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.

Another glorious evening, had a quiet day, which has been good, DD and DS out meeting friends.
I can't believe how busy everywhere is now!
No yoga today, I have just been eating far too much, my waistline is expanding on lockdown!!
Elphame I agree with you about the associations of death and flowers. It is fear.
I do think there is a pagan connection too.

Elphame the rules are confusing and sometimes don't always seem that logical. I'm following my instincts and making my own judgements where I need to.

It's so nice to see people out and about, I know we still need to be cautious, but where I am, the majority are enjoying the freedom we have to be outdoors and see friends and family again. My yoga teacher is starting small classes in the park next week which I'm overjoyed about!

Speakout my DS are both out with friends too (although strictly speaking they shouldn't be until Monday!)

A beautiful sunny but breezy evening here- full of energy.
I have been working full tilt today, but there seems little slow down in sight.
All the beds have clean sheets and towels softened and energised by the wind.
I hope everyone has found some magical sparkle today.

I'm feeling really run down. I have been very lucky and managing ok in my little bubble with my partner, our house, our garden, and the lovely local common full of orange-tips and green alkanet and sparrows. Now I'm back at work a few days a week and it's draining - the building feels like a ghost town and I often don't talk to another person all day.

I'm back at work again tomorrow but I'm going to try and go with a different mindset.

I had no idea lilac was unlucky. I love the scent and would love to have one in my garden but it's pretty full, not sure there's space.

speakout, I like to imagine the little fellow who shares your house. I think you mentioned before that he enjoys a bit of mischief?

I'm back to work tomorow but only 30 children are coming back to nursery at the moment so we are all on only 80% of normal hours and doing strange shifts. It will be a bit of a shock starting at 7.30 again! There are so many restrictions that we'll have to be inventive to keep the children occupied but it will be wonderful to see them again.

speakout one of my favourite ways to end a weekend is by getting into bed with freshly line dried bedding, following a salt bath- always feels like a gift to myself. I hope you sleep well and get the rest you need.

Ogress I understand what you mean about being happy in your bubble and that returning to work must feel a drain. I’ve been contemplating this myself as I can see the end of my wfh in sight. I think you are very wise to focus on a shift of mindset- such a powerful tool. I have a small piece of carnelian I put in my bra when I feel like I need an energy boost. I’ll light a candle at our 8am connection to send a boost to you and anyone else who may need it.

KateF I’ve been thinking about the schools going back and how that will for the staff- best of luck with it, I love your positive energy and I’m sure the children will feel it too.

Violet wonderful news about your yoga class- I can feel the joy in your post. I can imagine it’ll be lovely to practice outside.

I’ve been busy with household tasks for most of the day and made time go to the woods/river before cooking dinner. I feel very blessed to so close to such a secluded spot. The energy there was sparking with magic and I couldn’t resist a quick dip in the river. The water was cold but so fresh and clear, I love the way the peaty woodland floor softens the water and how the rocks under the water sparkle when the sunlight hits them.

Wishing everyone a restful night

Ogress good luck with work today, be gentle with yourself, there have been lots of adjustments to make in the past few months and it is draining. I hope all goes well.
KateF I hope you have a good day. Local folklore suggests that most houses have a Brownie, so keep your eyes open!
YashmisCrone your river dip sounds wonderful.

I have a similar river just a few hundred yards from my house, heavily wooded, set in a deep gorge but accessible, unfortunately is badly polluted with sewage in recent years. Many housing developments upstream has put pressure on the exisiting sewage which lacks capacity to deal with such volumes, and emergency overspills happen frequently.
Filters are clogged too because of wet wipes and sanitary products making overspills happen even in dry weather.
So now my beautiful river is clogged with plastic and fecal waste, local authorities warn of even allowing dogs to swim in the river, and tons of plastic debris have been deposited along the banks.
It is heartbreaking.
Even 5 years ago the river was home to otters, kingfishers, lots of fish. Now it is a mess.

I am feeling a little delicate this morning, OH and I had wine last night, first time I have had alcohol in months, I am wondering if it was worth it! Although OH and I had a lovely evening chatting,

So a warm spa shower with Sicilian lemon oil and some strong coffee should make a good start to the day!

That is utterly heartbreaking about the river speakout. Makes me furious. I’ve been hearing more and more about increased littering and damage of beautiful places since lockdown has eased too. It’s all so sad and infuriating.

There’s a cooler breeze here today which is welcome, with storms predicted later in the week. I’ve been enjoying the sunshine but the gardens and wild spaces will be glad of the rain

Speakout and Yashmis I share your anger and frustration about the pollution of our rivers, countryside and beaches. Over the weekend when I was out walking my dog, I was distraught to see the amount of litter abandoned by people. It's so disappointing and I feel that people have learned nothing from this pandemic. We've been given a bit of freedom and a chance to enjoy the great outdoors and this is how we go and treat it. It makes me furious. I'm going to start carrying a bag and gloves when I can go out so I can clear some of it up.

On a more positive note, everywhere is so green and lush, the foliage and leaves dense and thick. I really love this time of year, as Midsummer approaches. You can sense the magic in the air, particularly late at night or first thing in the morning when it's quiet.

Following on from our recent discussions about the presence of fairy folk, I've been reading up about connecting with fairy energy, and area I've not really explored much before. It's fascinating and take some back to being a child and having fairy tea parties in the garden.

Kate F I hope your first week back goes well. I'm sure it'll be very different and seem strange to start with, I'll be thinking of you.

Ogress I understand how you feel, I would be the same. Imagine a cloak of protection around you before you go to work in the morning. I always find a shower with essential oils helps to wash away negative energy - I always used to do this after travelling to London and being on public transport.

Yashmis thank you for sharing those beautiful images of the river. I can feel it's cool, cleansing energy.

Love to you all for a happy day ❤️

I'd be furious about the river pollution. Surely one of the Govt environmental depts should be doing something about it?

Lockdown fever is getting to me - I've just splashed out and bought myself a present :)

I'm about to break out of my own little bubble - just heading out for drinks in a friend's garden for the afternoon. Suitably social distanced of course. It'll be so nice to actually be with them rather than via videocon. The dogs are going to love it too but I suspect they'll be no social distancing involved there!

Yes, it's so sad about the river, different agencies promis action - loca council, Environmental protection agency, water companies, ocal MP involve, but the problem still persists.

A huge renewal the sewage system needs to be done over a large area which will cost £££££. The existing network was never intended to carry such capacity, there have been thousands of new home built in recent years in the area putting pressure on the system.

It does make me angry, such a beautiful river being damaged , and the tonnes of plastic along the banks will be there for a long time to come. Such a shame because the river was used for industrial purposes for centuries, and as a dumping ground. In the 70s and 80s was cleaned up, wildlife returned and now we are back to square one.
I feel for the soul of this magnificent river.

It’s terrible speakout, as a species humans really are faulty aren’t we.

Elphame I’m curious- what is that?!

Potted on some seedlings after work today, it was good to get my hands in the earth. I hope everyone’s day has brought some magic

@YashmisCrone - a cage distaff and a very nice one too. Some of the old woodcuts show witches flying them instead of brooms. I'm going to have to up my spinning game though - I'm not very good at it and if I'm going to use it I'm going to have to be a lot better!

Hunting out where on earth I put my drop spindle is the first challenge.

Oh, thank you Elphame, I can see why when I look at pictures of them full of wool. Yours looks beautifully crafted.

I’ve been sitting out in the garden with my morning tea and my favourite candle lit for our morning connection. I love the light and the stillness in the air here this morning

Wishing everyone a blessed day

👋🏻

That looks beautiful Elphame. Such richness in that wood.

So very warm and close today, we have some dark cumulus clouds forming in the distance, it feels to me that a thunderstorm may be approaching as this weather front hits warm air- but a storm is not forecast.
Fingers crossed- I love a storm!!

Well no storm, but the rains have come, the fragrance of petrichor is intoxicating, I have all my windows open and the scent is through my whole house. I keep stepping outside to inhale deeply!!

I woke up to that smell speakout, slept with the window open to let it in. It’s so special isn’t it. My courgette plant flowers have burst open as though to welcome the rain.

Hello Crazymoo82!

No rain here yet, but it's much cloudier today. I hope we get some as everything's very dry, my grass is going brown!

I've got a full day of video meetings today and already feeling like my brain is fried. Looking forward to getting out for a walk later.

Not a witch, but could do with some spells atm!

YashmisCrone great to hear about your courgette flowers- so temptig to eat at that stage, but the vegetables are delicious too! My beans are in full flower, the audacious red of a can -can dancer.

VioletCharlotte I hope you manage to get some space to clear your head this evening.
EmeliaLily welcome, you may find what you are looking for online, there are a vast array of resources- youtube is great if you are looking for step by step instructions.

Pleased to hear everyone's gardens are doing well. Mine is blessed with the biggest, plumpest white roses at the moment. No rain yet, but I can feel it coming.

This is the first year I've had a garden for a long time, and one of the best things about it is having space to set up bird feeders. The blackbird has really become my bird - I love them so much. I love how brave and cheeky they are, their sneaky little hops and darts, and how they look a bit dowdy, but sing their hearts out. Today one appeared accompanied by two chunky juveniles, so I think he bought the kids for their first breakfast out. I felt touched.

I've decided I'm going to make some special birdy treats for midsummer and give them all a little feast.

Big changes afoot with tonights full moon lunar eclipe. I will be making moon water, I like to keep a bottle around for that extra little boost.

Your blackbirds sound lovely, they are clevel animals. I too have a mass of white roses, I can see them from my kitchen window, they lift my heart,. The rain in the past two days has envilened all the plants, everything is plump and green again.
I hope everyone is doing OK, stresses and strains from many directions, but hopefully tonight's full moon will bring some release.

Well, I've done the first week back at work. It's been very quiet, just six children and two staff in our 'bubble'. The babies have struggled a little with coming back after so long at home but it's got better through the week and it's been lovely having them back. There are a lot of changes but we've played in the garden, visited the farm and done crafts, stories and singing.

I will look out for the moon tonight. I've always been fascinated by it and how it can look so different at different times and in different places. My favourite sighting was driving down a long straight road in Zimbabwe and the moon rose on the horizon right in front of us, like a huge golden ball floating up. It was incredibly beautiful.

Hail? HAIL?

Somewhat worried about the plants outside.

No hope of seeing the eclipse tonight