British Library Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms Exhibition

Yesterday I went to the new exhibition at the British Library: Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War.

As a pagan and a witch, I was hoping to see items from the pre-Christian time of the Anglo-Saxons and also herbals and spells from later centuries. I wasn't completely disappointed - the first room contains pagan artifacts inscribed with runes and ogham from the early days of the Anglo-Saxons in this country.

Later there are a few charms, including one for protection written in the margins of a Bible. There is a magnificent herbal and one beautiful metal object carved with a message that has never been deciphered, but might be a spell. That fascinated me. I was also delighted to see the book that contains the original story of Beowulf.

However, if you are thinking of going to the exhibition specifically to find items relating to paganism, magic and the occult, I should warn you these things are few and far between. Most of the exhibition space is given to magnificent illuminated Bibles and other religious books. There are also texts relating Anglo-Saxon laws and governance, and a large display of the Domesday Book that was commissioned after the Norman conquest.

I love beautiful books of all kinds and find history interesting in general, so I enjoyed the exhibition, but I was a little Bibled-out by the end of it.

Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War is on until 19 February 2019 at the British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB. Full price tickets are £16. You can find more details here: https://www.bl.uk/events/anglo-saxon-kingdoms

You can view the book published to accompany Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms on Amazon.

Pagan Shopping: Wicca Moon's Samhain Ritual Box

The Samhain ritual box from Wicca Moon is just brimful of wonderful witchy things. Receiving it really cheered me up as I have been having quite a stressful time recently. Retail therapy - especially when a lovely box of goodies is handed to you on your doorstep by the postman - can work wonders.

The ritual box contains a kit to celebrate Samhain, which is the time to honour the ancestors in the Wheel of the Year. As well as the words for a seasonal ritual perfect for a solitary practitioner, my Samhain box contains the following:

• A witches brew mug
• Witches brew tea
• A tea ball
• Orange and black ritual candles
• Seasonal incense
• An obsidian crystal in a pouch
• A silvery notebook with a dragon on the front
• A witchy bracelet
• A card reproduced from the Wicca Moon Tarot
• A small handmade cauldron
• Universal condenser
• An altar cloth
• Instructions for scrying using a bowl of water

I've been extremely busy lately, having recently started doing an MA at Greenwich University and also teaching magic workshops at the weekends. This ritual box contains everything I need for my own personal Samhain ritual - so that's one less thing to stress over!

I will be posting a full review of the Wicca Moon Samhain Ritual Box when I've had more of a chance to try it out.

You can order the Wheel of the Year Samhain Box online here: https://www.wiccamoon.co.uk/ourshop/prod_6522357-Samhain-Box.html

Wicca Moon is at 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham, London, SE9 6SH.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.wiccamoon.co.uk/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/09/a-magical-afternoon-with-witches-at.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/09/review-wicca-moons-equinox-mabon-ritual.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/review-wicca-moon-tarot-deck.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/01/review-wicca-moon-imbolc-ritual-box.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/03/pagan-shopping-wicca-moon-ostara-ritual.html

Pagan London Episode 3: Shepperton Henge

The third episode of Pagan London is now out - you can see it on the link above. Pagan London is a series of 12 short documentaries exploring London’s historical, mythical and contemporary pagan connections. It is created by Robert Kingham of Minimum Labyrinth in conjunction with The Londonist.

If you haven't yet seen episode one, here is a link to it on my blog: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/pagan-london-episode-1-old-and-new.html

Pagan Shopping: Witches' Cauldron Bath Bombs

These amazing bath bombs in little witches' cauldrons are made by Bewitched Botanicals.

They are going to be on sale at the Faery Fayre this weekend in Glastonbury Town Hall, at Witchfest Market on 3rd November at the Rivermead centre in Reading, on 4th November at the Wandering Witches' Fayre at Portchester Community Centre and on Saturday 1st December at the Wytches Yule Market in Glastonbury Town Hall.

Jacqui Apostolides of Bewitched Botanicals said: "They are proving very popular, some folk have reserved some. I need to make many more."

You can find the Bewitched Botanicals Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/bewitchedbotanicals/

Samhain & Halloween Pagan Events around London

Here is a listing of some of the events around the time of Samhain - or Halloween  - that could be of interest to pagans. Most of the ones I list are in London, because that's where I live, but I also include a few big festivals, exhibitions and rituals in other parts of England. If you know of an event that you want listed, please email the details to me at badwitch1234@gmail.com.

Now - 28 October. Roman Dead. Exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands. Venue: No.1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL. Free entry.  https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london-docklands/whats-on/exhibitions/roman-dead

Now - 9 January 2019; Spellbound: Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft exhibition in Oxford. Venue: Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2PH. Tickets: £6/£11.25/£12.25. https://www.ashmolean.org/  You can also view the exhibition catalogue, Spellbound, on Amazon.

Now - 12 January 2019; Divine Proportions. Dinner cabaret from Shotgun Carousel, based on the story of Dionysus, God of Pleasure and Mischief. Venue: The Vaults, Arch 234-236, Leake Street, London, SE1 7NN. Tuesday - Sunday, doors open 6.30pm. Tickets: Previews: £30, general admission: £35/£55. https://www.thevaults.london/divine-proportions

Now - Wednesday 31 October; London Month of the Dead events organised by Antique Beat and A Curious Invitation. A month of talks, concerts and other events on the theme of death at venues including Kensal Green Cemetery, Nunhead Cemetery, Brompton Cemetery and The Petrie Museum. Ticket prices vary but include a Hendrick's Gin cocktail. http://londonmonthofthedead.com/

Wednesday 17 - Friday 19 October; Recharge Retreat - Free pop-up event for mind, body and soul
Public hosted by e.on. 11am-4pm each day. Venue: Southbank, London. You can sign up for free workshops in advance. https://www.facebook.com/events/1039404836233077/

Wednesday 17 October; Time to Meditate - group meditation (every Wednesday). Venue: Buddha on a Bicycle, Covent Garden, London. Arrive 6pm for 6.10pm start. Donations of £3 recommended. Details: http://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Wednesday 17 October; Witches and Witchfinders: Talk on Michael Reeves, sorcery and counterculture. Venue The Horse Hospital, Colonnade, London WC1N1. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £8.80. https://www.wegottickets.com/event/450003

Wednesday 17 October; 42 Acres Social Change Series: Resilience and Renewal – How to Use Mindfulness and Art for Social Justice Work with Advaya Initiative. Venue: 42 Acres, 66 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LW. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £15. For more details visit: https://www.42acresshoreditch.com/events/

Wednesday 17 October; More Mead Moot promoted by Pagan FutureFests. Venue: Hope Pub, 48 West Street, Carshalton SM5 2PR. Time: from 7.30pm. Meets on the third Wednesday of each month.  http://www.meetup.com/Londonpagancommunity/

Thursday 18 and Friday 19 October; Morning tour: an introduction to ancient Egypt. Venue: Room 4, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 8.50am. Tickets £30. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Thursday 18 October; Swedenborg and the English Romantics. Open evening and exhibition. The exhibition then runs until November 2. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2TH. Time: 6pm. Free event but advance booking needed. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/swedenborg-and-the-english-romantics-items-from-the-swedenborg-collection-tickets-49038222644?

Thursday 18 October; Magic to Go. Talk by Edwin Courtenay followed by book launch. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Pl, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 9pm. Tickets: £14/£12. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 18 October; Death Cafe - Part of London Month of the Dead. Venue: The Chapel - Highgate Cemetery West, North London. Time: 7pm. Free event, but book in advance. http://londonmonthofthedead.com/

Thursday 18 October; North West Kent Green Pagan Circle Speakers Moot with Paul Pearson. Venue: Chislehurst Caves, Old Hill, Bromley BR7. Time: 7pm. Entry: £3.50. https://www.facebook.com/events/1848178628613417/

Thursday 18 October; Mimosa Spiritual Development Circle. Venue: Fairkytes Art Centre, 51 Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1AX. Time: 7pm. Entry: £5. https://www.facebook.com/events/543507849428046/

Fri 19 October – Tuesday 19 February 2019; Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War. Exhibition at the British Library. Venue: PACCAR Gallery, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB. Full price tickets £16. https://www.bl.uk/events/anglo-saxon-kingdoms

Friday 19 - Sunday 21 October; Mind Body Soul Experience London 2018. Venue: Alexandra Palace, London, N22 7AY. Tickets: £7-£26. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mind-body-soul-experience-london-tickets-45715437103?

Friday 19 October; Crystals and Planetary Magic. Talk by Judy Hall and Edwin Courtenay. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Pl, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Tickets: £14/£12. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 19 October; Holistic Sound Bath Meditation - Summoning The Sacred (weekly ceremonial gathering). Venue: Training Points Fitness and Therapy, 5-6 Coopers Yard, Crystal Palace, London SE19 1TN. Time: 7pm. Entry £15/£13. https://www.facebook.com/summoningthesacredsound/

Friday 19 October; Samhain Celebration with live music and storytelling. Venue: Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Petersfield PO8 0BG. Time: 7pm. Tickets £15. www.butserancientfarm.co.uk

Friday 19 October; The Stuff of Spells. Lecture by Julian Vayne on curing, cursing, protecting and banishing. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.30pm. Price: £9. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 20 October - 3 November; Ghosts for the Black Country - Paintings for Halloween. Art Exhibition at The Atlantis Bookshop. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY. Exhibition open 11am-6pm Monday to Saturday. Tel: 020 7405 2120.

Saturday 20 October; History - Bewitched - 17th Century Witch Trials. Saturday class with Naomi Dickins. Venue: Tonbridge Adult Education Centre, Kent. The cost is £30. Details: https://www.kentadulteducation.co.uk/products/pid_39905/History---Bewitched---17th-Century-Witch-Trials.aspx

Saturday 20 October; The Cult of Isis in the Roman World. Gallery Talk. Venue: Room 70, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 1.15pm. Free entry. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Saturday 20 October; The Pantheon of Pancras - a new guided walk from the writers of The Thin Veil of London. Meet at a pub in St Pancras, London. Time: 2pm - 6.30pm. Tickets: £20 per person (£15 for students and concessions). https://www.minimumlabyrinth.org/the-pantheon-of-pancras.html

Saturday 20 October; The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe Live at London Fortean Society. Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Time: 7.15pm. Tickets: £20/£15. http://forteanlondon.blogspot.com/

Sunday, 21 October (tbc); Max Meditation class with Lisabetta every Sunday. Drop-in class suitable for beginners and more experienced meditators. Venue: The Little Escape Therapy Centre, 4 Paxton Mews, off Westow St, London SE19 3RW. Time: 10am-11am. Cost: £12 per class, £30 for 3 classes.

http://www.harmonious-healing.com.

Sunday, 21 October; Psychic Protection workshop with William Bloom at Alternatives. Venue: The Study Society, Colet House, 151 Talgarth Road, London W14 9DA. Time: 10.30am-5pm. Tickets £85. http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Sunday, 21 October; Ancestral Dance Workshop. Venue: Aho Studio, 13 Prince Edward Rd, London, E9 5LX. Time: 11am-6pm. Tickets: £60. www.aho.community

Sunday, 21 October; October Plenty. Autumn harvest celebration combining ancient seasonal customs and contemporary festivities with The Lion's Part. Venue: Shakespeare's Globe, Bankside and Borough Market, Southwark, London, SE1 9DT. Free event from noon. For details visit http://www.thelionspart.co.uk/octoberplenty/

Sunday 21 October; Ageless Wisdom for Everyone. Lecture at the Theosophical Society in London. Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8EA. Time: 2pm. Donations welcome. http://theosophicalsociety.org.uk/

Sunday 21 October; Dawn of the Oak. Pagan moot (normally on the third Sunday of each month). Venue: The Sir John Oldcastle, Farringdon Road/Greville Street, London EC1M 3JF. Time: 3pm-6pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dawnoftheoak/

Sunday 21 October; Samhain Cacao Goddess ceremony with Wild Women Gatherings. Venue: Private address near Forest Hill station, London SE23. Time: 3pm. Advance booking essential, recommended donation: £15. https://www.meetup.com/WILD-WOMEN-CIRCLES-LONDON/

Sunday 21 October Luna Iter - Journey of the moon - for Pagan and Wiccan Seekers with Luna Iter- Wiccan Seekers London NE. Pub moot followed by a ritual close to each full moon. Venue: Old Ship Inn, Hackney. Moot starts at 4.30pm, then at 6pm moving to a historic site for the ritual. Fee: £4/£5. https://www.facebook.com/events/266904454161683/

Monday 22 - Friday 26 October; Hocus Pocus - exhibition about the history of witchcraft in Chelmsford, with half-term activities for children. Venue: Chelmsford Museum, Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 9AQ. Free event. https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums/whats-on/hocus-pocus-exhibition/

Monday 22 October; The World’s First Scientific Proof of Reiki. Talk by Torsten Lange at Alternatives. Venue: St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL. Doors open 6.30pm. Event starts: 7pm. Tickets £10/£15 online. http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Tuesday 23 October; Halloween Vigil at Crossbones to honour The Goose and the outcast dead of Cross Bones Graveyard and the dead and wounded of the London Bridge attacks. Bring a flower, a ribbon, a totem or memento to tie to the shrine. Gather from 6.45pm for a 7pm start in Redcross Way outside the Memorial Gates, London SE1 1TA. For more details, visit  http://crossbones.org.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/events/729638540706737/

Tuesday 23 October; The Brave White Buffalo Women's Circle with Tatanka Love. (Normally meets every Tuesday.) Venue: Aho Studio, 13 Prince Edward Rd, London, E9 5LX. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. www.aho.community

Tuesday 23 October; Film premiere of Pagan London by Minimum Labyrinth. Watch all 12 episodes on the big screen at Café 1001 on Brick Lane. Times: 7pm, 8pm and 9pm viewings. Bar and kitchen open throughout. Tickets £4.99. http://bit.ly/paganlondonpremiere

Tuesday 23 October; Enfield Town Circle Pagan Moot. (Usually 4th Tuesday each month.) Venue: Crown and Horseshoes pub, 15 Horseshoe Lane, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 6PZ. Time: 7pm to 11pm. https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Pagans-Magicians/

Tuesday 23 October; Gwyn ap Nudd and the Wild Hunt online workshop with Danu Forest. Time: 7.30pm. Cost: £15. https://www.facebook.com/events/1123785344446241/

Tuesday 23 October;  Introduction to Crystals with Mamma Moon Magick. Venue: The Upminster Complementary Healing and Teaching Sanctuary, Pea Lane, Upminster RM142XH. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets £15/£18. www.healingandteaching.co.uk

Wednesday 24 October; Full Moon Peace Fires. Light a candle or fire for peace wherever you are in the world, for as short or long a time as you like between 9am and 5pm PDT (US) time, which is between 4pm and midnight GMT (UK time). You can light a candle just for an hour or so and state the intention: “Let there be peace on earth and love for one another.” Details: http://peacefires.org/

Wednesday 24 October; The Pantheon of Pancras - a new guided walk from the writers of The Thin Veil of London. Meet at a pub in St Pancras, London. Time: 2pm - 6.30pm. Tickets: £20 per person (£15 for students and concessions). https://www.minimumlabyrinth.org/the-pantheon-of-pancras.html

Wednesday 24 October; Full Moon Magic Ceremony. Venue: London, NW1 7SU (Exact address will be provided after booking). Time: 7.15pm. Tickets: £18. http://uk.funzing.com/funz/full-moon-magic-ceremony-11769?

Wednesday 24 October; TLC: Full Moon Ceremony by the river Thames with London Woodland Witches Magicians and Outdoor Pagans. Venue: Meet at Tate Modern green outside Tate Modern and Bankside Gallery, London SE1 at 7.30pm for a Wiccan circle ritual on the banks of the Thames. Cost: £3 You must reserve a place in advance. Wear outdoor clothes and bring food and drink to share. Details and bookings: https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Pagans-Magicians/

Wednesday 24 October (one week earlier than usual); Hertford Pagan Moot. Venue: White Horse Pub, 33 Castle Street, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HH (45 mins from central London). The pub does not have disabled access. This moot usually meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/104788436218047/

Thursday 25 October; Anthropology and Folklore in Conversation - Revisiting Frazer, Lang, and Tylor. Hosted by The Folklore Society. Venue: Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 50 Fitzroy Street, London W1T5BT. Time: 10am-5pm. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/anthropology-and-folklore-in-conversation-revisiting-frazer-lang-and-tylor-tickets-43305336427

Thursday 25 October; Zen Naikan. Talk by Leonardo Anfolsi Reiyo Enki. Venue: Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6.30pm. Free event. For more details Tel 020 7836 2182 or visit the website http://www.watkinsbooks.com/

Thursday 25 October; Earthstars Group Meeting - Warren Farm and the Hanwell Triangle. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, Marylebone, London NW1 6XT. Doors open 7pm. Entry by donation. https://www.facebook.com/events/2260158487547802/

Thursday 25 October; Margaret Murray and Modern Witchcraft. Talk at London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX. Time: 7.45pm. Tickets: £4.40/£2.20. https://www.wegottickets.com/event/449356

Friday 26 October; Witches, Monsters and Beasties - drawing workshop. Venue: The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN. Time: 11am-4pm. Tickets: £27.84. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/witches-monsters-and-beasties-tickets-48673496739

Friday 26 October; Gods and Goddesses 1001. Gallery Talk. Venue: Room 4, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 1.15pm. Free entry. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Friday 26 October; Rings, Wings and Spindle Whorls - Archaeological Treasures and the Stories They Tell. Performance. Venue: Stephenson Lecture Theatre, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £8. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Friday 26 October; Drum Circle - open Shamanic drumming group. Venue: Aho Studio, 13 Prince Edward Rd, London, E9 5LX. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £5. www.aho.community

Friday 26 October; Intuitive Dance and Sacred Sound. Venue: 42 Acres, 66 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LW. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £29.70. For more details visit: https://www.42acresshoreditch.com/events/

Saturday 27 - Sunday 28 October; Samhain Weekend at the Henge Shop, Avebury, SN8 1RF. I will be running a workshop on poppets and signing copies of my books on the Saturday. The workshop costs £5 and runs from 2pm-3pm. Other events include tarot card readings, a ghost tour and a Celtic shamanic workshop with Danu Forest. https://www.hengeshop.com/  You can find details of my own book signing and workshop here: https://www.facebook.com/events/883133008556632/

Saturday 27 October; The Solitary Mage: A Workshop with Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki. Venue: Islington Ecology Centre, 191 Drayton Park, London N5 1PH. Time: 9am-5pm. Tickets: £120. https://www.facebook.com/events/633431043718080/ or email or email mariateresaharmer@yahoo.co.uk

Saturday 27 October, Unleash the Goddess Within. Venue: London Rehearsal Space,Templeton House, 33-34 Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4SF. Time: 10am-6pm. Price tbc. https://www.einatfreedomyoga.com/london-workshops2018

Saturday 27 October; Terrifying Tales for Enchanted Nights at Shakespeare's Globe with London Dreamtime. Venue: Shakespeare's Globe, Bankside, Southwark. Time: 11am. Price: tba. For more details, email vanessa@londondreamtime.com or visit https://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Saturday 27 October; Magical Baths. Afternoon Class with Tanya Moulding. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm start. Tickets £30. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 27 October; Watchers of the Old Ways Samhain Ceremony at the Rollright Stones, off the A3400, Chipping Norton, OX7 5QB. Time: 2pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/316182315836569/

Saturday 27 October; All Souls Festival. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London NW1 4SH. Time: 4.30pm-9pm. Entry by donations at the door. http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/

Saturday 27 October; Death in the Dock: The Law and the Supernatural. Party of London Month of the Dead hosted by A Curious Invitation. Venue: Brompton Cemetery, Fulham Rd, Kensington, London SW10 9UG. Time: 3pm. Tickets: £12 includes a Hendrick's gin.
londonmonthofthedead.com

Saturday 27 October; All Hallow's tours by Lamplight with The Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park. Venue: Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, The Soanes Centre, Southern Grove, London E3 4PX. Time: 8.30pm. Tickets: £11.43 – £13.48. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/all-hallows-tours-by-lamplight-tickets-50279134244?

Sunday 28 October - 11 November; International Online Congress of Witchcraft and Magic. Free grimoire of articles and spells in both English and Spanish from international personalities - including myself. My own contribution is an article about poppets and three poppet spells for the collective grimoire. There will also be a selection of online classes. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/2213895181984914/

Sunday 28 October; Open Samhain Ritual and Picnic. Venue, Buchan Park, West Sussex, RH11 9H. Time: 1pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/485075971977075/

Sunday 28 October; Institute of Witchcraft and Magick Social Gathering. Venue: pub in central London. Time: 2pm. You must be a member of the Meetup group to attend. https://www.meetup.com/INSTITUTE-OF-WITCHCRAFT-AND-MAGICK/

Sunday 28 October; The Witches' Inn Family Samhain Kite Fly and Picnic. Venue: Millennium Stones At Gatton Park, Reigate, Surrey. Meet in the free National Trust car park at the top of Wray Lane near the junction with Reigate Hill. Time: 3pm. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/543135812781527/

Sunday 28 October; Samhain 2018 - Woodland Witches Ritual and Halloween Gathering with Woodland Witches, Pagans and Magicians in Queen's Wood, Highgate. Meet at the Woodmans' pub garden at 4pm. At 4.30pm everyone will walk to the woods. Cost: £5/£3. You must reserve a place in advance. Wear outdoor clothes and bring food and drink to share. Details and bookings: https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Pagans-Magicians/

Sunday 28 October (tbc); Women Goddess Circle event: monthly ceremony led by Lisabetta Vilela. Venue: Training Points Fitness and Therapy, 5-6 Coopers Yard, Crystal Palace, SE19 1TN. Time: 6pm-8.30pm. Tickets: £30. harmoniousshiatsu@ymail.com https://harmonious-healing.com/

Sunday 28 October; Evening Gathering: ‘Samhain’ Pagan Celebration (aka Hallowe’en) with Rev Kate, Hillary Ratna and Ingrid Tavkar at Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Tel: 020 7433 3267. http://www.rosslynhillchapel.com/

Tuesday 30 October; An Evening of Soul Portraits and Clairvoyance with Angela Watkins and June-Elleni Laine. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Pl, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Tickets: £14/£12. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 30 October; Twenty-first Century Ghosts. Talks at London Fortean Society by Caron Lipman and Sarah Sparkes. Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Time: 7.15pm. Tickets: £7. http://forteanlondon.blogspot.com/

Wednesday 31 October; Witches, Monsters and Beasties - drawing workshop. Venue: The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN. Time: 11am-1pm. Tickets: £21.55. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/witches-monsters-and-beasties-halloween-special-tickets-48677320175

Wednesday 31 October; Earth Festival: Wheel of the Year - Resting. Venue: Chalice Well World Peace Garden, in Glastonbury. Gather at the well head for midday meditation until 12.30pm, followed by conversation on the lower lawn. Free admission to the gardens from 10am to noon. For more details, visit the website http://www.chalicewell.org.uk/

Wednesday 31 October; London Halloween Walk and Thames River of Souls Ritual with London Woodland Witches Magicians and Outdoor Pagans. Venue: Meet at Bankside Pier, next to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, at 7.30pm for a walk along the banks of the Thames and a ritual. Cost: £3 You must reserve a place in advance. Wear warm outdoor clothes and bring food and drink to share plus a torch. Details and bookings: https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Pagans-Magicians/

Thursday 1 November; PFL Samhain Open Ritual. Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Time: 7.30pm. Entry: £6/£5 (PF members and concessions). https://pflondon.info/

Friday 2 November; Witches’ Pyramid. Book launch with talk with Robert Hardy. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.15pm-10pm. Tickets £9.99. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 3 November; Witchfest Market and Halloween Ball in Reading. Venue: Rivermead Leisure Complex, Richfield Avenue, Reading, Berkshire RG1 8EQ. Time: 10am-11pm. Admission to the market is free, talks and workshops cost extra. https://witchfest.net/events/witchfest-market-halloween-ball/

Saturday 3 November; Samhain Wild Hunt 2018 with Glastonbury Dragons at Glastonbury, Somerset. Time: 2.30pm. Free event. https://www.facebook.com/events/261095108003884/

Saturday 3 November; Talk and Heathen Rite for Winternights. Short Lecture and Blot with  Andre and Amanda Henriques. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 3pm-5.30pm. Tickets £10. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 3 November; The Beautiful and the Damned costume party at Vout-O-Reenee’s - with storytelling by London Dreamtime. Venue: Vout-O-Reenee's 30 Prescot Street London E1 8BB.
Time: 6pm till late. Tickets: £8.97. Tickets must be bought in advance. For more details email vanessa@londondreamtime.com or visit https://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Sunday 4 November; Druidic Samhain Celebration on Primrose Hill with the Loose Association of Druids. Gather in the Hawthorne Grove at Primrose Hill, London, NW1 8YH, between 12.30pm and 12.45pm to prepare the site ready for a prompt 1pm start. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm. Bring a small contribution of food and drink to share. https://www.facebook.com/events/498397013967751/

Note: I am not responsible for any of these events except my book signing and poppet workshop at the Henge Shop and my contribution to the International Online Congress of Witchcraft and Magic. I try to ensure the details I list are accurate, but please contact the organisers before turning up to any event in case of changes. If you spot something that needs correcting, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com

Witch Songs: Jamestown Pagans' Horror Music Video

This horror music video link was sent to me by Crystal Pastis, director of a short horror film, Vanilla Cake, who went on to direct the music video for the band Jamestown Pagans.

Crystal said: "It's very much inspired by the Halloween season. I would love if you could review it on your site."

Well, I like the video and the music. It is kind of gothy, which suits my tastes. The portrayal of witchcraft in it might be more like something from a horror film than real life, but nothing wrong with that for Halloween.