Any Witches Here? Part 9.

[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.

Happy Equinox everyone :) ( I;m far too Welsh to call it Mabon )

Home again now - and it is of course raining ( typical Bristol - wettest place I've ever lived and that includes Manchester!)

We had a very rare chance to go into Barcodiad y Gawres at the weekend. Some amazing neolithic rock art there. It's hardly ever open so we very lucky.

Now laundry calls - I have 4 duvets to wash, dry and store as well as the usual holiday suitcase full. I may have to give in and use the tumble dryer - fire risk or not!

Blank, thank you, I'm just really surprised not to be able to find anything about them but I will ask on that forum.

I'm thinking to get a picture of the wheel of the year for the lounge wall. I find the passing of time very comforting- seems to make me an oddity among my friends - and it will remind me.

@AutumnRose1

Many of these spirits have local names. Ferish my be a very regional term for what you know by another name. For example what Blanktimes refers to above is a "will o the wisp" for me and it's known by many other names.

I have access to the folklore society journals so I've put the washing on and hit JSTOR. A search though their archives and the only thing I'm finding is that it is the Manx term for fairy which is a very generic term. I've also run a wider search in JSTOR but getting no relevant hits.

interesting talk of Fen spirits. In my area they are 'tiddy's' - in particular Tiddy Mun is identified in stories.

I'm reading the thread, just really not contirubuting much. I seem to be having a prolongued emotionally/mentally difficult period. I really wish it would pass, it is impacting on too many aspects of life.

Happy Autumn Equinox to you all.

Lovely to read all your posts, and I'm fascinated by the ferishes/ jack o lanterns. I will click on the links and read more about them later.

Salem
I was just thinking about you over the weekend, it's lovely to hear from you. I've been having vivid dreams too.

I'm going to an Equinox event shortly, which will culminate in a gong bath. The way I'm feeling, I may well sleep through the whole thing!

queenrollo You are always welcome here. Sorry to hear things are still tough. Sending you some equinox energy and love.

I’ve always loved to try a gong bath. There is one in the next village along on Tuesday evenings but haven’t had the chance as it’s always at child’s bedtime.

Please come back and let me know how it was

Mabon blessings

Hello all,

I started reading this thread a year ago but didn't post, and then, in an attempt to be more productive, deleted the app from my phone! (It didn't help)

I was really happy to log back on this month and see you were all still here. I have spent most of the weekend reading this thread and it has filled me with such a lovely calm energy. It's so lovely to see a group of mindful women nurturing each other.

I wasn't going to post as I don't particularly relate to being a witch (although I do consider myself to be on a spiritual journey and I love to observe nature, the changing seasons and feel that there is magic and energy all around us). However, today I was driving through a city local to me (it's small but still a city) and a small deer ran across the road in front of me, from one patch of scrub land to another!

I felt so emotional after such a beautiful and unexpected encounter. My first thought was that I wanted to tell this thread! Which, as I know none of you, seemed a bit daft!! However, when I logged on and read Speakouts post regarding her animal sightings today, I decided I would post.

I would love to join your thread so I can feel uplifted from your daily chat and learn from your collective wisdom.

Thank you @VioletCharlotte

I returned to yoga after a break, my teacher has introduced a bit of gong music to the practice. I felt it and slept like a baby that night.

I'm trying to get out in the park as much as possible to enjoy the autumnal sunshine whilst is here. I feel alive in the autumnal rays as the trees light up with colour!

Thank you all for the information on fen spirits
Folklore is fascinating!

I looked up some info while waiting for my flu jab, there is so much to learn.

Re gong baths, I'm quite noise sensitive so although there was a Mabon event near me, the gong bath part actually put me off. I think I can hear frequencies others can't eg those animal deterrents some people have that humans shouldn't be able to hear.

Elphame wow, the RA is spectacular, it's so reminiscent of the kerbstones around Knowth, I'm sure there was more travelling and socialisation in the Neolithic than is generally accepted.
A big thanks for the dragons breath info upthread, too.

Welcome IndigoSkye help yourself to tea from the magic teapot and settle in on a beanbag by the Aga.

Lovely stories of wildlife encounters today, mine have all been avian these last few days, a friendly robin in the garden yesterday giving me really quizzical looks when I was mowing, the usual pheasants whenever we go out, if anyone's ever wondered where the term birdbrain came from, they must have been the origin, a group of about 9 red legged partridge once flew in front of my car bonnet in a v-formation for a few hundred yards, red kites spiralling and lazing on the thermals in a clear blue sky.

I'm another who would love to try a gong bath. We all resonate to different frequencies, there's a lot of info about the different effects sounds measured in Hz have on humans. I like really deep notes like a didge and fretless bass, elephants rumbling and blue whales. Also Om at 432 Hz
AutumnRose there's a lot on youtube about different frequencies, perhaps you can experiment and see which ones are comfortable for you? Also look at infrasound it's more felt than heard. Also see overtone chanting, where one person makes a high and low note at the same time.

Good morning sisters,
I’m loving the equinox energy here and the talk is fascinating as ever. It’s a joy to be part of our moot. So uplifting and empowering.

I enjoyed these reflections on balance that I saw on fb yesterday.

queenrollo the Tiddy Mun is familiar folklore to me too. Sending love to you to uplift and support you.

Has anyone listened to the ‘feminist folklore’ podcast? I have it saved to try, sounds interesting.

Elphame I love your pictures, thank you for sharing them with us

Very much enjoying hearing of everyone’s wildlife encounters. IndigoSkye I love it that yours and the synchronicity with speakout’s prompted you to join in. It’s good to have you here.

I’m also loving the frequency/gong discussion. I haven’t tried a gong bath either but am interested in the effects of sound and frequency on our bodies and minds.

I had some lovely positive feedback from work clients yesterday- an evaluation of my work. Some of it blew me away. It’s good to know I’m providing helpful support and on the right track. More pertinent as I’ve felt like I was flagging recently.

Wishing everyone a magical day 💫

With all the vivid dreams I've had, a few things have come to the forefront of my conscience. Three years ago, this time of the year a spiral of events happened, none of which were in my control- they were actions by other people.

The results were that I was made redundant, and this in effect caused me to have a miscarriage. I thought I had dealt with all the emotions around it. But today I am waking up sad and angry.

I am angry because I have to keep it a secret as to why the redundancies happened. Our manager did something illegal and was sacked. The team I was I was got rid of under the guise of redundancy because we uncovered what he had done.

With the emotions I am feeling I want to the truth to come out.

Please can I ask you ladies for some help on overcoming these feelings. I want to return to a more happy frame of mind.

@SalemSpellman, I hope you find your joy soon.

Salem
That's an interesting question and I've not got an answer I'm afraid. Like you, there's a period of time on my life where I experienced a lot of hurt. I always feel like I've moved on, then it comes back to haunt me in vivid dreams and feelings that I can't get rid of. I've followed every bit of advice about how to 'let go' of stuff, I do wonder if we ever do really 'let go' or we just learn how to accept what's happened and that we can't do anything about it? Nurturing yourself.. gentle exercise, nourishing food, plenty of rest, meditation.. these will all help get through this until the feelings pass, reiki really helps me too. But I'm not sure if they ever really go away.

Would he interested to hear what others think.

I'm just catching up on the posts about gong baths. I've been to quite a few gong and sound baths. I know a lot of people say they're really powerful and help them relax more deeply, but I'm not sure if they do much for me. They may well work on a subconscious level of course that I'm not aware of, but I don't find them particularly relaxing, and sometimes I feel they can be rather unsettling.

Last night's ceremony also included crystal singing bowls. The sound is just wonderful and seems to penetrate your body. Each bowl has a different time which activates a different chakra. I've often reached an altered state of consciousness and have had some really powerful insights from crystal bowls.

@SalemSpellman - you've made a good start by writing about it here. That will start the process.

I personally would now write it all down in as much detail as you can remember, the more the better. Let it all out onto paper, emotions as well. I'd then burn the paper and then either bury the ashes or dispose of in running water. Finally go and do something you really love afterwards (that last bit is important!).

Then forget all about it - if it crosses your find in any shape or form then dismiss it immediately by doing something pleasant and distracting

Thank you wise sisters. I think it's the time of year, waking up from a vivid dream and it pouring down with rain.

I've made the best of it, I took DD for her first puddle walk. She loved it and that innocent joy has made me a bit happier.

@Elphame I think I do need to write it all down.

I am going to make some soup for lunch, I find the smell makes the house feels so cozy and brings me back to a good place.

It's also good to know that there are always friendly words around our aga. I will light a candle in honour of our kinship today.

I'm busy making tofu - first attempt!

I really hate the commercial packaged product but I'm told home- made is much nicer and having had some at a Thai restaurant that does make it's own I'm almost convinced.

It's currently coagulating and looks awful but apparently that is what it's meant to look like

Salem I'm sorry about your experience.

in terms of the feelings, all I can say is that it's taken me longer to get past things as well. I actually wouldn't write down any details - no disrespect to the poster suggesting, it's just for me, I know it would make it worse. Obviously you might want to do it.

if I'm trying to let go of something then I find it's best to not go down that road, mentally, when it's trying to take you there, unless possibly something is unresolved? Sometimes not enough time has passed.

I also really like to chuck out the past - I keep a diary, but I throw it out as soon it's full.

particularly with regards to the unethical stuff at work - I tend to think that's just what people do and sadly I have no control over it, so I don't want to absorb more of it and become more damaged.

I have friends who do the opposite, examine things deeply in therapy, and a couple of friends have found healers to be helpful to them, and they haven't gone in depth with them. Just went in, gave a brief explanation and found the sessions helpful.

Blank thank you for the YT info. It does seem I find most of them irritating, as per my instinctive thought.

Salem "I am angry because I have to keep it a secret as to why the redundancies happened. Our manager did something illegal and was sacked."

sorry, after I hit "post" it occurred to me.....do you actually want to expose what happened and take the consequences? I wouldn't - because I'd be worried about damaging myself. But there are certainly people who would prefer this option.

@AutumnRose1 I don't think exposing him three years down the line will do any good. If I had the opportunity I would confront him. But exposing him and all the other stuff three years later is more hassle than it's worth.

I mostly think I have these feelings under control but every so often they resurface. Today is a bad day. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Thank you for listening to me.

Good afternoon wise sisters.
The equinox has brought some big energetic changes for me - and a very deep and profound level.
Thankfully I am able to hold tight to my anchor right now.
I feel a big shift. Personally, globally , politically, I sense change.

I also saw big Halloween pumpkins for sale in the supermarket today!
I think many of us who walk a magical path feel a homecoming around Samhain.
A warm welcom to IndigoSkye, deers are very special aren't they. I have been working with deer goddess energy lately. Each year I find something new and interesting to explore with the passing of the festivals.
SalemSpellman I am sorry that these feelings are troubling you. But good that you realise them for what they are, and how they are attached to your past.
Many of us would perhaps suffer depression and anxiety, but you have the wisdom and bravery to hold them up to the light.

How you deal with the situation is the next step, and you need to find a way that is right for you.
You are wise to take time to consider outcomes, both for you personally, your situation and other people. I can sense your anger but don't let that emotion force you down a path which may not be best for you in the long run.
It may be that exposing these people will be the best thing to do, but you need to be sure that will lead to your life enhancement.
You have been given suggestions about dealing with your feelings, again that is something for you to decide. You had some really awful things happen to you and that needs time to process.

You may find some meditation or shadow work helpful, use Tarot as a guide or any other method you prefer.
Above all treat yourself with compassion.

Go gently.

Speakout I agree there is some powerful energetic shifts going on right now. Like you, I feel like we're on the cusp of something major happening. I hope that the change you're experiencing on a personal level is positive.

Elphame how did you get on with making tofu? I'd be interested to know if it's nicer than the packaged stuff.