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.

@speakout, re bird-feeding, we generally use a feeding station with hangers, but the magpies and jackdaws find them very quickly. What you can try is stuffing any cracks in tree branches with seeds, fat/suet cake - the blue tits in particular love this, or finding a plant pot with a bit of cover and put tiny shortbread crumbs on the soil - our Dunnocks and Robin love this fatty treat!

We are not celebrating much this year - DP is recovering from a dental abscess and energy is low here. We are expecting a visit from an old friend, but will probably get a take-away to ease the load.
I am in peak hibernation mode, but am enjoying the stillness of Winter and the nurturing energy of the long, dark nights.

Speakout with regards to the ecosystem balance there has been studies of this in the pandemic and there have been some interesting results that there is both benefits and problems with feeding the birds and that your locality and how you feed play a massive impact on whether you do more harm than good by putting food out for the birds. I caught a review of it a while back on radio 4 (no idea if it is still there because it was a while back and I have not figured out sounds) Definitely worth hunting out because it was fascinating research. Also the research of artificial life on insect welfare and species diversity. The impact of humans is over whelming somethings when you are faced with the full details of it.

So much great advice here, and Aerwyna I love the fact we share all these self care tips too- I remember you posting that vieo before, but certainly worth a rewatch.

It is really hard to work out what well intentioned acts have great environmental impacts.
My mother has always been one for throwing out large quantities of stale bread, but I became fed up with the squabbles of the gulls and magpies and realised I hadn't seen a blue tit or a chaffinch in my garden for years.
I asked her to stop throwing out bread (felt very mean about that) but since that my garden is full of lots of smaller timid birds. birds. She is of course welcome to feed as I do, but seems to have little interest in the littte birds.
Cats too have put huge pressure on wild bird and other animal populations- and that is created by humans. I am as guilty as anyone as a cat owner myself. Thankfully they are too stuffed to be effective or motivated hunters!
Just back from the supemarket- a very unpleasant energy, panic in the air, lots of empty shelves I bought waht I needed and have come back to my sanctuary,
A quick coffee then prep a slow cooker for tonight's dinnner.
I dare not check the news today, things seem to be getting gloomier by the hour at the moment!

Hello again - I am sitting by the Aga, sipping tea and drinking in the experience and wisdom being passed around the kitchen.

Have just been for a walk, collecting a few more things for my solstice altar - pinecones, ivy flowers. Some have been added to my door wreath too.

I realised whilst I was wandering just how much I chat to the trees, and always thank them for whatever I take. One pine tree was not willing (or able, it looked a little beaten up) to give me any cones so I left it in peace. And the next tree I came to was very generous without me having to ask.

Just been for a forest walk too- so much damage has been caused by recent storms, great old monster trees have been brought down by the wind, hitting other trees in the process, massive broken trunks. But the forest will go on, some of the branches now lying in the earth will turn into roots, and interesting new growth with horizontal bases will grow, wood will decay and provide food and habitats for other creatures. Forests are very clever at self maintainance.
I picked up a few very interesting pieces, twisterd and knarly, almost look like antlers, I may triman and clean them and make some candle holders or similar.
Quite a lot of scorched animal bones lying around fire pits, this happens quite frequently, look like deer bones, I know others living locally have also seen similar, whether some people hunting and having an impromptu BBQ. No skin or skulls, and the bones look stripped clean. Quite puzzlig to know what is going on there!

Hi all! And a big welcome to Welcome @Thekormachameleon @Swanhilde and @BerthaFlapjack.

I hope you're all holding up OK in this weird times we're living through.

As the uncertainty around restrictions arises once more, I can feel the old familiar creep of anxiety again. I had my first child a few weeks before the first lockdown, I can't believe she'll be turning two soon.

But if the last two years have taught me anything, it's that the only thing I have control over is my mindset so I am determined to be as OK as I can. After a week long head cold I'm feeling a bit pent up, so I am going to prioritise fresh air and gentle movement. On the big unknowns of next year, and the inevitable waves of anxiety, I am going to try and ground myself in the rhythms of nature. I have ordered Lia Leendertz's 'The Almanac: A seasonal guide to 2022' as a treat-y starting point.

@dementedma I loved reading about your nature approach to Solstice, it sounds very cathartic and it must smell amazing! If anyone is looking for a low energy way to celebrate, this yoga nidra would be a good option: www.yoganidranetwork.org/mp3/winter-solstice

@speakout your DD is so lucky to have you, you sound like a lovely mum prioritising snuggles under the blanket. I am glad to read you are feeling more in control of your situations, honestly your words about internal/external locus of control the other day may very well have changed my life.

@BlankTimes what a thoughtful package to send your friend, I love how you've carefully ordered it too so as not to overwhelm her.

Warm, peaceful wishes friends x

Greetings all. Looking forward to the Solstice tomorrow…almost more than Christmas! It just seems more…real. For those interested there will be a live feed on Facebook at 3pm from Maes Howe on Orkney. I think it’s Heritage Scotland doing it.

I found making the pentagrams very therapeutic. The scent of the rosemary particularly was energising.

Well spotted dementedma

Maeshowe livecam

Good morning everyone. Thank you for all the lovely cards that have arrived through my letterbox and thank you @speakout for the meditation link, just what I needed.

I spent yesterday doing nothing much as I felt really poorly. I’d had the booster vaccine and being below par to begin with ( other health conditions) I think it was a bit much. I’ve woken feeling a bit better today thankfully. Intending to do some de-cluttering ready for our house move in the new year.
Im really grateful to have found the new house, I am sure it was meant to be. We didn’t view any others. I am feeling anxious though at the moment about moving to a new area and being alone more aswell, my husband will have a longer journey to and from work and already works 10 hour days. So , I’ll not see much of him through the week.
Everything will be new and I don’t drive so I won’t be able to just nip back to my old town. I’m having a little panic that I might be lonely even though I spend a lot of time alone here and like it !
I’ve lived in my current house 28 years. All this at the same time as feeling immensely grateful for the new house. So I’m a bit mixed up at the moment !

Wishing everyone a good day.

Elasticatedwaist your feelings are natural as you're going through a lot of change. Human beings are creatures of habit, we like what is familiar so any sort of change is unsettling for us. But if we resist change then we can't progress, so if you know in your gut that the house move is right for you, hold on to that feeling when your brain tries to find reasons why you shouldn't do it. In your post you talk about all the things that might go wrong...can you list all the positives instead? I'm sorry you've been unwell, have you considered it could be that the emotion your experiencing internally is manifesting itself through physical symptoms? Have a look at the image I've attached below, it explains really simply how certain symptoms or behaviours are connected to different emotions.

Lovely to hear about your solstice altars. I've not had a chance to get out into the woods lately, I'm looking forward to the quiet period between Christmas and new year when there should be more times for longer walks. Interesting to read the suggestions for feeding the wild birds. I've had to give up on feeding them as there's just too many cats near me unfortunately.

Solstice blessings to you all.

Here's the image I meant to attach!

Solstice Blessings dear sisters, and thankyou for the live stream link blanktimes- just what I was looking for.
moregarlic thank you for your kind words. I, like others deal with and talk little of some of the harsh challenges I face. I suspect many of on his thread are in similar positions.
This is absolutely a thread of support and the energy it has given me over the years is beyond measure.
I slept for 11 hours last night- very unlike me, I was overcome with tiredness, and had a long dream. I did wake momentarily several times during the night as heard family members get up, doors closing, but turned over and fell asleep again quickly. But the same dream continued even though I woke, I slipped back ino the same dream, the same scene, the same story.
The dream was of me as a grown crone and mother as I am now,taking myself as a 6 year old from a lonely place where she was feeling scared, unsure. A shy, nervous little thing ( which was at that age) and I took her out- we went a trip, I showed her seas and the tops of mountains and told her that that this was all inside of her. I held her hand as we walked through the forest and I told her that she was strong deep inside, and that one day the fear and pain would lessen, and that she was a beautiful soul who has a treasure box full of amazing gifts . We hugged as we sat and watched the sunset.
I woke up this morning with tears rolling down my cheeks, feeling deeply mothered and cared for. Many of us know time travel is possible- to go back to heal, to bring gifts from the past .
A profound feeling for a solstice morning!
I am off for a quick shower and a short meditation before watching the sunrise.
Much love sisters.

Oh my goodness that is profound speakout. I’m so glad you felt mothered and cared for, your powerful experience has given me shivers.

Solstice blessings friends,
May you feel the light returning where it is most needed in your lives

Hi all I've just found this thread as I was searching for others who mark the solstice. I don't think I would call myself a witch I'm a Christian but Fe very connected to the seasons and nature and it's really important to me.

I got up to watch the sunrise but it's too cloudy to see the sun (there's a metaphor right there!)

We were planning a fire pit but my older children are busy tonight (cubs and guides etc) so it will have to be another night

Planning on making bird feeders with my toddler and we have a lovely book called the shortest day to read together

Solstice greetings everyone. My plans have changed as I am waiting for a PCR test to arrive but will spend some time in the garden. I will watch the live stream too, thank you BlankTimes

Winter Solstice

Hidden in shadows
tunnelled and rooted
brambled and tangled
suspended in time.

We are waiting.

Dream twitchers, sleep snufflers
fur-folded creatures of blood warmth and bone,
deep in the leaf moss
in pine needled hollows
in shelters smooth shouldered
in claw scrabbled stone.

We are waiting.

The wheel turns
The end and the beginning.

Beneath your feet
the tilted earth awakens,
darkness pricks its ears, eye bright
Our voices rise in whispered incantation
to welcome back the rising of the light.

Thankyou for all the solstice energy dear sisters. BerthaFlapjack I hope your PCR result comes back negative.
I am just back from a big food shopping trip with my DD her idea, so we met for a quick coffee at Starbucks first, but she was on her knees poor thing after a harsh night shift. So we raced around as she wanted to get to bed.

I have yet to do my solstice meditation, ran out of time earlier and need a quiet peaceful time.
And have a Dermalogica facial booked for 1.15 today- deep self nurture for me!! I am glad as I can feel the stress creeping up after being at the supermarket!!
Nearly finished my tea advent calender- with no respect for adhering to the date rules, little pockets of disorder are always fun in life!

Today is not the gentle day of solstice marking I wish. Lots of high emotion, drama and raw feelings as Christmas plans and family visits are being cancelled. And apparently I am the grinch that stole Christmas as a result.

I hope that you are all having much calmer and gentler days, and are able to find even just a few moments of quiet and calm to mark the occasion as you chose.

Bertha I hope you have a negative PCR and that your plans are not to messed up

Hills it's not been easy here either to be honest. We've had a walk around the woods and I told my DH and youngest DS that next special pagan day I am going alone
My son was a nightmare and I had to stand on a very muddy track with him and say 'right this moment you can now choose to be in a good mood and enjoy the rest of the walk'. In my heart I was calling on the spirits of the land to help me - and so we breathed 5 very deep breaths and then put foot forward together into a better energy.
But still - I feel frustrated at trying to fit my soul practice into a family who do not share it.
Then I find that my prescription cannot be filled, I run out on the 27th. Instead of phoning me to give me time to source elsewhere, the surgery left it 3 days....told me when I tried to collect. No-one carries it, it has to be ordered in. So now instead of sinking into my hot Yule ritual bath I am waiting for a call back from my GP to discuss my options.
I'm seeing this all as flow....i'm being told I must learn to go with the flow. And I mostly am. I've marzipanned the cake. I will have my bath later, when the sun has gone down and my candles will hold more symbolism.

Talking of symbolism - I saw a face in a tree but it was an owl, and that triggered a memory. So I now have some thinking and reading to do.

It is the conflict that is hard to deal with isn't it.
We can't be all things to all people including ourselves.
I had my facial, not my usual therapist, and it felt rushed, perfunctory, she chatted non stop about her 3 year old's anger management problems, clients are cancelling because of covid.
She had asked at thhe beginning if I had any specfic concerns- I said my lips were very dry and my eyes were puffy.
She paid no attention to either during the session. £38 for 30 minutes.
So not the nurturing session I ws hoping for.
My skin feels refreshed and nourished, but hasn't left me quite as calm as I had hoped.
Some meditation is called for, but my house is busy.
I may finish some wrapping instead.

Happy Solstice everyone!

Just popping back to say Happy solstice to everyone, I think I forgot earlier ! And thank you @VioletCharlotte for your wise and reassuring words. The chart is interesting !

Thank you speakout and hills. It is a precaution but frustrating especially as results are seemingly taking several days at the moment. I spent a couple of hours on the garden which was very soothing. We have thousands of snowdrops so I was clearing fallen leaves to let them breathe, and thinking of Mary in The Secret Garden who did similar. She called the plants growing a kind of magic and I think it is. For those who have had busy and stressful days, I send peace and quiet.

In the garden