Any Witches here? Part 20

[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

@speakout ...saw this and thought of you

So funny Hedjwitch !!!

It is a pleasure to read about your life LostInAMist , bees, horses and wildlife, I hope girl horse heals soon, I have whispered a healing message in the wind for her to hear.
I have just returned from a woodland walk, it has moved me to tears.
Such colour, vibrancy, the whole forest seems pulsating with life. I sat by the river and watched a pair of goosanders feeding and saw the gaze of a deer watching me on the opposite bank. Being aware of our own existence is a gift, and although there is so much we don't understand I do know that this world is precious and we should be taking great care to take no more resources than we need.
I had intended a yoga class this morning, but my body was telling me otherwise, so I listened and headed into the woods instead.

I am freezer mining at the moment, I have a chest freezer in the garage which is permanently full- I'm not even sure what it contains! I really want to use up the frozen stores rather than buying more food.
So OH has pulled out frozen pitta breads, chicken, a bag of sliced pre grilled aubergines I bought from Lidl when they were on offer, a jar of home made chilli sauce, some left over ham from christmas, sliced tofu in a marinade, a bag of chopped pineapple and a bag of blueberries. So all good finds! That will keep us going for a while, not quite sure what I will make though.

I hope everyone has a magical day.

I do love a good freezer mine, @speakout It prompts some inventive cooking and it can feel like free food when you happen on something you’d forgotten.

@LostInAMist such a lovely description of your animals and life. I live in the city with a small garden, but try to make the most of the wildlife around us. We have great tits in the hedge at the moment and several parks nearby that I walk through coming back from the shops.

@speakout I agree a freezer mine is great and creative. It feels more natural making food from what is available. Last night we had chicken curry from chicken in the freezer, leftover coconut milk and last few veg in the fridge.

quirkychick many cities have lots of green space and wildlife don't they.

I was looking at a recent arial photograph of my nearest city and was pleasantly surprised to see how much green space there is, in gardens and parks.
Nature is always there, I smile when I see plants bursting through concrete or growing in roof guttering defying odds with their resilience.

I also love a curry- of any description!, Great for using up bits and bobs, I put in whatever I have- half a pepper, a few mushrooms, couple of carrots.
I have cracked making chapatis, they are so much nicer than shop bought and less expensive too.
I have been walking around with a big smile looking at things for the past two days, I feel so much joy in my heart right now. Despite the challenges in my life I am holding this feeling tightly and making it very welcome.

Can I ask what if any Tarot or Oracle cards everyone uses?
I have a few decks, some I have been given, others I have bought for myself.
We worked with the Rose Oracle deck at my recent women's group, I hadn't seen that one before, it feels full of soft energy and goddess energy.

Not that I need another deck, but sometimes they are hard to resist!

My yoga teacher used Chakra Oracle cards at our Chakra Dance Workshop. I'm absolutely no expert, but the card she gave me couldn't have been more pertinent.

These ones.

Hi, newbie here 😊

I was a lapsed Christian in 1999 when I met a pagan on an online messageboard. I got curious, asked questions and did a lot of exploration. I decided that - if there was God the Father, God and Son and God the Holy Ghost, where was God the Mother and God the Daughter? That was the point at which I parted company with Christianity. So I've been pagan for 25 years now.

I'm retired, live in south west UK, I've been married to a pagan-sceptic husband for nearly forty six years now (he's softened a bit from his initial VERY hostile reaction). We were in business together for forty of those years (guest house and then self catering holiday apartments) which is quite unusual and would probably have driven the vast majority of couples insane 😜

We moved in October 2023 so we have been settling into our new life. Not for long though because hubby's ambition is to build a passive house. That involves demolishing our current cold draughty damp 1970s bungalow this autumn and building a new eco friendly, energy efficient bungalow to replace it. So retirement isn't looking very quiet for at least two years 🙄

We have two offspring, not children really because one is late thirties and the other turns 40 next month (how did that happen?!?!) Both are on the autistic spectrum, the older one living not far from us in a social housing flat, the younger one living in a specialist care home in the Midlands. So life hasn't been straightforward however we are grateful that the 'kids' have challenged us and made us stronger as a family.

I love cooking so I'd love the recipe for chapatis. Hubby has tried them (he's a trained chef) but never really cracked it. We both love curries.

Tarot or Oracle cards? My go-to decks are the Faeries Oracle (Brian Froud), Gaian Tarot, Tarot of the Wildspirit (OOP), Osho Zen Tarot and The Goddess Oracle (Hrana Janto). But I have to admit that I have over 50 tarot and oracle decks (most still packed and sealed into boxes from our move 😢) Many were bought in the early 2000s so are OOP. I haven't bought a deck for a couple of years now because many of the modern decks are so niche that they have a whole different interpretation system of their own.

I'm currently loving the little cluster of snowdrops in flower in our garden. I could never grow them previously so they are a source of much delight, as is the magnificent mahonia in full flower (I can't pass it without giving the flowers a sniff because they smell so delicous!

Sorry for going on so long (it's a fault of mine)
Misty

Welcome @Misty. What an interesting life you have had. Pull up a chair by the fire while I get the kettle on.
Like you I am a lapsed Christian ( Catholic) and now a happy greenwitch growing and using herbs and giving the finger to patriarchal religion.

Welcome to this lovely safe space of sisters @MistyDryad. Cosy chat and bountiful knowledge awaits!
Oracle cards have always intrigued me. I used to have a deck of tarot cards I used a lot in my teens, but I have a feeling disapproving parents disposed of them, as one day they just vanished. I have often thought about getting another deck, as I found them quite helpful when my mind needed clarity, and they were quite meditative to use.
Girl horse looks like she's on the mend, she's a lot brighter in herself and back being sassy to the boys. I'm grateful for all your healing wishes sent her way. I was looking at my fields yesterday while out doing my rounds, and all the lovely herbage I planted and had high hopes for transforming the grazing have given up I think. Since they were planted we have just had two years of wet horrible weather, and now with the animals on them I think they didn't have a chance to establish enough. I'll need to get my books out to plan another seed haul, so that there's a beneficial variety for Equine, Ovine, Avian and Apis alike!
Bright blessings all

Thanks both 😊The kettle sounds like a brilliant idea, @Hedjwitch If I refuse a cup of tea, hubby jokes that he phones the doctor 😅 Glad your girl horse is feeling better now, @LostInAMist

Hopefully now spring is round the corner (I hesitate to say 'is here') things will start budding and coming into leaf. I noticed big fat reddish buds on the hydrangea yesterday and the beautiful Partridge Breasted Aloe plant in my greenhouse has not one but three flower spikes emerging from its natty green and white striped succulent rosette. Last year the snails chewed their way through a flower spike so I shall have to be extra vigilant this year 🙄

Welcome @MistyDryad I am joining you with a cup of green tea with mint. That does sound complex, I understand some of what you've been through as my youngest has asd and complex needs and is in a specialist children's care home. Though, for us it's recent.

It really feels like the cusp of winter and spring. It is noticeably lighter and sunnier this week, though still wintry in temperature with a biting wind. Lots of snowdrops under the trees in a local park.

A warm welcome MistyDryad so glad* *you have joined us.
None of us can escape the impact of the church, even if we grow up in an atheist family, it is embedded into our society- validates inequality, bigotry and fuels the patriarchy.
I was brought up a "mild" christian, but even non dom schools often deliver and in fact required by law to "lead active worship.
As a child I didn't think to question the church but in my teens I read a great deal and became an atheist.
LostInAMist I am glad to hear girl horse is on the mend.

Chapatis- I have made a batch today, and they have turned out well. I think the technique is the important part- rather than ingredients.
The dough is simple, just flour ( I use 30% plain wholemeal and 70% white) and salt. I put in a dollop of plain yoghurt to enrich the misture, nead then rest before rolling out. Set to cook on a large hot pan and watch. Flip a few times during cooking and rotate. As brown spots begin to appear push down , turn and press, flip and press until the chapati is one large bubble.This video shows that process. The bubble squashing seems to be key, steam is generated inside the chapati, and makes for a lighter, non doughy texture.

Such a beautiful sunny morning here, much milder temperatures than of late. Still only February of course, but the Oestre energy is riding high and such a joy to watch growth emerging. I drove past lots of wild geese feeding at the river on my way to Body Balance this morning, they will be leaving soon to head north, while visitors from North Africa- swallows and swifts will arrive in a month or so.
I am still riding the horse of joy, enjoying my clarity of vision. I am tempted to erect my whirlygig for some outdoor laundry, but my back garden is North facing, and stormy weather predicted tomorrow.

I have been watching some old movies this week, from the Hammer House of Horror, Currently The Gorgon with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, made in 1964.
Those of us old enough to remember may have watched the Friday night horror movie screened weekly by the BBC.
Although considered shocking at the time and X rated, by today's standards they are very tame. There is a shocking amount of misogyny in the films, but if you can see past that there is something charming about these movies, which were big hits at the time. Vampires, mummies, werewolves, Frankenstein all fit for some cheesy and predictable storyline, but I am enjoying them!
Otherwise a calm day of pottering, small magic, tea and Tarot.

Met this little chap today

Oh wow Hedjwitch- a red squirrel! Was this somewhere local to you?

Yes,the local RSPB reserve where we put a memorial bench for my mother. I often go there to chat to her and feel her energy in the wind and hear her voice in the birdsong.

@Hedjwitch you lucky thing! They are lovely. Your description of your connection with your mum is very emotive.
Things are growing and changing around here with each passing day. Buds are now opening, and I have a riot of crocus and daffodil in my garden. The bees have all come through winter really well, and are having a busy day today, before the storm tomorrow. Rugs are on the horses to give them a bit of extra protection. Terrier and I have had a few good walks out and about, through woods, across moor and by the sea, the wind has been rather bracing at times, but has blown away some of the negative energy I seem to be carrying around. I have been rather pensive of late, and looking inwards, wondering about changes and personal growth, and facing some hard truths. It has left me feeling drained and low, but I suppose you must be at the bottom before you can start climbing to the top. I'm not usually like this, so maybe I'm just a bit more in tune with the season and the changes in the wider world at the moment. Hopefully I can channel this energy into something positive and peaceful.
Bright blessings all

@LostInAMist Sending hugs and hoping your feeling of being drained and low dissipates soon as spring revs up @speakout fortunately our garden is south east facing so we've had sunshine on our whirligig from about 9am until 3pm so I got a load of laundry dry and it's now on the heated airer in the office/study @Hedjwitch red squirrels were introduced into the Abbey Gardens on Tresco a few years back and have made themselves very much at home. Sadly we were always too busy working to take a boat over to see them but I've seen some lovely photos. Your photo really embodies the pert little scamp.

Yes, it's been a glorious day today and I've been out in my greenhouse while hubby has been cleaning and painting our shipping container with black shiny paint to keep any rust at bay (we kept it after we moved from Scilly to Cornwall and it's been very useful). Our big (10ft) camellia with its double candy pink flowers is absolutely covered in blooms ... but the downside is that they turn brown and drop all over the grass and path. Fine if you have a big woodland garden but ours isn't that big. Scraping rotten soggy brown dead flowers off your shoes before you come indoors becomes a chore when it goes on for three months. But it's lovely to see so much plantlife waking up and budding.

Not looking forward to the wet and windy weather tomorrow but all the 'hatches' are battened down and we're reasonably well protected from southerlies and south westerlies, with a big tree covered hill behind us. Time to schedule some writing, reading and lots of hot drinks, I think 🙂

@Hedjwitch How wonderful, your red squirrel. The RSPB Reserve sounds like a real sanctuary.

The lighter evenings really do have the feelings of spring. I have just been to a Feelgood Hub with an EFT session and a restorative yoga session. Lots of interesting women to talk to.

What a gorgeous squirrel, @Hedjwitch ! So hopeful seeing signs of life when the world feels darker than usual.

Flying visit,
Speakout, I'm delighted to hear of your progress, what an incredible operation and recovery.

I am putting something together on the Neolithic and associated stones etc,

Hedjwitch, amazing photo of Red, stunning.

Quirkychick , not sure if you know it's the EFT World Summit, right now, and it's all free.

www.thetappingsolution.com/blog/tapping-world-summit-2025/

P.S. sorry, multitasking and not doing a great job,
Warm welcome to all our new Sisters, so glad you have found our kitchen 💖

Love your squirrel, Hedjwitch, we sometimes get the reds on our peanut feeder.