Author Interview: Ness Bosch on Winter & Festive Reads

This December I'm chatting to authors about their favourite festive reads and what they love most about the time of year. Today I talk to Ness Bosch, who is a priestess, shamaness and author. A mother of three, she lives in beautiful Ayrshire, Scotland. Ness is the founder of the Covenant of the Waters, and a founding  member of the Goddess Community Scotland and the Temple of Astarte. Her animistic call is the Path of the Bones. Here's the interview:

Q:  What's your favourite part of the festive season? 

A: The connection to the elements and the ancestors. I love the festive lights everywhere. Winter is more bright because of them. 

Q: What book have you most loved as a Yuletide read? 

A: I'm very fond of Russian folklore books as a winter read. 

Q: Which of your own books would you most recommend either to give someone else as a present or for a gift for oneself? 

A: Sacred Bones Magic Bones. There is a lot there about the ancestors, I think is the perfect book for the season. 

You can find Sacred Bones Magic Bones at publisher Moon Books.  

You can also view the book on Amazon.

Please note: I earn commission from some links

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/12/author-interview-favourite-festive.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/12/books-divine-wounds-finding-healing.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/11/craft-making-long-lasting-yuletide.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/12/author-interview-festive-reads.html

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

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

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/

Every Wednesday and Friday (except Bank Holidays and between Christmas and New Year); 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-58960674733

Wednesday 10 December; Festive Christmas Gong Bath and Sound Meditation in the Mansion. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion, Place Park, The Mansion, Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.beckenhamplace.org/whatson/

Wednesday 10 December (every Wednesday); Sound Bath. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 10 December (and other dates); 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

Wednesday 10 December; Moon and Tide Magic Workshop with Levannah Morgan via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 10 December (tbc but usually 2nd Wed each month);  Enfield Town Circle Moot. Venue: Crown and Horsehoes, Horseshoe Lane, Enfield, EN2 6PZ.  Time: 7pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/EnfieldTownCircle/

Wednesday 10 December; Power of Fire workshop. Training group workshop by the Wytchery. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store St, London WC1E 7BS, UK. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.meetup.com/the-wytchery/

Wednesday 10 December; The Dark Origins of Christmas: Demons, Witches, Twelfth Night, and more. Talk by Diane Purkiss via Seed Talks. Venue: 8 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 2ER. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £13.50 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-in-london-1252979?

Wednesday 10 December (and other dates); Full Moon Women's 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

Thursday 11 December (most Thursdays); 30 Minute Guided Meditation. Online via Rest Less Events. Time: 9am. Tickets £3.99 per class. https://events.restless.co.uk/event-calendar/

Thursday 11 December (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 11 December; 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 11 December; Celebrate 150 Years of Wisdom: A Book Presentation on the Theosophical Movement. 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, 11 December; Yule Customs Talk. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 6pm. Tickets £25. https://www.wiccamooninherservice.co.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Thursday 11 December; Ithell Colquhoun’s Diagrammatic Style talk by Dr Amy Hales. Online via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday, 11 December; Erotic Alchemy. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Thursday, 11 December; Christmas Lore. 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

Thursday, 11 December;  Psychedelics and Memories of Birth, Abuse and Aliens. Talk by Timmy Davis 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 12 December (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 12 December; Start of The Winter Mothers Retreat 2025 with Laura Daligan. Nine days of online magic, soul retrieval, healing and connection with the Ancient Mothers of Winter. Inlcudes live and recorded sessions so you can do this when you like. Tickets: £111. https://www.lauradaligan.com/product-page/the-winter-mothers-retreat

Friday 12 December; Festive Friday at the College - Have a mince pie and a drink, browse the library, or enjoy the peace of the sanctuary, plus 15 per cent discount in the shop. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Free entry, no need to book https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 12 December; Saturnalia. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 6.30pm  Tickets free but book a place https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Friday 12 December (and other dates); New Moon, Full Moon or Divine Union Cacao Ceremony, Heart Ritual and Gong Bath. Venue: Private Location near Wandsworth Town/Clapham Junction, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets:  From £32.93 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-moon-full-moon-or-divine-union-cacao-ceremonyheart-ritual-gong-bath-tickets-169545022727

Friday 12 December (and other dates); 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 13 December (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 13 December; Moon Books Super Epic Pagan Quiz of the Year. Streaming live to YT and FB. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/843552198401493?

Sunday 14 December; 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 14 December; 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 14 December; I'll be teaching an in-person workshop on scrying with crystal balls, mirrors, fire, and water. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: noon. Tickets £32. Price includes a Cocktail with Devil’s Botany. https://thelasttuesdaysociety.org/exhibition/scrying-workshop-with-lucya-starza-live-4/

Sunday 14 December; Satanic Flea Market. Venue: Electrowerkz 7 Torrens Street, London, EC1V 1NQ. Time: noon. Tickets £4. https://www.facebook.com/events/843750454662152

Sunday 14 December; Find Your Yellow Brick Road workshop with Gerrie March. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 1pm. Tickets £90 https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 14 December; Crystal Magic and Fossil Folklore workshop with Nicholas Pearson. Online via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 14 December;  Goddess Circle- Winter Solstice Ceremony Venue: 19 Castle Close, London E9 5TN. Time: 2pm. Tickets £27.80. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/goddess-circle-winter-solstice-ceremony-tickets-1975186992465?

Sunday 14 December; Craft a Yule Log and Witch’s Yule Ball  with Crystal Wicca. Venue: Crystal Wicca, West Wickham, BR4. Time: 3pm. Tickets: £55. https://www.facebook.com/TheCrystalWicca

Sunday 14 December (every Sunday); Soul Restore Sound Healing. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 4pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Sunday 14 December (and other dates and times); Viktor Wynd Museum Guided Tour and a Devil's Botany Absinthe. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6pm. Tickets from £12. Price includes a Cocktail with Devil’s Botany. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Sunday 14 December (every Sunday); Mindfulness Meditation. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3, 1NG. Time: 6pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Sunday 14 December; Magic in Contemporary Art, Ep. 9. Lecture and Discussion with Dr Amy Hale via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start. Tickets: £5. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Monday 15 - 19 December; Visual History of European Alchemy Short Course in 5 classes wrth Sergei Zotov. Online 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

Monday 15 December; Yule at Bibi's Circle. Venue: Rons Coffee House, Holdrons Arcade 135a, Rye Lane London SE15 4ST. Time: 6pm. Tickets free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bibis-circle-56277271483

Monday 15 December; I'm giving an in-person talk on Magic for Yuletide and New Year’s Eve Divination. Price includes a Cocktail with Devil’s Botany. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Doors open: 6.30pm. Tickets from £16.40. https://thelasttuesdaysociety.org/exhibition/magic-for-yuletide-and-new-years-eve-divination-with-lucya-starza-live/ or https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/magic-for-yuletide-and-new-years-eve-divination-with-lucya-starza-live-tickets-1673832470979?

Monday 15 December;  Craft a Yule Log and Witch’s Yule Ball  with Crystal Wicca. Venue: Crystal Wicca, West Wickham, BR4. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £55. https://www.facebook.com/TheCrystalWicca

Monday 15 December; Schizotypy and Anomalous Experiences: What is the link? Talk by Matthew Hopkins. Online  presentation hosted by the Society for Psychical Research via Zoom. Time: 8pm. Tickets: Free for members/£5 non members. https://www.spr.ac.uk/

Monday, 15 December  (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

Tuesday 16 December; Calm Within: A Breathwork and Sound Bath Journey Winter Special. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion, Place Park, The Mansion, Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £50. https://www.beckenhamplace.org/whatson/

Wednesday 17 December; The Hooden Horse of Kent. Talk via the Folklore Society online. Time: 7pm. Tickets £6. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-folklore-society-32190494089

Tuesday 16 December; Intermediate Tarot (Reading Spreads). Start of 2-Part Workshop with Delphine de la Mar. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £60. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Tuesday 16 December;  Yuletide Spirits and the Law: Haunted Cases from British Courts. with Talks in London Pubs. Venue: 3 Locks Brewing Company, Arch 14, 15 Water Ln., Hawley Wharf, London NW1 8JY. Doors: 7pm. Tickets: £19. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pintsofknowledge/1975285?

Tuesday 16 December;  Astro Club Align with Sagittarius. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15-£20.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 17 December; A Tudor Christmas. Hybrid talk 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 17 December; 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 17 December (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 17 December; Winter and Creative Writing Workshop with Bernadette Russell  via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 18 December; Poetry Evening. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7pm. Tickets free https://www.meetup.com/rudolf-steiner-spiritual-science/events/

Thursday, 18 December; Yuletide Seance. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Doors open: 6.30pm. Tickets £25. https://www.wiccamooninherservice.co.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Thursday 18 December; Witch Choir with Nicole Bettencourt Coelho. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS.Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 18 December; PF London Yule 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, 18 December; The Life and Stories of H.C. Andersen. Talk by Lena H Brennand and Cat Irving 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 19 December (1st and 3rd Friday each month); Pagan Portal Podcast by Moon Books. Time: noon (or listen to recording later). Free event. https://open.spotify.com/show/11N4kNj65tTz9NFUcZTMa7?

Friday 19 December 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/

Friday 19 December; New Moon Sound Bath and  Meditation with Spiritual Tiik. Online event. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/spiritual-tiik-29294295627

Friday 19 December (and other dates); New Moon, Full Moon or Divine Union Cacao Ceremony, Heart Ritual and Gong Bath. Venue: Private Location near Wandsworth Town/Clapham Junction, London. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets:  From £32.93 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-moon-full-moon-or-divine-union-cacao-ceremonyheart-ritual-gong-bath-tickets-169545022727

Friday 19 December; Yule Ceremony by Priest of Indigo Earth Joseph Atiase. Venue: Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, East London. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/priest-of-indigo-earth-joseph-atiase-35528479563

Friday 19 December (last session this year); Way of the Witch monthly online circle with Samantha K. and Jacqui C. Time: 8pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.meetup.com/sammi-k-shamanic-practitioner-psychic-medium/events/

​Saturday 20 December; Celtic Goddesses - An experiential day exploring Celtic goddesses led by Caroline Wise and Carrie Kirkpatrick. Venue: ​Highgate, North London. Time: 11am - 6.30 pm. Price: £80. https://www.goddessenchantment.com/

​Saturday 20 December; Winder Solstice at Coldrum Stones with Kent Gorsed. Venue: Coldrum Long Barrow, West Maling, Kent. Time: noon. Free. https://www.facebook.com/kentgorsedd/

Saturday 20 December; Sacred Sweat Lodge for Winder Solstice. Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain Kent. Run by Lynn Gosney. Time: 12.30pm. Tickets £tbc, email lynn.gosney@hotmail.com for info and to book. https://www.facebook.com/shamaniccentrecaercorhrain/

Saturday 20 December; Winter Solstice Magic Workshop with Joanna Gilar. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Saturday 20 December; Yule/ Winder Solstice 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 20 December; Woodland Winter Solstice 2025 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: 3pm. Tickets: £8. https://www.meetup.com/londonwoodlandwitches/

​Saturday 20 December;  Queen of the Witches: A Yule Ritual by Miss Jayne. Venue in London  W10 6B. Time: 3pm to 6:30pm . Tickets from  £16.96. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/queen-of-the-witches-a-yule-ritual-tickets-1968249587500?

Saturday 20 December (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 21 December; Winter Solstice at Stonehenge. English Heritage allows managed free open access to the stones for the sunset and sunrise, although the car parking is charged. Access to stones from: 5.15am-10am. Details: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-do/solstice/  The event is usually also livestreamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EnglishHeritage

Sunday 21 December;  The Merry Macabre Xmas Market at The Last Tuesday Society. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 10am-2pm. Tickets free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Sunday 21 December; Mythic London – Walking Tour with Caroline Wise organised by Treadwells. Meet outside St Mary Le Strand Church, Strand, London WC2R. Time: 11.50am. Tickets: £35. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Sunday 21 December (on the closest Sunday to the festival); Druidic Ritual to celebrate Winter Solstice 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 21 December (tbc but usually on the closest Sunday to the festival); Anderida Gorsedd Winter Solstice 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 21 December (tbc but usually on the closest Sunday to the festival); Yule 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 21 December (tbc); Dawn of the Oak Pagan moot. Venue: The Sir John Oldcastle, Farringdon Road/Greville Street, London EC1M 3JF. Time: 3pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dawnoftheoak/

Sunday 21 December; The Snow Queen Storytelling with London Dreamtime. Venue: The Asylum chapel, Caroline Gardens, London SE15. Time: 3pm. Tickets from £5.   https://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Sunday 21 December; Wicca Women's Circle with Crystal Wicca. Venue in Westerham, TN16 . Time: 3pm. Tickets: £33. https://www.facebook.com/TheCrystalWicca

Sunday 21 December; "Rough Magic" fireside story telling for adults for the Winter Solstice with Bernadette Russell. Venue: Lesnes Abbey Lodge, East London, Time: 3pm to 5pm. Tickets: £11.55. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rough-magic-fireside-story-telling-for-adults-for-the-winter-solstice-tickets-1917737758259?

Sunday 21 December; Return of the Light Winter Solstice Sound Bath and Candle Ceremony. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 4pm. Tickets: £40-£45. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Sunday 21 December; 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 21 December (the closest Sunday to the festival); Wheel of the Year: Winter Solstice/Yule 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 21 December; Winter Solstice Shamanic Ceremony with Beáta Alföldi. Online via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 21 December; “Bah! Humbug!” with Giles Abbott. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 7pm or 8pm. Tickets from £10. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Sunday 21 December (and other dates); Solstice Special London Witches Walking Tour with Maria Beadell's organised by Treadwell's Bookshop. Meet Meet outside Farringdon tube Station, Cowcross street, London EC1M 6BY, UK. Time: 7.50pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.treadwells-london.com/

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.

Rounding the Year: Bringing in the Evergreen Tree

I love a real tree at Yuletide. Yet despite popular opinion to the contrary, ancient pagans didn't bring entire fir trees into their houses for midwinter celebrations. That only began in about the 16th century. Nevertheless, the Romans decorated their villas with sprigs of evergreen for Saturnalia in December, and the Druids considered mistletoe to be a sacred herb. 

In England, Christmas trees in the home were a fashion started by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a secular, family-centric replacement for kissing boughs. The earlier decorations were hoops covered with greenery and hung from the ceiling. As the name suggests, kissing boughs were designed to encourage a more adult kind of party atmosphere. You can see a replica of one in a photo I took at the Museum of the Home, which has rooms decorated as they would have been in late December at various times in history.

Anyone who has read my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year will know I honestly believe people should enjoy the festive season with its wide variety of traditions from many cultures, countries and origins. We can sing Joy to the World, wish peace on Earth, and offer goodwill to everyone regardless of background or belief. We can share the things we love and appreciate each other's customs.

The picture at the top shows my real Yule tree, still in the garden. I bring it inside every year shortly before the 21st and take it back out after New Year. I've managed to keep it alive since 2017, when I bought it as a tiny sapling in a pot. You can read an earlier post about it here. I already have a fake tree inside. That's silver tinsel with changing coloured lights. It might not be the height of good taste, but has sentimental value and I love it. It's okay to like sparkles, baubles, and things that are a bit kitsch too.

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.)

Previous Related Posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/09/rounding-year-when-do-you-think-autumn.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/08/rounding-year-whats-your-lammas-harvest.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/07/rounding-year-wheel-turns-july-is-here.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/08/rounding-year-damsons-first-harvest.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/2025/10/rounding-year-my-book-is-two-years-old.html

Author Interview: Festive Reads, Heathenry & Pilgrimage

This December I'm chatting to authors about their favourite festive reads and what they love most about the time of year. Today I talk to Thea Prothero about those things, and about her love of pilgrimage as a spiritual activity for people of all religions.

Q:  What's your favourite part of the festive season?

I have to admit that the best part of the festive season is not being at work! I also get the opportunity to do some cooking, which can be very difficult when working full time. I usually make mince pies, Xmas cake and have a scandi inspired Xmas dinner, including pork ribs, jonssons temptation and seasonal veg. 

Q: What book have you most loved as a seasonal read?

I’m a ghost story fan, so love to listen, read and watch M R James at this time of year, the British Library have brought out some excellent seasonal collections.

I also write a ghost story for Christmas every year, which I send to my family as a gift-  these are usually inspired by MRJ, this years is based loosely around A View from a Hill and I was influenced by my recent visit to Pompeii.

Q: Which of your own books would you most recommend either to give someone else as a present or for a gift for oneself?

It would have to be A Guide to Pilgrimage. I believe this is perfect for the pilgrimage-curious family member because it isn’t based around any doctrine from mainstream religion.

Q: Of the books you’ve written, which is your favourite?

I don’t know if I can choose, although I believe that my pilgrimage writing and practice has changed and grown since I wrote A Guide to Pilgrimage. I like to think of myself as a pilgrimage advocate. I feel strongly that pilgrimage is a devotional practice well suited for today’s society and is totally adaptable to any religious or spiritual belief. 

Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner was the hardest to write, I was very emotional at points especially when interviewing the Heathen women I spoke to. I feel passionately that women in Heathenry need a voice. 

Q: What are both of those books about?

Pilgrimage as an accessible and adaptable transformational spiritual practice.  Everyone and anyone can do it! 

Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner is aimed at those who follow the  old Norse and Germanic pantheon and cosmology , but for whatever reason practice alone. It’s also a great introduction for anyone who is heathen-curious.

Q: Tell me a bit more about yourself and any other things you’ve written.

I live in the south of the UK and am a solitary heathen who occasionally meets up with others.  I'm currently studying a masters in Viking Studies at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

As mentioned, I also write ghost and folk-horror short stories, and have had two published in The Silent Companion, the journal of A Ghostly Company, plus one last year in Moon Books Yule issue of Moonscape.

Q: Relating to your writing, what plans do you have for the future?

I want to write further books related to Norse Heathenry, especially the goddess Hel. I would like to have more short stories published. - watch this space!

Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner and A Guide to Pilgrimage published by Moon Books, part of Collective Ink.

You can also view A Guide to Pilgrimage on Amazon

Please note: I earn commission from some links.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/12/author-interview-favourite-festive.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/11/review-pagan-portals-pilgrimage.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/12/settle-in-for-yuletide-with-pagan.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/11/craft-making-long-lasting-yuletide.html

Settle in for Yuletide with the Pagan Portal Podcast

A special Yuletide episode of the Pagan Portal Podcast will be uploaded to Spotify at noon today, and once again I'm on the panel alongside fellow witches and Moon Books authors Rachel Patterson, Jessica Howard, and Katie Ness. You can listen to it then for free.

Enjoy a deep dive into Yule, the Winter Solstice, our individual practices and how we weave magic through the darkest months of the year. Together, we explore: 

• How Pagans celebrate Yule in a modern context
• The blending of Christmas and Pagan traditions
• The Winter Solstice, traditions and altars 
• Shadow work, journaling and the introspective nature of Yule 
• Deities, and if we work with them or not
• Personal stories, family traditions and cheese! 

Here are ways to access the recording as well as October's Samhain special, where I was also on the panel:

• You can listen to the podcast for free via Spotify at any time after it goes live:  https://open.spotify.com/show/11N4kNj65tTz9NFUcZTMa7?
• You can also find the video on the Moon Books publishing YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MoonBooksPublishing
• Join the members area to get an early preview