The Quiet Forest

I am a Solitary Pagan and beginning Green Witch. This blog is a quiet place where no politics will be seen. just moments of my path that felt right to post.

[the-quite-forest]

Hello and welcome to my blog. This place is a space where it is just about my path as a Solitary Pagan and as a green witch. Speaking of, I work/honor Veles, who, since entering my life, has led to many changes. And on such a change is the feeling to make a blog like this. Whether he called me or nudged me in the direction, I cannot say.

For a while now, I have been growing tired of seeing politics of all kinds being brought into a spiritual/pagan space. if felt draining so badly I had to leave the space, as a result, I thought I had no place. Yet, I felt peace and connection in the solitude. just me, nature, and the divine. While I poke my head into some pagan communities every now and then, I return to my solitude. think of it as cracking open a door slightly to see what's going on, then closing it when you've had enough. Since doing so, my connection, on my path, has grown stronger. Of course, everyone's path is different, and while it may work for me, it may not work for you.

So, my background. I, like probably a good amount of pagans, come from a Christian background. My mother was Pentecostal, my father Baptist. Though I grew up mostly Pentecostal. Though the Pentecostals on that side were fundamentalist Pentecostal. The ones that believe the bible is literal and deny evolution. Though my mother was never strict with it, Christianity never clicked with me. I loved ancient mythology. I would love science. And I would clash with my grandmother. Yet it was last year, yes, I am a new pagan still essentially, but I feel I have come far from then. I was researching Wicca, as it had suddenly entered my thoughts one night. I found paganism, and it clicked. I felt so free and happy when I realized Paganism was for me. Nature felt closer. Sure, I got a bit lost on my path a few times before Veles reached out. But I found it again.

I do hope anyone who comes across this blog will enjoy and find a bit of quiet. My path is my own, and yours is your own. It's possible our winding paths may cross, but it is still our own ways. I may not post a lot, but I only post what I feel is right. Intuition is a great guide in my path, as sometimes it's Veles giving a nudge.

Blessed be, may the forest bring peace and calm

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There are points in a person's path where its time to let what doesn't work anymore go. this can be hard to do. But in order for a new door to open, you must close the old. Its not easy, but letting go can push forward a path, discovering new aspects.

Identifying what needs to be let go can be difficult, this is where intuition and reflection comes in. Look at everything you do and ask 'what still work me and what doesn't'. let go of what doesn't. If its more difficult use tarot or meditate. Let the gods help when the reason is clear. change and transformation is not bad, a new beginning is is a good thing.

I have had periods of change and new beginnings myself. they can be scary at first, sometimes I just walk right through, not realizing it. and that can happen too. sometimes you can walk right into the change. that's the kind of change you feel how your path is.

when I first started working/honoring Veles a year ago, I had no idea my path would feel like it exploded forward. now its a fond time I remember. along with encountering a bit of his trickster side. I still remember the moment in a meditation where I had been meditating with my amber and after being shown its time period, I ended up in my inner forest. I sat on a log with Veles and Brigid on two other logs. I saw a centipede and it scared me so much I fell back off of it, because when the amber showed me its time period I saw a giant centipede that chased me. Veles laughed, Brigid started him down not amused. those moments in my meditations are very precious. and I just rambled a bit.

keep in mind change in a path isn't bad, its a good thing. it means in some cases its time for growth that you can't get with what you have already. maybe you discover something about yourself you didn't know.

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In the last posts I've focused somewhat on the path one takes, tools, taking on too much, but I want to take this one to shift a little. when you focus on the path too much, you can forget to care about yourself. forget self-care. so this post is both advice and reminder for those who may not realize it.

when you have focused on your path endlessly and nothing else. your emotions and intuition get bottled up, leading to burnout. I myself have made this mistake before, and some of you have likely had the feeling or had it happen. when we are on our paths we are not just working with the gods , spirits, whoever you work or honor, we are working on ourselves as well. this is why self-care is important. one can forget themselves and this can in the wider view somewhat hinder ourselves on the path and in daily life. you miss things you wouldn't normally miss.

so what can you do to help this? well first is notice it, as once you realize you are too focused and neglecting self care, you can make the steps to fix it. meditation is one method you can use to help, just have days where you meditate. Use a desk zen garden. I have one I like it, I just need to use it more. just find what works for you. writing, drawing, reading that can help. Just find what works for you, what you enjoy.

This is a short one, but I believe this is important. it is a balancing act, and you have to learn this balance. I hope this helps anyone who finds it. Or anyone who finds it and realizes you need a bit of self-care. Working a path isn't all work, sometimes it just sitting by the hearth. See you next time.

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Have you felt burned out? Feeling like you are doing too much? Overwhelmed maybe? You probably have taken on too much for your path.

I have a question and I want you, the reader, to think. How many responsibilities have you chosen to have for your path? what tasks, what duties? does it feel too much? 'But what if its what I have to do?' some might ask. then I ask can you really do it without burning out, because that is what will happen. you don't have to do everything. find what truly works for you and your path .

Burnout on a pagan path can be hard, gods know I have felt it before. But i stepped back, took a break from some of it. I used to leave a offering of water everyday on my alter. until I felt it had no meaning anymore. which I stopped and adjusted . I now only leave offerings when I'm proud of something I've made and want to share. other times I put effort in to leave a offering mainly on the festivals of Brigid and Veles, both in February, days from each other. I never ask for anything when I do. I don't seek out anything, I just give a offering. because if you do it everyday it looses its meaning, in my option.

in my early days as a pagan I tried to do everything , everything was new to me, but I got burned out. I stopped working on my path. I got lost. but afterwards I found my path again with help from Morrigan who would introduce me to Brigid, and my path returned. Sometimes stepping back then returning, the gods can guide us back and open new doors.

when your burned out the best option to do is step back and take a break, look at all your commencements and reevaluate them. choose what is the most helpful for your path. I only do flame keeping, and working on learning crystal magic.

First to identify what is dragging you down look at what is draining you, what responsibilities, what expectations have you put on yourself or craft? search for it then figure out if it can be adjusted or let go. it can be hard especially if you've developed a habit of it. you can apply this to any path. even in your daily life. if its severe step back fully and reevaluate. and when your ready after reevaluating, return to your practice. I've had to do it a few times when I felt lost. but I was guided right back onto my path by the gods.

What I want to make clear is always make sure you do what helps and feels fulfilling on your path but at the same time don't burn out when you end up taking on too much. Because it's not pleasant when burnout hits, and it sets you back for a bit. Take care of yourselves.

[the-quite-forest]

Have you ever felt despite having what you wanted , you feel something is missing? hollow? I ask, have you bought items or tools for your practice yet they don't bring what you had wanted? does it feel like you are not growing your spiritual path? Maybe, you forgot to nurture yourself, your inner ways.

Its easy to get caught up in all the shiny tools, yet I ask, does it truly help you? stop and think for a moment. did you feel drawn to it? or did you think you needed it or someone say you need this? I make this point to make you, the readers, think about what you have and use. I have made that mistake before myself, mainly though I made it and used it very little. the tools you use if you use them should be something that is meaningful. Our ancestors didn't have many shiny tools, much was passed down and taught orally. the tools they did have were simple.

A spiritual path, no matter if one is a pagan of any kind, a witch, Wiccan or any of them, is not a straight path. it can wind and curve. it is not a defined path in a forest, you have to find your path. Another person's path is not your path. this is why I follow my intuition and the guidance from Brigid and Veles. there are times you can get lost, the gods know I have, but you can find your way back. find the tools that call to you, use those tools. sit and meditate with said tool get to know it. I try to do that with my crystals, as each one has its own personality. my Sel, my selenite pendulum, is excited and loves to go with me and have adventures but I don't anymore because shes a soft gem, shes also chatty. my Kunzite is a polite gem. quartz won't talk with me. get to know your tools, get to know their personalities.

It is also important to listen to you tools. What I mean by this is tools like crystals can warn you. It's a feeling by my own experience, it's a feeling of wanting to hold it. A strong urge to hold it in your hands. This could mean something is testing your spiritual boundary or something trying to invade.

My experience was with my meditation with my new Aegirine crystal. With crystals, I like to meditate and introduce myself to them. During this particular meditation, it shifted from the dark space to my inner forest, a forest with a Indo-European feel. During this I saw wispy gray smoke coming from behind me curling to the front, I knew immediately this wasn't normal, it had been Tezcatlipoca who had invaded my inner forest. Immediately upon noticing him Veles and Brigid had come. The forest itself did not like Tezcatlipoca there. I had run telling him no. Brigid had embraced me from behind as Veles confronted Tezcatlipoca. I had felt their magic aspects. Then they clashed, the best way to describe it, and Veles had drove him off. Veles had approached me and Brigid. I had felt that protection from them.

Why do I mention this? I do so as a lesson. Sometimes some deities don't come to reach out but to test boundaries and to test your trust in your own path and gods. I have had it happened twice now, first was Inanna who Brigid had not liked and had literally squared up to her. I learned my lesson the first time, this time I did different. If I had not had listened to my tool, my crystal, I do not know what would have occurred that morning. Each deity is different, and they have their own personalities. This is why I say trust your tools, use the ones that call to you, because it can help you like my Aegirine did.

Having tools that you will use not because someone told you its 'necessary', is a important aspect to understand. Again I say, use tools that call to you. A example, for witches they say you need a cauldron, atheme, chalice or cup, wand, pentacle, book or shadows/grimoire, candles and crystals. that's a lot. in my option, as I only used that as a example, if we follow my belief of using the tools that call to you do you need all of that? For a personal example I had wanted to use a atheme for my path but it changed when I chose to use my long selenite stick, and since I have no desire for a atheme or a wand. I still plan on making my selenite stick that tool. I use it to purify and sanctify my altars/shrines to Veles and Brigid and to cleanse any new crystals. Learn the feelings and learn to follow your intuition. Honestly to the gods, I don't how much I can press that. listen to your intuition, listen to your deities. because they know more of your path than anyone else you see on YouTube, Tiktok, Reddit, anywhere. Ask them will this help? and you can get a answer by the feeling afterwards. When you want to get maybe a new crystal, ask them to guide you to one or listen to your intuition, sometimes the right crystal will tug at you. that's how I found my Aegirine, how I feel in love with Kyanite which turned out to be one of my personal crystals.

I believe that is all. I hope anyone reading can take something away from this. I never want to tell people how they should live their path, I just want to give advice, have a space where that is free from politics, where it's just a pagan, nature, and the gods. This is something new I'm doing in pulling a tarot card and writing a post with the card as the prompt. This one was Reversed Nine of Cups. With the upright High Priestess and Wheel of Fortune as guidance cards for me in how to write it. I give myself a week to write a post. This also seems to help my own growth; maybe it can help yours, too. See you in the next one.

[the-quite-forest]

Just had a moment during a meditation introducing myself to my new crystal , Aegirine. Tezcatlipoca tried to get in, i saw him, and immediately Brigid and Veles came. I said no to him, Brigid embraced me as Veles clashed with Tezcatlipoca and drove him off. I had the urge to meditate with my Aegirine, and I think it was giving me a warning. I'm grateful for it, too.

[the-quite-forest]

So today I had an interesting experience. In the morning, I always say good morning to my gods. But this morning, I added Morrigan. Which caught me off guard. I redid it and still said good morning to Morrigan. Only later when my family came to see me was I told something about my grandmother, which I won't say for privacy reasons. And it made sense. Morrigan rarely approaches in my path but only does at times I won't understand. I understand, at least why. Know what's coming, so the only thing I can do is prepare myself for when that call about my grandmother comes. I oddly feel spiritually supported.

[the-quite-forest]

Finally getting close to making my Brigid Prayer beads. I have struggled to come up with the main beads. But finally, the design came. Two are done; one just needs to finish glazing. i made my Veles prayer beads some time back, now my Brigid prayer beads will be done, still need to make the new connector. though i am loving the well bead, ill post a photo of the beads once they are done.

[the-quite-forest]

2 years as a pagan today

It's hard to describe my thoughts. I have no regrets about it, honestly I feel I have become better since I became a pagan. And today I just took a nice long walk. And I felt the feeling. Sometimes I close my eyes during a walk, and this time I saw Veles and Brigid. Hands on my arms. Supportive. Veles smiling. I even meditated slightly at the arboretum.

The first thing I saw was a bear, which I knew immediately was associated with Veles. It came up to me, and I put my hand on its head and felt the fur. It then hugged my leg. I continued to pet it. As a small white bird landed on my other hand. Then Veles and Brigid appeared. I think I felt them being proud.

I did try to meditate later, but I fell asleep, but I felt for a moment, Dyeus Pater. It was not the first time I've accidentally fallen asleep trying to meditate due to how tired I was. Tends to be deeper sleep, too.

I honestly have no regrets. I honestly feel more fulfilled, more so than before. Making this little blog, carving out a little space, I honestly think it's the best thing I've done. I hope, despite me not posting regularly, this blog becomes a space away from how the world is. I one day want to open a etsy shop to further help, maybe make YouTube videos. If the gods want me to follow the druid path, then I can do just a little bit when I can. I mean it. Have a good day or anytime you find this.

[the-quite-forest]

Let's talk about intuition. As I have learned during my time as a Pagan, especially working/honoring Brigid, that intuition is almost core to my path. It's not easy to develop and listen to intuition. Gods know how long it took for me. But while I do read my books, I don't read them all the time, I only read them when the feeling comes. I have had that happen to me with Brigid. When I felt lost and not knowing what to do, I felt the feeling the urge to read by Brigid book 'Tending Brigid's Flame' honestly, in my opinion of you also work and honor Brigid that is my top recommendation. And I did. It's hard to describe the feeling after.

Intuition has helped me more than once. It can happen randomly sometimes. When I made my Veles prayer beads, I had the feeling of what colors the beads should be. With the pieces for my Brigid prayer beads, and I 'knew' what they should be.

I might be rambling here. But intuition is intuitions in many cases, key. Books can take you only so far. I have made far more progress with my intuition and meditation than anything else. The Brigid book deepened my understanding. It's why I do flame keeping. I don't do rituals or big things. I just follow my intuition, follow the nudges Brigid and Veles give.

[the-quite-forest]

Has the idea to make videos for YouTube. Make videos on my path and my insights and lessons. Kinda like on the side. To make the space a bit bigger. Not sure though.

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Had a first happen last night, I'm not going to explain it as private stuff, I'll only say I was disturbed. Couldn't sleep until around 2 in the morning. I'm trying to sleep, and in my mind's eye, I'm in the forest, and I see Veles,recognizing by his specific green cloak. He comforts me, and then Brigid comes holding my shoulders and hugging me. And I'm able to sleep. I didn’t ask it just happened. I've never had such a thing happen. It's hard to come up with words. I don't know how to describe it. Never expected it.

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So, I saw something that has bothered me since i read it, but chose to not comment on a three-week-old comment.

So background. I've been listening to Polk County Pagan Market, and some songs I like, like "Old Gods Calling in a Christian Town," mention multiple deities from different pantheons. I look in the comments, and one person has a problem with different deities from different pantheons in the song, and even honoring different deities from multiple pantheons as 'not ancient, is not traditional, is not reconstructionist,' and says treating different pantheons as interchangeable is disrespectful. There is more, but it's hard to type due to a wrist brace on my right hand. And I have no idea what to fully add. This is me just ranting a bit. But what was bothering me is that they called when people honor different gods from different pantheons as COSPLAY. That I have an issue with. They can have their option.

so my issuse is that many pantheons are part of a cultural family, the song mentions Loki, Hekate, and Brigid. which are Norse, Hellenic, and Celtic. which, by the way, is all part of the Indo-European family. And in a case sometimes a person is called by a deity of a different pantheon than the one they are honoring. again i for example honor Brigid and Veles, and they are part of diffrent pantheons. I've seen in my meditations Dyeus Pater and Perkwunos, even the world tree. So my practice as the best i can honor Veles and Brigid together is by using some Indo-European ways. like my alters facing the sunrise. that one. its okay to honor with only one pantheon. its also okay to honor deities from different pantheons. Research and letting the deities guide you in how to is also okay. Like Veles and Brigid nudged me that they didn't want to share an altar, they wanted their own, okay thats what I did.

i think i covered the points i wanted. im snot trying to start anything, i just wanted to vent. so i hope it made sense. Please don't harass anyone. This was just venting.

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Happy Imbolc, everyone! Just woke up and got my Brat Bhride. It was covered in snow. Thought it was frozen, actually. Got a lot of it, too. Even frost on the windows! It's still dark, but here's a picture of my snowed brat bhride. It was completely covered. I've never seen snow this high that I can remember.

[the-quite-forest]

Happy Imbolc Eve! My Brat Bhride is out, and the offering of milk and cheese, along with a few throws, is out. It's snowing where I am, which I never expected for my second Imbolc would have snow. The sound of the snow falling is pretty, though.

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Happy New Year, everyone! I've been busy making prayer beads for Brigid (polymer clay beads are painful to paint, so tedious. And im doing La Tene style). My early February will get busy this year, Imbolc on the 1st and Veles's festival in February, too. Still need to figure out the date. I've started flame keeping, too.

I've thought about getting a tattoo of a triskelion on my arm, but it scares me. I used to really want one, but now it scares me, and I'm unsure.

Just thought I would do a random update.

[the-quite-forest]

So, I'm sorry for not posting here and hello again! I've had some months of myself for a bit and moments of realization. And just not having anything to post. I began to properly deconstruct Christianity, not belief wise, as it never clicked but culturally. And since my path has grown deeper. I actually felt festive for this season, but rooted in my path and old ways. But I thought I would share a thought I had today.

So, with my path, I honor and work with Veles and Brigid. So because they come from two different branches of the Indo-European family, I add in Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European aspects to help my path. Today, I thought of the pagan community (?) I do not know what the proper word would be. I thought, and this is completely from my perspective from my path, that possibly some people unknowingly lean into one of the Tripartite Structure of Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European: Priest, Warrior and Producer. Of course, it all depends on your own calling by the gods. And I'm not saying at all we should, but just again from my point of view, it could be completely different from your own. Remember, I do not say what you should do, I never do, only that it's best to follow your own intuition. I want to make that clear.

Some might lean to the role of the priest (using as a general term) , some the warrior,others the producers. It's not the exact same, but the same energy (?) Is there.

It's honestly a bit difficult to explain my point, but I just wanted to share that. So it's kinda a random thought. But the more I thought, the more it kinda fit. Again, from my view from my path. I myself have seen in my meditations Dyeus pater and Perkwunos. I have mentally heard 'xartus' in moments. I have felt their energy in my meditations. Brigid has guided me to follow the path of the Druid but not modern druidry but to reconstruct the old ways the best I can. I'll do the best I can.

Happy winter solstice and Yuletide, everyone. The sun will return, and spring will be on its way.