Any Witches here? Part 13

[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.

I am in awe of you wild swimmers. I don't cope well with cold temperatures, it sounds amazing, but I am too much of a coward to try. I have watched the videos of Jonna Jinton taking ice baths in Sweden, I would struggle to try that too.
I love warmth, baking sun, hot weather. I am never too hot in this country- ever. But then I do live in Scotland!!
The sunny morning has given way to an overcast and cold afternoon.
I have been working at a good steady pace, making candles and talismen, with some breaks to do some shopping and a visit to the post office.
I have also tidied my altar, made my Ostara tree, elder this year, with paper mache eggs, quite simple, but lifts my spirits when I walk into the kitchen. I will plant the branches in my garden afterwards, such a useful shrub, and despite being hollow the woody stems make surprisingly good wands. Very light, and a good diameter.
The flowers and berries are useful in the kitchen too.
A quiet night ahead- is there any other sort these days!!

Magical blessings dear friends.

Can I ask you where you get your candle supplies speakout? I made my first candle with a kit I was sent as a present and am now hooked, but don't know where to get the wax and wicks from to make more.

GoLightlyontheEarth

I buy my wax and wicks on ebay.
Candle tins from Tinware direct.
tinwaredirect.com/collections/all?ppc_keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAjwr_uCBhAFEiwAX8YJgRgvDkGFEIGYuvIhNRKxSBCk9jBnYMRpqGTWAZ1v65Es_IxrYTOqHRoCUfkQAvD_BwE

Thank you so much!

Good morning.

I am enjoying the shift forwards of time. I am really looking forwards to the longer days and natural shift to a higher energy for activity.

Taking this weekend for crafting but weaving in the practical need for general life things as breaks. I am hoping to get out for a long walk tomo. When everyone who is enjoying the weekend has gone back to work. Unfortunately the natural trails are probably knee deep in mud and thus to walk them would be to compound the damage. So it will probably a walk along the main roads to the next town and back. But there is always nature making itself felt to be discovered.

I have just transitioned some cold weather lettice outside and need to figure out how i am going to pot up the herbs I started on the windowsil. Possibly should have got some peas started last month/earlier this month but they will grow if I plant them so I am going to try to do that this week. Lots of gardening type stuff going on here. Which is very soothing. Other members of the house hold are not quite so taken with the idea of the lounge windowsil covered with herbs. So i might try to find an edible flower to throw in there. I have calendula and nasturtium so they might work. I have sunflower seeds to thrown in the garden too. It has been so nice to see the sap rising and the trees bloom the hayfever not so much I really feel like i am beginning to transition out of my winter hibernation also.

I hope that you have to opportunity to do something you love and brings your soul joy today.

I would love to get into wild water swimming as I love the water and I'm drawn to it and I think it would help me to be distracted from some emotional difficulties I'm having. Unfortunately, not so keen on the cold!

I want to plant some herbs too. I have copious amounts of lavender -my favourite but not sure what else to plant. Anyone else have a favourite? They wouldn't really be used for culinary purposes, more for wreath making and smell.

basil and rosemary are strong scented. if you allow basil to flower it is often considered to be bee friendly/ encouraging. I tend to grow the herbs i like to cook/use. But there are things like pineapple sage and applemint that could be interesting to look into.

I am excited about my purple basil.

Definitely rosemary and I also loved my sage plant - it's not looking like it's survived this last winter though :(

Yes, I was thinking about planting some rosemary. I think that will be next on the list. Basil is the one herb I've used in cooking - fussy dc = basic meals, so maybe some basil too.

Good morning,

I hope everyone felt some release with the full moon.

I’m enjoying all this talk of planting and imagining everyone’s homes full of new growth and possibility. Another fan of rosemary and lavender here. I have parsley, basil and coriander on the kitchen windowsill and mint, sage, chives and thyme outside. I love the chive flowers when they bloom and also enjoyed planting borage and echinacea for the flowers last year, although the borage didn’t last- not sure why!

The neighbours have all been out giving their grass the first cuts of the season, everything neat and tidy! I haven’t done mine as it’s full of self seeded primroses. Both me and the bees prefer it as it is for now!

I hope everyone’s week is getting off to a smooth start.

Good morning. I'm struggling a bit this morning. I seem to always sleep badly during a full moon and suffer from headaches and nausea. I've been doing a bit of research into this and it seems to be a fairly common phenomena. I'm so tired, I could happily crawl back into bed for another few hours!

I planted some rosemary and thyme in pots last year, they seem to be doing quite well. I'd love to have flower beds full of lavender and herbs, but nothing seems to grow very well in my garden.

Sorry to hear that Violet, sending love for a gentle day. I had a headache and felt under the weather yesterday too. I think this full moon has been a powerful one on an emotional level too, go as gently as you can and I hope you sleep soundly tonight x

@HillsBesideTheSea "it takes a very strong person to acknowledge that they need to take time to rest and heal. It goes against society conditioning, especially for women" - that really resonated with me and actually made me tear up. How true are those words? I love the empty cup saying and parrot it out all the time, sounds like I need to listen to my own advice. For what it's worth, I love the idea of a windowsill covered in herbs - beautiful and practical.

@Aerwyna "I’ve been learning that feeling this way is a sign to give ourselves space, rather than push on." this is exactly it for me too. I find the more I push on, the more bedraggled and useless I become! I have made a note of the Netflix recommendation, I love an obscure reference. I smiled so much at your comment about you and the bees preferring your lawn the way it is, just lovely.

@VioletCharlotte I hope you can get to the coast soon, it really is a tonic for the soul isn't it? I loved your observation about the media lauding women who "snap back" after birth. It's so incredibly damaging. If I have another baby I will not be getting out of bed for two weeks! . Sorry to hear the full moon messes with your sleep, I hope you get some excellent rest and wake up with a clear head tomorrow.

@hilariousnamehere your altar sounds perfect for your needs and has inspired me to try and set something similar up (perhaps when I have fewer houseguests).

I went for my first swim of the year today - it was utterly glorious! I just wore my swimming costume and it was cold, but nowhere near as bad as I had feared. I felt entirely reinvigorated when I got out and the burst of energy actually lasted all afternoon. I might have to make this a regular habit...

Ps. Some sun baked sea energy for anyone who needs it x

That is lovely MoreGarlic

Sun is shinning here this morning. Insomnia last night is not helping my get up and go. But I have to run an important errand that takes me into the edge of the hills. So that is going to be very spirit renewing.

Hope you all have lovely days

@VioletCharlotte

Good morning. I'm struggling a bit this morning. I seem to always sleep badly during a full moon and suffer from headaches and nausea. I've been doing a bit of research into this and it seems to be a fairly common phenomena. I'm so tired, I could happily crawl back into bed for another few hours!

I planted some rosemary and thyme in pots last year, they seem to be doing quite well. I'd love to have flower beds full of lavender and herbs, but nothing seems to grow very well in my garden.

I’ve been wondering what’s wrong with me. Virtually sleepless night last night. Today I’ve had terrible headaches and nausea . Brain fog, feeling exhausted. Maybe it’s the full moon.

Good evening all! It's lovely to be back in this peaceful space after a hectic few days. Thank you for your kind welcome and sage words. What stood out for me in the Temperance card was one foot in the water and one out. I think I'm not fully committing to things and people. I suspect this is out of fear. I pulled a clarifier which was the Ace of Swords. It has been thought provoking to say the least!

The wild swimming sounds amazingly freeing. I agree there is something about water that draws people to it (it certainly was the first thing to catch my eye in the card). During the full moon I listen to tidal waves in the evenings and it seems to help me to sleep better.

allDaphnesmate04 I grow camomile and calendula. Not herbs but very useful plants to have about, have a unique smell and could look lovely in a wreath.

Oh, ladies. Water magic! I took my boat out for the first time today and I have come back feeling fiercely happy, joyful and relaxed for the first time in many, many months. There may have been a few tears. Sending wild water strength to all who need it - I can't get over how replenished I feel from just a few hours out!

Good morning sisters- it lifts me to hear of all the water joy being shared here.
It is another golden dawn here, so quiet, only birdsong as I start my yoga practice.
I have a rose candle burning and some incense, windows open to let in the morning air.
My short meditation dropped the word "discernment" into my lap, an odd one to land, but I think I need to go about my day with consideration to my choices
Wishing everyone a day filled wth magic.

@HillsBesideTheSea I hope your errand running was a success and you’ve had some better sleep.

@GoLightlyontheEarth how funny - like you yesterday I had a headache, brain fog etc. Was the full moon on Sunday? I wonder if it could have a delayed impact. Id assumed my symptoms were related to the start of the period. Anyway, I hope you’re feeling brighter and more spritely today!

@outofthedarkness I'm pleased you’ve found clarity with your cards. I love the sound of listening to waves! Can you hear them from your house?

@hilariousnamehere your adventure sounds like such restorative fun! What kind of water did you journey on? It sounds like such a good time. It’s amazing what a little bit of joy can do isn’t it?

@speakout I hope all is well, just checking in.

I had a rather unnerving experience yesterday, so I went for another evening dip. It was grey and cloudy and the beach was busy with after work surfers, but it was still refreshing and left me smiling.

I love reading about your gardens and what you’re planting. We’ve just redone our tiny front garden (it was an overgrown mess) and planted lots of hardy coastal plants. I love watching the grasses blow in the wind and I’m already so excited for our flowering plants to bloom!

It’s not really a garden for sitting out in so we’re now redoing our back outside space too. We were going to leave it as we’re planning to know down an old extension in a few years To make more space - but life’s to short! It’s a tiny little decked area, but enough for us to sit out, have a paddling pool and a few pots. I’ve already got a pinterest board for it (I really am a Taurus).

Wishing you all a peaceful day. X

@speakout crosspost! Your morning sounds entirely idyllic. I picked up a gorgeous rose candle from Sainsbury’s the other day, I must get it out. Discernment is a lovely choice of word for the day, I like the idea of going about the day asking “hmmm is this what I really want? Could I make it even better?” (Im thinking of food here haha). I got “robust”. I think after an incident that left being feeling fragile yesterday I need to feel a bit stronger today.

moregarlic

How kind to think of me- no such thing as coincidence in my world!

I so agree about your garden space- many seeds are annuals anyway, always worth brightening up a space- even if it is short lived. A few bright blooms in a corner or pots makes a difference- for us and the insects.
I too have been feeling discommbobulated of late, today a bit more grounded, and have only a little work to do.
So I am sorting out some stuff, clearing boxes catching up with housework. I so rarely get the time to do these things it can seem like a pleasure.
Learning to love jobs that are tedious is one of the many little games I play.
I used to dislike folding and putting away laundry, but I have learned to find the key, take time to find the pleasure in folding- music is essential, or a podcast.

Morning all. I had my Covid jab yesterday, quite an emotional experience. Rough night last night, but I'm taking it as a sign that my immune system is in good working order as it felt like a real battle was raging in my cells last night.

A slow day planned, my husband has taken our son for a stomp round the woods and then we have film lined up for this afternoon with sofa cuddles. My husband is lucky that he can often move work commitments round to suit us like this. He will be in phone meetings all afternoon and maybe through tea-time but that's OK.

It's such beautiful weather, I did a lot in the garden yesterday but am feeling a bit like a flat tyre today so I'm going to sit in the sunshine, read a little and maybe snooze.

queenrollo

Sorry to hear the vaccine has mad you feel unwell. I think it can feel like a battle in your body.
Take your time and don't push yourself hard, it was a few days before my DD and OH felt back to normal.

Inspired by my soul sisters I took myself for a walk along the beach this morning.
It was so uplifting.
The tide was out very far, and the sea mist made the horizon a blur, the sky forming a liminal meeting with the ocean, it was impossible to see where the sea ended and the sea began.
A meeting of water and air.
There were hundreds of feeding seabirds, gannets, gulls, guillemots and I could see the ethereal outline of Fidra, one of the islands nearby- apparently which sparked the novel Treasure Island for RS Stevenson who was living nearby.
It felt good to feed my soul. Thanks for inspiring me!