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

Amazing photo. I see a face in that column of white. It looks like a huge energetic prescience to me.
Have never been to Orkney and would love to go. Planning to go next year. Intrigued to hear how difference the stone circle at Lewis is. I wonder what took place there and what the circle was used for.

Thanks for the well wishes for my MIL- she is still in hospital- no surgery yet.

I agree about Orkney- it is a very magical place. History is such a skewed lens. People in power, battles won, it disregards anything that has no documents, peaceful societies living in harmony.
Orkney was one of these places - all the sites there have a strong yet peaceful energy.
Yes I have visited thin places- they are everywhere of course, and will be some close to where we all live.
For me Borobodur in Java was powerful, Redwood forest in California, Sigirya in Sri Lanka Gijantia in Gozo all touched me deeply.
But equally there are some old walls near a car park in my local town, once part of dwellings that call- I can hear echoes of the past and voices as I walk near. I often stop and touch just to listen a little deeper.
It has been very stormy overnight and the wind is still strong, it feels cold too, time to dig out my cosy clothes.
The moon is in Pisces today, so a good day for diving in the shadows, divination and trusting our instincts.

Sorry I keep dropping off. I’ve been feeling like I need to hunker down in the late stages of my pregnancy. Still no baby, but we’re all ready to welcome them whenever they decide they’re ready to make their arrival

It's really interesting to read about thin places. I've visited Glastonbury several time, the energy is wonderful. I would love to go to Orkney, I have a Facebook friend who has a holiday home there, her photos are always beautiful. Iceland is the top of my list of places I'd love to visit. I've not travelled much for one reason or another, but not my DC are getting older I'm starting to get itchy feet. I've always had a real urge to Iceland, Norway, Denmark...all the cold places for some reason!

I went to a kirtan and cacao ceremony last night, which was great fun and gave me a real lift. Have woken up with a headache unfortunately which I hope will lift as I'm going to a yoga class this morning.

@VioletCharlotte I have always wanted to visit cold places too like Scandinavia, I love the snow but we rarely get it here in S.West.
Glastonbury is an amazing place, I haven’t been for a few years now( I have never been to the festival) but I do get what other people have said there is a lot of drug problems/homelessness there.
Orkney is somewhere I’ve always wanted to go, I’ve spent a lot of time in many different areas of Scotland but never got round to going, although I think the Orcadians don’t see themselves as Scottish. Has everyone been to the witchcraft museum in Boscastle ? I had what I can only describe as a spiritual experience here many years ago, and this is the only place it has happened to me despite sitting in churches previously and really wanting to feel something, if that makes sense.

@VioletCharlotte meant to ask what is kirtan and cacao, I know what cacao is as have cooked with it but never heard of this.

I have never been to Boscastle. But i have been to Norway. Top tips - be careful about when you go as a lot of tourist stuff doesn't happen in the off season. Some for safety reasons, some for practical. If you can be there for 17. mai National Day do. it is a wonderful experience. And the Viking ship museum in Olso, and the Viking museum on Karmøy have a special feel to them. Especially the open air part of the Karmøy site. If you have a chance to visit the heritage centre near olso it is also another place i would recommend, in addition to fjell and fjørd trips that many know as spectacular. The stave churches had an interesting vibe, which may have been the consequence of so many tourists.
It is on my list to go back.

It is all very odd here, but finally got some shelves that i have been waiting nearly a year for ikea to get back in stock as there have been supply issues. It is allowing some much longed for order to be imposed and that in itself is rather soothing. I need a day in the kitchen making all the things but first there is some wood working to do. Love the smell of a wood yard. Wood shopping is the only kind of shopping i really really enjoy. book shopping is second best.

Finally starting to feel well enough to even consider walking in the hills. It has taken nearly too months to shift whatever bug it was and I am still struggling with breathing. <sigh> i think i might want to get some fermented ginger carrots going later.

Hope you are all able to find moments of quiet restorative nature this weekend.

Thin places are everywhere, often the sites now of christian churches, but if you peel back the layers often find a pagan sacred place in the building foundations- our lovely Blanktimes is ourexpert on this subject.
I know Notre Dam cathedral has been excavated to reveal much earlier stonework- Carvings of the Celtic god Cernunnos.
Building over existing sacred sites was an efficient way for the Christian Church to eradicate the earlier earth based religions.
Near me stands Roslin Chapel,, and although an amazing place in its own right, nearby caves are covered in Neolithic spiral carvings- spirals and cups, also a lot of monoliths around- indicating this was probably an important ancient site long before christianity. The whole place crackles with energy.
The ceremony sounds lovely VioletCharlotte,I have tried to buy a ticket for my forthcoming women's fullmoon circle,but it is sold out.
While I am disappointed not to get a place( I am on the waiting list though) I am super delighted to know that so many women want to attend an event like this- to heal themselves and our planet.
I have woken feeling very unwell this morning, shivering, headache, joints aching. I had a flu type thing last week and started to feel better, but I am wobbly today.
OH has just made me some poached eggs from a local organic farm ( they are hand delivered) and some toasted soda bread with lime marmalade.
OH is off to see his mother today in hospital, but I thought it best not to go, I don't want to pass on any bugs as she awaits surgery.
Her condition has improved over the last week, thank you so much for all the healing energy. XX

@speakout so glad to hear your MIL has shown improvement. Sorry you’re not feeling well. Very wise to not pass it on!
My aim today is to try and start reading The Awake Dreamer by Samantha Fey. I listen to her podcast with Deb Bowen and it’s very enjoyable (The Psychic Teachers). They cover a lot of ground!

Fascinating reading about all the places with spiritual meaning for people. Norway is a very special place. I've never visited Oslo, except to fly through it, but have spent time on the west coast and found Bergen, Alesund and Tromsø among the most beautiful towns I've ever visited.

The Vasa Museum in Stockholm is great too.

The Scottish localities sound really lovely and I like the sound of Orkney very much. I have some of these special places fairly close to my locality too. The oldest bronze-age boats in the world were found not far away, an unbelievable 4000 years old. You can stand on the exact location on which they were found, it's still in a fairly quiet, non-built up area near woods and small holdings, and imagine that communities have been gathering on that exact spot for at least (and probably a lot longer than) 4000 years. It has a special energy.

Rudston Monolith is also within short striking distance of here, on a major meeting point of ley lines in the north of England. The whole area also has a great many sacred wells and rag wells.

I've turned the corner with the COVID, although it took a good three weeks to shake it of properly and my chest's still a little fuzzy. Sorry to all those currently unwell. @barefootnomadmam - sending you all the very best for a safe delivery.

@speakout Yes I definitely believe many Christian churches were built on pagan sites the same as Christian festivals replacing earlier pagan ones. I think anywhere people have called on a divine power of any sort is a sacred place. I love old churches, Rosslyn looks amazing. I have Wimborne Minster not far from me which is medieval and I love the feel of the place as well as the architecture. I’ve just never experienced anything as powerful as I had at the witchcraft museum. It was a long time ago now pre internet and not as busy as it gets now.

@speakout Meant to say hope you feel better soon !

@667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast cacao is a plant medicine, it's a heart opener that can increase awareness, so it's often used in ceremonies/meditation, etc. You can buy ceremonial cacao either as a block or a powder, add water and make it into a paste, the add spices, when I make it I usually add a tiny bit of cayenne pepper, ginger and cinnamon. It's very bitter so you can sweeten it with agave or plant milk. Kirtan is singing spiritual songs and dancing, guitar playing, etc. It sounds very odd but it's great fun! There's something about singing in a group that loves the soul.

I can remember going to Boscastle when I was about 7 or 8. I was desperate to go in the witch museum (my parents weren't so keen!) I've been to Cornwall lots of times as an adult but never made it back there. There's lots of thin places in Cornwall, Tintagnel is magical (if you go out of season when it's quiet)

Hills your post has made me even more determined to visit Norway! I really need to start making some proper plans to visit places, rather than just musing! I went to IKEA too yesterday, came home with the usual plants and candles and also a cabinet for my bathroom which I now need to build. I'm glad you're starting to feel better.

Speakout that's a shame you couldn't get booked on to the full moon circle, but as you say it's wonderful that more and more women are wanting to attend. I can feel the full moon energy building, this feels like a particular powerful one. Did anyone see Jupiter just to the left of the moon the night before last? It was so bright!

I hope everyone who has been unwell is starting to feel a little better, there's so much illness around at the moment which I guess is to be expected at this time of year. It's raining again today, the sky is grey and it looks quite miserable out there. I've been to Asda to do my food shop and walked the dog. I need to do some housework and then I'm going to the gym. Sending positive vibes to you all for a peaceful Sunday.

VioletCharlotte that sounds so interesting- heart opening is always powerful work. I use cacao quite a bit in cooking, including savoury dishes.
I'm not feeling too great this morning, cough and congestion, but thankfully painkillers have relieved my splitting headache. DD is coming over today and will spend the night, so I will make a curry in the slow cooker.
Boscastle looks amazing- so far for me though,a 9 hour drive each way.
I'm afraid I haven't explored any of South England- except London. Always a draw from to the Highlands if I travel in the UK, and abroad, which is often cheaper and quicker than a drive to the South.

@speakout The highlands of Scotland are beautiful people don’t realise how amazing the beaches are up north either. My father is Scottish from North East and I’ve always felt a pull to Scotland. When I see the highlands on TV or in a magazine I get a feeling like homesickness and longing even though I was born in England. I hadn’t really thought about it before in terms of ancestors until a couple of years ago. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels a connection like this to a place I’m not from.

Do you live near a big town? I’m surprised there is a full moon circle that’s why I’m asking. Is this is a more general pagan group/ feminine power thing than directly connected to the craft ?

@VioletCharlotte thank you for the info about cacao I’ve used it to make paleo brownies with maple syrup instead of sugar. They were very strong and a bit bitter like dark chocolate, they definitely gave a bit of an energy kick.
I have never been to Tintagel despite visiting Cornwall loads of times and being obsessed with Arthurian legend, it’s just not accessible enough as I’ve got mobility problems, it looks amazing and a bit hair raising crossing the rope bridge.

Just a short break in the weather before the heavens opened again

Beautiful photos dementedma.

667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast - yes is is not a witchcraft circle- actually a South American Shamanic ceremony, a full moon women's healing circle
Why are you surprised? It is held in a small village in deep countryside.

Curry is in the slow cooker, just trying to take things easy today,having some tea and doing some online christmas shopping. I have family in Australia to get that parcel off soon.

I have already missed the postal date for sending abroad I think. This is normal. The joke is the year i made the postal date the parcel got held up in customs at their end and it got delivered nearly Easter. Right at the point where the pick me up was really needed for the individual receiving. We put that down to divine intervention.

I am listening to online lectures today, i know that they are revision for the synoptic and thus covering material covered in individual units, but to just repeat the original videos is not focus helping. So working a little "knot" magic whilst i listen. Knitting hope, and focus, and calm into a jumper. I do love little bits of day to day magic like this.

I’m surprised as I just don’t have anything like this near me in a small town but I guess it just depends on the people. The town I live near is very conservative and mostly older people with quite a strong influence from the local church. However I don’t get out and about very much to meet people so there may well be things that aren’t advertised! I would associate it more with larger towns etc or places like Glastonbury. I guess I’m just basing it on my experience but it’s great to hear there are things like this going on not just in big cities. It shows how much things are changing.
@dementedma beautiful photos of the beach looks very tranquil.

667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast like you I live in quite a conservative christian area.
I think there are quite a lot of pagan activities going on everywhere, but in such places they are not broadcast as freely than those in more liberal areas.
Have a search- you may be pleasantly suprised.
Many pagans prefer to live in rural areas- because of their love of nature.

Dementedma beautiful photos, I've been thinking about the sea a lot this weekend and wishing I lived near so could go for a swim or just walk along the sand. I always come home from the sea feeling as if all my worries have faded into significance, even for just a little while.

@667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast you'd be surprised at how many circles are popping up all over the place. I normally find out about them through people I've met through the yoga community. Do you use Facebook? That can be a good way of finding out what's going on. They're normally very accessible and inclusive, we have a lady with limited mobility who regularly joins the one I attend.

Soeakout so sorry you're not feeling well. I find a good spicy curry with lots of ginger can really help when you've got a cold, so I hope it works it's magic for you. I had a splitting headache yesterday, but mine was due to sleeping badly and neck pain. I treated myself to a new ergonomic pillow from IKEA and slept better last night than I have in week.
*
Hills* I didn't realise the last date for posting abroad was so early! I've not given any thought to Christmas presents at all yet. It made me smile to read your gift arrived just when it was needed. Your afternoon sounds perfect and very cosy.

I've been to the gym and walked the dog again. It's starting to get dark and nearly time to draw the curtains and put my candles on. I'm making a nut loaf for dinner.

Different countries abroad have different postal deadlines, also this year the published strike days meant that they brought the guaranteed delivery before Christmas dates forwards. Normally it is mid November for the country I send to.

Also if you have any of the old fashioned stamps that don't have the little code bit on them, they are only valid until the end of the year so it is wise to get them used if possible.

Motivation is hard this morning. Focus absent, i just nearly flooded the bathroom running a bath but the moon, Mars and Jupiter were stunning last night. First time i have been able to get out for an evening walk in over a month.

HillsBesideTheSea your celestial display sounds magica The last posting day for Australia is 1st December-I usually buy lightweight gifts, otherwise it can take months to arrive.
I am feeling quite ill today, very wobbly, thankfully OH has the day off work and my DD is over, I had already put work on hold, so that is up to date.
Give me time to do some online christmas shopping, although I have to be careful as my brain is quite foggy!

Speakout sorry to hear you are feeling unwell.

@667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast I live rurally and over the last few years have noticed more and more witchy/hippy/pagan type events cropping up. I haven't made it to anything yet because family committments make it difficult, but also my county is big and often these events are an hour drive, which can make logistics difficult too. Working around family mealtimes, and the unpredictable nature of my chronic pain causing fatigue.

I've had four hours sleep in the last three days. My DS has a cold which has manifested as an ear infection and he has been in my bed for three nights. Last night was awful, he was in so much pain for 3 hours he just screamed and cried. I've thrown all my resources at it, but ear pain is so hard to ease. GP confirmed today there is fluid behind both drums, we have been given 'just-in-case' antiobiotics which we have been told to administer from Weds if he isn't improved by then. I am incredibly reluctant to use them. My cousin is a specialist in antibiotic resistance, and it makes me very wary of just jumping in with them without exhausting other options first.
Anyway, of course I also have this wretched cold so I feel pretty battered myself. And now DH is coming down with it too. He can fend for himself. He fully admits he is rubbish at being ill and I already have one child to nurse!