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.

Good morning sisters, hilariousnamehere I hope the move goes smoothly.
A stormy night here and still windy, just a brief respite before we are hit by another storm tomorrow, this time heavy snow too.
I am off to the hairdressers today- a rare event- but feel the need for an uplift, and she will do a root touch up too for grey hairs ( yes I am a resister!).
I'm not fond of going to the hairdressers, but will be worth the pain!

A lovely woman at yoga yesterday reminded me to keep my own cup full first- something I had told her months ago when we first met. And she passed the message back to me.
I know we all know this but it is hard to put into practice when our lives are busy , often looking after others.
So in turn I am passing the message on to my tribe here.

Thank you to everyone who lit a candle. I'm happy to report that the magic has worked and we have a very hungry cat back at home. He has been grounded until further notice!

The kindness and support in this thread is the true meaning of magic. Thank you from all of your Toto family.

TotoAnnihiliation

Such wonderful news!
I am so happy for you- such relief to have your cat home again.

Toto I'm so glad! Hope he is grounded with many extra cuddles 💙

speakout you're so right, we often spend so much time ensuring everyone else's cup is full that we forget to tend to our own!

Toto I'm so relieved he's back home safe and sound ❤️

Speakout that's so true, you give so much to others, it's important to make some time for yourself to rest and restore. I hope your trip to the hairdressers gave you a lift, fresh hair always makes me feel better (even if you didn't enjoy the actual experience!)

I hope everyone stays safe and sound tomorrow during the forecast storms, especially those of you on the south west and Wales as it's meant to be particularly bad there. Hold on to your broomsticks!

VioletCharlotte thankyou for your kind words, another bad night last night, but I am feeling better.
And the haircut helped. Still shoulder length but a blunter choppier cut, I feel much lighter.
I hope everyone stays safe in the storm, I'm in Scotland which escapes the worst of the wind, but we are expecting heavy snowstorms.
Yoga at home for me today.
I haven't slept well and was disturbed several times through the night, only to fall back into very disturbing dreams.
I will take extra care with my morning rituals today, already done my meditation, I will put on on my favourite loungeware, tones of oatmeal and honey, and number one best socks ( I also have number two and three best socks).
Off for a cleansing shower, light my candle and nourish my skin before doing some Adriene yoga- day 16 of move, called Anchor, so should be interesting..
I have a light workload today thankfully, so can take my day at an easy pace. I have been listening to Thích Nhất Hạnh in the past few days, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, sadly died a few weeks ago - mostly responsible for bringing the ideas of mindfulness to the West after being exiled for peaceful protest during the Vietnam war.
He is very calming and inspirational, his ideas of compassion, including self compassion are wonderful to listen to. He talks of coming home to yourself -when you find self compassion and love it eases pain within and others around.
Have a peaceful day sisters.

Blessings to all today.
I thought maybe we could join in a little circle ritual of protection to carry us through todays storm? Nothing complicated just a comment here or a thought in your mind of us in our virtual kitchen with comforting cake, biscuits and tea.

We have weatherproofed as far as is possible, the rest is in the hands of Mother Nature. I have laid hands on the walls of my ancient house and thanked it for it's service so far, acknowledged it has stood up to the elements for 175 years and asked it to carry us safely through this storm.
I am very Zen at the moment, I cannot control what is coming but must simply deal with any consequences.
My DH is desperately anxious, so I spent last night reassuring him and I know today when the high winds hit my energy will be called to guiding him and my youngest son through it.

We are in an Amber zone, but Fenland so no protection from the winds. Thinking of those of you who are in Red Zones.

Lovely, calming posts Speakout and Queenrollo, thank you. I smiled at your choice of outfit Speakout as I'm wearing something very similar today. I'm very glad to be working at home and not to have to drive on the motorway.

I love the idea of a circle of protection, I'm visualising us all safe and snug in our cosy witches cottage with plenty of candles and an open fire to keep us warm. I'll keep this in mind throughout the day, holding us all together energetically.

I hope everyone stays safe. I can't help feeling exited and energised by a storm, but obviously don't like the thought of anyone getting hurt.

Afternoon!
Wow, this storm! I was woken at 5:30 by high winds and thought, 'here we go', but they died down for hours. The wind rose again just as DS would have got into work and it's quite wild now. I would have preferred him to stay home, but his boss was insistent he go in, so I hope he's secured all the animals and is hunkering down himself.
I will be keeping everyone on this thread in mind today, imagining us all warm and cosy and safe! I must admit when winds arrive, the first thing I do is get outside and let it blow through my untied hair - it feels so powerful, but, definitely do not have the urge today

@TotoAnnihiliation, I'm so glad your familiar returned!

Keep safe, one and all

It's pretty wild here! My garden fence is down on both sides and a couple of pots have smashed.

I hope your DS is safe Anothercrazybirdlady and that all the animals are ok. My dog isn't enjoying the wind at all, he's currently snuggled under DS duvet!

It started in earnest here an hour ago and we are periodically being battered by some awfully strong gusts. Varying sites say we're in for this for another couple of hours but I'm quietly hoping it will settle sooner than that as DH is starting to get quite edgy now.
Fortunately my garden is sheltered (by a huge conifer hedge that I am not usually enamoured with) but we have tall chimneys and a high flue for the Rayburn. These are my main concerns.
I keep wandering around and whispering love into the walls of my house. I have never felt so connected to it as I do today. Isn't magic a funny thing?

How are we all this morning? We got through the storm with a few branches down off trees, but mercifully that was all. So full of gratitude today.
Am about to go and collect my eldest son from his dad's, a day late but safety first!

Glad we are all safe, sorry about your fences VioletCharlotte.
We escaped it all, even the snow in the end. So quite uneventful.
Back from a shopping trip this morning, everywhere was heaving, got what we could in ALDI, bird and cat food in Home Bargains and came home.
ALDI and LIDL were doing small packs of tofu for a while, but none today.
So OH has popped out to Tesco again, he likes shopping far more than I do, I get overwhelmed in large busy shops.
I have just refreshed my bird feeding tree outside, a never let it run empty, but I have reloaded everything, and lots birds having a feast. So calming to watch.
I am having a calm afternoon working at an easy pace, bolstered by some calming music and herbal tea.

Afternoon, all!
In the end, we pretty much escaped yesterday's storm, no damage, just a lot of windswept birds!
I am rather regretting my choice of garlic curry yesterday evening. Lovely to eat, but the after-effects are, um, interesting. So I am now eating quite bland foods and drinking a lot of herbal tea to ease the griping.
I am the same when it comes to shopping @speakout, I tend to go very early to avoid the crowds and noise. We were very lucky as our local Aldi was very small and quick and easy to navigate, but they've closed until Summer to expand and modernise - no doubt it will take me twice as long to navigate.
I hope everyone has a restful weekend.

Afternoon sisters, we escaped any damage from the storm. I was worried as we do have some large mature trees in the garden. The positive from the weather is that all the cats are reluctant to go outside at the moment. Suits us fine, the cat that went missing earlier in the week is grounded until we get him a gps collar.

TotoAnnihiliation I understand your concern. One of my cats went missing a few years ago, she was hit by a car, luckily picked up by a kind woman and taken to a local vet. Although she was injured and took a long time to heal, she did, and went on to make a full recovery within a few months.
She is normally a very placid cat, but wind really seems to spook her, we are surrounded by high trees, she finds wind very unsetting. It was a stormy day she went missing, I remember watching her go out that morning and she just darted.
I now keep that cat indoors when it is windy, and have a litter tray for stormy weather.
I can't risk the same think happening, and she seems content to curl up in a quiet warm spot indoors when it's windy. My other cat doesnlt travel far, he is a home buddy. A quick trip to the outside toilet and in again.
A strange thing happened this week on the night of the full moon. I placed two crystals on the window ledge for cleansing/charging in the moonlight, one is my favourite rose quartz which tucks comfortably into my bra.
Nest morning as I opened the curtains it was gone.I search the floor in case the curtain had knocked it off, but no sign.
An hour later as I was making my bed I found it under my pillow. I have no recollection of moving it at all.
It's another cold windy day here, so I doubt I will be moving far. Just keeping warm and cosy. Dawn has broken but black clouds make it feel like night, maybe a day for witching or divination.
Certainly candles and thick socks!

Does anybody have experience of Mind Body Spirit events? There is one near me today and I am planning to go. I went to the last one and felt a bit awkward. I would like to do more stuff like this as although my practice is solitary I don't really have any friends who are into witchy/spiritual interests. I will admit that post-pandemic I would like to meet a few people to share this with and have at least a small circle of friends that I can share with. This thread is an amazing place to do that, but for me physical contact and energy is so important.
My local witchy shop are actually holding monthly social evenings but with the kids etc it's just not been possible to get over there. They are very happy to chat if I visit the shop, but they are working and it's not quite the same.

queenrollo like you- and many of us here I am a solitary practitioner.
I have been involved in a couple of groups and covens in the past, but things didn't work out. Just like any walk of life there are the power hungry and self serving.
I am sure lovely groups exist, and I know some of us have great meets, but I don't have any around me.
If you go with realistic expectations the group held in your shop may be winner- who knows until you go.
I would be wary of thhe fact that it is being held by a shop though, be on your guard that it isn't just a way to sell goods to a captive audience.

Queenrollo I've been to some mind,body,spirit events (pre-Covid). They can be interesting to wander around, but bear in mind that most of the stall holders are there for the purpose of selling, there can be a lot of ego and a big mark up on prices.

I've been involved in various groups over the years, but like Speakout was put off by the power struggles. I've met some my spiritual friends through workshops, yoga and women's circles. I find these kind of events provide more opportunity for talking and building relationships with people.

Another wet and wild day today. I took a rather reluctant dog out for walk first thing. Like others, I don't like shopping when it's busy so I tend to go food shopping at 9.30 when Asda opens for browsing. I can have all my shopping done, ready to pay at 10 when the checkouts open. I don't think many people realise this as it's always quiet.

I didn't sleep well as DS2 was out in London and I was worried about him getting home as so many trains were cancelled. I didn't hear him come in, but he was fast asleep in bed this morning. I used to roll my eyes at my mum when she said she counts the sleep when I was out, now I know how she must have felt!

Will be taking it easy today, I think. I've no desire to go out again. I keep thinking I should go to the gym but I can't really motivate myself. May do some yoga instead (I still haven't finished Adrienne's 30 days of yoga). Hope you all have a peaceful day.

VioletCharlotte

Like you I have found that while groups do attract some wonderful people they also attracct the power hungry svengali types who try to bend others to thier will.
I find spirituality in group yoga practice, although my fellow yogis may not be aware when we are all in goddess pose/warrior/tree, we are invoking forces and spinning energy. I love to share in the unspoken but shared focus and power as we move together. It feels magical to me.
I do like youtube yoga too thuogh, Adriene's lastest release is good, most not too long.
I have been making an effort to get a lot of sleep in the past few days. Friday night I slept for 12 hours, last night 10. I feel a lot calmer for the amount of sleep and dreams not so alarming.
I don;t want to go out today either, happy staying home in my nest.

Hello sisters! I got the lurgy so have been lying low and trying to recover - not positive for covid thank goodness, as it's my birthday tomorrow and I want to go and see Mum and Gran, but obviously don't want to take them any germs.

I have been reading but rubbish at replying and queenrollo I love that I'm not the only one who spoke to my house during the storm mine's only in its mid forties so not as old as yours but is my sanctuary and this is the first big storm I've had while living here.

Got away lightly - one smashed plate (my fence is full of lovely things hanging on it, like a gallery) and my shed roof needs some new felt. I am going to mend the plate using kintsugi, the gold glue method, and Mum suggested also adding the storm date on the back which I rather liked.

My familiars were desperate to go out in it but I've kept them in the last couple of days and let them out today - it's still blustery here on the coast but not ridiculously so.

Lighting my candle today for motivation - I'm so behind with work this week - and also in gratitude for you all here.

Queenrollo my aunt does a lot of mind body spirit shows with her crystals, I've been to a few and they're nice but tend as speakout says to be more about people selling. In terms of finding similarly minded people, I've found tentatively mentioning my witchy ways has brought me two close friends from my creative circle and one from an old hobby who I can now openly discuss things with which is lovely. I think it's definitely worth trying the shop meetup too!

Speakout you always make yoga sound so restorative - one of the women on my writing retreat in March has said she'll run a beginner session if we'd like and I think I'm going to have to take her up on it :)

Well I am back and I have had a wonderful time. I had an energy healing and it was by someone I haven't seen for a long time, but have known since childhood. I was friends with her sister and our dads worked together for a while. We spent a really long time just chatting though and discovered lots of common ground.
I had a long talk with another stall holder too and the discussion kind of naturally turned to how she doesn't usually do events as she finds too many 'energy vampires' and as you all say the people who are there to sell
Oddly enough I got a distinctly awful feeling off one tarot reader there and it seems that her prescence there was repsonsible for others deciding not to attend.
I also bumped into a couple of aquaintances, one of whom is someone I couldnt develop a friendship with when we first met because of professional boundaires - but that barrier is no longer there, so plans are afoot to get together for a cuppa.

I'm really glad I went. I've come away with some real food for thought and few connections made.

queenrollo
I am so glad you had a good day- and sounds like your instincts were fully fired up, allowing you to have such clarity. And sounds like a lot of synchroncity too- meeting up and making new connections.
A quiet day here, apart from a quick trip out for a change of scene, howling gales and pouring rain, but popped into Dunelm MIll and bought some soft cotton white towels and wash cloths which were hugely marked down in price.
Just a little thing, but a little perk is always good, and enjoyed folding them and stacking the wash cloths in my bathroom.
I am sitting flanked by two cats, grateful not to be out in bad weather. Such diferent personalities, and love different ways of being stroked. One loves being tickled on her feet, between her pads, deep between her claws, she will stretch out her fingers and toes and purr loudly. My other cat loves being rubbed on his muzzle, mouth and face, quite firmly, and will use his paws to draw my hand in closer while he gives me a gentle chew.
hilariousnamehere I hope you feel better soon. Yoga carries me through lots of tough times yes. I practice as much for the mental benefits as the physical ones. Yoga is many things to me- exercise, meditation, a release, a restoration, it strengthens, it is a ritual and magical practise. A way of self care and deepening the mind/body connection. It allows me self acceptance and compassion, at times pushing and progressing, at times just to relax and be grateful for my body.
It is a very self nurturing practise, no competition, shows us the point of being in the present moment and how we can use the breath to calm and focus.

Queenrollo I'm so glad you went and had a lovely day. You were clearly drawn to this event so I'm please you followed your intuition and decided to go along. I'm a firm believer that these chance meetings happen for a reason and will open more doors for you. Ive been musing since reading your post and realised I need to start getting out and about a bit more myself. I'm very content in my own company, which is no bad thing, but I also know I benefit from being in the company of like minded people.

Speakout. I feel the same as you about yoga, it's like medicine for the mind, body and soul. Every time I go to a class, I come away feeling restored, it somehow realigns everything and makes me feel more balanced.

The weather is awful again this evening. I've been sitting on the sofa under a blanket for most of the afternoon with my dog curled up next to me.

Good morning, all!
Well the weather here seems to have calmed (for now!) and I have nipped into town for a few bits without getting drenched or blown up the road!
I'm glad you enjoyed the fayre, @queenrollo, sounds just what you needed! I have never been to one, like others, I feel they mark up their prices and claims somewhat. Where I used to work, some of the staff attended these events and talked about how they would 'make a killing'. To me, that is just not in the spirit of things, so to speak.
I wonder if I may borrow some of the lovely energy here today - I have an important meeting at 11, and need to be heard clearly. I just hate the nervous butterflies running amok in my belly!

I hope everyone has a calm, fruitful day xxx