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.

Sending well wishes to your son @queenrollo. I hope that you and the rest of your family stay well.

Thanks all. My son is pretty much back to normal and actually demanded a large breakfast this morning, which is a good sign.
I, however, definitely can feel I am fighting something off. I get a couple of specific symptoms when my immune system kicks in and it did so at about 10 last night. Especially in my throat/tonsils which were shouting at me at 2am. It was a fitful night but this morning I feel i've passed the worst of that. I have PCR test on order so will do that when it arrives, but shan't be at all surprised if I have it.
DH PCR came back negative last night - but I have done pretty much all the nursing (and cleaning up vomit) from when DS was initially ill, so am most likely to have been exposed.

Windows and doors open creating good airflow and though the men will protest I might sage the house later.
I was very low mentally yesterday because we have lost our holiday and I so needed to restoration. But this morning I am trying to have a more positive mindset.

Hi there, I’ve been reading though some of the past threads and would love to join if that’s ok?

I’ve always been very sensitive to the world of spirit, I had a ghost in my room as a child who I later identified as a relative. My grandma was a medium and uncle a healer so it’s always been there.

I recently started exploring magic and western esotericism in more depth and I suddenly feel I’ve found a home and that I was a bit lost before if that makes sense. One of my more spiritual friends has called me a witch a few times.

I’ve had quite a lot of symbolic visions over the years and I’m increasingly been drawn to ceremonial magic. I’ve read a lot around Hermeticism, Kabbalah and the late 19th century/early 20th century magic esp the Golden Dawn rituals. I just need to get started I guess. But don’t know anyone in real life that is into this, most of the people I know are more into shamanism or Buddhism in respect of spirituality.

Anyway hi to everyone-really looking forward to learning things.

Hi ibelieveinghosts.
I've started looking into this as well . Have you checked out Damien Echols on YouTube?
He's an interesting guy.

Welcome @Ibelieveinghosts always wonderful to have new energy and experiences on the thread. You'll see from reading back that we're an ecelctic group and the conversation often takes of at tangent.

Ibelieveinghosts

Good to have you here, glad you have dropped by. I have a jug of ice cold peppermint lemonade if anyone would like some?

Thanks for the lovely welcome everyone. @FilledSoda yes I have, such an interesting and inspirational guy. Have you read any of this books. I’m currently lowing through some of Israel regardies work. Have you made a start on any of the rituals?

@queenrollo, I love a good tangent, you always get to interesting places that way.

@speakout -peppermint lemonade -sounds lovely.

queenrollo I hope you are feeling OK today.
Ibelieveinghosts I am enjoying reading about your journey. I don;t work much with ceremonial magic these days, I it was an important aspect of my work many moons ago.
I have always retained some flavour of it through especially spellwork or workig with deity.
These days I am more of a pepper pot witch, my days have a liberal frosting of magic within the mundane.
It's a misty morning here, quite cool and refreshing.

This morning I would say I have a rather pathetic attempt at a cold, but I don't want to tempt fate and invite in anything worse! DS is completely back to normal.
No idea how DH is today as we have chosen to sleep apart during this contagious phase to limit exposure.

I found a wonderful book called Country Herbal by Lesley Gordon in a charity shop recently and noticed she also wrote a book called Green Magic. I have tracked down a copy and will give it to my husband to put away for my birthday later in the year.

Does anyone get a witchy subscription box? I see them on unboxing on youtube etc and am a bit of a magpie at heart and feel it would be lovely to have - but I had two different sub boxes previously and found that I was getting a lot of 'stuff' that began to make me feel like I was buying clutter. I would love something that had a spell/treat/ritual element with items that would be used up. But I don't want more mugs, or 'tools'...

queenrollo

Glad you are not feeling too bad.
I have often toyed with the idea of a witch box subscription, like you I have watched the unboxings on youtube. There seem to be a lot of subscription services in the US.
It would be lovely to unpack, and unwap, smells and herbs, but like you I would question whether I need or want any more stuff. I like to choose and buy things myself.
Does sound tempting though!

There are some uk based ones. Hearth witch has done one but you will be hard put to find much info about it on her youtube (you would have to follow the link to her shop in the description which quietly lurks at the bottom of her detailed video description), JessicaStarr the story witch has some unboxing videos of Uk based boxes.

I have considered the subscription box. Honestly the only one that i have been really drawn is one that is book based. It has had some interesting books on areas that i would not necessarily have chosen myself over others. Only thing that stops me is the living circumstances that I am in (packaging would need to be really really subtle) and import duty cos it is american based.

QueenRollo I hope you have an easy day. I think i might have been looking at that green magic book. I would need to check. I have been looking at a lot of books atm. I currently have one on my radar which is about working with the dark moon.

ibelieveinghost welcome.

I have been awol with a LOT of stress. Some of it has been managed, so of it not so. But i am also head deep in the herbalism community online and within a group that has sooo much useful information that i can't keep up with it. It is interesting seeing the different names of UK vs US for plants along with how the species we have available differ.

I did read weaving the liminal this week. I have to admit that I have a lot of sticky notes that i want to achieve when my time to rest comes. But right now I have a house clearing/prepping deadline so there is not enough time to dedicate to this in one sitting. And i feel it is something I would want to fully immerse in. I do like a book where not only the personality of the author shines through but also a sense of humour.

I fear there might be more book purchases heading in this direction

Hello, Ive followed you all on and off for a long while, always drawn back but never able to commit.

I wondered if you you any suggestions for essential reading for someone drawn to nature, using ritual to focus my energies more productively, and creating more calm in my stressful life. I read Kate West in my 20s have the hedge witch's way, would be interested in learning about herbs and plants, deities, the moons influence, love cooking, have practices meditation in the past but need a kick start and a bit of mindfulness.

Events inside and outside of my control, responsibilitys and health concerns have put me on the edge of depression and is effecting my close relationships. If like to put aside some time to learn about thi gs that have always called to me, hoping some else care and mindfulness may help me to rebalance without needing to visit the gp.

Thank you

Welcome @Ibelieveinghosts and @Hoolahoophop it's always lovely to have new energy on the thread 💕 I would normally say 'by the fire', but it feels a little too hot for that tonight, I'm imagining us all in a cool, woodland glen, next to a river, enjoying some of Speakouts deliciously refreshing peppermint lemonade.

Queenrollo I'm so pleased to hear that your little one has bounced back and you're feeling ok. I've also looked at witchy subscriptions and have felt tempted, as I love getting s things in the post, but there's also the chance I'll end up with things I won't really use. Hills I like the idea of a book subscription.

@Hoolahoophop I'm sorry to hear you've been suffering with depression. Focusing on self-care should absolutely be your priority. Start with the basics, fresh air every day, nourishing food and restorative sleep. Are you managing to sleep ok? Please don't rule out visiting your GP completely though. I'm a firm believer that it's totally ok to take anti depressants if they help you get back on an even keel. I suffered with depression after having my first son, medications helped me get to a place where I felt able to start taking better care of myself.

Hi @Hoolahoophop nice to meet another new joiner.

Sorry to hear you’ve been suffering so. I have PTSD and associated depression, I won’t say cured but 99% under control )I don’t think you ever cure these things you just integrate them and find some gift from them). I found breath work really helpful, especially concentrating on how it connected me to the trees, supporting each other. I’ve been through various therapies each have offered something-I made it clear to the GP that pills weren’t for me so that’s not the inevitable conclusion of a GP visit.

But yes take time for yourself, that really is the most important thing and you deserve that time, learn to embrace that.

Hoolahoophop

Welcome, I glad you have found us!VioletCharlotte
I see you have had some good advice and support already- I would echo what VioletCharlotte and others say- don;t rule out your GP. While medication may help, it isnt for everyone, but many GPS do take a more holistic approach to mental health.
It is worth a chat at least to determine if you think it may help- you GP may give you other resources or options local to your area.

Happy evening to you all and hello to new joiners @Hoolahoophop and @Ibelieveinghosts

@queenrollo I'm glad that your son is better but sorry you're unwell now. Hope you manage to navigate the disruption in your home. You must disappointed about your holiday; make lots of time for you if you can x

For those that need some self-care, I've found this thread to be a wonderful reminder to be mindful, slow down and notice the magic that's all around us. My lovely counsellor raised the issue this week that a person deserves to enjoy life. As obvious as that might sound... but it's very relevant when you think how the demands of life can take us away from that. My homework this week is to make more time for joy anyone want to join me? I've started by making some unplanned time to adore my pet rabbit (pic attached!) staring face first into the electric fan, nose twitching franctically

@speakout I've been left thinking about the lovely nurturing you gave your daughter. So lovely. How did the french onion soup turn out? And please may I join you all in the woodland glen (wonderful word picture thank you @VioletCharlotte) for some peppermint lemonade? Can feel the breeze and smell the woodland air already...

Thankyou both for replying. There is something about this group that is so calming. I feel calmer reading and the way I write seems more relaxed.

Ibelieveinghosts it's good to have a fellow newbie joining with me.

VioletCharlotte did I see you posting about beer traps before, for slugs? I use sourdough discard traps which works well!

Lethargic yet enthusiastic greetings from the sofa, lovelies - and a warm welcome Hoola and ghosts. This has rapidly become my favourite place on the internet and you all often pop into my thoughts while I'm offline - it is so lovely to meet kindred spirits, even with the veil of anonymity that MN gives.

Could absolutely do with a woodland glen and some of that peppermint lemonade - I've been feeling really peculiar today but can't put my finger on why or exactly how - I'm just not myself. Not ill, or sad, just... off.

Took the boat out on the reservoir at lunch and sat around with my legs in the water which was very soothing, so more water magic coming your way (sorry, I think I've become a water bore lately 😂).

Blurp I love this decisive action towards joy and I love your bunny even more! I've been trying to make time for joy and personal work and just because things for a while now, with varying degrees of success - but what is the point of life without joy?

I'm intrigued by the subscription discussion too - one of my businesses is a stationery subscription box, founded with a library friend, which we have deliberately kept small for nearly nine years and we're now ready to give a good kick to a wider audience. I absolutely love having little parcels every month but also feel a bit guilty about the amount of stuff I accumulate - I reason that stationery is designed to be used up and is mostly recyclable, so feels ok (I've had several from others in the past as well as half the photography samples from ours!). I'm also extremely on board with book subscriptions (that'll be the librarian in me escaping ) - you can never have too many books!

Witchy ones I really like the idea of, but then I also like to choose my own things for witchery, from size to scents to colours, so am on the fence a bit as to whether it'd be as good in reality for me.

But it's lovely to see others' views on subscriptions as after so long playing small I sometimes think I've lost the plot!

BlurpBlorp
I love your rabbit, such a cute creature.
I am a joy seeker some very challenging circumstances in recent years have forced me to examine that idea very closely- always a work in progress of course, and I agree joy can be found in the simplest and unexpected places.
We will always have parts of our life that cause us upset, frustration or sadness, but if we wait until everything in life is plain sailing to embark on joy then we may wait a lifetime. Times in life when everything is perfect and plain sailing are usually short lived- we can enjoy them when that happens, but living a joyful life when things are not going exactly to plan is my goal.
I have also added balance and flow to my quest for joy.

Woken up to rain this morning, and cooler air. Plants and trees will be drinking in the moisture, although I had planned a stack of laundry today! I may hold off a few hours to see if the sun returns.
Wishing everyone a joyfilled day.

Good morning, dear sisters, and a very warm welcome to @Ibelieveinghosts and @Hoolahoophop, it is enlivening to feel everybody's energy!
I am sending bright, healing light to everybody having difficulties. I myself am in a very dark place, and am finding it increasingly important to focus on little nuggets of peace and joy. It is very hard, but I am diving deep in the dark waters and finding precious pieces of light and lessons - light shall always prevail!

I frequent this website, and thought many of you would appreciate its' lunar-based information mooncircles.com/

I wish each and every one a sparkling, calming day.

Aerwyna than you for recommending that Lisa Schneidau's botanical tales book. I enjoyed it.

hilariousnamehere i think your love of water is rubbing off. The other night I took a long walk along the canal. I am normally terrified to point of shaking of the canal, and really have to be in the right mood to even consider walking it. But that time the only time thing i felt was predominantly calm.

Hoolahoophop welcome to the thread

BlurpBlorp that is one cute bunny

QueenRollo i hope that you recover fast and well

Sorry to miss so many. I have triggered a massive flare of my chronic illnesses at a very bad time when i have to keep on keeping on. So whilst I am making the time to sleep 15hrs if i need, and regular dips in cool water with a book to help tame my lack of ability to handle the warm; i need to push through to meet the necessary deadlines.

Wishing you all bright, light and calming days; with rain where it is needed and time to indulge in the act of rebellious self care and restorative practices to nurture yourselves.

Hello all. I have been lurking for some weeks and I love the calm energy of this group. School finished today so I feel I am ready to focus on the balance now. I dug out my Tarot cards a few weeks ago and saged my crystals!

I’d really love recommendations for Facebook groups, books and websites where I can learn more (about everything) particularly hedge witchcraft and working with nature/energy.

Hello to all the new people on this thread.

Today, I reached the most calmest state of mind I've experienced for years. My husband took mini toto off for an adventure, leaving me sitting on a rock reading a book with the sea crashing beneath me. It's something I have been yearning to do, its a simple thing that has bought me so much joy.

I also found a little shop selling crystals today. I've bought myself a little selection, I plan to take some into my new job with me. Some I will carry round in my bra as and when I need them.

Ladies, can I ask how you soak your crystals in salt water? My inner spirit is asking me to use the sea water from the beach I used to go to with my grandparents up thread. Do I then use the water on a full moon, or can I make my own ritual by taking the crystals down to the beach?

I don't place my crystals in water at all (salt or otherwise). You have to be careful as some will dissolve in water, some will release harmful chemicals when placed in water.

There are many ways to cleanse crystals, check for hardness on the Mohs' scale. I use sage to cleanse mine then put them outside in the full moon (or on the window sill if it's wet for the softer ones)

Judy Hall has some great books on crystals. Enjoy them!