Thanks so much, @georgia !! 
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Good to see you back @BrightBear . Sorry youāve been through some tough times, but glad things are looking brighter now.
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This is my challenge entry-
I wanted to share a dream from the other night.
We (Iām not sure who we is but I know it was more than just me) were at some of like learning retreat type setting in nature. The 'āteacherā was on old women with tanned olivey skin and longish white wispy hair. She felt familiar and I know Iāve met her before. She was talking and I was writing notes. I think she was talking about plants/herbs. Suddenly it dawned on me I didnāt need the notes as I already knew/understood what she was teaching. Nor could I read what I had written like it was a different language. Then we were walking I remember looking down and seeing her feet. She was wearing sandals with wide leather straps. Suddenly we were on this rock formation in a body of darkish water. It wasnāt like scary water just not like pristine blue. There swimming towards us was one dolphin and one whale(which was smaller that the dolphin) The whale come right to the rock formation and was sort of tapping it to get my attention. At this time I remember her asking what my shade was. I simply said purple and orange but I grow mostly green. So she asked what I was currently growing. I told her I have basil thyme lemon balm dill and sage. I am actually growing those in my window currently. Then she was speaking to some one else and I remember hearing it will take 7years of therapy and something to do with like a gulf somewhereā¦Suddenly I noticed that the rock formation we were on was connected to a glacier and I thoughā O I didnāt notice that beforeā and thatās when I woke up. Iām not sure what the āshade colorā is referring to. When I think about it I see like a lavender amethyst like shade and a bright deep orangish citrine kind of colorā¦. Iām also unsure what the whales message wasā¦ I also remember thinking at one point that if Iām not learning plants/herbs and how to help heal people and share my gifts/knowledge then what am I doingā¦
Sorry this was so long. If anyone has any insight or interpretations feel free to share 
Its so great to have a safe and comfortable place to share things 
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I canāt help you with interpreting your dream, Iām afraid, but kudos to you for remembering it. I can never remember mine in much detail, just bits and pieces here and there.
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This got a few responses!
I was answering another area and muddled on to an interesting idea of an animal with strength. I chose the dog. It has entwined itself in our life. So I had to make a card showing it. Itās not physical strength - it is spiritualā¦ and a lot of it.
(AI)
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Thanks! Right back attcha. Hope you can dive in again!
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My Witchy Name, is what I useā¦Gene
Many of you know, and many donāt. I am making a comeback from a coma. I was told about choosing a name that matches your birth number total. My total was 4. Since I am ānewā again (long story/coma), I wished to go back to my birth name [somewhat] and my given middle name is GENE and equals 22 [a divine number that still goes to 4], so I went with that.
I do not really focus on any magick in particular, since I believe so much of it is intent. However, the last couple months, I have been focusing on divination, shadow and chaos work.
Love to all, Lady Gene 
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Thatās a wonderful dream, lots to ponder over. Visually it just sounds beautiful and fascinating!
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@greenbriar I rarely remember mine other than bits. This one was so vivid though. Iāve noticed that my recall has been improving or maybe cyclical. I think it has to do with doing more meditations, where the heavenly bodies are, which crystal I choose to sleep with that night and maybe qigong.
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I will tackle this one in the morning!
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Do you have a magical name?
No, I donāt but I would like to. I go by the name Julz which is short for Julie. I like the name Julz and now Iām bordering retirement plan on using it permanently. My friends have always called me Julz but professionally I use Julie for business. When I was a kid, I was called Daisy as my last name was Day. I liked the name Daisy and may use it as part of my magical name but need to come up with 9 letters.
Do you have a favourite area of magick?
Like @greenbriar I love Gaia and the Green Man as I love gardening and nature. I have a nice herb garden which I use for culinary purposes at present but hope to move into tinctures and salves when I get more time. I grow mugwort and make smudge sticks and use it as incense (see more from my post in the Sleepy Challenge las fortnight). I also make a horsetail rinse for my dogās coat.
I love cooking and using herbs and spices in my recipes. I have a large leather-bound recipe book which I write up my magical recipes in. This is my bone marrow pasta (homemade pasta as well) I made for Valentineās Day.
I donāt have a specific favourite area of magick but I do love candles, crystals (and have lots and lots), cooking, gardening, astrology, some spell work and love following the moon cycles.
What are you studying right now?
I am currently studying Astrology with the Sydney Astrology School and am doing Level 3. It has been challenging but the group are great and very encouraging. I also listen to an astrologer who I subscribe to āLisa Salvatoreā for her weekly forecasts and also her astrology forecasts each month and other astrological events. I am finding that everything ties together and am trying to use astrology in my spiritual practices much more.
I am also learning Italian starting Level 1 A/B tomorrow night with the University of Queensland short courses (again ā found it very hard the first time so giving it another try). The class last time was for beginners but found it overwhelming when most of the class were of Italian descent who already spoke some of the language. Thought that was a bit unfair on beginners to keep up.
Are there any hobbies or crafts youāre working on?
Yes lots. Sewing at present ā trying to get back into it after many years having a break. I have joined an American group called Seamwork. It is nice to have a group of ladies to work with, but the ladies can come from all over the world.
I am also trying to write a BOS for 2026 events this year. It is an awesome book very large leather bound and coloured dark green with a row of chakra stones down the centre. I write about the moon cycles, the wiccan calendar events, astrology events, valentines, St Partickās, our birthdays, and other practices that I follow. I also do tarot spreads for most of these events as well.
I love my herb garden and have quite a few house plants and veranda plants that I tend every few days. I plan on introducing edible flowers into my garden for culinary use in the future. Probably plant more nut and fruit trees as well. I live on acreage in the countryside, so space is no issue. This is my herb garden although much bigger now.
I also do a daily tarot card, and it has been amazing just how accurate the cards are. I now use tarot quite a bit for my own purposes and do spreads for each month and other events. Moving forward I plan on being able to pull up my daily transit chart for interpretation as well.
Do you have any pets or familiars?
I have a dog and her name is Lyric from her kennel name āY-Knot Lyricā. She is a class A Australian Koolie and is now 10 years old but still very healthy and active. I admit she is overweight but fat girls can still be fit and active as well. My husband gave her to me for Xmas in 2015 after my cancer diagnosis and she was my heartbeat and my companion. My husband has a Koolie as well. He is going on 12 years, and his name is Yahoo from his kennel name āAlambie Yahooā. They are both very special for us.
How long have you been practicing?
Like most ladies have said probably subconsciously all my life. I have always felt different and I am also a Pisces. My parents were very conservative, so I had no introduction to spirituality until well into my adulthood. Now I am much older and wiser (64 in a week) and free of parenting responsibilities I can choose to do what I like. I reflect on my past and see that I have always been drawn to spirituality but sadly had no mentor or guide.
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All my life I have used healing magic without knowing what I was doing. Now, as I approach my crone phase I realize I wasnāt too be more intentional in what I do and learn all I can.
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Hi, @Autumnwnd - Merry Meet!
Itās fascinating how some of us grew up doing things a certain way, just because it felt right. Then later on, it seems all right to really dive in and gain more understanding.
Weāre happy youāre here with us! Thereās a lot of information here that will hopefully guide you along. Keep posting and enjoy your journey. Blessings! 
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Welcome to the freebie challenge! 
In addition to the previous entrants, @georgia, @BrightBear, @c11, @dan3, @leilani1, @Eira_of_the_Living_Hearth, @julie8, and @Autumnwnd are also on the list to receive the freebie badge. Thanks for stopping by the space to answer the prompts, share something interesting, or just share a nice comment/say hi. Blessed be! 
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Hmm. Daisy Julz makes me think of a flower bejeweled with sun- touched dew drops, sparkling like diamonds. Beautiful, like you!
Horsetail is great for hair growth. Some use it in cleansers, and others take it internally. High in silica- what hair is made of. I once heard it was used by Native Americans for keeping elder hair thick, glossy, and (mixed with henna) deeply colored.
The original idea may have been that the natives could help the beginners, but if the teacher focused on the best speakers, as usual, they werenāt being fair in any sense of the word. I had a class in Spanish like that: when I asked for the help advertised in the syllabus, I was referred to a remedial class. It was embarrassing. I should have demanded my money back for false advertising.
I found that taking multiple Latin based languages at the same time helped a bit. Many of them have similar words and sentence structure. It can get confusing when I go to separate them again, though. I majored in French, minored in Spanish, added in touches of Italian, Latin, Japanese, Hawaiian, Cherokee, and lost them all because I had no one to speak to in those languages.
I found myself in a similar predicament. Dove in without guidance. Found lots of things I didnāt think were part of Spirituality. Got lost so many times. Finally lost myself, and am currently trying to find my way again. It has been debilitating. I donāt blame you for being hesitant. Yet I wouldnāt trade away a single wrong turn. I may be nowhere near where I thought Iād be, but the adventure was an interesting lifestyle.
Welcome @Autumnwnd!
Corning in healing is a great life adventure, too. May it serve you well!
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Do you have a magickal name?
Not yet. Iām allowing it to emerge naturally rather than forcing one before it feels earned.
Do you have a favorite area of magick?
Shadow work
Protection & warding
Ancestral work
Norse pathworking
Crystal energy
Healing / bodywork massages with oils
Still learning
What are you studying right now?
Learning to balance spiritual practice with real-world responsibility.
Are there any hobbies or crafts youāre working on?
I enjoy creating ritual oils and working with crystals. Iām also developing my energy work through massage and intention-setting.
Do you have any pets or familiars?
Yes my beautiful cat shadow
How long have you been practicing?
Nearly a year
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Do you have a magickal name?
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Do you have a favorite area of magick?
-
What are you studying right now?
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Are there any hobbies or crafts youāre working on?
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Do you have any pets or familiars?
-
How long have you been practicing?
Yes, I do! Eira of the Living Hearth here! My name finally came to me at the end of 2025 after years of soul searching. I love it and it fits with my practice well!
My favorite area of magick currently is ancestral and shadow work, crystals, herbs, hearthcraft, and all varieties of divination.
Right now Iām studying green witchcraft and hearthcraft.
Iām not working on any crafts at the moment.
I have my mischievous kitty Loki and my staunch, loyal security guard, Nico. Heās a Jack Chi I rescued off the streets 5 years ago. Heās about 7 years old now. He hates to be away from mama lol. Loki will be 9 months old on the 8th.
I have been practicing since 2022. And I still feel like a newbie half the time lol!
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One week to go!
Thanks to everyone who has joined the freebie challenge so far. Itās fun to read your comments be they explorations of your practice, interesting activities or crafts youāre working on, misc wisdom, or just a quick note saying hi - thanks for joining in!
For those who havenāt yet shared a comment, rest assured that thereās still time to join if you wish. There is one more week until this challenge closes.
Blessed be! 
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I love it. Its so beautful for a name.
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hello all my witchy friends, i would love to join this challenge, i come from a long line of witches, my mom, aunt, grandma, and my two daughters are practicing witches, and we are welcoming my granddaughter into the craft, but first to answer a few questions:
- Do you have a magickal name?
*no i do not, i am just big momma, or momma - Do you have a favorite area of magick?
- outdoors or in my bedroom, edited to include a side note(reading is fundamental erica) anything magic from the ocean, i do believe myself to be a sea witch
- What are you studying right now?
- crystals, and herbs,
- Are there any hobbies or crafts youāre working on?
- i love to read
- Do you have any pets or familiars?
- still looking for my forever friend
- How long have you been practicing?
- i have been practicing for as long as i can remember, probably in the womb
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