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.

moregarlic

The thing with parenting- we will mess up, we do mess up, but if we act from a loving place then that's OK.

I was lucky to stumble upon a parenting organisation when I had my first child, led me down a path of attachment/NVQ etc.
But I also learned that being a "perfect" parent is not desirable, in fact there is no such thing- being good enough is all that is needed.
Children need to see that their parents are human that they get it wrong, that they sometimes make poor decisions, that they lose their rag.
It a far greater nurturing environment for a child to see how a parent acts when we mess up- how we recover, how to make amends, how to admit mistakes ( yes even to our kids) how we as adults are learning and growing. We can model how to recognise and accept our actions, how to apologise, how conflict resolution works, how we can recognise our own challenges yet work around them to live a joyful life.

Once that clicked for me the burden of guilt vanished.
I am allowed as a parent to get it wrong, to mess up- no child wants a perfect two dimensional stepford wife as a parent.
That does nothing to prepare them for their own life situations. Life can be wonderful and beautiful, but also gritty and raw,
By being imperfect we teach our children how to be human.

Hello again!
I am another mother that has felt incredible guilt over how I parent. I had an awful birth experience and then PND, and for the longest time, felt I was not good enough to be a mother. Over the years, I have had to remind myself I am doing the best I can with what I have, and when I look at my DS now, tall, strapping and free-spirited, I get a warm glow - I did it, after all!
Talking of bees, I saw plenty very early on in the year, this dwindled off as Summer approached, strangely. Although a couple of weeks ago, I was quietly watching a film on TV when I heard a strange hum. I looked out the window and saw such a huge swarm of bees! It really warmed my heart when I was feeling so low, and I had never seen anything like it. I love bees.

A cloudy day here, today, but enough of a breeze to dry my laundry!
The robin chicks, for the most part, have been chased off by their dad, but at least one keeps stopping by for a meal now and then! It's not been a great year here for birds - I saw only 2 blackbird chicks, and one of those had a deformed beak, so we fed them special chunky food so it could manage to feed itself, 4 robin chicks, a few sparrows, goldfinch, tits, dunnocks. One of my favourites were the wren chicks - we have a resident wren we call Bob who is quite tame, and I just loved watching him getting harassed by his fledglings for food - so loud! Some years, we have been teeming with chicks of all kinds - a few years ago, one of our robins had at least 3 nests on the go at the same time with different mates, and had multiple broods with them, too - it nearly killed him! I have a video somewhere of him stood on the mealworm box with his harem stood on the wall, waiting to be fed, all looking at each other, puzzled.

Right, off for a spot of dusting and smudging, may everyone's day sparkle with new moon magic

love hearing of all your bird neighbours. I am enjoying a morning coffee ( in bed) listening to bird song. This morning it is the exuberant chattering of magpies, wood pigeons and a blackbird. It is a delight to listen to them, very therapeutic.
I was so happy yesterday to find such a selection of perennial plants in Morrisons, all £2, healthy and strong- not even a marked down price. My neighbour ripped down a dividing mixed hedge- such a shame it was home to a lot of creatures and birds, and has built a long 7 foot wooden fence. It looks quite stark, so I need to get planting. Plants can be expensive though! So the Morrisons plants were quite a find. I have bought 4 climbers, but I think I will go back today to buy more- they had a huge variety. And this wet spell is perfect for planting! I won’t see much from the plants this year, but it will be a gift to my future self!
I am enjoying the energy of this new moon, quite a shift for me, and others close. I plan to visit the site of a witch’s dumping ground this weekend. I know my town had an enthusiastic appetite for witch hunting and through some research with a local history group have come to find the spot where the women were dumped after execution. A mass grave of sorts. The remains were considered foul and unwanted within the town limits and they were banned from being disposed of within graveyards for fear of contaminating consecrated ground. So they were taken to a spot 5 miles from here and dumped outside the back wall of a small churchyard along with other waste.
Such tragedy. It makes my blood boil. I applaud the efforts of a barrister and group who have submitted a petition to the government asking for a pardon for the thousands of executed women who suffered a miscarriage of justice at the hands of the church, supported by the state. People are doing what they can at a local level to raise awareness in my town, which is a good start.
But these are positive healing things- the deeds cannot be undone, but we can reach out across the years to heal.

@speakout the story about those poor women from long ago has brought tears to my eyes. How kind of you try and show them some respect all this time later. Good on the lawyer is trying to bring justice for them.

Just back from a bit of a wet hike through brideways and woodland to find the site of the witch dump.
I found the old churchyard, and the area used to place these poor souls.
My heart was lifted when I saw what the spot is now being used for- nine working bee hives! Lots of agriculture around including acres of rape field, the bees busy at work. Thousands of bee souls to keep these women company, nine is the magical number of completion, the bees will keep the stories alive.
It felt good to see that spot honoured, even in accidentally in such a way, full of symbolism.

Oh, I was so sad reading your first post today speakout and now I've seen your update, how wonderful. I too am glad you're honouring them - I'm often very grateful to live in today's world.

Birdlady love your bird friends! Do any of you have any tips for learning to identify bird song? I can hear all the different ones but have never learned which song is which bird's

@hilariousnamehere, when I'm unsure of a birdsong, I try and memorise it, then watch youtube videos until I find it. I've discovered we have lots more birds here than I thought!

@speakout, such an outrage wise women were treated in this way. Thank you for honouring them

AnotherCrazyBirdLady
A good idea- youtube is fantastic for such things. I notice an earlier sunset tonight and huge dusk chorus just starting. Quite a task to differentate all the parts of the orchestra!!
I have just given myself a pedicure- chanted some magical words of gratituted to my hard working feet, new toe nail polish, resting with a cup of chamomile and enjoying a wind down. I will sleep and dream of bees....

I have been discussing bird song identifier apps and plant identifier apps for phones recently there are a few good ones out there. if anyone wants the names i can go hunt out the short list.

i bought more herbs today and my books arrived. I am particularly excited about 2 of them : Botanical curses and poisons by fez inkwright and Old wives tales by Mary Chamberlain.
i have a feeling that the Chamberlian book was a thread recommendation. If it was thank you to whoever suggested it. It is fascinating.

speakout I am so moved by your ongoing time travel healing work to honour these women and am very encouraged to hear of the work that is being done to clear the names of these victims of such atrocities.
The pictures of the site where the bodies were dumped spark with the energy of the goddess- 9 bee hives! Just perfect. The pure essence of divine feminine life force and messengers between worlds. It seems Gaia has sought to honour these women too.

I’m enjoying the talk of birds and plants. My Morrisons passiflora, a few cm tall when I bought it last year is happily climbing up the back of the house and gifting me beautiful flowers. A joy to see. I can visualise your space full of rambling flowers before long too speakout

AnotherCrazyBirdLady I love hearing about your birds and all you do to support them, I also have a soft spot for wrens. It’s lovely to hear about them.

hilarious I agree with the suggestion of YouTube to help learn bird song and have also found this page interesting/helpful

www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-songs/what-bird-is-that/

Hills those books sound interesting, there’s nothing like the arrival of a package of books is there- one of my favourite pleasures in life!

moregarlic I’ve been enjoying the yoga, thank you, feeling a little bit taller and more upright for it! I’ve had a couple of days off as I felt rough after my jab and my hip was giving me a bit of jip but actually look forward to that lovely stretched out feeling. The regular practice is good for my soul too I think.

Such heightened energy here in England today, ahead of the football later. I can feel it building and only hope it doesn’t result in too much carnage.

My plans are close to home and of the pottering kind- soothes my soul to incrementally shift energy at an easy pace and of course it builds up to a bigger shift in the end.

Wishing my dear sisters a blessed afternoon

Here that energy has errupted in arguments

I have the house to myself for a week. I almost feel guilty over the fact that i am really looking forwards to it.

One of the other books i picked up was the llewellyn's book of correspondances. I have been looking up things that were on my list to do so. Ooooooh is a word that has been uttered a lot.

Wrt to rediscovering a gift - yeah it can go back, it scares me.

Good morning sisters. I've had a bit of a rough week, struggling with some physical symptoms. I've got a chronic condition that flares up occasionally and makes me feel rubbish, emotionally and physically. However I've got a long awaited appointment with a private consultant on Monday, so I'm feeling hopeful and like there could be light at the end of the tunnel. I don't think it's any coincidence that the news about the appointment coincided with the new moon - new beginnings I hope!

I'm enjoying the discussion about bird song. DS found an injured pigeon yesterday and called me to tell me how he has gently put him in a box, given food and water and covered him up. I'm hoping he's survived the night, poor thing.

Speakout I was also very moved by your post about those poor women, but how lovely to hear about the bee hives, that feels so fitting. It's reassuring to hear how you're honouring their memory.

Aerwyna I'm so glad to hear how much you're enjoying yoga and that you're feeling the benefit to already. It really is magical. Yes, I can feel the heightened energy and anticipation in advance of the England match. It's great to see people happy, but as we know, there's a danger of it escalating into aggression and violence - testosterone and too much alcohol is not a great mix. Like you, I'll be watching it quietly at home.

HillsBesideTheSea- your books sound so interesting. I have heard of neither some juicy reading there! Aerwyna- I understand when you talk of energy building for football. Glad you are feeling taller with some yoga, be easy on yourself too though. Violet- yes to the combination of alcohol and testosterone. Football seems to attract a negative energy, thankfully here in Scotland there is no appetite for this match- although historically we have had a lot of conflict- especially when sectarian and religious feelings come into play. It is quite scary. Violet I am sorry to hear you are under the weather- I will light a candle for you tonight and send healing to you. Thank you to everyone who has sent messages about the witch dump. It is something I feel quite strongly about, it boils my piss. The fact that the men responsible are still venerated, statues and plaques in memory of their good work. While these women were treated like manure.
When I visited the site yesterday I was not alone- my dear friends here were with me, I gave thoughts of recognition and healing not just from me, but from all of my wonderful sisters here. I thought of this thread, and I hope no one minds me passing our group energy to these dear women. I spoke to the bees and whispered into the breeze, sending messages of ease and understanding.

Sounds perfect speakout

My dear sisters, if you light a candle at all today can you send some nurturing and protective energy to a wonderful young man and his three children as they mourn the loss of their partner/mother? She was my friend and she died in such awful circumstances yesterday. I barely slept last night, could't stop my brain from overthinking the whole thing.

My son was very attached to her so I am letting have a slow morning of peace before I break the news to him.

queenrollo I am so sorry to hear such sad news.
I am sending support and love - and have a candle alight.
Take time to process this. We are all with you dear sister.

Oh queenrollo I’m so sorry to hear this. We are with you, I will light a candle too

Oh no @queenrollo. I will also light a candle here xxx

Thank you all. I've told my son, who actually took it better than I expected. If anything he is comforting me!

I'm being distracted by helping him with homeschool, he goes back tomorrow - thank Goddess!

Oh queen I'm so sorry, my candle is lit here and I'm sending you and your son, and her family, love and nurturing energy. I hope you are as ok as you can be - losing a friend is a particular kind of pain and grief.

Candle lit here too Queen

Don't forget to nurture yourself too, it's so easy to give and give at times like this, but you need some too.

queenrollo I hope things are calm today and you managed to get a restorative sleep.
It is a bright sunny morning here- and looks like the start of a warm spell, much welcome after weeks of solid rain. My washing machine is already merrily at work, and all my windows open to welcome in the fresh new solar energy. This is still summer and I intend to enjoy as much as I can. Just finished some rounds of sun salutation- now firmly a magical ritual for me, and always meaningful early morning, especially on a sunny day. I will try to get most of my work done this morning so I can have an easier pace this afternoon, and able to intersperse pauses in the garden, planting more of my plants, a trip to the recycling centre- which I weirdly enjoy! I won’t cram too much in though, even leisure can become hectic if I then find myself having to cook in a hurry.
So as more often than not these days it is about finding balance and flow. Reducing stress calms anxiety for me- it is hard to take control of emotions, but I and learning to recognise and allow factors which protect a calm energy.
Wishing all my sisters a calm sunny day.

Good morning all. Thank you for the love and nurture yesterday. I cried so much, but I think I just needed to let the shock and grief wash through me.
I got in a hot bath and just let it all go.
I have been reflecting on why this hit me so hard, and definitely feel that it's partly because she was one of only a handful of people I have actually been able to spend time with this last year. We bonded as mothers, and I think knowing what a loss this is for her children is a deep wound for me.

I feel less fraught this morning. Am about to shower and get ready to go into town. I shall see friends who work in town, treat myself to something nice to bring home for lunch.

My son has gone back to school, so good for him to be with his friends again. I am looking forward to a little peace and quiet at home the next few days before the summer holidays start.

I’m glad you managed some release and processing yesterday queenrollo, I hope your meet up with friends was soothing too. Take the time you need and go as gently as you can, we’re here for you.

speakout it’s lovely to hear of your enjoying the solar energy and punctuating your day with magic and ritual. I agree about balance and flow being such helpful intentions, if we do whatever we’re doing with these aims I think it’s a real gift to ourselves in terms of peace of mind. I also enjoy a trip to the recycling centre!

An admin focused day here today, and I very much enjoyed a few minutes in the garden connecting with the bees before cooking tea. I was thinking of your visit to the burial ground speakout. I’m honoured that you took our energy with you for this venture. Thank you so much for doing that.

Wishing everyone a peaceful evening

Another bright sunny day here today, setting my intention for the day this morning.
I hope to give my new decking a first coat of stain and will have to keep the moggies occupied as fresh paint is often a target to walk on- as is the keyboard of my laptop leading to some new configurations that often take a while to work out!!
The sun is trine Saturn today, a harmonius aspect. The sun fires up the energy of Neptune so our intuitions are heightened, a great day for spellwork, creative activity or trying to unravel a complex personal situation which needs spidey sense!!
I hope my sisters are having a calm and creative week.