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

@BridaBrida I grew up near a large woodland, and spent a lot of time there. It was safer being in the woods than at home at times. I would pack myself some sandwiches and a bottle of squash, a sketchbook and a book to read, and that was me set for the day.

I know what you mean about deer, one of my best memories is watching the small herds grazing in the clearings.

One magical day I saw that the Brickhurst herd (as I called them in my mind) had a young white hind in their midst. She was so beautiful, so delicate, and so very vulnerable due to her colouring. I held my breath as she and her family crossed the clearing and disapeared back into the trees. I only saw her a couple of times after that, and assumed that she had been predated upon.

As an adult I often visited those woods, and one day a few years back I saw what must have been her descendent stepping out of the woodland into a field, then I spotted her brown sisters around her, harder to see because of their colour. I only saw her in the distance, and couldn't go nearer as I had the dogs with me. But it was such a privilege.

What beautiful memories Probablymagrat. You’re right, being able to experience nature close up is so special, and there’s something particularly magical about deer.

And thank you for reminding me of them.

@queenrollo that's brilliant news, I'm so pleased - and hope you're feeling calmer now.
@EmmaEmerald fingers crossed for your new home - I also hate parting with things I love, but if it is a location which works for you and makes you happy then it sounds worth it. And you can always acquire new things over time, right?
@speakout your whole world sounds so idyllic, I know reality is not always the same but I love how you write about your home and your area and your practice, it always inspires me.
@HillsBesideTheSea , sending love, I know the feeling.

My godmother has been in hospital for a while, took a turn for the worse late on Saturday night, we dropped everything and hared down to see her yesterday (she's about 100 miles away so fortunately doable at a moment's notice), and she's been put on palliative care today. I'm so sad and a bit stunned by the speed of it, although she hasn't been properly well for a few years, she was chatting and laughing on the phone with Mum last Monday. And while I'm sad for me because I love her and she's been in my life since I was born, I'm also so sad for Mum because they have been best friends for 42 years and I can't even imagine how that must feel.

Today was my first day back at my desk and back on meds after the Christmas break, and I've been surprisingly productive, considering. But mostly at the moment I am making some hard decisions about where to keep my focus and attention and time, and where to pull back because I cannot carry on at quite the rate I was - I am still recovering from the end of last year. I love my multiple things but have accepted that in order to do them well, they have grown to a point that some need help in order to let me actually do what I love the most (photography) and still function.

On the plus side, I have a whole set of rituals and planning and reviewing which I traditionally have always done between winter solstice and the first week of January, and this year that just hasn't happened due to illness and life. So I've decided to move my own new year and all those rituals to Imbolc, and start my year along with Spring's coming. I was already planning New Year/end of January cards instead of Christmas ones because of December's insane pace (sorry, ladies I send cards to - they are coming!!) so this feels like a welcome and right decision. And means I get more time to decide what I want from the coming year, without pressure!

If any of you have a minute to light a candle for my lovely godmother I'd love that and so would she - I am at this stage just hopeful for a peaceful passing for her.

Hope this week behaves for you lovelies xx

Sorry about your godmother hilariousname I will send my thoughts for a peaceful passing. Sometimes this is all we can hope for. Thoughts for you too.

I have had one of the people taken to hospital in an ambulance, thankfully not on blues, but I have gone from fast asleep, to wide awake in emergency handling, to hanging about waiting for a call for a lift so i can go collect them.

Oh Hills you've been through the wringer with it all lately. Sending hugs and oomph - I hope the ambulanced person is ok now. And thank you for your thoughts x

I'll try to light a candle this evening hilariousnamehere, we have had a bereavement in the family this week so I'll be thinking of your godmother too and sending love to her and your mum.

My goodness HillsBesideTheSea I hope all is well and that you can have a rest today.

I agree that Imbolc is a good time to start a personal new year, the first green shoots in the garden signify new beginnings every time for me.

hilarious I will light a candle for your godmother.

Hills fingers crossed for a good outcome. I hope you're okay, that is so stressful for you too.

WiccanWonderer I am sorry for your loss.
HillsBesideTheSea that sounds a scary and difficult night, I hope the ill person recovers soon and you can catch up on sleep.
hilariousname I am sorry to hear of your godmother, I will light a candle to send you and her peace and comfort.

I am feeling the stirrings of Imbolc too, thinking about an Imbolc tree. I usually do one for easter- but have a few ideas to brighten the season.
I smile when you describe my life as idyllic hilariousnamehere, yes you are right I have my fair share of crap and challenges.
I have lived some very difficult times in my life, my childhood left me ill prepared for the world and I blundered into several tragic situations that caused me pain and fear.
I have had some harsh lessons, and it has taken me a lot of work to find peace in my heart.
Even now I live with tough situations on a daily basis, things that are outwith my control. I would love to change them but I can't.
So I work on making sure difficulties don't impinge too much on my well being.
That is a big and daily challenge for me, but one that is working for me.
With help, support and tools I use self compassion to lessen the impact of troubles I deal with most days.
Watching deer or feeding birds won't heal a loved one, but if we start stacking positive elements in our lives we can make a big difference.
Understanding and becoming aware of our feelings and thoughts is crucial.
Pepper our days with pleasure and beauty, find centre and claim calm we do have some power to reframe our world.

You are worth it- despite the messages you may have been given.

Thanks speakout.
It's interesting what you say about the 'messages'... I feel so guilty every time I do something just for me, as though I'm letting everyone down.

Great posts...and a peaceful passing for those whose time has come to move on.
Another wildlife lover here. The tiny pond in our garden is a source of endless joy. And last year,endless frogs! The ( miserable) neighbours complained about all the tiny froglings everywhere so this year i will have to remove most of the frogspawn before it hatches. Such a shame.

WiccanWonderer I think many of us have grown up with ideas of shame and guilt.
Ideas that we are of value if we put ourselves last, not to indulge in pleasure, sacrifice ourselves for others.
We as women are pious and good if we play the doormat, unworthy if we paint our toenails and drink gin.
All part of the patriarchy- which needs women to prop up the system.
A race to the bottom and becoming hapless handmaidens.
The minute we choose to nurture ourselves we are programmed to feel guilty, self indulgent, neglectful of our family.
There seems no healthy realism between quiet biddable dormouse and self serving slattern.

It's very sad- we can rationalise our feelings of guilt but it takes time and effort to rewire that thinking process.

Hedjwitch that seems so sad that you have to remove the frogspawn, can you just relocate it?
If your neighbours are gardeners, maybe they'd like the frogs to eat their slugs?

Oh yes,I will relocate it. I know you're not really supposed to but better than killing it. The same neighbour complauns about slugs. She's just thick

I get very annoyed with people who seem to be oblivious to how nature works!

Hedjwitch but she can't do anything about frogspawn, why not just keep it where it is? She can't take legal action against...frogspawn!

Hedjwitch I think your froglets are lovely, your garden sounds an oasis for wildlife.
Sad that your neighbour can't appreciate wildlife.
I too would be tempted to ignore your neighbours, but I would be worried that they may kill them or lay down some kind of poison.

@hilariousnamehere and @HillsBesideTheSea I'm thinking of you both and sending loving energy.

I agree with the comments about Imbolc feeling more like the start of the year. I've always said that January is the wrong time to be starting a fresh. We're still in deep winter, our bodies are telling us to hunker down and hibernate. Starting a diet or starting a new exercise routine goes against all of our instincts. I like the peace and quiet of January after the business and frantic consumerism of December. I like the feeling of being still and quietly going through the days, nurturing ourselves and getting ready for spring when the earth will start to come back to life.

@Hedjwitch that's a shame about your frogs. My DM is frightened of them, she says they make her jump when she's gardening! I think if I were you I'd keep a small amount of frog spawn and out the rest into a local wildlife pond. I used to love having tadpoles as a child, we used to go to the pond and dip for frog spawn, then put it in a tank to watch it hatch, then watch the tadpoles grow into frogs. I can remember one getting out one day, my DM discovered him hopping around the kitchen, much to her horror!

Welcome to all the new comers, I've really enjoyed reading all the posts and catching up with you all ☺️

I'll keep a tiny amount of spawn as watching the tadpoles is such a joy,but mad neighbour kills any froglets near her house. She puts salt on them,its horrible.
Better to give them a chance elsewhere

Bloody hell! Does she do that to slugs too?

she should come live in the concrete jungle and let me have her house 😂

I can't remember the last time I saw a frog. We had a pond and frogs when I was little. I loved the frogspawn.

Sadly, mum was convinced we'd drown in the pond so had it filled in.

@Hedjwitch she sounds a delight! What a cruel and horrible person. I am sure its illegal to kill wildlife like this, if not it bloody well should be. I am hoping that the rule of coming back to you threefold will apply to her. Poor babies.

I know. DD1 who adores the frogs was furious and suggested we round up loads of them and put them through her letterbox to freak her out. If she didnt kill them,I would have done. It would be like Miss Trunchbull in Matilda with the newt!

What about some realistic plastic ones? 😆

Ds used to put realistic plastic spiders in random places to scare us when he was little. The fridge was a favourite place. You had to "scream" appropriately to be rewarded with small child giggles.

salt on slugs? that is a new one. poor things.

Hospital person came home in the early hours after an appropriate timed wait. tests take time, and a lot were needed. They are still not great but GP care. I lost yesterday to sleeping. Not feeling great this morning though. Would seem i have gone down with yet another bug that is going around. <sigh> Next year my immune system will be great.

Hills hope you feel better asap.