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 you don't sounds lazy at all, I'm sure having fibro just make everything much tougher for you. Does the teacher know you have it? She should be able to show you how to modify poses so that they work for your body and don't cause you pain. There's a lady at my Pilates class who has it and the instructor always modifies for her (in a lovely discreet way). The dried yarrow powder sounds great, I could with some as I'm always my nicking my legs with my razor! Do you just grind it up?

Voltefarce I used to do Kundalini. I loved the group and the chanting, but found the movements quite painful. I struggle to sit cross legged and a lot of the moves seemed to involve having your arms in the air which hurts my neck. Lovely energy though.

Yes,dry the yarrow then grind it in pestle and mortar. Yarrow oil might be better for leg nicks though as also moisturising. Wilt some fresh yarrow to remove some moisture then pack a sterilised jar two thirds full. Cover with oil of your choice...almond or grapeseed are good. Leave in the sun for several weeks,shaking daily. Then strain. You can also do in a slow cooker for a few hours but you need to keep the heat as low as possible. I prefer the sun method.

You can use the oil as is,or make a salve by adding it to beeswax/shea butter/coconut oil and a few drops of an essential oil such as lavender,calendula,chamomile etc.

Hedjwitch having limitations due to fibro or any other reason isn't an excuse, it's a real thing, and doesn't mean you are failing in any way.
It's a very common or normal thing for students in a yoga class to need adaptations or options for a whole host of reasons, injury, illness, pregnancy, low stamina etc, please don't feel bad.
I am sure your yoga teacher will be fully supportive, and will suggest options to help you. Most of my classes have some students that are taking easier options or using equipment- chairs, blocks or belts.
Yoga isn't about working through pain or pushing past an uncomfortable place, in fact quite the opposite- yoga teaches us to listen to and respect our body. You can take a child's or resting pose at any time.
Even old hand yogis need easier options sometimes, we alll get ill at times.
I have been working with a block for the past few months because my left knee is causing me pain. It is improving, but there is no shame in working at your own level. No matter how expert, bendy or strong someone is there will always be someone fitter.
And that's fine- they are no better or worthier just because they can stand on their heads.

I hve my full moon ceremony soon, I have had to cancel the last two due to family emergencies and illness. So I am really looking forward to this time.
I need to remember some insect repellent- last summer the midges were brutal at dusk, and had dozens off bites on my face and body.
I usually use lemongrass, but if anyone has a recipe or recommendation I would be grateful.
The ceremony is held in a place surrounded by thick woodland, in a beautiful garden containing standing stones. Owls and wood pigeons call and bats swoop to eat the flying insects.
I am so excited.

Speakout I make a spray to keep midges at bay. Mix a few drops of lemongrass, peppermint and eucalyptus oil with some filtered water and witch hazel. It really effective, I spray it on myself and also round the house.

My moon circles haven't started up again this summer which is a real shame. I know the organiser was looking for somewhere new to hold them. I hope you enjoy yours, there's something very special about being in a circle of like minded women.

I make a similar spray with citronella essential oil as well as some of Violet's options. You can use vodka instead of water too for an antiseptic element.

The yarrow salve sounds really useful. Do you grow the yarrow yourself @Hedjwitch ? If so, is it hard to grow and can it be grown in a pot?

I really would like to learn more about salves, and tinctures and infusions but I feel I don't really have the right spaces to make them.

OTOH, DD is so much happier and is starting to be able to do some schoolwork on her own that I might be able to have the mental space to figure out how to work with the physical space limitations.

@VioletCharlotte a moot is a social gathering for Pagans and sympathisers. The one I went to yesterday was just a social with coffee and cake - people talk about what they are learning and doing, and also ask others what their take on something magical might be. It used to be the case that moots tended to be in dingy back rooms in pubs but, possibly as a result of social distancing, and possibly as fewer people actually want to be in pubs these days, more moots happen in coffee shops and the like. I did too much sitting about, though!

Today, exercise of some sort, henna-ing my hair and trying to look organised. Happy bank holiday Sunday, one and all.

Thanks for the recipes to ward off the insects- I have all those oils to hand, so will make myself a spray. They are a nuiscance, but I love that they attract bats, makes our sacred space even more magical.

I am glad your daughter is feeling happier ISaySteadyOn it must be a weight lifted for you too. x

Hedjwitch sorry, I missed your post. Thank you for the yarrow suggestion. I'm going to give it a go. I love a bit of potion making!

Isaysteadyon I'm so pleased your DD is happier and home schooling is working for you both.

Craftycorvid thank you, I wondered whether there was any ritual involved but sounds like a moot is more of a social occasion with other like minded souls...sounds good to me, especially when coffee and cake is involved.

The weather is amazing here again today. Im sitting in the garden, soaking up the solar energy, it's so good to feel some warmth on my skin. I'm seeing some friends this afternoon for a catch up which will be lovely. My popular demand, I'm baking some lemon and lavender cookies. I made them a few years ago and everyone liked them so much, they've become my signature baked goods!

Yarrow grows wild in the garden and spreads rapidly. I'm sure it would be fine in a pot. Calendual is also excellent in a skin salve. Infuse the oil as before then combine into a salve( or just use as an oil)

Avon Skin so Soft is a very effective insect repellent.

VioletCharlotte your cookies sound delicious. I am no baker, but very fond of floral tastes in food.
I love turkish delight, rose or violet creams.
One dessert I do make- athough no cooking required is a platter of peeled and sliced oranges marinaded in rose or orange flower water, drizzled with honey, scattered pistachios, dusted with cinnamon, and a big bowl of creme fraiche in the middle for all to share. Works really well after a main course of tagine or morrocan dish.

BeautifulDayintheneighbourhood thanks for that reminder! I had forgotten about the Avon Skin so fresh- and I swore by it for years. How did I not remember that! It's the blue fragrance if I remember that correctly I will order some today- yes it works really well- no harm in doubling up on everything!

In the garden reading this. Love it.

Oops, forgot photos

Ahhhh found you again.

Hello all, just popping in to say 'Good morrow and merry meet' before I attempt to catch up with threads.
Life has been a whirlwind since January. I won't go into all of it because it's such a beautiful Bank Holiday morning, it's good to be back. 

Hello specially to those I remember:

@speakout @VioletCharlotte @queenrollo @HillsBesideTheSea @Probablymagrat @Hedjwitch (were you formerly dementedma?)
Also Emma, but unsure if you've changed your name.

hello there @GenExer!

Oh this Covid flattened us! Today is the first day I have felt ok on waking. Helped that it's also the first night in a week I actually slept well.
Unfortunately still testing positive and so annoyed as I had lots of Bank Holiday plans!

I was formerly dementedma

Hey Genexer good to see you again 😊 Hope you're enjoying the Bank Holiday, we're blessed with the weather ☀️ I'm sunbathing in my garden again. I picked up a rattan sun lounger on Facebook Marketplace for £20, what a bargain!

Speakout that desert sounds good. I'm not keen on oranges, but I think it would work well with peaches or nectarines. I've screenshot your post and saved it as a reminder.

Sorry to hear you've had Covid Queenrollo it really does take it out of you. I had it back in March, it took me a good few weeks to get my energy levels back so go easy on yourself. Frustrating to have all your plans cancelled 😞 I hope you feel better soon.

Hedjwitch thank you for the book suggestion, I've just added it to my ever growing Amazon reading list.

Well today me and DS are negative but DH is still positive and he was the first one to come down with it!
Unfortunately at some point yesterday I lit some incense and then went back to relight it, because it had obviously gone out. Actually not - but all of sudden I have no smell or taste. I can distinguish sweet or salty, and anything else is just a non-descript texture in my mouth. I feel really glum about this, as I already have such little appetite lately and not being able to smell or taste food takes any small pleasure out of eating.
I am hoping this repairs itself quickly, my reading says it can take 2 weeks for the olfactory cells affected to start to rebuild and can be much longer for 'normality' to return.
Trying very hard not to let this trigger a low mental health episode, but honestly feeling a bit 'what's the point?' with regard to having a happy and fulfilled life when the universe seems to repeatedly conspire against me.

queenrollo I am glad you are on the mend, sorry to hear about your taste and smell loss. I hope it comes back soon.

I sometimes think "what's the point", but then we are here, there may be no point, but we have a ticket anyway, so may as well enjoy the ride.

Hi I’m not sure if you remember me I was here a couple of months ago. Life got in the way and I dropped off the thread, but I’m hopefully back to stay. I’m not sure if you remember but I posted here before about my MIL being a bit rude about us possibly having another boy (I’m pregnant with DC2). Well we found out that we are having another boy and I am absolutely over the moon!!. We’re keeping it a surprise from the family until he’s born still but we’re super happy.

I hope everyone is okay. I will read through when I get the chance.

Congratulations! I hope you are feeling ok ; how far along are you?🙂

Lovely to see you again MoonWitchMom, and delighted to hear your happy news. My mother was the same when my son was born- we didn't want to know the sex before he was born, but she expressed disappointment when he arrived.
In my book the sex of a baby or a child is way down the list of what is important.
The characteristics of a baby are far more important than their sex chromosomes. Babies can be cuddly or not, noisy or calm chill or energetic, all unrelated to sex.
My DS was the cuddly one, the dreamer, my DD was the one charging about and climbing trees. Children are easy to love- no matter what!
It's a cooler day today, although hopefully dry, I have laundry to do. I am a bit of a yoga bug at the moment, six classes in the past seven days, off to another this morning. I am so lucky to have inexpensive classes running so close to my home.

I am working today, but I may see if I can book a hair trim this afternoon, not an experience I enjoy too much, but I need dry ends chopped off. OH has a day off work today, he flies to London tomorrow and back Sunday ( work),he usually does a lot of chores over the weekend, so I will be holding the fort.
I have my full moon women's circle on Sunday evening, I can't wait. I have my Avon spray for the midges.

It is so strange to me how important the sex seems to be to some people. With all 3 DC, sonographers seemed very surprised that we didn't want to know the sex.

I hope you have a lovely time at your women's circle, @speakout .

I am in the midst of a more difficult version of the moon. I think as I have gotten older, my cramps have gotten worse. Has this happened to any of you?