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.

Y'all far more trusting than me. I read the terms and conditions in full on some of those DNA testing sites. It was a real real eye opener. Especially the ones that said about medical predisposition stuff.
I actually enjoyed the very deep dive before i stepped away quickly from the services. I have ethical issues with some of the stuff in the terms and conditions. But then I have ethical issues with the provision of medical information (annonomised or not) to 3rd parties by the NHS. I am a susicious old coot sometimes. although some might call it paranoid

But my favourite was the new GP online service which states in its terms and conditions and any information provided on the platform does not constitute medical advice. That one baffled my brain rather. And kinda defeats the purpose of the platform really which is to provide medical contact without contact during covid for as many people as possible.

blanktimes thanks you for the reminder about searching the page. Will make my hunt for info easier on some of the older threads. I was very jealous of your sighting and was really hoping to go (was supposed to go the night you went and the following night). I was told i missed a treat. I did hope that some of the others had been lucky enough to catch a glimpse too. Hope you are keeping well!

Shocking day at work, but is has moved some stuff along that was being procrastinated on. So in the end that will be good. Hoping to get out in the hills tonight to decompress though. Slowly being able to find old grounding activities work, but really am having to work to replace trace elements, electrolytes and fluids. Your suggestions about bringing the outside in Speakout are excellent ones. As a hoarder of natures I am blessed with resourced for that. I took the time to reorganise my shell jar.

SwimmingUnderwater I used mytrueancestry.com
I am happy with the level of privacy as stated in their T&Cs. DNA files are only stored in encrypted forma and not supplied to 3rd parties.
And as HillsBesideTheSea pointed out the NHS and government are are more likely to sell on my info to commercial organisations.

I am struggling a bit today, my mother has been playing rolling news about Afghanistan on the TV all day at top volume, that combined with a worship zoom meeting and constant talk of the church I am feeling overwhelmed by toxic male energy and religion. Every time I have gone online to distract myself I seem to see countless stories of male violence and women being attacked.
I am feeling quite overwhelmed.

I will light a candle at 8pm for all my sisters in the world.

Speakout I've been struggling with the news from Afghanistan too. I'm being selective about what I read/watch. I want to be informed but don't feel the rolling coverage is helpful. I've been focusing today on sending for positive energy and light into the country and asking my guides for their help in bringing peace and watching over the women and children.I will join you in lighting a candle at 8pm 🙏

But please look after your own energy, is there a way you can contain the religion/ news coverage to one room maybe so it doesn't contaminate the entire house?

Hills you're welcome, you may see some tonight, meteor showers are usually visible a week or so before and after their peak, but with less frequency.

Aerwyna I adore your Oak, I have Ash and Thorn, together we can make the land welcome for the fae.

Speaking of the fae, I was in the garden earlier and I looked at one small neglected part from a totally different angle and was quite amazed, the elder has formed an arch which looks rather nice. How have I not noticed that before

Speakout pop outside in your bare feet on the earth for a few moments, then have quick smudge spray near the TV and PC, it will help to stop the stream of gloom emanating from all the electronics. I'll join your sentiments at 8 with my candle too. For all our sisters.

BlankTimes I love your bower! Thanks for the advice on calm.

I dropped into an early morning yoga class ( at a wonderful sumptious historic building) today to find I was the only person in the class.
So a one on one - which was amazing. The teacher is also a mindfulness coach and treated me to a mindfulness meditation session after the class. Just what I needed! Feeling much more grounded and relaxed.

Have a great day everyone. X

Sounds perfect speakout, just what you needed, wonderful to hear. Thank you for those oak stats too, I absolutely loved hearing that, again the little things are really the big things!

I love the bower too BlankTimes and that between us we have oak, ash and thorn.Fabulously fae!

Violet, I’ve been feeling the same and looking to see what I can do to support. There seem to be aid agencies to donate to but apart from that, like you I am sending what energy I can and needing to be selective with my news consumption.

Hills I hope you made it to the hills for some respite and that work is less stressful today.

A grey, cooler day here today, hints of autumn in the air. I love the freshness of the breeze

I hope everyone finds a little magic amongst their day

Hello, it’s been a while. Time just seemed to skitter away from me since the Spring and while I tried to keep up with the thread I couldn’t always. I’ve been thinking of you all recently as I’ve really started to notice the Wheel turning into Autumn so, with some time off, I’ve worked my way through this latest thread!

It’s been a funny old 6 months, with energies all over the place (well, mine at least). My awful neighbours finally went, which felt like being able to reclaim my home from their antisocial behaviour. The house is now protected by a witch bottle at the boundary - never made one before but it felt like the right thing to do. It seems to be doing it’s job!

The natural world seems at 6s and 7s too - in many ways we’ve had an ideal year, agriculturally speaking, what with warm-enough temperatures so that everything grows but without being scorched. And long dry spells too, making harvests easier. All this means we should get three cuts of hay this year which keeps winter prices down, not to mention a longer period of good grazing into the Winter. But I’ve noticed the oaks seem to have a blight and many trees are already starting to turn and lose their leaves. I think we’re in for an early Autumn but in many ways I don’t mind, because it’s a time of year whose energies I love. And my mind is turning already to jams and chutneys to preserve the current abundance!

If the last few months have taught me anything, it’s been harsh lessons about boundaries, making time for regrouping and stepping back to see situations as they are. I’ve been using my cards a lot more and learned more from using them with increased frequency, and overall trying to make time for reading generally (rather than staring at a screen).

@wheresmymojo, @VioletCharlotte’s post about Glastonbury reminded me of the Star Child shop there, they do lovely sprays and incenses if you haven’t found anything to your liking yet?

@queenrollo do take it easy with the post-Covid recovery, I found it was a good 9 months before I felt entirely back to normal.

@Spiritwriter I find a lot of cross-over between my witchy beliefs and Buddhism. I think the former covers how I relate to the external world as the latter to my internal one?

Brightyellowdaffodil lovely to see you. I'm so glad your awful neighbours have moved away. I can feel from your post a shift in your energy, you seem very calm and very much at one with nature and your surroundings. I know the Starchild shop, it's one of my favourites. I can feel another Glastonbury trip coming in the autumn

Aerwyna you may have already seen it, but there's a thread on here which has some good links to aid agencies to donate to. I just wish there was a more we could do. I feel so helpless. It's a desperately sad situation.

On a happier note, Aerwyna and Blanktimes it cheered me to read about your Oak, Ash and Thorn saplings and think about how they'll grow tall for future generations to enjoy. I'm feeling a real connection with Silver Birch at the moment. There's three beautiful trees on the field opposite my yoga studio. I love to look at them while I practice. I feel like I need to spend some time meditating as I have a feeling there's something important the Silver Bitch can teach me.

Oops posted to soon!

Speakout I'm glad you're feeling better now. Your one to one yoga class sounds wonderful and exactly what you needed. I love how things work out sometimes

BrightYellowDaffodil you're fine, we don't have an attendance register
We exist outside of space and time, so anytime anyone wants to drop in and chat or ask a question or have a more serious discussion or just share their day or come and sit quietly with a brew, whenever they want to is the right time to be here.

Speakout I know you already know all the grounding things but you tend to be like me and advise everyone else then forget to do it yourself. Your 1to1 sounds fabulous!

Violet I'm another fan of Starchild. I'd love a front door like theirs. See if you can get a copy of Tree, Essence, Spirit and Teacher by Simon Lilly and see what it says about Silver Birch. You may also find some good references via OBOD. e.g. druidry.org/druid-way/teaching-and-practice/druid-tree-lore/birch

Sending peace and magic to everyone, with a mug of sleepy tea.

Sleep of the goddess last night, I started listening to "Nothing Much Happens" Summer Storm but only a few minutes into the story found myself drifting off. I will get to the end one day!!
Thank you for pointing out my one to one yoga was no accident, rather a manifestation of exactly what I needed. Several of you pointed that out to me, but I needed reminding- even though the yoga teacher herself suggested that!
I don't usually get so emotional during yoga, but I found tears flowing towards the end of the class, the teacher was speaking such beautiful words of validation and empowerment. Truly from the goddess! Brightyellowdaffodil – Blanktimes is right, time and space don’t matter here, and frequency of posting matters not one jot, whether it is once and never again, twice a year, daily or never, I know we have those who read and never post- all are welcome, and no judgement. All contribute to our group. It’s good to hear from you again.
Violettecharlotte Silver birch is such a lovely tree isn’t it. Practical to woodcraft folk it has many uses, I always think the leaves look like coins fluttering in the breeze, like some of Gustav Klimpt’s paintings. The wood is known for new beginnings. Are you tempted to make a wand at all? You may find some dead windfall pieces near the tree? Looking at a tree while you practice yoga is such a treat.
Hope everyone finds joy and magis today.

Someone mentioned gift/self care boxes upthread and this appeared on my Instagram feed this morning, which looks nice and not too full-of-stuff-that-will-be-clutter-or-landfill: www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1041900689/witchy-self-care-soap-box?ref=shop_home_active_1

Hello all!

I love the look of those self care kits @BrightYellowDaffodil:

I had a day put with mini Toto yesterday, she surprised me by discussing the colour changes in the leaves and how she thinks it's happening because of the wind. She is only 3, it made me think that we must all be born with the skills to interpret the world around us but we forget to use them.

Whilst out we found a second hand boom shop, on the bargain table was a book about Bach Flower Therapy. Brilliant! That came home with me.

I'm in the hunt for a nice lavender and chamomile bath soak. Has anyone got any recommendations?

Blanktimes that book looks brilliant, thank you! I was looking at tree books last night, I think I'll order this one.

Speakout making a wand from birch is a fantastic idea! I've been wanting to make a wand for a while, since you posted about one you made a few weeks ago.

Toto what a great find! I'm really interested in Bach Flower remedies too (I read the story that Blanktimes suggested). I wish I had more time for all the things I want to find out more about and do! I prefer showers to baths, but have you ever tried making your own bath soaks? You could mix some sea salts and Epsom salts with almond oil and add some lavender and camomile essential oils, and maybe some dried lavender?

@VioletCharlotte what a great suggestion. I can make all different scents to suit my mood :)

@BrightYellowDaffodil I am taking my post Covid recovery very slowly. Having once been self-employed and having no choice but to soldier on when I really needed rest, I now listen to my body and let it heal at its own pace.
It was me who talked about subscriptions boxes and oddly enough I started following that maker you linked to just a few days ago on Instagram!
I actually received a one off Moon Tribe Box today which I had a cursory glance through and it is full of very beautiful things that meet my criteria of not creating clutter!
It is my birthday on Monday so the box is a gift to myself so I can do a wonderful Full Moon ritual on Sunday.

Actually does anyone have any preferred birthday tarot spreads? I often just draw 12 cards to correspond to each month ahead but would like to try something a little different.

BrightYellowDaffodil that self care box looks lovely- I may drop hints nearer to christmas!
TotoAnnihiliation I love how books find us- just what we need at that moment- magical! Minitoto sound a great naturalist. I do think children have great powers of reason and observation, I wish science and philosophy was taught to very young children at school- we miss great opportunities. VioletCharlotte some great ideas for bath soaks and using herbs. I like to tie dried herbs or flowers in a muslin cloth- saves a lot of cleaning afterwards. It is nice to soak in petals though. oatmilk is a good addition too.
queenrollo glad to hear you are improving, it takes time to heal, and your energy time to recover- that Moon box looks perfect for some self care.
A beautiful sunny but cool day here, golden sun reminding us that autumn is almost here. I have my new Oud candle from Aldi burning- I love the range they sell.

Magical blessings sisters.

I had a glorious walk this morning and saw some plums, they looked so autumnal. Last two weeks before I have to return to work, no idea how I'm going to squeeze working in with...life. I finished a ritual sat in a shaded wooded area then walked by the sea, perfect.

LumpySpacedPrincess I love that plum- I imagine it tastes delicious and fresh. Plums are one of my favourite fruits.
Finding balance of work and life is a challenge for many of us, so many things pulling us in different directions.
Much of it doesn't seem magical at times, waiting in traffic, going to the supermarket, commuting to work, I do think that even with a hectic life it is possible to live in a magical way- in fact it becomes even more helpful to use magic when we are stretched in many different directions. Part of the reason I love an everday pepper pot approach to my craft. Even on very busy days I can incorporate magic is so many ways. to lift and support myself.

Out with DS for a Nepalese meal tonight- I skipped lunch so I can take full advantage!

The first of the trees are turning autumnal colours. Tis early this year.

Wise words speakout.

I work with kids and the job has everything, it also takes everything. I feel like a recharging battery and just hope the energy I have stored will be enough this time. The challenges just seem to get greater and greater, expectation higher and higher.

When I'm back in the fray It'll come, just hard to see right now where that energy is coming form ifswim? I ALWAYS feel like this and then within' a week I'm back in the game, hopefully...

Tomorrow some delicious pottering, long yoga session and a walk

Just flying by to wish my sisters a happy magical infused Friday.
I have been sitting quietly in the corner, nursing a never ending tea and soaking up the wonderful inspiration, magic and insight that you all share. A lovely place to be. Thank you

A week of energy shifts here, a couple of days ago I was out working early in the morning and took the opportunity to have my morning tea from a flask with my favourite dryad at a place where two rivers meet. I needed clarity and calm and this was just the place to find it. Like many people this last year has seen a lot of change, it’s caused me stress and uncertainty, necessitated a new direction.

Later on in the day, after my early morning river medicine, I received some assurance around my career and remembered a bit of ‘accidental magic’ I’d done a while back. I was clearing out when I found an item linked to an old relationship. It was worth a bit and I could have done with the cash at the time but my overriding feeling on finding it was that it was time for me to release it. It was not a sensible financial decision but when I imagined myself selling it for the cash I needed it felt like keeping that energy in my experience which didn’t feel right to me. Money is energy after all. So I cleansed and blessed it with a ritual of release then anonymously donated it to a cause that was close to my heart, transmuting the energy into something positive. Fast forward a couple of years and that same cause are very keen for me to be part of what they do. Just what I need right now. Funny how things work out, I love the way the magic we weave brings us what we need when we need it, sometimes we see the results a while down the line, when the time is right. My intention was release and freedom from past experiences and now I’m looking at a whole new start.

Wishing everyone a fabulous fae Friday

queenrollo it meant to share this too, I hope you have have a lovely birthday on Monday

Morning sisters - sneaking in for some energy, comfort, peace and inspiration after a totally ridiculous week.

BlankTimes - "We exist outside of space and time" - this really made me smile and think of the Travelling Now in Discworld

I've had to move me and my felines to my mum's at short notice, and find three days out of nowhere to deep clean and apply flea/mite spray to my house. Not because there are fleas, but because vet would like to eliminate mite allergies from what's making my little familiars sick :(

Obviously happy to do it but the timing's terrible, and as is so often the way, while stressed about that I found it really hard to deal with other small things - all my keys falling off my keyring at night as I was trying to get into the car, tech failings so didn't receive an important email - and am so behind with work now.

But the house is done, the cats have recovered from the (short, but they find it stressful) journey to mum's and are having a good rest in her flat.

And I shall be looking for some magical things to add before we move back in in a week or two!

On the plus side, I have my most magical rainbow hair back and have treated myself to new books from two of my favourite authors, and off to the choc unit this afternoon for a meeting and possibly some restorative melted choc in a mug :)

Have happy and enchanted Friday afternoons!

A powerful piece of magic Aerwyna - what a tale and incredible manifeststion energy. A gift from your past self. Thank you for sharing that! I love the pictures of your enchanted woodland.
hilariousnamehere sounds like great completion energy- things like that can be challanging and a real bother, but sounds like you are enjoying the feeling of well deserved satisfaction.
A quiet end to the week, clouds are gathering , I suspect we will have rain before nightfall. A restful evening is just what I need as we power towards an intense full moon on Sunday.