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've seen some really nice crocheted hanging plants on FB, I'd quite like one.

LuckOfTheDrawer that sounds so cute.

I am working on mushrooms and some leaf hair ties that are crocheted.
Mostly i am working on christmas presents for those who appreciate. I love how there are so many pattern tutorials on youtube, and patterns on Rav. Keeps me from getting too frustrated when still and on butt is necessary...

Baby dinosaur stuffie anyone?

Hills I'd love a plushie but are you thinking of knitted things?

I might pop to TK Maxx and see if they've got any nice artificial plants.

I went to the beach today, and I returned most of my beach treasures from last year to the sea. I kept a small hagstone, and i found a shell heart that I kept as well.

I love being at the beach, on the edge of things. It feels important somehow, in a way that I can't articulate.

I think I could manage not to ‘kill’ a crocheted plant! I am an avid crochet-er when time and energy allows. It’s a lovely soothing movement for the hands and you get something nice (or at least quirky) at the end. Whilst crocheted clothing can be tricky to work, heavy to wear and stretch easily, 3D things like plants and flowers go really well.

It’s tipping down again here! The garden is looking at me reproachfully, especially the lawn. However, it is just too wet to molest the daisies. Peaceful days, all!

stuffie i want to make

I got a lot of my fake plants from ikea. They look a smidge plasticky but the plan is to over paint, and actually in the corner in the room that has no window and no direct light they look pretty good. So the will add some paint to thought has not been actioned.

I also have some ivy and something else chains from B&M. I was going to drape around my book case BUT in 2 building work projects we are gutting my room and office to mess around with the insulation so i will wait on putting them up. Going to just start the prep work for emptying as it is about 2 or 3 weekends away before we hit that project. Only plus i have is that because it has to be emptied out completely, it will get a really good deep clean. And that is never a bad thing.

Oh and i finally have a day where i have enough energy to do kitchen projects, well kinda. My brain forgot i was sick and bought a whole heap of cherries that need dealing with, so whether i have the energy or not I gotta deal...

Ive got a quite few artificial plants from IKEA. Agree with Hills that some of them are a bit plasticky, but there's loads to pick from and they're all pretty reasonably priced (and it's a great excuse to go to Here's a pic of some of mine, I think they look fairly realistic unless you get up really close. @LuckOfTheDrawer I know what you mean about struggling with the idea of artificial plants, but I preserved with real ones for so long and got quite upset when they died (I felt so responsible for killing them) I decided artificial would be better all round!

The plants in my garden, on the other hand, are growing like mad. At least there's some positives to all this rain we've been having.

I love the idea of crocheting plants and mushrooms. Did you all teach yourselves to crochet? It's something I've wanted to do for a while, but don't really know where to start! I could do with a new activity to do indoors to stop me from wasting so much time on my phone.

VioletCharlotte Youtube taught me. There are so many different channels that there will be one that makes sense. Just watch for the difference between UK and US terms. Same stitch 2 names. Which is why i prefer video tutorials rather than written patterns because then i can follow the video for the stitch whilst i try to learn the names of the stitch. Charts for crochet designs are wizardry.

Tbh youtube taught me to knit too.

There’s a bit of a story attached to how I learned to crochet @VioletCharlotte. Mum taught me to knit but I’d always wanted to learn to crochet as well, and mum didn’t crochet. It was actually an elderly neighbour who taught me the basics when I was a fairly horrid and deeply unhappy teenager. I wince when I think how ungrateful I was for both the passing on of the skill and her patience in doing so. I can still see her little living room with coal fire on the go and her rather bad tempered budgie in its cage in the corner. The neighbour gave me much-needed refuge from the relentless bullying I was subjected to, both in and out of school. I learned a skill I’m still using to make lots of multi-coloured blankets for friends and other causes. I like a blanket as a project because it’s a ‘pick up and put down’ thing and keeps my knees warm in winter when I’m working on it. I was - and remain - clearly completely ‘metal’ in my choice of pursuits. 😆

I am loving the crochet talk, that's a heartwarming story Craftycorvid, I am sure your neighbour did know of your appreciation, but understood things were hard for you. Older women can be very wise.

I learned to crochet around 12 years old, I was with my family staying with a great aunt, in small seaside town, which was beautiful, lots of rolling sand dunes, but not much else for a child.
My mother thought my great aunt was a grumpy old women, but I adored her. She never had children of her own, but was always lovely to me. Her home was a time warp, mothballs in the grand old wardrobes, crocheted covers for milk jugs, with attached sea shells as weights, bowls of lavender to keep the air sweet, no television, no fridge, no phone, but she kept herself busy.
We were staying for 10 days, and after dinner she would bring out the wool and crochet hooks, and taught me to crochet- she was very patient, and I still have the ability many years later.

@speakout @Craftycorvid I love your stories of how you learned to crochet. How lucky to have those wise, older women to teach you. Your story about being staying with your great aunt sounds like something out of a book Speakout!

Anyway, you've all inspired me to learn to crochet, so I'm going to take get on YouTube. Thank you Hills for the suggestion.

The weather is rather autumnal here, we've had torrential rain all day, with intermittent bursts of sunshine. I've got piles of washing that's going to have to wait as there's no chance of getting it dry.

Just checking in,sisters

Morning all.

Well yesterday my first born turned 18. I saw him the day before, which was lovely. I was far more emotional yesterday than I expected to be.
And funnily enough with all the crochet talk, I taught myself with a little bit of guidance from some of my customers when I was stopping smoking in my 20s in order to conceive my son!
I don't do it so much these days, but my preference is for a blanket I can I put down and pick up without getting lost.
I can knit, and though I would say at a basic level - if I concentrated properly I could probably manage some intermediate knits. I want to pick this up again as I want a very basic cardigan, cannot find one in the shops but have a pattern in an old book here.

My blood tests all came back normal so it is frustrating to not have an easy answer to why I am struggling. I think maybe it really is just that I am burnt out.

Feeling deflated. I live rurally so witchy events are often spread out. There is actually one in my nearest village pub today. So I went along and I was in and out in under 5 mins. I am sick of how cliquey our local scene is. I get that it's lovely to see friends and have a good old natter, but when I had my shop I always made a point of opening conversation with customers and not ignoring them if friends or regulars were in. I felt like I was intruding.
I don't have a single friend locally who would come with me, and when the existing scene is so insular I am not sure how I am supposed to make friends and connections.

Sorry to hear you are feeling deflated queenrollo I hear you. I wish I lived closer we could huggle round a brew and have a natter.

I am feeling a little similar, even my yoga class this morning did little to lift the fug.
I have made myself some ceremonial cacao stirred with intention and just sat down to book some forthcoming witchy events. My woman's circle had plenty spaces last week, now the first available is December.

My mother has just announced that my cousin and her OH are coming to visit tomorrow- they live a few hours away- I simply can't face them. Christians ( so my mother has an expectation of pagan items removed) and the conversation all so one upman- cars, home improvements, holidays, new jewelry, events at the golf club.
I suspect I was expected to make lunch tomorrow, serve, be demure and sweet, not say the f word, not turn conversations onto "weird" topics.

As it has only just been announced I have invented a dental appointment- a lie, but needs must. I have also suggested mother takes them to lunch somewhere local, we have a few ultra posh castle/afternoon tea/ overpriced crap food type places nearby.
I just cannot sit through three hours of conversation with them. I will take myself off for a solo forest walk instead.

queenrollo you can always pop into this thread for understanding, we care, we listen, we can see your bright shining energy.

Oh Queenrollo sorry to hear that :( I wish you lived nearer to me as I would love some more local witchy friends. Well done for going along to the meet up. There was a moot in the next town to line yesterday but I'm just not brave enough to go.

There used to be quite a few women's circles, moon ceremonies, etc, locally, but there's been a bit of a shift recently, one of the organisers had a serious accident, another moved house. I've pulled back from the spiritualist events I used to go to because I felt there was too much ego.

I'm grateful to have this thread and virtual witchy friends 🧙‍♀️

Afternoon lovely ladies, I’ve been lurking for a while (and reading back on the previous threads - that’s going to take a while), hope you don’t mind me joining. I love the calm and positive energy you all share!
I’m not a witch but have always been drawn to the nature and spiritual world, I collect and use herbs and plants, make lotions and potions and herbal medicine (currently got bramble vinegar and hyssop syrup on the go). Recently I came across quite a few…signs(?) pointing towards the witchy ways - I suppose finding this forum being one of them (I’m not really active on MN otherwise). So I started reading and educating myself and we’ll see where the path takes me…

SeaEssence a warm welcome, lovely to have a new face. ( I love your username btw!) Non witches are welcome too! Grab a comfy seat and some tea, and settle in.

VioletCharlotte I'm grateful to have this thread and virtual witchy friends

I love that, I see real friendship here, the giving and receiving on this thread is amazing.

I have been bug busting today, think the damp weather has brought out lots of moths, and although I love wildlife, I don't like my carpets being eaten!
The previous occupiers laid some pure wool carpet in some areas, but the moths have made themselves at home. I already have a few bald spots on the stairs, and closer inspection reveals moth eggs and larvae.
I have been pulling out furniture to find hundreds of moths behind.
I have vacuumed , paying attention to nooks and crannies, but have resorted to a chemical spray.
Hopefully I have caught it i**n time.

Welcome @SeaEssence . Hyssop is one of my favourite herbs for a cough syrup. Always happy to talk herbs with a fellow greenwitch.

Hello, @SeaEssence (what a lovely username!)

If only we could all beam up to the kitchen table in the sky eh? For a good many moons I circled with a women’s group and perhaps even more than ritual connection, the natter and ribald laughter around the old dining table afterwards is something that will live long in my memory. Sadly, a combination of infirmity and passing, both out of this life and people moving away, led to the group’s ending. Unfortunately, it was a troubled ending and there were both harsh words and permanently severed ties. I felt for a long time that I would not join another group, now I’m finally getting around to cherishing the many great times we enjoyed and accepting the sadness when the time had come to let go. I would be open to the right people but everything has its season.

Today has been visiting Mr C and having lunch with him followed by a healing meditation for him at our local Pagan moot. I’m beginning - slowly - to rejoin my own life even though we still have a way to go in terms of recovery. I can’t allow myself to become small and stifled - that wouldn’t do either of us any good.

And you have all inspired me to dig out the crochet. 🙂

Sorry about the moths speakout they can be a bugger to shift. Even getting rid of the carpet and regular spraying, i still get the odd couple appear each year prompting another round of treatment. Half of me want to get the house bug bombed. Didn't previously because it would have killed the fish, but they are not a concern anymore as the tank got closed down and remaining fish rehomed. but the thought of then living in the space which is treated with so many icky chemicals is not appealing.

Welcome @SeaEssence

queenrollo sorry to hear that didn't go well.

re being burnt out, so am I, and reflecting on it, there are so many times in life that you feel burnt out - exams, work, illness etc.

I need something to moderate anger at the moment, I wonder if there's a herb for that!

Glad to hear you are clearing space for things Craftycorvid. Life can be tough, but finding joy is essential- no matter the circumstances.

Did you find something to help your anger EmmaEmerald ? Our emotions serve us well, but sometimes need a little helping hand to leave centre stage.

Intense emotions need to be explored and examined, sometimes a current event will trigger past times, and even being aware of that can make things easier to handle. Simply pushing down will often store that energy for another time.
One I have explored and understood my anger I find physical activity good for mopping up our anger hormones.
Adrenalin clears from the body quite quickly, but cortisol has a much longer half life- around 60 minutes so can linger for a couple of hours.
Physical activity will reduce the cortisol levels more quickly, if our anger is still present then the hormones will continue to be produced.

So a brisk walk will help, some exercise, I like to clear our a cupboard when I am cross. Then turn to journalling, yoga or meditation to find calm again.

I plan to set some intentions today to use the Lion's Gate portal which is at peak energy today.
I plan some art magic and some spell work - does anyone else use this auspicious time?