🤝 Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - One Witch to Another

[Peaches]

this challenge for me is just that, a challenge! because I received the warmest welcome from everyone here, instantly felt like family, have learned lots and fell in love with everyone!

(insert tag everyone here!)

the most inspiring witch for me though has to be everyone’s favorite @praecog29 . having come from a christian upbringing myself, his story and insight into changing from it to Wicca really spoke to me and helped me with some of my…(guilt isnt the right word…having a hard time finding it (sorry, cognitive issues ) of leaving it behind, transitioning and following my true beliefs, my true self.
(Messy week, mushy brain so I hope this all makes sense)

Thank you Benjamin for being you!

[JasmineTheBlueJ]

Thank you for the shot out that’s amazing:)

[Jeannie1]

Steph,

@steph

it’s your own mindset

Your so right, stay positive! Once I did really good and wrote everything down and I did see major changes! I do have this spark that wants to change! I did a journal entry and it took a lot out of me just to do it and at lest I am being intentional. With determination and will it can be done.
Blessed Be!
Jeannie

[Kasandra]

Hello everyone!

Even if your name isn’t mentioned in this post, I want all of you to know that you’ve been very helpful in some way.

When I was studying how to work dragon magick on other parts of the web, some commenters laughed at the idea. I want to thank everyone here for being open minded and supportive of me on my journey into Draconic Wicca and not chasing me off the forum with laughs.

@Amethyst You were the first here to welcome me to this coven and forum. Your introduction told me that I made the right decision to become a member.

@Francisco As always, thank you for creating such a wonderfully informative website for us pagans. Thanks to our online Infinite Roots coven, I don’t feel like I’m a solitary practitioner. The Internet is a great tool for learning, but it is also nice to ne in contact with others who in the Craft as well.

@BryWisteria The Weekly Witch Challenges have given me a chance to grow in my practice and learn what I am drawn to. I look forward to them every week and I pray that we never run out of ideas for them!

@Jeannie1 @Jewitch I wasn’t interested in working with Hecate since I initially didn’t connect with her, but your posts about your experiences working with her gave me the push I needed to try again. I discovered a goddess that I can call upon whenever I need to cleanse myself of negativity energies.

@Susurrus I learned more about astrology from the weekly challenges that you pitched to Bryanna. My natal chart was fascinating to read and I was stunned how much of it actually applied to me.

@christina4 Thank you for lending an ear the other day about a person I was having trouble with. I may not work with crystals that much, but I love seeing pictures of them and learning about their magickal properties.

@MeganB Thank you for posting many informative topics here on the forum. I remember back in March how some of us were debating if it was okay for us to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Even though I was planning to acknowledge that day as a time to celebrate my Irish heritage, I felt some guilt that I was choosing to do it on a day associated with a man responsible for the mass slaughter of pagans. However, your knowledge helped me to see that this was not the case.

@praecog29 We may not see each other in person, but just from your posts, I can sense the positivity that radiates from you. I hope that someday I can radiate that much light that people can sense it from my posts.

[Amethyst]

@Kasandra

@Amethyst You were the first here to welcome me to this coven and forum. Your introduction told me that I made the right decision to become a member.

Aww, thank you @Kasandra! That means a lot to me!

[Susurrus]

Oh you’re welcome @Kasandra! I’m happy you enjoy the posts, I have been slacking with my forecasts due to unforseen circumstances, but I’m hoping to be back at it within a couple of weeks. & the Brigid Flametender posts!

I know not everyone works with her, but thank you to those updating the flame when they can, most recently @christina4.

@Kasandra I will see what else I can come up with for challenge ideas too.

[christina4]

I have learned so much from everyone! But for the challenge, I decided to go with the Daily Devotional that are on the Spells8 site that @Francisco puts together.

Daily Devotional: Today’s Candle and Magical Correspondences

They have been a part of my daily life since I found this site (over a year ago). It was a challenge for me to do them some days, even if I didn’t feel up to it or was upset or depressed, but I still did them everyday along with my morning ritual. I enjoy the daily card draw on their as well!

So, thank you @Francisco for being a part of my daily life and making me more knowledgeable in my craft!

Please understand that I love everyone and I don’t want to exclude anyone and let anybody down!!! You all know I’ve learned a lot from each and every one of you! That’s what makes a family stronger!!!

[Jeannie1]

Kassandra,
Thanks for your gratitude and mutual respect for our magical practices. You have helped me grow too with the dragon energy! When I need to be strong and I am under attack I can always depend on the dragon! You helped me be closer to the energy of the dragon.

I am very blessed to have you by my side and I am happy that you found your strength and power through the craft. You are so appreciated! I love Hecate too and would love to learn about how other Goddesses can help me too! And that’s why we have each-other! To help eachother in our journey!
Thank you so much! And I love you all so much too!
Blessed be!
Jeannie

[moonshadow]

This challenge made me think about my mom and where I come from because it’s how I was introduced to the power of our moon, crystals/stones, the use of herbs, essential oils, I was blessed to be guided to the magic of the moon at a very young age thanks to my mom (Thank you mom) She has never identified as a witch, but more as a healer and a deliverer of life. Mom is a midwife and she heals people through her massage, dance, yoga, and Gestalt practices. Because of her green thumb and the fact that she beautifully grows her own food including herbs and she creates her own elixirs, potions, and essential oils is why I think she is a green witch but whatever. I grew up watching my mom work her craft. I was there when she delivered babies and I have witnessed her heal someone and oh boy was that scary! I remember the healing took everything out of her and she was usually sick for a week afterward.
Being born and raised in Big Sur California I spent most of my childhood playing and running around barefoot at The Esalen Institute in Big Sur California. That alone is a blessing that fills my heart with gratitude every single day. In the case, you may not know of Big Sur or Esalen, I want to share this treasured place with you:

Big Sur - Wikipedia

Big Sur

*" Esalen Institute - Wikipedia

Esalen Institute

The Waters: Water flows at the heart of Esalen. Three water sources converge here to form a trinity of creation, renewal, and destruction, harkening back to our own ancient origins. According to Chinese medicine and other traditions, the human emotional body is held by the water element. Perhaps that is one reason why Esalen is a safe and powerfully healing place to look within.

The Land: There is the wonder of the place itself, 120 acres of fertile land carved out between mountain and ocean, blessed by a cascading canyon stream and hot mineral springs gushing out of a seaside cliff. There is the delicate and subtle Big Sur air of a late afternoon in May, the midnight mist of July, the drenching February rain. There are October nights so clear the Milky Way can light your walk along the darkened garden path. And always there is the sound of the sea.

I was surrounded and cared for by a community that my parents were a part of I remember as a child feeling empowered with this vivid sense of freedom of ability to be myself, I was encouraged to explore the amazing outdoors which guided me to my nature-based path. I was introduced to the power of healing with energy, light, in flowers, plants, crystals, stones, and essential oils early on. I honor the myriad ways and believe nature is our source and greatest teacher. I am constantly craving more information and search to read about and understand other beliefs, practices, and of different cultures, religions, and ways. I was searching for literature about Hekate on google one day and stumbled upon spells8. I am really impressed and thrilled to find tons of really valuable information here, not just on Hecate but on almost EVERYTHING! . For that I am grateful so thank you for creating to being here.

Here I am standing on the porch of the little shack I was born in and you could actually rent it for a night or two now a days!

I have always been a moonchild and some of my best memories of my childhood were when we would gather at the beach on the full moon. I remember Beating on drums, dancing, and chanting around a bomb fire. During my early teen years is when I discovered my keen sense of animals and my ability to communicate with them. 50 years later here I am, still beating on drums, dancing, and chanting during the full moon. I was taught that Witchcraft is a practice, we are all capable of magic. We can open portals and experience the psychic part of nature if we tune in. Everyone has their own path and there is no wrong way.
*I have recently been interested in and studying to manifest energy and have recently discovered and now follow Yasmin Boland who teaches about the moon, The Divine Feminine, and astrology." She is practical and grounded in her guidance to help one fall into alignment with their souls" She is a guide in all matters of our deeper inner world. I have all her books and I even own a deck of her Moonology Oracle cards, which I absolutely love. I have started to join in on the full moon rituals that she streams live on Facebook. She has a lot of insight and information to share and I have grown to trust her.
find her here:
https://www.yasminboland.com
https://www.moonology.com

Here is mom and me:

and me standing off hwy1(picture taken by my husband)

-much love and many blessings

I

[RyuWyn]

¡Hola a todos!

I’ve been thinking about who should I be grateful to this week for what I’ve learned. I must start with my great-grandma. She died at the age of 100 last year before the pandemic started, she was definitely my first mentor, the first living being that thought me about existence, the importance of little things, the sublime, the love, and caring for nature. In fact, it’s thanks to her that I started searching for magic. When she died, I felt that some part of her possessed me and I started to see life in a new way, even though I always knew that something beyond existed, some kind of fulfilling spirituality touched me until she died, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, and I finally made the decision to look for knowledge and wisdom. So thank you, Abuelita, wherever you are… and by wherever I mean, in my heart.

I also thank one of my closest friends that introduced me to Yoga when I needed it the most, my friend Camila Correa, that studied with me in high school, college, and we even ended up living together, sharing the same apartment, and learning from her the most beautiful things. I was going through one of the darkest moments in life when she taught me the art of Yoga, meditation, mindfulness, crystals, astrology, and many more beautiful things. I still practice yoga and meditation, every day, and my life has changed so much, thanks to her. So, gracias Cami

To @Francisco for creating this wonderful place. It’s really giving me a new sense of life, thanks to this, the people involved, the knowledge gained so far from the courses here I really feel that living is really worth it. Gracias, y espero poder agradecerte en persona algun día

To @BryWisteria for creating and putting together those beautiful challenges. I’ve learned so much from them, I’ve connected with magic even in times that I don’t feel like it.

Btw, I didn’t participate in the auras challenge, or I must say, I didn’t publish my experience, but I practiced it, yes, and had a meaningful experience that I wasn’t prepared to share yet, and I also learned that I’m a 100% empathic person, which made me feel sad as well. But anyway, thank for you the weekly challenges, I feel like I learn new things weekly, and connect with all of you. So, gracias!

To @megan for hosting the weekly meetings, I’m finally getting to see some faces, and not feeling completely alone.

I also want to thank everyone in this community. I remember the first time that I reach out to you when I was desperate, anxious, depressed, and without knowing me, you sent me the good energy I needed, and I thank you all for that. @Princess_Tara @praecog29 @pedros10 @anon87969570 @Amethyst @crystal24 @Missa @christina4 and every single one of you that had thought me valuable things about this new way of existence. I’m sorry if I’m missing any of you but be sure that you all are in my heart.

I forgot to mention but, before Spells 8 I got to learn the basics with Ella Harrison in YouTube. She’s such a beautiful woman

And once more, thank you Infinite Roots, for receiving me, guiding me, teaching me, reading my posts. Even though I live alone and sometimes I feel like I’m walking through this path on my own, I know that I have you all (as much as you have me) and that always makes me feel better.

I really hope to see you all one day. And, gracias

[praecog29]

I’ve love seeing all of the responses and everything that everyone has learned from each other. When @Abs and I came up with the idea while talking one night, we knew this would be the perfect way for our family to share the love with each other and to share what has really impacted all of us through @BryWisteria’s challenges.

(I didn’t mean to take sole credit for this so I’m setting the record straight. )

I plan on responding to each one of your posts and share some of the things that I have learned from each of you on Monday.

[steph]

Girl ‘ trust in the change too! Cuz it doesn’t happen overnight! Sometimes it’s super slow’ and I know I have bad habits that I’m trying to break! I just know it ‘ a change is gonna come!
We all Transform eventually’ and we may have many transformations as well! We are only getting better with age !! We are all A type of Fine Wine’ you just gotta find the flavor that you like!! Hehe

[Amethyst]

That’s a beautiful Mom you have @moonshadow, you’re very lucky to have learned from her. I also think you were lucky to have lived in such a beautiful area.

@RyuWyn

I also want to thank everyone in this community. I remember the first time that I reach out to you when I was desperate, anxious, depressed, and without knowing me, you sent me the good energy I needed, and I thank you all for that. @anneshakargupta @praecog29 @pedros10 @Undomeher @Amethyst @crystal24 @Missa and every single one of you that had thought me valuable things about this new way of existence. I’m sorry if I’m missing any of you but be sure that you all are in my heart.

Aww, thank you for the kindness @RyuWyn, you’re making me blush!

I’ve been thinking about this and I’ve first got to give props to my Mom who passed five years and some time ago. She’s the one who gave me my first witchcraft book and let me know that Wicca was even a real thing, so I’ve got to be thankful for that.

I’m also thankful to HearthWitch on YouTube for her educational videos and talks.

But most of all I’m thankful to @Francisco for this forum, and @BryWisteria for these challenges. It was these challenges that got me off my metaphorical and physical butt and got me moving, got me casting magic and I am so thankful for that. I don’t know where I’d be without these challenges.

I’m also thankful to everyone on this forum, the entire Infinite Roots coven for being there for me when I needed you. I could name a few but that wouldn’t be fair so I’m gonna name you all.

Thank you, everyone, down to the last lurker. You have my appreciation.

Blessed be.

[steph]

I also believe that when you follow your own intuition ‘ it’s the most powerful magic. I know you will see so many different correspondences for different herbs and crystals and even colors. But if you hold that item in your hands and feel something’ that’s what it should be for you and your spell, other people may feel different types of energies coming from within. The most powerful magic comes from deep inside when your own soul feels and hears Nature talking to them.
That is Real powerful Magic!
Much Love

[IrisW]

I’ve just opened up this thread and was about to post the same thing.

After my initial enthusiasm I’m a bit stuck with where to actually start. Everyone here has helped me so much. I know I can go to @christina4 for all things crystal and rock related, and @MeganB for divination and crochet

I’m worried if I start trying to list everyone who’s taught me something new that I’ll inadvertently miss somewhat out so I’m going to be generic.

Everyone here has had there part in making me the witch I’m becoming. I’m of course learning the practicalities and skills of Wicca and Witchcraft. But I’m also learning to be a more open and calm human being. I’m so grateful to have found my coven, you’re all awesome.

I think for this challenge I’m going to look at external sources of witchy wisdom I’ve found particularly helpful, but I’m really not sure what yet.

[JasmineTheBlueJ]

I love the spells8.com daily devotions, chants and prayers too ! Use them daily !!!

[anon87969570]

deep breath

Though I have always been drawn to witchy things, I didn’t always realize they were witchy, or that I was a spiritual as I am discovering myself to be. The credit to bringing me to practicing the craft probably goes to my ex. When my marriage to my Ex ended (note the capitalization, different person), there was so much that lie dormant or suppressed. My ex’s courageous out of the broom closet nature enboldened me to explore. The growth and change in me exploded like a bomb. Might be why she and I had to part.

Since coming here I’ve learned much, but don’t know who exactly to credit. Work with what you have, Intention matters.

I was excited to be greeted by @Amethyst, someone in my home state. And @christina4, the Explosively Awesome One, has been so friendly and inspired me to look further into crystals.

Thank you to @MeganB for letting me talk about my meditation experiences. I needed that.

And @phoenix_dawn, for thinking I’m wise

@Garnet for a comforting comment that affected me far beyond the context of the thread.

And so many more. The whole community for your acceptance and welcome, and the gift you have brought to me and everyone here: Love and Light.

[Amethyst]

Aww, thank you @anon87969570, for the mention! Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

[Jeannie1]

Moonshawdow,
My friend has shared with me and you about Big Sur and hopefully soon one day I’ll go. I know the hot springs is out there and can be really therapeutic. I never been able to travel much but this is on my bucket list!
The Big SUR looks so beautiful and the mountains, the water and sky and wildlife! The water looks so good too see and I can picture all my senses coming back to life thinking about it. I ENVY YOU!
The water looks so refreshing and I would love to see some wild life!
This could be a dream come true to see and experience the natural things in life.
I am so glad to meet you moonshawdow your life looks incredible! I think it would be easy for me to get along with animals but sometimes the animals that are wild. I think its great to be able to see the animals and be around them! I love just watching animals like birds. I have owned just about every pet you can think of. lol Its great that you are around the animals and have a connection to theme. And the deeper world and the divine. Thank you for sharing moonshawdow!!!
Your such a blessing to us and your mom seems to be a really good mom too! Thank you!!
Jeannie

[Jeannie1]

WhiteFox,
My Abuelita just past away just before mothers day, My grandma who was actually like my mom passed and she adopted me. My real mom was only 13 when she had me. She was so kind and she did so many good things too! She has taught me so much! I think of her daily. I had the most profound experience too! So thank you for sharing your heart with us!

@RyuWyn

When she died, I felt that some part of her possessed me and I started to see life in a new way, even though I always knew that something beyond existed, some kind of fulfilling spirituality touched me until she died, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, and I finally made the decision to look for knowledge and wisdom.

Blockquote
All’sI can say is that I felt her light inside me and I had a same feeling or experience. I want to continue sharing her light and I feel that she lives inn me know in a more profound way.
IBessed be!