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.

Welcome agapanthus pull up a cushion or a beanbag by the Aga, help yourself to tea from the magic teapot - it pours your beverage of choice - and light some incense or a candle or both.

Have you seen the lists of all our previous threads? It's near the first post in this thread. Do have a good browse through them all, there's no time-limit, it's all intuitive. We've discussed so many things I'm sure you'll be able to find something to suit.

At 8am and 8pm every day, we have a time where we focus our energies, you may like to light a candle and tune-in or meditate, it's not obligatory and you don't have to do it every day, it's there if you'd like to.

agapanthus1979

A warm welcome, glad you found us.

We are a mixed bunch, some new to a pagan path, some simply curious, some have decades of experience.
Make yourself comfy, We look forward to hearing about you, or you can simply soak up the atmosphere for a while.
I see BlankTimes has found you a cosy spot by the fire.

Have a magical day.

Thank you! What a lovely welcome.

A warm welcome from me too agapanthus1979 glad you’ve joined us. I’ve found this to be a very enriching and supportive space and am sure you will too.

So many places to start and wormholes to fall down and as BlankTimes suggests it’s important to follow your intuition- if a subject piques your interest you’ll flow with it and get more from it. No right or wrong, just explore what you feel. If there are particular subjects you’re interested in then there’s usually someone around who would love to chat about it, as speakout says, we’re a mixed bunch with different areas of interest. I’ve found this makes for a wonderful pool of knowledge to tap into.

Look forward to learning with you

Just thinking about places to start exploring your connection with the turn of the wheel of the year agapanthus1979 and wondered if you might find some of the ideas here interesting for Samhain:

www.goddessandgreenman.co.uk/samhainhalloween/

Thank you!

Welcome to the thread agapanthus1979. Always good to have more witches around the fire 🔥

I'm not having the best week. DS2 is still not 100%. He's extremely negative, which I understand as it not nice being unwell, but it's not helping him or me. I feel totally drained from trying to cheer him up and encourage him to be more positive. If anyone has any advice, I'd be truly grateful 🙏

I'm going to have a soak in a salt bath this evening and do some visualisation to put some protection round myself. I feel sort of under attack at the moment and ultra sensitive to other people's actions and words, which I'm aware is a sign I'm stressed and need to focus on self care.

Love to you all ❤️

VioletCharlotte

Sorry to haer things are not great with your son.
I think what you are doing is very wise, taking some time for self care and protection.
I too have similar struggles in life.
However much we love others it pays to remember that this is their struggle, not yours.
I know we love and we would walk the highest mountain to try to fix things for our children, but we must not be consumed.
Sometimes strengthening our boundaries is the healthiest thing to do in order to preserve ourselves and prevent being lost in the problems of another.
It doesn't stop us loving, caring, giving help, energy, time but it allows us to recognise that we are distinct and separate.
And within these boundaries we can give ourselves breathing space and distance. Space to heal and re -charge ourselves, to nourish our spirit and core.
So when we do engage again we do so with stability,energy and a solid foundation, more able to help and support than when we are worn to a thread with worry and exhaustion.
It isn't selfish to create boundaries and take time when dealing with someone we love who is going through difficult times. In fact it is essential.
Is the best place for us, and ultimately the best supprt for them.

I hope you have a nurturing bath.

Sometimes there's a process to be gone through for any malady, it has stages and if we as parents try and step in and interfere to reduce the impact of some of those stages, despite having good intentions, the child's recovery can take far longer.

It's often harder as a parent to step back and provide support when it's asked for, than it is to rush in and give it because because you think it's the best thing to do at a particular time.

One of the hardest lessons for a parent is to learn how to be the scaffolding, not the structure itself.

Thank you so much 🙏

Speakout your post made me cry. You described the situation and how I'm feeling exactly. I'm pretty good with boundaries normally, but not with my DC. I know I need to step back and let them walk their path, make their own mistakes, but it's so hard as I feel their sadness and pain as intensely as my own. The bond that develops when then grow inside out wombs is so strong, it feels like they're a part of us somehow.

Blanktimes your post was just what I needed to hear. I know I've been guilty of 'rescuing' DS on many occasions.

I've screen shot both of your messages and saved them to my phone to reread when I need to.
Thank you both so much, you've given me a lot of comfort and lots to think about ❤️

Thank-you Violet you must realise it's so much easier to advise someone to do that, than it is to actually do it ourselves.
I am restraining myself from playing Florence Nightingale on steroids as I write and have been doing for quite some time.

I saw a sundog today, of all the banal places to see one, I was in the supermarket car-park.

This isn't the best photo in the world of one, but I'm just delighted to have seen one. you can just see the rainbow wisps where the 'line' to the left of the sun stops.

Professional photos of Sundogs www.istockphoto.com/gb/photos/sundog?sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=sundog

Oh the joys of technology, it's the right way up in my folder...

Good morning.
BlankTimes a beautiful photograph, I had never heard of a sun dog.

VioletCharlotte thank you for your words. Seems we are travel companions on our journey right now on this issue.
It’s something I have been struggling with for a while.
But I have been working hard to understand and put into practice what I have learned.
It's so much easier when children are young, as they mature into adults we can't just scoop them up and take away their problems.

Boundaries are important , but it is also important to model resilience, joy and patience. If our child sees us able to have strength and calm then they too will understand that these things are within reach for them too.
I heard a phrase that we are only as happy as our unhappiest child.
What utter tosh!
Having an unhappy child does impact our life, of course we do everything in our power to help and support, sometimes that can't always put things right, can leave us feeling overwhelmed, sad and frustrated.
We can feel powerless.
But we do have power to change or limit the impact it has on our own life. We have power over own response and feelings. Finding joy for ourselves foremost, because although we are mothers we are firstly individual people, with a right to a good life Finding joy and calm for others we care about, other family members who love us.
And for the troubled child – who will feel supported by a parent who has her roots dug deep, her warrior stance, he will feel that energy, even in a hug, an authentic smile, the clarity within eye contact that shows you believe in him and have the strength to be his anchor if his seas are stormy.
This is what I work with on a daily basis- and it works. Finding your own solid foundation is a good way to help him. So ditch any guilt as you find your own joy. Allow yourself time not to think about him during your day.
It will lighten your load and help him navigate through his own stormy waters.

Good morning sisters,

Love to Violet and others who are going through similar challenges.

I agree it’s the hardest thing to deal with whilst not being consumed by the situation.

Such wonderful advice from both speakout and BlankTimes that can be pertinent for us all. I completely agree that to work on what you can control (ie your own energy/reactions) is where your power lies and that modelling stability and joy is so powerful. I love the ‘scaffolding not the structure’ analogy and also that ‘only as happy as your unhappiest child is utter tosh, diminishing women solely to being an extension of their children. I believe it is the path of the warrior to deconstruct and challenge such oppressive ideas.

Such wise women here 🙏

Wow BlankTimes to the sundog. Beautiful. I remember reading about them down a wormhole after you posted the sky smile. My gaze was skyward too yesterday, nothing so spectacular but I was enjoying the look of the light behind the clouds and the depth it gave them just before sunset.

I am feeling blessed today, received a beautiful surprise gift from a wise and intuitive friend yesterday which arrived just when I needed a lift. I nearly didn’t answer the door to the post as I was so bogged down with what I was doing but this postwoman was more insistent than the usual man! A messenger of the goddess

Wishing everyone a blessed day 💫

Beautiful skies YashmisCrone so full energy.

I stumbled across this lovely piece of music. I am listening as I work, would be lovely to use in a meditation or invocation.

That is beautiful music speakout, had me fly through my afternoon on the wings of goddess energy. Thank you so much for sharing it.

I love to learn about goddesses from all spiritual philosophies and harness the energy they offer us. I think Kuan Yin has much to teach us about love, compassion and the divine feminine:
www.circlesanctuary.org/index.php/circle-magazine/sample-articles/pantheon-kuan-yin

I popped to a nearby retail park after work for some stationery bits I needed for work... I don’t think I should be allowed! Couldn’t resist a browse round Dunelm, and once in there I couldn’t resist these mugs. I love the folk art style:

www.dunelm.com/product/woodland-pack-of-4-mugs-1000095701?defaultSkuId=30276756

But my best bargin was from poundstretcher where I found this salt set for £1.49

www.ebay.co.uk/i/352656755130?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid%3D1110001%26algo%3DSPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20161006002618%26meid%3D70d107ee20104bada10ce84e7513318d%26pid%3D100694%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D28%26sd%3D192878104383%26itm%3D352656755130%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2386202

Lovely little screw top bottles that would be great for spells/potions after and of course a witch can never have enough salt of different varieties

Thank you all so much for the support you've given me. I can't tell you how much your wise words and empathy have helped me.

I feel things have shifted and my home now feels like a happy place again, I'll smudge tomorrow to clear any remaining negative energy. More importantly, you've given me some coping strategies for if and when this situation arises again.

Much love to you all 🙏❤️

Good morning all, just checking in quickly before the rush of the weekend kicks in. All week I look forward to the ideal notion in my head that the weekend will be quieter, calmer and a time to relax and prepare for the coming week ahead. In reality it is just as busy as my working week (although usually more fun!) and I feel exhausted again by Monday!!!

This week has been a turbulent one! I have felt very pronounced shifts in energy. The first half of the week it became very clear to me that often the work I do to help others is rarely appreciated and it left me feeling drained, frustrated, sad, angry, used and a whole host of other very negative emotions. I woke on Thursday with a much more positive outlook - determined not to be beaten down or change the way I am. I do make time for self nurture and love and realise on weeks like this how absolutely important it is to continue to do so. I have no idea what prompted my outlook to change so dramatically on Thursday. I have a feeling the changing of the moon phase could have played a part?

Welcome @agapanthus1979. I hope you will find solace here with these wonderful wise women.

@VioletCharlotte and @InTheTempest no matter how old our children are, it is natural to feel guilty. It is one of the strongest emotions I have felt since my children were born. Guilt that I'm not doing enough, guilt that I'm doing too much. I can't seem to win! I just have to keep telling myself that it's another of life's journeys. We put so much pressure on ourselves striving to be the 'perfect mum' that we sometimes forget to enjoy the ride! I will make mistakes i can learn from and I am doing my best and hopefully that will be enough. They seem to be doing ok so far. 🤞

@speakout and @YashmisCrone thank you for sharing your constant knowledge and insight. I am in awe of your selflessness and wisdom.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend

Good afternoon,

I hope it’s a good one and there’s pockets of magic in amongst it all.

So pleased to hear of your shift Violet, and as you say, most importantly that you are well equipped with new tools in your toolbox for future use. 💖

ninja it’s good to hear of your shift too. I agree that resting into and embracing who you are will make for more ease and flow; bring you to your power. Interesting what you say about moon phases. I recently saw this which gives an accessible succinct idea of current moon influences

www.yasminboland.com/category/daily-moon/

With my sun and mercury in Gemini, communication is a big part of my path and calling with work. Pleased to say the flow has been good for engendering positive change these last couple of days.

A big hear hear! (or is it here here? I’m never sure!) to self care as a necessity, I know we talk about it a lot here and I think that’s because it’s so crucial yet definitely a learnt skill for so many of us women.

The sky is full of dark grey cloud here today and we’ve had some torrential downpours- it feels wonderfully brooding and powerful.

Although I have to admit that in amongst welcoming the energy my surroundings bring I was very drawn to this image of a warm, natural spring bath. I can almost feel the warm embrace of that water. Somewhere else for my list of dream places to visit!

Good afternoon. A peaceful moment as the evening closes in.
It has been a dark and very wet day here, but comforting in a way.
I bought a haul of mini pumpkins from ADLI, they have a great range of sizes, shapes and colours and make a funky display.

That ourdoor hot spring looks amazing- what a place to relax, O can smell the forest from here.

At 8am this morning I was in a yoga class, we were doing a goddess sequence as I looked up at the clock.

It is amazing how many ways we can raise goddess energy, at 8 o'clock, but at othet times too- blessing a hot cup of tea, nurturing someone we love, nurturing ourselves, a meditation, a candle, lighting some incense, whispering on the wind, honouring ourselves with a fragrant bath, gazing at the moon, kissing a crystal, being inspired by music, massaging our feet.

It is no surprise that raising the goddess is akin to nurturing ourselves.
One and the same.

I am about to light some candles to welcome in the evening.

I hope this is the start of a magical weekend for everyone.

It's the most beautiful morning here. Overcast, grey skies, raining heavily, still quite dark.
Very atmospheric.

Not sure what today will bring, hopefully quiet!!

DD is having a rare day off, so I don't want to make a sound as I potter about.
DS and I had a TV night yesterday, he has a bad cold and been feeling miserable , so we snuggled up on the sofa and watched some Louis Theroux travel diaries. I make a couple of killer hot toddies for my DS and we had a cuddle under a blanket. He seemed visibly cheered when he went to bed.
Parenting is an odd lark.
From that tiny bundle we brought home from the hospital, now giving him whisky and talking about the problems in the West Bank.
It's all good.
Sometimes the act of communicating is more important than the content.

I hope you all have a harmonious day.

Sorry to hear your DS is unwell Speakout but lovely to hear how you are nurturing him. Mine is feeling a lot better thankfully. I smudged the house yesterday as I felt like there was some negative energy hanging about . Last night when I was driving, it was raining so hard I could barely see where I was going. The energy was so, so strong, it felt cathartic somehow, almost symbolic of the work I'm doing at present to release things. This morning I've woken to bright blue skies and sunshine after days of rain.

I've been thinking a lot the last couple of days about the political situation we're facing at the moment. It's so difficult to not become totally overwhelmed by it all isn't it? I do feel that we're going through a massive shift, what's happening right now is a major lesson for us all and long term will result in transformation on a global scale. Trying to look at the 'big picture' and understanding that we're all part of something much bigger does help somewhat, and I feel that lightworkers like ourselves have an important job to do in the months and years to come.

VioletCharlotte

How lovely to hear of the release and energy change for you I can sense it in your words.

I have been thinking about the political situation too- I wrote a post here but deleted it before I posted.
I have a candle lit as this day in parliament progresses.
I know this is not the place for political debate but I hope those involved will find some love and light in their hearts and find a way to ease tensions and pave a way to harmonious living.

I have just taken DD breakfast in bed. Warm croissants, coffee, fresh mango. It's so nice to spoil our loved ones isn't it.

Good morning,

I agree about the energy Violet, something big is afoot. I’m certainly seeing the impact of our current political state in my work on people’s state of mind and sense of stability. One of my challenges this week has been to help people find this in themselves despite all that is going on and the power, as you say, of seeing the bigger picture and simply connecting as human beings.

Parenting is also something I’ve been reflecting on. How our roles shift and change yet the energy at the core remains the same. I felt this this week as I found myself fiercely protective of mine. I’m afraid I ended up ‘having words’ with his father about lack of input. We are all adults and in theory it’s none of my business but something primal bubbled to the surface and I couldn’t help myself!

I hope your DS is soon feeling better speakout. I also love to hear how you nurture your DC. I do enjoy a Louis Theroux documentary!

I know some of us here prefer oracle cards to tarot and I saw these this morning, thought others may be interested

blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9780738760322?gC=5a105e8b&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk-3f9f2n5QIVQuDtCh0nUw0DEAQYASABEgKS7_D_BwE

I usually prefer tarot but am tempted by these!

We have autumnal sunshine, hazy in the sky for now, I’m hoping to get some washing out on the line to soak it up whilst it’s here.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend