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.

Okay. Nutty recipe for those who asked.

Finely diced onion, carrot and mushroom make a great base fried. Add mixture of ground nuts. To this you can:
Add stock, marmite, other seasonings and breadcrumbs/flour to make a nut roast
Add to a tomato based sauce to layer up as a lasagne
Add to food processor with a tin of baked beans to mix and shape into sausages you can fry.

I change all the seasonings/herbs/inclusions depending on the season and how I feel.

I love hearing all your tales and talk of nature.

It doesnt feel like autumn yet, although the creep of the season has begun. I spent yesterday out on the hills, edges and moors, walking through the heather with its bright pink blooms, and the lush leaves of bracken. (yes tick checks etc was done). I got burnt to a crisp unfortunately as the sun is still strong enough to have a good sting. I need to get a hat for walking as the parting line in my hair is almost impossible to treat with calming lotion if burnt. Today the muscles are sore and heavy but the soul is lighter and calm. It was a lovely long lose the entire day kinda walk. I plan for there to be a few more before the end of the fair weather walking season.

Today i need to tend to some plants and sort some kitchen magic out. A perfect bank holiday weekend of nature and nuture.

May your days be full of love and support.

I've loved reading everyone's catch up over the weekend. @speakout your garden is beautiful. I'm looking forward moving to my new house which has a much bigger garden full of trees that my grandparents planted as saplings, then further trees planted by their children. The trees will almost be like family.

Today, we went to a sunflower field that has been planted by the local children's farm (not a farm for children, but child friendly 🤣). We found out lots of interesting facts about sunflowers and spent a good 45 minutes following the paths between these yellow giants 🌻

@speakout

Beautiful picture LumpySpacedPrincess. I love autumn too, trees here are starting to take a golden tinge, and forests around me are full of mushrooms. The smell changes too, doesn't it, fresh floral and green notes of summer give way to earthy notes as leaves start to decompose, the air becomes rich with a sweet heavy fragrance. I love it! I always feel at home during autumn, permission to display my witchiness, to come out of the broom closet and show my true colours!

I'm obsessed with the smell of each season, tangy, green and floral, earthy, clean.

Then those odd days when you catch the scent of autumn on a summers day. The seasons all wrapped around each other and sometimes bleeding through.

32inchtv The fungi doc is fascinating. My partner is an expert on shrooms and he's getting excited for this years harvest.

@Aerwyna, that’s a lovely quote.

I’m really noticing the shorter days and the occasional chilly evening. My horse has already been clipped but her winter coat is still sprouting, so another haircut is on the cards (with a full winter coat she gets too sweaty when ridden which isn’t good for her) and I’m getting all her winter rugs ready. The Canada geese have been heading off (I always call “Come back soon!” when I see them go overhead) and the hedgerows are filling up with fruit ready for all the jam!

@32inchtv I’m sorry you’re at the receiving end of proselytising, it’s not easy when someone is trying to turn you away from your faith and beliefs. All you can do is hold them at arm’s length until they start to respect your views or they leave you alone.

I haven't seen any geese migrations here yet- always an indication he seasons are turning. We get thousands of geese arriving in September from Iceland and Greenland to over winter here- mostly pink footed type. We do have Canadian geese but they are permanent in my area.
The swallows and swifts have already departed for their long journey to Africa, but are noticeable only by their absence, their ariel acrobatics gone from the evening sky.
Geese migrations are far more noticeable, aren’t they as they honk and trumpet their passage and show their beautiful flying formations. If I hear them approach I drop what I am doing and dash outside to have a look.
Never ceases to amaze me!

Hello all.

I've had my first real socialising since the pandemic began and boy am I exhausted. I am usually right in the thick of it, I love meeting new people and can really work a room. I just couldn't....I spent a lot of time retreating to our little camper and getting some time out. I found it easier as the weekend went on though.
Lots of fascinating people as usual, mostly working in creative fields. One is a photographer and brought some cyanotype materials so I did that for the first time ever and it was really fun!
We are usually at our friends from Thurs eve right through til as late as possible on the Monday, but we came home last night for our own bed (less than 10 miles).
I had underestimated how much shielding I had naturally developed over the years, and how much the isolation of lockdown has allowed me to drop that. I think I will spend this autumn season building my reserves up again and maybe it's even time for some new shielding techniques to come into my practice too.

Definite autumn prep here. The sweep has been to clean and service all our woodburning appliances - which we soley rely on for out heating in the winter. It's still not quite cold enough to light the Rayburn but I am looking forward to when I can have it going, it changes the way I cook and bake.

Queenrollo I know exactly what you mean, socialising seems to exhaust me too. I've been trying to find some balance the past couple of weekends and make sure to schedule in some downtime. It's lovely to see friends and get out and about, but it is tiring!

Speakout and Brightyellowdaffodil I love to see the geese migrating too. I remember a story from childhood about how birds migrate every year to warmer climates and I've always been fascinated by how they know exactly when to go and how to get there!

Hills I agree it doesn't feel like autumn just yet, but there's certainly a hint of it in the air. Like you, I've done a lot of walking this weekend. I'm glad you're feeling lighter.

Quiet day planned today. I've just been to the gym, which always sets me up nicely for the day. I need to go food shopping this morning, then I want to make a start on sorting out DS1's old bedroom, I'm turning it into an office. Other than that it's laundry and cooking and preparing for the week ahead.

I have had an interesting conversation with my mother about the difference between mythology, folk tales and fairy tales. I have some more volumes i am going to need to translate my way through now. Fascinating things though.

We have also decided on some new "traditions" which will subtly blend their very christian faith with my not at all christian perspective. It involves good food and pie. Which is a good compromise. There are also things that can be done more subtly which is more my wish to mark the equinox. But good food and fruit pie is a good common ground. Especially as they yearn for the more traditional marking of the harvest service that is less "fun for the kids" and more spiritual. So we will see how it pans out.

Geese migrations are far more noticeable, aren’t they as they honk and trumpet their passage and show their beautiful flying formations.

Yes, they very much announce their arrival and departure! I'm not sure if they migrate but the swans make a lovely noise when they go overhead too, quite ethereal.

I have been fruit picking and now have a large bucket of crab apples ready to be turned into jelly. I think some will be set aside for a 'hedgerow jam' that I'm planning though, - I've not made it before so I'm making it up as I go, so far it will be a mixture of apples, crab apples, plums, blackberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, sloes and maybe a handful of rosehips if I can find some ripe ones in time!

@HillsBesideTheSea, what is the difference between mythology, folk tales and fairy tales? Now I think about it they do seem different things but I can't put my finger on why :)

Mythology tends to have god/goddess etc, folk tales tend to be about experience, and fairy tales tend to be stories with a lesson.
Or at least that is where we ended up.

It is probably not the most accurate definitions. But does for the distinctions that are needed for what we were talking. I think a lot of folk tales are the most interesting with their tales of interactions with land spirits etc.

Hello lovely friends, I haven't posted for many, many months so doubt you'll remember me but I am catching up on everyone's news and hope to be able to be more communicative soon. Until then, I wanted to pop in and wish you all the fruitfulness of autumn as it joins us next week!

GinIsMySaviour always lovely to have old friends pop in for a cuppa.
Definitely feels like autumn next week, September is just the excuse I need to start celebrating the season!

Good Evening All. I have just spent some time reading your posts. All the talk of winter leaves me longing for cosy evenings in.

The difference between mythology and folk tales is so interesting.

I have spent my day with my daughter, shopping for her second year at college. We had a lovely lunch, talked, shopped and laughed. Then we both came home and had a nap

I am off work tomorrow and quite a few of my sunflowers are ready to come out and the head ready for drying. So that is the plan.

Its so nice to be starting the autumn style jobs. Though my biggest sunfower got to 14ft and is still going strong. Will need help to bring that down when the time comes. So I feel firmly between summer and autumn.

Roofers not coming back again....tomorrow. So trying to just go with the flow and let it go.

Hekatestorch I love the cosy winter evenings too. I like it now the evenings are drawing in. It's 8pm and I've closed my curtains, put my lamps on and lit the candles so the house feels cosy and snug. I've had veggie chillie with jacket potato for dinner and apple crumble for pudding - very autumnal!

Inevitably, clearing out DS1's old room took longer than expected, but we now have a functional office so I'm pleased with what I've achieved .

Ginismysaviour good to see you again...tea?

Hills sounds like an fascinating conversation with your Mother. I've never really thought about the difference before, but I agree with you. I like the idea of new traditions, it's so great that you've been able to find compromise that suits all.

@HillsBesideTheSea I love the idea of new blended traditions which can acknowledge a breadth of faiths - what a marvellous way of marking differing beliefs respectfully. I would love to be able to have those sorts of conversations within my family…

Oh it is a very discrete blending of faiths with no real admission this is what we are doing. Whilst my mother may have a teeny tiny little bit of wiggle room. My father prays loudly every night for my soul to be saved because i do not follow his faith. It does feel like a giant chess game, but the end result is not to trick anyone but to find a balance that respects both. So a good meal is a simple, non intrusive way to do this. And all that has been said that it will be a marking of the equallness of day and night and the harvests bounty. Which is enough. Anything else will be discrete and subtle; like most of my craft workings.

I do want to speak to my mother about ancestor veneration type things for October. She is very anti halloween, and tbh the commerical aspect holds little for me. But the ancestor side of things does and that might be something that she may be open to. However, iirc her traditions lie with this kind of work around mid winter. So this is a good starting point for conversation. To find more about her traditions, the historic traditions, and what she remembers from her childhood about it. As much as mum says she is firmly against the old ways, she has a few gifts with plenty knowledge and from what i can gather it has come down a few generations in the family. So as long as we can keep the conversations in her comfort zone she has a lot of interesting things to say. Unfortunately she and dad are still firm believers in the satanic panic. So it really is a tread softly, nothing too overt kinda thing. I long for the day where I don't have to worry where i put the book down etc. It will come eventually and in the meantime i am blessed with time with my parents as they age which many are not so lucky.

The bite in the air is keen today, i've had the windows open all day as i had to resort to a pesticide/insecticide to get ride of a moth invasion. First of the seasons hot water bottles tonight as i am chilled. It is not cold enough for the heating yet.

@HillsBesideTheSea your mum sounds similar to mine. Her family are Irish Catholic. Her dad was half Greek but raised RC.

My nana and her mother blended them beautifully. My mum, less so. Although she can be more interested when I talk about the similarities.

My dad came from a technically, Hindu family. Though non of them practice much of it. So he isn't bothered either way.

My mum will join in a meal or something similar.

I don't celebrate Halloween either. Its all about ancestors. But the benefit of the commercialisation for me, is that I can find things for my altar far easier. So I try to embrace it that I can shop easier.

I love this new Molly Roberts video- she describes herself as an Art Witch, but the powerful messages in this video will speak to us all, whether we use catagories, or like me are a scattering of everything!
It speaks of sovereigty and self worth- worth a listen!

Interesting discussion about blending religion and christianiy with a pagan path. Not something that works for me, but great if that is something that enriches your path.

Just finished a very challenging yoga youtube video- I bit off more than I could chew! Doing a little work while having a coffee, then off to the beauty salon for a facial his morning.
Have to keep up with my devotions!!

I watched that Molly Roberts video yesterday morning, it's really wonderful. One of my treats to myself is to have signed up to her Patreon and I have really enjoyed the content over there. So many Patreon to choose from, but for me Molly's easy personality is a draw. She's very much the kind of person I would be friends with in real life.

I have someone from a charity coming to collect things this morning. Every time I take stuff into town shops are already at their daily quota for donations and I am becoming overwhelemd with bags stacked in my hall.
I tracked down some small local charities who have volunteers willing to collect and sort donations so my money will be helping them rather than the high street charities.
I just need to get off my bottom and sort a last few bits before they arrive!

queenrollo

I have considered Molly's patreaon too- good to hear you think it is worthwhile. I agree she does seem a beautiful soul.
Our local charity shops are hard to donate to also, some require drop off appointments which can be weeks away.
My local recycling centre has charity hoppers though, so I drop my stuff up there when I am taking other things for recycling. Also a hopper for my local children's hospital which is my new favourite charity since my DDS new job there!

We have charity hoppers dotted about too, and these have been FULL.
A particular problem where I am has been a certain element of the population figuring out how to get the bags back out. There has been video footage of them emptying the bags, taking items they deem of value and then leaving the rest strewn across carparks. Then the designated charities won't collect and the Council are having to send out clean up teams.
This is immigrant population and just adds fuel to the already divided and quite frankly xenophobic/racist proportion of 'locals'.

Our local recycling centre has been on a difficult to access appointment only system since the pandemic began. Finally, from tomorrow they are scrapping this and back to open gate policy. We have stuff to take down, but I suspect the first few weeks will be very busy with long queues.

Have to keep up with my devotions!!

I love that speakout! I hope you enjoy your facial. Thank you also for the video, I’ll look forward to watching it. I do like her soothing energy

Here’s one that I stumbled across, haven’t watched it yet but seemed to fit with the mythology/legend etc discussion. Interesting ideas Hills thank you for sharing them. Food for thought there

I’m following the conversation about blending traditions from differing perspectives with interest. Food certainly seems a good way to do this, a special meal has universal appeal doesn’t it

I am also enjoying every delicious description of the changing seasons, such a joy to read, thank you all

Lovely to see you again Gin, so glad you came by for a cuppa

Violet I hope your working day is flowing well from your newly reclaimed workspace. When I was wfh I found it invaluable to have a separated space where I could ‘go to’ and ‘leave’ work

I’m preparing myself for going back to working in an office amongst other people and am mindful of what others are also describing about how tiring this can be, especially after lockdown. I’m so used to being in my own space it’ll take a bit of adjustment I guess.

I haven’t seen any geese migrating but I was out working yesterday and was treated to the sight of a heron flying overhead- such regal creatures I always think. I’d made an offering of thanks to Rhiannon that morning and this bird sighting felt like a lovely flow of that energy

My thoughts are turning to clearing out and organising too queenrollo Moving into the darker months always seems to stir this up in me. When it’s been hard to donate to charity shops I’ve given stuff away via Facebook freebie groups. speakout I love it that you have a charity hopper nearby for the children’s hospital, a great way to feed more positive energy into your DD’s new venture.

Errands to run and some work as it comes today, hopefully interspersed with some quality pottering time!

Wishing everyone a magical afternoon

Just wanted to share this. It really spoke to me and I thought it may speak to others too.

Opening up and asking for/receiving support is something I’ve learned a lot about here. This safe and powerful sisterhood has helped me with this beyond measure. Thank you x

“Sis, the inability to receive support from others is a trauma response.

Your “I don’t need anyone, I’ll just do it all myself” conditioning is a survival tactic. You needed it to shield your tender heart from abuse, neglect, betrayal, and disappointment from those who could not or would not be there for you.

From the parent who was absent by choice or by the circumstance of working three jobs to feed and house you.

From the lovers who offered sexual intimacy but no offered no safe haven that honored your heart.

From the friendships that always took more than they gave.

From all the situations when someone told you “we’re in this together” then abandoned you, leaving you to pick up the pieces when isht got real, leaving you to handle your part and their part, too.

From the lies. The betrayals.

You learned along the way that you just couldn’t really trust people. Or that you could trust people, but only up to a certain point.

Ultra-independence is a trust issue.

You learned: if I don’t put myself in a situation where I rely on someone, I won’t have to be disappointed when they don’t show up for me, or when they drop the ball... because they will always drop the ball sooner or later, right?

You may even have been intentionally taught this protection strategy by generations of hurt women who came before you. #generationaltrauma #ancestraltrauma

Ultra-independence is a preemptive strike against heartbreak.

So, you don’t trust anyone.

And you don’t trust yourself, either, to choose people.

To trust is to hope, to trust is vulnerability.

“Never again,” you vowed.

But no matter how you dress it up and display it proudly to make it seem like this level of independence is what you always wanted to be, in truth it’s your wounded, scarred, broken heart behind a protective brick wall.

Impenetrable. Nothing gets in. No hurt gets in. But no love gets in either.

Fortresses and armor are for those in battle, or who believe the battle is coming.

It’s trauma response.

The good news is trauma that is acknowledged is trauma that can be healed.

You are worthy of having support.
You are worthy of having true partnership.
You are worthy of love.
You are worthy of having your heart held.
You are worthy to be adored.
You are worthy to be cherished.

You are worthy to have someone say, “You rest. I got this.” And actually deliver on that promise.

You are worthy to receive.
You are worthy to receive.
You are worthy to receive.
You are worthy.
Worthy, sis.
You are worthy.

You don’t have to earn it.
You don’t have to prove it.
You don’t have to bargain for it.
You don’t have to beg for it.

You are worthy.
Worthy.

Simply because you exist.

I love you. 🧡~J.

~ Jamila White, Psychic & Life Coach
IG: @inspiredjamila
www.inspiredjamila.com

Art by Lucy Campbell
www.lupiart.com”

www.facebook.com/218994888111510/posts/6306475206030084/

Aerwyna

Thankyou for sharing that- it touched me deeply.
It popped up in my feed yesterday, and it really resonates wih me. I recognise that person who feels the need to take care of it all herself.

I remember having surgery a few years ago in my 30s, and telling no one. It was a day case, but a general anasthetic, with a small but real risk of bleeding afterwards and once I was given the OK I discharged myself. Staff were not happy about me ravelling home alone, but that is so typical of me- even now!

I am learning to realise it is fear, it is a protection. I also see the motherwound in those words, how we have been taught to live safe sad lives.

Had a wonderful facial this morning, a lovely junior around the same age as my daughter, wih a special gift for nurturing.
I had left a positive review last month whan I had treatment and mentioned her by name, she told me today how happy she had been to read my comment, that the owner of the salon had called her in to show it to her, and how it had made her day.
Which made today's treatment even more special ( plus she has sen me away with handfuls of free samples to try at home)

Jus having a goddess coffee after lifting the last of the stones from my driveway- 50 bags in total. Some will be going back in the trench, but I had to pull up the weed control fabric which was starting to perish and let weeds grow. The end of the job is in sight!! Coffee is my little prize for summoning gusto!