Any Witches Here? Part 14.

[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.

Welcome to the weekend sisters. I hope there is calm ahead for those struggling with anxiety or dealing with challenging emotions. moregarlic I can only imagine how you feel having a precious little one arrive during pandemic times, and your worries for the future.
Despite the world’s problems I feel very privileged to have brought my children into the world at this time. I can look back to the time I was born in the 1960s; women’s rights were appalling, social care bad. I grew up in a large poverty stricken council estate where welfare was dreadful. Children malnourished, carried parasites, “domestic” violence the norm. And looking back a generation or two to my mother’s or grandmother’s time, situations were often worse. No contraception, no support for women who often had to endure abuse, no hope of economic independence, no voice, no access to education, no vote. Only a few hundred years ago children were used in the mining industry in my town, adults used in indentured labour, girls forced into servitude. I don’t want to dwell on the horrors of the past, and I know these times have challenges too, but if I could choose a time in history to have children- it would be now. I hope you don’t mind me using these examples, but if I do start to worry about the future for my children I take a moment to pause and think about the realities of human life
It’s a grey start here today, and I have to work, I had an impromptu lunch with my DD yesterday and a mini shopping trip- ending in Starbucks for some Hibiscus iced tea. So losing that time has set me back a little. But no matter! I have been practicing a very mindful way of working lately, with flow and ease. Deliberate and with calm. It feels slower, but in fact I am getting just as much work done, my calmer thoughts are more organised, I make fewer mistakes, I forget less! It also doesn’t leave me feeling so tired at the end of a work session. My natural tendency is to work a breakneck speed with gritted teeth trying to get things finished as quickly as I can. I – like many of us- have/do struggle with anxiety, and tackling activity with such gusto and fervour can often feed that beast. Being mindful in my activities really helps ease stress that can lead to anxiety for me.
So I am off to the gym this morning- just a quick class then settle down to a day of work, chamomile tea, scented candles, some podcasts, and music.
I hope you all find some easy magic today.

Thank you speakout I’ve been dealing with a spike of anxiety these last few days but feel calmer now. I’ve very much enjoyed the rain between the sunshine here and have been drawn to be out in it when it starts. So soothing and refreshing.

Lots of wonderful posts I’d like to join in and chat about but for now I just wanted to say hello and thank you to everyone for all you share here, the energy here is beautiful, always a comfort and inspiration. Love to all for a peaceful evening

I was reading that lots of homing pigeons have gone astray and they think they may have been affected by recent solar flares - and the penny dropped for me that maybe this is why so many of us have felt unsettled and anxious recently!

It's ended up being a good day here after lots of plans were upended yesterday, and there were tears of disappointment all round. We pulled our socks up today and made the best of it.

I have been really stuck recently. So today i decided to do one of my favourite i feel out of control and not coping spreads to see if i could get something to help me figure out how to unstuck. (spread layout in photo) I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to give their two pence on it because i know i am a bit too close to this to see completely clearly. I used the green witch tarot deck which is likely to be necessary information as it is slightly different to the normal system.

For how i currently feel: 6 pentacles
For what I physically need: 21 the world tree
For what i emotionally need: four of athames
For what i mentally need: 0 -the green man
For what i spiritually need: ace of pentacles

I am not sure if i am being thrown by the fact that i don't work with this deck enough really or if i am just too blinkered by "stuck" and not listening correctly. So any opinions would be appreciated.

This might seem an odd place to post this
I am emotionally exhausted
I know what things I need to do but I can't seem to do them
Hopefully the spirits will nurture me and I will feel better tomorrow. The adrenals have taken a beating the last couple of days.

I need an 8pm energy lowering to calm down but it doesn't happen and I end up raging at 3am

I really need to do some yoga but the adrenals are too overwhelmed for that even

Today must be a turning point, I hope.

Ostara - i have learnt the hard way that if i need to do something but feel like i can't because i am over whelmed - expecially if it is something like taking time out or looking after myself, then i HAVE to make sure i do it. Because it does help in the long run. And i probably need to make myself do the self care more than give in to the overwhelm.

I went out in the hills tonight. not long got back. Apparently i flew through them like an over excited child. it did almost feel like flying and my only regret was running out of light! I meant to take a picture when i got to the bridge over the stream but it was just too dark for my camera to deal with it. Maybe one day i will manage to get up and get there in the light.

Ostara212 welcome and sorry to hear you are feeling so overwhelmed.
Do you have support around you? Have you spoken to your GP about your feelings?

A bright sunny day is forecast here, although still cool and misty.
I have a stack of laundry to do- it will be perfect for drying.
Compensates in some way for all the jesus stuff I have to endure today!

Is things back to pre covid levels Speakout? Mother is leading several bible studies this month and it is all a bit religiously tense around here.

HillsBesideTheSea8 still some restrictions- churches, gyms, dentists, beuaty salons. In churches huge restrictions on numbers, social distancing masks, no singing or communion I think. Not that I have been in a church for many years!!

@speakout

Ostara212 welcome and sorry to hear you are feeling so overwhelmed. Do you have support around you? Have you spoken to your GP about your feelings?

GP -lol!

Not lol at you lovely people, just lol at GP.

Hills thank you. Usually what happens with me is the overwhelm burns itself out. If I try to make myself do something I don't want to, I end up just stopping, so I will do the ten minutes of yoga and whatever and then reject it and be even more cross. Last time I got the mat out, looked at it, sighed, and put it away.

Something has to change, I hope.

I'm mostly just ranting, thanks for listening.

@HillsBesideTheSea

I have been really stuck recently. So today i decided to do one of my favourite i feel out of control and not coping spreads to see if i could get something to help me figure out how to unstuck. (spread layout in photo) I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to give their two pence on it because i know i am a bit too close to this to see completely clearly. I used the green witch tarot deck which is likely to be necessary information as it is slightly different to the normal system.

For how i currently feel: 6 pentacles
For what I physically need: 21 the world tree
For what i emotionally need: four of athames
For what i mentally need: 0 -the green man
For what i spiritually need: ace of pentacles

I am not sure if i am being thrown by the fact that i don't work with this deck enough really or if i am just too blinkered by "stuck" and not listening correctly. So any opinions would be appreciated.

@HillsBesideTheSea, I'll have a go at your spread, though I have not used the Green Witch deck. Card 1 - you seem to be in a position where you are able to help people, especially with time, but I'm feeling here that some are taking more than is reasonable, you feel somewhat taken for granted.

Card 2 - You physically need a change of scenery! Even if you visit somewhere you're very familiar with, seeing it at this time will make a positive difference.

Card 3 - The four of athames indicates you need some time out, emotionally. Meditation would be particularly helpful at this time.

Card 4 - Mentally, nature is what you need. Often, problems we are facing can be assessed more clearly when out walking in nature - it seems to unlock creative areas of our brains.

Card 5 - Spiritually, I feel you are craving something new, a new angle, a new way of looking at things, maybe? I am also feeling you will be looking into a spiritual gift you already have much deeper. It's like you have had inklings of this gift in the past, but have never explored it.

This is a really earthy draw, and I feel you have your feet planted firmly in good foundations. Things are slowly falling into place!

Hi all,

I haven't been on the thread for a while but am very new and exploring.

I wondered if you could help with something?

I've been through a few years of not great mental health and struggling at work, struggling both from a MH perspective but also because the work I was doing felt like the wrong thing to me.

Working with a lot of the wrong people (ruthless workaholics) and on things that felt out of line with my integrity.

I now have a new job and am feeling good and optimistic - both about the job and my MH.

I'd like to do some kind of ritual in my home to clear out any residual negative energy from times of sadness/depression and replace it with more positive/healing energy.

What would you recommend?

I guess the first step would be a sage cleanse to clear out the old...but what about the new?

Thanks so much...

One thing I feel drawn to is bringing nature in - so have started having more indoor plants.

All other recommendations welcome!

I don't use a sage cleanse because we have a lot of asthma. I prefer a sound and salt water cleanses.
Bringing the plants in sounds lovely mojo

birdlady thank you. that all makes a lot of sense and clarified where my thoughts were trying to form. Thank you for the insight, it is much appreciated.

Hi wheresmymojo we had a long discussion about cleansing in one of the previous threads. IIRC, firstly do what you're comfortable with on banishing. I agree with Hills that sound, from clapping to tingshaws, bells, chimes, singing bowls, drums, chant, overtoning, or other method of choice is great.

Salt water made with sea or rock salt and spring water is a fantastic and invisible cleanser and banisher. Smudge sticks in a bundle can drop embers everywhere so take care. Incense is fine, choose a particular scent to suit. Smudge sprays are lot easier to use and more freshly scented I find.

Filling the void after cleansing by bringing nature in is a fabulous idea, bring in whatever resonates with you and makes you happy, we are all different.

Pebbles and crystals are often my first choice, or when my traditional upbringing shows, then it's representations of earth, air, fire and water.

BlankTimes some great ideas, and great suggestions to look back at prevous posts. It can be hard to find specifics though, I have had to use mumsnet advanced search to find things sometimes.
I too like to use words to cleanse and replace energy. It fits with my liking of ritual and some structural element to my craft. Absolutely a choice of course.
I am enjoying a peaceful evening with cats purring at my feet and a cup of chamomile tea.
Happy Sunday evening sisers.

When I want to clense the house, I get out my broom and sweep it from top to bottom

Hello sisters,

It seems that life is stressful for a lot of us at the moment. I feel that so many aspects of life are up in the air at the moment for most people. We need to listen to that inner calling to ground ourselves and take some time out.

@Ostara212 I too have been through a period of good intentions of doing yoga and other balancing rituals then quitting before getting started. It sounds to me like you need to rewind a bit further, have a sit in your garden with a nice herbal tea. Start with tiny steps to restore yourself.

I had a truly amazing experience today. I went for a private session and my teacher did a cleanse for me. I saw the most beautiful colours, orange, white and violet. Then I sobbed my eyes out. So much tension has melted off me.

Further good news, my grandmothers cat is truly at home with me. He is really helping me. I think he knows that I am here for him. Do any of you mind if I share a picture of him?

Thinking of you all and hoping that this week will see a slow down in the stress and anxiety that the world is forcing upon us.

toto I would love a cat picture!

Alas, no garden. I'm too broken to get out much but I'll mend, or at least sufficiently.

i am happy to see a picture if it brings you joy. i am fond of cats though horribly allergic. so it is always nice to be able to appreciate from a safe distance.

Btw I too have an excellent healer but she is heavily booked and doesn't work evenings or weekends.

But it's probably good to keep it special and not go too often, for me. Keeps costs down too. I am a very practical pagan, which so far has made it very tough to find places to talk.

Hopefully this attaches 🐈‍⬛

@TotoAnnihiliation

Hopefully this attaches 🐈‍⬛

I see a black square...may just be me!

Right, I am trying to wind down...wish me luck.

I can’t see the cat picture either @TotoAnnihiliation but would love to! Lovely to hear that he is settling well and also that your healing session brought lightness and release.

@moregarlic I’m a bit late in saying so but I wanted to say thank you so much for your kind words about my posts. You describe an aspect of me that I felt I had lost somewhere along the way- your words really touched me came just when I needed them- a real gift. Heartfelt thanks from me.

@queenrollo thank you also for sharing your thoughts about the solar flares and their impact on our state of mind. It really rang true for me and I can see that many of our sisters here have struggled too at a similar time. It was so helpful to me to be able to both detach and connect by seeing it in this way

I’ve enjoyed reading the cleansing/clearing discussion here and also use many of the techniques described by our wise sisters, depending on what feels right at the time. Like speakout, my psyche responds well to ritual so cleansing will often include an element of this for me. In the past I have also used a bowl of ice cubes in the middle of a room where there has been tension, charged it to absorb the tension as the water changes state and then poured it away. I agree with Blanktimes that it feels important to fill the space that’s been cleared with something that feels positive- an antidote to the thing we seek to clear. @Ogress I love the thought of you wiping up an energetic storm, clearing the way with your besom!

@VioletCharlotte I hope you’ve had a replenishing few days away. It looks like you had mixed weather but I hope you were able to get in the sea anyway. I always think there’s something magical about swimming in the sea in the rain- not so much when you get out and want to get dry I know!

A cooler but dry day here for now, storm warnings in place but I’m not holding my breath on that one- I’ll enjoy it if it happens. I have work to do but I’m thinking about putting up shelves and rearranging my books. I love books and seem to acquire many…all treasured..(I do pass on ones that no longer interest) it’s not hoarding if it’s books is it?!

Wishing everyone the kind of magic they most need today