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..

Oh thank you fir that! I love a podcast!

If you get a chance, listen to the whole album. Priestess, Red and Snake are my absolute faves!

Hello <takes a tentative peek around the door of the cost kitchen where the witches are sitting around the fire, enjoying a brew>
I used to be a regular on this thread but life has taken me on a journey over the past couple of years and I’m feeling totally disconnected from witchcraft and spirituality. I hope it’s ok to sit here for a while, catch up on the conversations and just absorb some of the energy.

Welcome back VioletCharlotte , hope you are good.

It is interesting to look at the witch hunting times- there were so many factors at play. We have a notion that the women who were burned were herbalists, folk healers, and while there is some truth in that it is not the whole picture. Witchunting was a lucrative business. Many churches made a great deal of money from the business. Often old wealthy widows were targeted, with no men for protection the women would be tortured, killed, and the church would take her assets-too unholy to be given to her family. But not too unholy to line the pockets of clergy. Some women were poor, others just outspoken. There was a climate of great fear and superstition within society at that time. And the witch hunts were set against political and religious change. As to whether these women were "real" witches or not is again complex. Some were, and It think that we are all witches at heart. At that time the churches were making great inroads into controlling society with fear. Pawomangan practices were still around, and by demonising such activity the fate of many women were sealed. An 83 year old woman who was murdered by the church lived only a mile from my home. She was a midwife. The ruined walls of her house still standing. Part of the evidence presented in court was the fact that she used a ceremonial knife during her work She would sharpen it to chanting, she would pass it several times through flame while repeating incantations. She would make a strong salt solution,whispering through her breath. She used the knife to cut the umbilicus, then bathe the stump with the salt water, also attending to any cuts that may have happened during delivery. I am sure these were pagan practices, but when we look on it through a modern lens the truth is startling. Flaming instruments is a still used practice by microbiologists and field doctors world wide. A strong salt solution is a good antibacterial cleanser. This was in a time when microbes were unknown. The church saw these actions as proof of witccraft.

@speakout always a great source of interesting info, as always! Thank you for telling us about the 83-year-old midwife and keeping her important story alive. It’s tragic how something so intrinsically female-centred as midwifery could inspire such hatred within the patriarchy of times gone by. And amazing to think that the sisters who came before us had such accurate medical knowledge long before modern science, simply through observation, experience and knowledge being passed down through generations. I guess this was the “hidden knowledge” that inspired so much fear and jealousy. The idea of bringing souls into the world and being the guardian and assistant through the most important experience of human life has always carried enormous symbolic power.

It’s going to be rainy here tomorrow so I’m planning on drinking lots of hot tea, lighting a new candle and listening to the podcast recommended by@Arcati85

I know exactly what you all mean about coming into yourselves, and wearing/doing things you enjoy/like etc. I've always done a bit of that, never fully followed trends, and while witchcraft has definitely become a bit of a trend, this feels much more like connecting with a part of me that I'd forgotten was there, or was keeping at the edges of my vision because I was too apprehensive to look at it directly.

I was going to post a photo of some of the Avebury stones from my visit yesterday but despite being a correct size, it won’t upload. Everything was baked dry. Luckily they had roped off the trees to prevent people adding stress to them. Sadly, lots of beautiful little moles had climbed up only to pass away on reaching the surface. They must have dehydrated. Moments were held for them and some people had made one a little wreath of leaves.
Hi @VioletCharlotte I’ve just made my way back as well.

Mysteise I find it quite heartbreaking to learn about these dark times. I have started a historical research project to bring together information and knowledge. It's a personal thing and I am weaving my thoughts and feelings into the work too- my hunches, my clairaudience observations. There are lots of missing jigsaw puzzles that are slowly coming to light and I don't mind making educated guesses until more information comes to light.
I often sit with my local witch, in her old home. I speak to her, I bring her little offerings, a few wild flowers, an oatcake or two. I tell that she is not forgotten, that this was a horiffic miscarriage of justice, that she mattered, that she did nothing to deserve this treatment. She was 83 years old when arrested, tortured for 2 weeks, strangled, burned at the stake her remains dumped like rotting fruit.

There is no Cenotaph for these women, no remembrance day , not even an acknowledgement. . For at its heart this wave of brutal misogyny was about denying women their power, robbing them of their voices. elevating the church and all its male ways and eradicating outspoken women like vermin.

And we are still not past this christian grip of society. Women consigned to birthers. home makers, silent servants, smiling lips and sad eyes. Only 4% of CEOs are women, 14% of heads of state. There is still work to do.

Here's a photo of the memorial to the Forfar witches, on the side of Forfar Loch in the country park.

How touching FizzingAda, and so lovely to see that little clump of snowdrops- reminding us that there is always hope.

Yes - I will be either the Maid or Magistra. DH will take the opposite role. We are still working out the finer details but I suspect the divine will actually be the decider here!

Traditionally the leader (Magister) would be male and the Maid/Dam/Mistress female. It's not essential though and the actual leader is the "Maid"!

It's actually more practical than anything.

It was always the intention that the original coven would spawn new Hearths and we are not the first of "the family" to do so. We will continue within the same Tradition but will be free to work with different entities within the same basic framework. New members will initiate into our Hearth but will have an "associate membership" of the parent coven.

@CailleachGhlas this is exactly how I feel. I've had a lot of changes in the last couple of years and part of that was rediscovering who I am. My grandmother was into spiritualism, she read tea leaves and palms. As a teenager I was interested in astrology, witchy things and it feels like coming home to myself.

@speakout it is lovely that you spend time honouring her memory. I’m sure she loves the oatcakes. You can send her my well wishes next time you sit with her and tell her that others now know her story too.
There’s a place local to me, Faversham in Kent, where there’s a plaque commemorating four women killed as witches outside the Guildhall. It’s such a tragic case and one you might find interesting to read about sometime for your studies. The history of the persecution of women accused of witchcraft is heartbreaking indeed. I’m raising my cup of mint tea to all sisters as we speak.
@TheWytchI find the idea of a coven fascinating, although I’ve never really felt the desire to be part of one myself. I enjoy my solo practice. I hope you don’t mind me asking but how do you come to know and trust that the people in your coven share the same intentions as you? I think that’s probably what would make me apprehensive about joining one. I understand the idea that magic and energy is amplified when working together? But I wonder how you can be sure that everyone is bringing the same kind of energy and intention to the group.

Good evening all, I’ve started reading this thread - been on here a million years and never knew this section existed. I feel very drawn to witchcraft lately - don’t know if it’s a getting older and more ‘aware’ thing. I suspect that for me. Lovely to meet you all.
Im going to take my time and read through but wonder if anyone has any advice for me. My adult children are struggling with their relationship with each other - not even talking at this point. I feel helpless but also feel inside that a spell of some sort might help. I’ve tried one with sugar and a jar from research but nothing after a month. Wonder if anyone had something that’s worked for them. At this point I’m considering a witch from Etsy even though I’m fairly sure they are just preying on the vulnerable. Which frankly, I am right now.
Love any advice.

I've decided to make and decorate a wreath of some sort to hang witches bells on my front door. I might incorporate my feathers as well perhaps. If I manage to finish it I'll post a picture.
I love that people are coming back to the thread!

I don't know about spells, but I wonder if some sort of cleansing would help? Or someone performing a cord cutting ceremony if that sounds like it might help? I think it depends on the issue, and Im not asking you to share here necessarily, but if you ponder on the root of the problem, the way to help it might become clearer

I am off to attend a lecture on The Witches of Dunfermline. Should be interesting. Given by Professor Julian Goodare.

Hello NaturalBlondeYeahRight and welcome.

Difficult situation I agree, but it's not up to you to sort out or interfere, it's for your children to do and learn from. I know it's hard to not try to fix everything, but sometimes taking a deep breath, being fair to both, listening without judging and being there and respecting their confidence is all you can and should do.

Couple of red flags in your post, never pay for advice or guidance in areas you know nothing about. And don't mess with stuff you know nothing about.

You have a currently unpleasant situation, but spells, or anything else you are not familiar with shouldn't really be your first port of call.
You can help by creating a calming atmosphere at home, investigate space clearing, loads that you can do with a few drops of salt water, bells/chimes and visualising love and harmony coming in and filling your house as discord and negativity leaving.

Salt lamps, Rose quartz, relaxing essential oils can all help, but they are not something you should splash out on with the belief they will change the situation.

Much as you want to sort this situation out, taking a back seat is often the best strategy.

Apologies to everyone for my absence of late, I'm dealing with some major health stuff. I may be quiet, but I do read to try and keep up with everyone.

Hedgewitch I am 11 years down the path you are now on, it's* not an easy journey. *

You are all in my thoughts, candles burn for you when you need support, I wish you all some tranquility before the next storms approach.

Hedjwitch how was the lecture?

BlankTimes so wonderful to see you again, I was thinking about you last night.
Sorry to hear your health is still a challenge.

I completely agree with your adice to NaturalBlondeYeahRight. Sometimes we need to take a step back, let go. How two adults choose to interact with each other isn't really our business. No matter how much we love them, no matter how we want them to have a good relationship with each other. Co dependency can manifest as trying to control others so we feel ok. I know this lesson well. Peace and happiness comes from finding joy despite these types of circumstances. If they still live at home and arguing, creating a toxic atmosphere then that is something to discuss, but if they argue and cold shoulder in their own time and space, then they have the right and freedom to do so. Siblings don't always get on, and that is just life, not a reflection on the parents.

@NaturalBlondeYeahRight

I wouldn't do a cord cutting. That is used to sever a relationship.

Your question raises the ongoing ethical dilemma of whether you should perform a working on a third party without their knowledge or consent. The popular view is that you should not, personally I think it is much more nuanced than a completely black and white answer would imply.

We do not know all the ins and outs of our children's relationship with each other and there may be a very good reason for them to be as they are. If one or both was clearly unhappy about it or asked for help then it becomes very grey. My stance then is if I would be prepared to intervene in a normal non magical way then I will consider it as a last resort after trying a few more ordinary things first.

Where this line is drawn is a very personal decision and is one of the big challenges of the craft. In the absence of a codified list of religious based moral standards (like the 10 commandments) the practitioner has to draw up their own moral code based on their own ethical beliefs and moral compass.

Good morning sisters.

This may be a log shot. But a few years a go, I decided I didn't believe in anything and gave away all my crystals and things. I kept my deck Rider Waite tarot cards, and I have no idea where I put them.

Does anyone with good intuitive power - have any idea where they are?

I am hoping to start on my first witches ladder today. I plan on making a few and gifting them to my friends.

Can any of you recommend a good place for witchy type craft supplies. Buying bits off amazon doesn't feel right lol - I mean, I suppose my intentions matter more than where the stuff comes from.

Its been raining the past few days, but I think a forage would be a good idea when the local woods arent like a swamp.

Have a blessed weekend!

Anyone doing anything nice?

@speakout the lecture was ok but perhaps a bit generic for me as I knew quite a lot of the content already. But of course,aimed at a wider audience and well attended which is good. Some interesting documents which have inspired me to perhaps do some research of my own.
This is my last weekend before returning to work.post- bereavement- so trying to do nice calming things. Am off to the apiary shortly. Not to work directly with the bees as they pick up on emotion and I may unsettle them, but I shall sit in the beautiful place where the hives are and enjoy the plants and the serenity.
Tonight I may have a fire( plenty of rain here so no worries of starting a wildfire) and just breathe. I can do this.

A fire demon....or a fire sprite?

@NaturalBlondeYeahRightsorry that you’re adult children aren’t getting on. I know it’s hard as a Mother not to not intervene, but I think you need to stand back and let them work things out for themselves. I think it’s fairly common for siblings to have disagreements as they enter adulthood and they’re still working out who they are as a person, especially if they’re still living with you and have to share space. As @BlankTimes says, focus on doing what you can to make your home harmonious. Use cleansing sprays to smudge and get rid of any negative energy, open windows to let new, fresh air in. Play music, burn candles and essential oils, bake. This too shall pass!

@BlankTimesits lovely to see you, I’ve been away for some time too. I’m sorry you have been dealing with health issues. Sending you love and healing.