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.

Hi Blurpblorp I've always bought crystals direct from the dealers. There used to be Rock and Gem fairs, no longer in my area and now they are more beads than rocks, but maybe check they are actually on and and see what you're attracted to? Most of the rock dealers really know their stuff. Tip, close your eyes and hold a crystal, the prettiest looking ones are not always the ones you should choose to work with. www.rockngem.co.uk/show-dates/
Judy Hall's Crystal books are pretty decent.

Speakout's words are wise as ever
It may change daily, with the seasons, on a whim, or never. Most of all it is your place, your space

I don't have an altar as such, but I like to put different things on my kitchen windowsill, it's where I spend most of my time when I'm in the kitchen and it overlooks the rockery, it's a threshold. Think I've posted these pics on previous threads.

If you want up to date news or other info on ancient places, try megalithic.co.uk.

My favourite teapot is my Holly and Ivy 'tea for one' where the pot and cup make the set. If you google 'Tea for One' you'll find loads of different designs from traditional and modern bone china via glass to earthenware. It's good to have a larger pot to share tea, but there's something nice about having your very own too.

Have you found your original spindle yet Elphame ?

Have a magical evening everyone.

Sorry one of my images has posted upside-down, it's the right way up in my folder

Thank you for sharing all that lovely information @speakout I was wondering about the origins of crystals and how they are mined. I will need to investigate further, ithas to be ethical... And you've made me realise I have some lovely stones and shells that my girls and I have collected over the years. I'm going to make an altar on my bedroom windowsill away from visitors' prying eyes (and fingers!)

@BlankTimes thank you too for the info and the link. Your photos have made me smile so much! They're so cosy and beautiful I'd love my altar to look like that. I can imagine it's a nice place for contemplation... looking at your lovely rockery... meditative food prep/warm washing up water, watching the birds or the rain.

Thank you both again, I'm really inspired

Blurbblorb
I love crystals and have a little collection I gathers over the years before I was made aware of the ethical concerns. I don't buy them anymore, sadly, but I do enjoy the ones I have. Like others, I'm always collecting pebbles and shells and I have quartz a friend collects for me from Cornwall (she works near the mines in Cornwall and picks them up when out walking).

I have two rather haphazard 'altars' - my sideboard in my lounge and a shelf in my bedroom. They're full of objects that are important to me - photos, rose quartz, a peace lilly, various candles, and bits and pieces I collect form nature - seasonal flowers, leaves, feathers, shells, etc. In the autumn I always seem to have conifers and acorns laying about!

As Speakout says, what's important is that it's full of things that are meaningful to you.

Thank you for the link to the live steam solstice at Stonehenge. I'm keeping evening crossed fo good weather, as I'm hoping to go to a small, socially distanced, sunrise fire ceremony. I went last year and it was so magical, I'm really hopeful I can go again this year.

Good morning sisters,

It’s good to sit down with you for a tea this morning. I like the magical energy that Friday seems to hold and am enjoying the approach of the solstice. I’ve been burning my favourite candle from 8am. It’s one I use sparingly because it’s my favourite (!) but this morning I wanted to be surrounded with it’s beautiful energy, it’s scent is divine.

It’s good to read everyone’s thoughts and discussions here, always uplifting 🙏 Welcome Blurpblorp, it’s good to have you join us and I’m glad you’re enjoying the previous threads.

It’s a windy morning here again, feels good for blowing the cobwebs away. I have a stack of work to get through but am thinking ahead and considering some time off to give myself a little space.

I’ve been thinking about the energy of the goddess and what that means to us all as unique individuals, how our own energy resonates at different times with various manifestations of this, how we are all this.. sometimes nurturing, sometimes fierce, abundant, strong, sensual etc etc. How we can embody many of these diverse traits at any given time. I’d like to carve out a bit more time to revisit and rediscover our ancient deities- see their threads woven through time in our folklore and collective consciousness. It’s a day for my goddess stone pendant I think!

Happy Friday friends ✨

BlankTimes I love your window ledge, it's good to have these half way house altars, ambiguous enough not to cause suspicion!
Blurpblorp it's lovely to hear of your inspired energy, when magic touches our lives then the mundane becomes enchanted, and we can find meaning and uplifting energy in the simplest of things.
YashmisCrone wise words as ever, I am glad to hear of your goddess day, honouring the divine is so much about honouring ourselves- we deserve that.
I have just been listening to Phyllis Currott- a favourite of mine on youtube, talking about the faces of the divine, and how that energy is manifest in so many- often contrary- ways.
Enjoy basking in that energy today.

Fabulous goddess synchronicity speakout I’d like to listen to that Phyllis Currott video too! Thank you for the idea- I’ll have a look

YashmisCrone unfortunatley that idea wasn't the topic that I was listening to- it was a short clip where Phyllis was talking about the many faces of the divine male, but sparked some thinking in me this morning about the many facets of the divine female- so not a video about that subject, just a snippet that led to my mental meanderings.

But yes the same idea that I was mulling over this morning about how the goddes can be playful, warrior like, angry- she has a time for action, a time for rest.
The multitude of goddess manifestations gives us a rich variety of archetypes in which to allow our own feelings to find a comfortable spot and wisdom to allow us to know ourselves better.

Just having a coffee and a quietish day, been to M&S to stock up of food so I don't have to cook much today!

how the goddes can be playful, warrior like, angry- she has a time for action, a time for rest.
The multitude of goddess manifestations gives us a rich variety of archetypes in which to allow our own feelings to find a comfortable spot and wisdom to allow us to know ourselves better.

Absolutely! So beautifully described, thank you 🙏

I was also watching the documentary Goddess Remembered yesterday- so beautiful, so poignant.

I it was posted here last year- and many of us watched it, but maybe something that our newcomers may enjoy. So I'll post the link again.

I know not all of us work with deity but it is an interesting film.

Blurpblorp I'm not a huge fan of crystals for ethical reasons, environmental and humanitarian so I use only those I find myself. I do have a bad hag stone habit! Those are my go to rocks for pretty much everything.

I also don't have a permanent altar - I set one up as and when I need on. That keeps the energy fresh and avoids it becoming a cluttered dust trap (housework not being my favourite thing!)

The spindle is still missing but I'm hoping my new toy will arrive tomorrow. I picked up some lovely shed fleece on the Quantocks yesterday which I'm going to use on it first. It'll become part of a fetish with a nice piece of heather wood that I found as well.

I'm really enjoying just working with found items at the moment. I found some lovely pieces of old china in the pathway whilst walking the dog this morning and that will become part of a mosaic at some point in the future.

I love that film speakout, thank you for the reminder.

BlankTimes I meant to say earlier that apart from loving the energy of your windowsill altar, it makes me laugh that your pictures sometimes post upside down. It’s almost like the work of tech-fae! I needed that today, thank you!

Violet your fire ceremony sounds really special, I’ve got everything crossed for you being able to go too!

Yashmis I've just sent you a long pm about other Tech-Fae difficulties I've had this week and when I tried to send it, the whole thing evaporated into the ether!

You have more insight than you know into the stuff the Tech-Fae are enjoying playing with in my life right now.

So pleased I've raised a smile and laughter, that's something we could all do with more of these days, and Magical Times of course!

Oh BlankTimes so annoying when that happens. I hope the mischief isn’t too widespread.. I’m also wondering how you’d appease Tech Fae.I know speakout’s house brownie responds to chocolate, I’m wondering what the tech equivalent is..
And a big yes to the need for both laughter and magic!

Elphame I love to work with things I find too. There’s magic in the finding I think. I like your mosaic idea, made me think of this one I found on a wall by the beach, made of bits of ‘sea treasure’ pottery. I like to collect that too!

@YashmisCrone - that is lovely! The sea pottery is beautiful. I'm longing to be able to get back to beachcombing

I can sympathise with the tech sprite!! And once it starts can rip through a house affecting many things!
Often happens when you are pushed for time or have something important to do!!
YashmisCrone I love the sea pottery too, something very specoal about materials that have been pounded and caressed by the sea,
Gentle and strong, fierce and soft, holding power from the depths.

I think some of us may have thunderstorms today, I have my fingers crossed, share some energy here if one passes over!!
I am happy to have woken up to a heavy mist- called a "haar"here on the NE coast.
I love the way the mist softens everything, wraps us in a cosy blanket, adds a touch of mystery and a gothic feel.
Makes me feel like that witch who lives in the woods!

Up early today to do some shopping before the shops get busy. Back to work soon, I am feeling a great benefit from my quiet week
Have a magical day- enjoy the thunderstorms!

I'm loving these tales of mischievous fae! There's a few items that regularly go missing in my house, normally phone chargers, my candle lighter and tweezers. I can't be sure whether this is down to fae or to teenagers! Both respond well to chocolate I believe so may try that approach.

Speakout I'm so glad you feel rested after a break from work. It's amazing what a difference a few days make . I'm desperate for a break too, but no chance that's going to happen at the moment unfortunately. Nevermind, I'll make the most of the weekend. No sign of thunderstorms here, the sky is clear and the sunny is shining, a welcome relief from the rain we've had this week.

Yashmis I love that mosaic, so pretty! Sea treasures are so special.

Blanktimes your tech fae makes me smile! So frustrating though!

VioletCharlotte I have exactly the same problem- or used to before we acknowledged the mischevious sprite that lives with us.
Missing things are always returned- without fail.
I have a door simiar to this one to acknowedge the fae in our home, and serves as a place to offer bribes and gifts to our hidden folk.

I have some time to do a single Tarot pick for anyone who would like one this afternoon.
I am not a deep expert, but I have enthusiasm!

Yes please @speakout :)

Elphame I hope you’re able to get to the beach soon. Such a unique energy at the liminal place spanning shore and sea isn’t there.

speakout your haar mist sounds magical, I love the idea of being that witch who lives in the woods! My met office app says there’s a chance of a storm here today, I’m yet to be convinced but will be ready to absorb and share that energy if it comes our way 🤞⚡️

Violet Both respond well to chocolate I believe so may try that approach. this made me laugh! Yes, sounds like it could be the work of either!

I hope you’re able to get some respite this weekend, I know it’s hard when everything feels like such a slog. I’ve been making sure I take time to ‘close down’ the energy of my work at the end of each working day. Airing the room, I use smudge spray between clients and again when I’m done for the day. My favourite smoky quartz crystal now sits beside me as I work. And a recent revelation to me, I’m sure very familiar to you, speakout, and other yoga lovers amongst us is the use of ‘child’s pose’ (?) to shift my energy after I’ve packed away for the day. I’m loving it for the way it feels like I can drain the weight of the day out through the top of my head- Brilliant!

Blurpblorp I’ve been thinking about your question about altars and I’ve realised that whilst I’d say I don’t have an altar as such, when I walk round my house I have little corners everywhere that house collections of natural objects, symbolism etc placed to conjure or represent certain energies. Like others I’ll purposefully put something together for a particular intention or working too.

Ooh, yes please speakout! What a wonderful gift, thank you 🙏

YashmisCrone

You are right, child's pose is a consolidating pose, very nurturing.

I have just orderd myself a copy of a book Yoga for Witches.

Alongside my usualy daily yoga I have been ficussing on crow pose- Bakanasa, great for building up courage. All poses have a spiritual and emotional connection.

Tarot picks coming up soon.

Elphame

Queen of Swords. Many of us see you in her.
Strong and clear thinking, fiercely intuitive.
You are independent protective of all that is close - your experiences have shaped you. You have acute judgement. But this can be a lonely place. I chose a clarifier card – The ten of Pentacles for more insight- sharing abundance with others is ultimately a fulfilling thing to do.
Hard during lockdown!