Pagan events for the week before Imbolc

In just over a week's time, on February 2, it is the spring festival of Imbolc and there are open rituals, workshops and a pilgrimage taking place in the lead-up to it.

Here are highlights of this week's pagan events in and near London, including several Imbolc celebrations as well as talks on a variety of other subjects. To find out about events taking place after that, click on the events link at the top of the page.
Tuesday 25 January; Conserved Corpses from Egypt to Evita. Talk by Rob Stephenson at London Earth Mysteries Circle. Admission is £4.50, concessions £4, members £3, concessions are £4. Talks are usually held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7.15PM at First Floor, 50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA.
Wednesday 26 January; weekly Wednesday 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 £5/£3.
Wednesday 26 January; Gnostic Legacies: The Wilder Shores of Gnosis. Talk by Dr Jonathan Hill at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Entry £7, booking advised. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com. www.treadwells-london.com/lectures.asp
Thursday, 27 January; PFL Imbolc Open Ritual by Bacchus Border Morris. Location: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London. Gather for pre-ritual social at 7.30pm. Ritual starts at 8pm. Social and feasting afterward until 10pm. Entrance: PF members/conc £5. All others £6. Please bring seasonal food and drinks to share.
Thursday, 27 January. Spirit And Shaman: Ancient Techniques For The Modern World. Public lecture by Zoë Brân of Shaman UK at The Theosophical Society, Blavatsky Lodge, 50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA. Time 6.30pm - 9.00pm. Cost £5.Booking not required. For further information visit http://www.theosophical-society.org.uk/.
Friday 28 January. The Secret Land. Talk by Paul Broadhurst about his writing 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. http://www.rilko.net/
Friday 28 January. A Demonstration of Mediumship by Anthony Kesner 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
Saturday 29 January; The Native American medicine wheel: for insight and personal growth. Learn about the ancient structure of the Native American medicine wheel, an intuitive and creative method initiating personal, family and team development, and how to integrate it into your professional and everyday life. Location: City Lit, Keeley Street, Covent Garden, Camden, London WC2B 4BA. When: from 10.30am-5.30pm. Cost: Full fee: £44 Senior fee: £30 Concession: £16. For more details about these courses and others, and to book places, visit http://www.citylit.ac.uk// or call enrolments on 020 7831 7831.
Saturday 29 January. Tarot for the Terrified. One-day workshop to show that tarot is more than just a deck of cards for divination. Time: 10-4pm. Location: Rochester, Kent. Cost £25. Bring a packed lunch. Very limited spaces so book early by calling 07876545512. More details at: http://greenchapel.weebly.com/
Sunday 30 January. Natural Magic for the Nervous. A one-day workshop for beginners on the four Elements of air, fire, water and earth. On how to work with them magically and creatively and bring then into balance within and without ourselves. Time: 10-4pm. Location: Rochester, Kent. Cost £25. Bring a packed lunch. Very limited spaces so book early by calling 07876545512. More details at: http://greenchapel.weebly.com/
Sunday 30 January. Exploring Imbolc: Symbolism, Folklore, Custom, Magic. One-day workshop with Suzanne Corbie at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. All handouts, samples, ingredients, teas, coffees included in the price of £55 (£25 deposit, balance due on the day). Time: 11am to 6pm. Booking essential and very limited places. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com. www.treadwells-london.com/lectures.asp
Saturday, January 29; Free and Open Gorsedd Imbolc Rite by the Free and Open Gorsedd of Caer Abiri at The Sun Circle, Avebury, Wilts, Avebury, United Kingdom. Druidic style open ceremony to celebrate the first stirrings of renewed life & to call in the Spring - all faith paths welcome. Meet at the Red Lion pub from noon for ceremony from 1.30pm-3pm. Offerings of bread or cake, mead, poetry and song are welcome.
Sunday 30 January; Anderida Gorsedd Imbolc open ritual at the Long Man of Wilmington, Sussex. Meet near the car park between 1.30pm and 2pm for a walk up to the chalk hill figure at 2pm. Afterwards back to the Giants Rest pub in Wilmington for a social drink together.
Sunday, 30 January; Tribe of Avalon Imbolc Walk and Pilgrimage. A sacred walk to honour the Maiden Goddess Bridie in a walk along the ley line path from St Paul’s Cathedral, London, to St Bride’s Church, the sacred site once dedicated to the Goddess Brigit as Bride who became St Bride in the Christian Church. After saying poems at St Bride's Well, there will be a visit to the nearby Punch for food and drink. Bring poems in honour of Goddess to share. Meet Elle and Myfanwy at St Paul’s Tube Station (Central line) no later than 12.15pm. This is a free event, but bring money to buy your own drinks and food at the pub and for any donation you wish to make to St Bride’s to support maintenance of this site. If you want to take part, it is essential that you contact Elle at avalonblessings@googlemail.com or on 07981 875356 to confirm you are attending. http://www.avalonblessings.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