Any Witches Here?- Part 19

[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 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

Obviously not the troublesome ones!!

Ah yes the small things! I really must do more of that. With the small babe it can be hard to even remember, or if I do have time to myself I end up bloody cleaning or similar to keep on top of the house mess. I've acquired two little crystals that sit by my bed recently though and I find looking at them reminds me to take a deep breath and try and be in the moment (especially hard but important when you don't know how long it'll take you to get to sleep, and then when you're going to be woken by an adorable but awake gremlin!) Taking deep breaths and trying to smell the air on any walks I take alone is also very magical to me. And any podcasts that remind me or help me tune into seasons. I am loving a British one called Alchemical Serenity. I don't think it has huge following but she deserves it. She's a druid, and is so calm and serene and it's a real treasure to listen.

*Deserves a bigger following is what I meant! Not deserves a small one, lol

Morning all! As ever, I’m finding calm and inspiration simply by reading your posts. What an uplifting community this is! As for my own small rituals, they have all been around getting a small amount of quiet time in the morning to tune in to my thoughts. I have yet to gather any fallen leaves, though I have taken time to notice how beautiful they look and to enjoy them. Yesterday, I went with Mr C to a complementary therapy clinic that we are blessed to have just around the corner from where we live. Mr C was having the treatment but I gained benefit as well, from the kindness we find there, the scent of essential oils and the calm atmosphere. It also has a very Pagan-friendly vibe. So, all in all, I’m heading into the weekend a little less ruffled than I was at the start of the week. Peaceful Fridays!

I am glad you are finding some magical time MaculataO. Having a baby is amazing, but very demanding of time and energy. I will check out the podcast, I am always looking for things to listen to while I work.
The Witches of Scotland has some great podcasts, with guest speakers- historians, authors and academics. The podcasts discuss more than just Scottish history, many examine English, Welsh, American, Scandinavian and wider witch hunt crazes throughout Europe, the position of churches at the time, the events leading up to the trials. Sombre listening, but educational.

Your local clinic sounds lovely Craftycorvid, an oasis of good energy- often hard to find! I hope you will book in for a treatment too.
The world can be a harsh and jagged place, spending time with others who understand our mindset is very nurturing.
I feel like that about people at my yoga classes. I have met many like minded people there, and spending an hour with them always leaves me calm and refreshed.
It's a clear frosty start today, I have a Body Balance class this morning, OH often takes me and does some shopping while I am in class.
I am not a fan of driving, when I was younger ( and had flash company cars- ) I enjoyed it, but I find it tedious, especially through roadworks, and I don't like motorways- traveling so fast seems unsafe, although I loved the thrill decades ago.
Thankfully I never need to travel on a motorway, my journies are short and along quiet roads.

Have a peaceful weekend sisters.

@MaculataO @speakout thank you for the podcast recommendations, I am running out of stuff to listen to in the car. I find many witchy podcast start off well but after a few episodes seem to change direction.

@Craftycorvid very handy to have such clinic nearby. How is Mr C doing at home?

It's a crisp chilly morning here in SE, but beautifully sunny, I can't wait to go out. I keep missing out on parking at the National Trust places famous for their autumnal colours, as you have to book, but thankfully we have abundance of beautiful spots around here.

DH has been complaining about back pain for the last week, culminating in a sick day from work and visit to osteopath. Rather than blaming the mattress, he has been told it's his bad posture and age, so certain level of grumpiness ensued but he's doing his exercises and going back next week.
Would anyone be willing to send guidance as to what I could do for him to aid his healing? My knowledge of herbs doesn't reach as far, rubs and bath soaks are the most I can do here and that's not enough for bones. Maybe some essential oils or a crystal? He's a complete muggle, but trusts my herbs and cooking...

@SeaEssence We are lucky! Near a good art gallery one end of our road and the complementary therapies clinic the other end. Mr C is doing very well, thanks. 🙂. I can’t suggest more than you’re already doing for your DH but I’m sure someone will be along with sage advice.

Sorry to hear your OH has back pain SeaEssence , it can be debilitating.
I would try the bath soaks too, a heat pack or hot water bottle or some warming oil, but if the problem is somatic then probably needs to be tackled at that level. General relaxation techniques may help though- the body and mind are interwoven.
I struggled with sciatica for many years, for acute pain I was given acupuncture ( on the NHS!) and the pain completely stopped at least for a day or two.

In the long term it can help keep free of back pain is to keep the core strong. The abdominal, lower back and glutes protect our back as we move.
Strengthening exercise can't be done in the acute phase though, but once he has healed he may want to consider regular core exercise at least. I hope he feels better soon.

It is a very cold morning here, minus 4. I took a glass mason jar type mug from the kitchen window ledge, poured in boiling water and it instantly cracked with a pop. I took a second mug, again as I filled it there was a crack. I dont keep my heating on overnight- I guess my window ledge must be a cold spot!

For those interested in moon energies or astrology tonight is a dark moon, the time just before a new moon tomorrow- no moon is visible.
This balsamic phase gives us an opportunity to pause, set down our baggage and find rest.
The dark moon is a powerful time for shadow work, divination, introspection, it tugs at our roots and dreamworld.
This dark moon is in Scorpio today, which amplifies our intuition deep awareness.
So a good night for scrying, pyromancy, tarot work, journaling, shadow meditation.

This remembrance day I plan to visit the nearby remains of the home of Beatrix Leslie, one of the thousands of women tortured and murdered by the church.
She and her victims are not celebrated as heroes, not considered honourable, as the nation swallows the rhetoric that makes war palatable I will sit with her a while, with flowers and stones and loving words, so I may pass her and all those victims with at least a small morsel of support in their last days.

@speakout thank you for the suggestions, I did not think of heat pads! Yes he will need to push himself to do some physical exercise once he's better, we go for long walks weekly but alongside driving 80 miles a day and work almost solely behind the screen it's nowhere near enough.

I found an interesting new entry for my herbal handbook, when searching for what I could use I came across medical properties of Allspice - I promptly used it for today's mushroom soup. I'll leave this here in case it's of interest.

Allspice (ground form) also know as pimento (generally refers to the berry form) is a member of the nightshade family and can trigger inflammation and pain in those who are sensitive to the active ingredients. Recommended to be avoided by those with autoimmune issues and hashimotos. Can be replaced with mace, horse raddish and black pepper etc. especially in cooking.

It is a complicated spice with an interesting history that goes by many many names.

Can I suggest also googling the contraindications of stuff that you want to use especially if using in medicinal dosaging rather than cullinary. There are also many sites that mention the slowing of blood clotting issues especially with the use of meds that also slow blood clotting.

I dont think remembering the fallen is swallowing rhetoric. A rather unkind thing to say for those of us who wear a poppy and take time to remember family membets or friends lost during combat.

I buy and wear a poppy and keep the minutes silence, not just for my Grandads who served, but for my aunties who were land girls, my nanna who worked in a factory, and all those who served in all ways to ensure that future generations retained the freedoms that were under threat. I don't think this is a political gesture, I certainly don't mean it to be. I am remembering and thanking the ordinary men and women who fought, worked, and sacrificed. They didn't want to have their lives disrupted, and it was not a war of their making, but they did it anyway, and I am grateful.

Well said. I was in tears watching the scenes of war graves this morning. I thought of all the mothers, siblings and children who were heartbroken and their lives changed for ever by losing those men who fought so bravely so we could be free.

Hedjwitch I don't mean to dismiss the losses and pain that war brings.

Of course it is right to remember the deaths and injury caused by war is horrific.
My family have had losses too, my father was in the Navy during the war.

I say that we are presented with a narrative that paints a picture of heroism, honour, self sacrifice- and that is insufficient to remember those who died.

Their lives are too important to forget the pain and loss.
These service personnel had no choice but to fight- many were very young- some of them teenagers.
They found themselves in conflict not as a choice- they were forced to fight.
Glorifying their "sacrifice" does not do them justice- their stories are much more than that.
Being forced into the war machine into a situation where they must have felt huge fear and horror is shameful and whitewashing that with ideas of valiant warriors fighting for king and country.

I don't for a minute diminish the heavy price that was paid, I just see things from a different angle.

War is monstrous and ugly, and remembrance day does not go far enough.
I am sorry if I caused upset, it was not my intention.

@HillsBesideTheSea thank you for pointing that out. I should have posted the link rather than just a section that caught my attention; the contras are not to be ignored for sure. I would never use (nor recommend to be used) a herb/plant based on a single unverified source. I just never thought of Allspice having healing properties before and may have gotten a bit carried away coming across it 😅 (until thoroughly researched culinary dose in a soup will do)

Not sure if I have used allspice before SeaEssence, maybe in christmas cake or chinese cooking?
I hope your OHs back is improving, perhaps a gentle massage may help?
I know from my days of back pain muscles surrounding the area would tighten and go into spasm, that would be as painful as the sore spot.
You have given me a craving for mushroom soup though!
OH is off work today so we plan to visit a large chinese supermarket in the city- for christmas/birthday gifts and stock up on store cupboard ingredients.
Although most supermarkets have very good ranges of Asian food.
Times have changed so much.

As someone who has to watch for allspice as cannot eat it under any circumstances, I can assure you that whilst you may not have used it, you are very likely to have eaten it (and it will more likely that not be labelled as pimento). It is in sooooo much food that you buy from sausages to Christmas biscuits to those mulled wine herb packs. Avoiding it is actually very difficult.

I have had a lazy start to the day and have done a whole heap of virtual shopping (needed to find links etc). However, I can tell you what ever is driving me to get the things done is starting to get on my nerves. I am exhausted and the pace of change is too much for me right now. So if it could see fit to also help me get a good night's sleep I would be better prepared for doing things. Few people function well on 4hrs sleep, especially when that is consistent rather than a rare one off.

I am sorry you are feeling exhausted at the moment HillsBesideTheSea,
Poor sleep impacts everything, especially when it is cumulative.
I hope the new moon today brings a shift for you and restorative energy.

On the subject of spice intolerances, I reacted to something quite badly on Saturday which I think just have been in the Indian meal I ate. Has anyone who has intolerances had tests to pinpoint exactly what you're intolerant to, or is a process of elimination? I seem to have an ever growing list of things I react to 🙁 Any coping strategies would be much appreciated 🙏

My reaction doesn't show up on testing but it freaks the heck out of any person that is around me (my throat swells and i struggle to breathe for an immediate response). Exclusion diet and 1 by 1 introduction was the way i had to go. There is a benefit to this approach as intolerances can be as deadly as allergies, but intolerances don't trigger the immune system so don't get picked up by the allergy tests.

There are some common things that can trigger a reaction in the kind of food you are talking about so a google for the common suspects for a reaction and starting there will help narrow it down.

It is worth saying that a discussion with the appropriate medical people is important. Especially if you have an acute reaction.

Aaarrrrgggghhhh. Another post fritzed into the ether.

Hills and Violet do google Oral Allergy Syndrome, it may be relevant

Thanks Blanktimes and Hills
I know (by process of elimination) that's I'm intolerant to lactose and foods related to bitch pollen allergy - apples, celery, carrots, kiwi, peaches plums... my symptoms are normally stomach upsets and headaches.

I had a bit of a lot if different dishes at the Indian so it's difficult to pinpoint what I reacted to. There are various food intolerance tests available online, but the reviews are mixed so not sure whether it's worth spending the money or not.

Feeling quite low this evening. I've just had a rare argument with DS2 (22) I I hate arguing so tend to not say anything about things that are bothering me (in this case, general untidiness around the house). This evening I just exploded and now I feel awful 😞 Going to take myself off to bed shortly.