Any Witches Here?- Part 17.

[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..
This is the 17th thread- anyone looking for a deep dive into juicy magical topics may like to browse previous threads.....

It is a long list!!

Part 1 //www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/3241689-Any-witches-here?pg=1
Part 2
//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/3338025-Any-Witches-Here-Part-2?pg=1
Part 3
//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/3366411-Any-Witches-Here-Part-3?pg=1
Part 4
//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/3404406-Any-Witches-Here-Part-4-Edited-by-MNHQ?pg=1
Part5
//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/3437092-Any-Witches-Here-Part-5?pg=1
Part 6 //www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/3482023-Any-Witches-Here-Part-6?pg=1
Part 7 //www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/3520269-Any-Witches-Here-Part-7?pg=1
Part 8 //www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/a3568622-Any-Witches-Here-Part-8?pg=1
Part 9 //www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/3637696-Any-Witches-Here-Part-9?pg=1
Part 10
//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/3726266-Any-Witches-Here-Part-10
Part 11
//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/3850635-Any-Witches-Here-Part-11
Part 12
//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/3997761-Any-Witches-Here-Part-12
Part 13 //www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/4116107-Any-Witches-here-Part-13
Part 14www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/4213962-Any-Witches-Here-Part-14
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/4328830-Any-Witches-Here-Part-15?msgid=113505801
www.mumsnet.com/talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/4435233-Any-Witches-Here-Part-16?page=40&reply=118807589

Hello
if anyone is around today, this is a plea for good vibes
I have a tough 24 hours coming up.
Thank you xx

@EmmaH2022 I am lighting a candle for you now to help send some positive and supportive energy your way.

I will do the same!

queenrollo Amphoran thank you, more than I can say xx

Sending positive energy your way EmmaH

I've been musing on the discussions about rules and rituals. Like Queenrollo I'm not a fan of rules. I used to be quite involved with the spiritualist church, but came away because all the rules and set ways of 'how things must be done' put me off. I feel the same way about Wicca. In my mind, rules are about control and power, and I question why the rules are there, who benefits from them and who says this is the way things should be done and who gave them the authority to make the rules? I prefer to use intuition and go about my practice in a way that feels right to me...bits of this...bits of that...whatever my gut tells me I should be doing.

Ritual is important to me, but again I make my own rituals. I like to start my day by drinking a coffee, watching the sun come up and thinking about gratitude. I end the day with a warm shower, allowing the warm water to cleanse away the day, I honour my body by rubbing in moisturiser and put on soft, comfy clothes that allow me to relax and wind down. I feel that these kinds of rituals bring me more comfort than anything I could read in a book because they're my rituals, if that makes sense?

Thank you Violet

about 10, 11 hours left. I won’t get much sleep. Sorry to be cryptic.

re spiritualist church, I went to a lovely service at one near me and it closed shortly after! I don’t know what’s normal for their services.

I was actually thinking, what does it require to set up an informal movement? Perhaps I’ll have a ponder tonight. I’m not getting much value from doing rituals alone.

EmmaH it's fairly easy to do rituals with like minded friends if that's what's you mean? I get together with a couple of witchy friends for full moon ceremonies. Sometimes we do a full on ceremony, other times it's more low key. We go with what we're feeling at the time. I think if you're talking about setting up something a little more formal, you need to be more planned, as organiser you're responsible for people and making sure it's a safe environment. Spiritual groups can some quite vulnerable people and also people who are driven by ego. It could be a lot of work!

Spiritualist churches can be lovely and I learned a lot from going, so if you like the rules and structure you would probably enjoy going, there's bound to be other churches near to you in London. Most of them hold weekly spiritual development circles and run lots of workshops, as well as the services. I met some lovely people from the groups I used to go to, I just got to the point where I found I wanted to move in a different direction.

@TurquoiseDreamCatcher just looking back through the thread and realise I missed your baby announcement! Congratulations, I'm delighted for you 😊Sending you lots of love xx

Violet "Spiritual groups can some quite vulnerable people and also people who are driven by ego. It could be a lot of work!"

a good point. I got carried away for a minute there.

I don't have anyone I could share this with.

Sorry, hit "send" too soon.

I don't usually think about this stuff when life is flowing, tbh.

there are other spiritual churches around but the location and timings don't work. I have contacted the organisers and they seem to be very different than the local one that was here. But maybe I went to a one off. It was very relaxed and didn't focus on world affairs or anything.

Morning all
thank you for the good vibes, really appreciate it, not something I could ask anyone IRL

a hard day and night is done. I saw Jupiter shining bright at 3am, that was something.

So interesting to read about rituals, spiritual structure, need or otherwise for dogma.
Like others I weave ritual into my everyday life, the mundane becomes sacred, and spiritual/magical practice is not "othered", but an integral part of my everyday.
Some moments are more ovbiously "ritual" than others- the candles, meditation, magical practice, salute to the sun-but equally sacred are the moments of pause, of eating, mugs of tea , cooking, cleaning, laundry, all imbued with spititual intent.
And the rules are mine. Grabbing that "power within" in my strong fists.
I need to read through the last few pages of posts, have been exploring a landscape birthed through heat and fire, enjoying air, water and sun on my skin, walking barefoot on the ground- fully immersing myself deep into the nurturing power of the elements, raw and sacred.

Interesting chat about routine and rituals. I don’t have set things I “have” to do as I find them constricting and I would obsess about getting them done and doing them “correctly”. I am loose and go where I feel.

Trenzalor I agree.
My spirituality is about the challenging and deconstruction of rules.
I have no set timetable or set things I "have" to do.
I come from a background ( like many of us) where spirituality was used to bind, control, silence and limit- especially women. Not something I would want to enter into again.

Speakout it sounds like you had a wonderful holiday! It just have been lovely to have that precious time with your DD. Im thinking ahead to holidays for next year...I feel in need of a proper break from it all!

It's a beautiful day here, what I call proper 'September' weather. There's a chill in the air, but it's sunny and the sky is brilliant blue. I've been out for a walk with my dog. Home now for coffee and crossants with dog sat next to me looking hopeful! Nothing much planned for the rest of the day, it's been a busy week so will just be pottering today, a bit of housework, a bit of laundry. I've got peppermint and lemon in my diffuser so the house smells fresh and clean. I've been using the Vinted app to sell clothes and have some more to list later...the only problem is I buy more than I sell!

VioletCharlotte your day sounds lovely. Purifying and cleansing your home is such sacred work.
I am still on holiday, I fly home on Monday just off for a swim and some reading in the sun before lunch.
I miss my home comforts, I take a few things on holiday, enough for a little magical practice and support if I need it- so some stones, incense, tea lights, tarot, but yoga and meditation and yoga require few props, and the terrace of my apartment faces east, I have been doing daily yoga at dawn just as the sun breaks over a volcano on the horizon.
It is good to break out of the usual routine even if only for a week.
I won't mind at all getting back to the hygge of the autumn- my favourite time of year.

Speakout your holiday sounds perfect. I love the way you describe it, I can visualise you practising your yoga on the balcony, the smell of incense gently drifting in the breeze, the warm sun on your back. I've not been abroad for a long time for a number of reasons; financial, children, dog , pandemic, but I'm really feeling in need of a proper break and just getting away from it all next year. You've inspired me to start looking!

VioletCharlotte I am glad I have inspired you. The hotel and holiday are not perfect by any means, I have managed to get sunburn. Although a largeish apartment complex (and budget) we have an apartment at the back which is quiet and overlooks the lava plains. I have focussed on self compassion and care this week, lots of quiet time, lots of sleep, spending time wiith my daughter. She is not one for staying up late either, most evenings we have been in pjs watching a movie in the apartment having snacks.
I had a chat with my ( very lovely GP last week before I left) and her words still echo " Be mindful with thought on your holiday", and I have been.
I think a holiday can give us a chance to reframe our perspectives.
I have just been researching materials for saining.
I am not comfortable using American white sage for smudging. for a number of reasons, but my own cultural heritage ( Celtic) have a similar ritual called saining. Commonly using yew, rowan, rosemary and juniper.
I do make my own smudge sticks from home grown lavender and rosemary ( melding the cultural practices !) but I am keen to try juniper- I don't have any in my garden, I may treat myself to a small plant.
Already looking forward to getting home and bringing some of this holiday calm back with me.

Hi all I hope you’re all doing well. We’ve been moored in a really beautiful place so we’ve been enjoying exploring the woods nearby and welcoming autumn. There’s a definite chill in the air and it won’t be long until we have the fire on.

I’m really feeling the late stages of pregnancy now, I struggle sleeping because I’m uncomfortable and it’s made me quite grumpy so I took some time out this evening to sit by the river and collect my thoughts and I feel so much better. I’m reading lots of witchy pregnancy books, we were skint when I was pregnant with DD so it’s been nice to have some money to buy these books and really delve into pregnancy, especially as this will most likely be my last. We’ve also got a boy’s name sorted, still searching for the perfect girls name but I’m convinced it’s a boy anyway so maybe that’s why I’m not so bothered by girl names.

I agree with others that I’m not big on rules. I like that this way of life is so freeing, and I don’t feel guilty if I haven’t been on the ball with properly practicing. To me, Wicca/paganism etc feels like a mothers love, and if I lose my way a bit there’s no judgement just loving open arms ready to welcome me back.

I’m off to read some more, with a sleepy tea and hopefully I’ll be asleep soon.

To me, Wicca/paganism etc feels like a mothers love, and if I lose my way a bit there’s no judgement just loving open arms ready to welcome me back.
That's so lovely barefootnomadmam what a perfect description.
I feel the same, my practice is never to make me feel guilty or obligated, just there as a strong steady force, a comfort, something that I can choose or let go.
I have no set ways of celebrating sabbats or festivals- sometimes I like to make an occasion I may do ritual, spellwork, decorate the house, a fancy meal, other times I may just light a candle or watch a sunrise.
Depends what is going, how busy I am, magic can ebb and flow around my life, ever at my side, always showing me beauty and wonder.
I hope your final weeks of pregnancy are as comfortable as they can be.

Barefootnomadman I love the way you describe your practice, you've summer up beautifully how I feel. Witchcraft/spirituality is always there, we can devote as much or as little time or attention to it as we want or need. For me, it's like a soft bed I can fall back into at the end of a busy day.

Living on a boat must be wonderful, I love the idea of being so free and so close to nature. Being by water is always so calming. I hope you managed to get some sleep, I can remember how uncomfortable I felt during those last days of pregnancy.

It's looking rather grey outside this morning, according to my weather app it's meant to be brighten up later on. Nothing much planned for today, I'll take the dog for a walk later on, I want to gather some fir cones, acorns, etc ready for the autumn equinox this week.

@speakpout and @VioletCharlotte I’m glad my description resonates with you both. Your descriptions of your practice are so wonderful too.

@VioletCharlotte it is a wonderful way of life. I’ve always felt so connected to the water so living near it was something I knew I needed to do, but I never thought I’d live actually on the water😂

barefootnomadmam I would love to learn more about your boat life too- it sounds amazing. Do you live in the boat all year? Do you travel large distances? How long have you lived on your boat?

Happy Mabon sisters!

Autumn equinox blessings to you all ❤️🍂🍁