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

There was a YouTube I saw (it was shared by Collette at Bealtaine Cottage) about how women’s lives got worse every time written language rose in a civilisation. It was interesting.

@speakout I much prefer social history, the ordinary lives of ordinary people. When I teach history at school I often remind the children the history we study is written by the winners and those were very rarely, if at all, ordinary people like us. (I cough also subtly smash the patriarchy and colonialism.)

Trenzalor that's so interesting.

I have had a bee in my bonnet about "history" for a while.
It presents such a skewed view of the past, and yes through the lens of the victor.
The definition of history. also deeply racist and misogynistic.
Generally women and their incredible work over centuries and millennia are discounted. They are not the military chiefs, politicians, explorers.
It seems only men are noteworthy.

Racist because it excludes first nation or indiginous people except when being "discovered" or exploited.
Aboriginal people in Australia for example have only started using written words in living memory, so their existence or importance doesn't count.

It's very peaceful here this evening. I was planning to give myself a facial this evening, I was given a complete facial kit for christmas with lots of lovely products. But I really don't have the energy, and have found myself a very comfortable spot on the sofa, warm and cozy with a cat sleeping beside me and a chamomile tea. The facial can wait until the morning.

Speakout I'd not heard about the matriarchal society* at Skara Brae*

The construction of the houses shows what's been referred to as a dresser in each main room of each of the houses there.
They were unique to any contemporary houses in the UK.

That is, until the excavations at the Ness of Brodgar dig. It's been going on for a decade and 2024 will be the last of the excavations. It's being covered and turfed over, no more funds.
There's a Ness of Brodgar blog which documents everything they have found on the site which shows occupation of building, demolishing and rebuilding something different on top of it. It's thought that the Ness site was used for ritual purposes for a good thousand years and it predates Stonehenge. The unusual thing is, several of the buildings at the Ness contain structures identical to the "dressers" at Skara Brae. But because the Ness was not residential, it's now thought the dressers were probably altars.

At nearby Barnhouse, one of the structures has hollow double walls and to enter, you have to step over a firepit. There's also a possible dresser/altar there.

Happy new year loves! I too am an Imbolc new year person - moved all my planning and reviewing and rituals to then, but mark the December/January new year shift anyway although I always feel very peculiar all day.

Bloody fireworks have been going from 5pm to 2am here, finally settled the cats so will head to bed shortly.

Am feeling better but illness was horrific and Gran isn't really recovered yet, we've had to go and get her loo frames and a walking frame and stuff and I'm finding that hard - all three of us cried the day we bought them. But I am going to spend tomorrow with her and Mum and Mum's making a roast as I missed Christmas and am lusting after roast potatoes!!

Apologies anyone who was expecting a Yule card, illness nixed my plans but I will revisit in January! (Maybe I should move that tradition to Imbolc too and just accept I am terrible at December anything 😂)

@Probablymagrat try your local library, when I was enquiry officer at mine we had all kinds of training for signposting and referring to local helpful things for everything from careers to domestic violence to family planning. It does vary by area but your librarians are likely to know exactly what is around or who would be best to speak to for advice. Good luck, it sounds like a difficult situation.

@BlankTimes you are amazing, that is all!

Re flying our freak flags, I had a funny conversation with mum's friend on Thursday at the panto, she got me a mug that said "my broomstick is powered by coffee" - I said thank you I loved it and she took great pains to assure me she wasn't calling me a witch. And Mum and I looked at each other and I said - it's absolutely fine, I actually am a witch! Which sounds small but my lovely parents weren't super thrilled when I first let them know many years back that I wasn't going to follow Christianity, and that pagan was more my bag, so for her to endorse me telling her best friend (and the friend to have clocked it enough for the gift in the first place) feels like a very auspicious way to start a year.

Also makes me feel happier about the arrangements I'd like to leave for my funeral because while I have no intention of dying any time soon, when I do it will not be a Christian religious ceremony!

Hope you all have a peaceful start to 2024 - I'm gently easing back into work this coming week but not officially at my desk for clients till 8th, which I'm hoping will give me a chance to get annoying stuff like my tax return done. Any magical ideas for that hideous task gratefully received! Never sure whether I should do washing and housework on new year's day, but I am going to go and hang my wet washing up now while it's still technically yesterday 😂

Garbled but heartfelt early morning blessings, sisters 💙

@hilariousnamehere Thank you for responding. Good shout, I will try the library. Thank you.

hilariousnamehere I am glad to hear you are feeling a bit better. sorry to hear your gran is still poorly.

Life throws so much at us, and often it can be relentless- throwing curved balls from all directions. Stormy seas are hard to navigate.

Blanktimes, thanks again for that information. I didn't know excavation has been stopped at the Brodgar site. I have mixed feeling about that. I don't know the elevation of the site or whether it is at risk from the sea or possible sea level rises.
Perhaps at some point in the future archaeologists will re-visit the site, with more sophisticated equipment or strategies.
Just as we look back at Victorian explorers and archaeologists were often gung ho and trampled valuable evidence.

The "dressers" at Skara Brae do indeed look like altars, reminiscent of the structures at Ġgantija in Gozo, and both constructed around the same time- 3000 BC or so.

I am enjoying a relaxing day, planning some tasty treats for myself later, sate kebas with a firey peanut sauce.
I have been journalling today, written quite a bit focussing on self trust. Such a potent remedy for fear, anxiety, catastrophic thinking.

I hope everyone finds calm today.

Very much in and out and not much use to say anything of substance but I have been thinking of you all. Just thought to share a laugh.

A few days ago I decided I would like to go to the sea on New Years Day, even just to dip my feet and hands and wash my face with the seawater. I always love being near the sea and miss swimming in it dearly in the cooler times of year. When we arrived on our way to visit family, the sea was pretty rough, but I wasn’t put off.

I struggle with the sharp feeling of walking barefoot on pebble beaches, and so my partner lent me the sandals he keeps in the car. Well, after I’ve been in and out up to my knees a few times, the tide takes one of these sandals with it, and as I turned quickly to see where it went and get it, of COURSE I lose my footing.

Long story short, most of me up to my tummy is totally soaked. And off we go for a family birthday party for a few hours 🤣

I had a very good laugh, found the water milder than I expected (if it were calmer and I had the stuff with me I might even have had a swim), and have now decided that we should try the Boxing Day dip this year as it wasn’t as horrifically cold as I thought it would be, even in wind and rain 😂

Today I went to Torryburn to visit the stone that marks what was the grave if Scottish witch Lilias Adie. Her remains are long gone but the stone slab remains.

Oh @Hedjwitch beautiful photo, gave me goosebumps.

@PomegranateRose that made me smile, hope you dried off ok! I also crave the sea so understand the impulse to do it!

hilariousnamehere if you find any magic to help with tax returns, please do share with me. It really is the downside of running your own business, isn't it?

I have spent most of today outdoors but the forecast for tomorrow suggests it will be a good day for making progress with it. I fear I will be on hold to a building society for a while so will make some soothing tea to ease the pain of that terrible music, interrupted every few seconds by a robot telling me that my call is valuable to them. Hmm..

Happy New Year to those who celebrate/acknowledge it!

@BlankTimes thank you for the exhausting posts, lots of interesting facts I will be looking up in more detail.

@hilariousnamehere glad you're better, hope your gran will be better very soon too

It's been eventful couple of days here - the journey from Scotland brought an extra adventure of riding on recovery trucks and took, all in all, 14.5 hours. Not the most pleasant day but in the heavy rain we passed so many accidents I was happy we are safe with only a flat tyre. And now I we've got a friend staying as she found herself in an unfortunate situation without home few days ago so had to make a bit more effort yesterday than I would otherwise.
I could do with a few more days of rest but alas, back to work tomorrow...

Glad you made it home safely SeaEssence sounds like an adventurous trip!

A stunning photograph hedjwitch, I haven't seen that memorial.

I would like to buy myself a diary but I am swithering- any recommendations would be appreciated.
I have had two Willow Tree Diaries, which I have enjoyed and last year I bought an Earth Pathways diary- which is also lovely but a little disappointed in the quality of the card stock used. Pages are quite flimsy.

Any suggestions?

Happy 2024 to you all! Such wonderful thoughts and photos of magical Orkney. It’s some years since I visited but it’s a wonderful place.

Craftycovid Orkney is very special isn't it.
And a great collection of remarkable well preserved neolithic sites some of the best examples in Europe and UNESCO world heritage site.
Despite that it doesn't get crowded, local populations are sparse, and it is quite a journey from most of Southern UK.
Even though Scotland has many visitors, including international tourists, most remain in the central lowlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, with perhaps a day trip to loch ness.
I am having such a cosy evening here. Kali one of my cats is snuggled up beside me, she has been purring loudly for almost an hour.

I am also enjoying a new tea- Sleep from Lidl at a very reasonable price- 99p for 20 tea bags. I love herbal teas, but they can be pricey.
I haven't seen this one in lidl before I don't know if it is a new product.- it contains Lavender, Linden, chamomile, lemon balm, passion flower, natural rose and valerian, all natural, no artificial flavours.

The lavender is not overpowering at all just a little hint of floral. I will be buying more, it's very delicious.

@speakout I've gone back to my Filofaxes in recent months, because I can print my own inserts and sections for it and make a diary that actually works for me. I have a few, my everyday ones are by Filofax and my witchy one is from an Etsy maker and has a moon gazing hare on it! Will post a photo when the kitten wakes up and releases me (she had a weird episode with her leg again today so am just enjoying her being ok and snoozing on me rather than fretting about the vet).

If it's a non witchy one you're after I really like Clever Fox, but haven't yet found a spiritual one I love.

Orkney is a magical place for archaeology, particularly for neolithic, bronze and iron age constructions and artefacts. There's loads for much later periods too, but they are my particular field of interest

I have seriously considered moving there, however the economic situation in the Islands needs very careful consideration. The ferries are old and there are no funds for replacement. Most goods and food has to be imported. Internet delivery charges are much higher.
Tourism provides about the only steady source of income, currently, the day trip passengers from cruise ships are a source as are other tourists, but its not enough to provide a good infrastructure.
If you want anything not stocked on the island, then Inverness is the next port of call for you. Despite a new hospital being built on Mainland, any serious medical care is a helicopter ride, flight or drive away depending on the seriousness of the illness.
Don't think I'm trying to put you off with tales of doom and gloom, but if you are anything but young and fit, preferably with a backup source of income, then research and assess the situation very very carefully. I've described the situation on Mainland, the more remote islands have even less infrastructure. Its a very difficult place to be self-sufficient, or to earn a living. Don't underestimate the challenges and practicalities.

The Ness dig has spanned 10 years and there are so many other sites to investigate throughout Orkney. Like most archaeology projects, funding is too scarce.

In 2015, I was at Minehowe and fortunate enough to attend a talk by Nick Card. He explained the evolution of the Iron Age site,
The burial of 2 women under different buildings, an IA shrine built into the back of the mound and most surprisingly a weapons factory, producing arms, so there must have been a huge ongoing conflict at that time.

Orkney truly is a land of wonder, definitely visit if it appeals.

Orkney is my favourite place. I am going this year in June for the summer solstice at The Ring of Brodgar. Cant wait

We visited Orkney in our campervan pre pandemic, it was wonderful. Stenness was ruined a bit by a coachload of tourists climbing over the stones and flying drones 😡, but after every one left we pretty much had it and Brodgar to ourselves. We found a little spot to park overnight facing Brodgar across the loch, and watched the dawn come up, surrounded by curlews and other birds. Magical. There are so many places to visit that we must go back.

Brodgar from across the loch

Hello all, mind if I join? I'm a hodgepodge, raised Catholic, don't practise any more but still study/love some Christian spirituality especially the desert fathers and the Celtic saints. Discovered neopaganism when I was 16 (in late 30s now!) and that has pretty much been my path ever since but lately I've wanting to recommit, wind it more into my life especially now I have my sons. I'm studying with OBOD and Druidry really chimes with me but I still do witchy things and have really enjoyed reading the thread.

I'm loving the Scotland talk! I am from Yorkshire originally but moved to Scotland years ago and still consider it home, though right now we are overseas for DH's work. I miss home a lot. One challenge I find with witchcraft is practising nature spirituality somewhere I am so much a stranger to the land, it takes some navigation. We are moving posts again in a few months, to the Himalayas, which is daunting but I'm excited about everything I'll get to learn there from the incredible landscape and also the rich spirituality there. (Will finally have no excuse not to take up yoga...)

Great to find some likeminded people!

Have just caught up with the thread. Always makes me feel good to read it. New Year's wishes if wanted. This winter I haven't needed my light at all. I have not felt the down feeling.

I am in the middle of looking at seed catalogues and plant catalogues to plan what I will grow this year. I've planned more relating to atmosphere and expanding my own craft as inspired by all of you here. It's exciting to grow and nurture new things.

Good morning and Hi @Latewinter

wishing everyone a successful day.

Good morning sisters. A cold,frosty day here and a relief from the endless rain. Might start clearing out the greenhouse as my plan is to turn it into my own magical space for herbing and learning spell work. Very excited.

Good morning. Just catching up on the thread after a few days away in Devon. This is the first time I've been away just after new year and would thoroughly recommend it. Despite the awful weather, I had a much needed break and time to do nothing after a busy year and hectic Christmas. I even managed a sea swim!

I love January. The peace and quiet and lack of plans or social arrangements feels like such a relief after December. I'm looking forward to cosy evenings, eating more mindfully, some gentle yoga and hopefully some winter walks. I've spent this morning de-Christmassing the house and cleaning. Everything feels nice and fresh now (which will last until young adult DS gets up and starts cooking!! 😫)

@Hedjwitch turning the greenhouse into a magical space sounds like a great idea and a nice project to be getting on with.

I'm also enjoying the Scotland talk. I've been having conversations with a friend about a trip this year, so any suggestions on where to go and places to stay would be really welcome.

Came to say good morning but it's afternoon already! Where did the time go!
I've been likewise dechristmassing today, I love the feeling of spacious room after the tree is gone 😁

@ISaySteadyOn @Hedjwitch please do share your planting activities, I love the inspiration! My lunar calendar says it's already time to start planting celery and parsley - seems too soon, the nature should be sleeping - though my daffodils are sprouting already!