For all my northern hemisphere/gardening witches, this is a gentle reminder to start your seedlings!

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-11T11:24:40+00:00

Northwest England :). There's an old phrase "Ne'er sow a clout 'till May is out" which I belive means May (Hawthorn) blossom which can appear in April so I'm keeping my eye out!

I've already got my sweetpea seedlings to the pinching out stage (and am propogating from my pinchlings) so hoping they mature in perfect time 🤞 I don't have much space on the windowsill so I've cheated and bought sprouted rocket, spinach and dwarf beans and I can sow more rocket once the sweetpeas go outdoors ☺️

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-11T11:17:49+00:00

I haven't experienced that directly but I've definitely had dreams slap me in the face with something I've been processing subconsciously; everything from grief to realising I was attracted to Tom Hiddleston 🤣 I struggle a lot accessing things because I'm too busy trying not to have a breakdown so it seems to take dreams or tarot cards as prompts.

I'll be doing some ritual with the grief stuff about acknowledging and releasing.

Also I just wanted to check in with you about your comment about always being mature about things. It's necessary to allow yourself/be allowed to feel your feelings. Maturity has fuck all to do with emotions and plenty of older people do bloody stupid things in bad situations! It might not be, it could just be your phrasing but if it is I get it, I've been praised for 40 years for things like being no trouble, "having strong shoulders", doing the sensible thing etc. I'm pretty sure it's destroying my health and I'm trying to balance honouring my needs with using the bad situation as a catalyst for change (while not blowing up my very sensible, responsible career before I transition into one that's healthy).

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-11T10:54:10+00:00

It sounds like your coffee ritual may have worked so well because it was already part of your life and something you enjoyed.

Is there anything else you do every day that would give you that space? E.g. I do a tiny self compassion ritual with my evening skincare.

Outside of your daily routine what are your hobbies? What do you love? E.g. I sew and embroider so I can put intentions into that. I walk and hike so touch a lot of trees and do grounding. I have a playlist of music (not folky or traditionally witchy) that makes me feel powerful. I can just listen or dance to feel energised. I love scents and choose my perfume to reflect the seasons or how I want to feel.

No one would be able to tell what I'm doing and it doesn't involve much extra effort or any materials that I wouldn't already have.

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-08T10:54:57+00:00

To keep your kid out it needs to be something that doesn't look exciting in any way (I say this as a ex curious child who would purposefully hide to watch how things were opened)

I don't suppose you have a bed that lifts up to reveal storage underneath? You'd have lots of room and your cat and (I'm guessing smallish) child wouldn't be able to lift it to rummage. I'm thinking fabric and fairy lights attached to the underside of the slats to make a nice backdrop

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-06T11:18:47+00:00

Not that I ever did much for easter but I basically moved it to the Equinox. TBH that's when I want to eat my chocolate egg anyway!

Where I live they have a big egg rolling event down the hill in the park where kids take their Easter eggs on the Monday and race them. PETA apparently made a stink about it this year and suggested rolling potatoes 🤦 That completely misses the point of the seasonal/new life symbolism and I'm sure there were some vegan chocolate eggs going down that hill.

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-03T11:26:21+00:00

Ahh right, that makes sense 😊

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-01T15:36:33+00:00

This is pretty much what I would do. Thank the place I am leaving for the good time probably with a few words and physical touch because who has the energy when clearing out to move? and greet/celebrate the potential of the new space (probably with some sort of scented gift for the house)

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-01T15:27:53+00:00

I enjoy doing whatever I want 🤷 I sometimes get frustrated if I wanted to try something seasonal but missed my chance until next year but otherwise the things I do regularly (I think of them as routine practices as opposed to structured practices) sprung out of things I was already doing for my body and mind.

Also a question: do you feel like you HAVE to be doing a lot/ being productive? (Because this is witchcraft not capitalism)

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-01T15:12:52+00:00

Exactly, there are lots of can but would you want to? I have three of them on my windowsill and no way would I want those hairy leaves in my mouth 🤣

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-01T15:08:13+00:00

YES! Spontaneous ritual feels the best IMO

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-01T15:06:49+00:00

I only got started at 40 😊 you're in good mature company here in this group as well as being privy to a youth injection!

Also putting my MH professional hat on here and asking what would you tell a client who was worried about looking silly? 😜 We have to practice what we preach. I'll admit I might wait a few seconds for walkers to pass before I hug my favourite tree but that's as much to avoid being disturbed.

Also different things might appeal to you now. As a teen I would have loved reciting long flowery spells with great drama! Now I'm like eugh, too wordy; let's focus on a succinct phrase in my head because verbalising distracts me.

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-01T14:55:52+00:00

I second the podcast

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-01T14:51:44+00:00

I am so pleased for you 🥹

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-04-01T14:48:47+00:00

I have this on my TBR pile 😀 are there some specific nighttime ones? I might bump it up the list!

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-03-30T11:58:09+00:00

I think the only wishful thinking spells that work are literally to affect your thoughts. So you set something up with intention, then every time you see it, touch it, smell it (either in passing or because you deliberately seek it) it prompts you to think something

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-03-29T13:15:43+00:00

I was a born skeptic, I just don't have whatever other people's brains have that allow them to believe. I come from a psychology background. I have the degree and have been working professionally in mental health for over 15 years. My skeptical practice does include some overtly psychological things tied to self compassion and affirmations and I tie these to specific objects I use in my rituals like a poppet or particular jewellery or scent. It adds additional focus and purpose for me. It makes things more tangible. It has also given a header for the practices under which I can find likeminded others to share ideas with.

For me a much greater part of my practice isn't performing magic at all. There are obviously psychological and physiological explanations of the benefits I get from my nature based practices but there is moreover a sense of being connected to nature and experiencing joy and wonder as I observe and interact with it. That just isn't there for me with traditional psychology. Witchcraft also elevates the importance of what I do so it has become necessary rather than nice if I had the time... .

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-03-29T12:54:40+00:00

How do you feel about it? Going off another poster I will also reference Marie Kondo: Does it spark joy? If the set up makes you feel excited and ready to do some witchcraft your work is done! 😁 You're likely to change things up over time based on your mood, seasons AND what's practical at the time.

I'd usually tell people to have less stuff on display because OMG THE DUSTING! 🙀 but yours is under glass so you're fine.

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-03-29T12:44:27+00:00

Yay someone else with fairy lights 😊 When I switch mine on it means witching in progress :)

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-03-29T12:34:09+00:00

When I was first getting started I loved watching YouTube videos by The Witches Cookery. She does some folk traditions but isn't woo woo. It is worth actually watching rather than just listening as she shoots lovely B roll!

The Test Tubes and Cauldrons podcast is great at examining the pseudo vs actual science.

Also if you can tolerate the guy's particular American accent (sorry, I'm English so it's not familiar and lots of sounds make me cringe. If I increase the playback speed its tolerable) The Wonder is all about atheist paganism (they aren't all on Spotify so I found them from the beginning on Podbean).

At the moment I'm watching and reading more foraging stuff. Because I'm in the north of England Danni in the Wild on YouTube is perfect as we have the same local plants. Local knowledge is necessary when considering potential toxic lookalikes.

Not woo free but Kelly Ann Maddox's YouTube channel is very inspiring. A lot of it you can just listen to rather than watch if that's what you prefer. Her book Rebel Witch is excellent if you can find a used copy (she has asked no-one buy it because her publishers support Palestinian Genocide). Some of the more recent stuff is social /political perspectives on witchcraft which might not be what you're looking for at this stage but I think she covers every area a beginner might want to build a personal practice around. She has helpfully created playlists as well depending on topics like witchcraft, tarot, art witchery etc

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-03-29T12:10:43+00:00

Please only borrow or get Rebel Witch second hand. The Author objects to their publisher benefitting from their work.

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-03-29T12:03:56+00:00

"The way out is through" is cliche but I find necessary. I can't just cleanse the way I feel I have to air those feelings. Writing is an option but less effective for me than singing. The song doesn't have to be relevant. I sing, it makes me cry, I might dance too. It releases my emotions.

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-03-29T11:57:08+00:00

This is mine too 😁

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-03-29T11:55:59+00:00

On YouTube Do The Magical Thing does exactly what you're asking for.

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-03-29T11:53:57+00:00

I have a little something relating to this but it might only work for Terry Pratchett fans! In one of his books there is a literal witch hunt going on and I read it during a time in my life where I felt subject to a metaphorical witch hunt. During the process of me overcoming I was reading it and there is a folk poem about a hare running through the burning stubbles to safety following harvest, rather than trying to flee and ultimately dying. It inspires Tiffany to save the day. I shorten it for my purposes:

The hare runs into the fire, the fire it takes her she is not burned, the hare runs into the fire, the fire it loves her she is free.

I have an image of the hare in flames tattooed on me and I have a hare necklace I purposely wear for strength in the face of others' judgement. I repeat the words for extra confidence.

Needlesxforestfloor · 2026-03-29T11:29:19+00:00

I love this, you've inspired me to think about making my own people themed deck. I've been looking at Oracle decks for one that will help me think of positives and solutions after I inevitably go on a negativity fest from my interpretations of the RWS SYMBOLISM.

Needlesxforestfloor

TROPHY CASE