Love this. I consider myself a witch also. Highly recommend the book Witch Body by Sabrina Scott for anyone who wants to dive deeper into the connection between the natural and urban environment and the modern witch.
I love this, Brenda, and think it's so true. I think this kind of relationship to nature is something we're born with and then taught to forget. Feel I'm in good company!
I have witch ancestry. I talk to birds, insects, reptiles, fish, trees, plants, and animals of course. I can talk flies to the door or window where they can fly away. But I can't talk yellow jackets into behaving like I think they should. Alas. Thank you for the recommendations! Btw, I also belonged to a coven back in the 70s. Any coven I join today will basically be a book club. ha.
Oh, I'm going to try that the next time we have a fly stuck in our house. Maybe I can also talk the ants out of our bathroom. Is there really any difference between a book club and a coven?
Well, the coven I belonged to in the 70s was all about ritual, moon worship, and goddess worship. No book discussions other than those by Zee Budapest. Do try talking to the fly. I haven't had any luck with ants yet. Maybe you will! The times I had to flea bomb (because cats), I talked to all the bugs and spiders before hand, warned them invited them to leave. When we had a rat problem in San Diego (the whole neighborhood had a problem), I warned them the rat vector was coming. He set traps, but all the rats had gone. We never had a problem after that. Have to say that hasn't worked for me here in Portland. Yet! I haven't tried hard enough, I think. Probably I need a coven to come help. ha.
Isn't the podcast sort of great? And, yes, totally radicalizing me. Just got to the episode where they talk about big, collective hexes and I'm sort of into it. What book did you buy? I have several on order from the library that she mentions in the podcast, or I will when the library hold system starts working again. I'm checking out Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living and Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic and Power.
I got one called Witchery: embrace the witch within. Have no idea if it’s good or not. I did read Silvia Federici’s book Caliban and the Witch. She is interviewed on the podcast and it’s quite interesting.
I believe I’m kind of witchy. I definitely talk to my cats and sometimes they talk back almost like we’re in a conversation. I’m pretty sure, though, that they’re just asking when they can eat again 😉 But I also talk to the critters in our yard and our plants. I don’t feel silly, I only hope they can sense my joy at the sight of them. I’ll have to check out that podcast!
Yes, the podcast is great stuff. I think when my cats talk, they're mostly complaining. I think they have a pretty good life, but guess it's all about perspective. Here's to talking to all the plants and critters!
Such a great post Robyn! I listened to the podcast too, and have recently read Alice Tarbuck (who is interviewed in one of the episodes) book A Spell in the Wild, which I highly recommend.
I talk out loud to the birds & caw back at the crows. I approve ha! The other day my friend & I were on the beach and there was a small child, probably about 18 months old who squawked back at the seagulls every time they opened their beaks. I think they were doing it right. Witches and kids man they know what’s up!
I think we are able to communicate with nature we’ve just forgotten the language. It’s a language of feeling and energy not a language of the mind. It’s the same language our body recognizes. Birds come closer to me when I am settled in my body and not obviously staring right at them (the camera helps create this illusion too). I can tell when a bird doesn’t want me around or doesn’t like what I’m doing. I’m can often hear the difference between normal chatter and distress calls. We all can, if we have the time and patience to relearn.
As to magic, magic happens all the time. I don’t believe we “control” it. That’s a power-over model. Magic is always about working with the energy that’s there. All that black magic stuff was simply to justify taking women’s land and money. It was always about money and power over.
I love this, Karen. I can see in your photos that you are communicating with the birds and other wildlife. It definitely comes through, along with there personalities! So big! So clear.
Yes, I'm thinking it's not about control, but cooperation and communion. Learning to listen and follow. And, of course, accusing women of being witches was about so much, including fear of their very real power and the need to take it away.
Love this. I consider myself a witch also. Highly recommend the book Witch Body by Sabrina Scott for anyone who wants to dive deeper into the connection between the natural and urban environment and the modern witch.
Well now we have three. Not enough for a coven, but a magical number just the same. I will definitely check out the book.
Thanks so much, Charlotte. Awesome to meet a fellow witch.
You’re not going through anything so much as rediscovering your long lost self. I talk to birds, animals, and plants all the time.
I love this, Brenda, and think it's so true. I think this kind of relationship to nature is something we're born with and then taught to forget. Feel I'm in good company!
I have witch ancestry. I talk to birds, insects, reptiles, fish, trees, plants, and animals of course. I can talk flies to the door or window where they can fly away. But I can't talk yellow jackets into behaving like I think they should. Alas. Thank you for the recommendations! Btw, I also belonged to a coven back in the 70s. Any coven I join today will basically be a book club. ha.
Oh, I'm going to try that the next time we have a fly stuck in our house. Maybe I can also talk the ants out of our bathroom. Is there really any difference between a book club and a coven?
Well, the coven I belonged to in the 70s was all about ritual, moon worship, and goddess worship. No book discussions other than those by Zee Budapest. Do try talking to the fly. I haven't had any luck with ants yet. Maybe you will! The times I had to flea bomb (because cats), I talked to all the bugs and spiders before hand, warned them invited them to leave. When we had a rat problem in San Diego (the whole neighborhood had a problem), I warned them the rat vector was coming. He set traps, but all the rats had gone. We never had a problem after that. Have to say that hasn't worked for me here in Portland. Yet! I haven't tried hard enough, I think. Probably I need a coven to come help. ha.
Oh, glad to see I’m not the only one “radicalised” by this podcast! haha I even bought a book for witchcraft 🧙🏻♀️
Isn't the podcast sort of great? And, yes, totally radicalizing me. Just got to the episode where they talk about big, collective hexes and I'm sort of into it. What book did you buy? I have several on order from the library that she mentions in the podcast, or I will when the library hold system starts working again. I'm checking out Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living and Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic and Power.
I got one called Witchery: embrace the witch within. Have no idea if it’s good or not. I did read Silvia Federici’s book Caliban and the Witch. She is interviewed on the podcast and it’s quite interesting.
Oh, Silvia Federici was so interesting. Might add that to the list.
Lovely to drop by & read your lovely words!
Lovely to drop by & read your lovely words!
Thanks, Satya!
I believe I’m kind of witchy. I definitely talk to my cats and sometimes they talk back almost like we’re in a conversation. I’m pretty sure, though, that they’re just asking when they can eat again 😉 But I also talk to the critters in our yard and our plants. I don’t feel silly, I only hope they can sense my joy at the sight of them. I’ll have to check out that podcast!
Yes, the podcast is great stuff. I think when my cats talk, they're mostly complaining. I think they have a pretty good life, but guess it's all about perspective. Here's to talking to all the plants and critters!
Such a great post Robyn! I listened to the podcast too, and have recently read Alice Tarbuck (who is interviewed in one of the episodes) book A Spell in the Wild, which I highly recommend.
Waiting for A Spell in the Wild to come in on hold from my library! Looking forward to reading all the witchiness.
I talk out loud to the birds & caw back at the crows. I approve ha! The other day my friend & I were on the beach and there was a small child, probably about 18 months old who squawked back at the seagulls every time they opened their beaks. I think they were doing it right. Witches and kids man they know what’s up!
Kids really do know what's up when it comes to animals and nature.
I think we are able to communicate with nature we’ve just forgotten the language. It’s a language of feeling and energy not a language of the mind. It’s the same language our body recognizes. Birds come closer to me when I am settled in my body and not obviously staring right at them (the camera helps create this illusion too). I can tell when a bird doesn’t want me around or doesn’t like what I’m doing. I’m can often hear the difference between normal chatter and distress calls. We all can, if we have the time and patience to relearn.
As to magic, magic happens all the time. I don’t believe we “control” it. That’s a power-over model. Magic is always about working with the energy that’s there. All that black magic stuff was simply to justify taking women’s land and money. It was always about money and power over.
I love this, Karen. I can see in your photos that you are communicating with the birds and other wildlife. It definitely comes through, along with there personalities! So big! So clear.
Yes, I'm thinking it's not about control, but cooperation and communion. Learning to listen and follow. And, of course, accusing women of being witches was about so much, including fear of their very real power and the need to take it away.
I am, as you know, staunchly atheist and devoid of belief in a paranormal world. I say that first to add gravity to the following:
I probably try to do what can only be described as magic 50 times a day. And sometimes it works and I get a psychic high off of it.
I have many questions I'll be saving for next time I see you, but let me just say right now, I think that makes you a witch.