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

Glad you are feeling better dementedma.

Are you involved with the witches of Scotland campaign? I know there was an official government postumous apology a few months ago, but campaigners are seeking more action and recognition.
www.witchesofscotland.com/

Scotland has a shameful past when it comes to the burning times.
executing many more women than England. Every murder is tragic, but Scotland was particularly brutal and had more fervour than many other areas of Europe.
My local small town saw 3 or 4 witch murders a week for many years.

I'm feeling it about the breathlessness. Somehow as though you can't fill your lungs properly? I did worry it might have something to do with my pulmonary emboli - have no idea if they're still there and if so how big they now are - but a number of colleagues who've had Covid some weeks ago are reporting the same thing. I think I'm going to have that shot even though I've just had the virus, and ensure I get the flu one too.

That photo! Malachi is simply beautiful, and I am now extremely broody. (It won't happen!)

Solidarity with the women of Scotland, is all I will add on that particular point.

Very interesting reading about the tarot cards. I'm keen to try runes, which at present are another unexplored area.

Outside, I've been for a brief walk in the darkness of the garden, wet due on the grass and my favourite tree is sending silver drops down onto the lawn. There was a tawny owl hooting somewhere nearby. Just 5-10 minutes' tranquility is sometimes about as much magic as I can fit into a day, but it's amazing the difference it makes.

The stars are very bright here, because there's a wide river just to the south of me and very little light pollution comes from its opposite bank. On light summer evenings we sit out there with the firepit until a late dusk. On winter evenings, especially dry, sharp, cold ones, I shrug into a thick down jacket and hang out in the garden on my own after dark. It's so peaceful and calming out there, especially after everyone else has gone to bed.

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend.

Wet due? I meant dew! It has been a long day.

I’ve often wondered how the vitamin C survives boiling when making syrup.

Yes me too. I wonder if there is some other element to the elderberry that does the business? Ialso usually make a tincture.

Vitamin C is denatured by heat, but quite slowly.
After boiling at 100 degrees for 15 minutes 95% of the vitamin C will remain.
Longer times will degrade it further, as will boiling at a higher temperature- syrups will boil at higher temperature than water.
If you keep cooking times short and consider another technique to reduce and thicken more vitamin C will be preserved.

www.quora.com/If-I-mix-Vitamin-C-in-a-glass-of-100%C2%B0C-is-the-Vitamin-C-completely-destroyed-Are-there-any-techniques-to-preserve-Vitamin-C-from-heat

First yoga class this morning after being ill. It was good to be back, but the hall was very cold which took the enjoyment out of it a bit.

Dark moon tonight, for me this is the most peaceful, restorative moon phase, everything is still and calm, a time to rest.

Wishing you all a peaceful and relaxing weekend.

VioletCharlotte good to hear you are well enough to be back at yoga.
I struggle with cold yoga halls- I wear primark leggings, they are long- to the ankle and have a thick furry lining- super warm.
It's more difficult to stretch in cold temperatures, and my feet will cramp up if I am cold.
I am hoping for a yoga class on Monday, but I am still feeling weak.
If I do go I will be taking things very easy.

Well what a change in the weather. It’s the first time I’ve had to scrape ice from the car.

The fire is lit and I’ve been cuddled up with the dogs.

I’vealso just realised that my sprained ankle has literally mended overnight. I had a reiki session a few days ago from a very energetically powerful reiki master and this seems to have done the trick. I’ve had it in the past and been very underwhelmed but this was completely different.

Elphame** it's so cold isn't it?! No ice here, but it's certainly woolly hat and gloves weather. I'm so glad your ankle feels better. Like you, I've had some really effective reiki and some that was a bit meh.

We had torrential rain this afternoon, I'm very relieved I'd got my shopping done and dog walked this morning.

I've just had tea and crumpets by the fire, I'm feeling very cosy and glad I don't have to go anywhere.

Its peeing down with rain, and so I am planning my future herb garden. Apart from the usual culinary herbs, which ones do you find most useful for witchy pursuits? I was thinking of mugwort, and possibly camphor, but am very open to advice from you all. I live in the South West/South Midlands area. It doesn't seem to get very cold, but is wet. I was thinking of raised beds so I can make it free draining to stop the roots rotting.

It's cold here too- and frosty- north facing roofs and shady spots in the garden are still white..
I didn't manage yoga this morning- DD came over last night to stay, and we spent the morning making pancakes with maple syrup, chocolate ganache, blueberries, apple sauce and cinnamon.
She has gone now, I am just back from the post office having a rest and a coffee- my energy levels are still low and I get breathless climbing stairs.
So I am not sure if I am well enough for yoga- I may go to a class midweek.
Probablymagrat I like to grow thing that are multi purpose, so it's mainly edible plants I grow- I have , lavender, thyme, elder, sage, mint, rosemary, St johns wort, elder, dog roses.

@speakout Thanks for that, I think that someone who lived in this house before me was a bit pagan, or very keen on attracting wildlife with native planting. I have oak, holly, elder, willow, dog roses and loads of lavender well established. All the trees seem to be about the same age, and are planted as a mini woodland, one of each tree. I am very lucky. As well as the multi use ones you mention, I will add some St Johns wort to my list as well, I love its little fluffy yellow flowers, so even if I don't use it for a purpose it will still have a use of being pretty.

Hello all,

So pleased to have found this thread again. I wasn't a regular contributor so you might not remember me.

I've had a quick read of previous posts and I hope everyone who is struggling with health issues is recovering gently.

Sending healing intentions and light through these dark months.

Gen 🌛🌝🌜

Hi @GenExer I remember you 😊 Pleased you found us again, the thread move quickly, don't they?!

@Probablymagrat your garden sounds lovely. Good luck with the herbs, I manage to kill everything I plant, expect Lavender! I'm not blessed with green fingers, which is a great shame as my grandparents, parents and brother are all excellent gardeners.

Soeakout your pancakes sounds delicious, I feel hungry reading about them! Sorry that the after effects of Covid are still lingering, do take it easy and allow your body the time it needs to recover.

We've had heavy rain all day today, it's days like today that remind me how lucky I am to be able to work from home and not have to brave the motorway.

Soapwort and hollyhocks are fun to grow. There are some others if i can find my seed box, i know i have to rotate what i grow because i am space limited and those two are on the rotation for the next growing year.
Calendula and nastursum are great because edible, medicinal and magical.
Culinary herbs are great because multipurpose if you have limited space. We have a twisted hazel and if the blasted squirrels could leave it alone we might harvest a hazel nut at some point. But short of covering the tree i am not sure we will because they remove the nuts too early.
I like the escalier trees because the fruits can be used magically and medicinally plus are just a nice sweet treat. And there are a lot of patio pot varieties these days which makes it more achievable for so many more garden spaces.

I have a rather well cultivated poisons garden but honestly that is not for everyone (and a lot of the plants i currently have are very common ones from hellebores to fox glove via daffodils etc) I am rather fond of my poisions garden.
It is something i want to develop further at some point.
Before someone thinks i have a huge garden let me say that i have a patio that is covered in enough pots to be a health hazard in summer between the veg/herbs/medicinals, hanging baskets, windowsils and 2 flower beds. Tis not a big garden by any stretch of the imagination. Hanging baskets/pots and window sils double if not triple the growing space.

Something i do want to try at some point is dye plants and do some natural dyeing of materials to make some witchy supplies. I think that could be fun to grow the plant, process and create.

Honestly when it comes for plants to use magically the possibilities are endless and you are only limited by you imagination and space. and other people that are convince that the very VERY useful nettles are weeds and remove them I guess my advice is to consider what you want to use before you pick what you want to grow because if you are growing for use there is no point in growing what you don't know what you are going to do with.

Sorry you are still under the weather Speakout
Nice to see you again GenExer I remember you

I am enjoying the colder weather, although the colder weather with rain does rather chill you to the bone.

I am loving all the gardening talk.
I remember as a child my sister and I would pour over seed catalogues in the winter months, discussing which seeds we would like to try in the coming months.
I still love gardening, but time is a great issue for me, so I grow some herbs, but mostly perennials, fruit trees and shrubs for bees and butterflies.
It is enough to fill my craving to grow but not so time demanding that it eats into other areas.
It's all about balance isn't it, I don't have a huge amount of spare time and something has to give.
OH has gone to work today- the first day back, although he has been working remotely for a few days.
My mother is off to one of her activities today, so the house will be blissfully quiet- I will perform some cleansing rituals to clear the air of illness.
My MIL's step daughter-( the posh side of the family) has beautiful gardens in North England at Alnwick- she ( with help) has been cultivating many plants and the gardens are open to the public. Worth a visit.
I am off to start my day, I am still coughing a little, but I will have a better idea through the day how my body is doing.
I have a yoga class tomorrow, but I can't manage that if my cough is too persistent.
But at least I will have time for some uninnterupted meditation today to nurture my emotions and spirit.

I was rather disappointed in the poison garden at Alnwick to be honest. A quick 30 minute guided tour with a couple of anecdotes from the guide. No chance to really stop and study the plants (a lot I grow anyway) but there were some I'd only heard of and was interested in seeing growing but we were rushed past them to be told about whatever was on the list for that tour.

Hi all - can I give a big thank you to the person who recommended Tylluan Penry (could have been on a previous thread). I've binge-watched her Youtube videos and they have been amazing. So much has kind of slotted into place. I got my essential oils, one was totally devoid of any smell at all (seller refunded) but the others are good and strong; if I don't use them in my burner I will use them for cleaning.

Still not sure what the way forward is, but no doubt it'll become clearer in time.

PamelaColmansMustard I am glad you enjoyed watching Tylluan Penry, I love her too- such a down to earth practical approach, and such wisdom.
I listen to/watch a lot of you tube, I often have it playing as I work. whether it is a deep dive into Tarot meanings or astrology, deities, folk customs, all so interesting.
A cold wet day here, I am still feeling weary, and have a constant barking cough, drinking herb tea, I am taking multi vits, probiotics, vitamin C and eating as well as I can. I am also sleeping tons- I am normally a very early riser, but I am struggling to get out of bed.
Thankfully my work does not involve a commute or talking to people, and I can stop for frequent breaks.

@speakout Sorry to hear you are still under the weather. Thank you for the Vit C info regarding Elderberries. Myself husband and daughter have all been unwell after daughter came home from uni with a virus which I now think was flu as my husband has taken nearly a week to get over it and had temperature of 41 at one point. Very unusual for him and our DD to be so unwell for so long. They seem to have been worse than me with high temperatures even though I’m not in good health generally, but perhaps this is the reason? DD is fine now but husband still experiencing fatigue and high temperature of 38.1. Been giving him Elderberry , Echinacea and vitamin C and zinc, but am wondering if Echinacea and Elderberry are stimulating immune system too much.
Hope everyone who’s been struggling with Covid etc is on the mend now

I'm liking the gardening posts too. I inherited my conical yew hedge and lavender patch with this property, but can't help thinking this is fortuitous. I grow your usual, bog-standard herbs in terracotta pots, but thanks to this thread will be trying mugwort and a few others.

This Covid really is having some lingering effects. I'm also more tired and turning in far earlier than usual. My breathing is odd, not raspy, but as if I can't fully fill my lungs with air. It's a not dissimilar feeling to the pressure on my diaphragm when I was pregnant. I had Covid and influenza shots today despite the fact that I've just had the virus: was offered these to be on the safe side because of the PEs. I really hope others struggling with this soon turn the corner: it has some really unpleasant, lingering after-effects.

I'm going to bite the bullet and try to get down to the pool at some point this week, albeit I'm a bit discombobulated by the horrible creaking sound my back makes when I first start to swim. I'm reliant on constant exercises to stop the pain and stiffness, but would be lying if I said these weren't becoming a drag. And in this dank, dark November weather, a good turn in the hydro-spa and a nice sauna would be just the ticket.

Dark moon blessings and healing strength to all.

MarieIVanArkleStinks sorry you are having lasting effects from Covid too.
In bed last night ( another very early night) my mind became a maelstrom of worry, wondering if I would be ill for years to come.
I was breathless walking around the supermarket yesterday and my cough is still constant.
I have strains and pressures in my life which can result in anxiety for me, but have worked out ways to keep emotionally healthy and cope.
A big part of the solution for me is yoga, but it just isn't possible right now.
I can feel my mental health starting to slip as I haven't been to a class in a month.
I have just slept for 12 hours again, the thought of getting up and dressed is a struggle.

It took me a good six weeks to feel back up to 'normal' speed after I had Covid. On the surface I kind of felt well, but then it took me 20 mins and three sit downs to hang one line of washing out. I had to abandon singing lessons for a time, as although the actual Covid never gave me a cough it had clearly damaged my lungs and any level of exertion made me struggle to fill my lungs deeply enough.
I was back to the gym as soon as I tested negative but my trainer has worked with lots of post Covid clients (and has read as much literature as possible on recovery) and so I basically did stretches and the most minimal weight bearing until he felt my body could cope with more. We monitored pulse and oxygen etc to guide this.
After the first six weeks I found I still tired easily on longer walks etc but the daily things and normal level of gym exercise were no longer a struggle.

Go gently with yourselves my friends.

queenrollo good to hear you are improving, that gives me a lot of hope!
I have managed a shower and dressed, and slathering my face and body with serum and lotion- my skin seems to have dried out so much.
I am sure I will recover, just a bit impatient with myself!

I was exactly the same as QueenRollo but succumbed much more easily to the chest infections going around and it took 3 lots of Abs and steroids to shift and it does feel like i am almost back at 3 weeks post covid functioning atm. Which will improve but I need to be a little patient in recovery. Apparently this is normal post covid. Especially for those of us with asthma and a bad lung history. I have not done a long walk since September. Which is frustrating me in the same way the lack of yoga is frustrating you Speakout. I hope that you are able to find relief and improvement sooner rather than later.