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.

Thanks so much @speakout. I'm focusing on self belief, meditation and self care right now. Which is very new to me 🤦🏻‍♀️

Tiredcabbage

I understand. My family are deep christians. Putting yourself at your own core must seem like new territory.

Welcome tiredcabbage, I’m glad you decided to say hello.
I have experience of that kind of fear too- power and control, designed to keep us in our place I think.
Your focus on self belief, meditation and self care sounds perfect. You’ll find lots of friendly faces here, happy to chat about all kinds of subjects. No hierarchy, everyone is as important as each other. I’ve found the support and sisterhood invaluable. It’s good to have you join us

Hello Tiredcabbage and welcome

Speakout thank you so much for the tarot draw. The first card sums up exactly joe I've been feeling the last few days. I've had a few really dark moments (which is unlike me) where I've felt total despair and hopelessness. The second card is a reminder of what we have - friendship, support, female solidarity - and also what we will have again - celebration, renouncing, dancing in the moonlight. Thank you.

Tiredcabbage welcome Very brave of you to 'come out'. You're amongst friends here.

Just popping in to say that I sit with you all daily still, but with my smallest now homeschooling my energies are mostly there and I am trying each day to make a little space for myself.
I have packed my altar away again, something which I tend to do when I can't spend time with it. I always feel like I need to put it to 'bed' somehow and it's in a protective basket wrapped with love. I have candles dotted about the house though and am lighting them as I move through the rooms and meditating on the light.
I am finding this lockdown harder than previous ones, I am finding the isolation from my friends quite distressing now.
Sometimes I find the relentless nature of motherhood stifling, but at this stage am thankful that I have children to motivate me to keep going - I fear if I didn't have this committment I would find it hard to fight off depression.
As always the love and energy of this sisterhood is a balm to me, and a few minutes each day to read your posts is very grounding.

Hi can I join in please
I am struggling with health anxiety and need some peace and guidance.

I try to meditate regularly.
I feel as if I need more but just don't know what or where to turn.

Hello Tiredcabbage and Riv12345 and a warm welcome to out kitchen. find a comfy cushion and help yourself to a brew.

Do have a browse through our previous threads, there's a list near the start of this one, you'll learn a lot and it will give you a good idea of a lot of things you probably never thought of before. Some won't be appealing, so just ignore those and some will sound attractive or pique your curiosity, definitely research those a bit more and see where your interests lie, then follow those.

Anxiety, a few ideas.

Look up locus of control.

EFT is a great thing to have in your toolkit.
www.thetappingsolution.com/blog/releasing-anxiety/
www.thetappingsolution.com/blog/stress-anxiety-tap-along/

Mindfulness - be in the present moment.

Pranayama (breathwork)

Great cards Speakout and fabulous sunrise. Aerwyna, Elphame, Violet and QueenRollo a huge thanks for your insight and input to our wonderful group.
Let's hope tomorrow (or later today!) is a better day for all of us

Riv12345

A warm welcome, make yourself comfortable. I am sorry to hear things are tough for you right now. You will find a soft place to sit here, a listening ear, I see blanktimes has already given you some helpful suggestions and ideas to read through older threads.
Many of us here are no stranger to anxiety. I hope you can find some comfort soon.

I’ve been dipping into these threads for a long time and wanted to thank you all so much for creating such a beautiful space. It’s given me a lot of comfort. I thought I would finally introduce myself!

Like many of you, I am drawn to the natural word, especially to trees, and have always felt that I am able to read signs in nature.

I’ve also read tarot for many years but lately I’ve developed a thirst to know more about it and I did an online course during the first lockdown (I’m in the UK) and am currently reading Rachel Pollack.

I’m also reading Women who Run with the Wolves and that is definitely helping me to reignite the wild woman fire that was starting to burn low. I think it’s given me the impetus to reach out and say hello to you all.

Welcome Lalavande and Riv12345, I’m happy that you’ve joined us. It’s good to hear about your practice and feel the resonance. You’re among friends here

I agree it’s a beautiful, supportive place and has been a lifeline for me. Incredible what we generate energetically and there’s a sisterhood and support that’s always there. Those who post and those who just read all add to the mix.

Wishing everyone goddess blessings today 💫

I thought this was lovely, a well timed reminder:

“Things change.
Swirl and move.
Disintegrate and grow.

We are always stepping into the unknown.

The rock, the anchor, the constant.

Is how we support ourselves in word, feeling and thought.

When we have a loving, caring community within,
stepping into the unknown, the ever changing reality, is a completely different experience.

When you bring safety into your heart.
Comfort into your bones.
Love into your darkness.

Your respect and care of yourself
will hold you
when all around is crumbling. “
————————-
• words Brigit Anna McNeill •
• art Lore Pemberton •
www.lorepemberton.com

www.facebook.com/562976081/posts/10157367113016082/

Thank you, Aerwyna. The poem is lovely and so very fitting for these times.

I am so over this rain!

I took the dog out for a walk by Priddy Nine barrows which is one of our favourite places to walk - well usually! I have never seen it so wet. I ended up having to carry the dog through flooded lane sections or he'd have had to swim ( seriously - and he isn't that small a dog!). Then to add insult to injury both feet slid out from under me and I ended up lying in the mud not knowing whether to laugh or cry!

One very grumpy old witch this afternoon. I have made bread but I'm not sure I actually want to eat it....

Lalavande welcome- happy to have you here. Kick off your shoes and relax by the fire.
Aerwyna a beautiful poem, very calming and inspiring.
Elphame sorry to hear you are so soggy right now, quite wet here too, but it is the relentless low temperatures that I have been finding hard.
I did notice a lighter afternoon today, the great wheel is turning.

On the positive side - the first snowdrops are up in the garden. As my Imbolc is next week that is perfect timing

Evening all, I’m tired now had a big kitchen clear out today felt the need today. Not had a good week I’ve been working all week leaving my DC at home with my DH who is also trying to work at home full time. Coming home to stressed hubby and DC. Feel like such a failure right now I know it’s the way it is with Covid but it’s so hard.

Hello

I don't post here, I just lurk

But I just wanted to say, today you have all really helped me not to fall in a very dark place. Thank you all

AcornAutumn
Very pleased to hear you feel a bit better and thank you so much for coming to say hello and telling us. Your post has touched my heart.

Always tea in the pot and a place by the fire for you. I hope you have a peaceful evening

Aerwyna thank you for the poem, lovely words that resonate right now.

Elphame I sympathise, the mud is driving me mad! All my dog walking haunts look like the Glastonbury festival after being trampled across by hoards of bored families for the last few months! My dog, being a typical spaniel, loves the mud and I'm forever bathing him.

AcornAutumn thank you for posting and I'm glad you're feeling a bit better.

SweetKitty it's tough at the moment isn't it? Be gentle on yourself, you're doing the best you can in incredibly difficult circumstances.

Speakout yes! I realised today that it was still light at 4pm. There's a very tiny sniff of Imbolc in the air.

AcornAutumn

I am so glad to hear you have been helped by this group. All are welcome- posters, lurkers, once in a whilers, all very welcome. Always warmth and hot tea.
sweetkitty you are doing your best in very difficult circumstances, your situation sounds vey tough. Sometimes we can't make everything right, go easy on yourself.

A ten hour sleep last night has left me calm and refreshed the sky is a deep glowing azure as she prepares for sunrise.

I plan to put a simmer pot on the go this morning as I start my day, for an added boost, one wih magical intent of course!

A long sleep can be such a tonic can’t it speakout, I slept deeply last night too. Love the sound of your simmer pot with its magical intent.

I saw this on fb and thought it was interesting. I’m not sure about the idea of life as a test or that to grow we must experience pain,although I do think there’s potential for growth in difficult circumstances. The part that really spoke to me was about focusing on setting down roots when all seems out of our control,

“When you are up against a wall, be still and put down roots like a tree, until clarity comes from deeper sources to see over that wall”

Sympathies to those of you struggling with the mud! My walks have been getting progressively muddy - and melancholy - over the last week or two. I persuaded my perpetually cheerful 11-year old to come with me today and that made it all seem more fun. And we saw our first snowdrops of the year.

Has anyone come across Gillian Monks' work on 'Walking with the Goddess'? She looks at a Welsh Goddess or God each month of the year and provides a mediation and some practical tasks. Each session usually costs £5. I've purchased the last couple and can recommend - although I admit I haven't done all the suggested tasks! I love the mediations though. She has just launched the January session and it's free. You will see it if you scroll right to the bottom of this link:

www.earthwalking.co.uk/walking-with-the-goddess/

I live in Fenland so whenever it rains for any sustained period of time it gets very muddy/soggy underfoot here. My poor garden is trashed, but as I have to walk it every day to tend to the chickens that is unavoidable!

We have suffered a 3rd family bereavement in a 12 week period and I am grieving today. The other two were due to illness, and though sooner than anticipated they were 'expected' nonetheless. Sadly the one who died yesterday was a bolt from the blue and left us reeling.
Not being able to gather for comfort and remembrance is making a difficult situation so much harder - and indeed even the practicalities. They were single, living alone but with pets which at short notice now need re-homing. Normally just all driving over there and dealing with this would be a simple practicality.

I went for a lie down and meditation just after lunch and must have been tired as woke 2 hours later from a deep slumber.

Hello and a big psychic hug to all who are finding the January trudge especially hard this year. I have a stew bubbling away (in a slow cooker rather than a cauldron, but modern times etc) and have been doing a lot of bread baking. I think I’m in full hunkering down mode.