Witch Path Forward

Monday Musings by the Insecure Witch

6/7/2021

A friend of mine has recently written a book about Heathenry and the sea and it got me thinking.

We often teach our children about the spirituality of forests, trees, flowers, animals and all sorts but the majority of resources I see cover the sea, lakes, rivers etc much less.

Is this a natural caution? As parents do we see bodies of water as more dangerous to our children than land-based nature (which, arguably, it is) or is it more that those creating the resources don’t feel as deep a connection with the water element as they do the others?

For me, I’ve never particularly felt pulled towards one element more than the others. It’s always been pretty equal and that’s reflected in my work, my children’s book, my practice… But elemental veneration resources rarely focus on the sea alone… It’s just an interesting pattern that I’ve noticed…

If you know of any books, blogs, talks or other resources that are linked to the elements as a whole or specific ones individually, pop is a link below! If you create those resources, why not use the contact form and let us know so we can give your work a review on our site?

Debi xXx

Monday Musings from an Insecure Witch

5/24/2021

I’ve been ruminating on the moon and the sea. A friend of mine has been writing a book about Heathenry and the sea and his insightful and well informed ideas about human connection with the sea has really moved me.

I’ve always felt a connection with the sea. The moon cycle has been a huge thing in my life. For the menstruators and post-menstruators amongst you, you’ll understand that the twenty eight (or what should be twenty eight) day cycle has a huge impact on you.

My cycle has always been synced with the moon. Ovulation during a new moon and menstruation during a full moon. You’d think it’d be the other way around but I’ve always been contrary.

The push and pull, the fluid resonance of the ocean, sea and any body of water, holds many metaphors and similarities with life. I feel that we’re currently in the middle of a storm. Life is swirling around us, lightning is raging above and crashing into the waves around us, sparking in the sky and lighting us up in flashes of clarity before the dark takes us again. There’s a few fish flopping out of the roiling depths to slap us in the face a time or two, too…

How do we cope with this?

Some of us tie ourselves to the mast, stoically braving the swells as they protect those around them from going overboard. I know a few people like that. Their strength and courage is inspiring.

Some of us, sadly, go overboard. We get pulled in and thrown around in the salty violence of it all, desperately clinging to any driftwood we can find. I’ve been that person. For so long I was that girl clinging to any perceived safety I could grasp, even if that safety was only an illusion.

Then there are the ones who sprout wings. The privileged few who can rise above the storm, flying high above the danger and the flying debris, the cloud and the rain. They wait it out, watching through gaps in the black clouds below.

Finally, there are those who could sprout wings but choose instead to grow a tail. They erupt into scales, flick their fins and dive into the waves headfirst, eager to find the being in the depths that they can calm, protect or do battle with, to save those above, even while knowing that they may never return to their people and their own self as it used to be.

Whichever you are, remember that the gods are not angry forever. The waves will calm, the lightning will cease and the boat will lay safe on the surface. There will be blue skies again, where we can dock the boat, get back to land and play in the golden sand… In the meantime, which are you?

Debi xXx

The Tolerance Paradox - Monday Musings from the Sensible Witch

5/17/2021

As I sit here pondering on what to write about today in my musings, I realise that there has been one prominent theme to the work I’ve been doing in my volunteer role over the last couple of months that I would like to talk about as much as possible. That topic is tolerance.

I’ve talked to Interfaith groups about discrimination, dealt with complaints over lifestyle choices and individuals bullying others over the personal choices they’ve made and taken part in group meetings towards either creating connection and understanding within community groups or fighting things that we should have no tolerance for.

I’m keenly aware that this isn’t just a theme that’s been running for me alone. It’s one that’s been on the social agenda for millennia and so it should be because a society, community or group of any kind needs to understand its limits of tolerance and constantly be checking its own morality.

The aims of the organisation that I volunteer for are to work along that fine edge between fighting for tolerance for the beliefs of our own community in all arenas at the same time as fighting intolerance towards our beliefs and practices from places and people that have little to no understanding of them. It can be a tricky line to walk.

All this work on tolerance got me thinking about the tolerance paradox and how it applies to the wider Pagan community. Karl Popper, an Austrian born philosopher and academic, theorised that unchecked tolerance would eventually lead to the extinction of tolerance entirely. This makes a lot of sense to me, but it isn’t quite as simple as being intolerant of the intolerant without taking other actions first because that in itself can cause problems. We have to allow them their right to free speech up to a certain limit if we’re to be just and fair but what we can’t do is allow that free speech to get out of hand and begin causing harm or to grow massively and take over a community. There must be consequences when that free speech causes harm to others. It’s those consequences that keep the intolerant to small groups of manageable numbers and unable to grow exponentially.

Within the Pagan community I see lots of tolerance between people and groups, I also see a huge amount of intolerance. I see it in the vitriol pouring from someone who believes someone else is “doing it wrong” somehow or towards groups that they see a certain way, yet that group is trying their best in their own way. I also see fringe groups enabling, even promoting, far right wing ideals. I’ve been on the receiving end of it occasionally too and I know with surety that some of my friends have too. We have to do better at recognising and acting when it’s time to be intolerant and when it’s time to do the exact opposite and be tolerant. We have to find that fine line and walk it ourselves so that others are empowered to do the same. That will keep the limits set and the behaviour we shouldn’t tolerate from raising it’s ugly head.

It is one of the remits in my volunteer role to act with tolerance towards the beliefs and practices of others. It is also my responsibility to stand up when it’s time to be intolerant and act against something that is causing harm. These aren’t just aspects of my role either, they are strongly held personal beliefs which I try to live my life by. Just like anyone, I sometimes catch myself being intolerant where tolerance is due and I have take some time to re-examine my beliefs and linked emotions. I believe to my core that we should all emanate this kind of behaviour and lead by example because it is not enough to believe it or say it, our actions have to meet those beliefs and the words we say.

My main question after all this musing is can we somehow find ways to work together and walk that fine line between tolerance and intolerance somehow?

Bright blessings,
Sarah x

International Women’s Day 2021 – Monday Musings from the Sensible Witch

3/8/2021

Today is International Women’s Day. A day celebrating the social, economic, political and cultural achievements of women across the world. I started the day with a Facebook post tag from one of my best friends and one of the founder members of this site celebrating the amazing women in her life. It made me cry a little. Why? Because someone sees me, understands me, honours me even and seeing words like that written about me moves me beyond words. You can bet your ass I raised her up right back because its what we’ve got to do for each other as women, sisters and fellow witches.

As achievements go, I have done pretty well in my life despite facing some of the toughest situations a person can face in a lifetime. As I write this, I am the President of a national organisation who has also run her own business for over 15 years at the same time as being a wife and mother to four. I’ve achieved it all in no small part because of the strong women and girls in my life cheering me on, helping me up when I fell, keeping it real and generally being the awesome and amazing beings that they are. I couldn’t have done it without them and nor would I have wanted to. Yes, there have been a handful of amazing men there too, but not one of them has lifted me, protected me and held me like all those women did and still do. Those women and girls gave me strength and belief in myself and without those I wouldn’t have achieved any of those things.

As a Witch as well as a woman, I am keenly aware of the ways women have been undermined, sexualised, demeaned, harmed and hated through the years – I’ve felt and been subject to all of those things throughout my life. I also have first-hand knowledge of how the world can change when that doesn’t happen, when they are respected, honoured and allowed to be the powerful beings that they are. That has been evident across the world during the last year as the pandemic has taken hold. Those led by women have largely done better in many ways than those led mainly by men. Women have been at the forefront of every vital aspect from healthcare to science to food provision. Yet they are still paid less than their male counterparts, still get less respect and still don’t have as many positions in top tier responsible jobs.

I said NO to those things a long time ago now. I started standing up and reclaiming my power as a woman and a Witch in my late teens when I decided I wasn’t putting up with it anymore. That urge only grows stronger with time and wisdom gained.

There is nothing I have ever read, nor any words I could write, that says it better than Fleassy Mallay’s powerful poem “Witches” so I shall leave my thoughts here with these words……

In the past they burned us alive
because they knew that we are witches.
So now we cast spells with our mouths
pieces of our hearts spill out.
It is incredible, the power of a woman
who is not afraid to say ‘no’.

No we won’t sit any longer while you ponder on our rights.
On our rights to give or not give life.
On our rights to make another woman our wife.
On our rights to be safe, to get paid an equal wage.
To have a voice, in a place where we might make a change.

It is incredible, the amount of ways they have slayed just to keep us small.
If they could’ve they probably would’ve burned us all.
But they couldn’t with fire so they did it with words.
Laid down laws to determine the amount of our worth.
They kept us in contracts.
They separated our circles.
Erased us from pages
and made labour saving devices our saviors.

It is incredible how quickly knowledge can fade.
How much effort was invested to lead us astray.

But we will not come quietly.

Well, there’s another thing they tried to take away.
Our rights to exclaim our orgasms ecstatically.
We will not come quietly.
We will open our mouths and let our spells spill out.
Cast poetic prayers into the night so that every woman
can hear the howl of her sister’s delight,
reminding her that her voice deserves to be heard.

Let her jaw drop. Let her shame stop.
Let her body scream under the self pleasure of
what it means to be a woman who can speak freely.
You see words, they carry meaning.
They have fooled us for so long that ‘no’ means ‘yes’.
So much so that I’m almost impressed.
Except I finally discovered they’re right.

So I’ve claimed back that ‘no’ as mine.
Because every ‘no’ I throw against their forces
is another ‘yes’ I retain for my own self-worth.

It is a spell cast for my own protection.
It is incredible, the power of a woman
who is not afraid to say NO.

And this old witch?
I’m done with broomsticks.
I’m done with ‘know your place’.
This witch knows that some knowledge
just won’t fade.
That every woman is my sister.
Through the hubble and the bubble
and the toil and the trouble
we grow stronger
when we cast our spells together.

We entered the fire.
Now we rise from the ashes
and we are holding our candles
and lighting our matches
until the night becomes lighter
and our voices can grow
because we have remembered
we are witches
and we have learned to say ‘NO’.

~ Fleassy Malay

Here’s to all the women in the world but especially big love to my Mum, my Sister, my Daughter, My Aunts, My Grandmothers and every one of my Amazing Friends
Bright blessings,
Sarah x

Monday Musings from the Sensible Witch

2/15/2021

Today I sat on my back door-step. It seems such an unimportant thing. Tiny compared to lots of things going on in my life right now yet, somehow, it felt important beyond any words I could find in the moment.

The sun on my face, only just warm yet still warm enough to allow me to sit there for a while without needing a winter coat reached deeper within me than simply touching my skin. The gentle breeze blowing it’s whispers on my face and through my hair somehow lighting something within me. Kindling a flame that has been nothing more than a pilot light over the winter months.

Spring is coming.

It’s tangible, almost here and my energy for activity is returning after a long few months of retreat and darkness.

Hail to the returning light!
Bright blessings,
Sarah x

Five Simple Acts of Magic – Monday Musings by the Sensible Witch

2/1/2021

Last time I wrote our Monday Musings I talked about ways that I kept my spiritual practice going when times aren’t conducive to energy rich practices. Today I’m going to continue that thought process with my favourite simple acts of magic. What happens when I feel like doing more than just keeping my spiritual practice on tickover but still can’t find the time or energy to do much? How do I still perform magical acts when times are tough and just can’t be bothered with casting circles and gathering ingredients etc?

The answer is I keep it simple but powerful and focused. Here’s five of my favourite ways to perform magic when I feel like it the least but need it the most…..

1. Breathe
This is my absolute favourite way of casting a spell in a simple way. Not only is it good for times when I haven’t got time or energy, its also great for those times when it needs to be done right now but you haven’t got any tools to hand to work with. Simply decide on the intent and spend a few moments focused on breathing as a way of building energy before letting the magic out into the world on the exhale.

2. Light a candle
As simple as lighting a candle, making a wish about the magic to be accomplished and as you blow it out, imagine it manifesting. This can be a super powerful way to send magic out into the world.

3. Make an offering
Whether you work with a specific deity or pantheon, or don’t work with deity at all but work with the earth instead, making a small offering while asking for something needed can be easy as putting milk in a saucer and leaving it in the appropriate place or gifting it to the earth.

4. Write a note
I do this one a lot, write what I want to achieve on a post it note and leave it somewhere I can see it often. This adds a tiny bit of energy to the magic each time I focus on it, even though it’s usually only for a second or two.

5. Create a sigil
This one takes a little more time than the others but is also an incredibly effective way of making magic happen. I write a sentence stating what I want to achieve, remove the vowels and the repeated letters then I either make a symbol from the letters I have left or draw a circle adding the letters around the edge then create a pattern inside the circle by creatively joining up the letters in the order they appear in the sentence. I’ve been known to draw these on steamed up windows, in the air and just with my finger over a letter I’ve been sending to a friend just to name a few uses.

I hope that’s inspired you even a little as to how little things can be quite magical. Do you have any simple tips for working magic when there’s little time?

Bright blessings,
Sarah x

Five ways I keep my spiritual practice going even when the going is tough - Monday musings from the Sensible Witch

1/18/2021

Two weeks into the year and already it feels like we’ve been in 2021 for a few months! So much has happened since I last wrote Monday musings including violence in America, lockdown and Brexit in the UK….there’s chaos everywhere!
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by all of this, and its easy to forget our spiritual practices when the world is in seeming chaos. For me, and probably lots of other folk, it’s the time when I’m feeling overwhelmed that I need them the most so here’s five ways I remind myself of the magic that’s out there in the world as well as within me.

I keep it simple. I don’t need to create a full on ritual and actually in tough times, its often better for me to do nothing more than light a candle or say a few words. This means there is no pressure on me to perform or produce something that is any more than I feel I can manage in among everything else that might be going on.
I make an effort to wear something that helps me feel connected. This might be a symbol of some kind or it might be some make up or a piece of clothing. Whatever it is, the only rule is that it reminds me of my spiritual nature.
I really struggle to get outside and into nature lots of the time because I’m at home with my son who is shielding and permanently in a powered wheelchair. When I feel the need to, I look out of my window and take a moment to really see and take notice of the world outside. I’m super lucky here because the view from my kitchen and office is full of trees and nature. This reminds me that even though there’s this whole load of stuff going on in the world, nature is also carrying on as usual and that the wheel is turning – that this too shall pass.
I create something. It doesn’t matter what that thing is be it a drawing, a piece of writing, a cake or loaf of bread etc. It doesn’t even have to be good! So long as I can be creative and produce something at the end of it. This helps me to remind myself that there are some things that I can control even if there’s a lot I can’t. It gives me my power back, even just a little.
Lastly, I focus inwards just a little and spend five minutes checking in on myself. I ask myself these questions then if I can, make the things I need happen:

How does my body feel and what does it need?
How am I feeling emotionally and what do I need?
Is my mental health doing ok and what do I need?

What are your go to actions for keeping in touch with your spiritual practice?

Bright blessings,
Sarah x

Monday Musings from the Sensible Witch

1/4/2021

***EDIT***
I wrote this before the news of a new lockdown here in the UK! Stay safe everyone!!

And just like that, here we are at the beginning of a new year! Last year seemed so long yet at the same time, it also passed by in the blink of an eye. I spent most of last year at home with my children pondering if I would be able to reopen my home based business again anytime soon so that I could pay my bills comfortably and if it would be safe to wander out given that we spent most of that time also shielding my eldest son. It has been a time of worry and stress in our house that’s for sure!

I resolved to spend the darker times figuring out what was next for me. What did I need to let go of and what new shiny things could I bring forward? I spent my time reading, looking inward and planting seeds that I hoped would begin to blossom once the wheel turned again and light began to show its face again.

I’m no good at keeping resolutions, I never have been, so I gave up making them a very long time ago. Instead, I’m going to put all my new year hopes and energy into giving my seeds the right environment. Taking time to weed out the things that will hamper their growth and feeding them all the things they need to grow healthy and strong whatever happens out there in the world.

Here’s to the next year, hopefully the sun will shine even just a little 😊

Bright blessings,
Sarah x

Musings of an Insecure Witch

11/30/2020

Eureka! I have it! Well, sort of…

In my last blog I did a lot of whining but I'm not going to apologise for that because we all need a little whine sometimes! But I did have an idea!

My family are trying out 'meditation time.' Even if we can't have a strict routine like we used to, this, I'm hoping, will offer some semblance of structure every day. The kids can choose whatever form of meditation they want as long as it gives them a sense of calm. I used to meditate with them a lot when they were little but as they got older, they had less interest and I allowed us to get out of the habit. So, I'm going to see if we can get back into it.

Here goes!

Day one-
My teen thinks this is daft. She says it's no different to her usual activities. She's sitting and drawing quietly. I suggested she try a different activity. She declined. Bloody kids.
My pre-teen is bored after five minutes and wants to watch Netflix. I've asked her to keep trying. She's drawing too but it's not easy for her to stay still for long so I've suggested yoga. She says maybe tomorrow and has now taken herself off to her room.
My baby has flat out refused to join in and is currently playing on a Numberblocks game. Aw well. At least he's doing maths, I suppose.
The husband has, as expected, decided not to join in. I feel more stressed now than I did before I started because of trying to get the kids settled.

Day Two -
Teen is drawing again and keeps interrupting the rest of us to show us what she's drawn.
Pre-teen is trying yoga. I had no idea yoga was so loud!
Baby is playing Numberblocks again. I've now decided that Numberblocks totally counts as meditation.
Husband still isn't playing with us and my cross stitching isn't getting anywhere.

Day Three -
Teen has started cross stitching with me. She's made a start on a Disney collage.
Pre-teen has done more yoga. She's getting quieter but no less distracting.
Baby is successfully playing Number blocks.
Husband is now joining in by staring into space in the quiet room, which he quite enjoys. I’m counting this as a win.
My cross stitching is coming along. Lots of leaves and flowers.

Day Four-
Teen has gone back to sketching. Stitching wasn't relaxing enough for her severely dyspraxic brain. She still wants to stitch but not for relaxation. She's learned something about herself. This is a win!
Pre-teen is playing keyboard today. Music is very important to her. It's a sensory stimulation she has a lot of control over. Rather distracting for the rest of us but aw well!
Baby is still playing Numberblocks. He's quiet, he's happy, he's learning. This is a sustained win, right?!
Husband is scrolling through Facebook.
I've abandoned my cross stitching to do the same.
Clearly we suck!

Day Five -
We forgot.
Just completely went out of our heads. We weren't even doing anything important or distracting. This wasn't even an epic fail. It was a meh fail.

Day Six -
Teen did some finger painting. I had no idea something so pretty could come from finger painting. Shows what I know.
Pre-teen is playing the same part of the same song over and over again. It's making me want to scream... But she's happy and calm so I shall grit my teeth and leave her to it.
Baby is building towers with his blocks. He wants one taller than him but it keeps falling over. I'm helping.
The husband is around here… somewhere.
Today is sort of a win... I suppose...

Day Seven -
Today is a fail.
The children decided mummy has had enough of their time and are all upstairs playing loudly in one of their rooms. At least they're not wasting in front of the tv or games console.
So, as you can see. This first week had its ups and downs.
I'll keep trying and see what happens!

Debi xXx

Psychic Attacks - how to recognise them and what to do about them by the Sensible Witch

11/23/2020

During this last week I have found myself a victim of a psychic attack. I’ve had nightmares, migraines, nausea, intrusive thoughts, and lots of things have gone wrong quite suddenly.

So how do I know that’s what is happening? Could it be that I’m simply experiencing life or perhaps I’m suffering from mental health problems? This year has unquestionably been a tough one and the stress levels are high so that would make some sense. There are several clues that its not that though. The first one is the sudden onset, the second is that I have recently been involved in a situation that stopped someone’s behaviour from causing damage to others and the third is that it was sudden onset. It’s not always that definitive though, and not everyone has the knowledge and experience that I have about these things, so I decided to make it the subject of my musings this week in the hope that it will help someone else.

There are two kinds of psychic attack – unintentional and intentional. Unintentional attacks come from people who harbour negative feelings towards someone for whatever reason. They might be jealous, angry or hateful for example. Those emotions will be intense and they will likely brood on them, sending those thoughts out to the person or people they believe to be at the centre of the issue. They won’t be intentionally sending those thoughts out to the person or people at the centre of those emotions but nonetheless the effects will reach them and may well cause problems for them. It is unlikely that this person or group of people will connect their symptoms with the person who is sending out the emotions/thoughts their way.

Intentional attacks are malicious in that they intend to hurt the person or group of people in some way. The basis is still the same, but the process will be much more structured with energy raised to put into the working and being directed with tools of some kind. The strength of it will depend on the person doing the process.

Both can leave the person or group with any of the symptoms listed here:

Sudden mood changes
Irritability
Severe and sudden drainage of energy
Things go wrong around them and within their lives
Nightmares
Nausea and dizziness
Negative thoughts that are not your own
Hypnotic sensations

Medical help should always be sought if needed and the attack is causing physical issues. Of course, I’m a huge advocate of looking at the most obvious and mundane solutions first and recommend that you always keep in mind that there could always be a physical world answer to the problem which should always be investigated and the advice given followed. Not only will that rule out/show up a physical health problem, but it will also give you another tool to fight the attack with if it ends up being an actual attack.

What else to do though?

There are a number of things you can do to counter an attack and stop it having horrid effects on you including:

Take a salt bath. Salt is a dissolver of negative energies and water is a cleanser in more than one way
Visit a healer who has specific techniques and tools to disconnect your energetic bodies from the attack
Cleanse your home and other spaces and place protection around them
Meditation, especially ones that involve imagery of protection and cutting ties with those who cause you problems
Look after yourself with as good a diet as you can achieve, regular exercise within your limits and spending time in or with nature
Involve yourself in activities that bring you joy
Wear symbols of and practise your faith if you have one
Spend time with people who lift you up and bring joy to your life
Use prayer, mantra or affirmations to counter thought patterns
Imagine yourself in a protective bubble surrounded by mirrors that will deflect energy back to the person sending it
Play music that you enjoy and lifts your spirits, or use a singing bowl or tuning forks to cleanse your energetic bodies

If none of those work and you got no answers from medical investigation, then it is time to consult someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with the root of an attack such as a healer.

It turns out once I had renewed the protection on my home and cleansed myself the attack on me has ceased to have an effect. I’m glad to say I am back to my normal energetic self who sleeps well and the things that had gone wrong have righted themselves. I really hope the person who instigated the attack manages to process what they’re feeling and get themselves right soon.

Bright blessings,
Sarah x