Any Witches Here? Part 15

[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.

Aw you are making me smile :) will ping over when I'm at my desk tmw afternoon!

What are your Tuesday plans sisters? I'm letting off steam in a silversmithing workshop in the morning - it's like elegant anger management crossed with spirituality, if that doesn't sound too glib. I can't afford to do it often but it's one of my favourite pastimes that combines magical and practical :)

@hilariousnamehere again, the syncinority on this thread amazes me. I've just been researching a silversmith workshop as a treat for myself and mother!

A quiet week here, reflecting on the energy over Samhain. Some powerful words and energy on this thread about letting go, I am still feeling that release and relaxation as we start the new season.
I am really enjoying the quiet and simplicity of this time before things ramp up again in the next month or two. I am glad I live a quiet life, my venture to the city last week was exciting in many ways- my daughter's graduation and celebration, but so hectic.
I lived in the city centre for many years and enjoyed it, but it feels good these days to have my roots in the earth. I don't often move outside my patch, I have the forest, shopping and the sea all within 4 miles, all quiet country roads- suits me perfectly!
Foreign travel is off the agenda at the moment, and given the impending climate problems I am not sure I want to add to that.
I am so glad the internet exists- to have this method of communication, ability to work, and access to information is just fantastic.
I am off to a primal yoga session this morning- in my next village, so glad to have these things on my doorstep. I like trying different yoga styles, although lines have become more blurred in recent years, as teachers tend to adopt and blend according to their own personal ideas. That's fine though- I do the same, yoga is part of my magical practice.

A silversmith workshop sounds amazing, real alchemy there!
There is the last tiny silver sliver of the waning moon in the sky this morning, crisply outlined by the rich azure sunrise. Such a beautiful scene.
I hope everyone finds some magic today.

My Tuesday has started with a PCR test ahead of three days shielding for a hospital appointment on Friday. Unfortunately I have a chronic problem with face pain and doing the test has triggered it. I knew it would. I'm have a nasal scope on Friday so am writing off the weekend in anticipation as that is likely to set it off too. (If it actually settles before then anyway)

So being enforced to stay at home would previously have driven me crazy but actually I am pleased that I have an excuse not to leave the warmth, comfort and solitude of this place.

queenrollo I am sorry to hear that. I am lighting a candle to send healing energy to you.
I hope your time at home is healing and restorative. X

Thank you for the wonderful healing energy speakout
It has been such a wonderfully bright and warm day here that I decided the best approach for my pain was to get out in the garden and see what nature would do. Well - I went out at 9.30 and aside from a couple of stops for tea and a short lunch break I have just this minute come inside!
I have powered through, worked the worst of the pain off and had such joyous hours. I stopped for a while and just watched, and was rewarded by seeing the woodpecker coming down to scavenge nuts. Our two resident dove pairs have been busy too!

queenrollo I am so glad you are feeling a little better- your day sounds wondeful, so sensible to let mother nature help you heal.
I have been to my wolf wood today, taking the carved pumkins I had and left them for the deer, squirrels, birds and any other animals to enjoy.
How lovely to see a woodpecker, I often hear them, but they are shy and elusive- beautiful creatures.
Darkness is coming quickly tonight, but I love the shadows at this time of year, a great chance to light candles early.

Hello.....I’m not sure I’m exactly in the right place but I’ve had a read of the thread and you all seem very lovely anyway. My background is that I am a lifelong atheist, with no religion at all in my family or my life. And I was happy with that.....until I went to Stonehenge on Friday and had the most extraordinary experience. I was just standing there, surrounded by all the other tourists and I had an overwhelming sense of belonging, of being myself, of knowing what I am and who I am, of where I come from and where I belong. I felt grounded to the earth. I felt safe and happy.

I could go on but I’m sure you get the picture. The feeling has faded a bit but the memory of it is wonderful, and I keep thinking back to that shock of....not exactly happiness, but knowing! I’ve been to Stonehenge loads of times before but never at this time of year and not since I’ve been a mother, and I don’t know if something has changed in me?

Anyway....I want to keep this feeling alive in myself and explore it more. I spoke to my mum about it and she has had similar experiences, although less intense. I’d like to share it with my children and my husband too - none of them felt anything out of the ordinary at all at the time.

Can you suggest where I could start? A book or a website? I just want something to practise to keep this new part of me alive!

Thanks for reading, sorry it’s an essay. It’s just been so wonderful and I wanted to share!

PersisFord a warm welcome.
Many of us here are atheists too, following a spiritual or pagan path does not need deity.
If stonehenge sparked your interest that may be worth exploring -our resident ancient historian Blanktimes may be along soon with some ideas.
It may also be of interest to read some of our old threads- have a look at the first page of this thread for links to previous- a wealth a range of ideas are discussed.
We all have different paths here, some witches, some wiccans, some pagans, some simply curious.
All welcome. Have some tea and relax!

Thank you! I’ll have a read.

Good morning sisters. A cloudy calm start to the day here, the final day of the moon's cycle as we head towards a new moon tomorrow.
Tonight's dark mooon is a perfect time for diving into the depths, shadow work, divination, a time to gaze deep into the waters.
I love the term Balsamic moon used to describe the dark moon, a time of soothing, rest, relaxation and healing. The time to invite stillness, reflection, and nothingness has arrived.
It gives us opportunity to lay down our tools, our burdens and pour balsam on our spirit.
I hope the dark moon soothes you sisters.

Good afternoon Sisters! Love your description of tonight's moon Speakout I know now why I was drawn to use some Spikenard last night, it often puts me in that space.

PersisFord warm welcome, find a comfy cushion or beanbag, come and have a brew.
I was just standing there, surrounded by all the other tourists and I had an overwhelming sense of belonging, of being myself, of knowing what I am and who I am, of where I come from and where I belong. I felt grounded to the earth. I felt safe and happy

I know that 'being stoned' feeling so well at ancient places, each have their own variety of it and each place is slightly different when you connect, some are intense and can fill you with a sort of peace you can breathe and you don't know where it starts and you end and Time doesn't exist, yet words are never adequate to describe the experience, because it's so much more profound Others are more subtle and gentle but no less meaningful.

You can, as you did, stand there in a crowd of people, yet only you will experience it. It would be lovely to share that with other people, especially family, but I don't think you can, they can be in the same physical space, but not receptive to what you're connecting to. It's similar to you all looking at a painting, or eating an identical meal, it can send one person in the group into raptures of delight, whilst the others just feel 'meh'.

You're going to wonder what caused you to have that experience and in all honesty, no-one knows. The closest I can come to an explanation is you were in the right place at the right time an in the right frame of mind and importantly, the right 'frame of heart'.

There are commonalities at ancient places, ancient meaning constructed in the Neolithic and Bronze Age into Iron Age eras. The stones they used contain varying amounts of quartz, that seems to be of great significance to the builders, although no-one knows exactly how they built their constructions, or why. Many places called passage graves are not places of burial. There are many theories, but no definitive answers. It's assumed Stonehenge was the special centre of whatever was practised at the time, yet the Ness of Brodgar complex in Orkney pre-dates Stonehenge by quite a margin.

Quartz in itself is a magical stone, so maybe find yourself a piece you're attracted to (I'm sure one will turn up in probably the most unlikely place, that usually happens) and sit quietly with it for a while, do you meditate or do any breathwork? Maybe give it a go.

You'll come across terms like vibrational energy, earth energy, resonance etc. After so many decades of doing this, I reckon that's about right, but it took me quite a while to come around to thinking that as at first it sounded a bit too bizarre to countenance.
Thin places is another common term, as is liminality denoting places (usually with an ancient site there) where different sensory experiences can occur because that place is a threshold between this place and another. Numinous is another lovely term.

It's up to you how much you'd like to explore this lovely new experience, take things at a pace that suits you.

If you want to go and see other ancient places in your locality, most are free access but do not go up close if they are on private land or if you get the feeling it's not right for you at that particular time. On approach I always silently ask if it's okay to enter and abide by the decision. I always feel as though it's like visiting someone, you don't just walk in, you wait to be invited.

Try here, you'll be surprised at how many different types of ancient places there are and how many are near you. www.megalithic.co.uk/topics.php?countries=1

Paul Devereux is an easy read, try his Stone Age Soundtracks for the effects of the sounds and infrasounds generated at or by ancient sites. pauldevereux.co.uk/product/uk/book-stone-age-soundtracks.html

If you want to explore working with energies, here's a little exercise for you to practise, keep at it until you get a result, remember, open mind as well as open heart

I hope this has piqued your interest, I'm always around if you have any questions.

Good evening to you all. I love how you all greet each other on this thread!

BlankTimes thank you so much for your long and thoughtful reply. I‘ve read it and read it, and each time I think I understand it a bit more. I had already found that amazing website with the links to the ancient sites from your first thread - who knew there were so many?! It’s made me feel so happy and secure to see that we are, in fact, surrounded by them. It’s like feeling the arms of my ancestors holding me safe.

I’ve got lots of thinking and reading to do, but it’s peaceful and happy thinking! And now that I have told you all and confirmed that other people feel these things too, I feel part of a community!

PersisFord I am glad you feel welcome, and wonderful to read that our dear friend Blanktimes has opened up new explanations and understanding for you. This is our strength as a group- BlankTimes has such wisdom and knowledge, we love what she brings to our tribe.
Other sisters bring different energy , knowledge, understanding and listening ability, a beautiful cloth, woven with precious thread, fabric, pieced togther to make the most magnificent network of energy and love. Differences and similarity are causes for rejoicing.

Hello and welcome @PersisFord :) And thank you to @BlankTimes for that brilliant post!

I've had an experience that was perhaps along similar lines. A few years back I visited West Kennet Long Barrow; it was fairly early in the morning and there was no-one else around. I had a good wander round but, knowing that it was supposed to be a place of burial, as well as being of importance to those long-gone, I wanted to mark this in some way. So I picked a few strands of clover flowers, twisted them together and put them on a ledge inside the barrow. As I did, I felt almost as if the barrow...expanded, like a hug almost. Like when you breathe in and your chest expands. I felt an air of gratitude, of thanks. There was no-one else around so in that still moment it was just me and the barrow.

I have today finally got around to doing what I've meant to do for an age: start a proper tarot notebook. I've scribbled notes from readings down for years (and they can be very interesting to look back over!) but I've started writing down proper notes and interpretations. As ever, today's cards were on the money and have made it clear that, having felt bruised and battered recently, I need to regroup and step back. Now just to take my own advice!

@queenrollo, sending you best wishes for the face pain settling down and for the hospital visit.

Thank-you all
WKLB is very well-used Bright I'm sure it was a grateful response for your actions. Peter Knight has done a lot of research and holds drumming groups etc. there. Lots on his website Stoneseeker and youtube.

I’m not sure if any of you remember me, but I have missed this thread and all of you tremendously. Life has just been too draining for me to give anything to this space (or even have capacity to digest it), but it feels so lovely to dip in and see your familiar names and soak up the peaceful, calm and inspiring energy here. Such a grounding place.

I love the words on coming to terms with death and letting go, a few pages back. This is a big theme in my life this year and something I’m still struggling to do (at least with any grace).

I wondered if any of you wise women knew of a good beginners resource / book / website / video on astrology? The world feels in chaos at the moment and I’m trying to make sense of things, something tells me astrology may be useful.

Wishing you all a peaceful day x

moregarlic of course you are remembered- how good to have you drop in.
No attendance records are kept here- dipping in, returning, just reading,- all is fantastic.
Follow your heart if you feel astrology is calling you- sorry I don't have book recommendations, perhaps some others will have suggestions.

Welcome @PersisFord - what an amazing experience! I really recommend going back to thread one and reading - I think I’m on thread eight atm! So much valuable wisdom within. I make notes and follow links as I go, expanding my knowledge.

Just flowing back here too, it's been too long!

Work, as predicted, has been all consuming and utterly draining. Like so many others I am struggling to carve any time out for myself.

I light candles each night, read my cards and spend as much time outside as I can.

This thread is so inspiring, thank you to everyone who contributes

Good evening sisters, is there room round the fire for one more? I'm quite enjoying the darker evenings and getting cosy indoors with candles alight and a soft blanket to snuggle under. At last, life seems to be slowing down a little and I'm feeling calmer, things are flowing better...I wondered if others are feeling this shift too?

Speakout I love your description of the dark moon, I agree it feels soothing and calming. Like you, I find I enjoy a quieter lifestyle nowadays (although where I live isn't anywhere near as rural as your home). I believe you can always find nature and peace pretty much anywhere though. I live on the middle of a huge housing estate, but I'm lucky enough to look out on to the most beautiful mature trees, and the hedgerows are full of birds and squirrels. My home is quite small, but I've filled it with plants and it feels like such a haven of calm.

PerisFord welcome I smiled when I read your post about the feeling you got when you were at Stonehenge. I know exactly what you mean, I had the same sense of calm the first time I visited Glastonbury Tor. Blanktimes has explained this really well, it's worth also researching Ley Lines allthatsinteresting.com/ley-lines. You may also like Avebury stone circle, which isn't that far from Stonehenge.

Moregarlichere If you're interested in reading about moon cycles, I can recommend Kirsty Gallaghe's book, Lunar Living. I love her writing style as it's so relatable and easy to understand.

Apologies to anyone I've missed, the thread moves so quickly! I've really enjoyed catching up on all your posts this evening. Love to you all.

Good evening! I hope you are all warm and cosy and enjoying the change in the weather!

Thank you all for sharing your experiences, I love hearing them! We did go to Avebury - I was still “stoned” from Stonehenge I think but it was still wonderful. The weather changed really quickly and my little boy and I were standing by the stones laughing our heads off as the rain whipped into our faces.

Respectful love to you all

Evening, ahem, morning, sisters! It is the witching hour... I've been frantically trying to sort out my studio ready for the weekend when we're all open for the first time since 2019, and while I'm thrilled with the new layout, I really wish my wand worked to finish it in a flash

@speakout, @HillsBesideTheSea, @queenrollo, @VioletCharlotte and @TotoAnnihiliation I have messaged you all now - please forgive my slowness, it's been a crazy week even by my standards. But thank you all for asking and I hope you enjoy it! I'm the one beginning with C ;)

Silversmithing was a joy - Toto did you find a workshop to try? Hoping the photo attaches - it's not the greatest pic, but lapis lazuli which is one of my favourite stones, and the stars and moons are a little homage to my magical self.

Welcome lovely new sisters too! Have a wonderful rest of the week, I hope to pop in tired but happy on Sunday night! from a beautifully organised studio, and maybe accompanied by some flying pigs given its current state

hilariousnamehere a beautiful piece- looks like you had a lot of fun.

I often feel the energy of sacred places, many churches stand on places that have been energy sites long before christianity- excavations often reveal layers of neolithiic importance.
I remember that "stoned" feeling many times, walking around Borobudur in Java, temple of Poseidon at cape Sunion in Greece, Gijantia goddess temple in Gozo ( my favourite ancient site).
Time seems to cease, we can gaze through the past, I can hear echoes and words as I walk through the stones.
So many of these ancient sites and stones exist in the UK, many only briefly noted, lots unexcavated, popping up as dolmains in fields and pasture land. I can think of several very close to me. I love to think of ancient feet standing on the same earth I do.
Friday seems to have rolled in quickly this week, the days seem to have moved fast - work has been busy so I haven't had much down time.
Yoga is a priority of course, just off to a sunrise class this morning.Early yoga suits me fine,sets the day with good intentions, and I am home, ready to work before 9am. Many people in the early yoga classes drop in before work.
Off for a spa shower- have a day full of enchantment sisters.

Good morning sisters,
Just wanted to pop in with my morning tea and ground myself before work. I’ve been out in the beautifully dark and cold garden, bare feet on the earth. I love this quiet early time. Having worked for many years in a city I really appreciate the more rural energy of my current workplace but still, this time just for me in the mornings is precious. I’m another one who enjoys a quieter life!

So lovely to see new, returning and old friends and to read all your insightful and inspiring posts.
I have loved this recent dark moon phase, I also always find it so comforting and healing.

I enjoyed reading the ‘stoned’ discussion and know that feeling too. There are stone rows and cairns fairly close to where I live and it’s been a lovely reminder of the power of these places.

Gorgeous silversmithing there hilarious! I was talking to someone the other day who did a workshop to make their own wedding rings with their partner, very special.

Sending love to those feeling weary or unwell, may the cosy darker nights bring comfort as we’re all called to slow down and go within. I know life and responsibility continue regardless but there’s nourishment to be found in finding ways to flow with the wheel of the year.

May you feel goddess blessings as you go about your day, happy Friday!