January Folklore: Distaff Day, When Women Get Crafty

Tomorrow, January 7th, is Distaff Day. It was when women were historically supposed to return to spinning after the Christmas holidays, but often got up to more fun and games than work. A 19th century poem by Robert Herrick called St Distaff's Day suggests this was also a time when men and women played pranks on each other, but that might be 19th century fakelore. I've also heard it said that the women enjoyed being back in a space away from the demands of men.

One of my resolutions this year was to write about seasonal customs. I was reminded about Distaff Day by my artist friend Su Jolly, who is also an accomplished spinner, weaver and knitter. However much fun women made for themselves on Distaff Day,  Su pointed out: "For women in historical times when spinning was relentless work to keep the household clothed, and bring in valuable extra income, the [Yuletide] break must have been invaluable!"

Distaff Day is less famous than Plough Monday, when the men returned to tilling the land, but women's chores have always been less recognised than what blokes did, haven't they?

In medieval times it was called Saint Distaff Day, which was apparently a deliberate joke as there never was a real saint of that name. A distaff is a tool used to hold wool or other fibre when spinning it into yarn. It became a symbol of women's domestic life, as spinning was done almost universally by women of all classes and most cultures. The word distaff can even be a term for the matrilineal branch of a family.

Su mentioned that some modern craft groups celebrate Distaff Day. January 7th is a good time to get on with any creative things you have planned, but especially fibre art.

I will be spinning a yarn tomorrow - but it will be the story kind, rather than wool. I'm taking part in a challenge called Deadlines for Writers, to create a short story every month. January's fiction prompt goes live on Distaff Day.

You can find out more about seasonal customs and crafts in my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year.

The picture at the top is The Spinner by Wilhelm Maria Hubertus Leibl, a Public Domain image shared from Wikipedia  The photo right shows Su Jolly's modern spinning wheel. The picture below shows copies of my book.

Other previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/10/su-jolly-i-met-kent-artist-who.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/08/magical-dolls-how-to-make-knotted-wool.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/09/craft-ojo-de-dios-amulet-made-at.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/01/pagan-eye-horse-brasses-in-south-london.html

Pagan Eye: Predicting A Future Map of the World

I photographed this prophetic view of a transformed Earth at the Secret Maps exhibition at the British Library. It's called A Future Map of the World and was created in the 1990s. The description next to it reads:

"This esoteric map envisages a future Earth transformed by cataclysmic magnetic pole shifts, triggering floods and the re-emergence of legendary lost lands such as Atlantis and Lemuria. Rooted in the author's visionary experiences and New Age beliefs, it exemplifies how speculative cartography can lend visual credibility to unverified ideas. Mimicking the style of scientific maps, such works blur boundaries between fact and fiction, offering alternative interpretations of the world's past and future."

Text on it also predicts the appearance of "the Blue Star", which will appear in the Milky Way and be as bright as the sun. 

I vaguely recall seeing this map in the late 20th century and feeling a little worried despite being skeptical about some of the claims. Luckily those things haven't happened yet, although floods due to global warming might one day make some of the prophesied submerged areas look not too far-fetched. 

Secret Maps is on at the British Library in London until 18th January. You can find out more here: bl.uk/exhibitions/secretmaps

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures. If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/08/water-dowsing-at-wellcomes-thirst.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/09/pagan-eye-art-comparing-roman-japanese.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/10/pagan-eye-green-man-cards-at.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/11/art-nobut-summat-at-atlantis-bookshop.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/04/pagan-eye-new-green-man-sign-for-anerley.html

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

Here's a list of online events and activities for pagans, witches and friends over Twelfth Night and the week ahead. I generally list online events and in-person things in or near London. If you know of a ritual, talk, meeting or workshop you want included, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com.

Now to 11 January 2026; Mumbai + London. Free exhibition of new perspectives on the ancient world with a cultural comparison between the British Museum sculptures of the Indian god Vishnu, the ancient Egyptian goddess Sekhmet and the Roman god Bacchus (or Greek Dionysos). Venue: British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/mumbai-london-new-perspectives-ancient-world

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  2026; 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 2026; 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 - 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 to 10 January 2026; Jane and Louise Wilson: Performance of Entrapment. Exhibition investigating parallels between the Roman Temple of Mithras in London and Ise Jingu shrine in Japan. Venue: Bloomberg Space, 12 Walbrook, London, EC4N 8AA. Free. https://www.londonmithraeum.com/

Now to 16 May 2026; 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 2026;  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/

Friday 2 January  (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 2 January; Full Moon 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/

Saturday 3 January; Connecting with Trees, a Call to Arms with South East London Pagans. Venue: One Tree Hill, Honor Oak, South London. Time: 1.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Saturday 3 January; Storytelling Around The Fire – Warm Tales for Winter with  Vanessa Woolf and London Dreamtime. Venue: Plot 9 Maze Hill, Greenwich. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets £5-£15.  https://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Saturday 3 January (date tbc but usually first Saturday each month); Gong Bath. Venue: Upminster Sanctuary Pea Lane, Upminster, RM142XH. Time: 7pm. Tickets: tbc.  https://upminstersanctuary.com/

Saturday 3 January;  Women's Full Moon Gong Bath. Venue:  Akasa, 5a Prince Edward Rd, Hackney Wick,  London E9 5LX. Time: 7pm. Tickets:  from £25.63. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sunita-kaur-34415293427

Saturday 3 January;  New Year, Full Moon, Gong Bath and Cacao Ceremony in Lesnes Abbey Woods. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-year-full-moon-gong-bath-cacao-ceremony-in-lesnes-abbey-woods-tickets-1976725166184?

Saturday 3 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

Sunday, 4 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, 4 January; Twelfth Nigh celebration. Mummers' Play, the Bankside Wassail and more seasonal entertainment with The Lion's Part. Venue: Shakespeare's Globe, Bankside and Borough Market, Southwark, London, SE1 9DT. Starts at noon. This is a free event. https://thelionspart.co.uk/

Sunday, 4 January; 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, 4 January; Streatham Common Community Gardens' Annual Wassail. Venue: Streatham Common Community Garden, London. Time: 1.15pm. Free https://www.facebook.com/events/2054932565258909?

Sunday 4 January;  Sacred Reset with Crystal Wicca. Venue Crystal Wicca, West Wickham, BR4. Time: 3pm. Tickets: £26. https://www.facebook.com/TheCrystalWicca

Sunday 4 January; Full Moon Celebration with South East London Pagans. Venue: One Tree Hill, Honor Oak, South London. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Monday 5 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 5 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 5 January;  Sacred Reset with Crystal Wicca. Venue Crystal Wicca, West Wickham, BR4. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £26. https://www.facebook.com/TheCrystalWicca

Tuesday 6 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 6 January; Witchcraft's Paths to Power: Spells and Charms. Workshop with Hannah Sanders via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events 

Tuesday 6 January; Beginner Tarot. Start of 4-Part course with Delphine de la Mar. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £150. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 7 January; Creativity and the Occult – Talk and Soirée with Pam Grossman. 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.

Wednesday 7 January (and other dates); 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 7 January; The Call of the Wild: Ancestors, Dreams and Animal Medicine. Start of 6-session workshop with John Lockleywith via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets:  £200. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Wednesday 7 January; The Experience of Mediumship. Start of 8-session workshop with Daniel Pitt via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets:  £280. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Wednesday 7 January; The Science of Weird Shit. Talk by Professor Chris French. Venue: 26 Caledonian Road, Kings Cross, London N1 9DT, Time: 7.30pm https://www.facebook.com/events/1848009293258492?

Thursday 8 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 8 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 8 January; Alla's Energy Prescriptions for 2026. Talk by Alla Svirinskaya via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Thursday 8 January; Queerness in Modern Witchcraft  – Talk and Soirée with Jules McArthur. 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 8 January; Opening the New Year. Workshop with Julian Vayne via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events 

Thursday 8 January;  The Philosopher's Stone. 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.  Email cunningfolkmusic@gmail.com to book a space or visit  https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cunning-folk-7829505560

Friday 9 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 9 January; The Magical Diaries of Leah Hirsig with Manon Hedenborg White and Henrik Bogdan. 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 9 January (date tbc); Gong Bath 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

Saturday 10 January (and other dates); Drum Birthing Workshop with Lynn Gosney. Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain, Minster, Kent. Starts 8.45am. Tickets £225/£250. https://www.facebook.com/shamaniccentrecaercorhrain

Saturday 10 January; The Art of Magic workshop with Julian Vayne. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Saturday 10 January; Witches' Tea Party. Drop in for a Cup of Tea and a Tarot Reading. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Starts at noon. Tea free, readings  £20. https://www.wiccamooninherservice.co.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Saturday 10 January; Grounding Rituals, East and West – In-person Workshop with Lucia Ring-Watkins. 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.

Saturday 10 January; Forecasting the Year Ahead with Daniel Pitt via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 1pm. Tickets:  £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Saturday 10 January; MANIFEST: Witches of Walthamstow New Year Retreat. Venue: St Peter-in-the-Forest, London,. Time: 2.30 pm to 5pm. Tickets:  £53.80 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/manifest-witches-of-walthamstow-new-year-retreat-2026-tickets-1977630231258?

Sunday 11 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 11 January; How to Read Auras and Chakras workshop with Nishant Sharmaa. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Sunday 11 January;  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 11 January; New Year Labyrinth Workshop. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3, 1NG. Time: 2pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Sunday 11 January; Ritual in the Tower (Luna Iter). In-person ritual in Hackney, East London for members of the group, guests and seekers on the path. Meet at the Pembury Tavern, 90 Amhurst Rd, London, from 4.30pm, moving on to a historic site to start the ritual at 6pm. Entry: £9.73. https://www.hildegardmaier.co.uk/luna-iter or https://www.facebook.com/groups/1230392930656154 

Sunday 11 January; Shamanic Foundations with Linda Star Wolf via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 6pm. Tickets:  £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Sunday 11 January; Divining the Past, Present, and Future: Divination with David Zeitlyn on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. 1st in a series of 4 lectures Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from  £3.49. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

A magical event I'm running the following weekend:

Saturday 17 January 2026; I'm running an in-person workshop on Magical Ways to Guide Your Life in 2026, inspired with ideas from my books on the Wheel of the Year, Divination and Guided Visualisations. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm. Cost: £22 per person.  Visit https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

For details of events after these dates please visit my events page.

Notes: I'm not responsible for the content of these events. I don't always know about changes or cancellations to events I don't run - tbc means to be confirmed. Contact event organisers directly with questions but please let me know if you are aware of something that needs correcting, via badwitch1234@gmail.com . Where a practitioner is offering information about magical wellbeing and healing, this is *not* medical advice. The picture shows Wassailing at The Globe Theatre in London.

The Bad Witch's 10 New Year Resolutions for 2026

The start of January is when I think about what I'm going to do in the year ahead. I usually make a long list of goals rather than a single resolution. 

In 2025 I achieved 7 out of the list of 10 resolutions I blogged about. My main goal was to write a new book on practical magic or divination. I achievied this, and sent the manuscript for Pagan Portals - Dowsing to the Moon Books editor in December. On this post you can see an idea of what the cover photo might look like.

Below are 10 things I'm aiming to do in 2026.  Some are repeated or carried over from last year, and some are new.

1. Plan some launch events for Pagan Portals - Dowsing, although the book is unlikely to get an offical publication date before the end of 2026.
2. Write about seasonal folklore every month.
3. Continue to blog about about crafting at least once a month. 
4. Visit at least six more parks, nature reserves, woods and other green areas in London, then post photos of them to show how the city has oodles of spaces with grass, trees, plants and wildlife. 
5. Visit two or three historic, magical or sacred places that I've never blogged about before. I'll post photos and details.
6. Walk a ley line.
7. Interview at least 6 more pagan authors.
8. Continue to do some form of divination for the world at least once a month and post about it.
9. Reading is probably my favourite pastime, so expect to see at least another 12 posts from me with my thoughts about magical books I've read.
10. Finally, I want to walk a labyrinth I've not visited before.

Whatever your plans, I hope 2026 offers you all the opportunities you want. Happy New Year!

Other previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/12/rounding-year-reflections-on-new-years.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/12/new-year-resolutions-looking-back-at-my.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/01/the-bad-witchs-10-new-year-resolutions.html

(Note: I earn commission from advertisers for some links.)

New Year's Eve Divination: The Swedish Year Walk

New Year's Eve is a traditional time for divination to find out what the months ahead might bring. In Sweden, one practice is called  årsgång, which translates as “year walk". I learnt about it in the book  Hallowed Ground by Mark Norman. He writes: 

"The ritual began with a day confined in a dark room, alone with nothing to eat or drink. As midnight struck, the walker would leave the room and set out for their local church. On the walk through the forests and countryside, they would come across many supernatural creatures from Swedish folklore, who would try and prevent the walker from reaching the church, whilst still obeying the rules of the ritual.

"The year walk was a solitary practice, and it was forbidden to communicate with anyone else. There could be dire consequences if the person undertaking the walk failed to remain silent and solemn throughout."

The walk continued around the church building a number of times, which apparently varied from place to place and sometimes included specific patterns of footsteps. After doing this, the walker would hope to gain information from spirits that dwelt in the graveyard. They might see ghostly messengers, hear singing from under the ground, or see visions by peering through the keyhole on the church door. The divination could reveal anything about the year ahead, from forthcoming marriages, to the outcome of war, if there would be famine, and who was going to die.

I guess if you're reading this early in the day this December 31, and don't have any party plans, you could choose to give this a go. If you do, please let me know what the spirits tell you.

Hallowed Ground: The Folklore of Churches and Churchyards is published by Crossed Crow Books. You can also view the book on Amazon.

(Please note: I earn commission from some links)

Other previous related posts

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/12/finnish-new-years-eve-divination-with.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/10/london-necropolis-temple-church.html 
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/10/london-necropolis-st-brides-church-of.html 
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/01/twelfth-night-spell-for-new-year-luck.html