The New Witchcraft Live

Still Exploring the world of Borage.

Disclaimer I have over worked this post and I'm sick of editing it.

My wonderful mentor told me to write this up properly without missing stages like the books do 🤦‍♀️ erm more chance of me having sovereignty in my own little dark witches hovel...

Probably a post of no help to anyone within WCL with the calibre of witch. However, it might promote a discussion on how others work..

How does Little Delphi get to know plant spirits...Usually, anything I work with I already know. I’m a creature of habit.

I’m probably Lazy although my mentor does tell me I have delusions of being lazy. I frequently feel I'm not working ferociously or passionatelly enough.

Recently, I  struggled with Samphire Spirit, I wanted that one on my team but it says no. Maybe I need to do a lot more work with it. I eat enough of it. 🤷‍♀️ Maybe Samphire needs a lot more attention. I have asked a few WCLers none of whom have formed a relationship with Samphire. If you have I would love to hear your experience.

I do work on reacquainting myself periodically with my favourite plant Spirits ,  I frequently go back to Digitalis and Aesculus hippocastanum. Of course, I have my ways with those - Bark rubbings, flower pressings, botanical sketches. Although I do love a foxglove seed bomb 💥 I am sure you could track where I have been by following the fox glove trails.

The reason I go back and rework plant spirits is personalities change, as you change or develop so do your relationships with spirit. It’s like any relationship you work at it or dispose of it.

While other plants like Narcissus and Genisteae are no longer put to my use. I no- longer have any great pressing desire to work with, but that may be the habitat I live in. Maybe, I let the relationship die a natural death? Something to explore when I’m not imbued with anything. Circa 2098, I think I might be free from overthinking.

Meanwhile, herbs and spices I use them to cook with so the relationship is maintained, and stable. I did go back and look at them at one point  20 months ago but it was just a exercise in wasting my time.

This borage has become my new obsession, probably many will think this is quite basic magical work, but in this case, no. I am busy working with monuments, leylines, spirals and triangles and the borage for me is saying walk on, keep going. It is a cheerleader.. for me. It's also a pleasant distraction from the crazy work.

I am not being secretive about what I’m exploring. When I start claiming a medieval city is twinned with Hades I fear that even my most wonderful mentor is just humouring my psychosis.

A witch asked ‘What's this?’

It’s borage oil, not borage oil or starflower oil which is oil from borage seeds. It’s oil that’s infused with the borage stalks and leaves and the flowers are added after it's sieved and cooled. It’s not for consumption. The oil is used to connect the borage spirit to the stitch work.

I like to have the physical meet the physical. It can be done without but I like the process. I like the stages.

So my needles are dipped in the infused oil or infused water and wiped clean.  I also use it as hand oil.  Stitching can make your hands very dry.

I have been known to use the oil of the spirit when I am doing cross stitch, long stitch, embroidery, felting or Appliqué. (Jack of all trades master of none.) I however would only use this type of work for something I already have a relationship with.

I am Slightly frustrated by the quality of my work I could blame my tools which aren't the best but I have been far too concerned with getting the job done. I will correct with seed beads if I find it irritating on completion.

Watercolour is a further connection working in which I have also used water infused with borage. The watercolour needs a tremendous amount of work to build it up. Right now it looks like my god God fae brat has been in the art supplies. It should be noted I am not the Artist in this house, my watercolour and illustration skills unfortunately do not rival Maria Sibylla.

My next move is Pyrography or pyrogravure on olive wood. I thought about other types of wood but olive seems to work and my mentor agreed that Olive wood was a good option and I have a lot of it.

I’m a bit more doubtful about pyrography because it’s not something I’ve tried before so getting to know a plant Allie in an untrained method may be counterintuitive however experimental work is something that attracts me. Learning two things simultaneously holds my interest and I may find good results.

I’m also working on a gri-gri bag. I’m not the type of witch who ordinarily uses organza or cotton shop-bought bags without work or input from me. Client work is very different I don’t want me connected to it. Particularly what I’m currently working on for clients...I don’t need that in my life.

I can assure you I won’t be overdoing the tea. I think three times is quite enough for anyone for exploration reasons. I will do the third in a few weeks.

I would imagine a lot of witches would be thinking that’s a lot of different workings and possibly too many. As well as being the personality of the witch, I do have physical limitations that mean that I can tire easily. Changing a working means I don't get repetition strain.

I also have an isolation switch so although the work is near me it is not connected to me constantly.

Of course, I'm sure that others will have many other ways of making a connection, simpler or more elaborate but as mentioned I don't usually put in this much effort.

To be fair I don’t ordinarily need to nor do I usually have so much interest in something such as a plant or at least not for a very long time.

So that's my current work or planned work.