Any Witches Here? Part 10.

[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.

I love that Yashmis what beautiful words.

I came across this pagan version of 'Silent Night' on Facebook this evening and really liked it.

Oh that’s fabulous Violet, I really like it too- I’ll be hearing those words to the tune from now on!

Good morning VioletCharlotte I love that version, how beautiful.
YashmisCrone those are such powerful words about the shadow beasts. really struck a chord with me.
I snuggle, feast with and explore alongside my beasts.
We enter the darkness searching for seeds of kindness
I read that last night just before I fell asleep and it brougtt tears to my eyes.
It takes a great deal of courage to befriend and understand the beasts, and you give us such encouragement to help us do that.
I look forward even more and with an open heart to walking and working in the darkness.
My slow pace is starting to have a soothing effect on me. My shoulder pain has eased, and I can hear the small flutterings of energy start to build within me.
It feels good to move in a lower gear.
Up early though and off to an early yoga class, but a nurturing way to start my day. Then off to get the christmas tree with DD
Have a wonderful day everyone.

I found it really powerful too speakout, agree it takes bravery. I looked up the woman who wrote those words and found more that resonates. I do enjoy it when that happens.

www.facebook.com/anna.b.mcneill

Very pleased to hear about your shoulders easing and that you feel the flutterings of energy. An inspiration to us all for making sure we slow down and attend to our needs.

About to light an 8am candle, we wishing everyone a magical day 💫

@VioletCharlotte I love that! I'll be signing that to myself today

I love the thought of us all going about our days, singing that version of silent night Salem

Just had to share this too, further wise words on the importance and depth of self care from the newly discovered (to me) wisdom of Anna B McNeill. I love how she captures that shadow work is self care

www.facebook.com/562976081/posts/10156339468586082?d=n&sfns=mo

I love how she captures that shadow work is self care

Yed that is quite an eye opener to me too. And makes perfect sense, as though a veil of insight has been lifted.
I have been mulling over these words all day.
We try to fight the beasts, but they need to be met with compassion, and will show us how to turn "grit into pearls".

Home now with two (don't ask!) huge Nordman Firs, decorations scattered everywhere- I always find the practicalities of putting up trees quite stressful, but will be wonderful when they are up.
Probably only get one up today, the other can wait in the garden until we have time.

Just checking in with some strong Italian coffee brewed with freshly ground beans, dark and delicious chocolate and calming vibes from a candle and incense lit. Enough of all to share if anyone is in need of any of the above!

Your tale of two trees made me smile speakout

I’ve been mulling our shadows too. The quote you’ve taken is so impactful speakout

I think the analogy of beasts to be shown compassion in order to make pearl from our grit is very poignant.

In my experience, until we purposefully engage with our shadow creatures we tend to deal with them in one of two ways. We either push them away because they seem too scary and threatening, take us back to the time they were born or we can be at the mercy of them; consumed, we become them. Either way they run riot in our lives.

I’ve noticed that as women we tend to be stoic, often opting for the first approach. Fearing the consumption we pretend our shadow creatures don’t exist. I think we are taught that this is the way to be strong, we just have to get on with it and do what needs to be done.

True, of course to an extent but there is such growth to be found in bravely looking our shadows in the eye, and when we do so with compassion we find that they respond in a transformative way. We gain another familiar in the realm of our spirit and in integrating with that part of us we gain peace, understanding and strength.

Thinking about this reminded me of this part of Jeanette Winterson’s ‘Why be happy when you could be normal?’ Where she describes her journey, and ultimate integration with a shadow creature so beautifully. A powerful description that has stayed with me.

www.goodreads.com/book/show/11395597-why-be-happy-when-you-could-be-normal

Self care isn’t always about bubble baths and treats. Sometimes it’s gritty, messy and painful but the reward of integration and the peace that brings are priceless.

On a lighter note, I enjoyed this reminder of the celebration of the divine feminine present in the roots of our customs and traditions at this time of year

vimeo.com/243566568

Self care isn’t always about bubble baths and treats. Sometimes it’s gritty, messy and painful but the reward of integration and the peace that brings are priceless.

I couldn't agree more. Wise words. I love the description of the shadow creatures - giving them human form, clothing even helps us to understand them a little better.

Speakout and Yashmis, as I've been talking to a friend about much the same today...more synergy 💫She's a new single Mum, with two small children. She's beating herself up and feeling guilty for missing an activity last night with the children, because she was just so exhausted. I've been trying to help her understand that making the decision not to go is what self care is all about. Choosing to rest and recover isn't a sign of failure, it's essential to our wellbeing. Yet as women we feel we have to keep going, like robots on a relentless treadmill. It's so sad to see.

Good morning. VioletCharlotte you are so right. Womem are conditioned to be "nice",even at the expense of themselves.
And self care can take many forms, sometimes it can even make yourself unpopuar with others for a while.
It may mean sitting down and facing your debts, tackling problems head on to ultimately create a better way of living.
I love this quote-
True self-care is not salt baths and chocolate cake, it is making the choice to build a life you don’t need to regularly escape from.

And that may mean getting to know our demons.

A blustery morning here very windy, dark and wet, just enjoying my coffee.
I had a lovely sleep last night, although I had to pick up DD late from the theatre last night - she is exhausted.
DS and I went out for a curry meal, so good to chat with him. Hopefully get one of the trees decorated today, I have paper snowflakes and stars to put up, pine cones and christmas candles. The collection of decorations grows yearly, and I still have a box of all the things the children made when they were small- my favourites!
I will get my morning started and catch up with you all later today.

Speakout you have such a lovely relationship with both your DC. My DS1 is coming home from his first term at uni on Saturday, I can't wait! Neither can he, he loves his new life, but is looking forward to home comforts!

I hope you enjoy your day decorating the tree. Like you, I find actually getting the tree quite stressful, but I do enjoy decorating it.

I'm having a coffee before heading into town. I know it's going to be busy, so not planning on being in there longer than necessary! This afternoon I might pop along to a local Christmas craft fayre.

Hope you all have a relaxing Sunday ❤️

True self-care is not salt baths and chocolate cake, it is making the choice to build a life you don’t need to regularly escape from

That’s a great quote speakout, a really good gauge to check whether we’re truly being kind to ourselves.

For example, sitting down and eating the chocolate cake cake may feel like the kindest thing to do for myself in the moment, soothing and comforting, but working out a plan to deal with debt would eventually create a life I feel in control of and therefore not often driven to chocolate cake for comfort because I feel stressed! Learning to say no, taking control and planning are all excellent forms of self care I think- the work of the queen. Not that I always manage it but that’s where not beating yourself up comes in. Just notice it, observe patterns of avoidance and blind spots then plan differently for next time.

I agree about the ‘nice’ thing too. To me, being nice has a flavour of being at the whim of other’s demands. I think it takes practice to break this pattern because as you say, women are often socialised that way. It takes a while to recognise our own needs before we can attend to them.

I love the synergy too Violet! I’m sure you were a great support to your friend and I hope she felt more confident that her decision was the right one after your discussion.

A wild, wet and windy day here too. Perfect for getting things done at home before heading out for family visiting later. A gift to my future self of feeling more in control.

Wishing everyone some magic in their day 💫

Hope you've enjoyed your day Yashmis. Your wet and windy weather seems to have made its way up here!

I very much enjoyed the craft fayre this afternoon and bought some lovely homemade gifts to make up little self care packs for friends for Christmas presents. So much more enjoyable than Christmas shopping in a busy centre or on Amazon.

I bought some gorgeous cards today too. I've been hunting for ages for the right ones and managed to find some I thought were really pretty, with hares and deer, just the right touch of magic! If any of you lovely witches would like one, do PM me your address. I love sending Christmas cards! 🌲

Good morning sisters,

Just having a tea by the aga before a busy few days ahead- a whirlwind of activity and deadlines that I’ll be glad to see the other side of. I suspect it’s the same for many of us atm. All the more reason to remember to don the robes and crowns

Violet the energy in your post lifted me when I read it. I love feeling your enjoyment of giving cards, a beautiful reminder to focus on the parts of the season that bring us joy 🙏

Love to all x

Just mulling over the idea of self care- even more important when we meet challenges.
And the quote about chocolate and salt baths.
I think that is very much self care too- I was thinking this as I had a soak in a herbal salt bath this morning, lit my candles in my bedroom , self care can take many forms- and chocolate it right up there too in my book!
It also takes a warrior spirit. And can be painful.
For anyone walking away from an abusive relationship for instance. Leaving someone we love because we know that it the best thing to do.Despite the fact it may be terrifying, painful, and may break our heart.
I did that once and it ripped a piece of my heart. It was harder than staying, but sometimes things have to be broken to take a new shape. But self care can be very hard.
It can also be extremely pleasant!

Sorry it's such a mundane question but can anyone recommend a mulled mead recipe please.

We cannot celebrate Solstice together due to work but can all be together on Thursday night ( I finish work at 10pm but heyho) so we are having a full moon celebration.

We will have a fire, lovely music etc, and some tasty soup and my sausage rolls.

I thought slowly getting Merry around the fire with hot mead would be fun.

We don't have work the next day

MaidenMotherCrone

Hot mead sounds delicious- I don't have a recipe I'm afraid though!

Speakout you've got me thinking about self care. It's a phrase we throw around lightly, but actually it's encompasses an awful lot doesn't it? I think a big part of self care is actually preservation - leaving the abusive partner, distancing ourselves from the friend who drains us, stepping back from the controlling parents. None of these are easy to do, and until we learn to love and respect ourselves, it can be all most impossible to consider ourselves worthy of being treated with respect and consideration. This is when the relaxing baths, the massages, the yoga, etc, come in. By allowing ourselves a bit of time to ourselves, we create the headspace and the mindset to tackle the big stuff.

I wish someone had told me this 20 years ago!

VioletCharlotte

It is wonderful how we as a group are working through ideas like this, each one of us peels back a a layer, tosses the thought around, it resonates, someone else contributes and the whole idea becomes firmer, more lucid and clearer.
Yes to everything you have said about self care- we create the headspace and the mindset to tackle the big stuff. yes, completely, all the lovely nurturing aspects of self care are very important too- they remind us to have self compassion. Just as we would soothe a child who is sad or upset or tired with warmth and soft blankets, we need to treat ourselves the same way sometimes.
I feel the same way about exercise. Gentle yoga can be relaxing, but tougher forms, or other exercises that push us give us more tools in our armory.
Weight training, running, other exercise or yoga that challenges us can be quite uncomfortable, have us sweating, our muscles screaming, but they improve our stregth, our stamina.
The "soft" side of self care tells me to lie in bed for another hour in the morning and listen to relaxing music. The "kick ass" side of me throws me out of bed and drags me to the gym.
And pushing myself over that hurdle of inertia means the whole of that day will have me in a relaxed state, brain flooded with good hormones and my body a little stronger. More able to cope with everyday physical demands. Exercise may not be within everyone's grasp or desire, but another example of how self care isn't always the easy option.
Self care s complicated isn't it!
But it is up to us as individuals to identify what we need.
Self care can be a band aid, but it may also be major renovation.

I have woken to a storm today, wild wind and rain battering against the window. I don't think I will be venturing far - a quick trip to the post office, and that will suffice!

It's been wild and windy today here too, driving home on the motorway wasn't much fun. I kept thinking of* your incident a few weeks ago Yashmis*, happily my guides made sure I got home safely.

Continuing with the self care topic, I had some reiki healing this evening, so I'm hoping to sleep deeply tonight. I hadn't realised quite how tired I was until she began the treatment. I felt myself drop down into a warm, safe, burrow, it was a lovely feeling!

I hope you're all safe and warm indoors this evening ❤️

Good morning everyone.
Another wild windy day here, just getting ready to head off to the gym.
It's been quiet in here lately, I know it is a busy time for us all, just wanted to spread some positive energy and keep the kettle warm.

Just dropping in for an overdue catch up . I've have a busy few days , unexpected blips and the like.

I'm reading a witchy book and was astounded to discover the author is a member of my local moot and very active with all sorts of pagan stuff nearby . What are the chances ?
She isn't from my part of the world originally . She is quite well known I think .
I'm not actually a member of the moot myself , I've always liked being solitary with my practice but it just struck me as something quite special .
I am also mutual friends on Facebook with her and a lovely man I went to school with .
Small small world .

My energy levels are low , no appetite and I'm getting nothing done . I should be hibernating really.

Hope you are all hale and hearty sisters.

Filled Soda that's really interesting. I always think there's no such thing as coincidences, this feels like a nudge along your pathway to me... how exciting 😊

I know what you mean about wanting to hibernate. I keep finding myself visualising being in a cosy burrow under the ground! There's a warm fire, my dog and both DS tucked up in bed. Bliss!

Instead I have to go out tonight. I'm going to watch DS1 play in his first gig with his new uni band. I'm so excited for him and I know it'll be fab, but dragging myself out the house is going to take some effort, it's so cold.

I took the dog out for a walk about an hour ago, the full moon was spectacular (picture below doesn't really do it justice). It's hidden by clouds now, so I'm pleased I got to see it. I think we all need the energy right now 🌕💫⭐️