Any Witches Here?- Part 18

[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

www.mumsnet.com/talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/4598225-any-witches-here-part-17?page=40&reply=122990208

Craftycorvid thanks for understanding. Yes I have had the conversation about birds with my mother many many times, bought feeding equipment for her and food, she nods in agreement but then the next day I see large bits of cake on the lawn.
I think you are right- in her mind "feeding the birds" is a good thing to do, and she sees me as preventing her from being kind.
She does similar with my cats too- buys very cheap spam type meat for them and feeds them in her bedroom. One of my cats in particular has a sensitive stomach and will vomit if given such ( very salty) foods. Again I have explained, suggested she can be responsible for feeding them at certain times, but she ignores me. Again the same dynamic- she is feeding the cats treats- a "good" thing and I am trying to stop her - a "nasty" thing.
It's all very trying. She has a busy social life, out most days seeing friends, but this feeding thing is wearing me down. I have overheard her on the phone to friends and my sister telling them "speakout has forbidden me to feed the birds- so they will just have to go hungry"

I also appreciate your wisdom about having a fallow period for a while, allowing time for germination, and beibg a little easier on myself. I will go off to yoga this morning- hopefully that will salve my spirit.

Hello, can I join? I've been lurking for a while. I identify as a pagan, do a little bit of tarot, try to have a bit of magic everyday, and connect with nature as much as possible. I don't do spells as such, but meditate a bit. So I'm not really a witch.

Greetings all.

@SerafinasGoose I’m so pleased that the bad news has a great deal of good to it. I hope it is dealt with swiftly and life can resume for you both now the limbo of uncertainty begins to lift.

I have just survived another Ofsted so have entered the half term frazzled. I decided it was a good time to begin with Lenormand cards and they may have come into my life at the right time. My first readings this evening have seemingly been a great deal of unsought for shadow work on work. I was treated quite badly at other schools and it seems I am carrying that baggage and letting it limit me and make me scared. I didn’t ask for the shadow work. It was just there. I need to let go and trust the people I work with now. I wonder what lessons the cards have for me over the following days! I didn’t buy them for shadow work but to look to the future. Perhaps we have to clear the debris before we can see the road?

A warm welcome Nellieinthebarn, glad you have joined us. Many of us here are not witches or don't identify as such, and that is perfectly ok.
You will find like minded people here, so take a cosy spot by the fire.

I still have a fug that has been weighing me down for most of this week, I am trying to be patient and give it some gentle persuasion to move along,

Hello all. A gift from the Goddess today. Spring is coming.

Hedjwitch that's so beautiful, I was searching the internet for an uplifting place for my emotions, and of course it is here.
A really sombre zeitgeist around here at the moment. A huge funeral for a firefighter who lost his life in a large city entre building. A video I saw of the fire last week was a harrowing scene of the firefighter being pulled out of the smoke and heat by his brave colleagues. Everywhere I turn seems to be more coverage of the events and funeral.
I am feeling a little fragile this week anyway, I was listening to my car radio and of course the news about the funeral. I burst into tears as I was driving thinking of the pain and sorrow of his family and young children. A huge affair in the centre of the town today, with hundreds of firefighters, thousands of public attending and lining the streets as he was taken into the cathedral.
I don't know why this has touched me so deeply, it is quite overwhelming.
I have decided to watch no more coverage, and settled down with a coffee and an uplifting book.
I have also thrown together a random soup, I had an assortment of things in the fridge that had to be used up, a couple of carrots, onion, leek, garlic, tomatoes, celery, turnip. I will add a can of canellini beans towards the end of cooking to add some protein.
Have a magical day sisters.

I'm glad the flower helped...allow me to send another. Yes,the firelighters funeral is terribly sad. Dds friend is a " firey" and the thought of her being in these sort of situations really brings it home.
Soup here too - red pepper and tomato- so there is choice for those coming in from the cold.

Went for a wonderful walk by the canal, our bit goes past a lake, saw canada geese, the heron and a couple of moor hens. The sun was hitting the water just right so I could see the little fish that live in the deeper bit of the old lock. I think they are roach. Masses of snow drops and crocus, and a very few brave wild daffodils are just showing yellow. Spring is springing here!

Crocuses just starting to show their heads,here up North.Daffodils not yet.

I am in the South West, so its a bit warmer here. The wild daffs are a bit earlier than the cultivated one I think.

I am loving to hear all these descriptions of spring. Things are a bit later in the North, but there are lots of little signs that spring is coming, new little shoots, buds forming. I may start some annual seeds this weekend to get a head start. We can very often still get overnight temperatures below freezing here until early may, our growing season is a bit shorter.
I may try growing potatoes in pots this year I had been thinking about that for a week or so, and happened to tune into a radio program this morning giving details.
I have grown potatoes and other root crops in the past, harvesting them feel like finding hidden treasure!

I love unearthing potatoes. As you say, just like treasure. The wildflowers I sowed before Christmas are good strong seedlings desperate to be potted on, but still too much risk of frost. I love seeing the signs of the earth beginning to awaken. If you stand barefoot in the soil you can feel life stirring and stretching sleepily.
No sign of the frogs yet. Still too chilly for them

Speakout that's sad news about the firefighter. I don't know why somethings seem to hit so really hard emotionally, even though awful things happen all the time. I'm feeling fragile this week too so sending solidarity.

I've got an issue with a colleague at the moment which is getting me down. It's unusual for me as I don't normally let people get to me, but she feels like a real thorn in my side, I can feel my hackles going up every time I see her name on an email or see her on a Teams call. I'm not quite sure how to deal with it as its making me tetchy and defensive. Anyone got a good banishing spell?! 🤣

Trenzalor good news about the ofsted. I hope you've managed to get some rest over half term. I had to Google Lenormand cards. Very interesting about the shadow work - I think there's always more to be done!

VioletCharlotte I sorry to hear you are feeling a little fragile this week too.
I can appreciate your feeling at work, it does seem challenging. Difficult situations can be hard to work through and can cause us to have doubts within ourselves. Even when we are strong women we are open to new ideas which will cause us to have self reflection or doubt. Our spidey senses are usually accurate in my experience..
Maybe a frozen spell or a reutrn to sender working may help?

@VioletCharlotte I had to put a parent in the fridge before half term. It was a last resort for my mental health. I wrote their name on a piece of paper, folded it three times away from me and put it in water and froze it. It just gets space between you.

Trenzalor I smiled at the idea of putting a parent in the fridge- absolutely has to be done sometimes!!

Trenzalor that really made me laugh! Can I ask what the outcome was?

I'm feeling a little calmer now and reflecting on how best to handle the situation. She not a bad person, she's pretty troubled, has some mental health issues (my spidey senses tell me these are more severe than she would like to admit) and is fairly young (well, early 30's which is young to me). I actually feel sorry for her and have tried to support her in the past. Just lately though, her issues around needing to be in control are manifesting themselves as over confidence, controlling behaviour, passive aggressiveness. I think she may see me a threat somehow as we seem to clash over everything.

I'm going to spend some time thinking carefully about what outcome I want to achieve before doing any spell work. I think a return to sender spell could work. Also some work in my own resilience.

Thank you, posting on here has really helped me to make sense of my thoughts 🙏

@VioletCharlotte i think I managed to put her feelings in the freezer rather than her and it seemed to work. The ice block is staying in there for now though!

I don't know why, but everything is wrong in my household today.

Hazel, very unsettled here today with lots of dark feelings of foreboding. I have been in bed sleeping a lot and feel very out of sorts

@Hedjwitch same here. Have really struggled with MH today.

HazelTheGreenWitch Hedjwitch Trenzalor I have been feeling this way too, lots of dark thoughts, high anxiety, unsettled, feelings of loss and worry about the future. I have been trying hard to shift my mood along, but I feel quite stuck. Every day this week has felt like groundhog day. Even on youtube and Netflix I have found myself watching dark content, tsunami and nuclear power accidents etc.. I know this content is probably not helpful, but I am strangely drawn at the moment.
I a trying to be patient, and I often sit in my shadows, often to heal, but I think my low mood has outstayed its welcome.
Supermarkets don't help me either- my nearest ones a large Morrisons and Aldi have had no fresh tomatoes for a week- of any variety, just rows of empty boxes.
Something we all take for granted, and we eat a lot of tomatoes as a family, it worries me more than it should. I feel all that is wrong with the world, I read of huge profits that oil and gas companies are making yet people are stuggling to stay warm or afford to feed themselves.
It feels like something is broken and worry it will get worse.
I am sorry to bring anyone's mood down here, but recent years have shown me that it is better to be curious even when we are in a low state.
I am about to embark on a few months of talking therapy, I have an intake appointment soon.
I also have a craft project to start, a new book of shadows, which will be a form of a life manual, or a toolkit for my mind. Often when I am struggling I actually forget the things that help me, my mind goes a blank, but truth is I have lots of techniques and activities that are really effective. But not always available to me, they become just out of reach, it is so strange, and then I will remember - like have a herbal bath, plant some seeds, listen to one of my uplifing playlists.
When I am dwelling in my limbic brain my higher brain seems cut off, the sensible one who can guide me through challenging times.
I have a couple of lovely blank books, and want the pages to be graphic and illustrated. I have been collecting scraps, images, cards, pages from old books and magazines, have paints, pens, fabric and glues, so may spend some time today going through my materials, cutting out images and finding what inspires.
I also want different sections, one will be called Wolf Wood, another Glamour Magic, one with a theme of food, festivals, tarot, yoga and others.
Hopefully it will be a helpful tool kit to pick up when I do feel stuck.
I had attempted one before, but that turned more into a written journal.
I want the power of images in this latest project.
I also have my DD coming over today, which will be lovely- her washing machine is broken and she has a huge pile of laundry. The village next to me has outdoor washing machines and tumble driers which are open 24/7, so hopefully get everything washed and dried quickly.
I hope everyone finds the energy and light they need today.

My DS was chatting to me the other day and then asked me to look out the window at a beautiful bird in the trees by our drive. We spent a little time with the binoculars and the internet and identified it as a mistle thrush. There were actually two of them.
I sit in this room a lot and so I see the comings and going of the wildlife outside. We have a huge patch of ivy growing on that side of the house and it is home to many sparrows. But over the last few days I have watched the mistle thrush going in and out so it's obviously nesting in there too.
We are very excited by this.
The ivy actually needs taking back down below the roofline but my usual people didn't respond to my calls and of course now we have to wait until nesting season is over. It's not ideal as the ivy damages the slates.

I have injured my neck somehow, a deep inside muscle spasm and so I may have to switch my PT session this week to a sports physio one instead. Fortunately my PT is qualified for both!

I went out on Friday night to see Elvana - a Nirvana tribute band fronted by a (not really) Elvis impersonator. Amazing musicians, but all very tongue in cheek so it was an absolute joy to watch!

I am also starting a new journal @speakout but mine is on Tarot. I also have the intent of using images as a huge part of it.

it has been recommended to grow tomatoes and cucumbers this year as they are likely to be in short supply due to commercial greenhouse heating costs. A cucumber like market more will happily grow outside after June win this country.

I too am worried about the future. I had an inkling of the pandemic coming (although I didn’t know what was exactly coming then) as I tried to buy extra canned food and made sure to visit relatives beforehand. I guess we will see what comes. At least we have our connection here and the 8pm candles to keep us going.

What is shadow work Speakout? As a hedge witch I dont fo much in the way of tarot or spells,and always happy to learn.

Had a dreadful sleepless night so hoping an icy dunk in the sea will recharge me