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.

I have just noticed this thread is getting quite full- time for a renovation soon!! Fourteen thousand messages of wisdom, humour and tears- sharing, empowering and supporting each other, weaving magic as we do. I am happy to be a part of this tribe!

@speakout

I have just noticed this thread is getting quite full- time for a renovation soon!! Fourteen thousand messages of wisdom, humour and tears- sharing, empowering and supporting each other, weaving magic as we do. I am happy to be a part of this tribe!

Wow. That’s quite something isn’t it, all we’ve shared and the energy we’ve generated. I’m so happy you started these threads and love being part of this tribe too!

Aerwyna that was so wonderful to read, it just goes to show that we have to remember to trust in our magic and believe that the universe will work work things out for us. I'm delighted for you

Queenrollo I'm pleased to hear you're looking after yourself and allowing yourself the time you need to recover. Sending you lots of love for a Happy Birthday on Monday. The Moon Tribe box sounds good.

LumpySpacedPrincess I'm glad you're enjoying your break and taking the opportunity to recharge. I imagine working with children must be rewarding, but very tiring, so I understand why you're feeling a bit anxious about going back. As Speakout says, there are lots of ways you can weave magic into everyday life. When I was working in an office, I had a ritual of coming home and having a warm shower with essential oils to wash away the energies of the day, this really helped me to wind down from work.

Hilariousnamehere that all sounds rather stressful! I'm not great with unplanned upheaval! I hope it helps and makes a difference to your cats. I love the sound of your rainbow hair!

Speakout yes, I noticed earlier that were nearly at the end of another thread. I can't tell you how grateful I am to you for starting that very first thread, this is such a special place. I can feel the full moon energy building. I have the full moon headache and I've been feeling rather emotional today. I'm looking forward to a full moon ceremony on Sunday, with everything that's happening in the world, I feel like I need to be with other women, raising our feminine energy to try and balance out the toxic masculinity.

I've spent too much time on Facebook this morning and have got involved in a debate about the term 'baby witch' that seems to be popping up everywhere. (It's a TicTok trend apparently!)

Just curious on how others feel about it. It grates on me to be honest, when it's used by adult women (I don't mind teenagers using it!) To me, witch craft is about feminism, it's about women being strong and independent. Calling yourself a baby witch feels the opposite of this.

Thank you for your kind words and support friends, it’s so good to be able to share with like minds.

Violet I feel similarly to you about the term ‘baby witch’ from a feminist perspective. My practice/ belief system is very firmly female centred, anti patriarchal and about taking back our power. It’s the most empowering way I can frame it and very much tied into my values.

Infantilisation of grown women is something that goes against these values and beliefs- I find it objectifying, patronising and limiting, I think it encourages a hierarchy that reflects the patriarchal structures of our society. Of course, women perpetuate this just as much as men- we’ve all been socialised in a sexist society.

I understand the term is used to mean beginner, which is another debate in itself, but I can’t imagine men starting any new path declaring themselves a baby anything. I agree it’s a feminist issue

I vaguely remember it being a temporarily a thing a while back also. I agree the term baby witch grates.

Sorry about previous post. Apparently half of it varnished. I am learning new technology and it is not going so well. Ds is threatening to give me lessons so i stop swearing at it, if he can stop rolling his eye at me long enough .

I am not going to push my luck. Wishing you all gentle, magical weekends

I think my wording was clumsy there, when I said women perpetuate this as much as men I wasn’t blaming women. I just meant it’s so ingrained in our culture that unless we raise our awareness and actively oppose/challenge/forge out new ways of talking about things then we do end up perpetuating it too if that makes sense

Aerwyna yes, you've beautifully articulated exactly what I've been trying to say in the group I'm a member of. There's a lengthy discussion where some of the beginner witches are saying they like calling themselves baby witches as they feel like they've just been born into a new way of life and want to be nurtured and guided by more experienced sisters. And they all want to do spells!

Hills your post made me laugh! I hope you manage to work it out.

Another rather grey day here, but warm. I've just come back from a long dog walk. I need to tackle the housework this afternoon. Late I might go back out and pick some blackberries for a crumble. I spotted some ripe ones not far from my house, they seem to be later than usual this year.

I dislike it too VioletCharlotte.
For the same reasons regarding feminism, but also the idea of a heirachy amongst witches, which is unhelpful.

Internalised patriarchy in women is a dangerous force and one of the most destructive aspects.
Women tearing each other down to protect a twisted sysem is so sad. A whole other can of worms. Women raising their daughters to sit pretty and be good, but I think a lot of that was about keeping safe.
Men are no the problem, its' the social architecture that is flawed. Patriarchy serves many men well, some men badly, and women rarely.
Recognising when we are making choices is about reclaiming our power as Aerwyna says.

We are from different ages, different times, and use words differently... Interesting perspectives. I would like to find the the christopher p's article she mentions

Shiny new thread- www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/4328830-Any-Witches-Here-Part-15?watched=1&msgid=110130380#110130380

I'll pop the kettle on.

HillsBesideTheSea interesting video. Makes me feel my age though!! I realise whole swathes of this have passed me by, the social media stuff, all the teenage Buffy interest, the tick tock stuff, the debates- I am way out of the loop!!

Yeah me too, but there are some interesting things to thing about. And whilst i really balk at the term baby witch i also find it helpful because if i stubble across stuff where people are describing themselves as baby witches there is a good change that they are enthusiastic, and ploughing head first into things. Which makes me either give their content a swerve or cross reference the snot out of it. I am a thinker, a researcher and a deep diver and in my experience a lot of the baby witch content is not well researched and spitting out the information they have just learnt because they are so much a part of the must have it yesterday culture that seems so pevelant in current times. Those that avoid the term tend to have done some more research, some more digging.

I like the discussions on how to research and cross reference that are starting to pop up in the community and need to finish a very interesting podcast that Thorn was a part of which was a discussion of wicca and how it influenced tradition; especially in how it has influenced the practices of younger members to the community in ways they don't really understand before slinging some mud at the wiccan path. I can link that podcast if you wish a listen. it is audio only , but i know it is one that that i will want to investigate further as a channel

I have been quiet for the last few of these threads but I’m wondering if I can reach out for some guidance?

I have a close friend who was raised with very similar values to me.

Recently she has shunned anything relating the witchcraft, new age, even down to throwing out her crystals and removing anything from her house that is not seen as healthy by Christians.

I support her in her new beliefs and would never push my beliefs on her but I am finding now that she sees me a needing to be ‘saved’
She’s sending me videos of people speaking about how dangerous witchcraft, new age, crystals etc is abs how she hopes it reaches me to wake up and come out from the dark side.

It’s really quite upsetting as I don’t feel like I need saving and I don’t feel like there is anything dark at all about my beliefs or what I practise

She doesn’t want to see me anymore and I’m feeling like I’ve lost a sister

My house isn’t full of anything dark or potentially dangerous.

She believes that any health issues my child has had is caused by my beliefs and that god would save them if only I believed in god

Do I just forgo this friendship assuming that she will now no longer accept me as the same friend I always have been?

Sorry just seen there is a new thread will post over there