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Philosophy/religion

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Any Witches Here?- Part 19

995 replies

speakout · 12/07/2023 17:23

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 18th 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

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/4717929-any-witches-here-part-18?page=1

Page 40 | Any Witches Here?- Part 17. | Mumsnet

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 an...

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
96
natura · 15/10/2023 08:39

Thank you so much, @HillsBesideTheSea, @EmmaEmerald, @ISaySteadyOn - what a warm welcome!

I was delighted yesterday evening, after feeling a sudden early-morning pull to finally start my vegetable garden that I've been thinking about for weeks, to discover that it was a new moon. Unwittingly, I had gone straight for lettuces and greeny leafy veg... The things we know without knowing that we know them...

@HillsBesideTheSea I think initially I'm most interested in growing with the moon, and in cultivating herbs and plants to use for energy and healing. I'd like to understand which plants to grow for emotional and energetic purposes, and the stories and lore that underpin them. I've been eyeing Fiz Inkwright's books, so it's great to see them recommended here!

@ISaySteadyOn congratulations on your rosemary! It's clearly in the right hands with you 😍I'll check out Plant Witchery – I think you're right that an encylopaedia format would be a helpful starting point, to see where I'm drawn to.

It's so interesting to read your discussions on winter depression and SAD.

I'm almost experiencing the opposite. Here where I live, I'm feeling utterly discombobulated by knowing the season is changing without seeing or feeling it – the weather is just so hot and stifling, and yet I can feel myself trying to shift into an autumnal emotional stage. Everything in me is pulling toward grounding and moving inward, but the intensity of the sun is making it so challenging. It feels as though there's a new chapter calling me toward it but I simply can't get there – like I'm stuck in time.

Hedjwitch · 15/10/2023 09:30

The rosemary in my garden is now a pretty large shrub. No matter how much I cut it back it just keeps growing! I wish I could find more uses for it: i have a muscle rub, mouthwash, hair oil and a tincture but that doesnt use much. I like to burn some when I have a fire in the garden as it smells lovely and cleansing.

Craftycorvid · 15/10/2023 10:16

Morning all! I’ve been feeling comforted and uplifted by reading all your posts. The instinct to nest is an interesting one, isn’t it? I’ve been on a tidying crusade at home, prompting Mr C for the first time ever in our long relationship to exclaim ‘please stop dusting!!’ We’ve had our front door professionally sanded and oiled ready for winter - it looks great but the dust….the dust…I really was not prepared. And that fresh dust landed on older dust that had started to gather a long time ago. I realise the house is like neglected parts of me; I was hyper-focussed on my work and heading towards burnout back in June this year - as long as I kept going I, well, kept going. I was not only neglecting to clean and tidy my home, I was neglecting many parts of myself - especially the parts needing quiet, rest and headspace. Living alone for several months whilst Mr C was in hospital was hardly the ideal way to achieve enlightenment but it worked. The tidying and sorting process is a way for me to journal using my surroundings. I pick up that heap of paperwork and sort through it instead of ignoring it. I’m taking an interest in having things stored properly so that I can actually find them when I want them. It’s pleasant to walk in the door and see calm and order. It would be quite easy to reach for an explanation that having order in the home is the only way I’m finding certainty at present, and there is probably something in that, but it’s also how I’m looking after myself.

I’m loving the herbal medicine discussions. We have a wonderful rosemary plant in the garden - I call her the matriarch. She was a straggling pot plant that thrived in open air. And if anyone knows how to revive half dead house ferns that are in dire need of re-potting, please let me know! I’m not good with house plants but don’t want these poor things to die on my watch. I sort of glaze over when people start discussing rooting powder and compost, so be gentle! 🙂

Mistletoewench · 15/10/2023 19:33

Hello again, I love reading your posts and dipping in and out.
I went for a lovely early evening walk down our lane and the autumnal woody smells were just beautiful. It cleared my mind. Collected twigs and bits and just felt so peaceful and with nature. I actually don’t mind this time of year. I will probably think differently in mid winter though !

ISaySteadyOn · 15/10/2023 20:26

There it is. My rosemary. I wanted to share because I managed to do the two things I wanted to do today. Garden and go on a small walk.

It's little but it is a start to seeing that I will get better and be walking again.

Plus my new leggings are wonderful autumn wear 🙂

Any Witches Here?- Part 19
SeaEssence · 16/10/2023 03:05

Greetings from across the pond, and thank you to those who recommended Enchantments in NYC. Took me an hour to get there but well worth it! Got a few oil blends and my first ever tarot deck, and some books as they had a whole crate of stuff as freebies. Great energy and the loveliest bunch of people working there! Moving to Texas tomorrow, will need to take care to keep my haul away from prying heavily religious eyes 😅
I was looking forward to seeing the eclipse but it was cloudy and raining yesterday. This morning however was like a breath of fresh air, I'm full of energy and ready for new beginnings.

Any Witches Here?- Part 19
Any Witches Here?- Part 19
speakout · 16/10/2023 07:12

Well done ISaySteadyOn. The rosemary looks vibrant, small steps are the way forward.
Interestingly I have a wayward rosemary bush too, it prefers to grow over the path rather than stick to the spacious allocated spot, so I am constantly trimming and staking.
Hedjwitch rosemary, lavender or any herb make good simmer pots. Great to freshen a room if you want to get rid of cooking or pet smells.
Both can be dried an used to make smudge or saining bundles.

Sorry to hear your house plants are not thriving Craftycorvid.
There can be lots of reasons- over or underwatering, plant pot too big or too small, too much or too little light, wrong type of compost, inadequate drainage.
Unfortunately many of the problems are a set of contraries!

SeaEssence what an exciting trip. The US is so vast and has so much to see. I hope you are enjoying your stay.

It's such a cold morning here, time to bring out my winter clothes and boots.

OP posts:
Sorciere1 · 17/10/2023 12:43

So glad you you liked Enchantments @SeaEssence , I'm the witchy former New Yorker. About Texas, a lot of California liberals and others have moved there, so if you're in Austin no worries! Is this a visit or permanent move...as I probably could help you find similar places if you like.

SeaEssence · 17/10/2023 19:04

@Sorciere1 I'm in outer Austin area, probably not much time to go downtown. Only in for a work event.

Sorciere1 · 17/10/2023 22:09

SeaEssence · 17/10/2023 19:04

@Sorciere1 I'm in outer Austin area, probably not much time to go downtown. Only in for a work event.

@SeaEssence Austin is super liberal, there are tons of shops!
Here is a yelp list maybe one is close to you
https://m.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Witch+Store&find_loc=Austin%2C+TX

Top 10 Best Witch Store in Austin, TX - October 2023 - Yelp

Reviews on Witch Store in Austin, TX - Green & White Grocery, Yarrow & Sage, City Alchemist, The Glass Coffin: Vampire Parlour, Nature's Treasures Texas

https://m.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Witch+Store&find_loc=Austin%2C+TX

Jasmin1971 · 18/10/2023 17:00

Hi, new here. Pagan and enjoying reading these posts /|\ )0(

Hedjwitch · 18/10/2023 20:17

I shall bind some rosemary for smudging to add to my Yule gift hampers.

I feel terribly weary and on edge these days. Not sleeping well. Time to make an infusion or two. My instinct tells me skullcap and lemon balm.

BlankTimes · 18/10/2023 20:49

Hi Jasmin and welcome to our special place.
We're an eclectic bunch, supportive and sharing.

Sorciere1 · 19/10/2023 11:26

Merry Meet @Jasmin1971
I posted very occasionally here+ name change. What flavour of pagan are you? I'm Greco-Roman.

Jasmin1971 · 19/10/2023 11:42

Pantheism with leanings towards Druidry. So eclectic I suppose. Merry meet /|\ )0(

MaculataO · 19/10/2023 12:07

Hello! New here - a lovely person directed me over from a very old thread. Really wanted to meet some likeminded mums :)

Am UK based (South East)

Jasmin1971 · 19/10/2023 12:13

Hi, me too x

speakout · 19/10/2023 14:26

Good to see new faces- a warm welcome Jasmin1971 and MaculataO.
I look forward to getting to know you both.
Grab a comfy chair by the fire and make yourselves at home.

We are a mixed bunch of pagan types with interests in diverse areas.
Some of us are seasoned crones, others just testing the water. All are welcome.
Have a look through previous threads- they are posted at the top of this thread, lots of juicy conversations and tons of support.

It's a wild blustery day here, but mild. I have been digging out my winter woolies for winter. I am the only one that forgets from year to year what clothes I have?
Seems every time I search I come up with items that I had forgotten I owned- to be fair most of my clothes are from charity shops- I am not a big spender.
Most of my clothes are function over form, but if they have an added twist then that's a bonus.

I am working through my freezers at the moment, both me and OH are guilty of doing the "" what's for tea" thing, and buying more food, even though the fridge and two freezers are full.
So mainly eating what I can mine from my chest freezer, with the addition of some fresh fruit and veg.

Off to do an oracle reading as I am in need of some light steerage at the moment- then back to work.

OP posts:
Weechookiebirdie · 19/10/2023 16:15

Hello everyone. I haven’t posted in here in so long! Unfortunately, I’ve been having an incredibly stressful time and my life has consisted solely of work, eat, sleep (barely!) and repeat. I’ve now come down with the lurgy, I expect from running on empty for months, but it’s given me time to rest and reflect (and finally catch up on the thread!).

It really has been an incredibly trying time and I don’t like the person I was starting to become - I almost didn’t recognise myself. It’s reinforced the importance of boundaries and living on my own terms. Time for a reset. Blessings to all.

VioletCharlotte · 19/10/2023 19:28

Good evening, lovely sisters. I'm just catching up on all the posts. I've been away for a few days and have had lots going on. Welcome to our newcomers and welcome back to old friends. it's lovely to have you all with us in our cosy witches cottage.

Life has been a bit of a whirlwind for me the last week or so, huge transformation going on, all of it good and very exciting. I'm feeling a bit wired, some grounding is most definitely needed!!

Sending love to you all 💕

MaculataO · 19/10/2023 20:10

Oh this is lovely - exactly what I was searching for. I'm quite time poor at the moment too, but only due to the fact my new baby is now 5 months old! He is a delight and I love the socks off him, but my gosh (this is my first) it is tough. So many epic things to navigate. Not least how you feel about yourself in this time. I am very hard on myself, have huge expectations and also have a lot of anxiety too. And since his birth I've felt quite isolated and lonely.

I have lovely fam, and friends but no-one nearby who is super close. Finding mum and babe groups that aren't all church halls etc is also tricky (and tbf social anxiety has kept me away so far!). I am delighted to have been directed over here to feel some community, chat and togetherness. Has anyone else raised a pagan kiddo? I will let him decide what he wants in life, but he will see us doing our thing and I'm sure make a decision for himself later on :)
Warm autumn/wintery hugs to all (this is my favourite season) x

MaculataO · 19/10/2023 20:14

Also loving the rosemary chat! We have an epic bush in our garden and I've made a few hair rinses to deal with my postpartum hair loss. That's a fun thing I didn't know about until now 😅

speakout · 20/10/2023 07:33

MaculataO I am glad you have found us.

Motherhood turns our lives upside down, caring for a baby impacts all aspects of our lives and we need time to adjust.

I remember feeling like my life had been hit by an express train after having my first child, my life felt scattered, time to do anything was hard to find. I know people say it gets better, but it really does. I wouldn't discount the mother and baby groups- even the ones held in church halls, Most groups hire the hall, with no affiliation to the church. Check online or message to find if it is a non religious group.

Some members of my family are ultra religious, and I have seen the damage caused by early indoctrination, I was keen not to impact my children's views and allow the freedom of choice when they are older.

It was important to me to raise my kids with an understanding of nature, the wonder of the world, knowing about cycles of the year, how the landscape changes, to develop an appreciation of wild things and animals. That nature and beasts are not here for our convenience, despite christian views.

I celebrated sabbats with my children, of course they loved that, but many of our festivals are celebrated in our culture anyway, Oestre, Yule, Samhain etc.

I also encouraged imagination through play, story telling and myths, the fae, house elves, santa claus, imaginary creatures.
I practiced my own magic- spell raft, divination, rituals in private- they saw none of that.
My children are adults now and are atheists, but with a keen interest in most things. My DD is a gifted Tarot card reader, and my DS loves learning about philosophy.

The storm is still raging outside here, no doubt road will be bad, my short trip to yoga today is a minor road through woodland which often floods, so I will allow extra time.

OP posts:
natura · 20/10/2023 08:04

It rained here this morning, after weeks of an intense heatwave and wildfires.

I was woken by the sound of it on the roof and ran outside (90% naked!) in the dark to move my brand-new radish sprouts and lettuce seedlings beside the wall for a bit of shelter...

The cool air on my skin and the smell of petrichor was so strong I nearly cried. And then pulling a duvet over me for the first time in months, with all the windows open so I could hear the the water... actual bliss.

I'm sitting on the terrace now with a cup of coffee watching the sun rise – and the land even sounds different this morning. The air is quieter than before, ever so slightly muffled by damp. The birds aren't singing as loud as usual – it's as though they're all huddled in their nests feeling as relieved and in awe and at peace as I am.

Who do I send thanks to for rain? What blessings can I send out today? I don't want to speak too soon, but it finally feels like autumn has made her way into the house, and I'm so, so happy.

Craftycorvid · 20/10/2023 08:11

Morning all, and hi to new folks! 👋🏻 This is a lovely space!

@speakout I definitely relate with forgetting what items of clothing I own, and I relate to being an ardent charity shopper - in my wardrobe, what hasn’t been collected via eBay has been collected via a chazzer. It is like a nice surprise to meet ‘new’ things with the changing seasons, though.

It’s wild and blustery here, too. I have to go out in it later on….

Had a bit of a rough time yesterday - lots of things collided and it overloaded my capacity to process. I became convinced I’d lost an important document and that triggered a meltdown in which some furniture was kicked (I apologised to the furniture later). It probably looked like an epic over-reaction to one incident but was actually cumulative. Emotional meltdowns don’t really bring catharsis for me, they just wear me out and then I have a hangover. I couldn’t do any brain work for the rest of the day so I ticked off some tidying up jobs from my list. That felt better! And family visited yesterday evening so that also helped.

I’m interested in the idea of being raised Pagan as I think I was by default. I grew up in a beautiful rural part of England where there were forests and sacred springs, so I grew up with an instinctive un-taught connection to Nature. I knew early doors that I never got the same feeling of awe and power in a church or chapel that I did among trees. It would be many years before I called that knowledge Paganism and realised it had been me all along.