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Philosophy/religion

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Any Witches Here? Part 21

681 replies

speakout · 09/03/2025 08:25

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..

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Hedjwitch · 12/03/2025 19:58

No. You would need a distillery if you wanted to distill essential oils but that's above my level of knowledge.
You can make infused oils,decoctions, balms,tinctures and teas with nothing in the way of special equipment. A jelly bag or strainer is useful and a set of utensils that you use purely for herbal work and you are good to go.

AmusedOpalShaker · 12/03/2025 21:20

Hi all!

I am a total baby to this, complete newbie, so I hope I can join you all!

I’ve always been taken with the practice but never really delved in.

Recently I've been doing courses on things such as Chakra cleansing, Energy Basics, Tarot etc.. further reading around holistic practices led me onto rituals, witchcraft, spells etc and I was very intrigued!

Intrigued but clueless.

I’m planning to work my way through your previous threads, but if anyone has any other recommendations, websites, books that would be beneficial for a total newbie, I’d be most grateful!

Thank you all xx

speakout · 13/03/2025 07:28

A warm welcome AmusedOpalShaker.
Have a seat by the fire, tea is brewing
Your own spiritual path will be unique to you, none of us are experts in all things magical.

I am a newbie when it comes to runes, candle magic, astral travel and many other areas- and tat's OK. There is such a vast amount of information no one would be able to have depth of knowledge in everything.
Think of what interests you- and start learning. You can study several topics at once, or drop some and restart later.
No rules, no structure.

I find it hard to suggest books, maybe others can.

There are some amazing youtube channels, real life witches and magical practitioners, usually soothing and informative.
My favourite magical channels are-

Molly Roberts
The Witches Cookery
Kelly Ann Maddox
Alwyn Oak
Tylluan Penry.

There will be others-and I love having suggestions too!

My poor old car failed its MOT badly, so I have been sorting out a new ( to me) car.
I really dislike all the adulting that needs to be done, takes up time and a lot of money.
I have a hire car at the moment ( no public transport here) and I spent yesterday visiting car dealers. Not my favourite places! One salesman was joking about "getting rid of the wife" - at that point I just closed my ears and terminated the conversation. DD came with me which was really helpful, and I did find a little car that I loved, at a small private dealership which wasn't bristling with male ego.
DD and I had lunch at a homely little pub which eased the pain! Last night OH sorted out my insurance and road fund stuff, so hopefully I can go to the bank, then pick up my new car, then take hire car back this evening.
I will be so relieved when everything has been done- I find it all so stressful. Is that just me?

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quirkychick · 13/03/2025 14:06

@speakout thank you for those YouTube suggestions and @Hedjwitch for the herbal advice. I am very interested in herbs and herbalism, as an extension of interest in food, cooking, nutrition and health generally. I'm also curious about spellwork and any suggestions where to start.

@BlankTimes I've passed on your Prehistory Guys recommendation, I've passed it on to a friend with similar interests.

I went to a magical Yin practice last night and tried a different gentle yoga this morning - I have a niggly back on and off with a physio appointment on Monday. Thos morning there were only 3 of us, so it was like a bespoke class. This week has been a busy week of lots of admin, meetings and socialising.

I hope your car is all sorted soon @speakout. We ended up replacing ours last summer as it kept giving out in the middle of hospital appointments etc.

speakout · 14/03/2025 12:49

quirkychick I hope your back is better, your Yin yoga class sounds good- not a style I have tried.

Spellwork is so interesting and sounds complex, but it can be as simple or elaborate as you desire.
From "high" ceremonial magic taking lots of time to prepare, to simple acts like freezing a written name on paper to prevent and disperse bad deeds from others, whispering into the wind, anointing a candle.
There is a ton of stuff on the internet describing a spell process, it may or may not include some type of protection for you such as a salt or imagined circle. you may want to call on the guardians of the compass points or deity,use specially anointed candles, certainly herbs, I like to use sounds or music and some type of fragrance, burning herbs or incense, I also work with correspondences, colour, metal, crystal and timings- of the moon or any other celestial happening.
When it comes to the casting I like spoken word and there are many online if you don't want to write your own. Existing spells can be adapted. The most important thing is your intention, and communicating that to the outside and your inside worlds.
Our subconscious mind understands music, rhythm, repetition, sounds, smells, when we cast a spell we imprint that intention into our subconscious, which works towards manifestation.
From my own personal experience the time and energy researching and preparing for a spell will increase the outcome, bringing faster more accurate results.
Keep your intention clear, that will affect the outcome.

I would love to hear anyone elses experience of spellwork too!
Although I incorporate lots of "small" magic every day, I don't do many larger workings.
I think last time was over a year ago.-

My OH has ASD, but works in a demanding technical role, where he exels.
Two direct managers were making his life a misery, and had been doing so for quite some time, it was clear he was being bullied terribly. My OH was seriously considering leaving his job - which he loves- but dreaded going to work every day.
I was becoming angry at these two men, so as soon as OH left in the morning I closed the curtains at home and set up my spellcasting space. I had an earlier prepared spell, which too no more than 30 minutes.
After my working I packed away my materials and went about my day.

When my OH arrived home that night his first words were " What have you done?.
He told me the two managers were called to a meeting in the afternoon, they were being moved to another department, same salary, no demotion, but from that day forward had no responsibility or dealings with my OH.

My OH suspected I had something to do with this unexpected change, the twinkle in my eye showed him the truth!

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VioletCharlotte · 14/03/2025 13:13

Injured witch here! Fell off my broomstick and fractured my elbow 😞
Thank you for the new thread @speakout I'm going to pop myself down on a cushion and rest for a bit. Life has been bumpy lately...catching up on the posts, I can see this has been the same for many of you. I'm grateful to have this space where we can come together and support one another.

speakout · 14/03/2025 16:31

Oh no VioletCharlotte, that sounds painful.
I will light a healing candle for you tonight at 8pm. x

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quirkychick · 14/03/2025 22:06

@VioletCharlotte I hope your elbow improves and sorry life has been bumpy for you too. Happy to sit on a cushion with some tea with you.

@speakout wow, that spell sounds amazing for your OH. I think I have been heading towards doing things with intention for a while and am ready for something more. My back feels better today, but has been coming and going for several weeks, so I've made a physio appointment on Monday.

Hedjwitch · 15/03/2025 08:59

@violetcharlotte nothing worse than a broomstick crash landing. Hope you feel better soon.

I slept with the curtains open last night and loved the full moon casting her light onto my bed.

Off to my weekly killer yoga flow class today. Can't believe I've stuck at it but am determined not to lose my mobility as I age. I can do about 80% of the class now, with a few child poses to get my breath back, so have improved a lot.

HarryBlackberry1 · 15/03/2025 09:28

Hi all, I'm relatively new to my pagan path. I'm loving following the wheel of the year and the little rituals that go along with it. I hope you don't mind if I pull up a comfy chair next to the fire and join you all.

quirkychick · 15/03/2025 10:51

@Hedjwitch I'm still sitting out my killer yoga flow on a Saturday morning, sadly. I'm trying to do the gentle and yin classes plus walking until I've seen the physio, as I keep feeling better and then setting myself back. It's teaching me patience, I hope!

Welcome @HarryBlackberry1 I'm quire new too.

Flossi24 · 15/03/2025 17:16

May I join you. I have popped in very briefly on previous posts and would love to be more regular. I've been interested in the path for a number of years but have only ever really dipped my toe in the water. Loving the spring sunshine and the stunning flowers that are merrily appearing.
I recently bought a new set of tarot cards. The Everyday Witch cards. Does anyone use them. I LOVE them. They seem so intuitive and just generally bring me joy to use.

ISaySteadyOn · 15/03/2025 18:16

@VioletCharlotte , I hope you feel better soon. Flowers

@speakout your spell for your OH was so lovely to read about. I could see your love for him there. It's inspired me!

I have always been interested in spellcraft but very nervous about practicing. Today I bought a lovely book about hearth and home and in the front was a very simple straightforward spell to enhance the reader's experience of that particular book. That seemed a good place to start so I have. It seems fitting for my personality that my first spell was about books and reading.

speakout · 15/03/2025 18:57

I was full moon bathing last night too. My bedroom window has the exact track of a full moon from 9-11pm, I fell asleep with moonlight flooding the room. I am glad yoga is feeling a bit easier for you.
New faces are always welcome HarryBlackberry1, I am glad you have joined us.
Welcome too Flossi24, I am glad you have paid us another visit.
The Everyday Witch Tarot deck is my all time favourite.
It has been discussed on this thread in the past year or two, many of us love and have a pack. Such a playful, nostalgic vibe, I love them too.

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quirkychick · 16/03/2025 15:05

The moon was spectacular here last night, too. We went to the theatre and although it was freezing, the full moon was amazing to walk home under.

Hedjwitch · 16/03/2025 19:53

When my.mother died unexpectedly last April, I brought her garden rocking chair round to our place where it has sat forlornly in our garden. This weekend I finally repainted it,several coats because it was so dry and cracked. Out in the spring sunshine,listening to the birds, memories came flooding back.
Mum.in this very chair,doing the crossword or reading. In her dressing gown on early summer mornings, or tucked under a blanket on star gazing evenings. Always ready for another cup of tea and a few biscuits or cake which she shared with the birds
Even more ready for a " top up" of wine or gin in the evenings,waving her empty glass at whoever was getting up to nip inside for the loo,as we all sat out on a variety of chairs and cushions,chatting.
Rocking grandchildren to sleep in the most loving of arms until a grateful parent prised them.off her and into bed at grandma's.
I felt such a connection in the painting of a chair which thrummed with memories and when I finished I'm sure I heard her say" Oh if you're going in, bring me a top up love".

Any Witches Here? Part 21
quirkychick · 16/03/2025 20:09

Oh, @Hedjwitch that's so lovely. These family items can be so meaningful. We have a rocking chair (indoor) that my grandfather made for my mother, which she then gave to me. It needs some tlc, you've just reminded me.

FizzingAda · 16/03/2025 21:57

Hedjwitch, beautiful memories of beautiful mum 💖

queenrollo · 17/03/2025 06:49

For those exploring using herbs and plant medicine I really like Danu’s Irish Herb Garden on YouTube. Lots of past videos to catch up on.

I am still waiting to be seen by neurosurgery about my spinal tumour. They sent an appointment but I cancelled it because it clashed with a long standing commitment I can’t move. So it appears I am back on the waiting list.

My mental health is much better now I am back on the antidepressants. But I am still finding life a little difficult for various reasons beyond my control.

Welcome to the newcomers, it’s a lovely corner of the internet

quirkychick · 17/03/2025 10:38

@queenrollo wishing you healing for your back and mental health. I love Danu's Irish Herb Garden, too, I think you recommended it to me before. Thank you, and a good reminder.

speakout · 17/03/2025 14:06

Hedjwitch what a beautiful photo, your Mum sounds amazing.

Sorry to hear of your health challenges queenrollo, but glad to hear your mood is improved. I am so glad that is is becoming much easier to talk about mental health and stigmas disappearing.
We are all touched by mental health problems, whether us directly or our loved ones.
Talking about mental health is crucial, in years gone by mental health problems were shrouded in secrecy, guilt and shame bound- and all these things made it so much worse for those struggling.

We are social creatures, for all homo sapien history we have lived in tribes, groups, now suddenly ( in evolutionary terms) we are living apart from each other, without that social support and network, and many of us struggle.
Media driven aspirations further reduce our healthy sense of self, and those who don't meet the mark labelled as losers.
I feel that today's epidemic of MH issues point mostly to a broken society, not malfunction of an individual. We do the best we can, but the problems of society are manifested by the individual.
It is important to me to seek out connections, whether online groups like this, cultivating friends, belonging to a yoga gang, attending women's circles.
I have been guilty of pushing others away in my life, felt my shame bound trauma was something for me to cope with alone.
But when we relate to others we end up seeing that others sometimes struggle too, we heal by sharing. It's also lovely to share the wins too, building up others and celebrating the good things, while we work towards a healthier mind set.

I am just back home after food shopping, bought a few cooking apples, cinnamon and sultanas to make a fruit crumble later- or maybe tomorrow.
So yummy with ice cream!

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quirkychick · 17/03/2025 17:58

@speakout I completely agree about mental health issues and a lack of social bonds and community. Humans are social creatures, we needed tribes to survive in the wild, so are hard-wired to connect. I see so much change in how children, particularly, are not having the outdoor, social childhood of previous generations and how this is affecting them. We were all so damaged in lockdown, we should be learning from this. Technology should be there to assist us not control us. Finding our tribes is so important.

queenrollo · 20/03/2025 07:05

For those who light candles daily could you include my friend C in your thoughts. She is having a very difficult time and undergoing surgery today.
She is very spiritual and would appreciate all the good energy we can muster x

quirkychick · 20/03/2025 09:02

@queenrollo I have lit a candle for your friend this morning. Wishing her healing.

speakout · 20/03/2025 15:13

I have* * a candle lit for your friend queenrollo, I hope the surgery was a success and she recovers quickly. x

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