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.

Speakout
I hope you had a relaxing sleep and you're feeling better his morning and well enough to enjoy the shopping trip with your DD. This time of year, the bugs seem to catch up with us all at some point. Sending healing vibes your way 💫

Yashmis
I love this images, thank you for sharing. I smiled when I read your post, as my parents (especially my Mum) were very similar to your Dad. Mum used to say "I've just got to get out!" So off we'd go, whatever the weather, and normally I'd complain about being dragged away from my toys or the TV and made to go outside, but always enjoyed it.Like you, I'm exactly the same now. If I don't get out into nature I can feel myself getting tired and sluggish, so have to get outside and let the fresh air work it's magic!

VioletCharlotte thank you. Still not well, but I have had a strong coffee and some paacetamol. Not a far drive and can park easily - an out of town retail park. More coffee planned in Starbucks and will pick up some goddies from M& S before coming home.
I hope you have a wonderful day.

Reporting back- a lovely morning with DD, a great ( but expensive haul) got myself some good boots from Clarkes, DD a warm winter coat, and a few christmas gifts for others.
Rounded off with a gingerbread spiced coffee and a panini in Starbucks. Great mother /daughter time.
Still under the weather, and quite exhaused now. Candles burning, heating up high!

Speakout
So pleased you had a successful shopping trip, but sorry still not feeling well. I've been feeling rather sniffly all day, so I fear I may be going down with a cold too. Stay warm and cosy. I like ginger tea when I'm not well.

I'm going to a yin yoga and gong bath tonight. Should be nice and relaxing, just what I need after a busy week.

I've known quite a few people who just have to get out of the house and into Nature no matter what, the change it brought in them was amazing, they really glowed during and afterwards. Nature's version of chocolate. I wonder though, more seriously, if it produces endorphins like so many other activities. I read a study recently that prescribed time and some work for those who could outdoors appeared to be more effective for depression than taking prescribed medication.

I hope everyone's feeling a bit better. Vogel's Echinacea Tincture always works for me if I take it 3 days in a row after the first am I or aren't I? symptoms.

It's very quiet on our board of late, I expect everyone's rushing around doing all the organising and planning for making their upcoming winter celebrations go smoothly, at least that will be the plan!
I'm another one who believes strongly in ignoring tradition and making her own.
May all of your festivities be magical

A bit like Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing)

I feel so much better in nature.

There’s parts of me that needs to be recharged by both the sea air and by woodland.

We arrived last night for our annual winter trip. We are remote, surrounded by woodland and once we’d parked the car all we could hear were the owls.

It’s our anniversary hand-fasting blessing tomorrow.
It all feels quite magical.

I just wish we had the ability to move somewhere like this more permanently.

(Ps I had named changed from Woodlandwitch )

NemophilistRebel

Sounds lovely. I am lucky to live in a place surrounded by trees and owls.
I hope your handfasting goes well tomorrow.

NemophilistRebel
Sending best wishes for your hand-fasting ceremony. It sounds like you've found the perfect setting.

Blanktimes
The thread has been a little quite of late. I like to think that because we're all hunkering down for the winter!

Speakout
I hope you slept well and you're feeling a bit better today. My sniffles seem to have disappeared thankfully, as I'm going to be doing tarot readings today.

Blessings to you all for a happy Saturday ❤️

Oh my goodness sisters,
I’ve have experienced the protection of our goddess today.
Driving to work on the motorway I hit a patch of water and lost control of the car, narrowly avoided the central reservation but swerved across the three lanes ending up on the slip road. How no one was hurt I don’t know, there were vehicles in all of the lanes. I can only conclude there was divine protection at work. Just trying to calm down before starting work!

Oh YashmisCrone- how awful, I am so glad you are OK.
A narrow miss like that can really shake us up, be kind to yourself- rescue remedy or lots of peppermint tea.
I will light a candle to give thanks for your safety.

XX

Thank you xx

On a less dramatic note and more in keeping with the flow of the conversation here, I thought this was interesting on the physical/mental benefits of nature. It’s no wonder we feel the intuitive pull to get outside.

bigthink.com/personal-growth/doctors-in-shetland-can-now-prescribe-a-walk-in-nature

Also, the pull of the water. Such healing stuff.

qz.com/1347904/blue-mind-science-proves-the-health-benefits-of-being-by-water/

Nature’s chocolate indeed BlankTimes!

speakout I was really moved by your gratitude for my safety and kind words earlier, helped me get through what I needed to, thank you 🙏

NemophilistRebel it sounds magical where you are. Wishing you a wonderful day tomorrow.

Violet I’m sure there’ll be many people benefitting from your insight today. Hope all goes well and that the sniffles subside.

Love and honey, lemon and ginger to those who have colds right now, I hope you’re able to stay cosy and take care of yourselves x

Yashmis
Oh my goodness, that must have been so frightening for you. What a relief no one was hurt. Someone was looking after you today. Take it easy and look after yourself this evening.. chocolate is good for shocks!

I will join Speakout in lighting a candle and thanking the universe for taking care of you 🙏

Thank you Violet, for your kind words and energy. I can feel the support of my sisters 🙏

Oh, and I’m on it with the chocolate!

Having a quiet evening here, still unwell, but taking care of myself.
YashmisCrone I am glad you are recovering from the bad experience today, I agree about the chocolate!
Violet I also agree that you have such insight- you bring such to our tribe.
I have been doing some online christmas shopping, just a few bits and pieces, at a good easy pace.

Evening all.

Yashmis my what a shock for you! Glad you are ok.

I love the talk of reframing the season. I found for a few years that the focus was so much on Christmas Day being THE point of the season and then it would arrive and be over and I was left feeling so deflated.
I decided to make December a whole Yule celebration. I stopped saving food for Yule/Christmas and made it a whole month of treats and enjoying the slightly more indulgent cheese and cakes etc.
I always read A Christmas Carol, and try to immerse in other seasonal reading too.
The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper is aimed at young readers but is pagan and one of my most loved reads. I also recently bought The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater as it was recommended as a great winter companion. It's part memoir, part storytelling all woven together with food.

I have been quiet but working on self care as November is my 'danger month' for mental health sliding. I have a wonderful routine in place which so far is working for me. I few wobbles, but easily recovered my balance.

I am always reading though. I sit with you all and gently share my energy out x

Thank you again sisters 🙏

speakout I’m happy to hear you are taking good care of yourself, I hope you feel better soon

queenrollo it’s lovely to see you here and hear your experiences of reframing the season. Very wise and it’s wonderful to hear the success you’ve had with the strategies you have put in place. I’m going to look into your story recommendations, I think it’s a lovely idea.

queenrollo

Your words are so calming and meaningful to me.
I decided to make December a whole Yule celebration. Yes !
Exactly what I do too. No huge build up to a single day, just a whole trickle of spice and comfort for a whole month. Small things, I may choose some cinnamon tea, DD and I spend time cutting out paper snowflakes for the windows. I start with warming scents, cooking comforting food, lighting red candles, bringing out cosy throws. Baking spiced bread, studding satsumas with cloves.
Christmas/Yule/Solstice for me is a long slow comforting kindle, rather than a screaming race to the finish point.

I have just thought some more on it and of course we also focus so much on Christmas being exciting for children and actually it is thoroughly overwhelming for them.
We do very little compared to most of my friends with children. We don't go and see Santa/Father Christmas - they do one at school and I think one is enough! My youngest son is terrified of the Panto so won't be going with school.
My children (ok...the 14 year old plays along!) both only get ONE present from Santa. The rest are from us, family and friends. Their expectations are realistic while still carrying a spark of hope and magic.
I am in the minority at my son's school in that I robustly defend the pursuit of a calm life. I cannot be doing with the modern phenomenon of always being busy. We're busy when life calls for it, we're busy when we have festivals and a few social offers come in at once. Otherwise I am teaching my children the important skill of doing 'nothing'.

I think this is my response to having been self employed for 10 years and I worked 7 days a week, and even on Christmas morning! I worked myself ragged....there is more to life than this. It's not possible for everyone to simply step into a more quiet life, but we can still learn the skill of saying no and protecting even a little time each week for ourselves.

queenrollo you are very wise.
Like you I have learned these lessons, it is up to others to learn them for themselves though.
When my children were young we practiced patience and peace. Somewhat easy as we lived in a very rural village. Spent time guddling in streams and gardening.
My DD is 19 and I watch her run hersef ragged with activity. All well meaning, all productive but she lives in a continual state of exhaustion. She doesn't drink or go clubbing, but works full time -35 hours-at a vocation she loves, also dances competitively and is full time at University studying peadiatric nursing with all the gruelling placements, exams and study.
Not a second to stop.
But this is her path.

Queenrollo
I really enjoyed reading your post, your Christmas sounds perfect, calm and relaxed, with just the right amount of magic and sparkle 💫

I love the idea of celebrating Yule throughout the whole of December, rather than just focusing on the 'Big Day'. There seems to be so much pressure these days for those with young children to go 'all out' with experiences. Looking back to when I was a child, the things I remember about Christmas are quiet times spent with my family; helping Mum make and decorate the Christmas Cake, baking mince pies, making paper chains and decorations, going out with my Dad to hand deliver Christmas cards. Memories that make me feel warm and glowing when I look back.

Speakout
My DS sounds very much like your DD. Always on the go, he's working 25 hours a week in retail, on top of his uni lectures and assignments. He also seems to be fitting in a fair amount of partying. I do worry, as I don't think he eats very well or gets enough sleep, but I guess we have so much more stamina when we're young! I'm looking forward to having him home for a bit over Christmas.

Yashmis
I hope you slept well and your feeling better after your experience yesterday. I've been thinking of you ❤️

Thank you Violet, I’m pleased to report I slept like a queen 👑 Wonderful supportive energy from my tribe was a huge help. Thank you 🙏

I also prefer to focus on the season rather than a day, although I do always look forward to the winter solstice. Like you Violet I remember a slower pace when I was younger. Us humans seem to have gone a bit wonky in the space of a generation or so- stress as a badge of honour, ‘convenience’ products that harm the environment, rocketing materialism.. I love it how this path helps us focus on nature, supporting the planet and more meaningful connections generally.

I’m looking forward to gathering greenery from the woods, lots of cosy candlelit evenings and like speakout, experimenting with ice candles again. Funnily enough this popped up on my fb feed today

www.practicallyfunctional.com/make-ice-lanterns-ice-candles/

Wishing everyone a day fit for a queen 👸✨

Lovely to come home to see talk of ice candles and low key activities.
Had to take DD to the studio for 8am, so OH and I carried on and went to Tesco to buy food. Then a swing round LIDL to get some fresh pastries and bread, just having that now with some coffee.
Byriani for dinner tonight- it works so well in the slow cooker and stays warm there- I suspect everyone will be eating at different times tonight, no idea when DD is home. DM is just off to church- a Baptist now!
Means I can clear the space, light some candles play my music! Perfect.

Yum, the talk of lovely food is making me hungry speakout. I was enjoying some Lidl pan au chocolat the other day and love the sound of your slow cooker biriyani. Daal making here today, can’t go wrong as a winter warmer I think!

Kitchen witching is one of my favourite kinds of magic 💫