Any Witches Here? Part 11

[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 Halli2020

Loving all this talk of courtyard oasis in development, very inspiring. Elphame I meant to say that I was intrigued by your hawthorn tincture- do you make it yourself?

That looks like an interesting event Violet, a lovely way to connect. Thank you for sharing it.

I enjoyed the rain today, wonderful petrichor and the garden was glad of it. Before the rain I spent a few happy minutes watching the bees foraging- such magical creatures 🐝

Wishing everyone a peaceful evening 💫

YashmisCrone beautiful photographs, full of sun energy.
viotet that is a really helpful link, seems a really great idea, I will sign up too.
I am loving the energy and talk of magical courtyards too- Ephame thank you. I was feeling uninspired about the thought of tearing up my old decking and having to replace it, but the idea of a courtyard is getting my creative juices flowing. The space I have in mind is right outside my back living room doors, so something I could see every day, even in the winter months.
A lovely thing to plan for the future, I have been looking at websites and pinterest for ideas.
Workmen are back to rip up hall floor covering today, a secondary leak was found under the sink too when that was removed so has also had to be dealt with.
We have a company coming with specialist drying equipment on Thursday. Good news is that the insurance company has been great, and apart from the excess are paying for everything up front, including repairs, flooring, decorators, materials.
Work will be slow though, because many companies are closed
As long a the leak is fixed, we have a working toilet and floor to stand on then we can wait for the cosmetic work. So I am happy with that.

YashmisCrone the bees are out in force here too, lots in my garden. I have had all my windows open, so many bees seem to be taking a short cut through my house.
We haven't had rain yet, and after 3 dry weeks I look forward to a rain shower- I will be running outside to get my fix of petrichor!

Speakout I'm so pleased you're joining, it will be lovely to experience it virtually together!

I'm glad your leak is being sorted out and love the ideas for the garden. Now that's work has calmed down a bit, my creative juices are flowing again and I've for ideas on the go for my garden too.

Yashmis thank you for the new photos. It's great to see them. I've seen a lot of bees and butterflies already this year. I wonder if it's because of the warmer weather or if it's something to do with less pollution? It's great to see whatever the reason

Hiya. Longtime lurker on mumsnet but just found this thread and I've very much enjoyed catching up. The pics are beautiful, I love those bees Yashmi. We've started getting huge ones flying into the kitchen from the roses outside the window, which are now slowly filling with sparrow nests. I love spring

Welcome happywifi99, I’m glad you’ve joined us.

Loving hearing about everyone’s enjoyment of the bees, good point about the pollution Violet, it could well be a combination of both of those factors couldn’t it.

speakout I so admire your attitude to what I can only imagine has been a huge upheaval at home with all the water issues. I love the way you reframe and focus on what’s important. There’s lessons in anxiety management in your approach for us all. I hope you’re able to have a restful evening.

I’ve had a tough day emotionally, needed to drag myself through work that had to be done today and what was not essential didn’t get done. No new reason for it but I’m accepting it as necessary processing, not questioning too much.

I find that on days like this the evening brings welcome relief. The cloudy sky was beautifully ‘moody’ at sunset, colours from orange to purple (I tried to get pictures but they didn’t do it justice), the light was stunning. Just settling down with a peppermint tea, tomorrow’s another day.

Wishing everyone a peaceful night 💫

happywifi99 a warm welcome, lovely to hear about your garden. My roses are yet to bloom, but I notice my new apple tree was in full blossom yesterday and providing a food stop for bees, I only planted the tree 6 weeks ago, a young sapling, but it has take off like a rocket.
YashmisCrone thank you for your kind words.
I am at the stage of putting things back together and thinking about decoration. It's keeping DD busy I am giving her the task of choosing colours, and small fittings.
Her placemant has been cancelled. Many hospital wards are quite empty right now, so she isn't needed after all.
I am also winding down today for a few days break from work. It has been really hectic of late, and I need some time off, but also to reorganise my stock. Two or three days will give me some breathing space, and helps to re-energize my enthusiasm.
Off for a spa shower, Tangerine and Rosewood, I think it is time to treat myself to a few new essential oils.

Glad to hear you’re taking a bit of time off work speakout and hope that you can take some of it to nurture yourself. Must be hard for your DD who sounds like an active young woman, not to be able to complete her placement. I hope she’s enjoying her interior design role nonetheless!

Following last night’s stormy skies, there’s heavy rain here today, the plants will be loving it and I’m enjoying the sound of it on the window as I work. It may put paid to my ideas of a Beltane fire though!

I may have to go to the office later- don’t have the software I need here. I’d rather not so I’m hoping to find a way round it. I’m liking being at home and would happily wfh indefinitely!

I’m comforted as ever by the thought of us all going about our days, scattered geographically but connected energetically. Such powerful support. Thank you for being ‘here’

Sorry @YashmisCrone - I missed your question on the tincture. I've had to buy some (Indigo herbs) as it uses the berries. I have some but not enough. I will be making my own in the autumn when the berries are ripe. Assuming of course it works! It may take a couple more weeks to kick in so I've been avoiding taking my BP in the interim.

Raining here too. The plants will be happy. Me less so as I've got to take the dog out regardless. He isn't bothered by rain and demands a walk regardless.

I'm planning on spending some time sorting out my essential oils. I've bought a padded case for them as having them in multiple boxes isn't working any more. I know I'm missing some key ones and have duplicates of others so this is a chance for a good sort out.

I'm also wondering whether buying Polish vodka for tinctures counts as "essential" enough for me to brave the horror that is our local Tesco.

I'll be celebrating lunar Beltaine but happy Walpurgisnacht to everyone

Thank you for the welcome

speakout sorry to hear you're having such a difficult time with the problems at home, I hope you'll be able to fix them soon.
That's amazing about your apple tree, has it taken much upkeep?

happywifi99

Thank you for your kind supportive energy! I haven'tI have given my tree any upkeep other than a soft deep hole, lots of water and a very light stake.
Work is progessing with the leak, not giving me any anxiety-which is great!!
I am so glad you have joined the thread happywifi99 .

I wanted to share this-

Speakout that video is beautiful, thank you so much for sharing. It made me emotional, actually. The words resonate with me so deeply, and the imagery is amazing. I've been struggling a bit today, and that was just what I needed.

Happywifi99 lovely to have you with us, I'm so glad you decided to delurk

Elphame your tincture sounds really interesting and I'm so glad it's helping. I need a box for my essential oils, I've for quite the collection now!

Yashmis torrential rain here today too. It feels quite wintery again after last week's sunshine. I've had the heating on all day and my candles burning to keep my spirits up.

Today's been busy work-wise so I abandoned my plans for yoga this evening. Instead I've had pizza, gin and tonic and watched a film with DS1. I'm calling it self-care!

Violet thank you! Me too

speakout ooh brilliant, I'm hoping to get our garden sorted this summer and I'd love to put a couple of fruit trees at the bottom with the brambles. That video is beautiful

I loved that video too speakout thank you 🙏

Sending love Violet, hope today is easier 💜

Thank you Elphame for the tincture info, i hope it does the trick. Interesting to hear of the positive unintended benefits.

Saw this of fb and thought I’d share the Beltane fire dance energy here 🔥

www.facebook.com/BeltaneBorderMorris/videos/10154249897668028/

Beltane blessings to you all 🙏

We may not be dancing around fires this year, but nothing can prevent the wheel from turning. Can you feel a change in the energy?

Here's a few pictures from today's lunchtime walk. May in blossom and my 'secret' fairy passage.

Beltaine Blessings to everyone.

I hope some magic found its way into your day.

Thank you for the photographs Violet, they are beautifully uplifting and full of spring promise.

Like many of us I seem to be particularly busy and am missing having my own space to wind down/potter. So I made sure I carved out time for a salt bath with essential oils yesterday and picked myself some flowers from the garden. The bathroom still smells lovely and the flowers are bringing cheer to the mantelpiece.

I still have work to do so it will be interspersed with small clearing and nurturing practices which feel important right now. The rain has eased for now so I’ll get some washing out to absorb the incoming summer energy.

Here’s an interesting podcast I listened to yesterday

thefolklorepodcast.weebly.com/season-5/episode-74-the-wild-hunt-the-witches-a-lecture-by-prof-ronald-hutton#

I hope everyone is able to carve out a little space to meet their own needs today

Yashmis your salt bath sounds lovely, I'm so glad you're managing to carve out a little time for yourself.

Like you, I'm very busy. I keep wondering why I feel so tired when I'm not having to get up so early and drive for an hour to get to work. I think it's the intensity of the work that's making me mentally tired. Also, video conferencing seems to require more concentration to start focused.

I feel better today after a good nights's sleep. I did a morning meditation when I woke up, and some yoga. Having a coffee now and enjoying the quiet while my DS are still asleep!

Happy Bealtaine to you all.
I really like this time of year and it has been mostly incredibly sunny. The last few days have been the first in ages that have been grey, cold,w et and windy. I might just run out to get my wash off the line now. It was hung last night after a failry stormy changeable day and it was sunny this mornign, but the clouds are looming.

I had a busy day at work yestarday for the first time in ages, which left me with not much energy to do much for Bealtaine (two loads of laundry and the big shop was enough). But luckily it is impossible to miss all the lovely signs of the starting summer here in Ireland. I love that this is still considered the start of summer here and that the entire month is called Bealtaine so really all the gardening I plan to do this month will be honouring the season. I did manage to get hold of some butterfly and bee attracting seeds, so will be planting those this weekend.

Seperately, does anyone know of Tristan Gooley? I first hear the name on the bbc programme: all roads lead home about walking using natural signs to navigate. I am reading a book call wild signs and star paths which is all about looking at nature and determining things about what is happening from them (direction, wind direction, weather etc) and then internalising them so that you don't have to think about it, you just know. I am really excited to put the ideas in to practice and feel closer to nature.

I have one of Gooleys books @ rivierliedje. I read the first few chapters and put it down. It's never been picked up again. Now you've reminded me I'll go and look for it.

Beltaine for me is next week so nothing much other then routine stuff here.

I have though started a batch of Green Fairy - I must be bored. The wormwood plant is starting to take over the herb patch so I needed to do something constructive with it!

Another beautiful morning here, just having a coffee before my morning bath and yoga.
I love early mornings, apart from feeding my familiars there are no demands, no interruptions, I can light my incense, open the windows and enjoy the beginnings of the day.
YashmisCrone thank you for the podcast link, I love listening to interesting things while I work.
VioletCharlotte good to hear that you have carved out some time for yourself, it's more important than ever.
Elphame your Green Fairy sounds enchanting- I have never heard of it- is is for drinking? You are a master of potions, so knowledgeable , I have an image of your home, lots of magical tinctures and jars of herbs.
rivierliedje I have never heard of Tristan Gooley, but his work sounds intriguing.
DS and I were having a conversation last week about Australian Aboriginal people and their navigation systems- it sounds quite similar. They relate natural features to the stars for instance, have a very different subjective cardinal stance on direction, very sophisticated and quite fascinating. These ancient ways can teach us a thing or two!
I don’t know if any of you remember someone I was helping to protect some local woodland under threat of destruction for local development? Although this woman was completely new to the craft she wanted to try some magical means, so I made and sent her wolf protection spell She let me know a few weeks ago that the planning has been halted as it is looking like the woodland will gain protection status through the Woodland Trust- hopefully preserving it for years to come. Just wanted to let you know of the outcome! I love to hear of energy awakening in other people. She is also excited to be beginning her own magical journey, which is lovely to hear.
I am off for my morning salt bath- have a good day everyone.

Speakout so glad you're enjoying a peaceful morning. Me too, I love the first few hours of the day when the DC see still sleeping and always look forward to having the house to myself for a while. Both of mine were having online drinks with friends last night so I'm not expecting them to emerge anytime soon!

I'm using the time for some self-care - morning yoga, warm shower and a deep conditioning treatment for my hair. I even painted my toenails.

I remember you telling us about the work you were doing to protect the local woodland, I'm so pleased you for the result you wanted, fantastic news! Our woods are precious, we need to do all we can to look after them .

Elphame I smiled at Speakouts description of how she imagines your kitchen, as it's very similar to how I visualise it too! I would love to know more about Green Fairy.

Yashmis thank you for the podcast link, I'll look forward to listening to it later. I listened to a new one by Laura Daligan yesterday, all about Blodeuwedd, the welsh goddess of spring, lots of reflection about the current situation and shadow work, very interesting.

Link here podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mystical-realms/id1465587720?i=1000472566737

Rivier really interesting to hear that the whole month of May is considered Beltaine in Ireland. I really like that idea. I planted some bee and butterfly seeds too last week, so I'm hoping they'll grow.

Love to you all for a peaceful day.

at @speakout and @VioletCharlotte My kitchen was built in the 1970s. Luckily in country house style rather than the then modern look! Rustic pine rip off of the Smallbone style... Red tiled worktops and all!

Herbs are in bags in boxes in the cupboards of a dresser to keep them out of the light. Those pretty racks or shelves are the worst way to keep herbs in good condition even if they do look nice on Instagram

Green fairy is an infusion of wormwood in vodka.

I would love to know how you all started on your path, if you feel inclined to share. I would love to know more . I am not a witch, but deeply interested I what is not seen and what exists beyond our everyday existence. I feel I’m pretty in tune with the natural world and would like to work with it more directly. I’m interested in energy and healing too. This year I was due to study herbology as I’ve always had an interest in herbs and natural remedies, but Covid our a stop to it for now

Love the idea of using ways to navigate using an internal map.
Where and how can I start learning more about how to be a witch?