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.

BlankTimes thank you.

My DD zipped into nurse mode- she was a star. Very calm, very organised, took blood pressure and temp, calmed her gran, spoke to the triage nurse on the phone. I have quite a cool head in these situations too, so not too traumatic.

That's good to hear Speakout I hope she'll make a steady recovery. Well done your DD too

Here's something to lift everyone's spirits. I was in the garden, hanging carrier bags on the line after bleaching them, when I saw what I thought was a bird sitting still on the lawn. When I had a closer look, I realised it was a very young one. By the time I'd grabbed the cat, gone indoors and DD had got her camera, we saw that there were two, side by side.
The photos aren't clear, they were taken from inside the kitchen on zoom, but they are good enough to hopefully make everyone smile.

BlankTimes how lovely to have these vistors to your garden. Do you know what type of birds they are? They all look so different as juveniles.

I can't believe I have slept for 11 hours last night. It will take me a little time to enter the land of the living, my coffee will help!
I was tending my seedings last night, some are very big now, almost time to put them out, athough we still had a touch of frost iin the past few nights.
My climbing beans are around 4 foot high, no longer seedings! I had intended planting them in the garden, but they are so enjoying life in my sunny porch that I have repotted six of them and staked them up, I love their rampant life force, such beautiful plants- they can stay in my porch, I look forward to their scarlet flowers when they decide to bloom, and of course the beans.
Other plants will be put out soon, including my night scented stock. I remember the intoxicating scent of these flowers as a child, Matthiola longipetala, the fragrance a little like jasmine.

As an 8 year old I was totally fascinated by their habits, the flowers appear wilted and dead. As soon as twiight descends the tiny modest purple flowers open and start to release their fragrance. Pollinated by moths who are enticed by the perfume this plant seems to inhabit the underworld, the shadow lands. I though it was magical.
As a child I would sit by the flower patch until darkness inhaling the fragrance until my mother would call me in and give me a scolding for being a crazy kid sitting in the darkness by the flower bed.

I kept my secret. But it taught me that there are jewels and treasures in the darkness. In a world that values light and tries to cut us off from the dark also loses all the valuable things that are kept in the shadows.
I must dash, a quick shower and a quick 10 minute yoga session this morning, I am already running behind schedule.

Have a magical day everyone.

There's serendipity Speakout I was wondering yesterday about looking for some night-scented stock seeds to plant as I too am entranced with them.
You'll have needed that long sleep to recover from the shock, hope your mother is recovering well.

The chicks are sparrows, their first feathers are so fluffy they look almost the size of the adults already.

Your seedlings are way more advanced than mine, I planted outside using cardboard egg-boxes as seed trays under clear plastic boxes as a homemade propogator. I have one lupin and one marigold about 2 inches high, the rest are all only at the 4 leaf stage, but the warmer weather this week will hopefully help them grow taller. I've also found a few naturally seeded foxgloves around the garden so I've moved them into pots for now then when they are bigger, I'll plant them in an area where I can see them from the kitchen window.
My hawthorn hedge is coming into bloom, the elder is budding, I adore the scent from that, too. The lilac is in bloom and also smells lovely. I have a large bush of the wild type of fuschia, it's the emblem of Co. Cork in Ireland, here we have blackthorn and whitethorn hedges with the white blooms, in Co.Cork they have fuschia so their hedgerows are red. I always think that the fuschia flowers look like bells and they should tinkle gently in the breeze. www.wildflowersofireland.net/plant_detail.php?id_flower=330&wildflower=Fuchsia
Pics are 1. Hawthorn blossom close-up taken last year.

1. Garden taken July last year. My garden's very photogenic and always looks pristine and huge in photographs, the reality is very different, I don't know how it does it.I suppose it's like some quite unremarkable people in reality really have an attractive presence on camera, my garden is their equivalent. Whilst most of my plants are natural, I do like the huge cultivated poppies. On the left behind the poppies is the fuschia bush you can just see it's a haze of red and to the right of that in the middle of the lawn is a lilac tree with 2 types of flower, one light as you can see in the pic and another more a dark purple.
2. Columbine taken last year (aquilegia, Eagle's Claw) seed themselves anywhere and have a rather delicate flower. I have one huge dark purple one at the front growing in a tiny crack between the house wall and some hard standing.

Time I was out there getting on, I've lots of compost and pots to fill, more seeds to sow. I cut down a lot of Russian vine last October and to my surprise, the bits i'd left lying are now sprouting leaves and shoots, so I've stuck them in a bucket of water and will plant them at the bottom to screen the wood fence.
Hope everyone's day is infused with magic

How wonderful to come here and find such magic!

BlankTimes those bird pictures are divine- they certainly did raise a smile. All huddled up together and full of life and promise. The image of you scooping up the cat, creating safety for the birds and dashing in to capture an image of them from the kitchen also made me smile.

speakout that is such a beautiful story of you as a child, enchanted by the magic of the night stock. I have such a vivid image of the scene and also love the thought of your porch, alive with beanstalk magic!
So glad to hear you had a long sleep which you obviously needed. As we said before, such a gift when this happens isn’t it.

I’m feeling lighter today, seeing the results of a great deal of energy focused towards a situation I was concerned about. Change is afoot and I am relieved if not fully satisfied yet with the results. I’m not easily placated when I get the bit between my teeth, particularly when the welfare of someone vulnerable is at stake.

But for now the birds are singing, the sky is blue and my work space is infused with the energy of air and the fire of the sun - just what I need for the tasks in hand today

Have a magical day sisters 🔥

BlankTimes
I somehow missed your latest post when I posted mine. Thank you for those wonderful pictures- your garden certainly does emit magic. I’m loving the aquilegia popping up all over mine too and those poppies are just fabulous. I gathered some wildflower seeds on my travels last year and am hoping that some of big poppies will grow 🤞
Loved reading all your thoughts and info about the flowers 💐

I thought these words were so comforting.

Make a loving home within yourself.
One that feels beautiful to dwell in when all else falls away.
Kiss the dark corners, clear out the clutter and nourish each part of you with love and care.
If your flesh home has been left to become a haunted, deserted place, through self neglect; your mind may become frightened of the voices and feelings that come from it, you may begin to avoid contact with your heart and discredit your gut.
Times and spaces with softness, compassion, openness and no busyness may bring up a panic that makes you go and gorge on distractions, anything but to face the haunted, crumbled down house within.
Yet deep in you, you know that hiding from yourself is no longer serving you. This home, the one in your very centre, is waiting for you to come back, so it can teach you how to become an alchemist, how to realise your strength, your beauty and your power. This home is wanting to hold the weight of you, not the ghost of you, so it can carry you and guide you.
So it can be your holder your safety, your home.

speakout those words are so beautiful and meaningful. Thank you for sharing them with us. It makes so much sense for us to focus on making ourselves our safe place doesn’t it.

I’ll be honouring myself by giving my bedroom a clear and clean today. It’s been neglected of late and I think the energy of the place we sleep is so important. So by the end of the day I plan to have shifted the energy to give myself the gift of a sanctuary for restful sleep. I love the feel of fresh bedding recently dried on the line following a salt bath for myself.

I’m relishing the fact that it’s the weekend and find it so important to have ‘ringfenced’ time where work is not my focus. I find this takes more conscious effort when wfh.

I hope everyone is well and able to find some time to give back to themselves this weekend

Speakout those words are lovely, thank you so much for sharing them. I'm just catching up on all the posts from the last few days, I hope your Mum is doing ok. That must have been a real worry for you all. I'm so glad your DD was there and able to help. It sounds like she's going to make a wonderful nurse.

Yashmis well done on the bedroom clean. I know what you mean about clean sheets, it's so lovely to get into a freshly changed bed. Sending you blessings for a restful night.

Blanktimes thank you for sharing the photos of your beautiful garden and those adorable baby birds.

KateF you've been in my thoughts today. I hope things are calm at home and you're feeling safe tonight.

Love to you all ❤️

More words that have made an impact on me- written nearly 60 years ago!

Deep women are often misunderstood because they are extraordinary. They are once in a life time kind of people. Deep women are different. And what makes deep women different is who they are; their big hearts, intelligent minds and kind Spirits.

They're depth itself. People aren’t good at understanding what’s different, they’re not great at embracing it and most importantly, they don’t know how to keep it.

Deep women are misunderstood because they are unusual. They are not like most women out there who give a shit about what people think of them.

They are not afraid of speaking their mind; they are strong-headed, bold, brave.

Deep women are comfortable in their skin. They Love who they are and they own it.

They are self-aware of their strengths and weakness so they are always evolving to better versions of who they are. People might think they would change their essence for someone but the truth is that they are open-minded; open to change, compromise, and personal development.

They have a heart of gold. They don’t judge people and accept them for who they really are. They don’t jump into conclusions about people they’ve just met or people in their life. They believe in second and 99 chances. Deep women don’t give-up on people instead they fight for them until the end.

They see the beauty in people. They fall in Love with their flaws. And because they see the best in people, deep women are called naïve. Their eyes see beauty in what is broken, their hands feel tenderness in what’s damaged.

They feel everything. They feel pain and pleasure. They feel happiness and sadness. They feel confident and they feel insecure. They feel calm and anxious. Deep women are empathic because they feel other people’s feelings. People’s energy becomes theirs. People’s problems become of their own. And because deep women are connected to those around them in such a delicate way, they are seen as “sensitive”,” too emotional”, “too much”.

Deep women are passionate and love life. They adore kids. They are crazy about animals, food, travelling, music and the little things. Their passion for love is mistaken for desperation because they are committed. They pour their heart in everything they do. Their eyes are always glowing. Their positive attitude is often taken as being too enthusiastic or just plain fake.

They are thoughtful. They think about the little and the big things. They feed on details. They look for what is below the surface. They search for the magical side to people that they lock away. Deep women remember everything you tell them because they pay attention not because they want to have some sort of leverage on you when the opportunity presents itself.

They notice things about you that you don’t notice about yourself. They know your quirks like no one else does. They know your favorite things in the world by heart. Deep women are told they are complicated because they over-think while in fact they’re just complex.

Deep women are one of the best things that could ever happen to someone because they present to you a different level of life. A deeper one, a more meaningful one.

They help you fall back in love with who you are and reconnect to the world as a whole. They show you what really matters in life and why it does.

We need more deep women in this world who make life more than a journey; a lifetime dream worth fighting for. Deep women should be celebrated. Their depth should be praised and recognized.

Author: Farah Ayaad 1961

Good morning. I hope everyone is safe and well.

We had a lebanese takeaway meal last night, so lovely not to have to cook- the food was amazing.
Another deep night peppered with vivid dreams, my subconcious is working hard right now to update my systems!! I am glad I get to sleep while all this is going on!
I think paying attention to your bedroom is lovely, it is a way to self honour. A room no one else sees, and no compromise needed!
Ideally that would extend to our whoe home ( I can but dream) but other family members and visitors often mean we have to compromise our choices.
It is a cool overcast morning here, rain is forecast and 12 degrees- I think other parts of the country may have a warm sunny day.
Just off to do an intense yoga session, then back to work, I am still working through a backlog, hopefully by Tuesday things may have eased so I can turn my attentions to the house a little.

Sunday, so I have to sit and listen to a couple of Baptist church sermons blaring brimstone through the house as I sit making spell kits. My feet are firmly rooted though, my focus does not shift!
I find it a little hilarious!

I am sending light and energy to anyone who needs it, I will burn a candle at 8am to send warrior blessings through my yoga in honour and support of my sisters.

Speakout we must follow some of the same pages! I read those words yesterday and they really resonated with me too and made me think about all of us on this thread.

I hope you enjoyed your yoga. Don't work too hard today - it makes me smile to think of your working on your spell kits with Baptist sermons playing on the background!

I'm feeling more relaxed today after a deep sleep, still lots of vivid dreams though. I went for a walk in the woods this morning with my dog, it was so beautiful and green and I enjoyed listening to the bird song. Every time I go, it seems to look different somehow and I discover new pathways. I always come home feeling soothed and secure.

I'm about to make a start on tidying my garden. I'm hoping now the garden centres are open I'll be able to plant some pots next weekend. This evening I'm meetings friend for a socially distanced walk. Very much looking forward to some female company!

VioletCharlotte there are some lovely places on Facebook aren't there.

I too thought about all the amazing women here on this group as I was reading it.
Your walk sounds wonderful- nature is a great antidote.
I am not sure if garden centres are open, I know our B&Q is open and the Range.
I may get a walk later if it stops raining.

Have a magical day.

Tiptoes in quietly to not disturb everyone's reverie, leaves freshly baked cakes, scones and and bread, balms and salves and a bunch of wild forage on the table if anyone would like some. Tiptoes out silently too, scattering spirals of magic sparkle to add to the ambience.

Thank you BlankTimes, that’s all just perfect to find here- just the thing to lift the spirits! Hope everyone is well. All ok here, just busy with work

Good morning, and thank you BlankTimes for leaving the lovely gifts.

I am having a quiet week, having cleared a huge work backlog, still closed. but really enjoying bringing some order to the house and having the time to do it.
I am now working at a steady pace to build up stock leves of amulets, smudge sprays, candles etc, so when I open for business again I have items pre prepared.

It s a beautiful sunny morning here, I am enjoying my blessed coffee before yoga.
I seem to have grown a green animal in my porch- started off as seeds, led and supported by my matron jasmine pant ( did anyone get results from that btw?) but now have a wall of green, up to the ceiling- all the climbing plants have become friends, tendrils curled around each others stems, verdant growth up to the ceiling- beans, peas and my jasmine which has burst into abundant flower.
So even if I wanted to would be impossible to extricate any one plant from the green mass.
It will be interesting to see what develops.
It is quiet on this thread, I know many of us are busy with work or looking after children, there seems little end in sight to this situation. I feel an overwhelming sadness too, one I am managing to distance myself from and not suffer personally, but I can sense a feeling of loss, and fear, and I have to work to stop that from taking over my psyche too.
My Tarot explorations have been bringing up a lot of swords showing struggles and conflict all around. A day for my obsidian I think, and I may do a house cleansing and blessing. I am thankful to have my new green guard protecting the front entrance of my home.
I am off for a spa shower, an oatmeal face scrub and nourish my face with rose hip oil.
I will light my love rose incense, light a candle, throw open the windows and hit my yoga mat fof half an hour.

Have a blessed day everyone.

Good morning, thank you for your uplifting posts. As always, it always feels like an oasis of calm when I drop in here.

Work is still very busy with lots of pressure to get things done at a much faster pace than usual. I got up earlier than usual today in order to have some time to myself before staying the working today at 8.30, I feel better for it and in more control!

I've also made a commitment to take regular breaks from the screen, so I'm drinking my coffee on the sunny garden as I type, listening to the bird song.

Blessings to you all ❤️

VioletCharlotte

Lovely to see you.
It has turned into a really warm sunny day here, perfect for some laundry magic!!

I have been struggling greatly the last two weeks and it is hard not to feel a total despair at the change to life.
While I miss my very social nights out, among musicians and laughter and lots of hugs I think what i miss most of all is those quiet times over a cup of tea with just one or two friends.

Today i feel lifted though by the return to the home (albeit only for 2 days) of my 14 year old. We have not seen him for 9 weeks. I have, naturally, lost him to his little brother but the happiness it brings to my soul to see them playing together is priceless.

queenrollo

I am glad you are enjoying seeing your ds again- that must be lovely.

I am sorry to hear things have been tough- I will light a flame for you at 8pm tonight to send you peace in the moment,

So sorry to hear you've been struggling Queenrollo. It's a difficult time. I'm glad you have your DS back for a couple of day, I'm sure he'll help lift you're spirits.

Are you in England? If so, maybe meet up with a friend for a socially distanced walk or to sit in the park? I've done this a couple of times and it's made such a difference to me to see someone who's not a work colleague or a member of my own family!

VioletCharlotte I am in England. Next week I hope I can meet someone for a walk/natter. Though fitting it in around when everyone's schedules allow is another battle! Between children and work it's not that easy!
One of my best friends lives in my village, but has two children and her husband is working very long hours right now so it makes it hard for her to get away.
The children are at school together so the irony is that they will be allowed to be in close proximity when schools go back but we technically can't all go for a romp across fields together now!
The 'rules' are all a bit contradictory aren't they?

I do feel SO much better for having my eldest here though. Yesterday the two boys were immersed in each other's company and it has made such a difference to smallest's mood and temperament.

Glorious sun here, going to be another v hot day. Have a few outdoor jobs to do early while it's not too unbearable.
My garden is S/W facing and a protected by high hedges so it is a sun trap!

Good morning wise sisters.

It is dark moon day, before tomrrow's new moon, the time of Hecate a day to listen to our shadows, to pause and allow relaxation and release.

I am trying to have an easy day today- some cleaning and more candle making, packing up incense and a ittle laundry.
I am a little stiff today, as I did two tough yoga classes yesterday, one in the morning, then DD wanted to do some yoga in the garden yesterday afternoon again.
So just some gentle stretches this morning.

I hope everyone finds some calm today.

speakout your green porch sounds wonderful with the scent of jasmine as well
queenrollo I understand your joy at having your son home again. I was able to see my youngest daughter yesterday for the first time since lockdown which made me so happy. Also had a zoom call with nursery staff, parents and children-so lovely to see and talk to the little ones and meet a couple of brand new babies. So looking forward to getting back to work in the next few weeks.

Have some studying to do today but will make time to sit in the garden with a book too. I have a place at the end of my long garden which is surrounded by trees where I like to sit. Can't completely get away from traffic noise but it's muted.

Have a lovely day everyone.

Thank you for the dark moon reminder and the Hecate energy speakoutthe perfect vibe for me today! I find the energy of the dark moon so comforting. Like you, my tarot deck has been reflecting a lot of swords energy this week so it feels a relief to have the opportunity for release.

Just enjoying a break in the garden, soaking up some sun and listening to blackbird song. Back to work shortly but it’s such a pleasure to be able to have breaks like this.

Love to all x