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.

We have a tradesman coming later, and my roofer back tomorrow to fit a light tunnel in the kitchen ceiling. Both the jobs entail them going up in the kitchen loft pace. I can't help it, it makes me feel very anxious.
I always feel like I am putting them to a huge inconvenience which I suppose is daft - they must expect to have to do these things!

Weather is what one of my old friends would call 'witch weather'...blustery and changeable. A feeling of electricity in the air.
I was young and she was an older lady that I got talking to one day while out meandering. It never occurred to me back then, but in later years I realised she was probably a witch.

I would love to go to Cornwall - I've been to quite a lot of the British coastline, but never made it that far south.

Our Lammas gathering is organised for Friday. I got slightly excited and bought an enormous bag of flour, not realising we already had an even bigger bag in our already overstuffed larder. Hopefully one of our guests will want it...

We just had takeout for dinner for the first time since March! What a treat.
It's not something we did with any regularity pre-lockdown anyway, but the local fish and chip shop has gone back to normal operating today and so as our kitchen is upside down due to ongoing works we decided today was the day!

I have seen my parents today and also some friends drove over for a visit. I feel SO much better for having had a bit of company and lots of laughter.

Checking in. I namechange a lot but looking forward to catching up :-)

Hello, it's quiet here today. I hope everyone is well. I'm enjoying pottering at home this week. This is the first proper time off I've had since Christmas, I didn't realise quite how much I needed a break! I'm using the time for self-care and simple pleasures that I don't always make time for; a home manicure and pedicure and painting my nails, deep conditioning my hair,etc. I'm enjoying being back at the gym and swimming again. Also plenty of reading and making plans for new projects.

It's been warm here today with hot weather forecast for the rest of the week, but there's certainly more than a hint of autumn in the air. I picked a large bowl of ripe, juicy blackberries this afternoon (I have an arm covered in scratches as a result!) which I'll use to make blackberry and apple crumble.

Sending a sprinkle of magic your way 💫🌟

It’s good to see old friends and new here and Violet it’s so good to hear about you using your time off to nurture yourself. Your crumble sounds a delicious idea!

I know these times have been testing in so many different ways and self care is so very needed as we continue to navigate such new territory.

I’ve been really relishing time in the garden- being mindful in my grounding practice and making time to sit and connect with the bees as they buzz around the lavender. Like that old tradition we were talking about a while back of ‘telling the bees’ it’s something I’ve been finding connective and soothing.

I hope that everyone is well and able to find some time to soak up some solar strength- action energy on tap 🌞

@YashmisCrone that sounds like a lovely idea! How do you connect with the bees? Just enhance your awareness of them?

I'm doing lots of clearing out at the minute, in many different senses. My practice has dropped off and I've felt very disconnected from myself and my environment but I'm starting to feel renewed.

Yes @Pasghetti, enhanced awareness, a kind of ‘zoning out’ whilst tuning in, really watching them and soaking up that energy, note how it makes you feel, any ‘knowings’ it gives you.

Here’s the ‘telling the bees’ tradition we discussed here before

beegood.co.uk/blogs/news/29744001-the-tradition-of-telling-the-bees

And some of us got a lot from this meditation too

www.rewildingourplanet.com/askthewildbees

I think bee medicine can be profound 🐝

Good to hear you’re starting to feel renewed. I love that feeling of reconnection

YashmisCrone
I loved reading about how you have been connecting with the bees, they are quite amazing to watch aren't they? I understand what you mean about 'zoning out', bees have an almost hypnotic effect.

Thank you too for sharing that bee meditation again and reminding me about it. It's such a powerful meditation, Pasghetti do give it a go if you get a chance.

Connecting with animals, birds and insects is a really enjoyable way of opening yourself up spiritually. Taking the time to appreciate their beauty and tap into their energy will help to fine tune your sensitivity and smooth your mind. I love to connect with my dog, stroking him gently and thinking about the world from his perspective, it's incredibly relaxing.

A friend gave me a link to a free, Deepak Chopra, 21 days of meditation app, so I've made a commitment to take time to meditate every morning. Sharing the link as some of you maybe enjoy it

https://chopracentermeditation.com/?utmsource=21-Day+Meditation+Experience+-+News&utmmmedium=Email&utmcontent=RENEW+Rec.+%236d&utmmcampaign=21-Day+Meditation+Experience+-+News2020729&sso_code=eyJpdiI6ImxybjduSExBY2ljRVE1WERRUEltSHc9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoidWNrYVpqTlJ1WWlhYXRMNGxRbyt0T2hIU1d3ME9mMldrOGhESFdlXC81SUF0TCtaa2JnZ2JHMmlBQ28rYk1MbnFneFwvamVNNnFzMElKMmQwOVFEMmF3dW9wcUNUVTM2MmFoTnlkYmUwd05xcz0iLCJtYWMiOiIwZGYwY2MyYzQ4MTY5YmJhZWQ3ODUwZjc5OTFkYWYzNmJkMjIxM2Q1YWE5MTU3MTI1MmZhOGYxM2RmZTZmOThlIn0%3D

Another one who name changes a lot but have been following these threads from the beginning.

I love that link about talking to the bees. How lovely. I’m going to practice that myself.

I used to dabble in the arts but haven't for around seven years. I am very interested in astrology still. I read tarot cards for my friends for free, and I think my readings are quite accurate. Still a pagan

Hello and a warm welcome to our new people, our returning people and the new names, it's good to see you all here.

It's Lughnasadh Eve, time for magic aplenty in all our lives as the seeds we've tended and grown are now bearing fruit for the picking

What does Lughnasadh Eve represent Blank Times? I am interested .

Welcome to our new sisters, it good to have you with us.

Fabulous day here, it felt like being on holiday. I've been SUP boarding with a friend on a lake in the New Forest, feel very blessed that the weather was so good to us. This was my first experience of SUP, I absolutely enjoyed loved it! It felt so peaceful, just gliding across the water. I think my arms may ache tomorrow though.

I'm very much looking forward to celebrating Lughnasadh this weekend in my own way. I've bought some beautiful sunflowers, and I'm planning to harvest some elderberries from the bushes next to my house, and maybe some more blackberries.

A warm welcome to the new faces and returners- on the super hot day, suffused with the power of solar energy.
Very fitting as we move though Lughnasadh .
I have had a busy but calm day, washed just about everything is sight, clothes, bedding, blankets, pets bedding, all bone dry and infused with magic for the coming months.
Tomorrow morning I heve an outdoor yoga session next to the beach, overlooking the sea.
I will pop into Lidl in the morning, they have crates of cut sunflowers at a reasonable cost, buy a few bunches for some of my yoga friends I haven't seen in months and some for me to take home.
I am looking forward to celebrating Lughnasadh in a way that is meaningful to me.

Have a blessed peaceful night everyone.

Lughnasadh blessings to everyone.

Lughnasadh blessings sisters "May your harvests be bountiful" 🙏

Lammas blessings sisters, wishing you an abundant harvest 🌻

KatherineParr4

Celebrating or otherwise marking the Eve of any of the Fire Festivals is quite common. Sometimes it's a time for contemplation before the next day's celebrations, sometimes it's given its own celebration like Beltaine and Samhain.

My contemplation last night after 10pm was interrupted by a very lovely but lost Ocado delivery driver trying to deliver several crates of groceries to my neighbour who is in the middle of a 2 week holiday away. Turned out the delivery was for someone else further down the road, so all was well that ended well.

Lughnasadh Blessings to everyone

So good to hear of the outdoor yoga and SUP holiday day- all that glorious water energy is so refreshing to the soul and it lifts my heart to hear of my sisters taking time to do what brings them joy.

Good to have everyone here, welcome and welcome back

I’m going to work with what I have grown both literally and energetically today. Even in uncertain times we can celebrate the resilience we have worked to achieve, the firm roots that this gives us

Wishing everyone abundance and solar strength 🌞

I appear to be observing Lammas by painting my kitchen. I was feeling a bit resentful of having to give my time to this when I would rather be stood out in the cornfield behind my house but then it suddenly occured to me that this is the place in my home where I turn the harvest into that which nourishes and sustains us and so it's actually a very fitting thing to be doing after all.

I got my broom which is beautiful and because I collected it I got to meet a fellow witch and we got on so well that a 'quick' pick up turned into a good 20 mins of full flow chatter.
I will post photos either later today or tomorrow when I can find time!

Blessed Lammas to you all x

Last night I went swimming in the sea at sunset. It was gorgeous and the tide was high enough to easily manage a good number of lengths back and forth as the sun was setting.

Today I cleaned the kitchen and baked two (different) loaves of bread and made some energy balls as a snack. That feels harvesty

Interesting a few of you say you've been painting and cleaning kitchens today. I've felt the need to clean and clear out kitchen cupboards. A feeling of wanting to 'prepare' for something. I guess somewhere deep inside us, we still have that need to get ready for bringing the harvest in ready for the winter.

Rivierliedje your sunset swim sounds divine, what a perfect way to spend a barmy summers evening.

Queenrollo so pleased you love your new broom, Looking forward to seeing a photo.

YashmisCrone I love your idea of working with what you're grown energetically, as well as physically. I've been journalling a lot recently. It's interesting to look back and see the growth and manifestation of our intentions.

Blanktimes glad you were able to help the lost driver. Delivery drivers have been a god send over the last few months. It must be a fairly tough job, but the majority of hem are always pleasant and friendly.
*
Speakout* I hope you enjoyed your yoga session. I love practising outdoors, I can picture you all on the edge of the beach with all that sea and sky, just perfect.

Lovely to hear of everyone's day and how we all find special and unique ways of making our day meaningful.
I had a lovely beach yoga session this morning, now feeling quite tired.
I have a bowlful of night scented stock blooms I have just picked from my garden- the fragrance is divine, heavy and intoxicating.
I can hear the hooting of an owl in the trees outside my bedroom window. I suspect peaceful sleep will happen soon in the gentle wings of slumber.

I hope you've all enjoyed your Lammas celebrations. I spent most of the day in the garden and harvested a good crop of blackberries. I shall freeze some and give some to a young girl at work who said she loves them but hardly ever gets them. Bless her, she's a lovely girl but has a rather difficult home life and really lacks confidence in herself. I'm sort of informally mentoring her so we'll work on that together.

Work continues to be very busy but hopefully the cleaners are coming back this month. I have hated having to clean the building at the end of a long day! There's a good chance I will be promoted soon to be room leader in the Pre-Toddler room which I've pretty much been running since we went back. If it happens I'll be up for the challenge but if not I'm very happy in Babies.

Today I've done more gardening and some of speakouts laundry magic since it's warm and sunny here. Last night's sunset was amazing, some dark clouds came over and the sky was a real coppery colour, very unusual. I love clouds. As a child I would like out in the garden for hours watching them and seeing pictures in them. My mum always said I was a peculiar child!

I must get back into candle lighting so will do that at 8pm and think of you all.