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

I have been learning a little - like a pin prick of a scratch of the surface - about chinese herbalism. The knowledge and skill you need to use some of those plants safely is huge. And it is completely fascinating.

queenrollo I agree.
Some years ago I worked in a pharmaceutical testing laboratory, sometimes chinese remedies would come in - many didn't meet requirements although as "food supplements" they were not required to meet pharmaceutical standards.
Often samples would fail the microbial tests, many contained E Coli, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter. Chemical analysis would show up extra ingredients, evidence of decomposition, high insecticide or heavy metal contamination.
And it wasn't just the odd batch- the percentage that were dubious was very high.
Really put me off a lot of herbal medicine. Even if they contain just pure ingredient they can be very powerful, can be toxic, interact with other medications being taken, or have nasty side effects.
Just because something is "natural" doesn't mean it is safe.
Larger UK herbal manufacturers do have their own codes of conduct, so probably safer.
I do use herbs in my own magical practice and healing, but if I am ingesting anything then I need to know how it has been prepared.
I stick to safe items, things I buy as food if I want their medicial effect- fruits, fresh herbs, spices.
Glad you enjoyed the concert queenrollo- I had a quick listen, soounds a bit prog rock?
Just found out that Mike Oldfield has been in my city this week with his 50 year anniversary Tubular Bells Concert- he is still touring the UK.
If I had known I would have gone to see him.
It has been a dark cool day here, the rain has been constant, I am blown away by how beautiful the rain is.
Also found a portion of lentil and tomato soup that was hiding in the back of the freezer, so sitting with a warming bowl as I watch the downpour.

I'm going to do an element banking ritual to make sure one element is not dominating the others In my life. Heaviness normally equates earth so I'll open all the elementals doors.

I love the thought of a warm bowl of soup whilst watching the rain. I love the sound of rain at night. It has been damp and dull here today. I had most of the day off and spent part of it pottering round the charity shops in the ‘naice’ genteel town near us, which also has a great independent supermarket. It was nice to just be free to wander, though now I want the whole week off!

The idea of spending a day looking round charity shops sounds amazing Craftycorvid.
I don't like normal shopping at all- especially for clothes, fires up stress for me.
But whenever I step into my favourite charity shops I suddenly feel so relaxed.
On Saturday I had a great find, lots of Egyptian cotton towels, pure white, thick and super soft and looked brannd new. I bought 4 bath towels - £1 each and 5 hand towels -50p each.
I gave them a good hot wash annd hung them outside to dry in the sun.
I am dispropotionately happy with my purchases!

It’s not something I often get time to do, @speakout - that may be just as well considering how unable to resist a bargain I am! And very well done with your brilliant bargain. 🙂

Thank you all for your kind advice. As suggested in an earlier post I visited a local secondhand bookshop. I had a wonderful hour browsing and found a book on The Goddess Year and some spirit animal cards. I even treated myself to a book on growing herbs and one on gardening.

I have also managed to get book a yoga and sound bath evening tomorrow which sounds intriguing- I just hope I can stay awake as it all sounds very relaxing.

@ISaySteadyOn I really identify with finding the sound of your son gaming online joyful. My 16yo DS struggled with feeling isolated during lockdown and his mental health took quite a dip. After this the sound of enthusiastic happy gaming even at unsociable hours makes my heart soar.

@Hedjwitch I had stubborn eczema for years. It only cleared when I saw a herbalist in desperation when I was trying to conceive. An unexpected but welcome outcome!

Welcome @Sunriseinwonderland. I hope the heaviness lifts a little for you soon. As other posters have said Covid seems to have left lots of difficulties in its wake.

@MoonWitchMom I hope that this next trimester is a little easier than the last now that your sickness has eased.

freckles20 great to hear you found some books.
I find it difficult to suggest books to people, as I don't think there are any absolute " must reads" for a pagan practitioner..

I do think that when we are looking then books find us. I have had books literally jump off the shelf at me.
Although my magical path started as a child, and continued throughout my teenage years it wasn't until I was i my early 20s that I started studying more seriously. The first "deep dive" book I read was The Spiral Dance by Starhawk, which really opened my eyes and set me ablaze with ideas of magic being an ancient craft and deeply embedded in female power.
That book jumped off the shelf in a second hand store, followed by many more.
As a student I worked part time in a Waxworks museum, in a very old creepy building in the Old Town. ( loved that job)
The manager was an occultist, author, very eccentric man..
He had a coven and I was introduced to ceremonial magic.
I also attended a course in astrology ( no internet then), so I had a steep learning curve in my early 20s.
I think it's totally fine to take just a peppering of ideas ad integrate them into your own path. Ceremonial magic is not for me, but I do like some aspects of ritual, and incorporate them into my own practice..

It's super cold here, Jack Frost has been out overnight with his ice graffiti, drawing feathery ice strokes and sigils on my windows.
Looks like a perfect opportunity for ice scrying- not tried that before, but aalways up for a hidden message!

Have a warm day sisters.

Thank you @speakout. The way you and other posters here encourage people to find their own way is really heartening.

I love books and used to devour them at breakneck speed, but recently have found it challenging to concentrate on reading which is such a shame.

I have adhd which I managed fairly well for years but the onset of perimenopause seems to have battered my focus and executive function. I miss reading and am determined to rediscover my inner bookworm.

Your job in a waxwork museum and your eccentric manager sound absolutely fascinating!

Was at a conference in Glasgow today so took the chance to visit Woodland Herbs and stock up. Oooh, what a lovely place!
I then organised my herbery. This is the inside lot. The rest will be in the garden.

Hedjwitch I love your herbery, what a beautiful set of drawers.
I haven't heard of Woodland Herbs in Glasgow, I've had a quick look at their website- looks great, and prices reasonable too.
freckles20 I think the menopause hits many women hard.
But take courage, the view from the other side in post menopause is incredible.
I feel much more stable emotionally, more "integated" if that makes sense, I can see much more deeply and with greater understanding into people and situations.
I think some of the stability comes from not having monthly hormonal shifts and having to operate with a mindset that varies according to the time of the month.
Overall I feel much calmer and grounded as a crone, centering is much easier.
Not having periods too is wonderful.
Yes my time at the waxworks museum was amazing. Just for one summer, the museum was located in a grand house just off the Royal Mile.
For anyone that knows Edinburgh the Old Town is built on a labyrinth of underground dwellings and shops dating back centuries, a bit like Daigon Alley! The museum had a supernatural twist, not focussed on current celebs, but individuals from Edinburghs supernatural and gruesome history.
The dioramas were displayed several floors beneath street level, with sounds, lighting, props, many scenes at every turn- it was very creepy.
The full time staff who worked there would all be wary at working alone after hours- the artist who maintained the exhibits and the security guard had both witnessed ghosts, energies, strange happennings.
Of cource having a manager who was an occultist added to the vibe in the house
He would conduct magical ceremonies, rituals and seances in an upstairs hall,the whole place was ablaze with magical energy.
It's a cold wet day here, just about to have a late breakfast/brunch before starting work.
I need to make love candles today, soon the house will be smelling of hot wax, geranium, rose and ylang ylang.

Have a magical day sisters.

Its very well priced herbal supplier and you can order online too

I love your herbery. It's beautiful.

I wish that just once I could have a fully confident day. It's as though every time I try to be organised and competent and think I've managed it, something has to happen to show me I'm wrong and actually my harsh views of myself of being neither use nor ornament are correct. It's exhausting to feel continually incompetent.

But some seeds are sprouting so there's that.

Thanks. I wish I had a seperate room to keep all my stuff in. Bloody kids need to move out.

Do you keep the herbs in plastic in the drawers or loose? And does humidity levels ever become a problem.

Humidity levels here are such you cannot dry herbs without a dehydrator or using the oven because they would mould first. So as much as i love the look of the wooden drawers, my herbs are savely in jars to help combate the humidity issues.

It looks so pretty

In sealed platic bags in the drawers. Humidity not a problem here

Thanks Hedjwitch, that gives me food for thought.

Good morning sisters. I've been quiet lately because there's a lot going on here and I didn't want to bring these things with me and unsettle the calming energy of the thread.

My husband has just gone down to theatre for his cancer operation. Please could I ask you to keep us in your thoughts and send us positive energy, if you would. The op lasts three hours, so I will be on tenterhooks until I hear from him that's he's OK. I'm going to try to focus on some reading in the meantime and do some laundry - anything to keep my mind occupied.

In the meantime, my alcoholic brother - who I love dearly and have been trying to look out for - has bottomed out again. His condition does seem very serious but he's neck deep in denial, and as long as he remains so there's precisely nothing I can do to help him. Sadly, he's going to have to paddle his own canoe for a while. I don't have the emotional energy to devote to this right now. But I must say his timing's impeccable.

In the meantime, I'm focusing on keeping things calm and normal here for our little boy, whose birthday is in a couple of weeks.

Sending my own positivity to everyone, especially those who need it. And I also love the herbery!

❤

SerafinasGoose I have lit a candle for you and your husband to sennd calm healing energy. I hope the surgery goes smoothly, and you feel a little more relaxed once the procedure is over.
You are very wise to focus on caretaking your own supportive energy.
It is a sad situation with brother, but not one you are responsible for- I am sure he has others in his life and offers of support from other sources, at least during this time.
It's absolutely right that your own and your husband's situation is the priority.
I will be thinking of you, keep us posted, or give a shout out if you need some sisterly support. X

I will try to send some positive energy your way @SerafinasGoose . For me, it will take the form of baking rather than candles but I hope the effect will be similar 🙂.

Also sending positive energy your way @SerafinasGoose

Love and energy coming your way @SerafinasGoose 💙

I too have an alcoholic brother. Sending you much love

Here is love and wishes I could give these to you to help. And positive spring energy.

Thanks for your wonderful supportive messages. I've also kept a candle burning by me all morning and the knowledge that others have done this too brought me great comfort.

Just called the hospital - DH is in recovery now which I'm very relieved to hear. Hopefully it has been caught and now gone - they don't do a radical prostatectomy unless the object is to cure it. Recovery sounds fairly brutal but we shall get through that, just as we got through my spinal surgery last year.

I said to DH yesterday evening that once this was over we'd hopefully be able to put this very difficult period behind us and move on with our lives. We are lucky. My darling Mum who lived 5 weeks after first showing symptoms of a highly aggressive brain tumour, my friend who died in January just 8 weeks after her diagnosis of kidney cancer, my former husband - tragically none of those people had that option.

If we do, I think we can consider ourselves very fortunate.