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.

Speakout I hope the load lightens for you soon. Wine and rest sound good.

Hot bath for me tonight, with Epsom salt and essential oils. I try to relax but feels like my mind never quietens!

speakout I'll do an evening ritual tonight and send you good healing vibes

I've loved catching up with your weekend posts.
@speakout I hope the tension in your neck and shoulders has eased?
After years spent sat at a desk working on computers I too get lots of tension in these areas. I also feel it here when I am ill or 'under the weather' as I am now. My cold has moved from my chest and throat to a head cold so I have spent the majority of the weekend under blankets with a hot water bottle! I did manage to dose myself up and get out for a blustery dog walk at the beach briefly yesterday.
It is raining heavily here this morning so instead of my usual 5k run, I am staying under my blanket with a hot cup of tea.
@AutumnRose1 Sorry to hear that lavender isn't helping you to sleep. I'm sure you have tried many things but meditation or yoga nidra helps me to relax into sleep. Good luck, it is so frustrating and has such a knock on effect when we are not rested as we should be.
I wish you all a wonderful start to the week

Good morning sisters,
And here we are at the beginning of a next week. I can certainly feel the change in season here, much cooler and steady rain. I spent much of yesterday doing tasks outside, glad I got them done then.

Lovely, as ever to catch up on everyone’s weekends. Tempest that cauldron is fabulous! I hope that you are feeling renewed from your time away Violet, such a lovely day in Devon yesterday, the seaside sounds like the perfect place to spend it.

Stumpy congratulations on the new job. Divine timing and synchronicity there! Lovely stuff, amazing what happens when we’re in tune on our path.

Autumn, I’d echo ninja’s kind words about the sleep, so hard to get through when we’re not properly rested. I’m not fond of lavender on its own either but enjoy it as part of a blend. Anything with vetivert is my current go to for sleep and relaxation, you may have tried it already but attached are some further sleep related EO ideas.

speakout I hope your neck and shoulders are more comfortable today. I too can empathise with this symptom when feeling overburdened. May the goddess lift some of the weight as you start this new week.

ninja I hope you’re soon on the mend too, under a blanket with a hot tea sounds like the best place to be right now. Take good care of yourself.

Love to all for a magical Monday x

Yashmis I couldn't not post a pic of the cauldron here! 😂 It's amazing, it was made in 1500 in Antwerp. I love history and going to historic sites, it's one of my favourite things to do. Lacock is beautiful, we had a wander round the village yesterday too.

Went to the supermarket this morning and bought Halloween outfits for the DC, they will be delighted when they get in from school. The child in me wants to get all dressed up for it too😂 I love Halloween, for the DC it's so much fun.

Separately I will do something to mark Samhain. Both of my grannies will be in my thoughts especially. I am really enjoying autumn, it feels the most magical time of year to me.

Lovely to find te autumn magic here.

Many of us love this season, I too find it a very exciting and magical time.
The darker evenings are perfect for candles and shadow play.
My neck is much better today, many thanks to those who sent magic, healing and energy my way- it has done the trick!

Have a magical Monday everyone.

I asked before about magical help for learning to drive- I think I'm in more need of it than ever after today's lesson 😂

Seriously though, whilst today felt a bit of a step back, I'm proud of myself. I was terrified when I tried learning before and just gave up. I've used sheer determination and willpower to get this far.

Tempest that's good that you are doing well with your driving.

I could use some magical power to get over all the gloomy weather!

I'm thinking of getting a pagan prayer book. Any recommendations?

Pleased to hear that speakout. A big yes to the darker evenings being perfect for candles and shadow work- something I’m embracing too.

You should be proud of yourself Tempest, keep being kind to yourself and think of the freedom it will bring

Can’t help with the book recommendation Autumn but here’s a tiny sunflower that bloomed in my garden today- a cheerful sight amongst a cold and wet day 🌻

@InTheTempest learning to drive is hard, I cried after more than one lesson. I will of course send you some magic thoughts. Is there any thing that we can offer advice for in a more worldly way? Is there something in particular that you are struggling with?

You are all so kind.

I think confidence has been my biggest problem. I had two weeks between the lesson today and my last one and it's too big of a gap imo- I think I would do better doing more intensively to really get in the swing of it but my instructor is quite busy at the moment... he's really good but I'm getting a bit frustrated as I said from the start I'd like to do semi intensive. Still it will come together, I'm thinking positive and this time I'm not giving up.

The best motivation I have is my ex saying to my kids I'm a bad mum for not driving. He's inadvertently done me such a favour 😆

I've bought a DVSA book on essential skills for driving and also read that there's loads of good stuff on YouTube... so it's just a case of hard work I think! Any other tips are gratefully received.

InTheTempest

Don't be afraid to change instructors. Both my DD and DS are learning to drive right now, DD having two lessons a week, she just didn't gel with the first instructor
Having to wait two weeks between appointments is not acceptable.
If the instructor is so busy he should not be accepting new clients until some of his existing ones pass heir test and move on.
My DS has had 5 lessons, but again he doesn't gel with the instructor, I have encouraged him to look elsewhere.

A good instructor should make you feel at ease and build your confidence as well as the practical skills, the relationship is important.

A little magical work may help you lessen any anxiety and boost your confidence too.
Carry a charged crystal with you or wear some calming oil on a tissue tucked up your sleeve.

When I learnt to drive I watched other people driving, it gave me a better idea of when I should change gears. Another thing I did was look at road signs - when I was on the bus, when I was walking etc. I asked myself; do I know what these mean?

Don't listen to your ex. You are a good mother wether you drive or not. Driving is something you can change, he can't change being a bum hole.

Speakout thank you. It's hard because he is good and makes me feel at ease but I definitely thought that too, that it should be easier to get lessons and at least be able to book a period of semi intensive ones as that is how I wanted to try learning (not necessarily to be able to take my test immediately after but to get to a better standard and get more comfortable on the road). I tried learning with a different instructor two years ago and she really was a nightmare... I may give it a little longer, I have a lesson booked next week so will see how it goes but I'm definitely open minded to changing instructor if need be.

Salem that's a good tip too- I am terrible for zoning out in the car- too many years of being a passenger 😂 I watch my mum when I remember, I need to make more of an effort to do this all the time.

Yes nothing will change the fact he is a bitter and nasty individual. I laughed at the idea of someone being a bad mother purely because they can't drive. But the satisfaction I will get when he comes to pick them up and sees my car on the drive... well I'm smiling at the thought of it right now. I keep it in my head whenever I'm struggling and it makes it easy to keep trying.

The DC don't know I'm learning so it's going to be the best surprise if I can pass and tell them

@InTheTempest you WILL pass. This is where magic will work. Bring it from within you, imagine the car you are going to have, imagine it being on your drive, imagine driving around listening to your favourite tunes. I believe in you, now believe in yourself!

Yashmis thank you for the sunflower, much appreciated
Tempest I had weekly driving lessons - but the mum thing, good grief. I'm sure you are a fab mum and driving has nowt to do with it!

Musing over finding some rituals and the timing of them, actually realise 10pm is probably good.

Thank you 💐 I've been so much more positive this time. Actually the best thing about it is that when things aren't going as well as I'd like, I don't let it beat me. There's no way after coming this far I'm giving up with it. I feel good that I've got to that mindset. I imagine how I'm going to feel when I pass. I think other than having my DC, nothing will beat it, because not so long ago I thought this was something I could never do. I do believe in myself this time.

Hello beautiful sisters. I'm back home after a wonderful trip to Devon, feeling rested and relaxed, also pleased to be home in my own surroundings. We were lucky enough to have one day of amazing weather and for down to the beach. I was delighted to finally find a hagstone and enjoyed a cleansing paddle in the sea.

InTheTempest learning to drive is hard. It took me a year and four attempts to pass my test back in time he 90s. I believe it's even harder now. It can be hard to find a good instructor, DS1 is learning and has switched twice because he didn't gel with the first two. Someone I know used hypnosis to help with the nerves and found this really helped.

Violet I'm glad you had a lovely time in Devon. Next time I go to the beach I want to find a hagstone!

It helps me to remember that for most people it's a driving isn't an easy thing to learn. I thought about hypnosis for the nerves too... although I think they have got a lot better and I just need to use this sheer determination I have to get through it. I do feel really positive about it and can't wait to have the freedom it will bring.

Really lovely to hear about your beach day, paddle and hag stone Violet. Had to smile about the driving, took me over a year and 4 tests in the 90’s too!

Tempest I think it’s great that you are noticing how you’ve managed to increase your confidence through determination. Very powerful and the perfect way to generate more of the same I think.

Hope everyone’s week has got off to a good start. I’m feeling hibernation mode creeping in- I just want to stay at home and potter/cook etc! That not being as possible as I’d like, I’m focusing on enjoying cosying up for candlelit evenings 🕯

... on a similar theme I’ve just read this, redolent of what speakout was saying about this time of year being perfect for shadow work

Good evening , I am settling down with some peppermint tea, tired after a busy day, and not feeling well, I think I may have a cold brewing.*
YashmisCrone thank you for posting that information- you always find
such astrological gems to keep us informed.
It is such an interesting subject, from so many angles, the personal, political, even global.
I was heavily into astrology in my 20s, and although I still have an interest my path has led me in other directions.
I still work with planetary aspects in my craft.
So it's lovely to have these pieces of information from you.
My own craft has been a little neglected of late, apart from self nurture ( utterly neccessary), my family and work have taken a lot of my energies.
It is very dark already, which feels so cosy, as I snuggle down for a rest before bed.
I hope evryone is having a calm evening.

speakout I think I've warded off a couple of awful office colds using allicin pills. Hope you don't have one!

I've got a lot to learn because I'm confused about what shadow work is, but will do some reading at the weekend.

Good morning.
I woke at 5am this morning hearing someone ringing the doorbell and knocking at the door.
I dashed down but no one was there. It didn't wake anyone else so I think it must have been a dream.
I didn't manage to get back to sleep, so I am about to get up.
AutumnRose1 thanks for the suggestion, still feeling under the weather, but have to keep going!

Winter is a good time for shadow work, the darkness leads itself to introspection. Shadow work deals with the aspects of ourselves that are hidden, the traumas, guilt, bad times, our doubts, repressed emotions and feelings, our pain and self sabotaging thoughts.
Jung coined the term shadow, but the idea must be very ancient.

The idea is that if we bring about some light to aspects then we can release them, and even find new energy and motivation from the process.
There are tools that can assist us, modern psychotherapy uses some of them, from a magical perspective we can use others- meditation, visualisation, divination, cream analysis, Tarot, astral projection, guided meditation, chanting, body work, yoga , chakra work, shiatsu, reiki- the list is endless.
Some of us here did some shadow work last winter and found it very helpful.
However it is a powerful area, and some things are in our shadow because that is the safest place for them to be.
Be careful as you dig, full scale excavation work may not be in your best interests! You may expose yourself to further trauma and not benefit from the process.
Do some reading about the shadow, if you proceed then do so with caution, define your goals and limits. Contain your work.
Working with someone else may help.

Up for a spa shower then have to make a batch of talismen this morning. Then off to the supermarket.
Have a magical day.

"dream analysis" not " cream analysis". ha ha.

Although maybe lactomancy is a thing- we can use clouds and tea for divination, maybe some of us have tried curd scrying ???