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.

Mercury's retrograde has been making its presence felt here. Trying to things gently and have had a few days crafting foods in the kitchen. It has made the house smell amazing. I do hope you are right about the fresh energy Speakout it is needed here. I need to do a cleansing but as the other people in the house are actively against it, it is hard to do when they never leave the house atm due to the covid and shielding. Hoping that we can get some medical stuffs sorted so that they need to leave to get that sorted when i can be home to do the cleansing.

HillsBesideTheSea

That's hard - to want to cleanse the house when others are against it.
What is their objection?
I have similar issues, and have to be as unobtrusive as I can sometimes.
You could try using some blessed water in a spray bottle, maybe some moon water, or adding some essential oils or salt. Open windows, invite in the wine.
You can sprinkle salt granules covertly- whispering blessings as quietly as you can.
Anoint and bless a candle and let it burn in in a safe quiet corner.

I can cleanse and bless a room in under a minute while someone nips to the toilet, I can even do it while people are in the room- I can hide in plain sight.

Invisibility has always been a gift for me.
I always thought I would have made a good shoplifter if I had a mind to be!!!!

Chaos and uncertainty and negativity are a huge prescence in my household right now and I am struggling very much.
I am deep into self-care, but because of what I am dealing with it is having limited returns right now.

@HillsBesideTheSea It can be very difficult when you live with others who aren't of the same views. When I lived with my now-ex partner he was very disapproving of any form of religious activity so I kept it to myself. The relief when I moved out and could celebrate and decorate how I pleased!

I have a big candle holder that I often decorate around as a marker of the seasons (at the moment there are pinecones, acorns and conkers), and I found some mini pumpkins the other day which I shall use at the end of the month. My cooking has turned a lot more autumnal too; the last of the jams have been put away for storage and there's just a couple more batches of chutney or jelly to make with the last of the hedgerow fruit. Might make another batch of sloe gin just, erm, in case (there are already two large bottles sitting on the side brewing nicely).

@speakout could I ask your method to cleanse and bless a room? It's not something I've done often, and it usually just involves throwing open the windows, however cold, and lighting some incense, but sometimes I feel that something more needs to be done to clear out stuffy energy.

And thank you for your kindness.

queenrollo I am sorry to hear things are so challenging right now.

I will stand strong with my sisters tonight at 8pm and light a flame to bring strength and new moon energy to our solidarity that we can all share.

BrightYellowDaffodil your autumn preparations sound wonderful.
I don't have complete freedom in my house either- lots of christian visitors, so have to keep lots hidden- my book collection has to stay in my bedroom.

I have lots of ways of cleansing and blessing, and really use what the mood dictates. The physical act of cleaning and sweeping also has a ritual power to it, and that combined with opening windows, to brig in fresh energy- and let out stale or blocked air. I often use music, or chanting, a bell, I sometimes clap, use incense, candles, blessed water, moon, storm or river water, salt, herbs, smudging or smudge spray. I have ritual words that I whisper, sing or shout, repeating phrases.
I vary the way I cleanse my home, depending on many things, but mostly just what feels right.
There isn't a right or wrong way to do this.

Hi, I am here. Showing up.

Hey Spiritwriter showing up is half the battle.

Glad to have you here.

I wanted to post a little early tonight ahead of the 8pm flame.
I know many of us have been struggling this week, for so many different reasons. I am not without my own challenges, and these past times have held me to the flame I have been told by a sister here that I have a warrior spirit- and I had never considered myself in such a way before. And that dear friend- one of our tribe here- has caused me to consider myself in a new light.. I know she will be here tonight. Cloaked and supported.
But tonight is a new moon, and an opportunity for bright beginnings. I have flocks of geese in outside tonight, in formation, honking as they fly to their Northern home.
It is so inspiring and warming to have new members to join our cosy crew. So my candle tonight is for those needing support, energy and love.
Bright Blessings dear sisters.

Just posting to say hello. Will read back through soon. Am hearing all of you in this safe space. X

Good morning everyone. I'm enjoying my heavily salted bath with lavender oil. Then I will take the dog for a walk in my favourite place, the woods for one glorious hour.

Nonamesavail good to have you here.

Beautiful3 that sounds a perfect morning. It is chilly and overcast here.
I am meeting DD today at a place we haven't visited before- The Secret Herb Garden.
DD can't visit me at the moment, Covid rules forbid her, so we are meeting there for coffee and cake. It's a plant nursery specialising in herbs, with a cafe and shop. secretherbgarden.co.uk/

It sounds really interesting and will be lovely to see my DD. She is busy on placement at the moment- mostly night shifts which is exhausting for her, but she has this weekend off.

Catch the magic sisters!

Morning everyone
Tomorrow I go back to work after 4 weeks off which I’m feeling nervous about. I feel it will be a long hard week ahead. On a positive note I feel like I am eating more healthily and taking more responsibility for my own health. I’ll definitely fit in a walk down the woods today too full my senses with Autumn.

Blessed day to you all

Good morning, I'm really enjoying catching up on the posts from the last couple of days and hearing about what you've all been up to.

Speakout that sounds like a really interesting place to visit. Hope you enjoy the time with your DD

Beautiful3 hope you had a lovely relaxing bath and enjoy your walk. I've just got back from a walk with my dog. The colours are fabulous at the moment, I keep stopping to take photos of the trees.

I'm getting ready to meet a friend for lunch shortly. We've not seen each other for a few weeks, so looking forward to a good catch up. It's my birthday tomorrow, so this has been a lovely weekend of celebrations. I went for dinner and cocktails with my closest friends last night and we didn't stop laughing, better than any medicine!

I was reading the posts from a couple of days ago about cleansing a room. There's lots of really simple things you can do to cleanse a room and shift negativity - opening the windows, playing music, lighting a candle or the fire, laughter - all work really well.

Hello all and blessings to you. I'm looking forward to the blue moon samhain. Planning another ritual to help focus me. The flower alters I've had all summer til mabon are replaced by pebbles from the beach now. Still not found any acorns or conkers, but will make a forest visit soon. I think I will make moon water on samhain for cleansing the house. I have ordered some nice looking owl candles as well. I love how these practices anchor intentions and set my will. Or even inform my will at times in unexpected ways.
I really like hearing others rituals and practices on here. So agree with laughter as cleansing

Hope you had a lovely day with your daughter @speakout. Yes @VioletCharlotte I too love the changing colours of the leaves. Took a picture from today.

Hello friends,

So sorry not to have posted more over the last couple of weeks. I check in and read everyone’s news regularly but then life / work etc seems to get in the way of me posting.

I find it so comforting to feel like I’m still touch and I hope to contribute more soon.

I am sorry so many of us are having a hard time. I have been sending energy every night at 8 and will send a special boost tonight.

I had a grounding day today - cleaning, cleansing, cooking and I went to search for spiders in our local park with DD. We found some big ones! I am so pleased DD isn’t scared of them so I like to encourage her to enjoy their webs and the patterns on their backs.

We have a wonderful colourful show of berries in our garden at the moment - everything from bright orange to deep deep purple. The birds are very happy and tucking in merrily... fortunately my cats are too lazy to go out much in the cold which is a help to hungry birds.

I can already feel the energy building for Samhain and the blue moon - exciting! Also I feel like there are heavy tasks ahead which will be productive but I am getting the urge to build up my stocks of energy - like the spiritual equivalent of a squirrel with acorns.

Love, comfort, light and healing to you all xx

Beautiful3 I love the colours in that photo- and thank you- we had a lovely afternoon. A wonderfully magical place. We had coffe and cake, I had some pear, cardamon and salsify cake- was amazing.
GinIsMySaviour thank you for sharing your day with us.
No need to apologise for not posting- this is a place to give and share- often we only want to read, and life can be busy or challenging. I appreciate you joining in the 8. I will be here tonight too- helping build the energy.

I love the energy as we approach Samhain, can you feel the excitement building? It's almost like the air is crackling! I love that, despite everything that's happening in the world, Mother Nature continues with her magic and the wheel of the year continues to turn. I find it really soothing and grounding to hold on to that thought and remember that the universe is so much more powerful than viruses and politicians and the rest if it. I'm very grateful to have this understanding and feel this connection to the earth, and I love that so many of us on this thread feel it too. I wish others felt the same, the world would be a much better place. I guess it's down to us to find subtle ways to weave our magic!

I spent the afternoon tidying my garden, cutting the grass, pulling up old plants and cutting back bushes to get ready for the autumn. I've planted winter pansies in my pots and baskets to bring some colour. I'm rewarding myself for my efforts with a cosy evening on the sofa with my book and some delicious crumble!

@VioletCharlotte yes!! It IS in the air and one of my favorites of the year.

I harvested the last of my potato and carrot crop and we enjoyed them roasted last night, eating around a back garden fire as the dark settled.

Be well witches!!

Checking in!

Hi all
My candle is lit for tonight and I’m about to run myself a relaxing lavender bath .
@speakout looks like a nice place to visit . Glad you enjoyed it . Too far away from me sadly or i may have gone for a wander there sometime myself .
@Beautiful3 I love the autumn leaves too , they were all crunchy underfoot this morning when I walked my dog .
I say walked , my dog is very nervous and wary of everything around him and even though we go out very early before most of the world wake up he still spends a lot of time frozen to the spot checking around him for danger . We have been working with a behaviourist for a year to no avail. It is lovely and peaceful at that time though . Has anyone else ever had a dog with issues like this ?
I have spent all the rest of the weekend at home with my husband and son and I’m grateful that we all felt content to just potter around and eat good food etc . We have been watching some squirrels visiting our garden and a hedgehog too which was nice . I was out there by my rose plant setting intentions (A love spell ) and planting a little seed for my friend Who deserves and really wants new love in her life when the squirrels appeared and surprised me ! They didn’t seem to be worried that I was there .
@sweetkitty good luck going back to work tomorrow and I hope everyone has a good start to the new week .

Hi everyone!

I hope you don't mind me posting!
For as long as I can remember I've been interested in magick and witchcraft, and am slowly learning and growing.

For some crazy reason I am absolutely petrified of spirits and that side of things and I have no idea why, I get paralysed with fear. Does anyone else feel this or am I just a lost cause in this realm?

Thank you in advance to anyone who can shine any light on this!

We went for a beautiful walk this afternoon, you are all so right about it being a magical time of year, I even have favourite trees I like to visit just because they are so beautiful at this time. Last year I planted an Amelanchier in our front garden just a small one (our soul is very heavy clay) it was recommended by MN. It is looking so pretty right now such a deep orange.

Anyway the dog was having a great time diving through the woods chasing real and pretend squirrels, at one point she came back slightly limping but was soon ok. She’s been flat out asleep most of the evening until I noticed her licking her leg, on inspection she has a nasty gash about an inch wide under her armpit. It’s long but not deep in that it’s not actively bleeding. It’s going to need vet attention though probably the skin stitched back and definitely some antibiotics, Ddog is fear aggressive she’s scared of everything too, she’ll have to be muzzled and it’s going to be a whole palaver to have it looked at, she’d be better to be darted like a wild animal. Bad end to a good day.

@sweetkitty I'm sorry to hear about your dog. I wish him a speedy recovery.