Any Witches Here? Part 12.

[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.

speakout - I have bought crystals especially and I’m going to try my first spell tonight I’m quite excited

sweetkitty

How exciting!!

Good morning sisters.

Speakout I love your intention for today 💫 I love this time of year when we move into October and the vail thins as Samhain approaches. It's such a magical time!

I've got some spell work planned for the weekend, so I'll be making moon water tonight and using the mon energy to cleanse my tools, all very exciting!

VioletCharlotte

How lovely. A busy moon tonight!
I don't do a huge amount of formal spellwork these days, perhaps only 7 or 8 times a year. I do love the build up and planning for a spell, has to be an empty house though- and that rarely happens!
I tend to weave magic into lots of little things, I am thinking about the frozen candle spells that some of us have done the past few winters.
I would use one when the inlaws were around at christmas, a melting frozen candle sending out calming peaceful energy as it manifests- witchcraft hiding in plain sight.
Luckily my OHs family are hugely supportive and very interested in my craft- so that would intrigue them.
It's my side of the family that take a very dim view- and I have to hide my activities from.

Happy full moon everyone.

I am preparing for the waning moon. I am planning on planting some root veg for over winter growing. So I want everything I intend to use cleaned and cleansed and ready for that working.

I am not sure about specific full moon workings. I have lost track of the moons of late. Tbh i have lost track of far too much recently. It is a half day focus only. This morning has been a stay in bed restful kinda day. But i need to move and tend to some tomatoes that was harvested before the temperature dipped too low. And i need to consider the cucumbers and how long i dare leave them for the weather. I also need to prep for some indoor herb sowings for winter growing.
So some very gentle everyday kinda magical stuff happening here. But that is my favourite kind of magic. I don't like formalised, structural stuff in really any area of my life so it should be no surprise to me that this is the route i prefer to practise.

For anyone who is interested planting by the signs is an interesting concept to look up, and easy to look up and research as it is an Appalachian practice that is still so commonly used that it is covered in the farmers almanac and old farmers almanacs to differing degrees as a good jumping off point to start with. The ties to magic are interesting and from there delving deeper into the more magic side is easy if you are so inclined. It depends on your path and interests.

Hello all. I was previously posting under DymaFi, but had to close that, along with several other things and start again due to some issues.
I performed my first cleansing today, being a new month with a full moon, acquiring some new crystals and some witch runes, as well as having a freshen up in the house, I thought today seems like the right time! So all the above and myself were bathed in the smoke of a sage, rosemary and thyme smudge stick, negative energy banished, what no longer serves me released, and gratitude expressed for the positive things in my life, and new intentions set. Maybe not quite a text book ritual, but I said how I felt and what I want going forward from the heart, so hopefully the outcome will be a positive one. I felt calm but drained afterwards, so have spent a few hours out in the rain (which is quite heavy in my little corner of Wales at the moment!), having an elemental cleanse and recharge with my dog and my horse.
I hope all your spell work and rituals for tonight are fruitful and fulfilling.
Blessed be

Speakout I don't really do much formal spell work but the time just feels right. October's such a witchy month!

It's funny that you mention your frozen candles, weirdly I was thinking about them yesterday. I was thinking about candles and how I should invest some time in learning to make them them, and it got me thinking about how you make candles and the ice ones you made last year. I remember the pics you shared, they were lovely.

Hills really interesting. I don't know that much about planting, but I'm learning. I'm a strong believer in following nature's cycles and the old ways of doing things. There's so much we can learn from traditional practises.

Bwgan good to read about your cleansing ritual. Can you feel a shift in the energy?

@violetcharlotte, yes to a degree I can, I do feel lighter in myself, and clearer headed. I'm hoping that I did do enough to create a fresh start within, I have been in sore need of one for a while, just been rather negligent with my own wellbeing and beliefs, putting others first.

Hello!! Checking in and had some thoughts about October. We have a blue moon (2 full in one month) Oct 1 and Oct 31. It's quite a special time. Share your blue moon rituals!

Delphinium20

Yes, and a full moon at Samhain will be very special.

Morning everyone did my first ever full moon spell last night, a cleansing one to let go of all the negative thoughts I have, I do feel clearer and lighter today but could just be a coincidence. The moon was stunning last night though, left my new crystals out all night too. Off to do my yoga in a bit. Have a lovely day everyone

Morning sisters.

As ever I have been checking in and reading but not really felt up to contributing.
I've had an odd couple of weeks, culminating in what I now see was a great source of negative energy being removed from my life. It's tinged with sadness too, but I brought it into my moon ritual last night and will use the waning of the moon to carry it away from me.

It's such a mixed time of year, I struggle with the failing light and cooler temps and my mood is affected. Yet I also feel at my witchiest (I think many of us do, my social media is full of Season Of The Witch posts) and so I am leaning into that heavily to get me through. I'm building new little daily rituals.

Blessed Be all x

sweetkitty I am glad your spellcasting went well, a cleansing ritual is perfect if you are new to the practice- sweeping out all the old and stuff that is not needed.
queenrollo your energy always contributes to these threads, post if you can, but otherwise just sit and drink tea with us.

Yes the waning moon is a perfect time to let go, let it wash away, the last waning moon before Samhain, so very powerful.

I see the last full moon on Samhain was 19 years ago- we are in powerfully changing times!

Evening all,

Just catching up with the thread with a cup of tea, it's been a really busy week with work and other things. I've also lost track of the moons but how fantastic that the next full moon falls on Samhain. I love this time of year, autumn is such a lovely season. It's sad that so many of the things we'd enjoy over the autumn/winter won't be happening as usual but I'm determined to mark things in other ways. I like to do something for Samhain as well as the trick or treating for my DC- this year that will be off the cards so I'll do a sweet hunt around the house instead. Last year I did a Harry Potter party for them so something similar may be good this year!

Does anyone have any particular Samhain traditions? Or any plans for this year?

Wishing you all a lovely weekend ✨

Evening sisters, what a wet and windy night! It's good to join you round the fire for tea and good company.

Samhain this year should be a vey special one with the full moon. As a child, Halloween was always my favourite festival, you can feel the magic crackling in the air. When my DS were younger, I used to love helping them get dressed up and taking them trick or treating and we had a couple of brilliant Halloween parties. Now they're older, I still like to put decorations up outside and have sweets for the little ones. I guess trick or treat won't happen this year in the same way, there's talk of a pumpkin trail here so I hope it
DS still be a fun time for children.

Once all the fun and games are over, I like to use the time to quietly honour my ancestors. I have photos of my grandparents and great grandparents on my altar and I light a special candle. I have a guided visualisation that I use to connect with my ancestors that makes me feel very safe and loved.

It is a wet morning here too- but I slept deeply cradled in the arms of the full moon.
OH and I are going to look at cars this morning, ( new to us anyway) he needs a replacement, and isn't the most practically minded when it comes to choosing vehicles.
Not a fun task for me, cars are a necessary evil, but living where we do public transport isn't much of an option.

I am loving all this talk of Halloween.

DS and I went out for an Indian meal last night which was wonderful, food was delicious and chat was light and easy.
In the car on the way back we planned our imaginary perfect grown up Halloween party.
His friends, my friends, absinthe punch, a quiet room for Tarot reading, invocations at midnight, bonfire in the garden, dancing, a whole house party.
Not that it will happen- at least not anytime soon, but lovely to have a flight of the imagination.
DD and I often do this with holidays too, we travel an imaginary journey, last one was Athens, Delphi and ferry to Skopelos, we talk through the food, the snorkeling on the beach, the golden sunsets.

I guess it's a bit of pathwork, we all emerge at the other side of the journey or event feeling good about what we have done!

Off for a spa shower and a quck yoga session before my day starts.
Have a wonderful weekend sisters.

VioletCharlotte it's definitely my favourite time of year, I love the whole month of October, especially cool crisp autumn days, if only this weekend were like that! I like your tradition of honouring ancestors, I'll try to do the same. Spells are not something I do regularly, but I'm considering something bigger this Samhain.

Speakout I love the sound of yours and your DS' perfect Halloween party, that sounds fabulous. I think I'm going to spend some time this month practising Tarot a bit more, it's not something I do very often.

I'm not feeling particularly well today, an ongoing cold/post viral thing (not Coronavirus related!), so am going to enjoy a quiet day with my family relaxing at home and possibly planning things for Samhain whilst staying cosy at home ☕️ 🍂 🕯

RainbowParadise I hope you are feeling better soon.

Back home, still a very wet and dull day here.

We went car hunting today- OH really needs a replacement.
So strage I had this dream a few months ago about a particular car - make and model, even colour.
It was a strange dream as I have zero interest in cars, and this is a slightly unusual make of car with a slightly odd name, not flash, quite a pedestrian car- I can't even remember hearing the brand of car outside my dream.
I ended up googling it and saw that it would be a good car to fit our needs, basic, but inexpensive running costs. So it's been a bit of a joke between OH and I.
So this morning we walked around a car dealer yard, driving rain and there was the car standing there. Same colour, same make and model. The registration number is my initials followed by my date of birth, and the price was a lot less than we expected to pay.
How could we not buy it.
So we did- we pick it up tomorrow.
Such huge synchronicity!

I like the thinking ahead to Halloween, what a wonder that it is also a blue moon this year.
Today I have done some laundry magic in the chilly air, fixed an increasing problem, had a haircut, made lovely bread, been out in the fresh air for a run and knitted a slipper (have just cast on its pair). Know I'm going to go out again and wander in the nearby wooded park. Maybe collect some things to make an autumn wreath (and give service to/thank the earth by picking some litter along the way).

Yesterday we got a delivery of a local, organic veg box which included a pumkin and some very lovely beets and local apples. The harvest bounty continues with some lovely autumnal colours in the vegetables.

I'm hoping Samhain is a clear, cold evening, so that I can go out and bathe in the moonlight whilst walking the dog, or sorting the horse... I love tending to my animals on a clear night and just enjoying and absorbing some of nature's magic that most tend to miss as they are inside. I like the idea of doing something to honour the dear departed, but am stuck as to what to do, maybe because the ones I wish to honour are animals! I seem to have much more of a connection with them than people, and let them into my heart so much more. No rain here as yet, but the wind has been whistled up, so I have spent the afternoon making sure the garden birds will have food and shelter, and my beloved has built a wind break for the horse to hide behind, as it has decided to come from a direction where the natural shelter cannot help her. Wishing you all a comfortable and cosy evening

BwganOther creatures are amazing, and great reminder that we too are animals- a connection to the earth. I am lucky to see a lot of wildlife, birds, squirrels, deer and lots of river animals too.
A beautiful still morning here, damp after a night of torrential rain.
rivierliedje I know many of us here love autumn too, it does seem like a witching season.
I was asked yesterday to give a talk to the women's group at a local church. Not for the first time.
One of the organisers had phoned to speak with my mother ( a devout christian). My mother was having a nap, so instead we had a chat.
The woman has family problems so ended up pouring her heart to me.
As a result she wants me to speak to the woman's group at the church about staying afloat and self care in hard times.
Not sure if the Baptist church knows thay are inviting a witch to give advice!!
Hiding in plain sight......

Speakout I love those kind of synchronicities, and for the registration to be so personal to you as well, there's no way you could have walked away from that car! How lovely to have had some 'help' in making your choice too. Magic indeed.

rivierliedje it sounds like you had a productive day yesterday, that really sounds like such a lovely day, especially baking and knitting!

Bwgan tending the animals must be a lovely thing to do, and the best way to connect to nature. I agree it can be easier to let them in than people at times.

I'm enjoying a lazy Sunday, reading whilst watching the rain outside. Although some dry weather wouldn't go amiss!

Do others ever feel the need to hide or lie about pagan practices?
My family are so religious, and given that my business is also connected to witchcraft there are a lot of lies in the family.
My mother is ashamed of what I do, she tells lies to my sister ( very fundamental christian) about my work. My sister's adult daughter does work for me sometimes, designs product labels, helps with my web site, and we have to keep it secret from my sister and her other daughter. My mother tells her friends that I am an Avon rep, but they have started asking me for brochures, which makes it very tricky!!
All such a web of lies.

speakout, some of my family are very Christian, the others are just very judgemental, so I too have to hide who I am and what I do. As a result, I have become fairly low to no contact with them, and can feel very isolated and unsupported at times. My husband isn't bothered, he's interested in the moon phase and nature aspects of what I do, but apart from that, leaves me to it. The dog loves to join in on everything though! I share your pain of having family members act like they are ashamed of what you do, and am sending some solidarity your way. Your business sounds awesome by the way, much more interesting and unique than Avon!! I would love a link to your website if possible please?

The weather has been wild and windy and wet overnight and still is really (my laundry is going to be very fresh when it finally dries !

I don't hide as such, but then I'm don't really do much in the way of spells etc, more just bringing nature in to the home/my life. I don't call it my altar in front of most people (except my partner), but other than that no hiding. Then again I don't know any devout religious people. The majority of people I know were brought up catholic and aren't believers or vaguely believe in god but don't practise (except christmas/easter traditions etc). Of the christian traditions I think catholicism is probably least likely to frown on pagan practises in some ways, because they absorbed so many of them in to (local) catholic tradition: christmas trees, advent wreaths, st bridget=goddess bridget, holy wells/trees, pilgrimages up to a mountaintop, wren day, etc most of these things predate christianity and have pagan roots.
Sorry, went off on a bit of a tangent there.

Second slipper is knitted and I just need to sew them up now (if I can find where I misplaced my darning needles), wrap them and post them out to my nan.