News: Woman burned alive for witchcraft

A Ghanaian woman has been burned to death for being a "witch". Five people, including an evangelical pastor, have been arrested for dousing a 72-year-old woman in kerosene and setting her alight, after torturing her to confess she was a witch. She died the next day.

You can read the full story at The Guardian website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/29/ghanaian-woman-burned-death-witch

Starting a new diary for 2011

Yesterday, I put my first few entries into my 2011 diary.

I always think there's something exciting about starting a diary for the coming year. It is an opportunity to quite literally turn over a new leaf; to say goodbye to the old and usher in the new. It is a chance to make plans for a future that is - hopefully - an improvement on the past.

When the days are cold and the nights are long and dark, I can open a page onto the spring or summer to come and look forward to holidays, birthdays and good times ahead (neatly ignoring the fact that the diary will also get filled up with less pleasant stuff like dentist appointments and work appraisals).

Making a start on my latest diary, however, seemed a little bit more exciting than usual because it is rather different from the one I normally use.

For the past umpteen years, I have simply ordered diary refillsfor the mini Filofaxthat I bought back in the 1980s, when they were fashionable, and never got out of the habit of using.

Then, this autumn, I was given a copy of the Astro Diary 2011by Astrocal to review for pagan publication The Magical Times. If ever I had been sent a big hint that I needed to stop being a refugee from the 1980s and start using a diary more suitable for 21st century witch, this was it.

Hopefully, it will also encourage me to get more into astrology - something I have long meant to do.

As well as being a nice week-at-a-glance diary, the Astro Diary 2011 gives details of daily planetary movements and moon phases. It also has explanations of astrological terms and their meanings, combined with a forecast for the year ahead by astrology teacher Tchenka Jane Sunderland.

The introduction includes a feature on gardening according to the phases of the moon and an article about pagan fire festivals and the changing seasons - and it has nice black-and-white artwork as well.

Here's hoping the year to come will be as good as the diary I'll be writing my dates in!

Links
Astrology Diary 2011 (Astrology Diary)
Filofax Finsbury Black Luxury Leather Mini 2011 Organiser
Filofax Diary Refill 2011 Mini Week Per Page
http://www.astrocal.co.uk/
http://themagicaltimes.com/

Pagan events in and near London

Here are highlights of this week's pagan events in and near London. To find out about future events, click on the events link at the top of the page.

Tuesday 30 November; Quantum Field Healing. Talk by David Hamilton at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £5/£8. Advance booking essential. Tel: 020 - 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Wednesday 1 December; Crowleymass at The Moot with No Name. Venue: Devereux public house (pictured), 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £5/£3.

Thursday 2nd December; Free Crossbones Night. An evening of short films, live performance, info and open floor on the history and future of the Crossbones burial ground, including a performance by John Constable aka John Crow of the Southwark Mysteries. Event starts at 7.30pm at ShortWave Cinema, 10 Bermondsey Square, London SE1 3UN. Tel: 0207 357 6845.

Thursday 2 December; Building Peace Circles. Talk by Giles Bryant at Sacred Space, Rudolph Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, London NW1. 7.30pm start. Nearest tube Baker St. Email marionbriggs148@btinternet.com for more details.

Friday 3 December; Student Demonstration of Trance with college tutor Elizabeth Roberts at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £5/£8. Advance booking essential. Tel: 020 - 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Sunday 5 December; Petersfield Angel Festival. Stalls, readings, guided meditations and more at Festival Hall, Petersfield, GU31 4DZ. From noon to 6pm. Cost £3 for adults, £1.50 for children and OAPs. For more details, call Jill on 01730 268220 or email jill@paff.biz

Please note: I try to keep my events page accurate, but if you do spot any errors, please let me know by leaving a comment. If you know of any other events you would like mentioned, please email badwitch1234@gmail.com

Pagan Eye: City Blackbird

On the way in to work one day last week I heard a tremendous amount of bird song coming from a straggly hedge next to the pavement. I had to stop to have a look and I saw that the hedge was full of blackbirds making a feast of the red berries that were there.

Luckily, I had my camera with me and took a photo. Unfortunately, I had it set on "always use flash", so my one attempt at a picture (above) scared the birds away with the sudden bright light. Oops. Sorry birds.

Perhaps if I hadn't been so hasty to grab a shot I would have got a picture that was slightly more focused on the bird in the frame and maybe had more of them in it!

However, seeing the blackbirds did remind me of a book that has been sitting on my to-read pile since the summer - Singing with Blackbirds: The Survival of Primal Celtic Shamanism in Later Folk-Traditions,by Stuart A Harris-Logan. I picked it up secondhand, started reading it, then got distracted by something else. Time to return to it, I think. Thanks for the reminder, blackbirds.

On each Pagan Eye post, I show a photo that I find interesting, with a few words about it. I'm not quite sure what I'll be including - it could be a seasonal image, a pagan site, an event, or just a pretty picture.

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.

Some of my previous Pagan Eye posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/09/pagan-eye-autumn-berries.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/08/pagan-eye-beautiful-moon-iii_24.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/pagan-eye-leaves-red-as-blood.html
Singing with Blackbirds: The Survival of Primal Celtic Shamanism in Later Folk-Traditions

Review: Journey to the Sacred Mountains

Are you ready to go on your own Vision Quest?

That question starts the description of the book Journey To The Sacred Mountains: Awakening Your Soul in Natureon the website of its publisher, Findhorn Press.

The description goes on to say: "Journey out into the Wilderness to get back in touch with your own soul, as [author] Flynn Johnson guides you through your own Vision Quest using Native American folktales and traditions. Along the way, you will reconnect with Mother Nature, our original home, and learn a sacred, sustainable way of living on the earth."

Now, I love folktales and am a firm believer in the power of myth and story as a guide on spiritual journeys, so I asked Findhorn Press to send me a copy of the book to review. And I very much enjoyed reading it.

In Journey to the Sacred Mountains, Flynn weaves together three wisdoms – Native American spirituality, depth psychology and Buddhism – to help explain how the human soul can be awakened through nature.

He does this by exploring a traditional Native American tale, The Story of Jumping Mouse. This is the tale of a little mouse who catches a glimpse of The Sacred Mountain and decides he must quest to find it.

On the way he meets various animal guides, some who help him and some who try to dissuade him from continuing. Each offers some sort of test or challenge that the mouse must overcome. In the end he finds that to truly reach his goal he must descend into his own personal darkness and then make a leap of faith.

The book analysis the story and takes readers on a personal journey of understanding as it does so. It explains what each animal represents and how we can interpret the tests Jumping Mouse faces in terms of challenges we might face in our own spiritual lives - such as scepticism from friends and family, the lure of comfort over the hardships of the quest and, perhaps most importantly, fear and anger that blind us and hold us back.

It is a story that people from many spiritual paths will be able to recognise and identify with. As a Wiccan, I feel it describes symbolically what can happen in rituals of initiation.

Flynn says that this is a story he tells people who are about to embark on a Native American-style vision quest. This vision quest involves the individual fasting alone for four days and nights in the wilderness, with only a tarpaulin for shelter. During this time they will not only learn about themselves, but also connect with nature on a personal level.

The press release that came with the book said:

"In today’s materialistic world, many people are experiencing a great spiritual hunger and searching outside traditional religious frameworks for a connection with the sacred. Journey to the Sacred Mountains is not wedded to any particular tradition, yet seeks to explore the core central to any spiritual quest - the direct, unmediated experience of the sacred. This beautiful book offers a powerful way to re-establish an intimate connection with nature and through that connection a way to draw closer to your true nature and the sacred."

I would recommend Journey to the Sacred Mountains to anyone who is on a spiritual path or undergoing a major life transition such as divorce, the death of a loved one, a career change or mid-life turmoil. It would also be ideal to give to a teenager who is searching for meaning in their life.

The book is also a lovely introduction to Native American spirituality. As well as retelling some beautiful Native American folktales it explains the concept of The Medicine Wheel - a way of perceiving the universe and the place of humans within it.

Journey To The Sacred Mountains: Awakening Your Soul in Natureis published by Findhorn Press and is available through Amazon.

The author, Flynn Johnson has led hundreds of people on Wilderness Vision Quests and other nature-based programmes in Vermont and New Mexico and is the founding director of The School of Natural Wonder. www.schoolofnaturalwonder.org/

Links
http://www.findhornpress.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/09/initiation-just-bit-of-game.html
Journey To The Sacred Mountains: Awakening Your Soul in Nature
www.schoolofnaturalwonder.org/

Choosing pagan Yule cards

It's that time of year again when I start looking for cards to give my friends and family in the festive season. And, as a pagan, I find it difficult to find suitable cards.

There are always so many lovely cards that say Happy Christmas, but witches don't call our midwinter celebration "Christmas". We honour Yule, the Winter Solstice, the rebirth of the Sun or perhaps the feast of Frau Holle, rather than the Christian religious festival to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Whether I am giving cards to pagans, Christians or atheists, I prefer to simply wish my friends Season's Greetings or be able to write my own message in a space that has been left blank for that purpose.

I usually prefer to buy cards that are sold in aid of charity, as I like to think my money is going to a worthwhile cause. This year The Multiple Sclerosis Trust has a large range of cards that just say "Season's Greetings". This includes traditional images of snowy landscapes, such as the picture on the left of a winter stream, and some more unusual pictures that are well worth having a look at.

A set of 10 cards with the Winter Stream image are priced at £3.75. You can buy them via the MS Trust website at http://www.mstrust.org.uk/shop/christmas/

The Red Cross also has a wide range of cards with a message inside saying "Season's Greetings" - some are even bilingual in Welsh and English. The picture at the top of this page shows highland deer and comes on a pack of 10 cards from The Red Cross that costs £3.50.

They are made from sustainable materials and printed in the UK. All of the profits from the sale of these charity Christmas cards support the charity's work helping people in crisis in the UK and overseas. You can see the entire range of Red Cross seasonal cards on its website at http://shop.redcross.org.uk/shop/subsection.asp?id=85795

The V&A museum, in London, has a really good range of cards with images and messages likely to appeal to pagans. The image top right is one example, showing the stage backcloth for the final scene of the ballet The Firebird, designed by Natalia Goncharova (1881–1962). The Firebird is a Slavic folk tale about a magical bird from a far-off land, which can bring either blessings or doom to those who try to capture it.

A pack of 10 cards cost £5 and are available from the V&A online shop at http://www.vandashop.com/ Every purchase helps support the museum.

If you are looking for a single card to give someone special, then the one on the right called Welcoming Yule could fit the bill. It shows a man and woman in medieval dress welcoming the dawn in a snow-covered landscape and is reproduced on a seasonal card from an original painting by English visionary artist Briar.

They might not be sold in aid of charity, but this Cool Yule basset hound and border terrier card packmade me smile. I'm not sure what they say inside, however, as it wasn't mentioned on the website.

The cards are from Animal Fanatics. A pack of 10 normally costs £3.99 but they are on sale at Amazonat the moment for just £1.49 - a very cool price as well as a cool picture!

Links
Cool Yule Basset Hound & Border Terrier Luxury Christmas Cards Pack
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/12/who-killed-cock-robin.html
http://www.mstrust.org.uk/shop/christmas/
http://shop.redcross.org.uk/shop/subsection.asp?id=85795
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2007/12/things-to-celebrate-on-december-25-if.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/12/frau-holle-goddess-of-week.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/12/what-to-do-at-yule-if-youre-pagan.html

Pagan mothers and Barefoot Books

I recently got an email from a pagan mother living in south east England.

Antares, who is a witch trying to raise a family in a way that is consistent with her spirituality and beliefs, wrote about some of the problems she had faced.

She said: "I wonder if I could trouble you to help me start a debate about if we want to recognised as a religion, we must remember that not all witches are able to base their faith around drinking sessions at the pub, that motherhood is hard enough without feeling isolated from people of your own religion because you have children, that there are not enough resources out there to advise people on pagan parenthood, and a lack of events that are inclusive of family."

I sympathise. Although I don't have children to look after, I do care for my elderly, frail mother. This often means I can't get to pagan events without arranging for careworkers to look after her while I am away - which is expensive and requires plenty of forward planning.

Antares also said in her email that she had experienced trouble finding pagan-themed books suitable for children - but this was one problem she had managed to solve.

She said: "One of the issues I had was trying to find books for my children regarding regarding alternative lifestyles and so I found - and then joined - a children's book publishing company called Barefoot Books. I will be honest I run it as a business and try to earn a living from it, but much more than that I believe in the philosophy of Barefoot, they are ethical, multicultural, promote global community, have children's books on vegetarianism, the Goddess etc , but they do embrace all faiths as well as pagan."

Antares asked me if I would review one of the books on A Bad Witch's Blog. However, as I am not a mother - and also have a growing pile of other books to review on my blog already - I wasn't really sure I was the right person to do this. Nevertheless, having had a look at the Barefoot Books website and feeling the ethical company was definitely worth giving a plug to on my blog, I thought the best thing to do was to ask Antares to send me some more details.

Very promptly, I was sent the Barefoot Books mission statement. Here it is:

"Explore. Imagine. Create. Connect. Give Back. That’s what Barefoot Books is all about. It’s exploring other cultures, our planet, ourselves. It’s making time for make-believe and letting imaginations run wild and free. Most of all, it’s about using the power of stories to nourish the creative spark in everyone and strengthen connections with family, the global community, and the earth.

"Barefoot Books began with two mothers who wanted their children to have books that would feed the imagination, while instilling a respect for diversity and a love of the planet. Today, we are a world-wide community of writers, artists, storytellers, musicians, and others who are committed to providing timeless stories and captivating art that can help children become happy, engaged members of a global society."

Antares also sent me a short review, written by pagan mum Heather, of a Barefoot book called Winter King Summer Queen.

Heather said: "Winter King Summer Queen was a beautiful book from start to finish; my son - who is four - loved the way it explained why we have the seasons and why it can't be summer all the time. The illustrations are gorgeous and as a pagan I love that finally there are books out there that convey these ideas so well. The God and Goddess flow throughout the book and it is a delightful story that I will be reading many times with my son."

The author of Winter King Summer Queen is Mary Lister and it is illustrated by Dianna Mayo. The book is suitable for children aged four to nine and the paperback costs £5.99. You can find out more or order copies through the Barefoot Books website at http://www.barefootbooks.com/marketplace/15953

I do feel Antares has raised some important questions about how the pagan community can help those others who share the same spiritual path but feel isolated because of the constraints of being a mother or a carer. It would be good to hear from others in similar situations, so please do leave a comment below.

The pictures show Barefoot Book cover images

Rollright Stones 2011 calendar is out

The Rollright Stones is one of England's most beautiful ancient sites. Standing on the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire border, it consists of three groups of megaliths - The Kings Men stone circle, the King Stone and the Whispering Knights.

The stones are managed by The Rollright Trust, which conserves them and also enables pagan groups to use them to celebrate the seasons and hold other rituals there.

The trust always needs money to help it in its aims, and one of the best ways to help is to buy the Rollright Stones 2011 Calendar, which has just gone on sale.

The calendar is ideal to give as a Yule gift, or you could just buy one for yourself. All the money raised goes towards upkeep of the site.

You can order the calendars from the The Rollright Trust website using paypal or send a cheque in the post.

For more details about the right Stones 2011 Calendar and how to order them, visit http://www.rollrightstones.co.uk/index.php/shop/

Pagan events in and near London

Here are highlights of this week's pagan events in and near London. To find out about future events, click on the events link at the top of the page.

Monday 22 November; Frau Holle – Only A Winter Goddess? And Who Is Father Christmas, Anyway? Talk by Hildegard Maier 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. http://secretchiefslondon.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, 23 November; The Belinus Line: Britain's Longest Ley. Talk by Gary Biltcliffe at London Earth Mysteries Circle. Venue: The Theosophical Society 50 Gloucester Place W1U 8EA. Time 7.15pm.

Tuesday, 23 November; Life Alignment: Discover Your Souls True Purpose. Masterclass by Jeff Levin, DNM (Doctor of Naturopathy) 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

Tuesday 23 November; Cross Bones Vigil and Ceremony to honour The Goose and the outcast dead of Cross Bones Graveyard. Gather from 6.45pm in Redcross Way outside the Memorial Gates, SE1, opposite the Boot and Flogger, just north of the junction with Union Street. Nearest tubes Borough or London Bridge, 5 minutes walk away. The event is free and starts at 7pm. http://www.crossbones.org.uk/

Wednesday 24 November; The Pendle Witches. Talk by Joyce Froome, author of A History of the Pendle Witches and Their Magic: Wicked Enchantments; Kerriann Godwin 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 £5/£3.

Thursday 25 November; The Love of the Magus: Austin Osman Spare. Talk by Phil Baker at Treadwell's, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London. Time: 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets £7, advance booking essential. Email info@treadwells-london.com or call 020 7240 8906. Website: http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Thursday 25 November; Evening Course: Introduction to Wicca & Witchcraft (part of an ongoing evening class series). Topics covered are the Horned God and Moon Goddess; Ritual Magic and Spellcraft. Venue: Atlantis Bookshop, 49A Museum Street, Holborn London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 7pm-9.30pm. Course register £5. Fee per session: £10. For more details and to reserve places contact Mani and April via e-mail at info@craftandmagic.org Tel: 07854-385214. Web: http://www.craftandmagic.org/

Friday 26 November: The Wonders of Yew. Talk by Fred Hageneder at Research into Lost Knowledge Organisation (Rilko). Venue: Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, W1U 8EA. Admission £7 non-members, £5 members. Time: AGM at 6.30, lecture at 7.15pm.

Sunday 28 November; One-day Self Hypnosis Workshop. This workshop is intended for those with some experience of self hypnosis, as a refresher on deepening techniques. It will run from 9.30am to 10pm in Kentish Town, London NW5. Cost: £50. To secure a place, send a £10 deposit with your contact details to B Minall-Jones, 227 Long Riding, Basildon, Essex SS14 1QT. For more details, call 01268 525710 or email barbiminalljones@yahoo.co.uk

Please note: I try to keep my events page accurate, but if you do spot any errors, please let me know by leaving a comment. If you know of any other events you would like mentioned, please email badwitch1234@gmail.com

News: Daily Mail writes nice things about pagans

It is possible that the pagan protests against features in the Daily Mail have had a good result.

After several pieces criticising pagans, witches and druids, the Daily Mail has finally published a positive view of modern witchcraft, in the form of an interview with witch and druidess Cassandra Eason. You can read it here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1330636/Forget-stirring-cauldrons-pointy-hats--really-like-white-witch.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Links
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/pagans-to-protest-at-daily-mail-offices.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1328968/Pagans-march--harmless-eccentrics-dangerous-cult.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328080/Schools-ahead-teach-Paganism-alongside-major-religions.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1330636/Forget-stirring-cauldrons-pointy-hats--really-like-white-witch.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

A full moon and good fortune

There is a full moon this weekend - and a chance to celebrate it at the Full Moon Ceremony of Fortunes in a beautiful outdoor setting near Croydon, south east England.

Hern's Tribe: Albion Mysteries is running this open ritual on Saturday 20 November. If you want to take part, meet at 4pm at the Lloyd Park tram stop, which is three stops by tram from East Croydon train station.

Organiser Mani said this is a very special magical working, in tune with the land, the Gods, the elements and the planets.

He said: "Jupiter and Venus - both beneficial planets - go direct this weekend, when a full moon occurs in the sensual and luxury-related sign of Taurus. It is a magical opportunity not to be missed, if you are hoping for love, luck and good fortunes!

"For this magical working, we will be creating a spiral sacred space with 13 human qualities, six archetypal figures of Albion, five totems of the animal kingdoms, four energies of the elements, and evoke the deities Cernnunos and Gaia in the central flame. If you wish to join and participate, bring three personal wishes to ask of Jupiter (Zeus), Venus (Aphrodite) and the Moon (Selene)."

If you want to take part, you must arrive by 4pm, as the ritual will start on time before it gets dark and cold. Bring a bottle of wine or non-alcoholic drink and an item of food to share. Some simple warm food will be provided. Wear warm/waterproof clothing and outdoor footwear.

The ritual will end at around 8pm and the ceremony will go ahead regardless of weather conditions. For more information, contact Mani via e-mail on info@craftandmagic.org Web: www.craftandmagic.org

The moon is at its fullest at 5.27pm London time on Sunday November 21, but most pagans are happy to celebrate the full moon during the three days around that time.

The picture of the full moon was taken by Anne Reckless

Links
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/11/full-moon-for-mourning.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2007/11/mourning-moon.html

Getting robed

I've decided that one of the things I really want for Yule is a new robe. Not some boring blanket poncho to wear in rituals when it is too cold to go skyclad - I want a robe that is really gorgeous. I want to turn up at rituals and have people ask: "Where did you get that lovely robe?"

Is that a bit vain? Well, maybe, just a little. But every witch likes nice things once in a while.

Now, you might look at the profile picture of me on A Bad Witch's Blog (also shown right) and see that I am wearing what looks like a perfectly adequate black robe. Except that it isn't actually a robe; it is a fancy dress costume.

I didn't even pay any money for it. I picked it up on Freecycle to wear to a themed party and it was originally made by a fancy dress company called Smiffy's. Smiffy's still sells something similar, only in white.

Although I do wear it to rituals - and I've worn it to a great many rituals - every time I put it on I feel embarrassed. I can't help thinking that if I'm wearing a fancy dress costume, perhaps people will think I'm a really just a fake witch.

And, with Yule approaching, I think it is time for something new to wear.

The problem is, where to get what I want. I had a look at the stalls at Witchfest, but I guess by the time I got there all the robes had been sold. There were plenty of beautiful gothy dresses on sale - particularly on the stand run by Wytch Haze - and some very nice cloaks, but no robes that I could find.

So, I thought it might be a good idea to ask if anyone reading this knows of a good place to buy gorgeous robes?

I'm perfectly happy to buy one over the internet from a reputable shop - so if anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

When I get my new robe, I will definitely post some pictures of it on my blog!

The photo of me was taken by Dominick Tyler. You can see more of his work on http://www.dominicktyler.com/

Links
Medieval Maid Costume
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2007/11/yule-presents.html
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Wytch-Haze-Medieval-Designs
http://www.uk.freecycle.org/
http://www.ehow.com/how_5538163_sew-poncho-pattern.html

Fantasy films and real life magic

With the latest Harry Potter movie - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - being released in this country this week, I'm expecting a bit of a surge in people visiting A Bad Witch's Blog.

I normally get a few more readers than usual at around the time movies featuring witches, wizards and magic reach the cinemas, and any new Harry Potter film is likely to be a bigger blockbuster than most.

Over the years I have faced a few critics of modern witchcraft who say that people are only drawn to such pagan paths because they are mixing up fantasy and reality. And some people - particularly kids - might just do that.

In an interview with Newsweek's Malcolm Jones, Harry Potter author author J.K. Rowling said: "I get letters from children addressed to Professor Dumbledore [Hogwarts' headmaster], and it’s not a joke, begging to be let into Hogwarts, and some of them are really sad. Because they want it to be true so badly they’ve convinced themselves it’s true."

But, let's face it, kids develop huge fads about all sorts of things. When I was a kid I dreamt of being an astronaut who explored far-off worlds - and that was mostly due to watching Star Trek and the Apollo missions on telly. While America had really sent men to the moon, realistically I never had a chance of getting there myself - let alone a chance of boldly going where no man - or woman - had gone before.

Although kids born today have a far better chance of travelling into space than I had, yearning to be a witch when they grow up is still a more realisable dream. The emphasis, of course, should be on "when they grow up". No reputable coven - or any other group of witches or pagans - would train a child as a witch. Most have a strict over-18 policy.

Of course families are allowed to bring children along to open rituals to celebrate the seasons. There are many family-friendly pagan festivals that take place around the country throughout the year. There are also some very good books around for teenage wannabe witches, my personal recommendation would be Kate West's The Real Witches' Handbook: A Complete Introduction to the Craft.A good book for teenage boys who are interested in paganism is The Way of the Horned God: A Young Man's Guide to Modern Paganism,by Dancing Rabbit.

But children who dream of casting spells like Harry Potter and flying on a broomstick will soon realise that there is a huge difference between the worlds in fantasy books and the real world. Real witchcraft is rarely about high drama and spectacular spellcasting - it is more about quietly honouring nature and maybe doing a little gentle healing magic.

Most will discover that real-world witchcraft is not for them. A few, however, when they are old enough, will find paganism to be a spiritual path that enriches their life in a way that is completely different from anything in fantasy books and movies.

The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I Poster,Kate West's The Real Witches' Handbook: A Complete Introduction to the Craftand Dancing Rabbit's The Way of the Horned God: A Young Man's Guide to Modern Paganismare available through Amazon.

You can read about Wicca and witchcraft - finding out the basics here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/01/wicca-witchcraft-finding-out-basics.html
My review of The Way of the Horned God is here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/02/review-way-of-horned-god.html

Links
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0926084/
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I Poster Movie B 11 x 17 In - 28cm x 44cm Emma Watson Daniel Radcliffe Ralph Fiennes Helena Bonham Carter Tom Felton Alan Rickman
http://www.crossroad.to/text/articles/Harry&Witchcraft.htm
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/01/wicca-witchcraft-finding-out-basics.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/02/review-way-of-horned-god.html

Accidents and exorcisms

When I woke up yesterday morning, I didn't think I'd be washing blood out of my carpet and exorcising my house before it was even noon.

But I must admit that I had been wondering if, perhaps, my house was haunted by something that liked to cause trouble because so many things have gone wrong over the past couple of years .

I haven't written much about my problems on my blog because I don't think many people would be interested in reading about things like dodgy plumbing, electrical faults and minor accidents - problems that on their own would be nothing unusual. It is just that they seem to be happening on a regular basis.

I have blogged about a few of the bigger emergencies I have faced, such as a plague of slugs, my mum breaking her wrist and a rush to hospital late at night in the middle of a terrible storm.

One of the recent problems has been a plague of wasps in my house. There have been dozens of them in the bathroom every day and more in the kitchen, bedrooms and everywhere else.

Because I care for my elderly mum who has a heart condition, I decided to call someone in to get rid of the wasps. He arrived, climbed up into my loft and sprayed something over the wasp nest. He said that should do the trick.

I must admit I don't usually approve of using pesticides, but I really didn't want my mum to be hurt and a wasp sting could be very dangerous for her.

Unfortunately, that didn't get rid of the wasps. A couple of weeks later there were still dozens of very alive wasps buzzing around my rooms every day.

So, I called the man back. When he was climbing up into the loft, the ladder collapsed. He fell to the ground; the ladder fell on top of him; and there was blood everywhere.

After I had made sure he got to A&E safely, I decided I needed to get to the root of the problem.

If, perhaps, all these accidents, illnesses and plagues of pests weren't entirely a natural coincidence, then I could do something about it. My more sceptical friends may think I am imagining things, but I do believe that ghosts, malignant spirits and mischievous entities can cause problems for the living. The way to solve such problems is to exorcise them.

It isn't the first time I have done an exorcism. Back when I was at university I helped a friend by banishing something unpleasant from her college room.

But, on the other hand, I'm hardly a seasoned exorcist. This was only the second time I had tried it.

Nevertheless, I felt a lot more confident than the first time round. After all, I've got a lot more knowledge than I had back then and I can now think of several ways to do an exorcism or to cleanse a house. For example, I could sprinkle salt water around the place, I could use a smudge stick or I could perform a ceremonial banishing ritual. What I decided to do was use a bell.

My reason for this was that, many years ago, a witch I respect a lot had told me she had sensed some unwanted spirits in her house. She had got rid of them by going from room to room and ringing a bell three times in each. If the bell didn't ring a completely clear note on the third ring, she repeated it. It seemed simple enough, so I gave it a go.

I didn't just ring the bell though. I felt I wanted to say some words too: "Be gone from my house malignant spirits and creatures of mischief. Be gone!" That sounded appropriate, I thought.

I took a few deep breaths before starting, then went around to each room in turn saying the words with as much intent as I could muster and ringing the bell - and I did feel the atmosphere clearing as I did it.

Hopefully, it will do the trick. I certainly don't want to have to scrub any more blood out of my carpets or rush anyone else to A&E.

Links:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/09/ghost-not-to-be-sniffed-at.html
Smudge Stick Variety Pack 5
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/08/invasion-of-giant-slugs.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/05/day-in-with-my-mum.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/11/friday-13-unlucky-for-some.html

Pagan events in and near London

Here are highlights of this week's pagan events in and near London. To find out about future events, click on the events link at the top of the page.

Monday 15 November; Croydon Crows. PF moot held every 3rd Monday of each month at the Skylark pub, South End, South Croydon from 8pm onwards.

Tuesday 16 November; How Cancer Healed my life. Talk by Annick Solange Augier at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £5/£8. Advance booking essential. Tel: 020 - 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Wednesday 17 November; Multidimensional Astrology. Talk by Paolo Cortucci 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 £5/£3.

Thursday 18 November; Women of the Golden Dawn. Talk by Geraldine Beskin at The Last Tuesday Society in association with Hendrick’s Gin. The event starts at 7pm on the dot at Viktor Wynd's Little Shop of Horrors, 11 Mare Street, London E8. Tickets £6 or £4 with adequate proof of extreme poverty. For more details and to book tickets visit the website http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/

Thursday 18 November; Marco Pognaknic's London Geopuncture Project. Talk by Marion Briggs at Sacred Space, Rudolph Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, London NW1. 7.30pm start. Nearest tube Baker St. Email marionbriggs148@btinternet.com for more details.

Thursday 18 November; The Druid Order Public Evening - Talk and Meditation at Treadwell's, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London. All welcome. Time: 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. Price: £5, payable on the night. For more details, call the order on 020 8659 4879.

November 20-21; Adventures in Shamanism 2: Deepening the Connection. Weekend workshop by Shaman UK at The Open Centre (pictured above right), 188 Old St, London, EC1V 9FR. Time: 10.30am – 5.30pm each day. Cost: £160. For further information and to book places visit www.shaman.uk.com, email info@shaman.uk.net or call 07847 894453.

Please note: I try to keep my events page accurate, but if you do spot any errors, please let me know by leaving a comment. If you know of any other events you would like mentioned, please email badwitch1234@gmail.com

God of the Week: Ogma

Following on from yesterday's post about Ogham, the early Irish tree alphabet, I have chosen Ogma as the Bad Witch's God of the Week - the deity said to have taught Ogham to humans. Ogma is also the Celtic God of Eloquence.

Mythology website Godchecker.com states:

"His name seems to be short for Ogmious, who invented a sort of Celtic shorthand called the Ogham Runes. These are mostly symbols for various trees, and apart from engravings on funeral stones and the like, remain somewhat mysterious.

"It seems the Ogham Runes were used by druidic types for divination and possibly solving early cross-word puzzles. So no-one in this day-and-age knows quite what he was trying to say. Probably blarney.

"His ears are chained to his tongue, which seems rather masochistic, but we are told it is to signify in some bizarre way that he is the God of Eloquence. Or maybe he is just tongue-tied. Or likes talking to himself.

"We consider that nowadays he must also be the God of Cell Phones and Blogging. He ought to be the mascot of all self-respecting Tweeters and Facebookers. Especially the Celtic ones."

How useful to have learnt the name of the God of Blogging. I think I might ask Ogma for help next time I'm stuck for words when writing A Bad Witch's Blog - if you see a post that's all in a strange shorthand of little lines, you'll know how the help arrived!

The photo shows my set of Ogham sticks

Links
http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/celtic-mythology.php?deity=OGMA

Damh the Bard on Ogham at Witchfest

Just over a year ago I won a set of Ogham staves at Pagan Federation London's Gaia-Sol convention. These were a set of wooden sticks carved with Ogham symbols in a hand-dyed blue bag (pictured above). 

 They were beautiful and fascinating, but also a little puzzling to me because I didn't know much about Ogham and the set didn't come with any instructions. A little web searching taught me that Ogham was an early Irish alphabet and that each symbol was associated with a tree. Shortly after my win, I was also lucky enough to be sent a book to review called The Signs and Symbols Bible. This included a list of the Ogham symbols and gave their very basic meanings - which was some help, but hardly sufficient to learn how to use them. So, the Ogham got put in a drawer with various other divination sets and magical equipment that doesn't often get used. It stayed there until last weekend. 

 The reason for my recent renewed interest in the Ogham was a wonderful talk called Ogham and Druidic Tree Magic by druid, musician and songwriter Damh the Bard at Witchfest International 2010. Unfortunately, the first thing Damh the Bard said was that using a set of Ogham made by someone else wasn't the right way to go about things - to really understand druidic tree lore you needed to get outside, find each appropriate tree, study it - maybe hug it a bit, after you've got to know it - and collect your own set of twigs to carve the correct symbols on. Oh well, I know I'm a Bad Witch. I'd love to go tree hugging one day - maybe when spring returns - but on these cold autumn days I think I'll start learning about the Ogham with the set I won. Maybe I'm kidding myself, but winning a set sort of makes it feel a bit more special than just ordering one on the internetalthough I admit I'd probably do that if I hadn't won one. 

 Damh the Bard explained that each tree's meaning is associated with its role in the forest and significance to man. For example, birch is the tree of new beginnings because it tends to be the first type of tree that grows in woodland, and rowan berries have a five-pointed star at the bottom - a pentagram - so the rowan represents magical protection. There were 20 original Ogham, with five more added at a later date. The character representing each tree is a series of short lines running across a central downward line. These are very easy to carve on wood or stone - stones being the main things that surviving examples of historic Ogham are found on. To help us remember each meaning, Damh the Bard handed out copies of the lyrics to one of his songs, written as a mnemonic for learning the Ogham. I hope he won't mind me reproducing it here:

The Ogham I am the birch of the New Beginnings, The Rowan Star with Magic guarding, Alder’s sight the future showing, Sweet Willow sees her Moon arising, Ash the Three Worlds he is touching, Hawthorn tells us May is coming, Mighty Oak with Strength is standing, The Holly on his Chariot riding, Wise Hazel watches the Salmon feeding, The Faerie Appleseed is falling, The Vine is ripe, intoxicating, I am the Ivy, heed my warning, Yellow Broom I offer healing, Blackthorn sharp for death preparing, The Elder is a life of learning, Fir the distant future showing, I am the Gorse I am destroying, Heather from death recreating, Hear the Aspen’s leaves a-whispering, that Yew is death and life returning.

Ogham staves can be used for divination - the easiest way to do this is to draw three sticks from bag at random, to represent the past, present and future. I had a go at this after I got home from Witchfest. My reading was: past - elder, a life of learning (OK, I thought); present - vine, intoxicating (fair cop, I had spent some time in the Witchfest bar); future - alder, the future showing (yes, I do think my future involves a bit more use of my Ogham staves). Good reading. Damh the Bard's inspiring talk has certainly rekindled my interest in druid tree magic. 

Maybe I will get out and find each of those trees. If I do, after I've hugged it I will certainly write about it on A Bad Witch's Blog. The picture top right shows The Green and Burning Tree: Damh the Bard Song Book Bk. 1, which is available through Amazon along with his albums. You can find out more the bard and his music on http://www.paganmusic.co.uk/ 

Links 

http://www.paganmusic.co.uk/ 

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/07/review-signs-and-symbols-bible.html 

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/11/witchfest-2010-paganism-on-show.html  

Pagan Eye: Sunset over the Nile

With a wonderful exhibition called Journey Through the Afterlife: Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead just having begun at the British Museum, I thought I'd choose an image of Egypt for my Pagan Eye post this week.

Here is a picture of sunset over the Nile, which I took while I was on holiday in Egypt several years ago. The photo was taken from a boat on the Nile. I think the silhouetted buildings you can see on the river bank are in Cairo, but I might be misremembering. If you recognise the view, do leave a comment.

On each Pagan Eye post, I show a photo that I find interesting, with a few words about it. I'm not quite sure what I'll be including - it could be a seasonal image, a pagan site, an event, or just a pretty picture.

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.

Links:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/egyptian-journey-through-afterlife.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/10/anubis-god-of-week.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/02/pagan-eye-sphinx.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/goddess-of-week-selket.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/08/pagan-eye-beautiful-moon-iii_24.html