Awakening.

I love hearing how people came into their witch ways. Everyone has a different story to tell, for some it is just a way of life, others stumbled upon it. I fall into the latter category, although my belief was there before I even knew what I was experiencing.

As a small child I knew things before they happened. I saw ghosts and felt things without understanding what the energy was I could feel.

My family went to church right up until I was around 11 or 12. I hated it. I just knew it wasn’t for me despite my parents having me attend Sunday school every week and having me confirmed. I’ve got to say, at the age of 51 I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve actually taken holy communion.

I don’t mind what other people believe in, whatever a person’s faith is has nothing to do with me. Each to their own. I respect other faiths, I respect those who follow their chosen path.

When I was 7 I was taken to the cinema to see Star Wars. I immediately fell in love with The Force and knew that was my thing. Ok, I know, they’re just movies, but energy is all around us and so is the force.

This was my awakening.

Over the next 7-10 years my interest grew and I started to understand what it was I was so taken with. It was this belief in energy that moved me forward, through extremely difficult stages of my life, giving me the strength to carry on when the darkness threatened to engulf me.

I still fondly tell the story of when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered “a Jedi knight”. To me, this was the ultimate goal, nothing else mattered.

My story isn’t that dissimilar to those who learn about the ways of magick and witchcraft from a young age. The teachings follow the same path and both require discipline to understand how this energy works.

I had no teacher, other than myself. I discovered books in my mid teens and spent the next few years searching for where I felt I belonged. It was a good few years before I realised I belonged exactly where I was.

Yesterday I watched my favourite 3 Star Wars movies – the original 3 – and remembered how they set me on my witchy path. The Force lies at the centre of all of the movies, not just the original 3, just as energy is at the centre of all life.

It doesn’t matter what you believe in, the most important thing is to believe in yourself. Many witchworkings tell the learner to accumulate a lot of paraphernalia and use it when casting spells/workings. I never did get around to buying the stuff. When my children were small I had to keep everything on the down low. In part because my husband didn’t want his family to know what I believed in. This wasn’t really an issue for me, but I respected his need for privacy.

If you believe in yourself you will find the need for tools and other items is not necessary. Your mind is your greatest asset and is so much more powerful than you think.

Believe in yourself.

A sign of growth.

Yes to this a million times and more. Mistakes, bad choices, actions that were not favourable and perhaps caused upset, all of that and more. Is it really worth holding onto the negative bullshit that’s accumulated?

I know, I get it, I’ve been that person myself, feeling anger towards someone for actions in their past. Holding on to the “grudge”. But it’s so exhausting. It’s so unhealthy. It doesn’t allow you to grow.

Letting it go and allowing yourself to move forward, past their actions, deeds, words, etc. Even if you don’t speak to this person again, it feels so much healthier to let go of the version you hold of them. It doesn’t even need to be about that person, it works just as well for you. Allowing you to be free of the negative energies from your past with this person.

Just let it all go and move forward for YOU.

Truth be known….

……I saw a meme the other day that said something like “just because you lost me as a friend doesn’t mean you gained me as an enemy. I’m bigger than that. I still wanna see you eat, just not at my table.”

That sat with me for a while. Made me question whether I harbour any animosity towards people who I’m no longer friends with.

Yeah, there are one or two, but what’s gone is gone. They’re women, they have their wants and needs just the same as me. I wish them no ill will. I hope they’re doing great. I’m happy for whatever life blessings they’re basking in now.

I haven’t got the time to be wishing them harm, or doing anything to hurt them. We’re maybe not friends anymore, but I hope they’re happy. I’m all about women supporting other women. That’s what I’m interested in, not drawing up enemy lines and firing negative shit their way.

Happy To Be Me.

I don’t know how many times I have “watered” myself down so as not to offend people. The very same people who are disrespecting me, disregarding me, intentionally hurting me.

Getting deep with myself showed me how little I thought about my own regard. I deserve love. Respect. Kindness. Honesty. I’m not here to be a some time option. Or to be treat like something someone stood in. I’m here for me. For my purpose.

I honour my purpose. I honour me. I have no intention of allowing people to piss all over me ever again. I’m doing me. Just me. I’m not “up for the gossip”, not here to rain on anyone’s parade. I am all about supporting women, not tearing them down out of jealousy or fear.

Life is a beautiful journey. It’s all about living and honouring you. Your beautiful self. Authentically you. There’s only one of you. Honour yourself. Respect yourself. You are so worth it.

Daily Om reflections.

How to Get Through a Bad Day

When you find yourself in a pity party, the quickest way out is to acknowledge how you feel and then let it go.

We all have days when the bad things seem to outweigh the good ones and we begin to think that life isn’t fair. You get stuck in traffic, which makes you late for an important meeting, and then your car gets towed. You might ask yourself, “Why me?” Events like this one can test anyone’s ability to be grateful and feel optimistic. If you have a tendency to feel sorry for yourself, and many of us do, things usually progress to the next stage: the pity party. You begin to feel like the innocent victim of a dismal fate because you are seeing your life through inaccurate lenses. Most of the thoughts that run through your mind at times like these are not helpful, and they mainly serve to increase your indignation and feelings of powerlessness. What these feelings and thoughts don’t do is change your circumstances or make you feel better. 

When you have a terrible day, there should definitely be a time and place to have your feelings so you can process them. It’s important not to pretend that you are fine with things when you aren’t. It’s also important, however, to notice when you’re having a pity party. It’s a good idea to set a time limit in which to fully express your emotions and not feel guilty, ashamed, or judge yourself. Having a friend witness you during this process can be helpful. You may also want to write about your feelings. When your time is up, let go of the negativity you just expressed. You can declare your intention to your friend. If you’ve written down your feelings, you can burn the piece of paper or throw it in the recycling bin.  

Try not to dwell on unpleasant experiences and do everything you can to avoid holding on to negative emotions. When you indulge in self-pity, you only make a bad day worse. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, release the notion that you are a victim, and notice the good that exists in your life

Ancestors.

I’ve been working with my ancestors since I was a small child and looked to dead family members for guidance. They would come to me in my dreams when I was older and that’s where I found my passion for dream knowledge.

I grew up with the belief that we should revere our ancestors, listening to stories from long ago, traditions and beliefs. I found out that I have Romany ancestors from my paternal grandmother. I also found out that my family have a long line going way back to the Celtic tribes of what is now the UK. My ancestors were the Carvetti tribe, the area they occupied is modern day Cumbria.

I have always been different to my peers, as a child I knew things before they happened. I had dreams of things yet to happen, I understood my dreams and learnt to interpret dream meanings. I’ve never really wanted to fit in, it’s just not who I am.

Working with my guides and ancestors has given me comfort when life has thrown a whole shit show at me. I’ve also been as pissed as hell with them when things haven’t worked out in a way I’d hoped.

When I need them, I know they’re ready to come to my aid. My bloodline, my heritage, my ancient tribe. They’re behind me, they’ve got me.

People talk about paganism, witchcraft, et al. and feel that one group or another should define you. Belonging to a group, a coven, a working circle can be useful, but it can also be a pain when the in group fighting starts up. And it usually does start up. No matter how long a group has been going, there can be warring factions within that fracture the group, test the loyalties of the founding members, or those who are more recent additions. I’ve been involved with groups that have had so much drama they could give a tv soap opera a run for their money!

But define you? Should a group define who you are? I guess we are all different when it comes to answering that. Personally I don’t let a group define who I am. Especially nowadays when most group workings are done online. Can you really trust those you meet online? Even those you have known for years? There will be those who can be trusted, and those who can’t. It’s like everything else in life to be honest, some good people and some bad.

But the ancestors you choose to work with and build a trusting rapport with, they can always be relied upon. They want you to succeed. They will protect you, guide you, counsel you. You are their future. You are who they fought for, gave their lives for, worked hard for. They knew that one day someone would be born into the world and would recognise that they wanted to carry on the work they started. They stand with you. Always.

A recent discussion with someone I know online reminded me how imperative it is to have the backing of your ancestral line behind you. It’s also important to remember that ancestors don’t have to have been a witch or a wise woman. The family line isn’t always defined by witch working. My parents weren’t witches, although my Dad always had books on witchcraft, as well as other religions. My kids are, my grandchild is whether she knows it yet or not. There are wise women around 200 years ago and back in time, but those who weren’t witches in life are forces to be reckoned with, as in life so in death. They are fierce and protective.

Ancestral work can be so rewarding, but if new to the practice you should definitely give it time to gel.

A review of Peyton’s Promise. 21/06/2022.

In the summer of 1902 Peyton Quinn arrives at her new place of employment, as an upholsterer for the Emery’s. She discovers that her lifelong friend, Patrick is also employed there.

They have been friends since they were children and Patrick is keen to rekindle their friendship, hoping for something more, Peyton insists they should just be friends.

As they grow closer jealousy rears it’s ugly head and the work that Peyton is doing gets sabotaged.

The story is quaint and is interlaced with the Christian faith. Both characters have their faith tested and as the story develops you get a better understanding of how important faith is to them both.

The storyline is genteel, the characters typical of the time. The author has put a lot of work into her characters and they have depth to them.

I enjoyed reading this book, it felt lighthearted and refreshing, despite some characters only having a brief appearance.

I would recommend this book. It is predominantly aimed at a Christian audience but I believe anyone can enjoy this book.

This story highlights the struggles that females had in the early 20th century. It touches upon how women who believed in equality were accused of been radicals. Even those who believed in such a cause were frightened to speak up and show support for fear of reprisals.

I loved how their faith kept them moving forward and believing that a higher purpose was aiding them in their lives. That said, Peyton has a crisis of faith but circumstances see her turning to her faith once more for comfort.

There are other books in this serious but I haven’t read them yet. I do believe that you can read this as a stand-alone story.

Thoroughly enjoyable read and well crafted plot and characters. Five star rating for this quaint read.

Healing from trauma.

Trauma hits on all levels. It’s complex, yet simple. We store traumatic memories within our body, so even when we heal our minds the trauma lives on inside of us.

This is the beginning of my journey down this path. I can see how I’ve been affected for many years and now I want to work with removing trauma from my body.