Any Witches Here? Part 16

[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 am sorry you had a bad night HillsBesideTheSea - I hope today is calm for you. I have some paperwork to do today too which is very triggering for me, prior to a meeting on Tuesday. I will buckle down, work fast and make some magical chamomile tea as a reward to myself for wearing my pragmatic hat.

There is a real breath of spring in the air today, I didn't get my home smudged, not my Imbolc tree set up yeaterday, time ran away-hopefully will get these done in the next day or two.
I am sure the volume of birdsong is turned up a notch or two at the moment, I was out before dawn and the chorus was blasting outt a hopeful song of brighter days to come. I am spoiled for choice with budding shrubs right now, forsythia is lovely, I used pussy willow last year which was beautiful, but quite messy as it drops a lot of pollen.
I will trust my instincts to make a good choice, sometimes it's good not to overthink these things.
I will have rummage through my craft drawers and improvise with decorations, I know I have a lot of crystals with bails attached ready for pendant making ( a project that never launched) will use these for decoration, with of course ribbons, and any other items I find that feel right.
My craft drawers are often deep mysteries- even to me, things I have bought years ago and forgotten about- so decorating will be a fun way to spend an hour and honour the goddess Brigit within and without.
Now some work, hopefully get finished early afternoon.
I hope all my sisters find some magic in their day, be it big or small.

Just back from a short walk in my Wolf Wood, looking for earky signs of growth- only tiny hints, and buds in hiding, but did see carpets of snowdrops- not yet in bloom, but forcing their way up with determination. A wonderful sign - it lifted my heart.

@HillsBesideTheSea, my heart truly goes out to you. Before becoming a mother, I just never knew how heart-wrenching it could be, it is so, so hard at times. Please do be kind to yourself xxx
@speakout - wow, snowdrops! I am quite a bit further south than you, and all I've seen so far are the beginnings of shoots, maybe a centimetre or so. But yes, the weather today was hinting at Spring, and the robins and squirrels have just noticed their female counterparts are looking a lot more interesting!

Had my 3rd Covid jab this morning. I chose to have it, but not too sure at the moment how I feel about it. Maybe once the side-effects have passed I shall have a little think. A certain boneheaded Downing Street dweller and his ilk have certainly gifted us with a good dose of resentment for the new year.

Light and hope to all who need it this weekend

AnotherCrazyBirdLady

I hope you will suffer no oll effects from the booster, I was completely fine, apart from a slightly sore arm for a few days.
I have just been sitting watching my bird tree in the garden, the first winter that I have taken to feeding birds more seriously. My mother is an avid bird feeder, but that usuallly just means throwing big chunks of stale bread on the lawn, which were devoured quickly by seagulls, magpies and other big and boisterous birds.
Although I live surrounded by woodland I saw no smaller birds. When I moved in my garden was no more than concrete, gravel and a lawn, so hardly a bird friendly place.
But I have planted trees and shrubs, have a lot more insects and cover for the smaller birds, and I have been experimenting with different foods and feeding methods for the little birds. And they have come is droves, which is very encouraging, lots of finches, tits, robins, sparrows, dunnocks, blackbirds. I have made sure that feeders have been topped up ever day since the October so local populations that ay have come to rely on the food won't grow hungry. I also feed the squirrels, and put out grain and oats on the ground for the wood pigeons and starlings. That seems too much effort for the magpies and seagulls, I know that none of this is really a natural ecosystem, but I am glad at least a bigger variety of birds are visiting and being sustained. Ay advice would be appreciated!

@speakout, it sounds like you've created a wonderful haven for birds! We have a lot here, but there's always room for more! My only advice would be live mealworms, if you can get them from a pet shop/similar. It's how I got robins to feed from my hand and a wren to be so friendly. These worms are like crack to some of the birds here. I generally throw them out when a bird comes to the window, but you can also scatter a few on a flat surface to arouse interest - it doesn't take long! When the birds know you have the worms, you can put them in different places for different birds - for our wren, we put some inside part of a decorative brick that only he can fit inside, and we have no trouble knowing when his store has run dry
You really sound like a natural at bird-feeding and have an intuitive feel for what they want/need. I am very curious, though, do you get any crested tits? I think they're only found in Scotland, and they look rather exotic!

AnotherCrazyBirdLady thankyou- your words of encouragement and suggestions are very helpful. I have only tried dried mealworms, but will have a look for love ones. I have noticed the birds becoming less timid in my presence, I go out at fairly regular times,, keep my movements slow, head down so they don't feel too challenged.
They used to fly off when I came to replenish food, but now I notice many will sit nearby on fences and branches.

That does sound like a wonderful haven speakout such a pleasure to hear what you are doing for the birds. I laughed at AnotherCrazyBirdLady’s description of the mealworms- my friend used to say the same of her rescue hens.

So lovely to see the snowdrops too, and a reminder to me to get out into the woods more often. I’ve been stopping by to say hello to the river as I go about my business which always helps restore equilibrium. A few minutes breathing in that flow and I can feel my knots untangling. There’s something about the consistency yet ever changing nature of wild water that always soothes me and brings perspective.

I’m interested in the dream themes amongst us- mine have had a similar flavour of late and I wonder, like Violet, if it’s something in the air. Thankfully mine seem to have subsided a little and I hope others are seeing a similar pattern.

Im sorry to hear of those facing tough challenges right now and hope that you can find at least micromoments of peace. Sometimes it’s all there is but still a valuable resource to be embraced when they come. If we create enough of them I think they can generate a clearing for insight. My recent micromoments have included feeling winter sunshine on my back and breathing in calm with a blessed cup of tea.

Wishing everyone a magical weekend

Aerwyna yes, my crazy dreams have subsided too, thank goodness! Although I'm bracing myself for a couple of restless nights as we approach Monday' full moon. I'm upping my exercise and water intake as this seems to help with the sleep and the 'full moon headache'.

Speakout lovely to hear about your birds. My friend lives in the countryside and has a tree outside her house full of bird feeders. She gets blue tits, robins, woodpeckers...it almost reminds me of a scene from a Disney film! There's so many cats near where I live that I can't feed the birds as I worry the cats will get them. We also have a lot of quite aggressive squirrels!

Just back from the gym and gearing myself up to clean the house. I quite like cleaning, it's just the getting started that's the hard bit! Once that's done I'll head off out for a walk with my dog, I like to get him out for a good long one at weekends if I can.

Aerwyna I love the idea of "micromoments, and how even a few breaths of woodland air can untangle knots- micromoments is such a good description. Like you I often stop at the woods on the way home, and walk even just for 2 or 3 minutes to soak up the energy. It releases and fills me with calm. If we create enough of them I think they can generate a clearing for insight. Absolutely- and magical moments too. I absolutely believe that there is no circumstance that cannot be helped by taking those regular points to touch and nourish our soul. Even when times are tough- throw in a dozen tiny potions of self love and compassion and life becomes easier to deal with.
It may not change a difficult situation, but will strengthen our ability to deal with them.
VioletCharlotte like you and Aerwyna my chaotic and distressing dreams have subsided a little too, and I am sleeping better. I hope the full moon doesn't disrupt that too much for you. I am also eagerly awaiting for my weighted blanket to be delivered!
No gym this morning, but I did a 30 minute power Vinyasa on youtube which got the heart pumping. I was at a class yesterday and again tomorrow, it was pleasant being able to practice at home.
I did get to my second hand store. bought some fabric - books were a ittle disappointing, but bought a couple of auction catalogues, beautiful photographs of Scottish Celtic jewellery, silver spoons ( remembering our discussion) and some handsome swords. The yoga teacher in the video this morning was talking about warrior poses, saying one attribute of a warrior is to stay calm and focussed in a crisis. Quite inspired a section on warrior energy in my new toolbook!
I also bought some new incense- Nag Champa Indian Rose and Satya Rain Forest, so look forward to trying those later, although I can smell the fragrance even though I haven't opened the box.
Off to put away a pile of laundry, used to be one of my least favourite jobs, but have managed a turnaround on that. I play some sorting music, and thank my clothes for being of service, feeling gratitude that I own them, and happy that I have facilities to wash and dry them. It’s something I have learned not to endure but just to embrace- like say brushing teeth. Not the most fun thing in the world, but I say some internal mantras as I brush and having a fresh clean mouth is always good.
All these micromoments- even the chores can become nurturing and magical by a little mental adjustment.
That’s where all the true power lies- in our responses, if we can work on that then life becomes a lot easier! All a work in progress of course!

I am another person who has learnt the magic of folding laundry. I tend to do it as one of my last activities before I go to bed, I listen to an interesting podcast and zone out. I find it puts a distance from the hustle and bustle of the day.

TotoAnnihiliation

So interesting. I have come to find it a calming practice too.
I am not a huge housework fan by any stretch and my home is comfortable- dust gathers, I never iron, some rooms are overdue a lick of paint and a little scuffed but I was disliking the chore of putting away laundry so much I decided to go to battle on that one and have found the zen!

@TotoAnnihiliation

I am another person who has learnt the magic of folding laundry. I tend to do it as one of my last activities before I go to bed, I listen to an interesting podcast and zone out. I find it puts a distance from the hustle and bustle of the day.

This is ridiculously inspiring - laundry is the thing I struggle with most. My washing machine has been out of action for three weeks too but should hopefully be fixed on Monday so I am going to borrow this concept if I may Toto and see if I can find peace and calm and maybe even joy in my most-feared household task!

I am loving reading about the birds - I can't feed them in my garden because DFluffyCat is a very effective hunter when she chooses, but my Gran feeds hers and my mum's friend has a garden full and they are such a joy to watch. Third the 'mealworms are like crack' (there is a sentence I didn't know I'd be saying today!) - they will come to your hand for those but nothing else

I woud suggest watching some Marie Kondo videos- I couldn'tt adopt all her methods, but some have been useful to me.
Cutting down the number of clothes I own, but also finding joy in the order as a joyful and magical process. I already enjoy laundry-putting away is the final step.
Off to yoga this morning, then picking up DD from work this even to stay overnight, before returnin her to a 7am shift tomorrow moning. She has a car but nursing staff are being banned from using the hospital car park. There is no safe parking nearby and a bus takes over an hour- on top of a 13 and a half hour shift. She hasn;t quite worked out what to do. The only parking is in a nearby housing estate, but it feels unsafe, some underpasses which are littered with needles and sketchy people smoking and drinking cans of beer.. Her shifts often finish late at night and she doesnt want to be walking alone back to her car. We will work something out, it seems so unfair, nurses work so hard and this is making things even more difficult for them.
Off for a spa shower, something bright is called for today I think, I am still quite sleepy. Maybe Sicilian lemon, always good for a boost!
Hold your crowns high today sisters!

Glad to inspire you @hilariousnamehere, I hope it works for you! @speakout I also started yo use some of the Marie Kondo methods, mostly with folding pants and socks. I don't roll the socks the same way, but fold them up, I found this is much kinder to the elastic and they last longer.

Hello again sisters!

I've just been catching up on this thread, was very distracted during the Christmas period and new year etc, so hadn't checked in for a while.

@speakout I love your picture of Brighid. I'm looking forward to honouring her at Imbolc.
My altar is being cleansed today and I will add some corn dollies. I also have some lovely red candles and some daffodils I bought, to represent Imbolc.

I can already feel the stirrings of spring as the wheel turns once again.

Today is going to be a lovely chilled day for me, I have a salt bath planned with some essential oils and some grounding crystals like my smoky quartz. Followed by a little walk in the local park.

Firstly I'm off to make some herbal tea!

Have a magical day sisters.

Happy Wolf Moon for tomorrow! Blessed be.

Hello everyone, I am so thrilled to find this corner with you all here. I am hoping to get closer to magic as I feel that there has been a real pull throughout moments of my life but I have never took the plunge.

I am seeking (desperate) help for a very complicated matter within my environment. I don’t know where to start and have no supplies as I have not yet began my journey. All I know is that I need to act fast.

I moved into this house with my husband and children 5 years ago. There has been nothing but trouble in our personal lives but in particular the house just doesn’t give up with water problems. Non of these water problems were picked from an extensive survey.
We began with a damaged flat root which cost thousands to mend. Then water began coming in through another side and we had the chimney pointed. At the same time we have water coming through the front of the living room from outside which seems to pool under the living room floor and then there’s the bathroom that drips a hole straight down to the kitchen which we tried fixing ourselves only for it to appear again. It’s not an old house nor a new build.

Onto the other strange activity. Me and husband have had a tough few years but through Covid and other personal issues we hit a good streak and began to ‘breathe’ and get each other again.
There were definite niggles - things seemed to ‘pull’ us to argue - I began to notice this and worked on my inner strength and patience. When the pull appeared I began to know how to ‘work it’ out of the situation. I half suspected then that something was trying to torment us both but I wasn’t quite sure.

We didn’t collide half as much as before and we were getting on better than ever.

We had a really great week off work together and a good anniversary day. All was well before husband went to pick up kids and something... I don’t know how to describe it, but something got in my ear to mention a sensitive subject that I usually don’t go near as it rubs us both up the wrong way. All hell nearly broke through with us but I managed to pull it back and smooth the dynamics.
Now yesterday, a comment that I said to my husband about the kids (which usually he wouldn’t get wound up by) fired him up badly. He became very uncomfortable to be around.
I know this sounds stupid but it feels like something in the house just doesn’t want us to get along, like it’s not best pleased that we’re finally becoming more balanced and is trying ridiculously hard to part us.

Odd things in the house that I put to a grandparents death was two lights exploding above my husbands head then a basket of things turning on it’s side when husband went to hoover after it happened. A sheet of paper aggressively falling off the fridge (not heavy, no wind). But now I don’t think it was the spirit of a relative?

It’s been relatively quiet aside from the water problems and I just see the odd thing happen these days like movement noises or cooker turning quickly on then off. But it seems to have heated up between me and husband.

Feels like someone trying to stir up trouble? Come between us? Not sure how else to explain it and it’s making me extremely depressed as all I keep trying to do is keep the peace.

It doesn’t seem directly horrible? Whatever it is? It just seems reckless and wants to stir up trouble and aggression. But either way it’s making things awful between us.

Sorry for the very long post I’m just at a complete loss. The old house I should add we argued badly in and there was a smell of cigarette smoke and perfume at random times. When we moved here we had house problems but relationship was much more stable. Now it seems to be taking another turn. Any help would be very appreciated.
Unfortunately I can’t call any one to visit as husband would not understand for now. Thank you very much for listening 🌸

Hi Slowmoon and welcome to out kitchen, have a beanbag and a cuppa.

I think you have two different problems ongoing.
One's structural so easier maybe to tackle.
water coming through the front of the living room from outside which seems to pool under the living room floor
Check the wind direction when it happens, it's possible it only happens when the wind's strong from a particular direction.
If it's double-glazed door, get a company to renew all the seals on it. If it's a wood door get a builder and ask him to check where the water's getting in and fix it.

bathroom that drips a hole straight down to the kitchen which we tried fixing ourselves only for it to appear again

Get a plumber, it's beyond your DIY abilities.

Odd things happening in the house
Read this thread, www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4451596-to-ask-your-glitch-in-the-matrix-moment?pg=1 strange stuff happening is really ordinary, so don't attribute it to something with "power" or whatever.

I know this sounds stupid but it feels like something in the house just doesn’t want us to get along, like it’s not best pleased that we’re finally becoming more balanced and is trying ridiculously hard to part us

Google and read up on Locus of Control, it appears you believe there's "something" causing these rifts with your husband. Maybe reflect on that and try to work out why you think that.
By all means, take a step back, cleanse the house with a little saltwater spray in corners and around all openings so doors and windows, doing each one with the intention that the house is now clean and fill the spaces you've cleaned with love.

See how that affects the general ambiance indoors.

If you do hear those intrusive thoughts that if you verbalise them could cause upset between you and your husband, firmly decide not to give them the power of speech and 'blow' them out of the door or a window or to a lit open fire or a candle flame. If that looks too odd, then in your mind 'tell' that thought it's not welcome and 'see' it disintegrate.
Similarly, if he says something that would usually be received as abrasive by you, choose to react as if it's just a matter of fact thing he's said and don't be drawn into discord.
Most of the time we can't choose circumstances, but we can choose how we react to them.

Welcome Slowmoon, good to have you join us.

You have had wise words from blanktimes- I have to agree- most of our problems in life have pretty mundane reasons.
I hope you can get your leaks fixed, my front porch has a flat roof, and unless I keep up with clearing the single drain then it will overflow and cause flooding down interior walls. No spirits- just leaves I'm afraid.

Morning sisters, hi cerridwen and welcome slowmoon!

It's a whole new week and I have a working washing machine at last! So once one wash is done I'm popping out for some colourful stacking baskets then making a start on my insane laundry pile with your advice and examples in mind, Toto and speakout. In between tackling my email mountain so my magic is very much mixed with the mundane today 😂

Hope your Monday is wonderful - and hoping I get a better glimpse of the wolf moon this evening! I felt it pull last night when I came in but couldn't see it very well behind all the clouds.

Hi all. I'm new to the site and have always had a keen interest in these things. I'm finally getting a bit more time on my hands to read and research more.
So I just wanted to say hi and thanks to all who have contributed so far, I'm slowly reading my way through the threads and taking things onboard. It's relaxing just reading through
Any other tips on things to read up on would be appreciated too. Thanks

hkwses a warm welcome, there is always tea in the pot, lad you hae stopped by.
The moon was impressive last night, I drive DD to work at 6.30 am this morning and the moon was so powerful, followed us the whole journey- a few fleeting clouds passing over it, quite spectacular.
My weighted blanket arrived this morning,, so I am looking forward to using it tonightt.

Afternoon Sisters, Hkwses read up on whatever sparks your interest, some things you'll discard after a little while, some will be enjoyable for longer and some could become a lifelong passion

Speakout I hope your weighted blanket makes a difference for you.
DD's improvised one all her life since before they were a 'thing'. She couldn't sleep well as a child unless she had 3 huge soft toys over her quilt. Now as an adult she has a very heavy fleece duvet.

Among other wonderful gifts, I received a buckwheat meditation cushion and a weighty Lavender Eye Pillow www.barefootcreations.co.uk/lavender-eye-pillows/ over the festive season. One night I thought I'd try the eye pillow before sleep, so laid in bed in sivasana. Eight hours later I woke up in the same position, but was extremely well-rested

Here's to a magical afternoon everyone.

Wolf moon in my village this morning

Happy Wolf moon everyone.
@HillsBesideTheSea I hope your family situation is becoming easier to bear.
@Aerwyna I have been trying to focus on micromoments lately, thanks for the inspiration. Tonight I've enjoyed making sure I drink a cup of tea while its hot instead of rushing off to do other things and forgetting about it. It felt luxurious!
I noticed a new witchy, woo shop has opened in my local shopping centre. I'm not a fan of shopping but this shop was irresistible, literally full of crystals, plants, candles and incense. I also had an incense binge @speakout. Myrhh, white sage and palo santo. The smell wafting out of my handbag on the way home was intoxicating.
Let us know how the weighted blanket goes tonight, fingers crossed its helpful.

I typed a long post earlier and managed to delete the whole thing - so annoying!

The moon is incredible isn't it? After yoga, I stood outside for a little while and just bathed in her wonderful energy, it was so powerful it made me feel a bit emotional. Great photos woolyminded and Speakout.

Speakout. I hope you have a lovely sleep tonight beneath your weighted blanket. I've heard really good things about them, and would quite like one myself so would be interested to hear what you think. Blanktimes I loved reading about how your DD made her own solution with her soft toys, proof that our body will tell us what we need, we just have to listen to it. Your eye mask sounds lovely, how wonderful to have eight hours unbroken sleep! I can remember the last time I managed that.

Welcome hkwses and slowmoon I hope you're enjoying spending some time around the fire, it's good to have you with us.

I had a wonderful day yesterday by the sea with two of my closest friends, one of those days that couldn't be more perfect. It was cold, but clear blue sky and sunshine sparking on the sea. We walked for miles, talked, laughed, collected stones and pebbles. Food for the soul that gave me the lift I needed to take me through the working week.