Witch Games: The Witching Hour Reviewed

I've got a bit of a collection of witch-themed board and card games. Here's my review of a new one I picked up recently. It is called Witching Hour and is a short card game for 2-5 players.

The idea is that you are students at a school for witches and are conducting a magical contest to see who can brew the best potions and cast the most effective hexes. This is represented by duelling with sets of cards representing spell components such as bells, toadstools and candles.

You get dealt a hand of 13 cards and make up sets of the same type to attack another player. They can try to defend with equal-numbered sets, but if they can't they take the attack cards into their hex pile. At the end of the round, the values of the sets in each hex pile are counted and the lowest score wins.

The cards all have other abilities too. For example, mirrors reflect attacks, books let you peak at another player's hand and take a card, you can play a familiar into your own hex pile to block an attack.

I love Witching Hour's theme and the artwork on the cards. It is a quick, fun game too - perfect for playing at a Halloween get-together.

You can view Witching Hour on Amazon - and you can follow the links below to read about some other witch-themed games I've blogged about in the past:

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/01/review-terry-pratchett-witches-boardgame.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/04/witch-games-dark-gothic-supernatural.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/04/witch-games-abracadawhat-magical-contest.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/witch-games-buffy-vampire-slayer-board.html

News & Culture: Witches, Witchcraft & Witch Hunts

Here is a round-up of recent stories about witches, witchcraft and witch hunts in the news, in films, in books and in history:

"Outrage rises at Chechen 'witch hunt'" - story at BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-49795987

"New book by Fraserburgh author highlights horrific extent of witch trials in Scotland" - The Press and Journal looks at Ailish Sinclair's new book The Mermaid and the Bear: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/1856852/new-book-by-fraserburgh-author-highlights-horrific-extent-of-witch-trials-in-scotland/

"New map reveals three Clydebank women branded witches in 1677 trials" - story at Clydebank Post: https://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/17951248.new-map-reveals-three-clydebank-women-branded-witches-1677-trials/

"'Scotland's last witch' burnt alive almost 300 years ago" - story at STV News: https://stv.tv/news/highlands-islands/1441101-scotland-s-last-witch-executed-for-having-dementia/

"The Bury St Edmunds witch trials - what do you know about this horrible history?" story at East Anglian Daily Times: https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/the-witch-trials-past-of-bury-st-edmunds-1-6307322

"Torryburn says no to lighthouse witch memorial" - story at Dunfermline Press: https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/17953892.torryburn-says-no-lighthouse-witch-memorial/

"Witch season provides a deep look into the millennial mindset" - story at Religion News Service: https://religionnews.com/2019/10/10/witch-season-provides-a-deep-look-into-the-millennial-mindset/

"The 15 best witch movies that will have you cackling around the cauldron this Halloween " - A look at films about witches at GamesRada: https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/best-witch-movies/

"Screw Everything — I'm Becoming a Witch" - story at thebolditalic: https://thebolditalic.com/screw-everything-im-becoming-a-witch-4b75b8c2c5a7

Pagan Eye: A Gothic Angel at Nunhead Cemetery

I find there's nothing like a stroll in a Gothic graveyard to get me in the mood for Halloween, or Samhain. Yesterday I returned to Nunhead - one of the Magnificent Seven Victorian Cemeteries close to where I live in south east London. I took some photos, including this one of an angel on a tomb, covered in ivy.

Nunhead was one of the places I wrote about in the early years of my blog. You can read that post here. It became very overgrown after being abandoned in the 1970s. Although it is now maintained and open to the public, much of it has been left as a wild nature reserve.

After that visit I made a resolution to visit and blog about all of London's Magnificent Seven Cemeteries: Highgate, Brompton, West Norwood, Abney Park, Kensal Green and Tower Hamlets as well as Nunhead. I still love to return to them at this time of year.

Photographs taken at Nunhead Cemetery were used in the artwork for an unusual divination deck - the Fallen Angel Oracle Cards. You can read my earlier post about the set here. That edition is now out of print, but it looks as though a new version is due to be published in early 2020 and you can view that on Amazon.

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.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/preview-fallen-angel-oracle-cards.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/03/review-fallen-angel-oracle-cards.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/10/pagan-eye-scary-street-art-for-halloween.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/10/pagan-eye-pumpkins-in-borough-market.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/10/london-necropolis-highgate-cemetery.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/walking-among-londons-dead.html

This Week's Pagan Events In and Near London

Here are events in London plus a few in other parts of the UK over the next week or so that could be of interest to pagans. If you know of an event that you want listed, please email the details to me at badwitch1234@gmail.com.

Now - 27 October, Secret Rivers: discover the secrets of London's historic waterways. 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

Now - 31 October; Betwixt and Between: Isobel Gowdie, the Witch of Auldearn - the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic's summer exhibition. Venue: The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle, Cornwall. Entry with museum ticket. https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk/

Now - 2 February 2020; William Blake exhibition. Venue: Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG. Entry: £18/£17/free for members. https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/william-blake-artist?

Now - 2 November; Damien Hirst - Mandalas exhibition. Venue: White Cube, 25 – 26 Mason's Yard, London, SW1Y 6BU.  Details: https://www.whitecube.com/exhibitions/exhibition/damien_hirst_masons_yard_2019?

Now - March 2020; Ithell Colquhoun exhibition. Venue: The Last Tuesday Society and the Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RS. http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/

Now - November; Waking the Witch. Touring exhibition curated by Legion Projects and supported by Arts Council England. Venue:  Bonington Gallery, Nottingham. http://www.wakingthewitch.uk/#

Throughout October; London Month of the Dead organised by Curious Invitation and Antique Beat in conjunction with London's Magnificent Seven cemeteries. Tours, talks, workshops and entertainment on the theme of death. For a full list of the events and to book tickets, visit the London Month of the Dead website: https://londonmonthofthedead.com/

Wednesday 9 October; Free Guided Tour of the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology (every Wednesday). Venue: UCL, Malet Place, London, WC1 6BT. Time: 2pm. Free, but book in advance: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/event-ticketing/booking?

Wednesday 9 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 9 October; Reincarnation Reports. SPR talk. Venue: Society for Psychical Research HQ, 1 Vernon Mews, London, W14 0RL. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £2/£5. https://www.spr.ac.uk/

Wednesday 9 October; John Dee: Scientist or sorcerer? An illustrated talk by historian Will Bird. Venue: Twickenham Library Garfield Rd, Twickenham, TW1 3JT. Time: 7pm to 8pm. Price: £3. https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/libraries/libraries_whats_on/talks_and_events_in_libraries

Thursday 3 October; Kali Goddess Circle with Breathwork. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London E9 7AD. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. www.sheslostcontrol.co.uk

Thursday 10 October; Rosaleen Norton: Pan's Daughter. Talk by Julia Phillips. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.30pm start. Tickets £10. Book online at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Thursday 10 October; The Knap of Howar. Talk by Nicholas Cope at South East London Folklore Society (SELFS). Venue: The Old King's Head, Kings Head Yard, 45-49 Borough High St, London SE1 1NA. Entry: £5/£1.50 concessions. Time: 8pm. (Meetings are normally the second Thursday of each month.) https://www.facebook.com/groups/2438110887/ To guarantee a seat, email cunningfolkmusic@gmail.com

Friday 11 October, Moonlight on Store Street, a street party with a twist, part of the Bloomsbury Festival. Location: Store Street, London, WC1E. Time: 6pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/440385160084797/

Friday 11 October, Meditative Kirtan Evening with Sonya Kumar and Daisy Bowman and Neil Kerr. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £22/£25. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 11 October; Meditation and Om Healing. (Weekly event, usually on a Friday). Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8EA. Time: 7pm. Entry free. http://theosophicalsociety.org.uk/

Friday 11 October; Wiccan Full Moon Ceremony by the Thames with London Woodland Witches. Meet at the seats outside Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG ·at 7.30pm. The ceremony is on river bank. Cost: Fee: £5/£3. Fee: £5/£3. Details: https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Pagans-Magicians/

Friday 11 - Saturday 12 October; London Tarot Conference. Venue: Holiday Inn, Kensington High Street, London. Speakers include Geraldine Beskin, Mary K Greer, Caitlin Matthews, Davide De Angelis, Katrina Wynne, Avril Price, Richard Abbot and Anastasia Haysler. Tickets £120 per day, £230 for both days. http://tarotconference.co.uk/

Saturday 12 October; Awaken the Goddess Festival with full programme of talks and workshops ritual. Venue: The Old Mortuary, St Marychurch Street, Rotherhithe, London, SE16 4JE. Full access tickets: £20 for early bird ticket, £25 normal price. Website: www.awakenthegoddess.co.uk

Saturday 12 October; Drum Birthing Workshop. Venue: Aho Studio, 13 Prince Edward Rd, London, E9 5LX. Time: 10am-8pm. Tickets: £250. www.aho.community

Saturday 12 October; An Introduction to Shamanic Journeying with Shamanic Walks of Consciousness. Venue: Shamanic Space, 11 Hilly Fields Crescent, Brockley, · South London. Time: 10am-5pm. Tickets £97.50. https://www.meetup.com/Shamanic-Walks-of-Consciousness/

Saturday 12 October; Personal Mythologies for Today. First part of two-Saturday course run by Ken Rees. Second day is 19 October. Venue: The Mary Ward Centre, Queen Square, London WC1 (nearest tube stations – Holborn, Russell Square). Time: 10.15am – 5.30pm. Fees: £57 Cons: £20. Course No: 453. Enrolment: 0207 269 6000 (or online). Enquires: 0208 671 6372. Website: www.marywardcentre.ac.uk

Saturday 12 October; In Search of the Gothic Revival. Guided tour of West Norwood Cemetery with Caroline Swan. Part of London Month of the Dead. Times: 11am and 2pm. Tickets: £12. https://londonmonthofthedead.com/

Saturday 12 October; Hoodoo and Conjure Workshop: making old-style mojo pouches and candle dressing. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SH. Time: 2pm -4.30pm. Workshop is free, but the kit costs £25 per person For further details call 0208 850 7803 or visit https://www.facebook.com/WiccaMoonEltham/ or https://www.wiccamoon.co.uk/ourshop/cat_1460861-Event-Workshops.html?

Saturday 12 October; Heart Beat - Monthly Drumming Collective with Gong Master Olaf Nixon. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £21/£23.  https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 12 October; Launch Party for Aleister Crowley: Early Poetic Works. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: Free to attend the laund, but you must reserve a place. £25 if you want a copy of the book. You can book online at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Sunday 13 October; Full Moon Event with Peace Fires. Light a candle or fire for peace wherever you are in the world, for just for 10 minutes or an hour or longer and state the intention: “Let there be peace on earth and love for one another.” Details: http://peacefires.org/

Sunday 13 October; A New Way of Death. A guided tour of Nunhead Cemetery and visit to the Catacombs with Keith Turpin. Part of London Month of the Dead. Times: 11am and 2pm. Tickets: £12. https://londonmonthofthedead.com/

Sunday 13 October; XR Full Moon Sacred Drumming hosted by Heron Drums at Lambeth Bridge, London, SE1. Time: 4pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/2549591748413284/

Sunday 13 October; Worldwide Womb Blessing. This is a worldwide event with several times during the day. You can register here: https://wombblessing.com/ At 5pm there is a London event you can take part in, hosted by Rain McManus at The Upminster Complementary Healing and Teaching Sanctuary, Pea Lane,  Upminster, Havering, RM142XH. Tickets for the Havering event are £20 to help cover room hire costs. https://www.facebook.com/events/897168603987909/

Sunday 13 October; Shamanic workshop. Venue: Woodford Church at 9 Grove Crescent, South Woodford London, E18 2JR. Time: 11am-4pm. Cost: £10 pay at door.  http://woodfordchurch.com/

Sunday 13 October; Marseille Tarot Introduced. Workshop with Adrien Mastrosimone. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am-5.30pm (with a break in the middle). Cost: £75. Deposit is £40. You can reserve a place by visiting the shop or online: https://www.treadwells-london.com/

Sunday 13 October; London Goddess Pilgrimage by Out of the Norm Tours. Walking tour starts at: The Crypt at St Paul's, Warwick Lane, London, EC4M 8AD. Time: 11am. Free, but donations welcome and you must reserve a place in advance. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-goddess-pilgrimage-tickets-74170996447?

Sunday 13 October; XR Full Moon Sacred Drumming with Heron Drums. Location: Lambeth Bridge, London, SE1. Time: 4pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/2549591748413284/

Sunday 13 October; Luna Iter - ritual in the tower. Meet at Pembury Tavern, 90 Amhurst Road, London E8 1JH before walking to the ritual site. Meet at 5pm. Cost: £4/£7. https://www.facebook.com/events/548827475881783/

Sunday 13 October;  Full Moon Tea Ceremony and Women Circle with T-Lovers. Venue: Globe House Yoga, The Tanneries, Crucifix Lane, London SE1 3JW. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £20. https://t-lovers.com/tea-ceremonies/

Monday 14 October; Free Beginners Astrology Class by Astrological Lodge of London. (Every Monday evening). Venue: 50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA, Time: 6pm-6.50pm. Tickets: Free. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Monday 14 October; Samhain Witchcraft workshop with Rebecca Beattie. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets £20. Book online at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Monday 14 October; A Talk by Richard Levy at Nova Stellar Meetup. Venue: The Castle, 34-35 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6DB. Time: Doors open 7pm, talk starts at 8pm. Entry £3.

Monday 14 October; Study Group: The Temple Legend. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7pm.  Entry: £3. http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/ and https://www.meetup.com/rudolf-steiners-spiritual-science/

Tuesday 15 October; Wendy Rule concert. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £15 per person. You can book online at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Tuesday 15 October; Your Own Energy. Talk by Alla Svirinskaya. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15/£17.  https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 15 October; Witches of London Gathering. Venue: front bar of the Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BS. Starting 7.30pm. Meets on the third Tuesday of each month. For any questions email coacentral@witchcraft.org or visit http://www.witchfest.net/ or https://www.facebook.com/coawitchesoflondon/

Tuesday 15 October; Poltergeists and Possession. Talk by Alan Murdie at London Fortean Society. Venue: The Miller Pub, 96 Snowsfields, London SE1 3SS. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets £5.50/£2.50. https://www.wegottickets.com/event/480812?

Wednesday 16 October; The Seasonal Self: Autumn Session - Forest Bathing in Queen's Wood, Highgate, exploring personal joys and challenges of the  season and exploring our cyclical natures. Meet in the cabin behind Queen's Wood Cafe, Highgate. Time: 9.30am. Ends at noon. Price: £35. https://www.meetup.com/London-Forest-Bathing-Nature-Connection-Meetup/

Wednesday 16 October; Hedge Shamanism. Session 1 of 3 with Sarah Fox. Venue: Clearly Destiny, 12 Woburn Walk · London.  Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £15. https://www.meetup.com/Shamanic-Journeying-with-a-drum/

Wednesday 16 October; More Mead Moot with 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/

Wednesday 16 October; Sacred Singing. Open your heart and voice through chanting. Venue in London N16. Time: 7.30pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/683456182148551/

Wednesday 16 October; Aries Full Moon Gong Bath. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London E9 7AD. Two sessions: 7pm and 8.30pm. Tickets: £20. www.sheslostcontrol.co.uk

Wednesday 16 October; Wild Woman Workshop hosted by Lewis Barfoot. Venue: Aho Studio, 13 Prince Edward Rd, London, E9 5LX. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £35. www.aho.community

Thursday 17 October; Psychic Development. Free mini workshop beginning to work psychically. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SH. Time: 1.30pm -2.30 pm. For further details contact Shirlee@wiccamoon.org.uk, call 0208 850 7803 or visit https://www.facebook.com/WiccaMoonEltham/

Thursday 17 October; Mystical Dream Tarot. Talk and signing with Janet Piedilato. Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6.30pm. Free event. For more details visit the websites http://www.watkinsbooks.com/  or https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks/

Thursday 17 October; Candle Magic Workshop. Evening workshop based on my book Pagan Portals - Candle Magic. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £20 per person. You can book online at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

18, 19 and 20 October; Mind Body Soul Experience and OM Yoga Show. Venue: Alexandra Palace, London, N22 7AY. Friday 11am - 6pm, Saturday 10am – 6pm, Sunday 10am – 5pm. Online tickets: £12/£10. On the door: £15/£12. A ticket for one event gives you free access to the other event. Free Yoga Show guide: www.omyogashow.com  Free MBS guide: www.mbsevents.co.uk

Friday 18 October; Story Jam: The Argonauts. Storytelling for adults. Venue: The Canvas, 42 Hanbury Street,  London, E1 5JL. Doors 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets £10 on the door or from eventbrite. More details: storyjamstories@gmail.com or https://storyjamjar.com/coming-up-october-jason-and-the-argonauts/

Saturday 19 October; Constructing the Witch: How Women became Maleficent, One-day course with Ann Jeffers looking at the association of women with magic and witchcraft. Venue: City Lit, 1-10 Keeley St, Holborn, London WC2B 4BA. Full fee: £59, Senior fee: £47, Concession:£30. Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm. Course Code: HRS35. Booking and more details: https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/constructing-the-witch-how-women-became-maleficent or call 020 7831 7831

Saturday 19 October; Wicca for Beginners with London Woodland Witches. Venue: Queen's Woods, Highgate, North London. Meet at The Woodman pub patio area at 10.30pm to walk to the outdoor site. Ends 6pm. Fee: £20. Details: https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Pagans-Magicians/

Saturday 19 October; Kabbalah and Prosperity. Workshop with Rev. Maggy Whitehouse, author of From Credit Crunch to Pure Prosperity, Total Kabbalah and Prosperity Teachings of the Bible Made Easy. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London, Eng WC1A 1LY. Tickets: £50. Time: 11am-5pm. For more details, call 020 7405 2120 or visit http://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Saturday 19 October; Rune Workshop Free mini workshop. Learn the meanings of the runes and how to cast them. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SH. Time: 3pm -4pm. For further details contact Shirlee@wiccamoon.org.uk, call 0208 850 7803 or visit https://www.facebook.com/WiccaMoonEltham/

Saturday 19 October; A Winter Nights Tale. Storytelling. Venue: Aho Studio, 13 Prince Edward Rd, London, E9 5LX. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20/£25. www.aho.community

Saturday 19 October; Meditational Sound Experience. Venue: Bankside Hotel, Autograph Collection, 2 Blackfriars Rd, Upper Ground, London, E1 9JU. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £17. https://www.meetup.com/Meditational-Sound-Healing-Gong-Bath/

Sunday 20 October, Sunday Meditation class with Lisabetta (almost) 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. https://harmonious-healing.com/

Sunday 20 October, Scrying for Beginners. Four-hour afternoon workshop on divination with crystal balls, mirrors, water and flame. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm-5.30pm (with a break in the middle). Cost: £40 per person. You can reserve a place by visiting the shop or online: https://www.treadwells-london.com/

Sunday 20 October; October Plenty 2019 with The Lion's Part at Roots and Shoots Apple Day. Autumn festival with a procession, Berry Man, traditional play, storytelling, food and drink. Venue: Walnut Tree Walk, Lambeth, London, SE11 6DN. Procession starts at noon by the Imperial War Museum and ends at Roots and Shoots. http://www.thelionspart.co.uk/octoberplenty/

Sunday 20 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/

Please note: I am not responsible for any of these events except my scrying workshop. Although I try to make sure the details on my listings are accurate, I do not always know about late changes or ticket availability for events that I'm not involved with. Please contact the organiser before attending any event. If you spot anything that needs changing, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com

Divination for the Day: The King & Queen of Pentacles

Here is a tarot card for the day - the King and Queen of Pentacles from the Wicca Moon Tarot.

I felt drawn to using the Wicca Moon Tarot for a daily divination reading. I've not used this deck for a while, but I really like it. It was designed by Shirlee, who runs the lovely witchcraft shop Wicca Moon, in Eltham, in south-east London, and the cards depict local people in the roles of tarot's major and minor arcana characters.

The King and Queen of Pentacles are named as Wendy and Richard, who I never met personally, but look lovely. The card shows them smiling and content, which is appropriate as the card is about enjoying the abundance of life, with sufficient financial rewards gained from hard work. People like this bring a memory of the warmth of summer with them, even when the days grow colder and the nights lengthen.

The suit of pentacles relates to the element of earth, and the importance of remaining grounded, but also represents the season of winter. As the saying goes, winter is coming. When there is the potential of hard times ahead, it is important to manage your resources well and try to stay grounded in reality, but also take comfort in the good things that you have, including the cheer of good friends.

What is interesting about the Wicca Moon Tarot is that it depicts the kings and queen together on single cards for each suit. In the book that comes with the deck, Shirlee writes that she did this 'to bring their elemental energies into balance as a manifestation of power.' I like this combining of both male and female energy, and its message of the importance of people working together in an inclusive way, rather than making unnecessary divisions relating to gender.

You can read my review of The Wicca Moon Tarot here. Copies of the deck can be bought at the shop at 50 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SH or online. For further details contact shirlee@wiccamoon.org.uk