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.

Hi all! I've registered especially to join this thread - long time lurker but I've only recently started to seriously follow a pagan lifestyle and would love to chat about different approaches. I'm a solitary practitioner so it's good to be able to link up with others like you lovely lot!

So I'm still finding my way with all this, but my main interest is nature worship and celebrating the turning of the seasons and the bounty of the earth. I don't really feel drawn to spellwork or astrology, but I haven't explored it so much yet. I just love being out in nature, but as I live in a town and work in another, I also love human-made beauty - nothing better than wandering around an ancient church, even if I don't subscribe to the belief system that created it.

This year will be my first time celebrating Samhain and I'm childishly excited about it. I'm gathering bits and pieces for my altar and would love to see what others have done too - I will post a picture when it's finished. I have two snake companions and I was really hoping one of them would shed their skin in time for Samhain so I could put the old skin on the altar. Would have been an awesome rebirth sorta metaphor. But they're selfishly hanging on to them!

Someone posted about labyrinths earlier. There is a turf maze near to where I live and I'm planning to go out there on Saturday morning and walk around it. Maybe leave an offering at the centre. Any thoughts on what I could do?

Welcome Cernunnos help yourself to tea and a cushion or a beanbag by the Aga.
It was me that posted about the labyrinths.

You're lucky to have a turf maze nearby. Lots of people like them for walking meditations or mindful walking, healing, insight, there are probably as many purposes for walking as there are people.

Offerings - in the physical plane, it's better to take only your memories and leave only your footprints. Metaphysically, you can leave your thanks and gratitude with the genus loci, so few people acknowledge their existence these days

Thank you BlankTimes. I hope there's caffeinated tea available, I'm going to have to work on that particular addiction. Our turf maze is a little titchy one but it doesn't seem to be very well-known so I can usually have it to myself on a cold day. I have occasionally found tied bundles of herbs and greenery in the middle, so I am sure somebody is leaving physical offerings, but I do worry about the environmental implications of non-biodegradable ribbons being left out in the open, so what you say makes sense.

On that note, I do have a practical question about what people like to do with the fruit, veg and herbs from their altars when the celebration is over. I am conscious of trying to avoid waste but I have no garden and I can't compost things. In any case, I'm not sure you can compost pomegranates...

Just to add to the discussion about self-care and acceptance. I have long-standing issues with mental health, particularly eating disorders and anxiety, and I think that turning my focus outside myself and concentrating on the rhythms of the earth and of nature is starting to really help me. I suppose at some point you have to work on yourself and your sense of self-worth, but I am already finding that food seems less loaded with guilt and cultural significance, especially if it's natural, unprocessed food. I don't seem to be craving it as often, although I wouldn't say those urges have gone away completely. I'm menopausal and sometimes my hormones have different ideas about what I want to eat and how much!

Just flying by to say hello, I hope everyone is well.

Adding a warm welcome to friends old and new, always lovely to feel the collective energy here.

BlankTimes magic teapot will pour whatever you wish for! I always enjoy a lovely strong Yorkshire tea in the morning and see it as no less magical than herbal blends- if the intention I hold is to nurture myself then that is what it will do

I agree about the ‘unnatural offerings’ and the irony of leaving these in ancient places. I tend to only use offerings that are compatible with local wildlife, I’m able to compost or eat myself when the ritual is done.

I hope you enjoyed the soup Violet, I think it’s very hearty and just the thing for the season.

Change I meant to say that I loved hearing about your positive sense of knowing you would have the thing you desire. The most important ingredient of any magical working IME. Lovely stuff.

Interesting thoughts on food and looking outward to the seasons and nature for nurture. The way it is an internal process too for we are nature too and as we connect with the whole we become more in tune and in turn flow as part of the natural order of things.

Wishing everyone a positive day

Just popping by to say hello before I fly off to my spirit group. As we approach Samhain, I've felt spirit getting closer as the veil thins. I'm excited for what the evening will bring!

Welcome Cernunnos lovely to have you with us 😊
I've not come across a turf maze before so I've had it that too my mental list of things to google! I've learned so much from this thread.

Yashmis the soup was great so thank you again for the recipe. I don't normally have much success with soup but this one turned out perfect.

Much love to you all for a pleasant evening ❤️

Good morning magical friends and a warm welcome to Cernunnos on this particularly special day of Samhain.

It is dark with a thick covering of frost today, having my magical coffee as I transition into wakefulness.
It takes me a while to wake up, so I always give myself time for the process to happen!
My house is decorated, lots of straw, pumpkins, baskets, autumn leaves, my broomstick is adorned, sweets are wairing for the little visitors.
We have a new community development group in our small town, who have been doing amazing things with litter picks, guerilla gardening etc.they have gone to town with Halloween, involving children local businesses etc.
A pumpkin treasure hunt in the town, Halloween walking tour ( the town has a dark history of murder and witch hunts).
A competition for local shops for he best Halloween window display. So yesterday it was a treat walking down my local high street ( I live a mile from the centre), almost all shops have embraced the idea so the town feels like witchcraft central. I felt quite at home! The pet shop has a monster bunny display, bakers with spooky buns and biscuits, hairdressers, charity shops, florists, craft shop, it's really heartwarmiong to see so much engagement for the festival. I think as a result I see many more homes decorated too, lots in my street- even homes that have no children.

I hope everyone has a spectacular day.

Have a blessed day.

Morning all (StumpyinSomerset here) Name change to a favourite character in my favourite series of Pagan books. (Stonewylde if anyone is interested,it's about a Pagan community set in the South West of the UK.)

I come bearing tea/coffee/hot chocolate and toast. Now budge up and let this crone have a comfy seat,ta very much.

Following the smell of tea and toast.. thank you MotherHeggy, it’s good to see you. Hope the new job is going well.

Wow speakout it sounds magical where you are!

Blessed Samhain everyone x

Just dropping by to wish everyone a blessed Samhain. I live on a village that goes to town dressing up houses, and the children go trick or treating. So I have succumbed to the commercial side of the holiday and then once the children have gone to bed I'll have some time with my ancestors on my own!! Hope you all enjoy your day, whatever you are doing and however you like to celebrate

I feel like I'm.missing out on Samhain a bit due to work (though I work in a garden and have been to smell the herbs and cut some flowers as a gift today) and running around after my children.

I've been spending time with the birds recently (my 1st love) and noticing them more and that they are also observing me. Does anyone else have a species that "follows" them? It's a family legend that wherever I go there is a flock of twittering long tailed tits. They are definitely with me the last couple of days.

Can I just say that even reading these threads has made me feel much calmer

Just checking in to wish everyone a magical day!

It’s lovely to read of the decorated houses and the things planned. I’m not able to do much on a physical level at present owing to the current uncertainty / upheaval.

However I’m also spending a lot of time envisaging what I want the next year to look like. What better time! And will have my own wee candle to the ancestors later too.

Blessed evening to everyone. 🌟

@YashmisCrone it's going really well,thanks. At the risk of outing myself, we had a film crew in this week from the BBC. I'm going to be on telly! Eeeeek. Apart from that,I'm loving it - so much more relaxed and friendly than my last job.

I hope you are all having an enjoyable evening.

We have had around 4o children at the door tonight so far, almost running out of sweets.
DS and DD are going out with friends tonight I plan to have a long nurturing bath with herbal salts and candles.
It has been a stressful couple of weeks, and tonight I will honour myself.
Have a wonderful evening.

Samhain blessings all! Taking a few days out to walk, think and possibly take the plunge in a pool with a waterfall (not at night, no, saving that one for daylight hours).

I've been waiting for my 48 hour registration period to pass so I could post some pictures... and here they are. My Samhain altar before I lit the candles and incense, and then with everything on the go. I'm pretty pleased with it for a first attempt, I have to say. The difference it makes to the atmosphere of my little flat, which is relatively modern, is amazing. So beautiful and relaxing.

I've done a little bit of meditation (not much, because I'm still quite new to all this and my mind isn't very well-trained in that sort of thing yet) and now I'm going to drink some cider and listen to some tunes. I found a Samhain mix on YouTube, would you believe...

I can definitely feel some energy in the air today. Lots of wondefully decorated houses around here as well.

Definitely an atmosphere here over the past few days. Feels like there is someone else here with me. Not unpleasant but rather comforting. Candles lit and alter set up. Very cosy.

It's lovely to read about the things you've all been doing to mark this special day. I've been to a special yoga class where we dedicated our practise to honouring our ancestors. I can feel my family members in spirit closer than ever tonight.

Samhain blessings to you all 🧙‍♀️💫

Blessed Samhain all.

That’s a bloomin’ lovely altar, Cernunnos. It just transforms a room to have an altar set up, doesn’t it?

Just to wish you all Samhain blessings. Had a lovely day and evening, baking, pumpkin carving and yumee dinner. My cat actually walked round my circle and settled down to watch while I did my thing bless her, felt special x

Good morning wise sisters.

I hope you all had an enriching Samhain. The energy continues today too of course.

I will be raising energy for our tribe at 8am this morning if enyone would like to join us.

Just having my goddess brew before heading off to yoga.

Have a great day everyone.

Joined you at 8 speakout, 🕯 it’s lovely to connect in this way and have these times to raise energy together.

Yesterday was busy here so I’m certainly going to be working with the Samhain energy that prevails today. I have some simple ancestor practices I’d like to weave into the day.

Really lovely energy in the thread, so good to hear what everyone got up to, see the altar pictures and have old friends and new stop by to join in honouring Samhain and sharing good wishes.

Ooh MotherHeggy that does sound exciting! I’m intrigued! Pleased to hear it’s going so well, your energy is fab, obviously meant to be.

Wishing everyone a magical day 💫

I wanted to pass om some warrior energy today as we start this new phase of the year.

At 8am we were in warrior pose at yoga, I glanced at the clock as I claimed my space in the world, claimed my right to have joy.

I hope you find some warrior energy in your day too.