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

I hope you had a better night queenrollo, and that your DS is feeling better.
I was unwell last week, better for a few days then lost my voice and feeling ill again yesterday.
OH and I have both tested positive for Covid this morning.
So perhaps the goddess played a hand in me not attending my women's circle tonight, the event is sold out- I would have had to cancel.
OH is ( of course) feeling worse than me, has spent the morning sleeping in bed-while I have worked, emptied the dishwasher, put a meal together in the slow cooker, done some laundry, taken the bins out and sorted out my car insurance.
I hope everyone is safe and well.

Oh speakout I am sorry to hear you have been hit by Covid.
We have all tested for it because we had to take DS to the GP and wanted to be sure we were clear. Thankfully we are, but still quite poorly nonetheless.
I am worse today, a throat full of razorblades. This is likely because I soldiered through to look after my son - he has turned a corner and needs me a little less, so now my body has given in to it.
I am keeping him off school again tomorrow, I want him properly rested before he goes back. I spoke to school earlier and they were trying to encourage him back in, but I put my foot down. I will not teach my child that the adult world of presenteeism is in any way acceptable. (In fact it has been other parents sending their children in ill that have passed this to us!)

We are having some windows replaced and it's turned from a day job to two, maybe even three. I could say lots of rude words about the company that did the previous install....they have caused the issues!

Anyway, now that they have gone home for the day I can finally get myself into a hot bath! I've always felt that sweating illness out is an approach that has worked for me. And I am aching....

Oh, no @speakout - not you too. Sending lots of healing and positivity your way and hoping you recover quickly. It took me a clear three weeks to shake it completely, but it does get better although it feels interminable at the time.

The culture of presenteeism is apparently making itself felt in my workplace again - switching to online meetings was so helpful for us commuters and felt as though they were meeting us a little way - now that's gone. So I have a 100- mile round trip whenever they feel like calling a meeting for an hour and I don't already happen to be on campus. It's infuriating. Son's school has a rather zealous new headteacher, who is constantly sending ominous emails/blog posts about attendance. Possibly as a consequence, I've had him off sick twice with what was likely COVID and then with a hideous vomiting bug, which I subsequently caught, right on top of the COVID! I haven't been so sick in years, and it knocked me right out afterwards: I slept almost constantly for in excess of 24 hours.

I took baths and slept alongside a lovely, healing quartz crystal and some nice green calcite.

I hope you manage to book onto a women's circle soon. I'm going to look for one in this locality too.

Thanks for the good wishes.
DS now has covid too- so three of us, thankfullly no one is severely ill.
I like to keep a little bit active when I am ill, so I will keep going at a slow pace.
I fell asleep last night to the glorious full moon, slept long and peaceful.
Being ill can knock me off emotionally sometimes, it feels so good to have haven of peace within myself to come home to.
Coffee, shower, morning rituals, then spend time putting away laundry- my own stuff. A job that has gone from one I dislike then one that I tolerate, now to one that I actively enjoy doing. Thanks to Marie Kondo, mindfulness and neoroplacticity!

Hope all those that are poorly have swift recoveries and feel better soon.
Sorry covid hit your household Speakout how your MIL continues to improve enough for surgery and your mother escapes the lurgy.

Ds is down. Not covid but a nasty chesty cough. Probably caught from me tbh.

Spent yesterday in the kitchen. Another evening in the kitchen tonight. Plus i have some online sour dough training. A fitful night of sleep has left me tired. But then i am cheating burn out by over consuming caffeine so the crash is coming. I know better but right now I am doing future me a disservice. But i will have a fully stocked freezer, meal plans up to the end of February, and I will be able to delegate to others.

I have yet to spend the energy fixing the bathroom and making it a restorative place to spend time with a good book if desired. That and the construction of an under unit drawer for the kitchen are on my plans for the week. I need to focus on the benefits of completion because motivation is weak.

Again i am finding lots of little small pieces of magic that can be worked into my day to day life. I desire some larger workings, and activities but right now that is just now practical. So practical and small will have to suffice for now.

Sorry to hear you have* Covid Speakout.* Sending healing energy to you and to everyone else who is unwell. I've not been feeling great either the last couple of days, my throat feels very sore and I'm really tired. It doesn't help that this is the first week of the qualification I've just started, so I've had three solid days of classes. Today's just a half day thankfully, I'm looking forward to going back to bed later!

Well I survived the driving! So tired though and not enough energy to catch up. Hope all those that are unwell feel much better soon.

It's been a week of adventure with quite a lot of unplanned Santa Muerta influences but hard work and very expensive! I'm glad to be home with the dogs curled up on the sofa next to me and a glass or two of wine.

Really poorly tonight. Trying to avoid A and E but if breathing gets worse will have to.
Sisters please send healing.

Coming your way @dementedma and am lighting a candle for you too. That sounds very frightening, hope you are ok 💐

@dementedma sending healing energy your way. I'm so sorry you're feeling so unwell, sounds awful. Please don't put off going to A&E if you think you need help.

Joining the collective healing energy for you @dementedma

Thank you all

How are you feeling this morning @dementedma?

I've had a sore throat all week. It's not horrendous but making me feel low. I've got a massage booked for later today so need to do a Covid test to be on the safe side as would hate to inadvertently pass it to anyone. For the first time in what seems like days, the sun is shining and the sky is blue so I'm going to get outside with the dog, even though I don't really feel like it. I'm hoping being in nature will work it's magic.

Speakout I hope that you're feeling better *

Elphame* glad you had a good trip. Hope you're feeling well rested and recovered from the journey.

Hills I'm trying to sort my bathroom out too and turn it into some where I want to spend time. It feels like a very long process, but it's starting to look better. Plants make a huge difference! 🪴

Not great but got through the night so thank ypu all

Sorry - I just saw this. I'll send some Seren energy your way

Hi, I'm lurking really. I have had an interest in witchcraft for a very long time but only recently felt able to embrace it. I don't really know where to start though. Any tips?

Hi - not really a MN poster, but am currently reading through these threads from the start and really enjoying them - lovely to find other people in the same boat, which is, I don't really know what I would call myself, I read tarot, used to be a churchgoer, now "follow my own path" whatever that is. I've felt drawn to kitchen/hearth witchery but don't particularly do spells or anything, mostly just set intentions and use my daily card as guidance. Anyway....after that long ramble, what I'd like to ask is, can anyone recommend good essential oils that have a nice perfume but aren't overly expensive? Thinking of a few items to scent the house, use in cleaning and for the bath/shower. I particularly like sandalwood, rose and tonka perfumes.

Thank you in advance :)

Hi @PamelaColmansMustard and @takemetomars and welcome.

If you are going to be using essential oils on your skin then go for the best quality you can afford. Tisserand are a reliable brand and they sometimes have them in TK Maxx at a very good price.

If it's just for scenting cleaning products then a cheaper one is fine. I personally like citric scents like orange and lemon but it really is purely a matter of what you like. I'm not a fan of pine but it's a popular choice.

If you also want to use them magically in your cleaning then you will need to look up the metaphysical properties as well. Oils such as rosemary are protective, frankincense will calm etc. What are you wanting to achieve?

I personally would avoid DoTerra and FL ( Forever Living) essential oils which are sold by the MLM model. They are way overpriced and the marketing is exploitative.

Hi, I am feeling the same, I would like to study and take my interest further. I am wary of just buying a few books or following instructions on an internet site without a personal recommendation though. Ive been interested for years, but am only now in a position to delve a bit deeper.

Thank you Elphame. My aims in cleaning were mostly to add a hint of pleasant fragrance, but I'd also like to try using oils to lift the mood of a room or clear any negativity (if this is indeed possible). I also use lavender (from the garden) to add to the bath or bung under my pillow to aid sleep - it does work but the cats don't like it!

In that case lavender was a good choice. Citrus (pretty much any one) will also be good as will Clary Sage.

As well as the classical associations, the sense of smell is very strongly linked to memory so you may find some that are individual to you. For me, the scent of nag champa has very strong happy memories from when I was a child and a whiff of that will always lift my mood as will the scent of vanilla.

takemetomars and Probablymagrat a warm welcome.
Glad you have joined us.
Starting a magical or pagan path does feel daunting- there is so much information. Great in a way, but overwhelming- and sometimes contradictary.
Unlike mainstream religions a magical journey does not rely on dogma or rules- unless you wish to become wiccan or work with some of the more structured types of magic.
The chaotic is an appeal for me- no one to tell me I am doing things "wrong", I am not "the right kind" of witch I like carving my own journey and having no heirarchry to rule or judge.
But some novice practitioners like the structure, or start with a system and once they have a grounding move on to their own authenticity.
There is no right way, so I would avoid books that instruct "how to be a witch" or similar.
It is all so subjective.
I am sure even on this thread 50 of us will have 50 different book suggestions-none wrong, just different.
Pagan topics cover a huge area.
My suggestion- and please also ignore if it doesn't feel right it to jump right in to topic books rather than "The Craft".
So explore essential oils, or herbs,or Tarot, or dreamwork,or prophecy, runes, knotwork, candle magic, astrology, kitchen witchery, spellcraft, learn about deity, history, sigils, crystals- whatever inspires or piques your curiosity.

I would suggest finding some witchy /craft youtube channels and look at their book reviews.

Thorn moony has an interesting approach to books and has videos entitled why i read the rubbish books (para phrased probably), i was watching a new channel today and she had some good book reviews. I like to see what they like, why they like it, their general approach/ethos to resources etc. I like channels that are critical because i have been caught out by popular books in the past. But that said it was not that the book was bad, it just was not what i was expecting from it and thus not as relevent as i had hoped.

In my opinion this is a good way to review books without buying them. Also try your library as i know the first books that I read on the craft were from my library. If you have scrbd or kindle unlimited there will be books on there and you can access without buying them. Etc. You don't have to buy books, there are other ways. Also 2nd hand book stores.

Another tip is to remember the era the books were written. Knowledge and understanding has moved on, the satanic panic really influenced the resources that were available at the time. It is not that those resources are just rubbish but you need to be mindful of the context when you read them. Ignore what is not relevent and take with you the nuggets of knowledge that resonates with you.

Thank you Speakout, that is very helpful. I will have a think about what I want to to study first and see where it leads me. No doubt I will be back with many questions. I hope I don't wear my welcome thin, do feel free to let me know if I do. XX

I think it's the pagan aspect that fascinates me more than anything else. It feels primal to me. I am post migraine and always feel close to the fundamentals of existence at this point. I am looking to root myself in the pleasure of just existing alongside everything else. Does that sound trite??