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

I hope your OH is making good recovery Hedjwitch, did you buy the runestones at Black Moon Botanica? I was admiring a set in there on Thursday, the display set was perched on a table in the middle of the shop. Like you I have no experience of runes, but they were so beautiful I was very tempted.

A warm welcome crazypiglady - it can seem daunting to start a pagan journey. There are so many areas covered within magical/spiritual work. I would trust your heart, and follow what seems interesting. What captures your interest? Working with herbs or food ? Gardening? Divination? Spellcraft? Working with deity? Sigils or scrying? Astrology or runes? Just dive in, start learning and practicing, and it's OK to move from one area to another as you follow your nose. There are some wonderful youtube channels which are very informative.

Be wary of anyone asking for money or claiming authority. There are lots of charletans, people who seek power and cash in order for you to "learn" the craft.
There are lots of pagan and witchcraft groups, many which may be supportive, but be on your guard.
Working alone or being a hedgewitch is a perfectly valid magical path, and no less powerful than a group insisting you have to undergo initiation.
Most of us here are solo practitioners, it is a very freeing way to practice.

Such a beautiful picture Craftycorvid solstice blessings to you too.
I am a bit under the weather today, sore throat, shivery and a pounding head. Covid test is negative thank goodness.
Thankfully Mr S is off work, and pretty much all my christmas shopping done, just have a few bits to get from my local coop, I still have to wrap, but that's a job I enjoy, with some cheesy christmas movie or a podcast playing.
Have a magical day sisters.

Flying in to find some solace amongst friends and enjoy the calm of our cosy witches cottage.

I have to say I think I enjoy Christmas a lot more now my DC are older. Having little ones at Christmas is a lot of fun, but so much work and I was permanently exhausted because DC1 wouldn't sleep! I hope that all those of you with young children are managing to find a little time for yourselves.

@speakout I hope that you're feeling better today and that you're enjoying a peaceful day.

@Hedjwitch I hope you're DH is making a good recovery. Do you know how long he'll be in hospital? Witchcraft shop sounds good. I've never used runes but they always look interesting.

@SeaEssence your post made me laugh! The solstices can be confusing. I always thought winter solstice was 21st, but this year it was Friday 22nd 🤷‍♀️

@crazypiglady you're very welcome. Come and join us round the fire, there's always plenty of tea. And cake!

Glad you have found some calm VioletCharlotte.
I enjoy adult only christmas days too.
Far less work, no crazy morning starts, no toys that need assembling.

I have always preferred christmas eve over christmas day. That point of stillness, expectation, tidy house, gifts wrapped.
My DD is on her way to stay with us for a couple of nights, she has texted me to say she is playing "coming Home for Christmas" , Chris Rea in her car. so sweet.
I also had a lovely interchange with my niece, working with Oracle cards today. She is pagan curious, but is a survivor of childhood christian abuse, and needs to travel slowly, I completely understand that.

Hi all, warm wishes to you all for solstice just past!

New face here! The past week or so in particular has seen a real peak of my years-long, ebbing and flowing desire to learn more about, and put into action, some more nature-focused (particularly Pagan) ways of marking and connecting with the passage of the seasons.

My dad has always been very open-minded about different spiritual practices, belief systems and approaches to health and healing, and the past six years or so I have really been leaning more into spending more time in nature after growing up in a big city. I've long had an interest in the beliefs and practices of witches I have come to know online, and have been fortunate to study a nursing course with multiple assignments examining evidence bases for traditional and complementary medicines and advocating for their use where clinically appropriate, which really reawakened my interest.

I've since decided that I'd like, this next coming calendar year, to try to engage with Pagan festivals, even if only taking a small part from each, to help get more in touch with nature and break the year up, as I can find it all a bit of a slog punctuated only by summer (my favourite) and Christmas, and I find my mood slumps terribly in autumn and winter. I've never really connected to or been able to truly "buy into" any of the organised religions I saw some childhood friends be part of, and I do feel having more to look forward to, be aware of, and be in tune with may help me appreciate, rather than simply be shocked by, the constant passage of time, which has really crept up on me in my late 20s. My partner and I were recently allocated a surprisingly generous allotment after spending years with a tiny garden veg patch, too, and so I'm thinking of growing some traditionally medicinal plants. I'm also considering joining local beekeepers, as bees have been a real interest for me for years now.

I thought now was as good a time as any to dip my toe in somewhere like this! Hoping to learn much from you all, I will hopefully be working my way through this and the previous threads in the coming weeks :)

Yes Black Moon Botanica. What a lovely shop. I know nothing about Runes but they are beautiful and so tactile. Looking forward to learning about them.

DH still in Intensive Care but off the ventilator now so thats good.

Happy christmas to all, and welcome to PomegranateRose.
OH has brought me a coffee in bed, I am just gathering myself for the coming day. I am still not feeling great, but don't have a huge amount to do today thankfully.
Hedjwitch I hope your OH is doing OK today- will you be visiting him?
PomegranateRose marking sabbats through the year is a lovely way to connect to the earth and the seasons. I usually celebrate in some way, big or small depending on my energy. It feels good to hang festivals on the timeline of the year.
The next sabbat is Imbolc, one of my favourites. I look forward to sharing htat energy with you.

I hope you all have some enjoyment today, I know christmas can be hard work, and sometimes doesn't always look like the Hallmark movies.
I enjoy a good christmas ghost movie or story at that time, a Christmas Carol always good to watch. I watched Krampus yesterday which I enjoyed.
Off to start my morning, I am not a pyjama person, so I have to change before present opening. Although with adults only opening gifts is a slow process.

Enjoy your day sisters.

Thank you for the welcome speakout! I think Imbolc is what most inspired me to do it this next year, I’m very much looking forward to it :) Winter is probably the hardest time of year for me, especially January and February, so I’m very happy to have something specific to look forward to in that time.

I hope you are all enjoying your day so far, whether it be busy or restful. Christmas as a “thing” is looking very different to what I have been used to this year, and I am sitting with/trying to enjoy it but feeling a bit flat to be honest.

Hedjwitch, I hope you are able to enjoy some time with your husband today if that is what you wish. I am thinking of you; some of the people my team goes to see regularly are in IC and I know it is not easy by any stretch. How fabulous that he is off the ventilator, though!

Happy Christmas all!

I am unexpectedly having it alone at home because I've been properly ill for last few days, and got up and showered and dressed today and then phoned mum in tears because the room is still spinning and there's no way I can drive safely :'( she and Gran have also had it and she can't leave Gran, so they are heading to my uncle's for lunch as planned and I am going back to bed. I'm sad but better to delay Xmas by a day or two than have an accident on the road, right?!

@PomegranateRose that sounds lovely, I've moved my new year to Imbolc as it feels less frazzled and much more new start-ish to me than January :)

Merry Christmas/Yule!

@hilariousnamehere aww that sucks! Hope you get better soon and get to enjoy belated festivities xx

@Hedjwitch good to hear your DH is recovering slowly, the runes purchase sounds fab, I've never tried runes but recently heard a podcast episode and they sounded quite intriguing!

I feel like today is the first day I can just sit down and do nothing - total bliss! Too rainy to go for a walk - even the dog just sniffs the air at the door occasionally and goes back to bed, so it's sofa, blanket, tea and a book.
We're off to Scotland tomorrow, looks like we won't avoid rain, but change of scenery will do us good regardless!

I hope everyone emerged unscathed from yesterday and managed to find some enjoyment.
And full moon blessings today- the moon is in cancer bringing heightened awareness to our comfort, home life and close connections.

It has been good to spend time with family and have no work. I am so touched by some of the simple thoughtful gifts I have been given.
DD goes back to her flat today, and I like to start getting the house back in order, putting stuff away, filling a bag for charity, doing some laundry.

I don't celebrate the calendar new year, I like to wrap up the winter celebrations and move into the quiet time.
The weeks after christmas leading up to Imbolc is like a salve to me. Still cold weather and short days, but I love the calm, quiet, simplicity.
We can still have a cosy hygge, but at a slow gentle pace. The energy is plain, stark, muted colours, I like to burn white or cream candles, keep life to simple routines, simple nutritious food, lots of sleep, lots of self care.
I know many of us struggle in the winter months, especially after christmas, I hope this time is gentle for you.
Have a safe journey SeaEssence. it is frosty here today, hopefully the roads will be quiet if you are driving.

Greetings sisters. Welcome to the newer joiners.

For those of you interested in learning more about the runes, Tylluan Penry has a book all about the Anglo Saxon runes which goes into a lot of detail. If I remember rightly, she thinks you need to learn the stories behind them to best work with them.

I hope everyone is finding the peace they need this season. I am currently with family and looking forward to returning to the peace of my own space!

I've always loved Boxing Day. The days in the run up to Christmas and the Day itself are always so busy, it's lovely to have a day where there are no expectations. Time to just relax and do your own thing. I slept really well last night and woke up at 8.30 which is unusual for me.

It's interesting to read that many of you don't celebrate the new year on 1 Jan. it's never felt right to me, even when I was young. Imbolc seems much more fitting. I like the peace and quiet of January.

@hilariousnamehere so sorry to hear you're unwell. I hope you feel better after some rest.

Good morning all. Calendar new year seems slightly over-hyped to me, too. New year ‘proper’ seems to have distinct phases for me. The end of the cycle of growth is Samhain for me, then the Solstice marks the opening of winter and the sun’s re-birth, then the first evidence of the brand new growth cycle comes in February with Imbolc.

For now, I hope you all have peaceful and restful times as the ‘sun stands still’. And wonderful full moon blessings!

Hope everyone has had a good a time as they can so far.

Runes tend to bring out the most protective instincts in followers of particular systems, insisting theirs is the right way and everyone else's interpretations are wrong.

I rather like Ken Meadows' Rune Power, such a misleading title as of course there's no 'power' in that sense.
He suggests that Futhark which is the usual interpretation should really be Uthark, i.e. why would a system start with the F rune, 'enlightenment', surely that is at the end of a jourrney of getting to know a system, not the beginning.

If that appeals, do look it up,it's currently out of print but used copies are available from amazon etc.

Hedjwitch good to see your partner is on the road to recovery.

Greetings all. Feeling relieved we got through yesterday and a day of mixed emotions. Dd1 and DS came with me to visit DH.
Afterwards DS was upset and crying on the way home in the car. He's 21. When we got home I gave him a big hug on the pavement in the rain. Dd joined in. I was thinking this was just like a scene from a perfect Christmas film( just needed the snowflakes) when DS stepped back,DD didnt let go,we all lost our balance and it ended with DD sitting down hard in a puddle as we tried to grab her! A Chrsitmas memory.

Good morning everyone. I’m always here but don’t post very often. I hope that’s ok. I may have to change that for the new year 😊
I’ve become very solitary this year. There is now only myself and dh and he works long hours. I’ve not been working due to ill health. I’ve not managed to get to know anyone in the new area I’ve moved to due to my health issues either.
it’s all come to a head this last few weeks with me now having lots of tests arranged, all soon , one after another. It’s a good thing I know but I’m overwhelmed.
im having to cancel my urgent 2ww endoscopy this morning as I’ve got a virus now aswell. Visitors to look after.

my question is , how do you cope with visitors staying when you feel horrible both mentally and physically ?

This has been my situation since Xmas Eve and I’m really struggling. My visitor isn’t sure how long they are staying and I don’t want to make them feel unwelcome. I’m too used to being alone and I’m ill so it’s feeling too much.

I know everything will work itself out and I need to think positive but any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

my candle will be lit for anyone else needing it. Much love.

Good morning sisters, it is a wild and stormy day here.
Hedjwitch what a beautiful moment, I hope your OH continues to improve.
Fascinating insight into Runes. I am tempted. I already use a few divination/scrying techniques, I am always keen to look at new methods.

I see a few of us don't really "feel" new year.
I grew up in scotland, christmas was banned for over 300 years by the church( I think banned in England for 30 years?)
Christmas day only became a public holiday in the 1950s in Scotland.

Having no legal midwinter festival scottish people started ramping up new year celebrations instead, which is why there is a scottish flavour to new year. Auld Lang Syne for example.

I dreaded New year as a child. I grew up in a poverty striken council scheme in the 1960s, new year was a time of heavy drinking, strangers roaming free into anyone's home in the guise of a "first foot". There was usually brawling, fighting, domestic violence. My parents would drag me round neighbours homes and I felt unsafe and afraid, and had some very unpleasant things happen to me.

So now as an adult it is early bed for me. doors locked, early night. want my hogmany to feel safe, warm and cosy.

Yesterday I deep cleaned my bedroom, put away gifts and clothes, new sheets, tidied my book collection, Tarot and Oracle cards. smudged the space.
I am slowly de christmasing my house, one tree is down, two to go, I will put stuff in labelled boxes in a tidy fashion, back up to the attic by the weekend.

Yoga this morning, OH is back to work and my mother is off meeting friends.
I will be working today, but it is quiet, I have a few new candle to try, so I am excited about that, also some skin care products to try, that may wait as I want to get an earlish start today, I will use products already open. The new kits deserve a proper opening and investigation before I use them.

Is anyone else like that? I like to read labels, instructions, try out a little on my hand, have a sniff before I use them.
I am learning to fly my freak!

I hope those affected by full moon energy managed to sleep well last night.
The Sun forms a trine with Jupiter this morning, encouraging our desire to expand. We’re ready to give one another the benefit of the doubt! Enthusiasm runs high, and cooperation comes easily. This transit stimulates hope, optimism, and a desire to improve and impress. We seek to grow a venture, a relationship, our knowledge, our personal philosophy, or a self-improvement program.
A positive aspect to open our world a little.

Jeez, this storm is dreadful. Absolutely wild! Dd2 attempted to visit DH in hospital but was forced to turn back by floods and falling tree. Hope everyone is safe. I put my crystals out to charge in the full moon last night. Hope they are still to be found. There are things blowing about everywhere

Very wild Hedjwitch isn't it. I just made it back from yoga only a mile but the road was a deep river, full of large rocks washed down from steeply wooded cuttings either side. I expect there will be extensive road closures.

@speakout how strange, I came to say the dreaded storm seems to have missed Scotland, but it sounds like we just missed the storm somehow? @Hedjwitch Your DH's hospital is in Edinburgh isn't it??
We woke up into the expected gloom and rain, but not too heavy, so I booked Camera Obscura in Edinburgh (the only indoor attraction allowing dogs I found). We had a couple of places where the road was under water and we relied on other cars passing through before we mustered the courage, but overall the journey was okay - and as soon as we entered Edinburgh it stopped raining completely. It started again when we sat in the car for the way back (some 4 hours later). It was as if someone switched off the rain just for us. We didn't see any of the real storm by the sounds of it!!

I hit Post too soon 😬

@speakout your memories of NYE "celebrations" are horrid! I am so sorry you had to experience that. I built up an aversion to Easter through much less traumatic traditions as a child (no real violence just the perception of it) s

...and I did it again, sorry for spamming 😩

I hope the rain has not spoiled your trip SeaEssence, it's quite wet here again today, but thankfully the wind has eased. Thanks for the kind thoughts regarding New year.
Parts of my childhood were grim. I saw things no child- or adult should have to see, and experienced traumas that I am still dealing with.

It is a wonderfully peaceful day here, just back from yoga and finished a healthy brunch, I am still taking down christmas stuff. Two trees are down, and packed up, one ( the real one) still to go.
All at a calm slow pace.
I so love the time after christmas and january.

I’m another one who doesn’t celebrate the calendar New Year. It just seems such an odd thing to do. Especially as historically dates and even years changed a great deal! I shall be awaiting Imbolc and the coming of spring!

Am home and feel so relieved I don’t know what it is about the area my in laws live but I just can’t stand it. I get such a strong feeling no one was ever meant to live there.

Weather still wild,dh still in hospital. Yesterday while I was visiting some bastard seriously bashed my car but left no note. Police now looking at CCTV. Honestly it was the final straw.
I havent even got the energy to summon a hex.
Just royally fed up