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.

NemophilistRebel welcome back!

I'm sure things won't be as bad by the time your lovely new baby arrives.
right now most people are into mass-hysteria and panic, but by then things will have settled down a lot and people will be more sensible about everything.

Hello, I posted on these threads for a bit a long time ago, but stopped because I felt perhaps I shouldn’t because of not sharing many beliefs. I carried on reading them, however as the sense of warm community is comforting and also because things like the connection with the natural world resonate with me. Coming back to posting as I’m in a bit of a wobbly place at the moment after a recent bereavement, and need all the grounding I can get. I brought a bunch of wild primroses.

user1497873278 a warm welcome I am glad you have stumbled into our corner, hopefully a calm shelter amongst stormy weather.
NemophilistRebel welcome back, it is lovely to wee you again.
KizzyWayfarer goos to have you hear, I am sorry for your loss, your wild primroses remind us that the world is still turning that and spring is on its way.
It is a wet mild day here, I have my windows wide open, birds are singing, life bursting forth.

Thank you shrimpy wishing you well too my lovely. X

LOL Speakout, your typos are legend

Welcome back Kizzy my primroses are also in full bloom, as are the daffs and aubretia. I've planted some seeds today, larkspur, lupin, foxgloves and pot marigolds. they are under home-made cloches so we'll see how they do.

I heard something today which resonates. Up until Coronavirus, people felt in control of their lives. They planned their futures and did whatever was usual for them day-to-day.

Suddenly, kaboom, their whole safe spaces and safe actions have been blown away and nothing seems secure or predictable any more.

Lots of people are now struggling to cope because their 'ordinary' is not ordinary any more. The whole way they conduct their lives has changed, they are afraid for their and their family's health and afraid for their future earning potential.

They have lost control of their own lives and that's what's leading to all of the panic.

The people who will cope the best with this situation are the ones who can be more flexible in their thinking, the ones who look for different ways to find peace among the chaos because different does not equal wrong, the ones who say 'I can' rather than the ones who say 'I cannot'. It's time to be flexible sisters and adapt to any changes we have to make.

Well, all that reframing practice we’ve done is going to come in handy then isn’t it BlankTimes, an interesting perspective- very useful, thank you.

Kizzy, it’s good to see you again, I was thinking of you the other day when I was making dahl! I’m Sorry for you loss, I’m glad you’ve joined us again, such a strong community that’ll see us through, plenty of time to stop and admire the flowers along the way.

NemophilistRebel good to have you back with us too. I hope we can provide some solace amongst the anxiety you must be feeling, stick around, we’re here to support you.

user1497873278, welcome, I’m glad you found us. We’re always here for a calming tea and a bit of headspace.

Love to Tigerseye and Shrimpy as you take extra care of yourselves and more of that calming tea and solace for rosebuds as you find a corner to work amongst the busyness of home. I’ve been trying to work out the best spot in mine for ‘face to face’ work via videocall, it’s been conducted via telephone today. An unforeseen work challenge to get my teeth into moving forward. Quite looking forward to working out the most effective way to do my work from home.

Like Pinkarsedfly and BlankTimes and others amongst us, my thoughts are turning to growing things, nurturing new growth, I’m going to have a rummage and see what seeds I’ve got that I can plant.

speakout I’ve been reflecting on your powerful words about the reset a lot and generating hope, even excitement for a new kind of future. Of course there are worries as for all of us but nothing is ever just one state of being, it’s good to feel anticipation for life post reset whilst thinking of the groundwork that enforced roots work will give us.

Looking forward to our 8pm connection tonight, I’ll be focusing on calm and healing for all those in need of it

Love to all 💫

Thank you so much @BlankTimes @speakout and @YashmisCrone

It’s good to be back. There’s something very comforting about being here.

Welcome back Kizzy and Nemophilistrebel and a warm welcome to User.

It's so good to see out numbers swelling and feel our energy building at a time when it's most needed.

Like others, I've been reflecting on all this and what it means and watching how people are behaving and reacting. As Blanktimes said, those of us who are able to adapt will fare better. I'm looking at the positives, it gave me such a lift earlier to see the clear water running in the canals of Venice. I'm hoping we'll all learn from this and realise we can reduce out travel and change the way we live.

I was thinking this morning when walking my dog about how I always say I haven't got time to do all the things I want to do. So now we have more time, I'm going to make the most of it and have started a list of projects I want to get on with at home... gardening, painting my lounge, clearing out my cupboards, sorting out old photos, making body scrubs and lotions, trying out new recipes, books to read... there's so many things we can still do.

I'm also going to use this time to practise my tarot so will be drawing a cars every day to give us all some guidance and focus.

Today's card is the Ace of Pentacles:

As our usual patterns of behaviour come to an end, something new is beginning. This is an opportunity. Look out the window and watch the sunrise on a new day and the start of a new era. We all have an opportunity now to make changes to how we live, how we think, how we interact with one another, so let’s start to make plans for what we can do to make our lives richer and more fulfilling ❤️🙏🌻🌍💫

What a wonderful idea Violet and a beautiful gift to us all. You have lifted my heart, thank you so much 😊🙏

Thank you Yashmis 🙏

Here's a picture of the card ❤️

Really depicts the ‘new dawn’ feeling perfectly doesn’t it? I love the strong stance of the witch in the picture, stepping forward with confidence and positivity. What a start to the daily tarot

I’ve just seen this and thought others may be interested too. Just had a quick read and liked the concept. There’s also a list of guided meditation links which might be fun to explore

www.tarabrach.com/create-home-retreat/

Yahsmis
I love the idea of a home retreat. I was due to go on a retreat in April which has been cancelled. I'll have a look at some of these ideas instead.

Thank you so much for such a warm welcome! I have lots of catching up to do 🌙

VioletCharlotte

Thank you for that clear message, such hope and light for the future during these turbulent times.

I love the idea of a home retreat too! Thank you for the card Violet and your wise words!
I am trying to look for the opportunity in the situation too.

A home retreat sounds a great idea.

I will certainly put some of those ideas into practice.

Although with a house full people to feed and care for- not sure how much will happen!

"Some thoughts regarding the Corona virus. I remember in 2001 in the UK, when the countryside was in lock-down because of the spread of foot and mouth disease. All fields and woodland, paths, ect were closed for a year in order to bring the disease under control.
I remember walking past the entrance to a field, which was taped up, in order to prevent access and about 100m into the field was a female red deer lying down in the grass and relaxing. It was about 5pm in the evening.

What happened in that year was a large regeneration of the animal kingdom, as well as flourishing woodlands and wild flowers and fish in the rivers, streams and canals'

The travel ban regarding the CV and closing of education etablishments and businesses, as well as towns and cities, when I heard the news, I felt Mother Nature breathing a sigh of relief that finally, the on-slaught of constant erosion, pollution and eradication of the planet caused by human activity, is, for the time being, coming to a standstill in many places.

I thought about 2001 and the regeneration of the animal kingdom. I wonder if governments and people in general will seize the opportunity to understand that capitalism and consumption is the black plague of the 21st century and that in order not to relapse back into it, we need a new economical system that does not keep on with this madness of needing to keep conquering and subduing the earth and her kingdoms for profit, leisure and entertainment.

The work of our time as visitors to the earth, is to remind both ourselves and others that we must re-learn how to work in harmony with the Laws of Nature. Or else, face much worse than what is presently arising as a consequence of this ignorance, which concerns a lack of information about how to live in a respecful and caring way, if the earth and her kingdoms are to regenerate, and thus, saving ourselves through being re-educated, within the process."
Francis Joy

I saw this on facebook today and wanted to share it with you all.

Just checking in for the new thread - I know I've been absent a lot lately.

Hello to everyone and to all the new posters

RoseandIris
Thank you for sharing such an insightful post. This resonates with me and what I've been thinking and the things I've been reading about how the pollution is clearing up.

I popped into the supermarket earlier and was shocked to see most of the shelves were bare. I thought to myself that I will never again take being able to buy what I need for granted. I'm confident that things will calm down and people will stop panic buying, but I hope we all take our lesson from this and start to appreciate what we have and stop being so wasteful.

Today I asked for guidance on how we can keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. I was given the Knight of Swords.

This card is all about moving forward bravely, despite what may lie ahead. Visualise a cloak of protection over yourself and your family and friends, keeping you safe as you go about your day to day lives. You have the power to make things happen, look inside yourself and the answers will be there.

VioletCharlotte such intuition ,and wise words.

My cloak has been serving me well today, and I have been feeling safe and grounded, knowing that all the answers are to be found within.

Elphame how lovely to have you drop in, so glad to see you again.

Yes I have been having the same thoughts about food violet. I will never take it for granted again. We are eating very repetitive and dull meals because we didn't stockpile and can't get much in the shops. I am being very mindful in the way I am using it and feeling grateful. We waste so much without thinking, or I do anyway.

Even toilet paper has become something I appreciate!!

Thank you for the Knight of Swords. It is very comforting.

Elphame we crossed posts. It's so lovely to see you. There's something very comforting and reassuring about your energy, it's really good to have you with us 😊

Speakout I'm glad you're feeling safe. Grounding is so important at this time. I'm now wfh for the foreseeable future, like many of us I expect. I'll be using our 8am connection to ground myself as well as to ask for healing.

I'm going to have to venture out tomorrow for bread. I've been able to avoid the supermarket mayhem as I'm already well provisioned and have had milk, eggs and veg etc delivered by small local businesses for a couple of years now. I try to avoid the big supermarkets especially the one beginning with T.

Bread however is a problem - I could (and do) make my own but I'm low on flour and I'm told it's hard to get.

Never have I been so glad to be an introvert who can happily hole up for days. I'm actually quite shocked at how little difference all this is making to my life. Other than moving my classes and one or two other things to online conference calls I'm really not doing much differently. Maybe I've allowed myself to withdraw too much from society?

I do have a hospital visit for Friday for some minor surgery. Just glad I've been able to schedule it before we get locked down.

I’m thinking the home retreat might be a tall order too speakout! Today seems to have been busier than ever. Trying to find things in the shops for people who are self isolating, the work phone hasn’t stopped and I’ve done more hours than I would have going to work. Hopefully everything’ll settle into a new kind of ‘normal’ over the next couple of weeks. It’s an interesting shift. Anyway, I agree it’ll be good to adopt some of the home retreat ideas and weave them into the day.

RosesandIris thank you for sharing those beautiful reflections, so powerful and the thing I’m loving about this situation is hearing about Gaia rises from human created ashes so quickly and with such tenacity. I just hope us humans learn from it in the long run.

Violet thank you such much again for the insight and guidance which really resonates for me too. Yes to the protective cloak! An essential bit of my witches kit! I’m going to join you in adding grounding intention to the healing at 8am 🙏

Elphame it’s really good to see you again and I’m pleased to hear your surgery will be done before lockdown. I’ve found smaller shops and little local ‘corner shops’ have yielded supplies that big supermarkets are all out of.

I was reflecting on my introverted disposition too and how it sets me in good stead for more time at home and less social contact. Made me realise how little I usually have/need!

I hope everyone’s keeping well and those who are unwell are coping. Lean on our collective energy and the respite of our magical space here 💫

Saw this on fb and thought it may resonate for others as it did for me:

“A Message from Demeter at the Spring Equinox:

As the seasons of the Earth turn, so do the seasons of humanity. Many powers are converging, within and without, to wake humanity from its long winter of soul. Spring is in the air; Persephone walks the land above; and here you are, by my side, reaching for the ways of the Great Mother once more.

In this awakening and Great Turning, Persephone is your teacher. She sought out Her wholeness in the belly of the Underworld, willingly suffering its trials and lessons to test and come to know Herself in the fullness of Her being. By these travels, Her power and selfhood were honed, and She returned to me maiden no longer, but Goddess and Queen in Her own right.

So too humankind has lived the full range of its nature, both the shadow and light, and horror and beauty. As you individually and collectively emerge from your travels in the Underworld of humanity’s shadow-side, you can follow Persephone’s example. You can become powerful and wise enough to embrace the full breadth of your human nature, ancestral heritage and life experiences — the good with the bad, and the shadow with the light — and in doing so, you become a child no more, but a person honed and matured by your trials and lessons.

Whatever pain you feel or burden you carry from your personal and ancestral stories have brought you to this evolutionary cusp. You need not be trapped by a past that no longer serves you; instead you can use its trials and lessons to fuel your journey of soul, and help you step out of this old tale and your own old story, and into a fresh new beginning.

It is time for we ancient ones to find our rest. Humanity’s long winter of soul is ending. The ancestors’ stories are done. They have served their purpose of bringing you to this evolutionary, awakening moment of choosing the Great Mother’s life-centered ethos once more, from a place of power and wisdom. We pass this blessed world on to you. What comes next will be of your choosing and making.

Let your suffering be the compost that feeds your new growth, and let your joy draw your hungry limbs upward to embrace life. Trust yourself. Trust each other. Begin again.

• Excerpt from The Path of She Book of Sabbats www.pathofshe.com/path-store/

Artwork by Sophie Wilkins Arts”

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