Tempted with a Kindle

Every time I visit Amazonat the moment, I seem to be bombarded with adverts for the new Kindle. I normally try to ignore the adverts on Amazon - they aren't usually anything I'm likely to be interested in anyway - but I must admit I am tempted with the latest Kindle.

The Kindle, for those who don't know, is an e-reader; a wireless reading device that stores books in electronic format so you can carry your whole library around with you and browse whenever and wherever you want.

It's all a bit Star Trek. No, not the things set to stun aliens or the things that allow Bones to tell Kirk, "It's life Jim, but not as we know it!" , but the Kindle is a bit like the things you see people reading stuff from on the US Enterprise, when they're not boldly going places.

This is the kind of thing I always imagined I'd have in the 21st century - along with my robot housemaid, my jet pack and my ticket for a holiday on Mars. Sadly, these days I still have to do my own housework, jet packs sound kind of dangerous and environmentally unfriendly, and my holiday ticket is for a camping trip to a potentially muddy festival in an English field. But, when I go, I would rather like to take a Kindle with me.

I do have a few reservations, however. Amazon claims to have a huge library of books available to download onto your Kindle, and aims eventually to have every book ever written online. But, you have to buy these books. I don't mind buying new books, but I often like to make use of free online resources, such as the Internet Sacred Text Archive . I also often get sent pdfs of books to review on a Bad Witch's Blog, and it would be ideal if I could use a Kindle to read them.

According to Amazon: "Kindle supports wireless delivery of unprotected Microsoft Word (DOC, DOCX), PDF, HTML, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PRC and MOBI files."

But it adds in the small print: "Some complex PDF and DOCX files might not format correctly on your Kindle." And that makes me think that maybe I should wait and find out how other people get on with Kindles before parting with my money.

So, I thought I'd ask people who read my blog. If you have a Kindle, or have looked into getting one, what do you think? Is it ideal for downloading a portable library of ancient grimoires and classic magical texts, or is it really just set up for buying the latest best-selling novels?

Do leave a comment - I'd be very grateful.

The Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6is available from Amazon for £149 and a version without 3G, but with Wi-Fi,is available for £109.

God of the week: Lugh

August 1 is Lughnasadh, the pagan festival to mark the start of the harvest.

In Irish mythology, the festival is said to have been instigated by the god Lugh, as a funeral feast for his foster-mother, Tailtiu, who died after clearing Ireland's plains for agriculture. For this reason the festival celebrating the first fruits of the harvest is named Lughnasadh after him - and so I have also chosen Lugh as The Bad Witch's God of the Week.

Lugh is also called The Shining One, and is a solar deity. According to The Battle for Mythic Britain: The Conversion of the Ancient Gods of England, Ireland, Scotland and Walesby Christopher R Fee and David A Leeming: "Lugh is seen as a sacred solar king and king of the otherworld... Lugh followed Nuada as king of the gods of Ireland and was - with the mortal Dechtire - the father of the great hero Cuchulainn"

The humorous website http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/celtic-mythology.php?deity=LUGH states:

"Things started out badly when his evil grandad Balor tossed him out to sea, but Sea God Manannan-Maclir was fed up with demons polluting his waters and came to the rescue.

"Big Mac took the baby under his fin and raised Lugh as his child until he was old enough to stay with Uncle Goibhniu, the Great Smith. There he grew so strikingly handsome and amazingly skilled that he decided to apply for the post of apprentice God. Passing an interview at the God Centre with flying colours (and flying stones), he zoomed up the career ladder to become Top God. And the rest is history.

"Lugh waged triumphantly against baddies for many years and eventually slew his wicked grandad with a sling. After fathering Cuchulainn, the Irish hero, his Celtic powers dwindled as Christianity increased. He slid slowly down the mythological ladder and ended up as the first Leprechaun. How embarrassing."

Modern pagans tend to think of Lughnasadh as being the wake of Lugh the Sun King himself, rather than that of Tailtiu, patroness of agriculture. It is a time when the evenings are noticeably getting earlier and, although there may be many sunny days to come, the end of summer is definitely in sight. The cutting of the first sheaves of corn are symbolic of the Sun King's sacrifice so that he can pass into the otherworld, before he is renewed again at Yule.

Links:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/07/lammas-events-and-open-rituals.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/07/baking-bread-for-lammas.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/07/lammas-legends.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lughnasadh
http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/celtic-mythology.php?deity=LUGH
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugh
The Battle for Mythic Britain: The Conversion of the Ancient Gods of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales

News: Christians & Pagans fight misunderstandings

Pagans fight misconception that they are devil worshippers
Nottingham pagans are aiming to alter misconceptions about their religion with a Pagan Pride event this Sunday. A story about the event in This is Nottingham quotes witch Esme Knight as saying: "The biggest misconception is the worshipping of the devil, because there's no devil in paganism at all. Paganism is not the worship of the devil and witchcraft is not evil."
The Pagan Pride event is this Sunday, starting at the Robin Hood statue, outside Nottingham Castle, at 10am for a parade at 11am. The parade will move through the city and arrive at the Arboretum at 12.15pm, where a festival is being held until 6pm. See more details at: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Pagan-Pride-aims-alter-misconceptions-faith/article-2467502-detail/article.html

Christians fight misconceptions over branding children witches
In a story on the Inspire website, Christian groups have expressed disappointment over imbalance in C4's Britain's Witch Children programme, which claimed children were being branded witches and then subjected to exorcisms. Un-named spokespeople are quoted as saying: "We wholeheartedly condemn churches abusing or encouraging the abuse of children, in particular any church that brands children as witches or demon-possessed."
You can read the whole story at http://www.inspiremagazine.org.uk/news.aspx?action=view&id=4682

Gothic witch is Manchester Mona Lisa

A photograph showing a gothic witch has been selected by voters as the winner of an online photo competition by the Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester, to find the Manchester Mona Lisa. Carol Hodge from Chorlton attracted voters with a photo by Vicky Johnson-Brown, of her posed in a witchy top hat, white face and kohl-rimmed eyes against a firey background.

Carol was one of 20 shortlisted entries for the photo competition, which was run by MOSI as part of the current Da Vinci – The Genius exhibition, and aimed to attract anyone who has the qualities (not necessarily the features) of Leonardo da Vinci’s classic painting. Entrants could be women, men or even pets! The candidate simply had to have to have an air of mystery, calm and an enigmatic smile.

Carol Hodge said: “I'm really pleased to have been chosen, and want to say thank you to all the people who took the time to vote for me. I'm particularly pleased with the portrait, which is in no small part due to the photographer, Vicky Johnson-Brown. We took the photo during a gothic fashion shoot, for Vicky's show at University. I think there is definitely something slightly ethereal and timeless about the photo."

Da Vinci – The Genius runs until 12 September 2010 at MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry), Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester. Ticket prices are £7.50 for adults, £5 for concessions or £20 for a family ticket two adults, two children). Tickets are available at the MOSI Box Office or http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/, call 0844 847 2261 (24 hours). For more information look up http://www.mosi.org.uk/ or http://www.davincithegenius.com/

Witches and pagans in the news

Russia plans to stop psychics advertising
The Russian parliament is considering making it illegal to advertise psychic services such as fortune telling in Russia. An article on RT discussed the issue at: http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-07-27/occult-state-duma-law.html

Calls to ban branding children as witches
Following the C4 documentary earlier this week, Dispatches: Britain's Witch Children, charities are calling for the government to make it illegal to brand a child as a witch. Community Newswire reports on this at: http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6958190

Interview with Alan Moore
The Guardian interviewed comic writer, magician and visionary Alan Moore, creator of The Watchmen, last Saturday. You can read it at http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jul/24/alan-moore-gorillaz-unearthing

Belgian Cat-Throwing Festival
Ypres, in Belgium, hosted its cat-throwing festival a few weeks ago. There was a review of the event, which derived from historic witch persecutions, in The Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/fur-flies-at-this-cat-throwing-festival/article1649726/

Biography of Sybil Leek
A new biography of witch, writer and teacher Sybil Leek has been published. The Orlando Sentinel ran a story about it at: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features-the-religion-world/2010/07/22/sybil-leek-brevard-author-writes-biography-of-famous-white-witch/

Pagan Eye: Beautiful Moon

I was sent this beautiful picture of the moon - along with several other lovely photos - by James C Wallace II, who this week organised a charity event to break the world record for the number of people howling at the full moon.

Of the photos, he said: "I hope you enjoy these. Some are full, some are not, all are lunatics!!!"

I'll be posting more of James' photos on A Bad Witch's Blog over the next few weeks.

James is also the author of children's books Magician of Ozand Shadow Demon of Oz,set in the world of Oz. I have copies of these on my big pile of books to read; when I have done so I will review them on my blog.

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
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/07/howl-at-moon-and-find-your-inner-wolf.html
Magician of Oz
Shadow Demon of Oz
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/07/pagan-eye-path-in-wood.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/04/taming-moon.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/11/goddess-of-week-selene.html

A History of the Pendle Witches & their Magic

I'm currently reviewing a new book on the Pendle witches for the next issue of The Magical Times, and I enjoyed reading it so much I thought I'd also write a bit about it on A Bad Witch's Blog.

It isn’t often I would describe a history book as “a real page-turner” – particularly when it is over 300 pages long - but I certainly found A History of the Pendle Witches and Their Magic: Wicked Enchantmentsby Joyce Froome hard to put down.

The book is about the events surrounding one of the most famous witch trials in English history, when a dozen people who lived around Pendle Forest were charged with murder by witchcraft in 1612.

It all began when a 17-year-old girl, Alizon Device, had a row with a peddler over the purchase of some pins. The man then collapsed. He had probably had a stroke, but he accused the teenager – who was known to come from a family of cunning folk - of cursing him.

The peddler's son brought this to the attention of Roger Nowell, Justice of the Peace for the Pendle area, who had a particular grudge against witches, at a time when witch trials were at their peak. Nowell built up a case against Alizon, her family and other cunning folk in the area that lead to the deaths of 11 people.

The Pendle Witch Trials are among the best documented cases from the days of the witch hunts in England, partly because of a pamphlet published shortly afterwards, called The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster, giving the official version of what happened.

Much has been written on the subject since then – historical analysis and fictionalised accounts. What Joyce Froome tries to do is set the events against the background of the world view of cunning folk and magicians of the era.

To do that, she draws on information in the collection and library of the Museum of Witchcraft, as well as looking at books of magic that were around at the time. She depicts cunning folk as often following a tradition of folk magic passed down through their family or being taught ritual spells by educated individuals who owned grimoires.

Cunning folk were often called upon to heal people and livestock at a time when few poor people could afford doctors. They would also help detect thieves and meted out natural justice by cursing wrongdoers.

Rather than thinking of themselves as witches – a term for those who used magic for evil purposes – they considered themselves to be witch-hunters with their powers of divination. But, from the 16th to 17th centuries, there was a growing belief that all magic was the work of the Devil. Laws were changing to reflect that - and many a Justice of the Peace would be willing to bend the law to bring a suspected witch to trial.

In the following centuries, this attitude again changed. Joyce Froome states: “Magic was demoted from supernatural evil to fraud, and magicians and cunning folk from servants of the Devil to charlatans. The witch-hunts were deplored, but viewed as grotesque superstition, which conveniently meant that the victims could be blamed along with their persecutors.”

A History of the Pendle Witches and Their Magic tries to redress this balance by showing the importance of cunning folk in communities with a strong history of folk magic and belief in its power.

It also brings to life the characters at the heart of the Pendle witch trials – the accused, the accusers and the agents of the law who were putting together the case against them. It shows conflict of belief, but also personal drama and tragedy.

The wealth of information available makes this possible, but with those involved all dead and buried for centuries this still involves a good amount of guesswork and supposition. Nevertheless, this is an account I want to believe – even if it isn’t the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

And, despite Roger Nowell - or maybe because of him - Pendle’s rich legacy of witchcraft is certainly not over.

A work colleague of mine – a white-haired man close to retirement – noticed my copy of A History of the Pendle Witches and Their Magic: Wicked Enchantmentsin my bag. He asked if it was good, saying he had read lots of books on the subject, but not seen this one.

I told him it was and asked why he was so interested in the Pendle witches.

“I come from Pendle,” he said. “My family has lived there for generations.”

“Are there still any witches in the area?” asked the girl who sits next to me.

“Oh, yes,” he said, with a very knowing smile. “There are lots of witches in Pendle.”

A History of the Pendle Witches and Their Magic: Wicked Enchantments is available through Amazon.

The Magical Times, a magazine on magic, nature, faeries and folklore, is available to order through http://themagicaltimes.com/

Links:
http://www.museumofwitchcraft.com/
http://www.carnegiepublishing.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/02/calls-to-mark-anniversary-of-pendle.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/05/witch-way-now-for-pendle-pub-walk.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/06/pagan-eye-pendle-hill-in-snow.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendle_witches
A History of the Pendle Witches and Their Magic: Wicked Enchantments
Daughters of the Witching Hill
The Pendle Witches
http://themagicaltimes.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/10/review-grimoires-history-of-magic-books.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/03/review-witchcraft-very-short.html

Dispatches: Britain's Witch Children on C4

A documentary on Channel 4 tonight, called Dispatches: Britain's Witch Children is about pastors in the UK branding children as witches or saying they are possessed by evil spirits.

Apparently this is an increasing issue in some African churches, with ministers charging large amounts of money to perform "deliverances". The experience can leave children emotionally and physically scarred.

The programme is on Channel 4 at 8pm this evening.

Pagan events in and near London

For details of future events visit my events page at http://paganevents.blogspot.com/, but here are this week's events of interest to pagans in London and other parts of the UK:

Wednesday 28 July; Talk at The Moot with No Name. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £2.

Thursday, 29 July, Pagan Federation London Druidic Lammas Ritual facilitated by Jeremy Morgan at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL. 7.30pm for 8pm start. Bring food and drink to share. There might be a small entry fee. No photographs allowed. Visit http://www.pflondon.org/index.html

Thursday 29 July; Flowers and Owls: A Night of Story from the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion. Storytelling by Fiona Collins at Treadwell's, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. Entry: £7, booking essential. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm. Call 020 7240 8906 or email info@treadwells-london.com

Friday 30 July; Communication Masterclass with Gerrie Marsh at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 9pm. Cost: £8/£12. Advance booking essential. Tel: 020 - 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Saturday 31 July & Sunday 1 August: Lammas Festival. Folk music, parade with giants, beer tent and stalls selling lovely stuff. Venue: Western Lawns, the Promenade, Eastbourne. E Sussex. For more details call 01323 735364 or visit http://www.lammasfest.org/

Saturday 31 July & Sunday 1 August: Lughnasa at Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton, Hants. For more details, call 02392 598838 or visit http://www.butser.org.uk/

Saturday 31 July; Free & Open Gorsedd Lughnasadh Rite at Avebury Stone Circle, Wiltshire. An open Druidic style rite to celebrate Lughnasadh and the first harvest. Meet at the Red Lion pub around noon for a ceremony about 1.30pm. Offerings of song, poetry, mead, bread and cake welcome.

Sunday, 1 August; Lughnasadh/Lammas Open air ritual in London, starting at 12.45pm at the top of Primrose Hill, in the Hawthorn Grove. For more details, email jtmorganhaberdasher@yahoo.co.uk

Full moon over the sea

Today is Neptunalia, an ancient Roman festival held in honour of God of the Oceans, and tomorrow there is a full moon.

According to the online pagan calendar, the neopagan name for this might be Rose Moon, but seeing as it falls so close to the festival of Neptune, I feel it ought to be called Ocean's Moon.

If you are on holiday in some beautiful seaside paradise, this would be a perfect night for a moonlit walk along the beach, ideally with a loved one. Find some beautiful, remote spot where you can celebrate the Goddess of the Moon and the God of the Seas with a picnic of seafood and Champagne.

If you are stuck in London, like me, perhaps you could just celebrate with a Friday night supper of fish and chips and a bottle of plonk.

[Not really quite the same thing at all, is it?]

Links:
http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/roman-mythology.php?deity=NEPTUNE
http://pagancalendar.co.uk

News: Archaeologists find henge next to Stonehenge

Archaeologists have found the remains of a wooden henge beside the stone circle at Stonehenge, according to a BBC news story.

A circular ditch around a circle of pits, dating back to neolithic times, has been discovered at the famous megalithic site in Wiltshire. No one yet knows exactly why the second henge was built so close to the stones, but a dig at the site will hopefully find out more.

Link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10718522

Lammas events and open rituals

Lammas, or Lughasadh, is the festival of first fruits and is celebrated at the start of August, usually on August 1 or the closest weekend.

Here are some open rituals taking place in the UK to celebrate the start of the harvest:

Thursday, 29 July, Pagan Federation London Druidic Lammas Ritual facilitated by Jeremy Morgan at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL. 7.30pm for 8pm start. Bring food and drink to share. There might be a small entry fee. No photographs allowed. Visit http://www.pflondon.org/index.html

Saturday 31 July & Sunday 1 August: Lammas Festival. Folk music, parade with giants, beer tent and stalls selling lovely stuff. Venue: Western Lawns, the Promenade, Eastbourne, East Sussex. For more details call 01323 735364 or visit http://www.lammasfest.org/

Saturday 31 July & Sunday 1 August: Lughnasa at Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton, Hants. For more details, call 02392 598838 or visit http://www.butser.org.uk/

Saturday 31 July; Free & Open Gorsedd Lughnasadh Rite at Avebury Stone Circle, Wiltshire. An open Druidic style rite to celebrate Lughnasadh and the first harvest. Meet at the Red Lion pub around noon for a ceremony about 1.30pm. Offerings of song, poetry, mead, bread and cake welcome.

Sunday 1 Aug, The Gorsedd of the Bards of Caeir Abiri Lughnasadh Gathering at Avebury, in Wiltshire. Meet at noon by the cafe to take part in God and Goddess walks to the sun circle at the stones. This is an open Gorsedd and all are welcome to bring songs and poetry, as well as contributions of bread and mead. Phone Morgan on 01458 835518 for more details.

Sunday, 1 August Lughnasadh/Lammas Open air ritual in London, starting at 12.45pm at the top of Primrose Hill, in the Hawthorn Grove. For more details, email jtmorganhaberdasher@yahoo.co.uk

Anderida Gorsedd Druid group holds large open rituals at the Long Man of Wilmington, in Sussex (pictured above), usually on the Sunday closest to each of the eight pagan festival of the year. The group's Lughnasadh ritual should take place on Sunday, August 1. To take part, meet from 1.30pm to 2pm near the Long Man of Wilmington car to walk up the to Long Man. Afterwards, those who want to to will retire to the Giants Rest pub for a social drink. For more details, email anderida@BardicArts.com or visit the website http://www.anderidagorsedd.org/Anderida_Gorsedd/Open_Rituals.html

Tuesday 3 August; Leodis Pagan Circle Lammas Open Ritual at a stone circle in Leeds. The full address is Thwaite Mill, Thwaite Lane, Stourton, Leeds, LS10 1RP. The event starts at 7pm and is open to everyone. For more details, visit http://www.leodispagancircle.co.uk/

13th, 14th, 15th August, PF London Lammas Camp at Debden House Campsite in Loughton, Essex - including Morris Dancing workshop by Bacchus Border Morris plus a variety of contributions by those who attend. Cost is £7.50 per person, per night, £3.50 per child aged 4 – 16. For further information or to make bookings, email Mike at: cerndeosil@yahoo.co.uk or visit http://www.pflondon.org/

30 - 31 August, Ould Lammas Fair at Ballycastle at Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. A long way from London, and a month away from Lammas - nevertheless Ould Lammas Fair at Ballycastle claims to be Ireland's oldest festival, dating back to the 17th century. If you are in the area, it is worth a visit. For more details call 028 2076 2024 or visit
http://uk.weather.com/events/events-Ballycastle-UKXX0446?eventId=15796&cat=2229

Previous related posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/07/lammas-legends.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/07/death-of-john-barleycorn.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/07/doing-your-own-thing-for-lammas.html

News: Occultist plans to annoy Pope

Self-styled Witch King Magnus Lynius Shadee aims to open two occult centres in the Midlands before the Pope's visit to the UK this autumn, according to a report by the Sunday Mercury.

Shadee, who also considered standing for Parliament in the General Election, said he wants to open two occult centres - one in Coventry and one in Birmingham. Pope Benedict XVI is set to visit those two locations on September 19 during a planned four-day tour of the UK.

According to the newspaper's website: Shadee, aged 65, said: “I’ve always intended to open an occult centre in the cities and the Pope’s visit simply brought forward the date. The Vatican will probably be none too happy with the idea though."

There has been quite a bit of opposition to the Pope's visit to the UK - mainly because it is estimated it will cost £12 million. Although the Roman Catholic Church is raising more than £7 million of that money, some of it will be paid by UK taxpayers. Plenty of people, myself included, feel that the taxpayers' money could go to better uses.

However, I'm not sure Shadee's plan to open a pair of occult centres is going to make any difference to the Pope's visit, or the amount it will cost taxpayers. Shadee's probably doing it because he loves a bit of attention in the press, in my opinion.

I also don't know if there is any shortage of shops selling occult books or places to hold rituals or talks on occult subjects in Coventry or Birmingham.

If anyone reading my blog knows the area, do leave a message about what magickal facilities it already has and what you think of Shadee's plans.

Links
http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2010/07/19/occult-centre-to-open-when-pope-visits-birmingham-66331-26874597/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/01/in-news-witch-king-aims-for-parliament.html
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6642M420100705

Pagan Eye: Path in a wood

The weather has been blazing hot, so I thought I'd post this picture of a cool woodland path - just the place to be on a summer's day.

I took the picture last year in a wood in south London, showing you can still find places to be at peace with nature even if you live in a busy city.

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 and you must confirm that you are submitting it for A Bad Witch's Blog.

Pagan events in and near London

For details of future events visit my events page at http://paganevents.blogspot.com/, but here are this week's events of interest to pagans in London and other parts of the UK:

Now until 23rd July. The Spirit of Nature. Art exhibition at Littlehampton Museum, Church Street, Littlehampton. West Sussex. BN17 5EW. Entry to the exhibition is free, and any paintings sold will benefit The Goddess Foundation, Sussex International Womens Day Group (formerly Arun IWD), and Worthing Women's Aid. For more details, visit http://www.littlehampton-tc.gov.uk/

Now until Sunday 5 September. Myths and Monsters; exibition at Horniman Museum, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ. Telephone 020 8699 1872 or visit http://www.horniman.ac.uk/. The opening hours are 10.30am – 5.30pm.

Monday 19 July; The Witch Queen of England. Talk by Luthaneal Adams at pagan forum Secret Chiefs. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8.30pm. Admission £2. For more details, visit http://secretchiefslondon.wordpress.com/

Wednesday 21 July; The Virago: from Lilith to Today. Talk by Elisa Gray of the University of Leicester at Treadwell's, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. Entry: £7, booking essential. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm. Call 020 7240 8906 or email info@treadwells-london.com

Wednesday 21 July; Talk at The Moot with No Name. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £2.

Thursday 22 July; Black Monday: William Lilly, Astrology, and the Eclipse of 1652. Talk by Dr Roy Booth, of Royal Holloway, University of London, at Treadwell's, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. Entry: £7, booking essential. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm. Call 020 7240 8906 or email info@treadwells-london.com

Friday 23 July; Tools for Meditation: Part 3 - Mandala. Masterclass with Swami Saradananda at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 9pm. Cost: £10/£15. Advance booking essential. Tel: 020 - 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Friday 23 July; Summer Faerie Ball in Canterbury, Kent. Inkubus Sukkubus to headline the evening's entertainment at Westgate Hall. Ticket Hotline: 07845438340. Buy Online: http://www.blogger.com/www.goddessfestivals.co.uk

Saturday 24 July; Ghost Hunt With London Paranormal at RAF Bentwaters, Bentwater Parks,
Rendleshum, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 2TW. Time: 8pm – 4am. Price: £55 per person. For more information and to book, visit http://www.londonparanormal.com/bentwaters.html

Saturday and Sunday 24 & 25 July, Goddess Festival and Parade at Westgate Hall, Canterbury, Kent. Music, talks and stalls as well as a parade. For more information, visit http://www.goddessfestivals.co.uk/

Saturday 24 July; Woodland Open Day at Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project, near Brighton, in Sussex. Woodland walks, talks on herbalism, demonstrations of how to make things out of natural products & stalls selling vegetarian food. 12 noon - 5pm. For more information, call 079888 37951 or email info@seedybusiness.org

Sunday 25 July, Green Man Walk organised by The Goddess Foundation. This is a family day, meeting at 10.30am for a guided walk in woodland to start around 11am, followed by a picnic at 1pm. There will also be a treasure hunt to find a picture called 'The Greenman behind the Poppies'. Whoever finds it, keeps it. Venue: Whiteways, near Arundel, West Sussex. This is a free event, but bring your own picnic. For more details, visit http://www.goddessfoundation.org.uk/GreenmanWalk.php

Festival of the Tree

If you are in the Cotswolds at the end of August, you might want to take part in The Festival of the Tree.

This festival, at The National Arboretum in Gloucestershire, celebrates the world of trees and all their uses and runs from August 23rd to 30th.

Although it isn't specifically aimed at pagans - it is being promoted as a family event - I am sure any nature worshipper would enjoy it and it should be a great place to find unique wooden items of furniture, jewellery or ornaments.

A Sculptree event is part of the festival. Eleven sculptors from around the UK have been invited to transform large pieces of local wood into artistic creations. The tree sculptures, which will be auctioned off to raise money for Tree Aid when finished, are this year set to include a gorilla, a dragon and a wizard.

Another important part of the festival is Exhibitree - a four-day display of wood-based craftsmanship featuring contributors from all over the country.

This event takes place at Westonbirt 'The National Arboretum', Near Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8QS

Entry to the Festival of the Tree is £8 for adults between August 23rd and 26th, with the price rising to £10 for the final four days of the event. Children can enter for free at all times.

The Westonbirt Arboretum is managed by the Forestry Commission and contains more than 15,500 individual tree specimens.

For more information on this event visit the Forestry Commission website: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/INFD-86YGS6 or the Friends of Westonbirt site: http://www.fowa.org.uk/westonbirt_project

Where Witchcraft Lives book launch

Where Witchcraft Lives is one of the most sought-after and rarest books on Wicca.

Written in 1962 by Doreen Valiente, who created much of the Gardnerian Book of Shadows, the original edition was limited to 1,275 copies because Doreen was a new author. Copies of that first edition hardbackare currently selling for around £750 on Amazonand have reached higher prices on eBay.

Now, the Centre for Pagan Studies has printed a new limited edition of 1,000 hardback copies of the book through publisher Whyte Tracks. This also includes some extra photographs, many as a result of collaboration of Brighton Museum and the Sussex Archaeology Society, and a new front cover design.

The limited edition will be launched at the Day For Gerald Gardner, 12 September 2010, at Conway Hall, in London, which is organised by the Centre for Pagan Studies.

You can order copies of the new edition from the publisher Whyte Tracks via its website at http://www.whytetracks.eu.com/wherewitchcraftlives.html

Links
http://centre-for-pagan-studies.com/?p=2573
http://www.whytetracks.eu.com/wherewitchcraftlives.html
Where Witchcraft Lives
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/09/day-for-doreen-valiente.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/01/tickets-on-sale-for-day-for-gerald.html

The Witch Hunter's Bible on TV

Last night the National Geographic channel showed a programme at 9pm called Witch Hunter's Bible.

The TV documentary was about how the Malleus Maleficarum, a 15th century book about how to catch and kill witches, led to the deaths of many innocent women accused of witchcraft. This era is often called The Burning Times or the Witch Craze.

Sadly, I missed the programme because I don't get the National Geographic channel on my telly.

If you saw it, was it any good? And is it worth looking out for if it arrives on a freeview channel?

Howl at the moon and find your inner wolf

A charity fundraiser is trying to get more than 250 people in one place to howl like a wolf in an attempt to break the record in the Guinness Book of Records.

Event organiser James C Wallace II wants as many people as possible to turn up to Dede Plaza, Indiana, in the USA, on July 26 from 8.30pm to take part in the record-breaking attempt, called Howl Yea! For Child Safety in the Wabash Valley. The event is to promote non-profit organisations for young people in the area.

Now, Wabash Valley in America might be a long way from London, England, where I live - and I won't be flying over there to take part - but reading about this event reminded me just how much humans have been fascinated by wolves for a very long time.

OK, for much of history wolves have been seen as monsters - the villain in fairy tales is so often the Big Bad Wolf - but for most of the 20th century wolves were cool.

Actually, it probably started a bit before that, in 1898, with Ernest Thompson Seton's description of the wolf Lobo in his book Wild Animals I Have Known. Lured by a bounty posted by ranchers in New Mexico, Ernest Seton set out to hunt an "outlaw" in the form of a wolf that was raiding farms. His experience led him to respect wolves as intelligent, compassionate, individualistic beings who were trying to survive in a tough environment.

His short story, Lobo the King of Currumpaw, became a classic and helped change people's attitudes towards wild creatures.

Seton's collection of stories was closely followed by Jack London’s The Call of the Wild,written in 1903, and then White Fangin 1906 - novels about a domesticated dog finding his inner wolf and a wild wolf befriending a human. Both of these books are still widely read today.

The fashion for all things wolfish really took on and, by the end of the 20th century, wolves were everywhere in popular culture, while the real thing sadly declined in the wild.

They continued to inspire books - one of my favourites being Women Who Run with the Wolves: Contacting the Power of the Wild Woman. They starred in movies - from Lon Chaney's 1941 film The Wolf Man (recently remade)to such things as The Company Of Wolvesand Dances With Wolves. Many a pagan wanted Wolf as their spirit guide and, perhaps in a similar vein, wolves adorned many a wallor manly chest.

But it all went a bit too far. From being cool in the nineties, wolves became kitsch in the noughties. Apart from swooning teenage Twilight Sagafans, most people felt that they had been there, done that, worn the T-shirt.

Until, in fact, a T-shirt turned some of the kitschest of wolves into something humorously desirable.

I'm talking, of course, about the Three Wolf Moon T-shirtthat became an internet meme.

The Three Wolf Moon T-shirt (pictured above) gained popularity after getting ironic reviews on Amazon.com. Law student Brian Govern saw the The Three Wolf Moon T-shirt in an Amazon recommendation while searching for text books. He decided to write a mocking review of the shirt, even though he didn't own it, summed up as:

"Pros: Fits my girthy frame, has wolves on it, attracts women. Cons: Only 3 wolves (could probably use a few more on the 'guns'), cannot see wolves when sitting with arms crossed, wolves would have been better if they glowed in the dark."

Since then, more than 1,700 people have posted similar reviews - claiming the T-shirt made them irresistible to the opposite sex, struck fear into their enemies' hearts and had magical healing properties. The Three Wolf Moon T-shirt became an internet phenomenon and a top-selling item of clothing.

Wolves may no longer be Kings of Cool, but in the role of Trickster, they still lead the pack.

It is still OK to have a bit of fun and embrace your inner wolf - and to do that, what could be more appropriate that to get together in a huge pack and howl at the moon on a summer night!

For more information on the Howl Yea! For Child Safety in the Wabash Valley event, including the Guinness Book of World Records Sanctioned Attempt for the Most Number of People Simultaneously Howling at the Full Moon, contact James C Wallace II, event organiser, at howlyea2010@yahoo.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Call_of_the_Wild
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-wolf-that-changed-america/introduction/4260/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Thompson_Seton
Guinness World Records (Guinness Book of Records (Mass Market))
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/01/review-on-monsters-history-of-our-fears.html
Wild Animals I Have Known
The Call of the Wild
White Fang (Puffin Classics)
The Wolf Man (1941) [DVD]
The Wolfman (2010) - Extended Cut [DVD]
The Company Of Wolves [DVD] [1984]
Dances With Wolves [1991] [DVD]
Women Who Run with the Wolves: Contacting the Power of the Wild Woman (Classic Edition)
Grey Wolf - Maxi Poster - 61cm x 91.5cm
Original Three Wolf Moon Adult T-Shirt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Wolf_Moon
http://www.wikihow.com/Howl-Like-a-Wolf
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/03/trickster-magician-and-hard-times.html