Rounding the Year: Cow Parsley or "Mother May Die"

Cow parsley flowers in hedgerows and wild spaces from late April all through May and into June. The one in the photos self-seeded in a patch of my garden I'd left to grow wild. I'm pleased I did that, as this is just one of the plants providing pollen for bees and nectar for butterflies.

Although I think I'm moderately good at identifying common wild flowers, I got a second opinion over this because it's very similar in appearance to poisonous hemlock. That's supposedly one of the reasons  innocent cow parsley earnt the folkloric name "Mother May Die", to teach children to be very careful if foraging. You don't want to make a deadly mistake. However, I've heard other origin stories, including the idea that it drops petals really fast and your mother will have a fit if you bring it indoors to make a mess all over the place.

The easiest way to tell the difference between cow parsley and hemlock is by looking at the stems. Hemlock has smooth stems with purple blotches, while cow parsley has hairy stems and no purple blotches. 

Magically, cow parsley is useful in spells for protection. Mind you, it's association of being unlucky to bring indoors means you're best growing it around the outside of your house, rather than picking it to make a flower arrangement for your altar. 

Other traditional uses for cow parsley include in herbal remedies for colds, and children making whistles and pea-shooters out of the dried stems. If you want to try that, you really want to make sure you aren't using hemlock by mistake.

There's some more useful information about cow parsley on the Woodland Trust website and on the blog Plant-Lore.

Sharing seasonal photos

Inspired by ideas in my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year, I share seasonal pictures, art, crafts, words and customs as well as a record of what's happening in nature. 

Where to Find my Books

If you want to buy Rounding the Wheel of the Year  and any of my other Pagan Portals witchcraft books, or my Gothic novel Erosion  you can find them via my publisher Moon Books, which is part of Collective Ink: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com

You can also find my books at London bookshop Treadwell's at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury: https://www.treadwells-london.com/

Other previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/04/rounding-year-forget-me-nots-in-grass.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/03/rounding-year-daffodil-in-my-garden.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/03/rounding-year-too-soon-for-silver-birch.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/12/rounding-year-wintery-bare-trees-in.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/01/rounding-year-wassailing-apple-trees.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/03/green-london-japanese-gardens-in.html

Celebrating Book Sale Success: Poppets & Magical Dolls

My publisher, Moon Books, has told me that Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls has reached another big sales milestone, having sold more than 4,500 copies. A big thanks to everyone who has bought a copy, left a review, and told me they've enjoyed reading it. 

Here's the description from the back cover: 

Poppets are dolls used for sympathetic magic, and are designed in the likeness of individuals in order to represent them in spells to help, heal or harm. Pagan Portals – Poppets and Magical Dolls explores the history of poppets and offers a practical guide to making and using them in modern witchcraft. It also covers seasonal dolls, from Brigid dolls, used in celebrations for the first stirrings of spring, to fairy dolls enjoyed in tree-dressing at Yuletide.

In-person workshop in London and where to find my books

On Saturday 17 May I'm running an in-person poppet workshop at Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7BS.  It starts at 1pm and tickets cost £22 per person.  You can find out more at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.    

You can buy copies of Poppets and Magical Dolls at:

• Treadwells Bookshop
• Amazon
• My publisher Moon Books, which is part of Collective Ink
• Or order copies at any online or high street book store

Please note I earn commission from some links. 

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/05/my-witchcraft-events-poppets-scrying.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/08/witchy-craft-how-to-make-sewn-cloth.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/03/poppet-craft-doll-to-do-three-things-at.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/05/another-milestone-for-my-poppets.html

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

Here's a list of events for pagans, witches and those with similar interests over the next couple of weeks. I mainly include in-person things in or near London, because that's where I'm based, as well as online talks and workshops you can do anywhere, plus some festivals and exhibitions further afield.

Every Wednesday and Friday (except Bank Holidays); College of Psychic Studies -  pop in to have a look around the lovely building.  Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am-5pm weekdays. Free entry. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Now - 31 May; Hereafter Exhibition. Venue: Swedenborg House, The Swedenborg Society, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH.  Time: 10.30am-5pm Mon-Fri. Free but book a ticket https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Now - October 31; Alexandrian Witchcraft exhibition. Venue: Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle, Cornwall. Musueum opening hours: 10am-4.30pm. Entry £10/£5. https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk/

Most lunchtimes and some other times: Meditation - in-person or online. In-person venue: Inner Space, 36 Shorts Gardens, Covent Garden, London · WC2H 9AB. Time: 1pm (for lunchtime meditation). Free. https://www.meetup.com/inner-space-covent-garden/events/

Wednesday, 7 May (and other days and times); The London Witches Bankside Walking Tour. Meet at: Southwark View Point, Minerva Square, London SE1 9DF. Times: 4pm/6pm. Tickets: £16.31. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/special-offer-london-witches-history-bankside-walking-tour-tickets-1335204034209?

Wednesday, 7 May (and other dates and times); Viktor Wynd Museum Guided Tour and a Devil's Botany Absinthe. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6pm. Tickets from £12. Price includes a Cocktail with Devil’s Botany. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Wednesday, 7 May;  Healing in Community with Family Constellations with Emma Hewitt of Salamay Tarot and Healing Arts. Venue: Firepit Art Gallery and Studios CIC, 10 Cutter Lane #No.2, London SE10 0XX. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets  £27.80. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/emma-hewitt-salamay-tarot-healing-arts-38061527643

Wednesday, 7 May;  Coming soon.. The Charmers! Art project drawing on archival research into the 16thand 17thcentury Scottish ‘witch’ trials: Venue: The Feminist Library, 161 Sumner Road, London SE15 6JL. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/coming-soon-the-charmers-tickets-1318756238409

Wednesday 7 May; Women’s use of Magic and Witchcraft in 8th century England Pt 2. Talk by Dr. Linda Sever via Owl House. Online event. Time: 6.45pm for 7pm. Tickets £4 for one talk, £6 for both. https://ti.to/owl-house-seminars/women-witchcraft-and-magic-in-anglo-saxon-england-parts-12with-dr-linda-sever-copy?

Wednesday 7 May (first Wednesday of the month); Drumming and Meditation online with Taz Thornton. Time: 7pm. Free  https://www.facebook.com/TazThorntonOfficial

Wednesday 7 May (every Wednesday); Sound Bath. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 7 May;  Fire Magic for Success. Class with Hannah Sanders via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 7 May (every Wednesday); Tibetan Sound Bowl Meditation online with Spiritual Tiik. Time: 8.30pm. Tickets £12.74. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/spiritual-tiik-29294295627

Thursday, 8 May, 28 May and other dates; Tea with a Medium. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 2.30pm  Cost £55 https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Thursday, 8 May - 12 June;  21st Century Folk Tales: myth and magic in the global world. Classes with Katie Goss. Venue: City Lit, Keeley Street, London. Time: 3pm. Full price: £169, Senior fee £135, Concession £110. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/

Thursday 8 May; Midweek Meditation with the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 3pm. Tickets: free for members/£7.50 non members. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Thursday 8 May; Weird science: An introduction to paranormal psychology. Hybrid talk by Professor Chris French. In-person venue: Room LG01, Professor Stuart Hall Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross. Time: 3pm. Free. https://www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id=15414

Thursday, 8 May; Cave Paintings and Prehistoric Carvings: Can We Really Call Them Art?  Online talk by Dr. Geri Parlby. Time: 4pm. Tickets £3.99. https://events.restless.co.uk/event-calendar/astrology-discussion-group/

Thursday, 8 May; The Golden Grimoire: The Magical Way to Wealth and Abundance. Online talk by Dee Norman via Watkins Bookshop. Time: 5.30pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 8 May; Rebalance with the Chinese Five Elements: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life. Start of 3-part online course with Doe Warnes via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets £115. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 8 May; Who Were the Essenes? Talk by with Dr Steven Muir via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets £23. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 8 May (usually first Thursday each month); A Year of Witchcraft: An Introduction to Wicca. Venue: Lost Souls Pizza Camden, 245 Eversholt Street, London NW1 1BA. Time: 7pm. Tickets:  £6.13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-year-of-witchcraft-an-introduction-to-wicca-session-9-tickets-1340577857459?

Thursday 8 May; Book Launch: The Fashion Oracle With Nieve Tierney. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: free.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Thursday, 8 May; The History of Tarot. Lecture and Soirée with tarot reader and researcher Melissa Mercury. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets £10.  https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Thursday, 8 May (tbc but usually every fortnight); Inquisitive Spirit open circle. Learn Mediumship and Psychic development with a group.  Venue: Bretons Manor, 411 Rainham Road, South Hornchurch RM13 7LP. Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm. Cost £10 per session  Text 07549 638276 for details.

Thursday, 8 May; Haunted Dolls. Talk by Cunning Folk at South East London Folklore Society. Venue: The Electric Elephant Cafe, 186A Crampton Street, London, SE17 3AE. Time: 8pm, Free but £5/£8 donations welcome. Turn up on the night or email cunningfolkmusic@gmail.com to book a space.  https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cunning-folk-7829505560

Friday 9 May; Drum Birthing Workshop with Lynn Gosney. Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain, Minster, Kent. Starts 8.45am. Tickets £225/£250. https://www.facebook.com/shamaniccentrecaercorhrain

Friday 9 May (tbc but usually every Friday); Live Chat hosted by Rachel Patterson, author of Gods and Goddesses of England and the Kitchen Witch series of books. Time: 9am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/RachelPattersonbooks/

Friday 9 May and Saturday 10 May; Sacred Space Earth Energy Dowsing. Two-day event with Vicky Sweetlove. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am-5pm weekdays. Tickets: £250 https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 9 May; The Power of Colour: Feng Shui Secrets for a Happier Home. Online with Rest Less Events. Time: 11.30am. Tickets £3.99. https://events.restless.co.uk/

Friday 9 May;  A Stranger in the Elemental Temple: The Rituals of the Ancient Order of Ishmael. A talk with author Billy J. Hamilton, Jr.. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49A Museum St, London WC1A 1LY. Time: 2.30pm. Tickets: £10. https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Friday, 9 May; Friday Film Screening - I Am Not A Witch. Venue: The Exchange, 61 Elgin Avenue, London W9 2DD. Time: 6pm. Tickets: free https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/friday-film-screening-i-am-not-a-witch-tickets-1351362966009?

Friday, 9 May (and other dates); Holistic Sound Bath Meditation - Summoning The Sacred. Venue: Training Points Fitness and Therapy, 5-6 Cooper's Yard, London SE19 1TN. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets:£25. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/holistic-sound-bath-meditation-summoning-the-sacred-tickets-223970159777?

Saturday 10 May (once a month Saturday mornings); Druid Open Grove . Introductory Talk on Druidry with theory and practice by Druid and Open Grove Founder Steven Rumelhart.  Venue: The Electric Elephant Cafe, 186A Crampton Street, London, SE17 3AE. Time: 11 am to 1.30 pm. Free

Saturday 10 May;  Shakti Sings Summer Songs with the Shakti Sings Choir. Venue:  Spring Grove House, West Thames College, London Road, Isleworth, TW7 4HS. Doors Open 10.30am. Tickets: £25. https://www.facebook.com/events/675598515113890?

Saturday 10 May;  Cat Goddesses Day led by Caroline Wise and Carrie Kirkpatrick. Venue: Highgate, North London. Time: 11am - 6.30pm.  Price: https://www.goddessenchantment.com/WORKSHOPS?

Saturday 10 May; Transformation is the Key. Workshop with Joan Osborne. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am-5pm weekdays. Tickets: £125 https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 10 May; Full Moon Festival for Hecate. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: noon - 4pm. Free, just pop in. https://www.facebook.com/events/2258948974524083/

Saturday 10 May;  Crystal Workshop. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/

Saturday 10 May; Comedy for Witches. Venue: Backyard Comedy Club, 231 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 0EL. Time: 3.30 - 6pm. Tickets: £13.70. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/comedy-for-witches-london-tickets-1263013119239

Saturday 10 May; MoonCon on Welsh Goddess, featuring Mhara Starling, Kristoffer Hughes, Jhenah Telyndru and Brett Holyhead. Produced by Moon Books Publishing and Broadcast Live on YouTube and Facebook. Free event. https://www.youtube.com/@MoonBooksPublishing

Saturday 10 May; Psychopomps and the Soul: Traversing Death and Life for Healing and Wholeness. Online book launch event by Tiffany Lazic. Time: 9pm. Free event, but registration necessary. https://www.facebook.com/events/709649074958280?

Sunday, 11 May; Wirral Pathways Online Beltane Festival 2025. Time: 10am - 6pm. Tickets: £8.50/£10 plus booking fee. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pathways/1505089?

Sunday, 11 May; Writing and rewriting fairytales. One-day online course via City Lit. Time: 10.30am-4.30pm. Fee: £79/£40. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing-and-rewriting-fairytales

Sunday, 11 May;  Essex Bealtaine VVitches Market. Venue: Kelvedon Institute, 78 High St, Kelvedon, Colchester, Essex. Time: 10.30am to 4pm  https://www.facebook.com/events/1550714448898679/

Sunday 11 May; The Divine Feminine Pathway. Workshop with Natasha Astara. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am-5pm weekdays. Tickets: £125 https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday, 11 May; The Witchcraft Summit - Online. Time: 11am - 5pm. Tickets: £27. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-witchcraft-summit-online-tickets-1268543972169?

Sunday, 11 May;  Mindful stroll and Forest Bathing in Cator Park (dog friendly). Meet at: Cator Park, Aldersmead Road, Beckenham BR3 1NA. Time: 11am. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/parkbathe-34393467709

Sunday 11 May (and other dates); Soul Restore Sound Healing. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 4pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Sunday 11 May; Full Moon Gathering Forest Bathing, Sharing Circle,  and Dancing in a secluded spot. Meet at Homestead cafe, Beckenham Place Park, Beckenham, Kent . Please bring instruments. Time: 5.30pm Tickets £20

https://buy.stripe.com/7sI2ac2Qaee61TG006

Sunday 11 May (every Sunday); Mindfulness Meditation. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3, 1NG. Time: 6pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Sunday 11 May; Activate Your Psychic Abilities with Astrology. Start of 3-part online class with Carmen Turner-Schott via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 6pm. Tickets £115. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 11 May; Magic in Contemporary Art, Ep. 3. Dr. Amy Hale and Susan Aberth discuss the magical work of Leonora Carrington, via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £5. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Sunday, 11 May; The Myth of Disenchantment. Talk by Jason Ānanda Josephson Storm on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £6.76. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Monday 12 May; Sacred Success: Branding and Marketing Your Spiritual Gifts with Gary Quinne. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 10am-4pm. Tickets: £125 https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 12 May;  Isis Auset ~ Unveiling Her Mysteries. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 11am. Tickets: £50. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/events-and-workshops/isis-auset-unveiling-her-mysteries/?

Monday 12 May; Starting Your Psychic Journey. Start of six-session course run by Gary Wright, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 5pm. Tickets: £190. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 12 May; Full Moon Ceremony by the Thames with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Millennium Bridge, Thames Embankment, · London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £5. https://www.meetup.com/londonwoodlandwitches/

Monday 12 May (Mondays);  7pm:  Snake Constellations: Online talk by Smiljana Gravancic  Steiner House via the Astrological Lodge of London. 8.30pm: Chart Discussion. Tickets £9. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Monday 12 May; Theosophy. Online discussion group via Rudolf Steiner House. Time: 7pm. Tickets free https://www.meetup.com/rudolf-steiner-spiritual-science/events/

Monday 12 May (and other times and dates); Full Moon Sound Journey. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Monday 12 May; Full Moon in Scorpio Sound Bath with Nicole Bettencourt Coelho. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £30 per person.  https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Monday 12 May; Living the Witch's Life. Class with Rebecca Beattie, author of The Wheel of the Year and Planetary Magic, via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Date tbc but usually near a full moon;  Full Moon Celebration with South East London Pagans. Venue: One Tree Hill, London SE23. Time: tbc. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Monday 12 May (every full and new moon); Moon Space online ritual with Tree Carr via She's Lost Control. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Monday 12 May; Tarot Cafe. Venue: Ron's Coffee House, Holdrons Arcade, 135a Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16.96. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bibis-circle-56277271483

Monday 12 May; South East London Pagans Moot. Venue: The Ivy House, 55 Stuart Road, London, SE15 3BE. Time: 7.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Monday 12 May (tbc but usually every Monday); Tea With a Druid. Free online event by the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Time 8pm. https://druidry.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/druidry

Monday 12 May; Rite of Her Sacred Fires online with Sorita. Time: 9.30pm. Tickets: free but you must register. https://www.facebook.com/events/1710188942944410?

Tuesday 13 May;  Astro Club Align with Taurus. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15-£20.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Tuesday 13 May; Learn to Use Lenormand Oracle Cards. Start of 10-session course run by Geoffrey Beitz, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £265. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 13 May; Mediumship Foundation. Start of 12-session course run by Anthony Kesner, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £255. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 13 May; Exploring the Dream Realms. Start of 10-session course run by Tree Carr, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £265. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 13 and Friday 16 May; Gong Bath / Sound Journey. Venue: Secret Soul Sanctuary, Sydenham Hill, London SE23 3PH. Time: 7.45pm. Tickets from £20.21. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/claire-the-soul-nurturer-35479207053

Tuesday, 13 May; Alien Abduction: Postmortem of a Controversy. Talk by Greg Eghigian on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £6.76. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Wednesday 14 May; Intuitive Manifestation: Unlock Your Inner Power and Abundance with Gary Quinn. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 10am-4pm. Tickets: £125 https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 14 May; College of Psychic Studies Guided Tour with Curator and Archivist Jacqui McIntosh. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £12. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 14 May; Sacred Rose: The Soul’s Path to Wisdom and Beauty. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49A Museum St, London WC1A 1LY. Time: 2.30pm. Tickets: £40. https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Wednesday 14 May; Modern Pagan Witchcraft. Hybrid talk by Professor Ronald Hutton, author of Triumph of the Moon and Blood and Mistletoe, via Gresham College. In-person venue Gresham College, Barnard's Inn Hall, Holborn, London EC1N 2HH. Time: 6pm. Free to register for online viewing. https://www.gresham.ac.uk/

Wednesday 14 May (tbc but usually 2nd Wed each month); Enfield Town Circle Moot. Venue: Crown and Horsehoes, Horseshoe Lane, Enfield, EN2 6PZ.  Time: 6pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/EnfieldTownCircle/

Wednesday 14 May; Dark Fairytales and Creative Writing. Part of a series of workshops by Bernadette Russell via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 14 May (2nd Wed each month); Hex education. Training group workshop by the Wytchery. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store St, London WC1E 7BS, UK. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.meetup.com/the-wytchery/

Wednesday 14 May (2nd Wed each month); How to Transform a Tea Towel into a Chicken
and Other Mysteries - stage illusions. Talk by Professor Richard Wiseman at Greenwich Skeptics in the Pub. Venue: The Duke of Greenwich, 91 Colomb St, SE10 9EZ. Time: 7.30pm. free but suggested donation: £4. https://sitp.online/sitp/greenwich

Thursday 15 May; Gods of the Andes: Pre-Hispanic Mythology. Online talk with Rest Less Events. Time: 4pm. Tickets £3.99. https://events.restless.co.uk/event-calendar/astrology-discussion-group/

Thursday 15 May; Where Do I Start?. Start of 6-session course run by Anthony Kesner, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 5.15pm. Tickets: £160. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 15 May; Magick Without Tears Moot. Event by Marco Visconti Fitzroy Tavern, 16 Charlotte St., London W1T 2LY. Time 6pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/mwtpubmoot

Thursday 15 May; Spirit Portraiture: A Creative Voyage into Spirit-Inspired Art with June-Elleni Laine, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £100. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 15 May; The History and Practice of Scrying. Talk by Julian Vayne, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 15 May; Recognise and Clear Negative Energy. Start of 8-session course with Martha Brett, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £245. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 15 May; A Seance With The Witches. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/events-and-workshops/a-seance-with-the-witches/?

Thursday, 15 May; Irish Magic – Lecture and Soirée with scholars Sally and James North. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets £10.  https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Friday 16-18 May; Sussex Faerie Festival 2025. Venue: Alfriston Campsite, East Sussex. Adult tickets £110/£75/£40/£15. www.magicalfestivals.co.uk

Friday, 16 May (1st and 3rd Friday each month); The Pagan Portal Podcast by Moon Books. Time: noon (or listen to recording later). Free event. https://open.spotify.com/show/11N4kNj65tTz9NFUcZTMa7?

Friday 16 May; Simply Psychic Foundation. Start of 10-session course with Geoffrey Beitz, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £265. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 16 May;  Friday lates: Psychogeography: the art of getting lost. Class with Christopher Collier via City Lit. Online event. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £19/£12. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/

Friday, 16 May (every fortnight until July 25); Practice Reading Tarot. Free online event. Time: 7pm. https://www.meetup.com/astrotarotkitchen/events/

Friday, 16 May; Gong Bath / Sound Journey by Claire The Soul Nurturer. Venue: Secret Soul Sanctuary, Sydenham Hill, London SE23 3PH. Time: 7.45pm. Tickets: £20.21. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/claire-the-soul-nurturer-35479207053

Friday 16 May; London Witches Walking Tour with Maria Beadell's organised by Treadwell's Bookshop. Meet Meet outside Farringdon tube Station, London EC1M 6BY, UK. Time: 7.50pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.treadwells-london.com/

Friday 16 May (Every 3rd Friday of the month until December 19); Way of the Witch monthly online circle with Samantha K. and Jacqui C. Time: 8pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.meetup.com/sammi-k-shamanic-practitioner-psychic-medium/events/

Saturday, 17 May 2025; The Welsh Occult Conference 2025. Venue:  Gregynog Hall, Tregynon Newtown SY16 3PL. Starts 9am.  Tickets £60. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-welsh-occult-conference-2025-tickets-1033412894787?

Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May; Experience Braco's Gaze. Special Small Intimate Sessions with Braco. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Various time slots. Tickets: £30. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday, 17 May; Poppets workshop based on my book Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm. Cost: £22 per person.  https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Saturday 17 May; SJourney to Self-Discovery: Navigate Life with Soulful Awareness, with Sarah Tyler-Walters, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday, 17 May;  Introduction To Grave Magic. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/

Saturday, 17 May; The Pantheon of Pancras. Walking tour with Minimum Labyrinth. Meet at The Friend At Hand, 2-4 Herbrand Street, London WC1N 1HX. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £14 – £24. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-pantheon-of-pancras-tickets-48760343500?

Sunday 18 May; Mythic London Walking Tour with with Caroline Wise, organised through  Treadwells. Meet outside St Clement Danes Church, Strand, London, WC2R 1DH (nearest tube: Temple). Time: 11.50am. Tickets: £35. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events 

Sunday 18 May; Spellcraft and Magic workshop in Wimbledon woods with Mani and London Woodland Witches and  Pagans. Meet at the Tea Rooms, Wimbledon Common, London · SW19 5NQ.  Time: 1.30pm. Tickets £30. https://www.meetup.com/londonwoodlandwitches/events/

Sunday 18 May (usually first Sunday of the month); Woodspirits in May - Spirit of Place. Venue: meet at Cheshunt station, EN8. Time: 2pm. Free in-person event for members of Woodspirits group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/4032235040150960

Sunday 18 May; Love and Relationships in the Tarot, with Amanda Watson, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 18 May (date tbc); Dawn of the Oak Pagan moot. Venue: The Sir John Oldcastle, Farringdon Road/Greville Street, London EC1M 3JF. Time: 2.30pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dawnoftheoak/

Sunday 18 May; Blue Lotus Ceremony (Cleanse and Purify) with Aho Community. Venue:  Aho, 40 Iron Works, 58 Dace Rd · London.. Time: 5pm. Tickets £33. https://www.meetup.com/aho-studio/

Sunday 18  May; Animal Ghosts Through History. Talk by Rebecca Willis on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £6.76. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

For activities after these dates please visit my events page. 

Please note that I am not responsible for the content of these events except my own talks and workshops. Contact organisers directly if you have questions or to check ticket availability. Where a practitioner is offering information about magical healing, this is *not* medical advice. If you're running an event you want included, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com Also please note I earn commission for some links.

Witchy Craft: I Knitted a Lucky Black Cat Charm

I knitted this tiny black cat for a relative who had recently lost their feline companion. It is just 5cm (2 inches) high. The pattern I used is called Lucky Cats by Frankie Brown, and you can find it for free on Ravelry: ravelry.com/patterns/library/lucky-cats 

The instructions include several different sizes. The one I made was the smallest, but the largest is only 9cm tall. Black cats are of course particularly seen as witch's companions.

I'm sharing this now because the first full week in May is National Pet Week in America, and I know many of my blog's readers are in the USA. I'm based in the UK, but I I'm happy to celebrate it here too. The event highlights the relationship and the circle of life between humans and pets, by encouraging people to share pictures and stories about our pets, but also serves as a reminder to do things like check with the vet and confirm any care or treatments are up to date.

More magical dolls

You can find other projects in my book Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls. I'm also teaching a workshop to make a poppet at Treadwell's in London on On Saturday, 17 May  You can find out more at www.treadwells-london.com/ 

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/01/im-doing-pilgrimage-to-raise-money-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/08/lions-gate-portal-magic-international.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/03/books-folklore-magic-of-cats-by-andrew.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/pagan-eye-black-cat-statuette-as-every.html

My Witchcraft Events: Poppets, Scrying & Flower Art

 
Here are details of the witchy workshops I'm running in London and at a pagan festival in Cambridgeshire in May and June. 

In-Person Workshop at Treadwell's on Poppets and Magical Dolls

On Saturday 17 May, I'm running an in-person workshop based on my book Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm. Cost: £22 per person.  You can find out more at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.    

In-Person Scrying Workshop at Treadwell's
On Saturday 7 June;  I'm running an in-person workshop on divination using crystal balls, water and candles at Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm. Cost: £22 per person.  https://www.treadwells-london.com/.

Divination with Clouds and Flower Mandalas at Greenoaks Gathering

Greenoaks Gathering 2025 runs from Friday, 13 to Sunday 15 June. I'll be running two workshops at this pagan gathering in the beautiful Cambridgeshire Fens. One is on scrying with clouds and trees, the other is on creating meditative art with flowers and leaves. There's also Music, kids activities, and a magickal market. Venue: Mad Hatters Campsite, Second Drove Adelaide, Ely CB7 4UD. Tickets: £0 – £114.47. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/greenoaks-gathering-2025-tickets-892366882367?

I'm Lucya Starza and as well as writing A Bad Witch's Blog I'm the author of books in the Pagan Portals series on Candle Magic, Guided Visualisations, Poppets and Magical Dolls, Scrying, and Rounding the Wheel of the Year. My Gothic novel Erosion is also published by Moon Books.

You can buy my books at Treadwell's Bookshop, via Amazon, at the College of Psychic Studies in London and at other bookshops. You can find more about me at my author page at publisher Moon Books, and on my Amazon author page. Please note I earn commission from advertisers for some links.