A bad witch's blog

Thursday, 22 January 2026

Occult London: Helen Duncan's Scrying Devices

This scrying mirror, crystal ball and planchette were once owned by the famous medium Helen Duncan. They are on display at the College of Psychic Studies as part of The Medium is the Message. This exhibition is in its final weeks, and covers four floors of the CPS's beautiful building in South Kensington.

You can visit The Medium is the Message for free from now until the end of January at 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. It's open from 11am to 4pm Tuesday to Thursday and at the weekend, until 7pm this Friday, plus a late opening on Friday 30 January to 9pm. There will also be a live music performance at the college for the final late opening night. You can find out more here: collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/exhibition/

Learn Scrying Online via the CPS

On Wednesday 4 and 11 March I'm running a two-part online evening class on Scrying: Divination Using Crystals, Mirrors, Water and Fire via the College of Psychic Studies. Each class starts at 7pm. Tickets are £90. Find out more here: https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/workshops/psychic-training/scrying-with-crystals-mirrors-water-fire/?

Wednesday, 21 January 2026

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 and a few conferences further afield.

Now - 31 January 2026. The Medium is the Message. An exhibition at The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Open Tuesday - Sunday daytime. Free entry. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Now on; Dark Secrets: The Esoteric Exhibition. Venue: The Vaults, Leake Street, SE1 7NN. Open Wednesdays to Sundays. Tickets from £21. https://darksecretsexhibition.com/london/

Now to 20 April; Welcome To Fairy Land - Luciana Nedelea Art Exhibition. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: Museum opening hours, free entry https://thelasttuesdaysociety.org/museum/events-exhibitions/

Now – 19 April; Expecting: Birth, Belief and Protection Exhibition. Venue: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. Free https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/thirst-in-search-of-freshwater

Now to 16 May; Broken, Burnt, Buried. Exhibition of Egyptians objects deliberately broken as part of ritual and religious practices. Venue: Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology, Malet Place, London WC1E 6BT. Free. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-collections/

Now – 26 February; Exhibition: Elective Affinities. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH , Time: 10am-5pm Monday - Friday. Free, but book a ticket. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/events/elective-affinities/

Now – 1 February 2026; Thirst: In Search of Freshwater. Exhibition about humanity’s vital connection with freshwater, including pagan, spiritual and mystical aspects. Venue: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. Free https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/thirst-in-search-of-freshwater

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/

Every Wednesday and Friday; 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

https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Various dates; London Witches and Chilling History Bankside Walking Tour. Meet at Southwark View Point, Minerva Square, London, SE1 9DF. Times various. Tickets from £16.31. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/enthral-experiences-589606747

Wednesday 21 January; Spirit Circle: Intermediate. Start of 10-session course run by Nicoletta Stephens, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £290. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 21 January; Finding the Personal within the Myth. Special Guest Polis Loizou. Space for Storytelling Free Workshop, organised by London Dreamtime. Venue: St John Waterloo, Waterloo Rd, London SE1. Time: 6.30pm. https://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Wednesday 21 January; Astrological 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.

Wednesday 21 January (most Wednesdays); Gong Bath. Venue: Akasa, 5a Prince Edward Rd, Hackney Wick, London E9 5LX. Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £23.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sunita-kaur-34415293427

Wednesday 21 January (every Wednesday); Feeling Sound. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £18. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 21 January; Astrology Across Cultures. Rebecca Beattie and Shreya Ila Anasuyavia In Conversation via Treadwell's online. Time: 7pm. Delayed viewing available. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 21 January; Awakening Your Soul's Truth: Working with the Ancient Neters of Egypt. Start of 6-session course run by Pixie P Carney, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £200. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 21 January; Walking the Shamanic Path. Start of 6-session course run by Beáta Alföldi, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £200. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 21 January (tbc but usually 3rd Wednesday each month); The More Mead Moot. Venue: The Hope pub, Carshalton, Surrey. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/Pagan-FutureFests-352385661439366/

Wednesday 21 January; Hand Reading for Beginners. Start of 10-session course run by Robin Lown, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £280. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 22 January; Mindfulness Meditation Online via Rest Less Events. Time: 9am. Tickets £3.99 per class. https://events.restless.co.uk/event-calendar/

Thursday 22 January (most Thursdays); Shamanic Dance with Luisa Passalacqua. Venue near Wandsworth Town Station, London. Time: 11am. Tickets donations (or free) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/luisa-passalacqua-16972493584?

Thursday 22 January; 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 22 January; 21st Century Folk Tales: myth and magic in the global world. Start of evening class course with Katie Goss via City Lit. Online event. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £149. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/

Thursday 22 January; Shamans: The Visual Culture of Animism - Max Carocci. Talk and signing. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, London, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ, UK. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 22 January; 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 22 January; Troubadour Magic. Performance-Lecture and Soirée with Musician Muco . Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £10 per person. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Thursday 22 January; Numerology: Essential Skills. Start of 10-session course run by Richard Abbot, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £280. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 22 January; Develop the Intuitive Mind: Intermediate. Start of 10-session course run by Maria Antoniou, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £290. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 22 January; Start From the Heart in 2026. Talk by Doe Warnes, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 22 January; A Journey with Spirit. Start of 10-session course run by Gary Wright, via the College of Psychic Studies. In person or online event. In-person venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB.Time: 7.15pm. Tickets: £tbc. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 22 January; Mummified Cats and other Concealed Ritual Objects. Talk by Wayne Perkins on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £3.49. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Friday 23 January (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 23-24 January; Learn the Art of Tarot 2-day course. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 11.30am start. Tickets £500, price includes a set of Wicca Moon tarot cards. https://www.wiccamooninherservice.co.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Friday 23 January; Simply Psychic Foundation. Start of 10-session course run by Geoffrey Beitz, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £280. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 23 January; Crossbones vigil to honour the outcast dead of Crossbones Graveyard, Southwark. Location: Redcross Way, London, SE1 1TA. Time: 6.45pm for 7pm. Free, just turn up You can also view the vigil online. http://crossbones.org.uk

Friday 23 January (4th Friday of the month); The Wild Wood Tarot study group. Free online event. Time: 7pm. https://www.meetup.com/astrotarotkitchen/events/

Friday 23 January; An Evening of Mediumship with Tony Stockwell, Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Friday 23 January; Sacred Sisters monthly Goddess circle for women. Bradwell on Sea Village Hall, Essex. Time: 7pm. Entry £15 suggested donation. https://www.facebook.com/events/1569154804394458?

Saturday 24 January; Manifest with Crystals and Essential Oils. Workshop with Gemma Petherbridge. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Saturday 24 January; The Divine Feminine, Colour and Symbolism. Workshop with Nicole Frobusch. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Saturday 24 January; Stone Spirit Healing. Workshop with Nicholas Pearson. Online via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Saturday 24 January (every 4th Saturday of the month until February 28, 2026) Psychic Development - Beginners Mediumship. Venue: Yurt, 11, Strathearn Rd SW19 7LH, London. Time: · 5pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.meetup.com/astrotarotkitchen/events/

Sunday 25 January; Group Constellation Workshop by Avideya. Venue: 30 Friern Watch Avenue, London N12 9NT. Time: from 10am to 5pm. From £53.80. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/avideya-30020254011

Sunday 25 January; Shamanic Group with Les Fuller. All welcome Venue: Woodford Church at 9 Grove Crescent, South Woodford, London E18 2JR. Time 11am-3pm. Tickets: £10. http://woodfordchurch.com/

Sunday, 25 January (and other dates and times); Soul Restore Sound Healing. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 11am. Tickets: £30. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Sunday 25 January; The Enneagram: Your Soul's Compass. Workshop with Dr Deborah Egerton. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Sunday 25 January (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: noon. 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

Sunday 25 January; Winter Darkness and Creative Writing. In-Person Workshop with Bernadette Russell. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm. Cost: £25 per person. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Sunday 25 January (date tbc but usually last Sunday every 2 months); Meeting of Heathen Kindred Blot (was Kith of the Tree and the Well). Venue: The Horseshoe Inn, 26 Melior Street, London SE1 3QP. Time: 1.30pm. Entry £3. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dawnoftheoak/events and https://www.facebook.com/groups/1780126769180977

Sunday 25 January; Brixton Orchard Wassail. Venue: 2 St Matthews Road, Brixton, SE London. Time: 2pm. Donations welcome https://www.facebook.com/events/1391764565869472?

Sunday 25 January; Astrology and Relationships workshop with Carmen Turner-Schott, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 25 January; Live Music and Meditation. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3, 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Monday 26 January; Meditative Art and Visualisation: Finding Joy in Winter. Online via Rest Less Events. Time: 10am. Tickets £3.99 per class. https://events.restless.co.uk/event-calendar/

Monday 26 January; Week 2 – The Planets (Part 2). Free online talk via the Astrological Lodge of London. Starts 5pm. Tickets free. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Monday 26 January; (C)Artomancie: When Divination Meets Art with Bel Senlle. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets from £16.40 include a glass of Devil's Botany Absinthe. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Monday 26 January; Two Worlds as One. Start of 10-session workshop with Anthony Kesner, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £290. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 26 January; Sara L. Mastros at Nova Stella: Grandmother Winter's House of Healing. Talk at Nova Stella pagan moot. Hybrid event. In-person venue: The Angel, City Road, London EC1Y 18D. Time: 7pm start of social for 8pm talk. Entry £5/£6. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1472510443017948 or https://www.eventbrite.com/o/nova-stella-120712003251 For online tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/online-tickets-only-sara-l-mastros-at-nova-stella-tickets-1979299899280?

Monday 26 January; Working with the Elements. Workshop with Rebecca Beattie, author of Planetary Magic, via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Monday 26 January; The Medium's Journey - Intermediate. Start of 10-session course run by Gary Wright, via the College of Psychic Studies. Hybrid event. In-person venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB.Time: 7.15pm. Tickets: £290/£250. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 26 January (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 26 January (every Monday); Comets in your Chart with Rod Chang followed by chart discussion. Online talks via the Astrological Lodge of London. Times 7pm/8.30pm. Tickets £9/£6. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Tuesday 27 January; Journey to the Mediumistic Self. Start of 10-session course run by Gary Wright, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 5pm. Tickets: £280. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 27 January; Yoga for Mind, Breath and Body. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion, Place Park, The Mansion, Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 6.15pm. Tickets: £12. https://www.beckenhamplace.org/whatson/

Tuesday 27 January; Learn to Use Lenormand Oracle Cards. Start of 10-session course run by Geoffrey Beitz, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £280. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 27 January; Learn to Connect your Heart and Brain. Talk by Pixie P Carney, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 7pm. Tickets free https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday, 27 January (4th or last Tuesday each month); Victorian Mummymania with Dr Sullivan. Talk presented by London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London, E1 7EX. Door time: 7.30pm. Start time: 8pm Tickets £5.50/£3.30. http://forteanlondon.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/LondonForteanSociety/

Wednesday 28 January (and other dates); Tea with a Medium. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 2.30pm Cost £60 https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Wednesday 28 January; Mithras: Master of Mystery. 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 28 January; Working with the Spirit Doctors and Spirit World. Start of 6-session course run by Susan Gash, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £200. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 28 January; Moonchild - Nurturing Full Moon Gong Bath Session For Your Inner Child. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion, Place Park, The Mansion, Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.beckenhamplace.org/whatson/

Wednesday 28 January; Melissa's Tarot Club. Monthly In-Person Workshop. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £15 per person. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Wednesday 28 January; Sacred Gong Meditation with Joe Summerfield. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Wednesday 28 January; Necromancy: Death, Ritual and the Imagination. Talk by Lena Heide Brennand on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £3.49. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 29 January (last Wednesday or Thursday every month); House Protection and Cleansing Magic. Talk at Hertford Pagan Moot. Venue: The White Horse Pub, 33 Castle Street, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HH) (45 mins from central London). Time: 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/104788436218047

Thursday 29 January; Angels and Guides: Foundation. Start of 8-session course run by Kim Pilkington, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £255. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 29 January; Emotion Hacks: How to Feel Better, Faster by Dr Ryan Martin. Talk and signing. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, London, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ, UK. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 29 January; Islamic Occultism. Talk and Soirée with

Amal Salem. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £10 per person. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Thursday 29 January; Working with Mushroom Spirit. Talk by Tia Price, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 7pm. Tickets £22 https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 29 January; PF London Imbolc Open Ritual via Pagan Federation London. Venue: Pirate Castle, Gilbey's Wharf Oval Road NW1 7EA London, UK Time: 7.15pm. Entry £8 for PF members, £10 for non-members (cash only). https://www.facebook.com/PaganFederationLondon

Thursday 29 January; UFOs, Telepathic Cats and a Fake Tibetan Mystics. Talk by Ray Russell on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets ·from £3.35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Friday 30 January; Archetypal Coaching: Synergies through Astrology and Dream Work with Alba Carod. Talk and signing. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, London, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ, UK. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Friday 30 January - 13 March; Seeing Green: Nature in Northern European Art, 1550–1680. Online course via Zoom through the Warburg Institute. Tickets £130 (concessions available). Time: 2pm. https://warburg.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/visual-history-of-european-alchemy-2025

Saturday 31 January, Essex Imbolc Witchcraft Market. Venue: Mistley Village Hall, Shrublands Road, Mistley, Manningtree, CO11 1HS. Entry £3 on the door.

Saturday 31 January (date and details tbc); Imbolc at Coldrum Stones with Kent Gorsed. Venue: Coldrum Long Barrow, West Maling, Kent. Time: noon. Free. https://www.facebook.com/kentgorsedd/

Saturday 31 January; Sacred Sweat Lodge for Imbolc. Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain Kent. Run by Lynn Gosney. Time: noon Tickets £30, email lynn.gosney@hotmail.com for info and to book. https://www.facebook.com/shamaniccentrecaercorhrain/

Saturday 31 January; How to Thrive as a Sensitive and Empath. Workshop with Mel Collins, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 1pm. Tickets £90 https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 31 January; Imbolc Free and open Gorsed of Caer Abiri ritual at Avebury stone circle in Wiltshire. Meet at the Red Lion pub from noon for druidic ceremony at 1.30pm. Offering of bread, mead, or Bardic performance always welcomed. Free event, just turn up. https://www.facebook.com/groups/49080749624/

Saturday 31 January; Candle magic workshop based on my book Pagan Portals - Candle Magic. The venue is Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. It starts at 1pm and tickets are £22 per person. To find out more and reserve a place visit: https://www.treadwells-london.com/.

Saturday 31 January; Connecting the Trees - a Call to Arms with South East London Pagans. Venue: Boudicca Grave Hampstead Heath, North London. Time: 1.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Saturday 31 January; Winter Womb and Imbolc Retreat Day in Forest Hill with Natalie Fishwick. Venue: Quakers Meeting House. 34 Sunderland Road. London SE23 2QA. Time: 2 pm to 7 pm Tickets £96.05 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/winter-womb-imbolc-retreat-day-in-forest-hill-tickets-1977603598599?

Saturday 31 January; Imbolc Ritual Gathering with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at the entrance to Queen's Woods, Queen's wood Road, London N6 5UU, to be led into woods to the ritual spot. Bring a torch and wear suitable clothing and footwear. Time: 4pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.meetup.com/londonwoodlandwitches/

Saturday 31 January (every full and new moon); Moon Space online event via She's Lost Control. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Saturday 31 January (and other dates); Magic, Mystics and Martyrs Walking Tour with Maria Beadell of Herstorical Tours. Meet: Fish St Hill, London EC3R 8AH. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £18. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/event-details/magic-mystics-and-martyrs-2

Saturday 31 January; National Storytelling Week: Dark Tales for Dark Nights. Venue Hat and Feathers, 2 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M 5PQ. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £15 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/national-storytelling-week-dark-tales-for-dark-nights-tickets-1978835018810?

Sunday 1 February; Psychic Mediumship with Crystals. Workshop with Sarah-Jane Jay. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Sunday 1 February; Orpington Alternative Market. Venue: The Priory, Church Hill, Orpington. Time: 11am. Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1335736923852705/

Sunday 1 February; The Oracle Of Animal Soul Medicine: An Imbolc Celebration, Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain Kent. Run by Lynn Gosney. Time: 11am. Tickets £35, email lynn.gosney@hotmail.com for info and to book. https://www.facebook.com/shamaniccentrecaercorhrain/

Sunday 1 February; North West Kent Pagans Moot. Organised by NWK Pagans for members of the group. Venue: Chislehurst Caves, NW Kent. Time: 11.30am. https://www.facebook.com/groups/445487428816887

Sunday 1 February (tbc but usually on the closest Sunday to the festival); Imbolc at Woodspirits. Free in-person event for members of Woodspirits group. Venue: Queens Wood, North London. Time: Noon: optional meeting at Queens Wood Cafe, 2pm woodland ritual. https://www.facebook.com/groups/4032235040150960

Sunday 1 February (on the closest Sunday to the festival); Druidic Ritual to celebrate Imbolc on Primrose Hill with the Loose Association of Druids. Gather in the Hawthorne Grove at Primrose Hill, London, NW1 8YH, at 12.30pm to prepare the site for the ritual at 1pm. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm. Bring a small contribution of food and drink to share. https://www.facebook.com/LooseAssociationOfDruidsOfPrimroseHill

Sunday 1 February; Mindful Stroll and Forest Bathing in Crystal Palace Park. Meet at Sydenham Gate, CP Park, London SE20. Time: 1pm. Free, but parking is paid. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/parkbathe-34393467709

Sunday 1 February (tbc but usually on the closest Sunday to the festival); Anderida Gorsedd Imbolc open ritual. Venue: Long Man of Wilmington, Wilmington, near Eastbourne, East Sussex. Meet near the car park between 1.30pm and 2pm, walk up to the chalk hill figure at 2pm. Afterwards, the Giants Rest pub. https://www.facebook.com/groups/227609495203/

Sunday 1 February; Rooted. Circle (women's circle). Venue East Bank, London N16 Time: 2pm. Tickets from £6.13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rooted-circle-womens-circle-tickets-1980556404521?

Sunday 1 February; Start of 8 Part Witchcraft Course: 8 Sabbats, 8 Portals of Magick, a Wheel of the Year Series. Venue: Crystal Wicca, either at West Wickham, BR4 or or Westerham TN16 (tbc). Time: tbc. Tickets: £222 for the entire course and all equipment. https://www.facebook.com/TheCrystalWicca

Sunday 1 February; Imbolc Womens' Circle by Litha Rose. Venue in London E9. Time: 4pm. Tickets £31.05. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/imbolc-womens-circle-tickets-1980392562465?

Sunday 1 February; Am I Psychic? Workshop with Jeremy Turner-Welch, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 5pm. Tickets £95 https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 1 February; Witches and 90s Pop Culture. Online talk via Seed Talks. Time 5pm. Tickets £17 – £26.50. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/witches-90s-pop-culture-tickets-1977021557699?

Sunday 1 February; Activate Psychic Skills with Astrology. Start of 5-session workshop with Carmen Turner-Schott, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 6pm. Tickets £180 https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 1 February; Wheel of the Year: Imbolc Pagan Ceremony. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3, 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Sunday 1 February; Leo Full Moon and Sekhmet Ritual 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/

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.

Tuesday, 20 January 2026

Rounding the Year: A Flower of Love, Hope, or Death?

January can be a grey and miserable month, but to help cheer myself up I look for spots of colour in nature when I'm out and about. They give me hope that spring is on the way. These mauve periwinkles are flowering in gardens along my street and in my local park. That's where I photographed this one.

There are various types of periwinkle and historically have been used in herbal medicine and in love potions. Herbalist Nicholas Culpeper wrote in the 17th cenutury: '...the leaves eaten by man and wife together, cause love between them.'

However, in Italy it's known as the "flower of death" and has a reputation of being poisionous. That isn't quite true, although many herbs can be dangerous if you eat too much and you should always talk to a qualified expert before trying out any remedy - or aphrodisiac. It seems the pretty flower's deadly reputation likely comes from the fact that it was often included in wreaths put on the graves of children who died.

If you have periwinkle growing in your garden you could pick a sprig to put on your altar if you are doing any love magic, or press a flower to put on a personalised Valentine's card in just a few weeks' time.

Share your Pictures

Since my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year came out I've been inviting people to share seasonal pictures, art, crafts, words and other creativity. I'd love to encourage readers to record what's happening in nature in various ways including photographs, as well as other seasonal journalling, musings, drawing, painting and crafting.

Here are ways to share the things you're doing or what you see out and about as the wheel turns:

Leave a comment on this post about what you're up to
Find my prompts to share on my Facebook Page: Lucya Starza Pagan Portals Author
Share on Instagram with the tag #RoundingtheYear

Where to find Rounding the Wheel of the Year

My book offers more ways to acknowledge and celebrate the seasons in ritual, magic, folklore and nature. You can view Rounding the Wheel of the Year on Amazon, find it at esoteric bookshops or via my publisher Moon Books: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-rounding-wheel-year

(Please note: I earn commission from some links.)

Other previous Related Posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/09/rounding-year-when-do-you-think-autumn.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/07/rounding-year-hollyhocks-with-minds-of.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/01/rounding-year-sharing-seasonal-pictures.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/03/rounding-year-too-soon-for-silver-birch.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/09/healing-herbs-periwinkle-flowers-at-kew.html

Monday, 19 January 2026

Book Review: Pantheon - The Romans

There's a common idea that Roman gods and goddesses were just slightly tamed versions of Greek deities, but that's not true. Rachel S Roberts, in her new book Pantheon - The Romans, shows they really had lives and stories of their own. For example, both Mars and Venus were originally associated with agriculture and vegetation rather than war and love. However, what the Romans did well was include gods and goddesses from other other cultures too, combining and matching their aspects and powers so they were multifaceted, with rich stories and mythologies.

The book goes into detail about Roman history, rituals, festivals, beliefs and ideas. The last section covers practices including ancient prayers and rituals as well as modern words. Everything is described in a way that is easilly adaptable for present-day Pagans to use.

Here's the synopsis from publisher Moon Books

"Enter through the Gates of Ancient Rome to meet the Roman Pantheon! Explore the deities, the beliefs, and the sacred landscape that birthed not just a city but also an empire. Ancient Rome was known as the 'City of a Thousand Gods' and was believed to be destined for greatness through the patronage and presence of those gods. Pantheon: The Romans asks: Who were the deities and heroes that motivated and inspired the Roman people? What was the mythology that defined the Roman sense of belonging and identity? What was the religion that gave Roman life its structure and purpose? And how were the everyday lives of Romans moulded by religious beliefs, practices, and rites of passage?"

Pantheon - The Romans is a meticulously researched and well written book full of information of interest to students of history and religion as well as Pagan practitioners.

About the Author

Rachel S Roberts is also the author of Lupa, Wolf, and Flora, as well as the creatrix of the wisdom school Wolf Woman Rising. She read history with religious studies at university and then went on to complete post-graduate qualifications in history and heritage management. She has also worked in the heritage sector for over a decade

You can view Pantheon - The Romans on Amazon.

(Please note: I earn commission from some links)

Friday, 16 January 2026

Magical Craft: My 2026 Wheel of the Year Vision Board

Once again I've made my annual vision board based on the Wheel of the Year and the seasons. You can see it in the photo above.

A vision board contains images or words that represent our goals, often used for help in manifesting the things we wish for. As a Pagan witch, I find it particularly inspiring to create one based on the Wheel of the Year. All you need is paper and pencils. Last year I hand drew a circle and divided into eight sections, but this year I used the pie chart function on Word and printed out a template for myself.

Visualise the circle and the Wheel like a round clock, so 12 midnight equates to Winter Solstice. You can put that at the top. Summer Solstice goes at the bottom, to the right put Spring Equinox, at the left put Autumn Equinox. Imbolc goes between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox; Beltane or May Day goes between that and Summer Solstice, Lammas after Summer Solstice, and finally Samhain after Autumn Equinox. You can also indicate the spokes of the wheel with dashes.

Once you have the basic outline, start to write words or draw pictures inside it. Last year - 2025 - I used more words, but this year I drew more pictures and coloured it in. You really don't have to be a great artist! I know my drawings are more like those of a child, but that's okay. We all have an inner child who can help us be creative.

Start in the space just to the right of “Winter Solstice” inside the circle. Write words and phrases, or draw images, that are inspiring and feel in tune with the energy of the start of the year. As examples, I have "rest" because that's what I like to do in January. After Imbolc I drew a heart and wrote "love" because February is the month of Valentine's Day. Other words are "adventure" and later "look within".

Move around the vision board, writing words or drawing pictures that fit with your hopes and wishes for each time of year. Carry on round until your Wheel of the Year vision board is full of things that will inspire you to achieve all you desire.

There are more ideas for seasonal crafts and magic in my Pagan Portals title Rounding the Wheel of the Year which is published by Moon Books.

You can also view Rounding the Wheel of the Year on Amazon.

(Note: I earn commission from some links)

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