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..

Thank you @TheWytch . Some days are better than others, just have to plough on. Do you have a FB page for your jewellery?

Very windy here too last night. Will inspect the garden later hopefully no major damage

Chilling in my little sanctuary. When DD finally moved out last year,I took over her tiny bedroom. Its so lovely to have a place to call my own. I dry all my herbs in here.
DD2 has burned herself quite badly so am visiting her tomorrow with oil of calendula and chickweed, ( both from the garden) with added essential oil of lavender. I will also take fresh aloe in the leaf. I love the feeling that I am using and passing on knowledge that has been inherited from the women who went before. ( It won't let me add the photo)

@Hedjwitch I hope your daughter isn't too sore. .Oh I swear by aloe. As a silversmith I keep a plant in my studio. I have learned that silver will give as nasty burn when it's been soldered but I occasionally forget that the tweezers in which it was held get just as hot...Aloe takes the pain away very quickly and it seems to heal quickly too. Have you ever tried one of the burn charms? I hope your daughter isn't too badly burned.

Yes I have a FB page - two actually, one for the mainstream jewellery and another for the pagan/witch lines.😉

I was in Glastonbury all weekend at a craft show so I'm now wiped out (and sold out of stacking rings) so tomorrow it's back in the studio for some mass production. Stackers are boring to make but sell so well I have to just get on with it!

The storm was not too bad down here @speakout I think we missed the full force. It certainly didn't seem to reduce the numbers of visitors in Glastonbury

I hope your daughter is healing well Hedjwitch.

TheWytch do you have a website? Could you pm me?

Another blustery day here, DD has beeen moving house thhis week, so been very busy. She has a lot of surplus furniture so I have taken some 0f it, including a pair of large sofas.
I am not big on room makeovers, but I would like to alter our living spaces.We also now have 2 spare bedrooms, so one of them could become a workroom for me.
I have a fitted carpet in my living room, previous owners left it- now 11 years ago. It is wool, so comfortable with thick underlay, but has been badly damaged by moths under heavy furniture that doesn't get used regulary. I need to think about flooring.
I have ideas to decorate, to reflect my likes and interests, including an altar, floor sofas, shoji screens to cover the huge ceiling to floor windows, maybe a book nook or meditation space. I love natural materials, it has been a long time since I redecorated a room, so I would like to enjoy the process!

Still very blustery and windy here, but this autumn weather is energising. I didn't see the hunter's supermoon last night, but can feel its influence.
Off to an early yoga class before settling into a day of work.

Evening, sisters, and I hope you are all safe and well and enjoying the seasonal shifts. I’ve been feeling a bit loosely connected to the natural world lately, and too caught up in work and woes. I have a longing to go and kick a few crisp piles of leaves around before they fade away.

Just stumbled upon this thread and I'm in awe that this is the 21st chapter!!
Question - how do you know whether you are a witch? Something I have always wondered....

Good evening everyone.

I've felt like hibernating since the temperature has dropped a little. Home is so cosy, open fire, lots of warm white tiny lights,
candles, soft warm throws, hearty food and a happy cat.

Hi Rainbows41, yes, we're part of the furniture now. To answer your question, it's just something you know.
It's as much a part of your life as breathing.

Great question, @Rainbows41 . In my case, I always knew I was a ‘something’ that was quite different. I experienced the kind of religious awe in a forest that other people experienced in church. I had an odd ‘between worlds’ feeling as a child, and was quite sure that ghosts were real. And the clincher: in any given fairy tale, I was team witch, thinking they were unfairly maligned. It took me to my 30s before I discovered Paganism and realised it described me, and that there were modern witches.

Thanks for replying Blanktimes and Craftycorvid. I guess of you know, you know!
I have always had a fascinatiion in the other side and anything witchy and mystical, but if I'm honest less of the witchy and more of the mystical. I could have sworn I was cast a spell on by a group of witches when I was about 6. The palms of my hands turned green and everything. The teachers accused me of having held a green pen but I hadn't. I remember every detail well.
However, fairies, and other creatures fascinate me alot.
I do love this cosy time of the year also. You can't beat warm fires, cosy thick blankets, soft lamps and candles. Tonight I made a big batch of stew - the first one this year and it was incredible.
Xx

A warm welcome Rainbows41 , so glad you have joined us.

Blanktimes- I have been putting up little white fairy lights around my home too. Filling lanterns, strining them around plants and dark corners to add a little magical sparkle.

On being a witch- I don't think there is one answer to that question, and I think many people - especially women do have powers that can be life affirming. I think that is easily encompassed by the term human, but our definers are at fault, not our skills or talents.
Some people don't like the term witch, feel it is appropriation, disrespects those that were murdered during the burning times, as many were not "real" witches, but simply outspoken, rich or female.
Personally I like using the word witch because it is a slur, applied to women who speak the truth, women who challenge bad rules, or question authority. I will continue to use the word witch to describe myself because it feels accurate. As long as people are happy to use a book which tells them "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live", then I include myself in that witchdom.
My grandmother - born in the 1800s taught me a great deal - she read cards, and many other types of prophecy, laid out the dead, was a lay midwife, made numerous healing concoctions fro foraged herbs. She was called a speywife- a local term I think, which referred to her knowledge and craft. She would have baulked at being called a witch, it was a term of such fear.
It is of course ok to carry out magical works and not use that term. That does not diminish your craft one bit.
So whether you witch or not witch, it's all good!

I feel a bit of Devon Cole coming on here....

Welcome Rainbows. This is a warm and friendly corner of the Internet. My work is primarily with herbs and healing,so a Greenwitch,or Hedgewitch. I do have crystals which I use occasionally and two beautiful botanical Tarot packs which I am familiarising myself with. But its all about the power of the natural world for me,and aligning myself with its energies.

Hello @Rainbows41 and welcome. I'm not a great fan of labels as I find them limiting. I'm also not a great fan of the word "witch" (despite this user name). I am many things, both magical and mundane. I tend to refer to myself as a practitioner which is nice and vague and covers a lot of possibilities.

I took part in a research project yesterday with a UK university which is researching modern witchcraft. It was fascinating and I enjoyed the hour very much. If anyone wants to take part over Teams then I'm happy to PM over the contact details.

Chaos here. I've just cancelled an afternoon with a friend as the kitchen decorator is still here, the house is a depressing mess and I'm not focussed enough to do anything magical safely. I guess I'll go and make some earrings for the fairy weekend in Glastonbury tomorrow and Sunday. I need some stock for my stall and I can't do much harm with pliers...can I?

@speakout I'm sorry no - I don't have a website for the magical stuff. It's all from my Glastonbury pop ups or word of mouth. I sell much better in person than I do online. I do have a ko-fi page which occasionally gets the odd post.

Hello @Rainbows41 and welcome! I feel I'm dipping my toe into spirituality and all things magical, though not for the first time. I definitely had a similar experience to @Craftycorvid in forests and still feel they are very special to me. I feel very connected to the changing seasons and marking them is really important to me. My grandmother was into healing, readings, spiritualism etc. as well, she definitely believed in Puck causing mischief in the house.

I've also felt a bit disconnected from nature, as things have been more than a little busy. My dad had a TIA, but is OK now (things are complicated between us, though we've been communicating again). I felt like I was coming down with something and have started on oregano oil, floradix, lots of nourishing foods. Dd2's behaviour has deteriorated (I think she needs to go back on her meds), we've had lots of deadlines for admin for her too. I did manage to go for a crisp walk today.

Good morning sisters. What plans do you all have for Samhain? I'm hoping for dry weather so I can have a fire outside.

quirkychick I understand you feel connected to the seasons- I feel it much more connected his year for some reason.
The bounty is incredible.
I have been enjoying seasonal foods much more than usual too, I have made pumpkin soupl, apple and hazenut crumble, roasted squash with green goddess sauce, and plans for much more.

A fire at Samhain sounds amazing Hedjwitch, for so many years I have spun Halloween magic for my children, so festivities have been downsized. I live in a place that is always busy with guisers ( trick or treaters) and in the past few years I have put out pumpkins and strung lights for the visitors. While my mother was living with me I would fill a couldren of sweets and give her a witch's hat to wear, she loved answering the door to spooks and gouls.
My mother no longer lives with me,, so that won't be happening either.

There is however a workshop being run at my local ( posh) yoga studio on the evening of 31st Octobert- posh because it is such a relaxing space, with heavy bolsters, blankets and underfloor heating.
The event is called "The Coorie In." - so sweet!
Any fellow Scots will understand the word "coorie", meaning snuggle or nestle.
It is an evening of Yin yoga by candlelight some breathworlk and meditation - sounds very inviting!
I very much view my yoga practice as a spiritual and magical expression, my mat is my altar and I easily slip into the flow state bodywork is my ritual. movement sacred.

@Hedjwitch a fire outside for Samhain sounds great, as does the yoga workshop @speakout. The studio I go to (and am training at) also is quite "posh" but small. Very cosy with efficient hearing with Georgian windows, candles, fairy lights, plants etc. It feels very much like a sanctuary to me. For Samhain, my yoga teacher is running a Women's Circle candlelit forest walk, quite a few other trainees are coming too, so the atmosphere should be good - and hopefully dry!

quirkychick I love the sound of your forest walk women's circle. What an amazing idea!

I love the sound of your yoga studio too.
Classes run in dedicated yoga spaces are so comforting and uplifting.
Most of the yoga classes I attend are in council run sports halls, often poorly heated in winter, dusty floors, poor acoustics.
There are a couple of private yoga studios, but the prices are prohibitively high for me- £10 to £15 a class and no discount block or monthly membership. I do drop in every few months as a treat of if there is a workshop.
Otherwise my council leisure membership is £28 a month which allows me unlimited classes, access to gym, smimming, sauna etc.
The council run a large number of classes, yoga of different styles, Pilates, Shibashi, so very good provision.

I also find yoga classes a great way to meet like minded people- I have met some very good friends through my practice.

Sisters,I lost an old,dear friend this morning from this realm. If anyone is doing candles tonight,please send bright blessings to Vince that his energy may shine beyond the veil. Thank you.

Hedjwitch I am sorry to hear of your loss. I have lit a candle to guide Vince and to bring support to you and others who loved him.

Thank you.
He was a grandad in all but blood to the now adult DCs. Or Uncle Vince. Or,more often just " Vincee!" screamed by a delighted toddler hurling themselves into his arms when ever they saw him.

DD1 has done her candle with a photo of her and Vince. She's 35 now.

I lit a candle for Vince, he sounds like an amazing person to have been in your children's lives.

@speakout I agree that yoga can be expensive. One of the students runs a community group to make it more accessible. I have viewed this studio as my therapy and now I'm training there. Today we were talking about creating a sacred space before you teach your class. I'm really enjoying the deeper philosophy behind it. The forest walk should be good, I went to the Beltaine one which was great. I agree that it feels like finding your tribe

Thank you Quirkychick

Good evening, folks, and all hail the traveller, Vince. Go well in the Summerlands.

How is everyone this autumnal Saturday?

What a lovely way of putting it,Crafty. Thank you

Today I have a day to MYSELF! For the first time in months there is no one else home. It is utterly glorious. Weather is vile so havent gone anywhere but have made soup, got my lunch ready for work, prepped tomorrow's dinner, changed the bed and wrapped Christmas presents. Now for spiced mulled apple,a face pack,chocolate and a good book. I could SO get used to living on my own.