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.

Aerwyna* and Speakout* I'm reading your posts and nodding along in agreement. I've been struggling myself during the past few days at the juxtaposition between the horrors of what we see going on in Ukraine and other parts of the world and the innocent joy of watching the first signs of spring as the earth slowly begins to wake up after the long winters sleep. I've been feeling guilty about taking pleasure in anything or looking forward to the future when so many are suffering.

Yesterday I read an article about how hope is the only antidote to helplessness; without hope for the future, what do we have left? By welcoming in, and connecting with the new oncoming energy, by reminding ourselves that the wheel of the year will continue to turn, we can refill our cups with hope and the positivity and strength we need to move forward.

VioletCharlotte

I agree, and would suggest that beauty exists only because of a backdrop of pain and loss.
We love more dearly because of the potential of loss.
It allows us to feel, to love deeply, to be in awe of wonderous things.

Wise words sisters, it’s so good to be amongst like minds. I agree that the contrast is what shows us beauty and hope. The light and the shade. Without a full cup we can become weary and unable to bring support to ourselves or others. The coming of spring is a great comfort and brings the energy of hope

Kerrie Basha posted some words about hope today:

Holding fast to hope in turbulent times is not an empty cup. It conjures far more from its enduring depths and places soft landing in our hands. Hope is not a wan promise, nor a weak vanity. It is a fierce courage that arises in response to troubling reality, holding us through and beyond it, planting seeds in our every footstep.
When life steals our breath for its furnace or menaces us with fetid tragedy, hope is the tinkle of keys. Even as our hearts crack, their faultlines shimmer from within with a dull gold we cannot always perceive from outside our bony cages. A weightless promise of different days ahead that can be counted on to pass towards you. Beyond darkness, dawn keeps creeping our way on silent pointed toes.

Full moon blessings dear sisters.
The Virgo full Moon is a time to heal. It’s a time to sit with our pain, trauma, and heartache and give ourselves love and compassion. Virgo is the sign of the goddess, perfect unto herself. This archetype carries many gifts, but the most important one is the power to heal.
I slept under moonlight last night, and my sleep was deep and calm. I find the full moon very restoring, fills me to the brim.
I have woken to a very cold morning, minus 4 here, but crystal clear skies, so will be a good sunny day Perfect for some laundry!

I have really been enjoying the last few comments on this thread - they have lifted me up and giving me a strength that has been missing for a few days - thank you all!
I have just been out to feed the robins and noticed a very strong orange blossom scent on the air. My logical side is saying somebody overdid the fabric conditioner, but my receptive side is sensing positivity and hope in the air.
*I just went back outside to check - no smell at all, apart from the fresh wind. I'll take it!
I hope everyone enjoys their full Moon experiences, I shall be using this time to properly ground myself, ready for the next phase in my journey.

AnotherCrazyBirdLady

I hear you with that one!! I have an acute sense of smell anyway,
but I can literally sniff out bad situations or good news. I think it's even a " thing" clairolfaction or clairolfactio, many other names too.
A bit like scrying, but with another sense.
I could smell the Covid situation approaching, a grim dank scent on the wind.
It's the first thing I do when I step outside every day- inhale the air to find out the energies I may encounter.
I have just been out for an inhale- yes I can smell citrus notes too, mixed in with heavier notes like jasmine. No citrus or jasmine flowers around here. Hard to separate what is real and what is "other" though, I can smell spring approaching, the forest has many scents. and changes though the year.

@speakout, yes, I can smell the advance of Spring, but this Orange blossom was strong and pungent - perhaps blessings are on their way!

Good morning sisters. The full moons was incredible last night. I went for a long walk just to bathe in her light and soak up her incredible energy. As usual for me in a full moon, I didn't sleep well and feel weary this morning, but my soul feels refreshed.

I love the discussion about being able to smell the energy. It's interesting as I know some people are able to smell illness and they say they always know if one of their children is about to come down with something because their smell changes. I don't smell changes in the energy, for me it's about being able to sense it and feel it if that makes sense?

VioletCharlotte your walk sounds magical.
I have enjoyed the energy of this full moon, it has brought a great release for me.
Spring is in full force here today, finally just cuttimg back some dead plants in the garden, but lots of new growth and buds. And very excited wildlife!
Today's morning yoga class started with moon salutations- so apt, very powerful, deep feminine energy, combining warrior and goddess poses, very grounding.
Just finishing up work, having a few days break, although never a true break when you are self employed, I will still be ordering stock, answering queries, sorting and tidying my work things. But that crosses over into pottering, so all good!
My DD flies home from London tomorrow after a mini break, so will probably visit, full of tales of city excitement, and looking for home cooking.
Enjoy the sunshine sisters.

Hello sisters,

Last night I couldn't sleep and went to sit in the garden under the moon. It was nice to have the garden to myself.

It's a beautiful morning here, I'm looking forward to the rest of today. Wishing you all a peaceful and happy Saturday.

TotoAnnihiliation it's one of these beyond beautiful mornings here too. Still cold and frosty, morning light playing with shadows and sparkle.
I woke up too in thhe middle of the night, and was blessed with the sight of moonlight reflected on the icy garden. It was very magical.

Equinox Blessings friends!
May you feel balance and inspiration as we pause to reflect and welcome spring

I loved reading about how everyone experiences energy through the senses. Fascinating subject, I’m more of a feeling and sensing type like Violet I think.

I was awake in the night of the full moon too- woke around 3am. This month’s ‘worm moon’ felt like it brought hope and possibility- expansion energy.

Wishing everyone a magical day

Equnix blessings to you too Aerwyna, and to everyone.
That is beautiful artwork- I saw the name Freerage Faeries at the bottom, and just browsing the web site. I see the artist also has a shop in scarborough.
I love the fact there is so much fae and pagan art around- it seems to be on the increase- althoug maybe I am just looking for it more!
I like to think it is a sign of people wanting to re-connect with their roots, get more in touch with the earth and their ancient culture.
Browsing christmas cards in mainstream shops last year I remember being struck with how many cards contained nature based images, very few christian cards, and many cards not mentioning the word christmas.
I used to struggle to find a card without christian overtones, had to order online or even have my own printed. Now it is easy- WH Smith and ASDA stock a big range of options of stags/badgers/starry skies.
It is refreshing to feel a little bit "normal"!!

Equinox blessings sister! I've felt an incredible shift in energy today. The last week or so I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders, but I woke up this morning to find it had all gone. A situation with a (now ex) friend came to a head yesterday. I hadn't quite realised how much emotion I'd been holding on to, worrying about whether I'd done something to upset her and general concern for her mental health. Yesterday she showed me who she really is, which seemed to give me the closure I needed to dwelling on the past. My intention for today is 'looking forwards'.

The weathers incredible here today, I went for a long dog walk this morning with a friend and a swim and sauna this afternoon. I've got a busy week coming up so I'm concentrating on self care today and filling up my cup. Currently in the garden soaking up some solar energy.

Thank you for the image Aerwyna. Like Speakout I had a look at the website. Interesting that the artist is from Scarborough, it's not a place I've ever given any thought to, but it came up on a programme I caught a bit of on TV and I thought how lovely it looks. I agree that pagan/ fairy/ woodland image and cards are becoming much more mainstream. I think a lot of people reconnected with nature during the lockdown so I wonder if that's driving the demand?

I hope your DD enjoyed London Speakout, was it her first visit? I tend to take it for granted a bit as I'm so close. Given the choice though, I'd pick Edinburgh over London every time!

Good morning sisters. I've just spent a lovely hour catching up with this thread while cuddling the cat in the sunshine. Its very reassuring to read all the messages of hope and positivity.
I've been trying to dig myself out of a dark hole recently- the current horrors of war and some family struggles have been overwhelming.
The spring sunshine feels like a beacon of hope. I've enjoyed reading about everyone's experiences with smells, ill keep an eye/nose out for anything today!

Woolyminded good morning.
I am enjoying the spring sunshine too.
The eary mist is lifing slowly, quite magical , but looks like giving way to the sun again soon.
I have been up early making some candles, feeding the animals, off for a yoga class soon.
I have a pottery class next week and a reflexology session- doubling down on self care is a good remedy for challenging times.

Made it to Friday- I still usually have that Friday feeing, even though I usually work weekends. But I still feel that collective sigh as people busy themselves finisjing off the working week, supermarkets full of folk buyig in food and alcohol for the weekend. Schools are half day most places, so lollipop crossing patrollers start appearing at 11.30.
I have a small but busy roundabout near me with six exits, ( the centre used to contain gallows) so three lollipop men are needed during school rush hours.
They gather every day at a bench and sit like three luminous crows and chat to each other before the school comes out, lollipops propped up against an old wall. Such a comforting sight seeing the three elderly men chatting in the morning sunshine.
Although a local poem brings a darker aspect to the image
At auld Gallows ha’
At the break o’ a day,
Three craws sat up high
Oan a wa’, so they say.
The three sat debatin
Each pairt they wad play,
In devouring a man
Wha wad hing there that day!

But I see the irony in that association.
Like is like that, full of good and bad, sunshine and grey, we strive so hard to push out the unpleasant aspects of life, but we wouldn't see stars if it was always daylight. The majesty of the cosmos is only fully revealed when the sun goes down.

Morning all.
@speakout I absolutely love your 'three luminous crows' imagery, it really stuck with me yesterday.
I had a lovely day with my son who was off school because of teacher training, it was impossible not to feel happy in the sunshine with him chatting away. It felt like one of those days that you look back on in years to come and realise that's when you were truly happy and content. I felt like I was drinking in the moments, to save it for times when happiness feels hard to find.
I'm very affected by the seasons and springtime is really working its magic on me.
I hope you all manage to recharge your joy levels this weekend.

Morning all,

I'm taking joy in the fact that I feel well enough to get out the house and enjoy the sunshine. I am planning to spend some time sitting by our pond with little Toto to watch our frogs. This is the first year we have had our own pond and we are enjoying learning about the creatures that inhabit it.

Speakout** I always get that Friday feeling too. I was thinking yesterday about how I used to live for the weekend and going out. Now all I want to do on a Friday night is collapse in the sofa and go to bed early! How times change.

Woolyminded I loved reading about your time in the sunshine with your DS. I understand exactly what you mean about those moments when you realise you were truly happy and content. When I look back at my happiest moments when my DC were young, its interesting that the most magical times were often when we were doing very simple, everyday things.

Toto lovely idea to watch the frogs with your little one. I can remember the excitement of watching frogspawn hatch and tadpoles grow in to frogs. Again, it's the little things that are often the most memorable.

I've been making the most of the spring sunshine today. I went for a walk along the river earlier with some friends and had lunch out, then another walk with my dog this afternoon. It's good to see people out and about enjoying the sunshine.

I second the pleasure in watching frogs develop.
Like you TotoAnnihiliation we had a small pond the garden- it didn't take long for frogs to start spawning.
Gardens are such magical places for children, observation places, science laboratories, growing areas, habitats for other creatures, touching, grounding.
It is good to hear how the spring energy is inspiring my sisters.
I have been watching birds picking up fallen feathers and pieces of twig, a wonderful reminder of the spiral of life.

We are looking forward to watching our frogspawn turn into frogs. We had a picnic by the pond today, I feel we made the best of the sunshine!

I agree that watching the world through a child eyes is magical. It's a case of stopping and looking at things properly instead of taking them for granted.

Happy mother's day dear sisters.
A day to celebrate the nurturing warrior.
Whether we have physical children or not we can be proud of the energy we give to loving others, our animals, our gardens.
Anything we cultivate.
DD will be coming over for lunch today I am cooking katsu chicken/tofu with rice and a pile of garlic pak choi.
Just off to make a mocca cake, I am very new to baking, so just finding my feet and working through recipes. I do make a good chocolate ganache, which goes a long way in covering less than perfect results!!

Happy Mother’s Day to you too speakout, and to our sisters. I agree that mother energy is multifaceted- a celebration of the strength and creativity that is at our core. The mother of the triple aspect of the goddess is so full of life force, no wonder that pre- patriarchal religion revered her as creator- makes much more sense!
Your lunch sounds delicious, I hope you have a wonderful day. Wishing everyone a magical Sunday