I use the term Spirit Worker but it nothing of the romance of Forest Witch! I've considered using witch, but my practice is shamanic rather than the spellcraft most people would associate with the term. But then, living deeply is a spell itself...
What a wonderful story about the swan and how you took care of the swan’s soul. Not to forget the paintings !
I understand why you prefer witch in stead of shaman . After a basic course Shamanism and a study shamanic healer I now study 5 or 6 years Siberian Shamanism . I never will call myself shaman but I stick to the word Shamanism to name what I do. The Dutch word heks does not fit I think.
Thank for this interesting post. I agree it's important to reclaim the word witch as an honourable name. In England all swans belong to the Queen or King and killing or harming one is a serious matter.
Today the water witch became a stone witch. Stumbling across an ancient stone circle. Tuning in feeling bloodshed and fire. A strong sense of fire. Tuning in to healing of the land. Chanting and prayers. What a wonderful time and life us witches have. X
"In a dream I had in Sweden summer 2017 I was shown the soul journey of a Swan Maiden and her infant son after she died in childbirth. I was mystified and did some research. This took me to the town of Vedbaeck in Denmark, just north of Copenhagen.
In 1975 a Mesolithic era cemetery was discovered here. The body of a young woman (aged about 18) was found with the body of a premature baby boy. It is presumed that she and her son died in childbirth. The baby was cradled in a whooper swan wing and he had a flint knife by his side. His mother had grave goods with her, such as ornaments made from shells and the teeth of animals such as bear, deer, elk and boar. Both bodies had been sprinkled with red ochre.
It is believed that the swan’s wing indicates an ancient belief in swans as soul conductors or psycho pomps, accompanying people on their transition to the otherworld. I was touched to my very soul because I realised that my dream had showed me the continuation of their consciousness after death, for these two souls.
It also led to delving and dreaming into the significance of swans in Early Europe and this art video shows some of my discoveries."
I use the term Spirit Worker but it nothing of the romance of Forest Witch! I've considered using witch, but my practice is shamanic rather than the spellcraft most people would associate with the term. But then, living deeply is a spell itself...
Terminology is complicated 😕
What a wonderful story about the swan and how you took care of the swan’s soul. Not to forget the paintings !
I understand why you prefer witch in stead of shaman . After a basic course Shamanism and a study shamanic healer I now study 5 or 6 years Siberian Shamanism . I never will call myself shaman but I stick to the word Shamanism to name what I do. The Dutch word heks does not fit I think.
Ik snap dat heks of bosheks niet past!
In English you could say Spirit Worker. That is the most neutral term I have come across...
Thank for this interesting post. I agree it's important to reclaim the word witch as an honourable name. In England all swans belong to the Queen or King and killing or harming one is a serious matter.
Thank you for that reminder! Killing swans feels extremely wrong to me (and I am not even British) ...
Thank you for this sacred story of swan.
Thank you!
Today the water witch became a stone witch. Stumbling across an ancient stone circle. Tuning in feeling bloodshed and fire. A strong sense of fire. Tuning in to healing of the land. Chanting and prayers. What a wonderful time and life us witches have. X
This sounds like the perfect birthday gift!! XXX
I'm immediately put in mind of that Mesolithic burial in Denmark, of the baby with the swan's bones.
Yes indeed, the Vedbaeck grave! I made an art video about it in 2017:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIRn_ciIoAA
"In a dream I had in Sweden summer 2017 I was shown the soul journey of a Swan Maiden and her infant son after she died in childbirth. I was mystified and did some research. This took me to the town of Vedbaeck in Denmark, just north of Copenhagen.
In 1975 a Mesolithic era cemetery was discovered here. The body of a young woman (aged about 18) was found with the body of a premature baby boy. It is presumed that she and her son died in childbirth. The baby was cradled in a whooper swan wing and he had a flint knife by his side. His mother had grave goods with her, such as ornaments made from shells and the teeth of animals such as bear, deer, elk and boar. Both bodies had been sprinkled with red ochre.
It is believed that the swan’s wing indicates an ancient belief in swans as soul conductors or psycho pomps, accompanying people on their transition to the otherworld. I was touched to my very soul because I realised that my dream had showed me the continuation of their consciousness after death, for these two souls.
It also led to delving and dreaming into the significance of swans in Early Europe and this art video shows some of my discoveries."
Oh wow, I had forgotten about that video. It's so beautiful! Thank you for reminding me of it.