have in the following order of falling out
Four of cups, knight of pentacles, four of wands, the hermit, the wheel of fortune (and the king of swords which seemed eager to join the others whilst I was looking up the meanings of the individual cards.)

Together they seem to make sense, but I would appreciate a second (or third) opinion. Feeling a little under-confident in my ability to read the cards at the moment.

rivierliedje I realise that no one has answered your question on Epsom salts. I get mine from the pharmacist, you can get them as part of bath salts (radox do some but they are too strongly scented for me), and you can also buy them in various places on the internet - plain or with added extras like rock salt or herbs. I will pop this on both this and the last thread just to make sure you see it.

I’m a haphazard witch! me too speakout! It’s good to feel your bright energy here this morning 💫

I haven’t been there but it sounds amazing- somewhere I’ve looked at and would love to go to one day. And I’ve always wanted to swim in the seas around Gozo- they look divine in photos 💜

There are people here a lot more in tune with tarot than me Hills bit fwiw when I saw what cards you’d been given I got a a sense of peace and stability, that ‘fate’ will smile on you when all is in balance- this is a vibe I think you have recently as you’ve gained more ‘control’ of your gifts and abilities. You do seem more at peace and very in tune with yourself. I haven’t looked at any meanings, it’s just an intuitive sense from reading your post. I did just look up multiple fours in a reading and found this

cardseer.wordpress.com/cartomancy-card-meanings/multiple-card-combinations/

Might not be the best article but I do like to take notice of the different themes and energies present in different numbered cards and I like it that it confirmed what my intuition had to say! I’ll be interested to hear what any of our more skilled tarot readers make of your reading.

I prefer to buy Epsom salts in the chemist too- in the ‘bucket’ rather than in smaller packs packaged for bathing. It does the same job and is much better value for money.

Bright and blustery here today. I have a piece of work to complete by the end of the day, right now I’m having a few minutes with some tea and watching the trees blow in the wind and the patterns of light dancing across the garden. It feels like a day of movement and there’s possibility in the air- just what I need!

Wishing everyone some magic in their day ✨

Good morning everyone! Hobbling in to perch by the aga and enjoy a peppermint tea after 3 days of constant visitors here I'm completely drained!

I'm a haphazard witch yes I'm another!

Speakout I had the pleasure of visiting Ggantija almost 15 years ago and the energy there was incredible, it gave me the final boost of strength I needed to walk away from an abusive relationship and change my life completely.

Like Yashmis and Elphame I tend not to cleanse my tools enjoying the energy they have absorbed.

Today is finally wet here thankfully! I am going to hide from everyone not my immediate family and try to recharge. I'm feeling peopled out and I jarred my sore knee yesterday and it's really painful so self care is in order

Morning lovelies,
It was a bit wet and windy here an hour ago , was that the storm ?
I was quite looking forward to something with a bit more energy.
Hope you are all having a lovely Saturday.

@Loyaultemelie I'm sorry you jarred your knee. I'll hobble in with you. I managed to fall onto a pile of rocks yesterday and I am spectacularly bruised. Couldn't lie on my right side at all last night.

It was a wild night here last night. The winds have dropped a bit but neither of us have dared venture out yet to see if the new summerhouse roof has survived the night.

I think a rare shopping trip is called for. Today's plans are on hold as the weather is too bad but hills post has reminded me I need some epsom salts for the Beltaine cauldrons so I think I'll head into Llandudno.

speakout. It's over 30 years since I visited Ggantija - certainly before I had the DC. I remember it as a lovely place.

HillsBesideTheSea

Hills, I am glad yasmincrone has given you some ideas about your Tarot, I will try to give it some time later today.
Just back from yoga, a lovely uplifting class, now having a simple brunch of sliced tomatoes with hummous and a coffee, before picking up DD from the train station, she has been working this morning.
Hopefully a pottering afternoon- my favourite!

I am chuckling to hear of all the other "Haphazard Witches" here- fantastic!
Rules and meant to be questioned and broken when necessary!!

Thanks hills. I will try to find some at the pharmacy then.
I need to read the thread properly, but everyone's plans for Beltaine look great. I will be in Harris and Lewis and if I can will make my way to the standing stones.

Will pop in later today to have a proper read and catch up with everyone but just wanted to share that I’ve booked a two night break in Glastonbury with my witchy friend who I only see once a year. I am excited on so many levels, catching up with a close friend (both convinced we knew each other in previous lives, our lives, even though we live thousands of miles apart - we have incredible synchronicities, I even knew she was in labour!) and enjoying my first very visit to Glastonbury- some great things to do up thread but do let me know any other lovely things to do.