News: Voodoo sex blaze burns down flats

A voodoo sex ritual between a practitioner and his female client in New York has caused a fire that killed a pensioner, injured 20 firemen and burned down 100 people's flats.

You can read the full story on the Fire Engineering website at: http://www.fireengineering.com/index/articles/Wire_News_Display.1367910059.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.

Now until 6 March; Journey Through the Afterlife: Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. British Museum exhibition following the ancient Egyptians' journey from death to the afterlife as depicted in the Book of the Dead - a collection of spells to guide the dead person through the dangers of the underworld. Venue: British Museum (pictured), Great Russell Street, London WC1B3DG. Open daily 10am to 5.30pm. Adult tickets £12. Advance booking essential via http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/future_exhibitions/book_of_the_dead.aspx

Monday 28 February; Persephone and Dionysus: Greek Mysteries: Ancient, Modern, Postmodern. Talk by Jocelyn Chaplin 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 1 March; Experience of Mystery as a Doorway to Awakening. Talk by Tim Freke 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

Tuesday 1 March; A Race of Magicians: Judaic pagan magic. Talk by Richard Levy at Romford Sacred Hart Moot. This pagan moot meets on the 1st Tuesday of every month, from 7pm to 10.30pm at its new venue in La Tasca, The Brewery, Romford, Essex RM1 1AU. Email Sarah at: romfordsacredhart@hotmail.com. More details on www.sacredhart.350.com

Wednesday 2 March; Thomas the Rhymer: The Shamanic Journey in the Ballad. Talk by Dr Michael Berman at Treadwell's, 33 Store Street, WC1. Price: £7. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. To book, call 020 7240 8906. For more details email info@treadwells-london.com or visit http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Wednesday 2 March; True Vampyres. Talk by Father Sebastiaan, author of Vampyre Sanguinomicon: The Lexicon of the Living Vampireand Magister within the Ordo Strigoi Vii at weekly pagan moot 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 2 March; Creative Meditation. Half-hour guided lunchtime meditation to experience the richness of our inner world in all its colours, shades and contrasts. Venue: Inner Space, 36 Short’s Gardens, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9AB. Time: 1pm-1.30pm. To register for a place visit http://www.innerspace.org.uk/

Thursday 3 March; Power of the Word: Neoplatonism's Gift to Western Magic. Talk by Earl Fontainelle of the University of Exeter at Treadwell's, 33 Store Street, WC1. Price: £7. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. To book, call 020 7240 8906. For more details email info@treadwells-london.com or visit http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Friday 4 March; Through A Glass Darkly: performance inspired by Victorian seances of the fraudulent mediums by The London Magician at Treadwell's, 33 Store Street, WC1. Price: £10. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. To book, call 020 7240 8906. For more details email info@treadwells-london.com or visit http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Friday 4 March; Enchantment - An Evening of Chant and Mantra with Stewart Pearce at The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £10/£15. Advance booking essential. Tel: 020 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

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

Last chance to get high

An exhibition about drugs - from ancient Egyptian poppy tinctures to Native American peyote rites to the French Romantics' opium salons to scientists' experiments with drugs and the cost of the fight against the drugs trade - has its last day today at London's Wellcome Collection.

Called High Society, it explores how these drugs were discovered, their traditional, ritual, spiritual and cultural uses - and how they came to be both fetishised and demonised in modern society.

The exhibition includes a short documentary showing an ayahuasca ceremony, historic opium equipment, fiction and non-fiction books about drugs and art inspired by drug experiences.

Admission to High Society is free and is open from 11am to 6pm. The address is the Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. For more details visit: http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/high-society.aspx

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/12/review-hummingbirds-journey-to-god.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/09/mushrooms-and-fungi.html
http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/high-society.aspx

News update: Occult sex court case continues

Man accused of raping a schoolgirl in occult sex case admits paying to grope girl, but denies he had penetrative sex with her.

You can read the story of the ongoing court case on the This is South Wales website at: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Rape-accused-paid-girl-let-grope/article-3266714-detail/article.html

Previous posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/news-cult-leader-accused-of-sex-with.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/news-update-cult-leader-denies-e.html

Festival of the Week: Tell a Fairy Day

I do love fairy stories, so when I discovered that February 26 is Tell a Fairy Day in America, I had to pick this day for telling fairy stories as The Bad Witch's Festival of the Week.

Fairy stories are far more than just enchanting tales for children. They are full of symbolism and meaning. Sometimes, if you are facing difficulties and problems in the real world, reading fairy tales can do a lot more than just take your mind off your worries as they can offer insight and inspiration to help you overcome obstacles and face up to life's challenges.

Here is a little bit of fairy tale magic to help you find the right story for your day.

Go to a bookshelf containing volumes of fairy stories. This could be your own bookshelf if, like me, you have quite a collection of fairy tales. If you don't, then go to your public library or a good bookshop.

Stand in front of the shelf and close your eyes, point your index finger and make a circle in the air three times while silently asking the fairies to guide you to the right story. With your eyes still closed, touch the spine of a random book with your finger. Open your eyes and take the book from the shelf. Then, open the book to a random page. Whatever tale is on that page is the right one for you to read.

I tried this and was led to The Yellow Fairy Book,which is part of a famous collection of fairy tales edited by Andrew Lang. The book fell open at the story of The Snow-Daughter and the Fire-Son.

It wasn't one I had read before, and I found it is a sad tale with a tragic ending. Here is a precis:

Once upon a time there lived a man and wife who had no children.

One winter's day the wife said to her husband: "I wish I had a daughter as lovely as an icicle." As she spoke, a snowflake fell into her mouth and, nine months later, she gave birth to a baby girl.

The child was as white as snow and as cold as ice. Although she was beautiful, she could only stand living in the coldest places. She was very happy playing outside in the winter, but in the summer she stayed in the cellar because she could not bear the warmth of the sun.

The couple loved their Snow-daughter, but were worried about her. One day, sitting by the fire, the wife said: "I wish I had given birth to a Fire-son." At that moment, a spark leaped from the fire and landed in the wife's lap. Nine month's later she gave birth to a baby boy, but he gave the couple just as much worry as their Snow-daughter because he could not stand the cold at all. He would only go outside on hot summer days and in winter he stayed as close as possible to the fire.

What's more, the Snow-daughter and Fire-son, although they were fond of each other, could not bear to be close because it hurt them.

They grew up and decided it was time to leave their parents and make their way in the world - and the snow-daughter had a clever idea to allow them to travel together. She said: "I have made thick fur coats that will protect us from each other."

For a long time the Snow-daughter and the Fire-son wandered the world. They had many adventures and were very happy. Then, one snowy day, when the Fire-son was huddled in a cottage by a huge fire, the Snow-daughter met a King, who was hunting in the winter woods.

They fell in love and decided to get married. The King built huge ovens in the grounds of his castle where the Fire-son could live, while his bride-t0-be had rooms in the coldest part of his castle.

The Fire-son was delighted with his new home and got so close to the fiery ovens that his skin glowed as red as burning coals.

Without thinking, he rushed up to the King and embraced him. But his skin was so hot that the King screamed, then fell to the ground dead. The Snow-daughter was distraught and flew at her brother in a rage. They had a terrible fight, and crowds of people ran to see what was happening. But, by the time they got there, the Snow-daughter had entirely melted to water and the Fire-son was nothing but a blackened cinder.

In traditional fairy tales - as in real life - things don't always end up with everyone living happily ever after - but that doesn't mean you can't learn from them to help you avoid tragedy in your own life.

I think the story of The Snow-daughter and the Fire-son is a cautionary tale that warns us to be mindful of each other's needs and feelings. Relationships between people who truly love each other can fail because emotions run too high and we do not pay enough attention to what our partner wants.

Physically too, what is right for us, isn't necessarily right for those we love and we should be careful not to harm others with our actions.

Thinking about the message this story has for me personally, I know that I love chocolate, but my partner is diabetic and mustn't eat sugary things. Perhaps the lesson for me is that I should keep my chocolate all to myself and not tempt my loved one into eating something that is very bad for him.

I think I can do that :)

And, as someone who loves fairy stories, I hope Tell a Fairy Day becomes a recognised festival all over the world.

The Yellow Fairy Bookis available through Amazon in book format and, for just 70p, in Kindle edition.

Links and previous related posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/09/nature-of-faeries.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/faerie-book-by-samantha-gray.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/01/review-faeries-oracle.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/charles-perrault-complete-fairy-tales.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/how-to-find-fairies.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/do-you-believe-in-fairies.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/02/fairytale-tarot.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/01/review-walking-faery-pathway.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/03/witchs-niece-and-magical-key-tree.html
The Yellow Fairy Book
http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/tell_a_fairy_tale_day.html
http://www.holidaysforeveryday.com/calfeb11.shtml#22

Preview: Fallen Angel Oracle Cards

I've just received a preview copy of a boxed divination set called Fallen Angels Oracle Cards- and I love it!

Maybe its because I'm an old goth at heart, but I found the cards' artwork - featuring pictures from London's Nunhead Cemetery - absolutely captivating.

The illustrations are by artist Sarah Perkins, specially commissioned to evoke the dark charm of fallen angels. She has used photographs of the high Victorian gothic tombstones and mausoleums at Nunhead, many of which are now overgrown and in ruins, and added imagery of wild beasts and elemental forces to evoke a sense of mystery, power and unearthly beauty.

Of course the concept of fallen angels is very gothy too. I've never worked with fallen angel archetypes before and I'm interested in finding out how this deck of divination cards works. It certainly seems different from traditional tarot.

I'll be writing a full review of the Fallen Angels Oracle Cardsnext week and, hopefully, also be interviewing angel expert Nigel Suckling, who created the deck and wrote the book that comes with the boxed set.

The Fallen Angels Oracle Cards (book & card set)is published by Cico Books. The images show cards from the set and the front of the box.

Links
Fallen Angels Oracle Cards (book & card set)
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/walking-among-londons-dead.html
http://www.unicorngarden.com/
http://www.cicobooks.co.uk/

Ancient history of Stonehenge on TV

Archaeologist Neil Oliver looks at the ritual significance of Stonehenge in the TV documentary series A History of Ancient Britain on BBC2 tonight as he explores the age of cosmology. He offers the theory that the stone circle was a monument to the dead and that our ancestors worshipped there at midwinter, rather than at the summer solstice.

This is the third episode in A History of Ancient Britain. Last week Neil Oliver looked at how and why ancient Britons buried their dead at West Kennet Long Barrow and also at the massive megalithic rows of stones at Carnac, in France.

Programmes on BBC TV Channels are usually available to watch on iPlayer for at least a week after they are shown: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/

You can also order A History of Ancient Britain Series 1 DVDthrough Amazon.

Links
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/07/news-archaeologists-find-henge-next-to.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/05/secrets-of-stonehenge.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/09/secrets-of-stonehenge-uncovered.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/04/archaeologists-investigate-stonehenge.html

Magic School: The Shamanic Journey

An evening class called Adventures in Shamanism: Introduction to the Shamanic Journey is starting in London in March.

The intensive six-week Monday evening course offers an introduction to the world and work of the shaman. Those taking part will explore the history and traditions of shamanism, discover where they go when they journey and why, and learn how to journey and meet spirit helpers and power animals. Student will also discover how to work with the spirits of nature to heal and renew.

This course is open to anyone who would like to experience shamanism for themselves, including those already experienced who would like to renew their practice.

Introduction to the Shamanic Journey runs from 14 March to 18 April on Monday evenings between 6.30pm and 9.30pm at The Open Centre, 188 Old St. London, EC1V 9FR (pictured).

The course costs £175, but concessions are available on request. To book, call 07847 894453, or email info@shaman.uk.net

All Adventures in Shamanism courses are facilitated by Zoë Brân PhD. For further details of all events http://www.shaman.uk.com/

Pagan Eye: Lambs in a Field

These are the first lambs I have seen this year. I photographed them on a country walk last week on a day when the weather was milder and sunnier than it has been for some time. Yet another lovely sign of spring!

I cropped the photo down a bit to remove an unsightly telegraph pole in the middle of the field, but it is unaltered apart from that.

My Pagan Eye posts feature photographs that I find interesting. Some are taken by myself but I love featuring photos by other people too. 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.

Previous posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/03/pagan-eye-lambs-in-barn.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/pagan-eye-crocuses-and-kindred-spirits.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/12/pagan-eye-winter-rose.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/08/pagan-eye-druid-oak.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/02/pagan-eye-sphinx.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.

Tuesday 22 February; Kabbalah: Angels, Archetypes and Astrology. Talk by Rev. Maggy Whitehouse 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

Tuesday 22 February; Thom in the East: Geometry in the Timber Circles of East Anglia. Talk by Rob Patrick Taylor 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 23 February; The Middle Pillar Ritual: a mini-workshop evening with Marysia Kay, aimed at people starting out in ceremonial magic, Venue: TTreadwell's, 33 Store Street, WC1. Price: £10. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Ends 9.30pm. To book, call 020 7240 8906. For more details email info@treadwells-london.com or visit http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Wednesday 23 February; Cross Bones Vigil and Ceremony to honour The Goose and the outcast dead of Cross Bones Graveyard (pictured). 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 23 February; Weekly pagan moot and 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 23 February; Creative Meditation. Half-hour guided lunchtime meditation to experience the richness of our inner world in all its colours, shades and contrasts. Venue: Inner Space, 36 Short’s Gardens, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9AB. Time: 1pm-1.30pm. http://www.innerspace.org.uk/

Friday 25 February; Demonstration of Mediumship by Tony Stockwell, author of four books, Walking with Angels, Psychic Case Files, Spirited and Embracing Eternity at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £15/£20. Advance booking essential. Tel: 020 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Sunday, 27 February; Discovering the Runes. Beginners' workshop with Katie Gerrard at Atlantis Bookshop, Museum St, London. Time: 2pm -6pm. Cost £25, which includes materials provided to make your own rune set. Places are limited, book through katiegerrard@googlemail.com. For further information about Katie Gerrard visit http://www.runes.avalonia.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: Witch brew wins ale award

Moorhouse’s Black Cat ale, one of the brewery’s Pendle Witches brews, has won a gold medal in the Standard Strength Cask-Conditioned Ale category of the Brewing Industry International Awards (BIIA). The beer is a 3.4 per cent dark brew.

The ale is brewed near Lancashire's Pendle area, a region famous for its historic witch trials.

You can read the full story on the Lancashire Telegraph website: http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/8855961.Pendle_Witches_ale_casts_a_spell_on_judges/
Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/06/pagan-eye-pendle-hill-in-snow.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/07/history-of-pendle-witches-their-magic.html

Lots to celebrate this full moon

It is a full moon today. The actual time of the full moon is 8.30am, but you can celebrate it any time today or tonight if you like.

And here are some other things to celebrate at the same time:

February 18 is the anniversary of the discovery of Pluto by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 and in America it is also National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day. I've never eaten a crab-stuffed flounder, but I'd be willing to give it a try.

Today is the start of Ash month in the Celtic Tree Calender. The Ash is considered one of the most magical trees and this is a good time for spellcrafting. The Norse world tree Yggdrasil is an Ash, according to legend.

It is also the end of Native American Otter month, and in that tradition it is a time for spring cleaning. Personally, I might prefer to party on a Friday night and leave the spring cleaning until the next day - or the day after.

Most of all, Friday - the last day of the working week - is always something to celebrate!

Photo by Anne Reckless

Links
http://pagancalendar.co.uk/
http://www.holidaysforeveryday.com/calfeb11.shtml#18
http://www.web-holidays.com/foodfest/articles/37.htm
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/11/damh-bard-on-ogham-at-witchfest.html
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/moonphasemagic/tp/Celtic_Tree_Months.htm

News: Government scraps forest sell-off plans

The Government is scrapping its plans to sell many of England's public forests and offload the rest onto communities and charities.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: "I am sorry, we got this one wrong."

The U-turn is due to pressure from members of the public who signed petitions, protested and wrote to MPs.

However, campaigners say we need to remain vigilant in case the Government tries this again.

You can read the full story here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5g_ljBZycsTurbt8QrHJb90d5J1ww?docId=N0777651297861837803A

Previous posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/11/petitions-to-save-our-forests-and-herbs.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/news-privatisation-of-ancient-forests.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/news-government-u-turn-on-forest-sell.html

Wicca Dangers tract author speaks out

The author of Wicca and Witchcraft: Understanding the Dangershas written a piece in The Catholic Herald defending her stance on Wiccans and witches, but saying that "Wicca can be an important stage in spiritual growth for a young person".

Elizabeth Dodd, who claims she was a Wiccan when she was in her teens, says she intended the leaflet primarily "to inform Catholics about the realities of Wicca – eg that it isn’t Satanism".

She also says she is disappointed that instead of helping Catholics understand Wiccans better, "it appears to have re-ignited the persecution complex among Wiccans that I was hoping to diffuse".

The pamphlet, published by The Catholic Truth Society, was described by newspaper The Daily Mail as a guide to help Catholics convert Wiccans to Christianity. It has sparked considerable controversy.

You can read Elizabeth Dodd's full story here: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/2011/02/16/how-a-%E2%80%98teen-witch%E2%80%99-found-the-church/

Links
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/2011/02/16/how-a-%E2%80%98teen-witch%E2%80%99-found-the-church/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/news.html
Wicca and Witchcraft: Understanding the Dangers

Review: Mean Streets Witchcraft

Note: Since I wrote this review the book's title has changed to Traditional Witchcraft for Urban Living.

Mean Streets Witchcraftis about being a witch in a big city, with all the problems that brings.

It is about being far away from open countryside and so learning to recognise wild plants growing on railway embankments and derelict building sites; about cherishing neighbourhood parks and cemeteries as places of contemplation; about appreciating urban creatures such as foxes, magpies and starlings as animal companions.

Modern life also puts pressures on the city witch. We might work long hours in air-conditioned offices with a crowded commute at each end of the day, meaning we hardly get to see daylight in winter. We might live in tiny flats or share crowded homes with others who are not sympathetic with a witch's needs for time and space to perform magical rituals. Mean Streets Witchcraft suggests that you actually don't need much space to do magic. You can cast a small circle just around yourself and say the words of spells quietly – you don't have to dance about wildly accompanied by loud chanting and drumming likely to alarm the neighbours.

Cities – especially London – do offer one thing that can be harder to find in the countryside – a bewildering array of moots, workshops, lectures and conferences aimed at teaching every type of pagan, magical or spiritual thing you can think of. Although such events can be very useful, they can also be a huge trap for the city witch.

It is easy to convince yourself that you are progressing swiftly along your path of magical learning because you are attending talks on a huge variety of occult subjects and socialising with all the other city pagans, when in fact you would do better spending much of that time by yourself, honing your own psychic abilities.

Author Mélusine Draco also points out that – unlike Wicca - traditional witchcraft is not a religion. You can follow any faith that is right for you - whether that is Christianity, neopaganism or something else entirely – and still be a witch. Witches have existed in almost all cultures and eras; what identifies them is their set of skills. A witch needs to know herb lore, how to perform divinations, create amulets and talismans, contact the spirits of the dead and cast spells for such things as protection, love and success in ventures.

Mean Streets Witchcraftoffers a starting point for how to do this in a modern city environment. It is very much about my own kind of magic, the kind I try to write about in A Bad Witch's Blog – practical witchcraft for the real world. I recommend this book for any witch who is struggling to find their magical way in the big city.

Publisher O Books says on its website: "Writing as Mélusine Draco, the author has been a magical and spiritual instructor for over 20 years, and writer of numerous popular books including Liber Ægyptius: The Book of Egyptian Magic; The Hollow Tree, an elementary guide to Qabalah; A Witch’s Treasury of the Countryside; Root & Branch: British Magical Tree Lore and Starchild: a rediscovery of stellar wisdom. Her highly individualistic teaching methods, as used in Mean Streets Witchcraft, draw on historical sources, supported by academic texts and current archaeological findings. The Dictionary of Magic & Mystery is the result of 10 years' work that was originally compiled for purely personal use"

Links
Mean Streets Witchcraft
http://www.o-books.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/walking-among-londons-dead.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/01/visit-from-foxes.html

News update: Cult leader denies sex charge

A man who is currently appearing in Swansea Crown Court accused of committing sex offences against children as part of occult rituals has said the allegations are "totally false".

You can read the full, latest news story here: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Alleged-Carmarthenshire-cult-leader/article-3226966-detail/article.html

Previous post: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/news-cult-leader-accused-of-sex-with.html

News: Romanian witches cast spells for love

Romania's witches have been in the news quite a bit recently, after the Romanian government passed laws to tax them and is taking measures to control their activities. Some of the witches have shown their displeasure by cursing those in power.

But, on Valentine's Day, half a dozen Romanian witches performed a ritual to help people find true love. Hopefully, this sign of goodwill can also help their relationship with the government.

You can read the full story here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hgT6oo6MIEI2UoyGFt_HzhOjRyBQ?docId=5948122

Previous posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/01/news-romanian-witchcraft-controversy.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/01/news-bbc-interviews-romanian-witch.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/news-witches-and-cults-in-legal.html

Pagan Eye: Crocuses and kindred spirits

I was walking back from the shops and taking my usual shortcut through the park when I saw these lovely crocuses. I had to put down my bags of groceries and get out my camera to photograph them.

As I was doing so, a very old lady, who I often see walking a little Scottie dog in the park, stopped and started chatting with me.

"How lovely, crocuses, one of the first signs of spring," she said. I agreed.

"Do you like nature?" she then asked.

"Oh yes," I said.

"So do I," she replied. She paused, then added: "I've long done with organised religions - nature is my religion now and has been for a long time."

"Me too," I said.

"I thought you were a kindred spirit," said the old lady. "I always know a kindred spirit."

Now I have absolutely no idea if the old lady - who I had only said hello to in passing before - is a witch or just a nature lover. It doesn't really matter. It is lovely to know that there are plenty of kindred spirits around.

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.

Previous related posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/02/crocuses-for-love-insight-and-magic.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/pagan-eye-signs-of-spring.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/12/pagan-eye-winter-rose.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/08/pagan-eye-druid-oak.html

Tarot: The Lovers card

With today being Valentine's Day, here is a look at The Lovers card from the tarot.

Most people would be delighted to see The Lovers turn up in a tarot reading at pretty much any time as its meaning seems obvious - plain and simply, perfect love. If you are not already with your ideal partner, you are soon going to meet them. What's more, there's an angel looking over both of you to bless your relationship. Happy ever after.

But things are never quite that simple, are they? And the same holds for The Lovers card.

In some decks, instead of an angel, that third figure is another woman, and the meaning of the card is about choice. Perhaps you are torn between two people and can't decide which will make you happiest in the long run. If you are in a relationship, do you stay or do you leave your current partner for someone new and exciting?

The choice isn't always about choosing between two lovers. Sometimes career moves offer opportunities of a fantastic job, but one that would leave little time for your love life. You must consider which is most important to you. Or perhaps your partner follows a different spiritual path to your own and, if you want to marry them, you would be unable to have a religious ceremony unless you both have the same faith.

With any tarot reading, you have to look at all the cards in the spread to decide exactly what interpretation to make - and you also have to consider what questions are in your own mind.

But, whatever you think the card means to you, the solution is in good communication.

The Lovers card is associated with the star sign Gemini, the element Air and the God Mercury - these are all to do with communication. This means you should talk to your lover about what is on your mind and listen carefully to what they have to say in return. Openness and honesty are always important in love.

Valentine's Day can be the perfect time to do this, especially after a romantic evening doing whatever you and your partner enjoy doing most.

The picture above shows The Lovers card from the Rider Waite Tarot Deck,which is available from Amazon
Links and previous posts:
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/meanings/lovers.shtml
http://www.biddytarot.com/card.php?id=14&name=Lovers
http://www.tarotteachings.com/lovers-tarot-card-meanings.html
http://www.learntarot.com/maj06.htm
http://www.keen.com/documents/works/articles/tarot/the-lovers-tarot-card.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lovers
http://www.dnsguru.info/tarotexperts.com/cards/thelovers.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/02/sex-and-sacrifice.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/02/february-full-moon-magic.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/02/spell-to-attract-love.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/02/lovespells-authentic-collection-of.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/05/review-aphrodites-magic.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/02/astrology-for-lovers.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/02/divining-love-with-eros-oracle.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.

Sunday, 13 February; The Spark of Bridie. Goddess workshop for the season of Imbolc with priest of Avalon David Spofforth. Venue: Bonnington Centre, 11 Vauxhall Grove, London SW8 1TD. Time: 1pm for 1.30pm start. Ends at 5.30pm. Cost: £15 on the day, £10 in advance. For more details and to book places visit http://www.priestofavalon.com/

Monday 14 February; Shamanism and Life Story. Evening workshop by Shaman UK at The Open Centre (pictured), 188 Old St, London, EC1V 9FR. Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm. £12 (concs £8). Booking essential. For further information and to book places visit http://www.shaman.uk.com/, email info@shaman.uk.com or call 07847 894453.

Monday, 14 February; The Forgotten Magus – Anna Bonus Kingsford And The Hermetic Way. Talk by Ken Rees 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 15 February; The Human Energy Field Illustrated with Kirlian Photography. Talk by Nigel Garion-Hutchings 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 16 February; Creative Meditation. Half-hour guided lunchtime meditation to experience the richness of our inner world in all its colours, shades and contrasts. Venue: Inner Space, 36 Short’s Gardens, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9AB. Time: 1pm-1.30pm. http://www.innerspace.org.uk/

Wednesday 16 February; Metaphors of the Mind - Insights about Consciousness and Thought. Talk by Dr Mark Watson 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 16 February; Demons, Daimons or Angels?: Astral Intelligence in Ficino's Natural Magic. Talk by Dr Angela Voss of the University of Exeter at Treadwell's, 33 Store Street, WC1. Price: £7. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. To book, call 020 7240 8906. For more details email info@treadwells-london.com or visit http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Thursday 17 February; CoA Imbolc Open Ritual organised by Children of Artemis. Venue: The Dog and Bull pub, Surrey St, Croydon at 8pm. Entry is £2 for CoA members and £5 for non-members. For more details, call 0870 442 290 or visit the website http://www.witchfest.net/

Friday 18 February; Enchantment - An Evening of Chant and Mantra with Stewart Pearce 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 19 February; Myths, Fairytales and Everyday life. Discover how age-old stories from a variety of cultures can shed light and wisdom on life events. We will explore how myths and stories can help your responses to disappointment, frustration, betrayal, bereavement and joy. 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 19 February; One-day hypnosis course for beginners. Venue: The Hypnosis Centre, Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AF. Time: 10am - 5pm. Cost £50, refundable if you then book a place on a diploma hypnosis course at the centre. To book,email sarah@the-hypnosis-centre.co.uk. For more details, visit http://www.the-hypnosis-centre.co.uk/

Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 February; Weekend Course on Self Hypnosis Workshop. It will run from 9.30am to 10pm each day in Kentish Town, London NW5. Cost: £300. To secure a place, send a £50 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: Government U-turn on forest sell-off

The UK government has just announced it is putting on hold plans to sell off 15% of state-owned forests and says it intends to reconsider the criteria for the sales. However, the main part of its plans to privatise forests is still going ahead.

You can read the full story at the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12428814

Previous related posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/11/petitions-to-save-our-forests-and-herbs.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/news-privatisation-of-ancient-forests.html

Festival of the Week: Parentalia

This Sunday, 13 February, is Parentalia - the Roman festival at which people in classical times honoured their dead parents.

Families would gather among the tombs of their ancestors and make offerings of grain and wine to their dead loved ones. On this day, temples were closed, marriages were forbidden and public officials took a day off work.

However, this weekend is also the anniversary of the death of Gerald Brosseau Gardner, on 12 February, 1964. Gerald Gardner is often called The Father of Modern Wicca, and this festival would be an appropriate time for all Wiccans to honour him as their spiritual father - as well as visiting the graves of their own ancestors who have passed through the veil of death, or remembering them in other ways.

Links:
Gerald Gardner and the Cauldron of Inspiration: An Investigation into the Sources of Gardnerian Witchcraft
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parentalia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Gardner
http://pagancalendar.co.uk/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/12/pagan-eye-where-witches-walked.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/09/day-for-gerald.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/09/charge-of-goddess-conference-2010.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/01/wicca-witchcraft-finding-out-basics.html

News: Witches and cults in legal controversy

After the Romanian government passed a ruling that witches should pay tax, it is now proposing a bill under which people who practice witchcraft could be fined or imprisoned if their predictions do not come true.
You can read the full story on these sites:
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/110709/20110209/romania-taxes-witches.htm
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0210/1224289432830.html

In the court case in which an occult group leader is accused of having sex with a schoolgirl, Swansea Crown Court has heard that girl was ordered by cult not to have abortion because baby was 'occult child'
You can read the full story here: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Cult-ordered-teen-sex-victim-abort-occult-child/article-3206248-detail/article.html

Goddess worshipers and tax authorities clash in America.
You can read the full story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/nyregion/10towns.html?_r=1

Past love regression

You've probably heard of past life regression - using hypnosis to recover memories of past lives - but, with Valentine's Day around the corner, you might fancy trying "past love regression", to revisit an old relationship and let go of emotional clutter.

Relationship regression therapy is a technique that allows you to mentally turn back time to learn from romantic mistakes of the past.

Regression therapist Nicolas Aujula says that for many women and men who frequently think about an ex-lover, feel stuck in old patterns or who are challenged in love, relationship regression therapy can help. He said: "Imagine being guided into a deeply relaxed state for two hours, then waking up to a more enlightened attitude about your life and past relationships. It's really that simple.”

The purpose of relationship regression therapy is to relive old relationships in a deeply relaxed state, to discover the reason for unwanted and limiting occurrences such as anger, resentment, betrayal, intimacy, mistrust or fears. Through reframing the past, it is possible to wave goodbye to emotional baggage and adopt a healthier attitude to love.

One of Nicolas Aujula's clients, Sue Ellen, said: “I had spent the past three years mulling over my ex-husband's infidelity and did my utmost to move on. However, I found it very difficult to trust. My experience of regression really brought to surface old hurts that I had been holding onto. Reliving the relationship through regression allowed me to finally forgive and move on in life - since then I have been able to date more successfully”.

Nicolas Aujula says he has seen the benefits of people using relationship regression therapy to improve relationships and believes this type of therapy can be life-enhancing and even life-changing.

Nicolas Aujula is a regression therapist and astrologer who has appeared on the Biography Channel's Our Psychic Family TV series where he read for Toyah Willcox and regressed psychic Jane Hamilton-Parker. His astrology columns have featured in Glamour, Beverly Hills Times, Hollywood Weekly, Spirit & Destiny and Chat It's Fate. You can view his website at http://www.inspired-artisan.com/

The picture at the top shows 'Victis Angelus' heart shaped mantel clock,which is available from Amazon. The picture left shows Nicolas Aujula.

Previous related posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/01/question-about-conception.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/05/review-still-25-inside.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/03/alternative-therapies-on-television.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/02/sex-and-sacrifice.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/05/review-aphrodites-magic.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/02/books-of-love.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/02/spell-to-attract-love.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/02/lovespells-authentic-collection-of.html

News: Cult leader accused of sex with schoolgirl

An "quasi-religious" cult leader is on trial at Swansea Crown Court, south Wales, accused of having sex with a 15-year-old as part of "an elaborate occult initiation ceremony".

You can read the full story here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hoSPjYdbdegaHhvt277eSbpPFrnA?docId=N0622381297180295855A

Fiction in the magical world of Oz

With previews of a new production of The Wizard of Oz at The London Palladium this week, I thought it was an ideal time to review two novels set in the world of Oz that were written by James C Wallace II, who regularly posts comments to A Bad Witch's Blog.

James sent me pdfs of his two novels about the magical world made famous in L Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - entitled Magician of Ozand Shadow Demon of Oz.

James said: "I hope you'll consider a review for each. Sometimes, it's good to look at the other side of magic... Even if it is fiction."

Now, I don't often review new fiction on A Bad Witch's Blog - I've got a huge pile of non-fiction waiting to be read and if I do decide to pick up some fiction once in a while I usually stick to classics or authors I know.

However, I had some very good reasons to read these, quite apart from the topicality of the setting. First, James seems like a really nice bloke; second, I was keen to try out reading books in pdf format on my new Kindle.

I've been reading the books on my Kindle on the bus when I visit my elderly mum, who is in a nursing home while she recovers from a bad fall. I needed something light and escapist to cheer me up, as this has been a stressful few weeks. James' short novels fitted the bill perfectly.

Magician of Ozis the story of Jamie Diggs, grandson of Oscar Zoroaster Diggs - the Wizard of Oz himself. Jamie inherits his grandfather's trunk containing all sort of apparatus to perform stage illusions. Inspired by this, he takes up sleight of hand as a hobby. I'm guessing this is what author James meant by "the other side of magic" and I certainly did learn something about what it takes to perform magical illusions.

However, Jamie Diggs soon discovers that some of the items in the trunk have powers that go beyond stage magic and he finds himself transported to the Land of Oz. There he meets many of the characters from L Frank Baum's fictional world, including Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch and the Tin Woodman.

The story is a charming tale of travel through the fantastic lands of Oz, sunny days, wonderful banquets and meetings with characters familiar to anyone who has read the original Oz stories, seen the movie or gone to a stage production. Jamie learns that in Oz he can do real magic as well as perform illusions, and eventually must use his powers to defend the realm from attack by rebellious sentient trees.

James' second story follows on from the first. Jamie Diggs returns to Oz to defend it from a threat greater than walking woodlands. A shadow demon, which came from a distant part of the galaxy on a comet, is terrifying the inhabitants of Oz and threatening to steal their spirits. Jamie must use his magical powers - and his wits - to defeat evil. This is a somewhat darker book than Magician of Oz, and shows James' ability as a writer of children's fiction.

Although I don't often read children's novels, sometimes, when life is tough, it can be good to escape through a book to a place over the rainbow where dreams can come true.

I can also confirm that reading books in pdf format on a Kindle is pretty easy, so long as they are mostly plain text and have regular page sizes. Large books and those with lots of pictures or complicated layout styles are not quite so easy to read. However, if you want to try these books on your Kindle, you won't have to use pdf format because Magician of Ozis available in traditional book format and Kindle edition through Amazon. Shadow Demon of Ozis also available in Kindle edition.

Regular performances of The Wizard of Oz Musical will be on from 1 March at The London Palladium, Argyll Street, London W1F 7TF. You can call the box office to book tickets on 0844 412 2957.

Links
http://www.wizardofozthemusical.com/
Magician of Oz
Magician of Oz Kindle Edition
Shadow Demon of Oz
Shadow Demon of Oz (Royal Magician of Oz)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Penguin Popular Classics)
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/12/what-i-got-for-yule.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/07/tempted-with-kindle.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/06/review-wizdom-of-oz.html