Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

Any Witches here? Part 20

982 replies

speakout · 16/02/2024 12:56

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

Any Witches Here?- Part 18 | 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/4717929-any-witches-here-part-18?page=1

OP posts:
Thread gallery
107
Limesodaagain · 14/09/2024 23:24

I’m not saying you’re engaging in “supernatural or occult power to harm others, engaging in what was often referred to using the Latin term maleficium.” But I think witch is not a great name to choose

BlankTimes · 15/09/2024 00:32

Limesodaagain · 14/09/2024 23:24

I’m not saying you’re engaging in “supernatural or occult power to harm others, engaging in what was often referred to using the Latin term maleficium.” But I think witch is not a great name to choose

What business is it of yours, barging in here to criticise?
Maybe you should stay on the Interfering Busybody forum where your misplaced intentions will be welcome.

We are fine, thank you and each of us will choose whichever or is that witchever name we like that most reflects our interests and practises.
Pagan, Witch, Crone, Scryer, Seer, WiseWoman are but a few.

We welcome enquiries from genuinely interested people, trolls will be smudged, salted and banished.

Goddess Bless

Passiflora2 · 15/09/2024 07:09

I have been following these threads since the start through various name changes, but don't often comment.
I think this is an interesting opportunity to talk about what the term witch actually means to people on this thread in terms of your practice. There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding amongst lay people, for want of a better description , and a lot of fear. A friend of mine was thinking of moving to the country some years ago, but was put off by a workmate telling them that their experience had been to live next door to a WITCH (shudder). My friend related this to me in horror, and I said 'well I would love that'. She looked at me in utter disbelief.

I was brought up in a very religious cultish household where the fear of the devil was drummed into me constantly. There is a common misconception that witches work with the devil, and maybe some black witches do. This is where the fear originates I think. It would be great to have a discussion about that if anyone wants to? It might educate others and quell some fears without being defensive or angry.

speakout · 15/09/2024 08:24

Good morning sisters, I hope we are all finding some fun or relaxation this weekend.
Emergies are moving well in my house at the moment, lovely feelings of calm and easy interaction.

This thread is such a wonderful place of solace and support for many of us.

I have no interest in defending my use of words, my choices or my actions to random strangers demanding explanations.

It isn't my job to educate others or make anyone feel comfortable with my word choices- I have no obligation to do any of that.Their fears are theirs alone- nothing to do with me. They are welcome to wallow in their ignorance.

I am sure there are many places on the internet which are discussing the etymology or validity of words- you may find the place you are looking for elsewhere. Or indeed start a new thread yourself.

I don't owe anyone justifications, for those looking to thrash out terminologies, valididations or seeking to criticise- this is not the best thread for you.

I am a happy Witch, enjoying the amazing sisterhood on this thread.

Bright Blessings magical friends.

OP posts:
BlankTimes · 15/09/2024 08:45

Witch as a chosen name has been covered many times in the past in these threads.

I'm not here to educate, inform or dispel anyone's fears. Their misunderstanding is not my problem to solve. There are plenty books available and many are recommended here already for that.

These threads are a safe quiet space where we can all discuss many of our shared and varied interests without having to justify ourselves to anyone outside our own.

I know it's open Internet and anyone can read and comment, but right now isn't a great time for many of our sister witches.

There are several topics on Mumsnet where the regular posters are not interested in justifying their way of life to outsiders, they just want to be left in peace and communicate with people who understand them. e.g Craicnet, Scottish MNers, Black MNers, the often derailed ND partners thread and many more.

Everyone who contributes here is following their own path, there is no definitive answer.

BlankTimes · 15/09/2024 08:52

Serendipity Speakout Iwas typing my reply and didn't see yours until I'd posted it.

Smudge spray and tingshaws to restore equilibrium.

FrostedSunrise · 15/09/2024 09:59

@Limesodaagain surely when you read back your own posts on this thread you can see how rude and disrespectful you come across? If you were genuinely curious about the modern usage of the word, you would have received a very different response, I’m sure. This group is a safe space for Pagans and witches to share their experiences and find community. Just as I wouldn’t dismiss your usage of the term ‘Catholic’ and demand you justify it, as it seems a very inappropriate name considering how small-minded many Catholics are and the centuries of persecution conducted in their name, we too deserve to be afforded the same courtesy. Everyone is welcome to contribute respectfully, but I think I speak for everyone here in saying that we won’t tolerate dismissive or offensive comments.

Paganism is a collection of pre-Christian religions and spiritual worldviews. It predates Christianity. Pagans, including those who call themselves witches, do not believe in the concept of the Devil, as that is part of later Christian theology.

Pagan practices, including witchcraft, are diverse and generally focused on nature, personal connection with Gods (although many witches are atheist or agnostic, as this thread will attest!), and personal empowerment, not any form of 'devil worship’. This is part of the Christian misinformation around magic that built up over the centuries, as part of which many women (and some men) were brutally murdered due to Christian hysteria around ‘devil worshippers’. Many of these people had no connection to magic at all, while some were witches who understood the use of herbs, charms and talismans, and midwifery. All murdered due to fear, misogyny, and collective Christianised hysteria. I therefore hope you can see how offensive your comments will seem to many on this thread.

speakout · 15/09/2024 10:04

Well said FrostedSunrise

OP posts:
Limesodaagain · 15/09/2024 10:07

Passiflora2 · 15/09/2024 07:09

I have been following these threads since the start through various name changes, but don't often comment.
I think this is an interesting opportunity to talk about what the term witch actually means to people on this thread in terms of your practice. There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding amongst lay people, for want of a better description , and a lot of fear. A friend of mine was thinking of moving to the country some years ago, but was put off by a workmate telling them that their experience had been to live next door to a WITCH (shudder). My friend related this to me in horror, and I said 'well I would love that'. She looked at me in utter disbelief.

I was brought up in a very religious cultish household where the fear of the devil was drummed into me constantly. There is a common misconception that witches work with the devil, and maybe some black witches do. This is where the fear originates I think. It would be great to have a discussion about that if anyone wants to? It might educate others and quell some fears without being defensive or angry.

Thank you . I appreciate that you understand there is an element of suspicion/ misunderstanding/ historical baggage over the term witch . I can see I’ve upset people. That wasn’t my intention. I’ll leave you all alone now. I certainly didn’t mean to barge in . I just saw the thread title and was curious.

Giggorata · 15/09/2024 11:34

Hello everyone, a very occasional poster here, just popping in before the Equinox.

I hope that everyone is OK and if they're not, eased and supported by the goodwill and good energy of their witchy peers and friends, here and in RL.

Life has certainly been a mixed bag recently, both for me and the coven. People are coping with loss and bereavements, illness and upset. I am thankful that we have each other to lean on.

I can feel my usual pull towards dreaming and musing in a cosy candlelit room during the dark half of the year. I will try to make it productive, getting on with my writing.
I have been promising to write a ritual for our big Samhain get together for ages. I can feel the components swirling around in my unconscious, let's hope they bob up soon. (That's how I used to write my uni assignments, mull on it for a while and then wake up one morning with the plan)

A new drumming and chanting group has arisen in a town not far away, and I have met some great women, plus improved my drumming! I particularly like the way we all gelled, chanting with no self consciousness, knowing immediately that we were in a safe space.
Drumming for me is very important, as it is an easy way to attain an altered state, so it is like a gift from the Universe to have this group.

That's it for now, although I often read, even if I don't post much.
Blessings to all.

Oh, Limesodaagain, I'd recommend that you carry on reading this thread, and maybe past ones, too. That will show you what we're all about.

FrostedSunrise · 15/09/2024 11:45

@Limesodaagain you haven’t upset me, in fact I think that if you come away from this better informed about Paganism and witchcraft (not all Pagans practise magic!) then I see that as a positive. However, your dismissive tone in giving your opinion on something you obviously knew little about will have offended some other posters on here. I fully believe in freedom of speech but I don’t believe that absolves us of the responsibility to alter our tone in different contexts and treat others with respect. As I said earlier, if you’d posted a genuine and respectful question then I’m sure you’d have found some posters kind enough to take the time to explain to you.

While not everyone in our community would use the word ‘witch’ to describe themselves, I don’t see why you would want people to abandon terms that may provoke ‘suspicion’ in others or which come with ‘historical baggage’, as you mentioned. There are many examples of communities choosing to reclaim words that were used to persecute or oppress them in the past, and it’s not my place as an outsider to judge those communities for that choice. Many might feel that by reclaiming that word and using it in a proud and positive sense, they are going some small way to healing the suffering caused by its malicious usage by their past oppressors. I’m sure many feel the same way about the word ‘witch’, and it’s no-one’s place to suggest that that is wrong or distasteful.

Again, I’m neither upset nor offended, but hope you’ve been able to learn something from this thread.

FrostedSunrise · 15/09/2024 11:54

And as @Giggorata said - stick around and read through the past threads too, you will undoubtedly learn much more than I can articulate in a few posts!

Nellieinthebarn · 15/09/2024 12:04

@Limesodaagain well you think what you want, and we will think what we choose, and we can all get along famously. Oh, “supernatural or occult power to harm others, engaging in what was often referred to using the Latin term maleficium.” just because we don't, don't assume we can't. I am sure some of us could.

Giggorata · 15/09/2024 12:05

So sorry everyone, I believe I have repeated myself about the drumming group… I can only plead that I'm getting old, cronehood and dottiness beckon.
(But I am dead excited about it!)

Limesodaagain · 15/09/2024 12:40

Nellieinthebarn · 15/09/2024 12:04

@Limesodaagain well you think what you want, and we will think what we choose, and we can all get along famously. Oh, “supernatural or occult power to harm others, engaging in what was often referred to using the Latin term maleficium.” just because we don't, don't assume we can't. I am sure some of us could.

Sorry - that was a quote from an online dictionary. It wasn’t my words ( just to be clear)

Limesodaagain · 15/09/2024 12:43

FrostedSunrise · 15/09/2024 11:45

@Limesodaagain you haven’t upset me, in fact I think that if you come away from this better informed about Paganism and witchcraft (not all Pagans practise magic!) then I see that as a positive. However, your dismissive tone in giving your opinion on something you obviously knew little about will have offended some other posters on here. I fully believe in freedom of speech but I don’t believe that absolves us of the responsibility to alter our tone in different contexts and treat others with respect. As I said earlier, if you’d posted a genuine and respectful question then I’m sure you’d have found some posters kind enough to take the time to explain to you.

While not everyone in our community would use the word ‘witch’ to describe themselves, I don’t see why you would want people to abandon terms that may provoke ‘suspicion’ in others or which come with ‘historical baggage’, as you mentioned. There are many examples of communities choosing to reclaim words that were used to persecute or oppress them in the past, and it’s not my place as an outsider to judge those communities for that choice. Many might feel that by reclaiming that word and using it in a proud and positive sense, they are going some small way to healing the suffering caused by its malicious usage by their past oppressors. I’m sure many feel the same way about the word ‘witch’, and it’s no-one’s place to suggest that that is wrong or distasteful.

Again, I’m neither upset nor offended, but hope you’ve been able to learn something from this thread.

I don’t think it’s that controversial to say that the term has historical baggage but I was curious about the way this group would define the term . I have learnt something from reading your replies. Thank you

BlankTimes · 15/09/2024 14:43

BB Giggorata always great to hear from you.

You are right, it seems that we are all being pushed to our limits and beyond with extreme events going on in our lives.

No problem with you being old enough to repeat the drumming workshop update, I'm old enough to forget the first one and think the second one is new. They are introspective and invigorating at the same time for me. There's so much to learn about the way sound can also be visualised and the effects it has on us, different ASC's from different hz. Lots of groups like to drum at ancient places, one of the chambers in WKLB is said to be more than amazing. Paul Devereux' Stone Age Soundtracks is worth a read for anyone interested.

There's something happening with a visual on the supermoon very soon,I'll go and have a look and report back. 🌒🌕🌘

Hedjwitch · 15/09/2024 17:08

Finally got into the garden today with weather,work and health all aligned. Soothes my soul to be outside and working with plants and herbs,as so many women have done before me.
I repurposed an unwanted clothes rail to use for drying herbs and really must get myself organised on the herbal front! Have tincture of rosemary ready to bottle and an elderberry elixir to make!

Any Witches here? Part 20
MistyMoonlight · 15/09/2024 17:18

Hi all, been a very wet and miserable day here, so have had a day inside once the outside daily essentials were done. Made a load of spiced stewing apples, from our inherited and very neglected orchard, and a honey cake using honey made by our hardworking bees. Both have been well received by terrier and DH, and the sheep and horses appreciated the apple peelings and cores!
@Hedjwitch you sound like me! I love being amongst the plants, and have a selection of herbs growing. Not many, as the garden is new to us. I love a hedgerow forage too. I l am very animal based usage with my growings and gatherings, anything to benefit wildlife or my familiars!
Hope everyone has had a blessed day

Craftycorvid · 15/09/2024 22:49

Evening all! @Limesodaagain I would recommend you to Ronald Hutton’s book ‘Witches’ - the name Witch has carried an awful lot around with it, and not all those called Witch by others actually identify as such. I’m happy to use Witch as a word to describe myself and I do use what may be called magic at times, always mindful of possible consequences. I have long adhered to the marvellous Mr Pratchett’s definition of magic as ‘headology’ - the neuroplasticity of the material world, if you like, plus good old fashioned psychology. As to anything Satanic, Satan is not a concept in Paganism. I don’t discuss my beliefs if I feel to do so would offend someone unnecessarily and add nothing to their understanding of me, but I don’t keep my spirituality secret either.

Looking forward to the bright and beautiful full moon in a few days’ time.

FrostedSunrise · 16/09/2024 09:27

It’s great to hear about everyone’s practices! The drumming workshop and herbal tinctures sound great Smile

Brunch yesterday went well, I actually really enjoyed myself and am glad I went. I also went to my first ever moot yesterday - I couldn’t believe how nervous I felt as I was travelling to it! Again, it’s something I’m glad I went to. There were lots of different beliefs represented there (part and parcel of Paganism being such an umbrella term, I’m sure), but there’s a ritual later in the week that I’ll be attending and will hopefully get to know people better and meet more new faces. One thing that did strike me was the obvious demographics at the moot - most people there were retired. I’m mid-20s, and I was surprised to be the youngest person there by some margin. I’m wondering if this will be replicated at other events as it would be nice to have somewhere to go where I can speak to people of all ages in the community, as I believe everyone’s different life stages and experiences lend themselves to a very enriching discussion.

Last week was very busy with work and I’m expecting this one to be similar. Looking forward to Wednesday’s full moon in Pisces which will bring a sense of completion and hopefully some emotional fulfilment. The full moon will be in Pisces 25°40’ and the Sabian symbol for that astrological degree is ‘A New Moon reveals that it’s time for people to go ahead with their different projects’, so interestingly there is a sense of new beginnings and splitting off into different directions and onto different paths hidden within this full moon. It reminds me a bit of the Judgement card in Tarot. A crossroads moment and time of change, the dawning or realisation of truth and a new beginning concealed within every ending.

Apologies for the ramble! This is a regular part of my practice so thought I’d share my musings. Have a blessed day and week ahead all 😊

MistyMoonlight · 17/09/2024 09:08

Good morning all! Hope you are well? Quick question, what do you use for finding your full moon dates? I've had conflicting information that the harvest moon is tonight, and something else tells me it's tomorrow!

FrostedSunrise · 17/09/2024 09:44

Morning @MistyMoonlight! I use Astro-Seek's moon calendar, which you can set to your local timezone. In general I find that website useful for all things astrological - they have some great birth chart calculators, for example, and they also have a planetary hours calendar so you can see which hour you're currently in or plan ahead.

Their calendar is telling me that the moon will be full in the UK at 03:34 London time on Wednesday morning, so that might explain the conflicting information you've received Smile

Moon Phase Calendar, Moon Phases 2024, Lunar Calendar Today Online

www.Astro-Seek.com - Seek and meet people born on the same date as you

https://mooncalendar.astro-seek.com

MistyMoonlight · 17/09/2024 10:01

@FrostedSunrise thank you so much, greatly appreciated x

Swipe left for the next trending thread