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

hedjwitch i have that book on my bookshelf but not had change to read it yet. Is it an easy read language and sentence construction wise or academic?

Welcome Weefreelass

After the drama of earlier this week a friend has taken it upon themselves to get me out of the house and walking the last few days. I have to admit it may have taken a bit of persausion to move me from a comfy spot on the sofa with a craft project but it has been nice to be out and about. Struggling with lingering impacts of stress but the walking does help. I wish the rain would calm so that the hills would dry out and be less up to you knees in mud swampy mess that they are currently. As pretty as they are cold wet mud can take a chunk out of the enjoyment, not to mention the clean up process...

Hills its quite academic I find with masses of historical information to set the scene and give context. Fascinating,but I can only do it in small chunks.

Evening all, I've name changed from WiccanWonderer, don't know why exactly but I wasn't happy with my choice.

Hello Weefreelass 👋

I am in England and wish I was in Scotland. Or Norfolk. Anywhere wild and free with a big open view of the sea 🌊

Oh and yes please to some fruitcake!

You are all so lovely and wise 💙 thank you for thoughts and wishes, it means a lot and it helps. I'm still feeling very raw and shocked, and in that phase of stunned grief where I am wondering what the point of anything is if we all die in the end anyway and we have no clue what's round the next corner for us. I know it will pass and I'd still choose a life of love and grief than a life without love, but fuck, it hurts :(

Seem to be either sprinting around doing stuff or crashed out sleeping - sat on the bed earlier to change my socks for slippers and woke up 2.5 hours later 😳 trying to remember that my body knows what I need and apparently at the moment, sleep and nourishing food is what it's craving. Don't have much concentration span but am trying to remember to journal when I can because words and water are my highest magic - and one or the other usually helps when I am low.

Welcome @WeeFreeLass - do I spy another Pterry fan? Tiffany and Granny Weatherwax are firm role models for me, among others. My book friends are just as real as my human ones 😂 your description of "solitary grumpy ditch witch" made me smile for the first time today, thank you!

@HazelTheGreenWitch loving the new name too. You're always welcome to visit my little coastal bit of north Essex - it's not quite as dramatic as Norfolk but it's beautiful!

Love to you all, sisters - I'm always grateful for this little pocket of the internet but never more than right now.

How lovely to check into this thread and find lovely supportive and interesting chat. I am scanning my bookshelves- I quite like the Pagan Portals series by Moon books. They are small and easy to digest, and present one deity or subject - good bitesize.
I am halfway through reading Hagitude at the moment, it's a juiicy one- a celebration of the menopause and beyond.
I had a difficult day yesterday, an ongoing situation that is really hard and I can't fix, just have to make sure it doesn't impact me too much. Mostly I do well, but I often stumble. But my DD came over for lunch, then she took me shopping, which was lovely. Her energy is very infectious.
I was asleep by 9pm last night, so I am up well before dawn this morning, and surprised to see a thick layer of snow has fallen overnight, crisply lit by a bright waning moon and a temperature of minus 5.
My melancholy of yesterday has lifted and I look forward to a gentle but productive day. I will start with a mini facial after my shower, my skin always feels so dry in winter. I love to put my clothes on the radiator before I shower, a gift to my future self.
I smiled yesterday as I watched my daughter reverse into her parking space at the supermarket instead of driving forward, making it easier when she leaves. She turned and said to me " A gift to my future self"- a phrase I have used for years, and now she does too.
The moon transits scorpio today, giving us insight into the deeper layers and complexities of situations, but a tricky aspect between Mercury ( currently retrograde) and Mars may lead us to feel a little impatient with others.
I hope everyone finds a little sparkle of magic today.

Your daughter sounds fabulous Speakout, and very wise to reverse park. I always reverse park too as you never know what additional challenges your future self will have to face. (In this case, it's usually people parked badly, or delivery vans!).

Hilariousnamehere sending love your way today 💚Hopefully you'll get some bright sunny weather and can go for a walk in nature, the sunlight might help your body (and spirit) a little.

Thank you for the warm welcomes, and the comfy chair by the fire 😊

I've been reading through the last thread,and I'm sorry that so many of you have been having such a hard time of it . I wish you all.strength to get through, and may you find joy each day in the small things. 🌹

A few folk know that I'm a witch, and seem to be under the impression that we witches live a charmed (😹) life, wafting around in blissed out magical serenity while life's troubles pass us by.
I wish 😹😹

Yes, I'm a huge fan of Sir Terry, and aspire to be Esme Weatherwax, but have more than a bit of Nanny Ogg and embarrassing elements of Magrat ! I did have a Greebo, he's sadly passed on at the age of 20. Much missed, I still have three cats remaining.

I'm just having a cuppa before tackling my long list of things to do today. It's a beautiful day, but bitterly cold and icy. As I'm not too steady on my legs I can ignore the outside stuff that I actually want to do, and stay in. I'm motivating myself by calling the batch cooking " Kitchen witchery" and the housework " house cleansing " . Then reward myself with " knot magic " , crochet and another ritual cuppa 😸

Welcome to newcomers!

Heilung were magnificent. I have to say that due to a combination of factors I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped. And I did have a moment of deep sadness when I realised that me standing at the back feeling a disconnect from the performance was a million miles from how the 'real' me used to enjoy gigs - down the front completely lost in the performance and part of a unified crowd.
It's a ritual rather than a gig and certainly for me was revelatory.
Even my DH who is completely non-spiritual has said this morning that having slept on it it was an 'experience' and something remarkable.
But we agreed if I go to see them again I should do it alone or with like-minded friends so I can dress up and really immerse myself in the experience.

I also really struggled to keep up with DH walking around London and even through the hotel. I couldn't catch my breath, and talking was hard. I was thinking to myself 'I didn't realise I was THIS unfit' but this morning I have woken with a cough and a telltale 'sore' feeling in my lungs, and now I realise that my utter exhaustion the last week or so has probably been because I have been fighting an infection.

So, it's gentle days for me this week. I must rest and nurture myself.

Weefreelass I like your style! I will (unfortunately) have to undertake some 'house cleansing' this week too.

Sorry to hear you are poorly Queenrollo, I hope you can rest and recover.

queenrollo how seasons change within life.
I have never been a fan of crowds even when I was younger, although I have attended a good number of concerts, festivals and gigs.
Now it is mostly the odd visit to the theatre or a dance show.
It is interesting how you talk of ritual in a crowd with others, experiencing a collective energy. I feel this with yoga, one class in particular, a bunch of us who have been practicing for years, the power created when we move and breath in unison is tangible. Yoga is a magical practice for me.
I am sorry to hear you are under the weather- and wise to rest and care for yourself.

Greetings sisters and welcome @WeeFreeLass , the fruitcake was 👌

Queenrollo I'm glad you enjoyed the gig, it sounds like an amazing experience. I agree that it's best to go with others who appreciate them as much as you, I never enjoy it as much otherwise as you're constantly checking that the other person is ok. Still, it was good of your DH to go with you if it's not really his thing! I agree, that there's nothing like the energy of being in the midst of a crowd (as long as it's the right kind of energy, otherwise it can be pretty scary!). Sorry you're feeling unwell, hope you feel better after some rest.

Speakout I smiled at your post as I do the 'gifts for my future self too'. I find it's a good way of making myself get those annoying little jobs done (filling up with petrol is a common one!) Your DD sounds lovely, a real blessing to you. Sadly, I'm finding lately that both of my DS drain my energy and it's me that has to keep trying to lift them. No fault of there own, DS1 struggles with mental health and DS2 has been suffering badly with a health condition, just how it is. I loved the way you described the snow, I can picture it. I don't think we're going to get any here, but it's turned really cold again, done to minus 5 I believe tonight.

Hilariousnamehere I understand that feeling of wondering what the point is. I think it's very common to dwell on our own mortality and the meaning of life in general when someone we love passes, especially in an instance like this when it happened so suddenly. It's part of the process of grieving and coming to terms with what hell ended. Just sit with the feelings and see what comes up. I can't remuer if you journal, but it might really help you to get your thoughts down on paper. Sending you lots of love and a big hug 🥰

Hazelthegreenwitch I love the new name!
*
Hills I'm glad your friend managed to persuade you to get out for a walk and you feel a little bit better for it. Like you, I'm looking forward to dryer weather and less mud! I've agreed to do the Moon Walk in London in May (26m) so I need to get out walking longer distances more regularly. I'm waiting for some new boots to arrive. I've ordered some of the 'barefoot' style boots - have any of you tried them? They're meant to be great for your feet and also back pain, etc. I'm interested to see what they're like!
*

VioletCharlotte barefoot shoes are worth every penny in my opinion, during the summer I live in mine, they are like lightweight trainers. I had knee and toe pain and changed all my shoes to ones that give my toes room (barefoot is my ideal but would cost a fortune to have multiple pairs) and the pain improved dramatically.

Barefoot witch here...actually bare foot.
I hate wearing shoes and spend most of the summer barefoot where I can. By the time autumn comes round the soles of my feet are as tough as old boots and my toes have spread out so that my shoes pinch when I start wearing them again.
i love sitting with my feet in our wee pond and the tadpoles nibble them. It's deliciously tickly.

Good evening, all! Scented candle and incense on the go. I’ll bring the cake. Hope you are all looking after yourselves. The wild winds over the weekend certainly kept me awake but now it’s actually feeling more like January weather. It’ll be Imbolc before we know it!

We were NEVER allowed to be barefoot as kids. shoes on for the garden, wellies on for the beach. I like my little pumps and basic trainers, I just wish that they didn't shape shoes to turn up at the toes. I walk flat, but am not flat footed and the upturn is most disconcerting and annoying. Made trying to get a pair of walking boots a night mare, and still not broken them in because i prefer my flat ball to toe shoes. I have been known to bounce through the hills at speed in ballet pumps in the past. Apparently it is quite a sight Although i am hoping that the walking boots will allow me to get out sooner in the season.

Another barefooter here.
I have always had a love affair with my feet, never worn damaging shoes, and as a result have perfect feet even though I am in my crone years.
I love barefoot, but my feet feel the cold, so mostly in thick socks and crocs, wide fitting boots when I go out.
I don't go along with the idea of feet needing "support" in shoes.
Our species evolved barefoot, I think that wearing supportive shoes makes the foot lazy, the arch loses its natural strength.
A bitterly cold day here, the snow has not melted from yesterday, and a hard frost has made for an icy start.
I was booked for yoga at 8am in the next town a few miles away, but the (country) roads are black ice and I can't face de icing my car. so early
So I have cancelled and have a cosy practice at home this morning instead.

"Someone is coming"
Said the garden gate
"With bare brown feet"
Said the grass
" Her small cold hands"
Said the kitchen door
" are welcome on the latch"

Alex Anderson

Lots of love for being bare foot! I think it's so important to connect with the earth and feel the ground between our feet. Walking on grass or sand always feels like a massage, but not so practical for hiking though or walking in urban areas! These are the boots I've ordered, the reviews are excellent and they're significantly cheaper than some of the brands. I'll report back

I cannot cope with being barefoot! I even struggle in the summer when it's sandals without socks.
I can strip them off to stand on the grass for grounding but I can't walk around barefoot at all.

Though we are big fans here of barefoot shoes, mainly because when my youngest DS was born with clubfoot I really started looking into foot development and health. It's a real fallacy that children with this condition need solid, supportive footwear (unless there are joint issues that require it) and our physio team were so on board with my approach. Only once after a surgery did they request he wore rigid boots with a high ankle and the poor boy looked like he was walking on the moon he was so fettered by these huge things!

I'm making a soup for dinner this evening and adding lots of ingredients and intention to heal our lungs, all three of us have some kind of chest ailment at the moment.
It's bitterly cold here today and the chance to stay close to the Rayburn is most welcome.

I want to thank you Weefreelass for changing the way I think about housework... I've genuinely started thinking of it as decluttering my mind and cleansing my space, and I feel much more enthusiastic about it now!

Hazelthegreenwitch in some of the earlier threads there's lots of discussion about reframing housework and making it magical. Laundry witching is another one, putting essential oils in the powder drawer, whispering intentions into the wind as you hand it out to dry, sprinkling in some love as you fold it and put it away. A little witching makes chores so much more enjoyable!

I agree about housework, a spoonful of sugar does help.
Life is too short to carry out housework with a grudge or bad feeling.
A long as others are carrying their load then it is possible to find pleasure in most chores.
VioletCharlotte you mentioned laundry- my favourite task, for all the reasons you say, especially during the warmer months when I can hang out to dry.
Putting away laundry is my latest success, always with a candle, and some affirmations or music. I have been using Marie Kondo type folding, there are actually some better folding techniques I have found, it's all quite playful.
I am trying to find joy in emptying the dishwasher, I think it's a noise thing- the clattering of plates and cutlery is quite jarring.
Thankfully that is usually OHs job, he loads and runs it in the evening and empties it in the morning before going to work in the morning, so I can usually dodge that task. He is in Ireland for a week at the moment, so falls to me.
The snow from last Friday is still lying here, temperatures have barely risen above freezing all week, and dip very low during the night.

Hello everyone I hope it's ok that a join you all? I'm both surprised and grateful to have found these threads on mumsnet! 💜
Sorry to start with this but I could really use some advice/insight into something I'm struggling with and to find out if anyone else has experienced this and how they dealt with it.
I have always had a deep interest in witchcraft and the natural world and I have been a practicing witch for almost a year (I suppose I would be called a "baby witch") although I have dabbled on and off since childhood.
During this last year I have been in treatment for alcoholism which thankfully I am now recovering from (yay!). Part of the treatment is involvement in an AA program and growing a connection with my higher power/god.
I have always had a feeling of there being something bigger than me from a very early age, I was never brought up religious but I went to Christian schools (out of convenience), I was in the school choir so spent a lot of time in churches etc so I guess there was some type of indoctrination that has gotten into my mind..my idea of God has somehow been confused with the Christian view of God and a mix of a whole oneness that we are all part of, mother nature, the universe as a whole etc.. I prefer the latter.. I feel love and connection when i think of this God yet feel a sense of fear when I think of the Christian version.
Because of AA this connection to God has strengthened, this is a good thing, it helps keep me sober 😉
Lately, I have been looking into christianity (which started out as pure curiosity) and now have become fearful that I'm "wrong", im living wrongly, witchcraft is wrong etc and I have a huge inner conflict happening.
I was happy before this. Life was light and bright before this..I felt at one with everything. The God of my understanding is loving, giving, forgiving and understanding, has a sense of humor and a lightness about him. Yet the Christian god.. well he scares me! It's a feeling of not being able to live up to those expectations and that I'm bad.. a sinner and im wrong in every way! Not loved and guided like I felt before.
The other day I felt like I had to get rid of all my herbs and books etc and I felt so sad.. I have spoken to someone about this today and although it was good to get it off my chest it hasnt really helped.

I'm so sorry for the essay and coming into your thread like this, but I'd really like some help so I have gone out on a bit of a limb and laid it all out there to gather some perspective. I know no one can tell me what to believe but I'm at a cross roads and need help in deciding what direction I'm going to take from here.

Thank you all 💜