Any Witches Here? Part 21

[speakout]

Just settling into the new place, plumping the cushions and opening the windows. Welcome to n everyone, newcomers, old friends, the curious.
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..

Our pigeons use the pond!

Hello all!

it’s been a while since I popped in. This summer has been manic, I was so hoping for respite!
One of my cats had a stroke just as the holidays began, then she developed an ulcer on her cornea which needed surgery. I swear I have been back and forth to the vet so much my head is spinning!
We did get away to Green Man festival - the Boss Morris were my highlight!
Then a weekend camping party with friends.
On the 23rd the Black Moon coincided with my 50th birthday!
I honestly have felt uneasy about 50, but am now ready to embrace this next stage of life

queenrollo good to see you sister, and a belated happy birthday. Turning 40 was a milestone for me and it was an unhappy day. My 50s were enjoyable, and now in my 60s I am in the happy land of giving few fucks!!
Sorry to hear about your cat, we form such strong bonds with our animals. My youngest cat had surgery yesterday for an infected paw, a result of a thorn.
His paw was opened up, cleaned and stitched, home now with antibiotics , painkillers and a neck cone. He is pretty grumpy today, he has to wear the collar for two weeks and not allowed outside.
The vet bill was eyewateringly expensive.

My niece sent me this link- short clip of a woman's choir- powerful, emotional, hope the link works.
www.facebook.com/reel/922188920125711

Hi queenrollo nice to see you.
Nothing much to report here. Busy day at work so now in the bath. Then dinner,because obvs DS and DH who have been home all day have done fuck all. Again.
I may have slightly exaggerated a work event in September,which is a good few hours drive away. So apparently,I need to stay away for two nights,not one. In a beautiful place on the Scottish coast. Silly me.

It's all a bit full on here at the moment. I was planning on winding down before going on holiday next Saturday but seem to have booked myself a stall in the market at Glastonbury, for tomorrow and Tuesday! I must be mad! Especially as tomorrow is actually in the church - going to have to edit my stock a bit....

I need to make a detour in the morning to pick up some Red and White Spring waters for the perfume bottles as that brilliant idea only just occurred to me!

Good morning magical sisters.

The advance of autumn is starting to feel a little more real now. Light levels are low today. overcast and raining, I have a few candles lit to brighten up the dawn.
I had a yoga class booked this morning, but I have cancelled it, choosing to work at a slower pace and enjoy the soft, cool energy of the day. I have some candles to make, and need to pull some berries out of the freezer to make another batch of bramble honey.
I think of my grandmother when I make my honey, she would make a huge cauldron of rose hip syrup at this time of year and bottle it to see us over the winter. I remember thinking as a child that nothing in the whole history of the world tasted as good as granny's rose hip syrup. There is such wisdom in the old ways.

Afternoon!

I went into TK Maxx for a quick look at the halloween stuff ( yes I know!).

They had a couple of cool books that were actually concealed boxes which I snapped up to make some "beginner" portable witch kits as gifts for a couple of people I know.

So far I've put in a birthday cake candle, a hagstone candle holder, small book of matches and some salt sachets. There is room for more so any one got any suggestions?

I have rosehip syrup made and bottled,and a nice bramble syrup frozen in ice cubes ready to drop into hot water for a quick autumnal tea. Apple scrap vinegar is bubbling away,and the plum liqueur maturing nicely. Fire cider ,tincture of echinacea and thyme honey complete my armoury. Bring it on winter!!

I love TKmax TheWytch, I remember the Halloween displays from last year was good, I may pop in - if only to soak up the vibes! I love the sound of your witch kits too, maybe you could include some herbs, crystal, resins or incense? A small altar cloth to create a pop up secred space, or you could include items and instructions to cast a simple spell, or with the addition of some fabric and string instructions to make a mojo bag?
Hedjwitch I love the sound of your frozen bramble tea, what another good idea.

I'm taking today at a slow pace, life feels so calm when I do this. Mentally challenging stuff on my "to do" list, is it necessary, what will happen if it doesn't get done, does it absolutely even need doing.
I'm not a procrastinator by nature, but I do have a tendency to over function, and attempt many things at once. Today for instance I am enjoying a slow flow, but my mind is popping up with lots of ideas- tidy up the linen cupboard/prune some bushes/ replace the silicone filler around the sink. It would be very easy for me to turn a slow day into a busy packed one, I am making an effort to be unproductive!!

Lovely to hear how productive everyone is. All of your home made produce sounds wonderful.
I made some spicy buns this morning, cinnamon, cardamom, powdered ginger and frozen ginger pieces in a flour and oat base.

A friend sent me a lovely card today from a company I'd not seen before, moonlightandhares.co.uk. it has a moongazing hare and the words
"Be still and listen,
The Earth is singing."

Just found this thread and would like to join in please

Welcome ByLemonFish
Pull up a bean bag and make yourself comfy

Thank you 😊

Welcome, @ByLemonFish !

Rosehip syrup reminds me of my mum and grandma picking the rosehip in the garden - I used to love it! The bramble honey sounds lovely too.

My poor garden's a little wild, as I've started tutoring these last couple of weeks and hit the ground running - which is good but hectic. I have booked myself a sound bath a week on Sunday and a Sister Moon woodland walk on Halloween.

May I ask your advice? I came here years ago for help and was truly grateful to those who answered my call and am hopeful you’ll be able to help again.

I need to protect myself from someone. We have a personality clash but more than that, she holds power and I wither when she’s near. I’ll be seeing her soon and need to be strong but can’t be.

I know about imagining myself surrounded by white light but what else can I do? Is there a protection crystal I can buy? Or anything else I can do?

Many thanks.

Welcome ByLemonFish 😁

Welcome back UniversityofWarwick
No one can have power over you, seriously.
If you've not come across the concept of Locus of Control before, please read up on it, it may help you to see why you see this situation as you do.

Darker coloured crystals are often associated with protection.
Black Tourmaline is great and easily available.
As are Smoky Quartz, Obsidian, Hematite, then a range of others.
You don't need to spend a fortune on a spectacular piece, but it's best if you can hold a few and FEEL which are most comfortable for you. The most attractive to look at are not indicative of their vibration.

Salt is a great protector, rock or sea, not the supermarket white stuff with additives. A few grains in a pocket or your bag will remind you that you have support.

Also start practising some calming breathing techniques now so they are second nature before your meeting.

You CAN handle it and not be intimidated. If you find eye contact with her too upsetting, focus on the middle of her forehead instead.

I'm sure you will have lots of other tips and favourites too.

Welcome ByLemonFish, glad you have joined us.

UniversityofWarwick our wise sister Blanktimes is spot on. This kind of relationship is a dyad. Controlling people can only control others who sumbit to theirr power. It takes two. And when the subordinate refuses to play the game then the controller is unable to control. I hope that doesn't sound harsh, but being aware of the dynamics can help us find a fix. When you say this woman "hold power"- do you mean literally? Is she your boss or other kind of structured arena? A family member maybe?

Could you go no contact with her? I have little time for people who want to play these dysfunctional games, sometimes distance is the best option.

Afternoon all! New username, but long time lurker/occasional participant! I have been having all manners of issues with things and having to restart quite a few things due to them becoming "lost" to me, a sure sign I've been too wrapped up in modern life and not giving myself and the old ways the time and acknowledgement needed. I have just returned from a windy walk with my little familiar, which felt quite cleansing, and felt like I was able to quietly reintroduce myself here.

We initially went to collect some water from a wishing well near us (known today as a holy well as there is a abandoned and dilapidated church next to it now, but the well/spring has been there since before there was any record of Christianity on the site), but there was no water to be had. We left our tokens of gratitude anyway (degradable and wildlife friendly of course! There were a few clooties tied to the gate and a few Christian necklaces, but I don't like leaving permanent traces of my visits), and went for a walk down some footpaths nearby. Rainwater from the garden waterbutt it is for the moon water then! It's a lunar eclipse and the hunters moon (I believe the harvest moon is in October as it's closer to the equinox than September's moon, so they've swapped? Please correct me if I'm wrong), so I'm looking forward to having a jar on hand. Anyone add anything else to their moon water (if you use it!)? I was debating adding some herbs to the water, but I also like using herbs when I use it, such as using a sprig of rosemary to sprinkle it with when doing an energy cleanse, or using a rose petal or two to wipe some onto my forehead etc. Would love to hear how other have made rituals their own.

Blessed be

Afternoon and happy weekend to you all!

Well, been a week here, something has shifted, and i'm not sure if it's me, or the world around me. I've felt very 'off-kilter' lately.. now i know i'm dealing with teenagers going back to college, chronic illness/pain issues, and all the fun of that fair.. but it feels like a spiritual shift, and i wish i could put a.. purpose or name to it, i don't know. Things to meditate on i suppose, if i get a spare minute.

Looking forward to having monday to myself for the first time in months.. Monday is first day both teens are out at college all day. If the weather is nice and i'm physically feeling able, i may potter in the garden and take some care of my rose, and maybe just sit for a bit... if not, i guess i'll find time to sit and read instead!

Hi folks,have been ploughing through the fruit mountain. Stewed apples,stewed plums,frozen plum halves, and made a plum crumble cake with ds( 23). STILL got tons left!
Got the grass cut finally and managed to pick good handfuls of yarrow and plantain from the garden. Had my haircut too and the hairdresser carefully removed a few pieces of grass first!!

It is really starting to feel autumnal now, darker, blustery and changeable.
I had a baby in July and am feeling a bit disconnected.Does anyone have tips for grounding myself (and the baby[ back in nature? We are just getting the hang of the sling, but I'm not strong nough yet for long walks

Many congratulations on your lovely baby rivierliedje

Can you find or create a small area in your garden where you and baby can sit and enjoy the peace whenever the opportunity arises.
A chair, maybe a table and room for the buggy if baby is asleep, maybe plant a few seeds or bulbs or cuttings in a couple of pots so you can watch them grow.
Anything that is easy to set up and requires minimal maintenance is your friend.

How lovely to hear of your little one rivierliedje. Go easy on yourself. Producing a baby from your body is hard work, give yourself time.
Sitting in your garden - if you have one- just soak up nature, watch wildlife, listen to birds ( download the Merlin app which is amazing) take your shoes off so you can literally ground. Could you drive a short distance and sit somewhere with baby and a little picnic? Slings are great- I didn't have a buggy for my children, but can be hard work, especially on the hips and back. It takes a while to gain confidence too.

I had a river walk yesterday, sat by the water's edge with a small branch, there has been a lot of hard stuff tto deal with lately. I broke off pieces of the stick as I sat, and attached an emotion to each piece, I spoke out loud- " fear" , "frustration", " sadness" naming each piece of wood as I dropped them one by one into the river and watched as they were carried away. It felt a good way to let go.
My Shamanic women's circle sometimes does a similar thing, throwing pieces of wood into a bonfire fire, stuff we want to be rid of.

Hopefully tonight's full blood moon will gather and release our burdens.

I attended a sound bath on Friday, it was so good, so relaxing, sitting in that energy with like minded people was like balm.
There is a woodland woman's circle being held this evening, and still spaces left. these full moon circles work with ancestors. I have been doing a lot of ancestor work in the past week or two, and there are still spaces at the circle. I may decide later in the day. It is a bit of a drive, and gets me back later than I would like, so not sure yet.
I hope everyone finds full moon release today.

What a brilliant idea for releasing, Speakout reminding us that everyday magic is part of life. * *

I saw something on TV which I thought may strike a chord with many of us who have neurodiversity in the family and also have family members and "friends" who minimise and question the need for interventions or think people could just "try harder".
Here's Kelly Hoppen explaining just one of the facets of her dyslexia, but her description about the difficulty of understanding instructions is not confined to dyslexia alone

Feeling very connected to the Earth today. Finished prepping the last of the apples and plums and went down the garden to put the remains in the compost,thus going full circle.( Have made apple scrap vinegar already with some of the peel and cores)
On the way back up i filled my bowl with fresh oregano for cooking and making an infused oil,and munched on a greengage straight off the tree. I also acknowledged a ladybird and a froglet,and topped up the birds water.Yesterday I picked more plantain and yarrow.