News: The Guardian Interviews The Bad Witch

Earlier today I got a phone call from a Guardian reporter who wanted to interview me. They turned the story round fast and it is up on the Guardian website now: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/oct/31/witch-flat-closed-for-halloween

News: I'm In the Papers Again For Hallowe'en

It looks as though two more newspapers have picked up the story that I'm letting my seaside flat in Sussex out for holiday breaks around Hallowe'en with a little added witchy experience.

Here is the story on the Mancunian Matters website: http://mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/30106414-sleep-dead-real-life-witch-opens-gates-otherworld-offering-halloween-stays-her-home

Here it is on the Eastbourne Herald website: http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local-news/fancy-a-spell-at-witch-s-flat-1-4421441

You can read what I said about it earlier here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/10/halloween-or-samhain-chez-la-bad-witch.html

Pagan Eye: Cat in a Witch's Hallowe'en Hat

For Hallowe'en here's a picture of my cat wearing a mini witch's hat. I must admit, he didn't wear it for very long - a moment after I took this photo the cat and the hat were parting company fast.

My lovely hubby bought me the little hat to wear to Witchfest in November, along with similar hats for the other lovely witches in my coven. The hats are really Hallowe'en hair ornaments that attach with a small clip, and very cute in my opinion. I don't think my cat held quite the same opinion as me though.

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures.

If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/07/pagan-eye-roman-temple-of-fortuna.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/spells-to-find-lost-cat.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2007/12/work-of-witchs-cat.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/spells-to-find-lost-cat.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/09/joanna-lumley-catwoman-on-tv.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/shadows-we-are-and-like-shadows-we.html

London Necropolis: St Bride's Church of Fleet Street

Continuing my posts about London’s famous cemeteries, St Brides church, in the City of London, is a historic burial ground. Like many of its kind, it is an overcrowded necropolis – at least below ground level. When diarist Samuel Pepys buried his brother Tom in the church in 1664, the vaults were so full he had to bribe the gravedigger to "justle together" the corpses to make room.

St Bride's is one of London’s most ancient churches. Although the building that stands there today was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1672 after the Great Fire of London, the first church to stand in that spot was built in the 6th or 7th Century. It is said to have been founded by Saint Bridget of Kildare, from Ireland.

An ancient well at the site probably pre-dated the Christian church and may have been venerated as a pagan sacred spring. According to legends of London, St Bride’s well is connected with the Celtic goddess Brigid or Bride, patron of poetry, the hearth and the fires of the smith’s forge. In stories and symbolism, the saint and the goddess are intertwined. Both are associated with perpetual flames and also healing wells.

St Bride's church has also long been linked to journalists and newspapers, not least because of its location on Fleet Street – historic home of the Press. Its association with the newspaper business began in 1500 when Wynkyn de Worde set up a printing press in the building next to it. Until 1695, London was the only city in England where printing was allowed by law.

During the Blitz in the Second World War, the church was gutted by fire-bombs dropped by the German Luftwaffe. The devastation revealed the building’s Saxon foundations, which had long been lost.

After the war, newspaper proprietors and journalists raised money for the church to be rebuilt, but the crypt is still open to the public. It contains ancient Roman relics as well as nearly 230 lead coffins with plaques dating from the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries, filled with the bones of parishioners.

St Bride’s Church also stands on important London ley lines, according to the book London’s Ley Lines by Chris Street. Alfred Watkins, who came up with the idea of ley lines – or historic straight tracks that link sacred sites – noticed St Bride’s is on a line that links “St. Paul’s Covent Garden, The Temple, St Bride’s Fleet Street, a church on Ludgate Hill, one near the Guildhall, St Stephens, Coleman Street, all align to St Botolph’s Bishopsgate”.

Chris Street points out that St Bride’s is also very close to the St Paul’s Ley and stands on an Earthstar – a huge five-pointed star shape that connects historic sites with mystical significance across London.

Right at the far end of the vaults under St Bride's, along a narrow and rather spooky passageway lined with old coffins, is a tiny square underground chapel. It has the most wonderfully peaceful atmosphere and is a lovely place to spend some time meditating. According to Chris Street, a small door from this chapel probably leads to the ancient well house. The door is locked and whatever lies beyond it is not open to the public.

I visited St Bride's Church on a ley line walk last year. You can read more about that here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/ley-line-pilgrimage-to-brides-well.html

Links and previous related posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/10/london-necropolis-west-norwood-cemetery.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/10/london-necropolis-victorian-cemetery.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/10/london-necropolis-highgate-cemetery.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/walking-among-londons-dead.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/10/london-necropolis-brompton-cemetery.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/09/review-londons-ley-lines-pathways-of.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/06/in-search-of-sacred-spring.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Bride%27s_Church
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ley_line
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/ley-line-pilgrimage-to-brides-well.html

Celebrate Hallowe'en Under the Blood Moon

There's a full moon tonight, and it is a Blood Moon. At least, that's the Medieval name for the full moon at the end of October according to the Pagan Calender, which I normally find to be quite reliable about such things.

All I can say is, what a perfect name for a full moon so close to Hallowe'en, or Samhain as pagans call it.

It is a perfect time for scrying. What I'll be doing tonight is getting out my cauldron, filling it with water and dropping a silver coin into it, to fall to the bottom. Then I will open the curtains and let the light of the full moon fall onto the water. By gazing into the water with the eyes slightly unfocused, it is often possible to get a glimpse of what the future might hold.

As the veil between the worlds is thin at the time of Samhain, sometimes the moon and the water will help spirits of  departed loved ones give messages from beyond the grave.

Previous posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/10/shopping-ive-bought-myself-cauldron.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/halloween-controversy.html

Hallowe'en TV Documentaries and Autumnwatch

Television channels usually show a few documentaries about witches, the occult and the supernatural over Hallowe'en, in among the horror films and Hallowe'en-themed specials. Here are some of the documentaries that could be worth watching in the coming week:

How the Devil Got His Horns; Monday 28 October, 9pm. BBC4
Art Historian Alastair Sooke looks at how early Christian images of Lucifer show him as an angel, without horns. It wasn't until the Middle Ages that artists depicted the devil with horns, having turned to images of ancient pagan gods for inspiration. The pictures they painted, according to Alastair Sooke, were "more porno than inferno".

Horror Europa With Mark Gatiss; Tuesday 29 October, 9pm. BBC4
Horror film buff Mark Gatiss goes on a trip through Europe looking at the inspiration for horror movies.

Horrible Histories; Wednesday 31 October, 4.30pm. BBC1
Scary Hallowe'en edition about ghosts and superstitions

Autumnwatch
Unconnected to Hallowe'en except for the date it is being shown, a new series of Autumnwatch also starts this week on BBC2 - something I look forward to every year. Apparently it has a new format this season, and is only on for four days. It will be followed by Winterwatch for four days in January.

The picture shows devils in a fresco detail from the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria. The photo was taken by Edal Anton Lefterov

Hallowe'en - or Samhain - Chez La Bad Witch

This Hallowe'en things have got a bit exciting.

A few weeks ago I had a conversation on the phone with Wimdu, which runs a website dedicated to helping people rent their spare rooms to holidaymakers wanting an interesting short break. They had been wanting to do something very special for Hallowe'en, so finding a witch with a holiday home who was intending to let it out and who also wanted to give lessons in witchcraft, seemed uncannily like fate.

Ever since my mum died, I've been the owner of two homes. Most of the time I live in the house I inherited in London, but I also have a beautiful flat overlooking the sea in Sussex. Wonderful, you might think, but the upkeep on two homes was more than I could afford, I discovered. Renting the flat out for holiday stays with  Wimdu will hopefully be a good way to earn a bit of extra money.

Wimdu was not only delighted that I wanted to list my flat on their website, they also wanted to photograph it - and me. So, a few days later a lovely PR person and a very nice photographer turned up with camera equipment for a full-on photoshoot. You can see some of the pictures they took on this post - as well as a pic I took while the flat was been set-dressed.

I have to say, my flat normally looks quite modern - but all those black drapes, spider webs, pumpkin lanterns and dry ice are a fun way of decorating it for the Hallowe'en period. The robe I'm wearing, the chalices, tarot cards, wand, crystal ball and cauldron are things I genuinely use for magic.

Here is what the press release from Wimdu said:

For many Brits, the biggest approaching event on the calendar is Christmas. However, for those that follow the Pagan calendar, the real event of the year is happening on October 31st - Samhain, more commonly known as Hallowe’en.
This year, gutsy travellers searching for an authentically eerie experience will have their wish granted. Writer and practicing Wiccan Lucya Starza is renting out her property this Hallowe’en through social accommodation site, Wimdu.co.uk
As well as providing guests with the comfort of her beachside property, Lucya will also give guests a brief history of Wicca as well as provide personalised Tarot card readings. For those who think they are up to the challenge, Lucya will help visitors create their own spells and they may even have the chance to mix up a potion or two.
Guests will stay in the two-bedroom beach front flat located in Eastbourne’s prestigious Sovereign Harbour and enjoy gorgeous views of the English Channel. Sovereign Harbour also provides clear views of the full moon – the perfect setting for the pagan festival of Samhain.
Arne Bleckwenn, CEO and co-founder of Wimdu said: ‘Wimdu is about more than just finding a place to stay for a night – it’s about experiences and really living like a local. Lucya shows that everyone can rent out their property and make their guests’ experience one they’ll never forget!’

The Press have picked up the story and you can read what they have to say at the Daily Mail, Digital Spy and The Argus.

If you want any more information about Wimdu or the holiday letting visit http://www.wimdu.co.uk/

Halloween & Samhain Events in London and Elsewhere

Here are some of the pagan events taking place over Samhain - or Halloween - in London and southern England:

Now to  6 January 2013; Collective Observations: Folklore and Photography from Benjamin Stone to Flickr. Exhibition at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne, Sussex. Free event. The photo at the top of the page, Skeletons, Samhain, Chalice Well, Glastonbury, Somerset, 2007 by Sara Hannant, author of Mummers, Maypoles and Milkmaids: A Journey Through the English Ritual Year, is one of the photos at the exhibition. For more details, visit http://www.townereastbourne.org.uk/exhibition/collective-observations-folklore-photography-from-benjamin-stone-to-flickr/

Now to Sunday 28 October; The Yoga Show 2012 at Olympia in London. Admission: Adults £12; Concessions £10; Children free. Book early online and save money. For details visit: omyogashow.com

Saturday 27 October; London Ghost Conference, presented by London Fortean Society. Venue: Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4QH. Time: 10.30am-6pm.  Tickets £20 plus £2 booking fee. Tickets can be booked here: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/183287

Saturday 27 October; Night Walks Boo at Bermondsey Halloween Special with Vanessa Woolf and Nigel of Bermondsey. London ghost stories inspired by Charles Dickens' ghost storieswith eerie electro music at Woolfson and Tay bookshop, 13 Bermondsey Square, London SE1 3UN. Time: 2.30pm-3.15pm. Free event but advance booking essential. Suitable for adults and children aged five and above.Visit http://www.woolfsonandtay.com/night-walks.html or call 02074079316

Saturday 27 October; Free and Open Gorsedd of Caer Abiri Samhain Ritual at Avebury Sun Circle, in Avebury, Wiltshire. Open druidic style ceremony to mark Samhain, the end and beginning of times. Meet at the Red Lion Pub, Avebury, around noon for rite at around 1.30pm, ending at around 3pm. As it is Halloween there will be small gifts for children in fancy dress. Contributions of song, poetry, mead and cakes are welcome. There will be music and entertainment in the Red Lion pub in the evening. Overnight camping will be allowed in the nearby overflow car park.

Saturday 27 October; Hern's Tribe Outdoor Samhain Open Ritual. Venue: Lloyd Park, Croydon. Meet at Coombe Lane Tram stop by 3pm the latest. Bring masks and drums if you have them.

Sunday, 28 October; The Shamanic Journey and Personal Creativity. One-day workshop suitable for both novices and experienced practitioners by Zoe Bran of Shaman UK at a venue in Covent Garden, London. Time: 10am until 5pm. Tickets £90. For more details visit http://www.shaman.uk.com/ or call 07847 894453.

Sunday, 28 October; Anderida Gorsedd Samhain 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, 28 October; The Mantra Of Life, The Song Within. Workshop with Bruce Scott at Caer Corhain Shamamic Development Centre of the Isle of Sheppey, North Kent. Time: 10am-4pm or 5pm. Cost: £35 bring a packed lunch. To book a place email Bruce on auberzone@yahoo.com. For more details, visit http://www.touchtheearthuk.com/

Sunday 28 October; Samhain Celebration to Honour the Ancestors. Wheel of the Year ritual drawing from Celtic earth/pagan traditions at Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Tel: 020 7433 3267.

Sunday 28 October; Ghosts, Revenants and Witch Hunters - Hallowe'en at the Rose. Hallowe'en walk with Boo Tours and the Rose Bankside. Venue: The Rose Theatre, Bankside, 56 Park Street, London SE1 9AS. Tickets: £22/£20 Concessions. Time 7pm. For more details and to book tickets visit http://www.rosetheatre.org.uk/events/

Monday 29 October; Frieda Harris and the Thoth Tarot:A celebration of the tarot deck inspired by Aleister Crowley. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. Price: £7, advance booking recommended. For further details: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Monday 29 October; Songs of the Prophet. Evening Concert at Alternatives, St. James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LL. Time: 7pm to 8.30pm. Tickets £10/5 concs. To book tickets and for more info visit the Alternatives website: http://www.alternatives.org.uk/Site/Talks.aspx

Tuesday 30 October; Tarot - A Potted History and the Practical Value Of Oracles. Talk by Avril Price at The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm Cost: £5/£8. Advance booking advised. Tel: 020 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Tuesday 30 October; Destiny and Purpose Demonstration. Talk by Tracey Ash at The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm Cost: £5/£8. Advance booking advised. Tel: 020 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Tuesday 30 October; Chertsey Moot. A social moot held on the last Tuesday of the month at the Golden Grove pub, Ruxbury Road, St Annes Hill, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9EN. All welcome. From 8pm to 11pm. For more details, email: sian_ap_pysgotwr@yahoo.co.uk

Tuesday 30 October; Journey to the Dark Goddess. Talk by Jane Meredith, author of the book of that name. Venue: Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5.30pm. Free event. For more details Tel 020 7836 2182 or visit the website http://www.watkinsbooks.com/

Wednesday 31 October; Journey to the Dark Goddess. Talk by Jane Meredith, author of the book of that name at The Moot with No Name. Venue: The Blue Posts at 81 Newman Street just off Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 3ET. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £5.

Wednesday 31 October; London Dreamtime will be taking part in free family storytelling as part of Newington Green’s community celebration of Halloween. Free event, just turn up on Newington Green. Time: 4pm-6pm. For more details, visit http://www.londondreamtime.com/Events.html

Wednesday 31 October; Circle of Ankerwycke Samhain ritual under an ancient yew tree, deep in the woods near Staines, just west of London. Meeting at 7.30pm in a car park and at 7.45pm processing through the woods to the ritual site where the ritual will begin at 8pm. Advance booking essential as numbers are limited. Email ankerwycke_steering_group-owner@yahoogroups.com

Wednesday 31 October; All Hallow's Eve at Chalice Well World Peace Garden, in Glastonbury. Programme of events including activities for children and fancy dress. Gardens open at 4.30pm and go on until a resting ceremony at 8pm. Price £7 adults, £4.50 children. For more details about Chalice Well, visit the website http://www.chalicewell.org.uk/

Wednesday 31 October; Tamesa: River of Souls Samhain ritual by the Thames with Tamesa London Circle. Meet at London's Millennium Bridge, on the St Pauls' side of the Thames at 8pm. Bring lanterns and food and drink to share.

Thursday 1 November; Druid Order Open Introductory Evening. A chance to learn more about at The Druid Order (A.D.U.B.) at an evening with talks and a meditation. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Price: £7. For more details, call Druid Order on 020 8659 4879.

Thursday 1 November; PFL Samhain Open Ritual by The New Broom Ritual Team in Central London. Venue: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn London. Time: 8pm start. Entrance: £6/£5 PF members. Please bring seasonal food and drinks to share at feast after ritual. For more details, visit http://london.paganfed.org/

Thursday 1 November; The Pagan Munch - a social event for pagans and other spiritually inclined people interested in kinks and fetishes, including BDSM. All welcome, regardless of level of experience; respectful and understanding essential. Venue: The Feathers pub, St James Park 18-20 Broadway, London SW1H 0BH. Starts 6:30pm. Free event.

Friday 2 November - Sunday 4 November; Yoga, The Brain and Mental Health - a three-day conference exploring the role of yoga in emotional healing, affect regulation and neurobiology. Venue: The Brunei Gallery SOAS, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG. Price: Self-funded all three days: £250 + VAT; single day: £150 + VAT. For more details and to book online visit http://www.confer.uk.com/yoga.html

Friday 2 November; Seize the Day. A chance to embrace the inevitability of death and celebrate while we still have the chance. Activities include coffin decorating, planning a fantasy funeral with the Natural Death Centre, hear stories about the mythology of death and listen to talks on the maths of death and the science of zombies. Venue: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. Time 7pm to 11pm. The event is free, but the talks are ticketed.

Friday 2 November; Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki speaking on the Nephilim, the Fallen Angels. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.15pm pm for a 7.30pm start, ends at 10pm. Price: £15, advance booking recommended. For further details: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Friday 2 November; Messages From The Masters - Demonstration. Talk by Edwin Courtenay at The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm Cost: £8/£12. Advance booking advised. Tel: 020 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Saturday 3 November-Sunday 4 November; The Four Faces of the Pyramid with Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki. Weekend workshop of Egyptian magic. There will be an evening ritual, so basic knowledge of ritual techniques is required. The event will take place at a London venue. Times: 9.30am - 8.30pm Sat, 9.30am - 4.30pm Sun. Cost £80, which includes a light supper before the ritual. For more details and to book tickets call Maria-Teresa on 07963428992 or email mariateresaharmer@yahoo.co.uk

Sunday 4 November; Celebration of Samhain with the loose association of druids of Primrose Hill. Gather in the Hawthorne Grove at Primrose Hill, London, between 12.30pm and 12.45pm to prepare the site ready for a prompt 1pm start. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm. Bring a small contribution of picnic food and drink to share. All are welcome. For more details, contact Jeremy on 07956 831503 or visit the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LooseAssociationOfDruidsOfPrimroseHill

The photo Skeletons, Samhain, Chalice Well, Glastonbury, Somerset, 2007 is © Sara Hannant, author of Mummers, Maypoles and Milkmaids: A Journey Through the English Ritual Year

Spell: A Halloween Divination With Pumpkin Seeds

If you have made a Halloween pumpkin lantern and are wondering if there is anything you can do with the seeds apart from eat them or grow more pumpkins, here is fortune telling spell that uses them.

Dry the pumpkin seeds and put them in a bowl on a table with a bit of space. Then, take a handful of seeds from the bowl and say the following words:

Pumpkin seeds,
pumpkin seeds
Let me see
What the future
Holds for me!

Scatter the seeds on the table and see what shapes or pictures they form to give you an idea of what lies ahead for you. The patterns might not be immediately recognisable as anything, but if you spend a minute or two looking, images will start to stand out.

Here are a few things you could look for:
Bird: Good luck - or perhaps you should check the latest tweets on Twitter
Bridge: Favourable journey
Cat: A pet or an untrustworthy friend
Circles: Money or presents
Dog: A pet or a loyal friend
Heart: Pleasures to come, possibly through love
House: Success in business or a property venture
Man: A male visitor will arrive, or news about a man you know
Scales: A lawsuit or justice
Star: Prosperity, fame and happiness. If surrounded by dots, means fortune
Straight line: A long life
Wavy line: Troubles ahead
Woman: A female visitor, or possibly some interesting gossip.

If you feel you need some help interpreting the symbols, you could look at Tea-cup Reading and Fortune Telling by Tea Leaves, which is available for free online from Project Gutenberg, or can be ordered as a book. The meanings given would be pretty much the same for both these ways of fortune telling, although it is always best if you try to use your imagination to work out what the pictures mean for yourself.

The first time I tried this, I got the picture of a house with three rays coming out of it, which you can see in the photo below. It seemed very lucky considering I have big plans for my home. Looking again, I saw the picture could also be a five-pointed star, or pentacle, which is a witches' symbol for magic and protection.

Links and previous related posts:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18241/18241-h/18241-h.htm#4
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/10/how-to-carve-perfect-pumpkin-lantern.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/10/pumpkins-jack-olanterns-mangel-wurzles.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/01/tea-leaf-reading-my-first-attempts.html

Witches and the Occult in Halloween News Stories

As Halloween approaches, the newspapers and news sites are coming out with various stories of witches, magic and the occult. They range from retellings of historic witch trials to various PR stunts. Mind you, I'm not going to knock all the witchy PR stunts, having been involved in one myself recently. I'll be posting something about that as soon as the company involved passes the press release.

Here are some of the Halloween stories:

Witch-shaped lollies to be given away free in Notthingham's Victoria Centre, from thisisnottingham: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/500-chocolate-witch-lollies-given-away/story-17157262-detail/story.html

A listing of Scotland's most infamous witch trials, from Scotsman.com: http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/scotland-s-most-infamous-witch-trials-1-2594330

Witch to fly over forest on a broom, using a zipwire, to promote a ghost trail, from The Northern Echo: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9996852.Witch_flies_in_to_promote_ghost_trail/

The Wookey Hole Witch is looking for a wizard to join her in the cave, from thisissomerset: http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Looking-love-Witch-Wookey-Hole-Caves-hunts-dream/story-17149282-detail/story.html

The University of York has an art exhibition called Temple of the Occult, from The Press: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/exhibitions/9989073.Temple_Of_The_Occult_exhibition__Norman_Rea_Gallery__University_of_York_until_October_27/

Review: Druidry and the Ancestors

Let's face it, most modern witches or druids would like to be able to boast an ancestor who was a bona fide practitioner of the craft. It doesn't seem to matter how much experience one has as a neopagan, a real witch, druid, wise woman or cunning man in the family history gives that little extra kudos.

Some people I know are lucky enough to have their grandma's genuine handwritten book of spells sitting in the bookcase. And, I suspect, that if most of us were able to trace our ancestry far enough back, or find enough documentation, we would probably find a witchy ancestor or two who fit the bill.

But, of course, the true spiritual importance of ancestors for modern day neopagans - witches and druids alike - is far more than simply being able to boast an impressive magical heritage. It is about honouring those who have gone and have shaped our own lives, "the ancestors of blood, the ancestors of place, and the ancestors of tradition". And most of the druid rituals I have attended have paid special importance to honouring the ancestors by inviting their blessings in the ritual space along with the spirits of place and of nature.

A new book by druid Nimue Brown called Druidry and the Ancestors: Finding Our Place In Our Own History is an exploration of "how we imagine and construct our ancestors, and what the implications are of the ways in which we think about them." Nimue says: "This is a book about making peace with the ancestors, understanding their legacies and their ongoing presence in our lives, and exploring how ancestry impacts on community, and ideas of race, nation and culture."

It is not so much a history book, as a book about the way we relate to various concepts of history - family history, the history of our country and the history of paganism. It looks at the stories we weave about our past, and why they are important to our spirituality. It examines how history books - particularly about ancient history and the druids - can be contradictory and misleading, yet the various insights they give can inspire modern practice. Even the tales we tell ourselves of our fantasy ancestors - the witchy granny we would love to have had even if we have no hard proof she existed - can motivate us in our search for spiritual truth.

Publisher Moon Books says on its website: "Ancestors are part of our shared humanity, we all have them. Ancestry in the guise of race, has been used as a tool to divide. Even so, it might yet help us move in greater harmony. Are we playing out the motifs of our family history, or making our own lives? Are we held back by the past, or empowered by it? And why does any of this matter? Druidry and the Ancestors will take you on a journey into how you imagine yourself, and how you can take control of your identity and future."

Samhain is the time of year when many modern pagans, witches and druids alike, remember relatives and teachers who have died as well as honouring those who lived in the land before us. It is a time when the veil between the worlds is thin and the ghosts of our ancestors of line, place and tradition can return to visit the living, perhaps to give words of wisdom from the past. Druidry and the Ancestors offers insight into how we can make sense of all those stories of our ancestors, and how we can relate to them should we contact their spirits through our rituals, meditations or dreams.

Author Nimue Brown is an OBOD trained druid, a founding member of Bards of The Lost Forest and Druid Network member.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.moon-books.net/books/Druidry-Ancestors
www.moon-books.net
Druidry and the Ancestors: Finding our place in our own history
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/03/witchs-niece-and-magical-key-tree.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/02/festival-of-week-parentalia.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/09/bbc-radio-programme-about-druids.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/06/review-druids-tale.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/halloween-controversy.html

Pagan Eye: Labyrinths of Earth and Fire

These two photos show two contrasting labyrinths. The mosaic of a labyrinth with the Minotaur at its centre was captured by Joe Saul and is from the Roman ruins at Conimbrigia, Portugal. The picture of a burning labyrinth was taken by Joolz Darling at the Mercian Gathering in the summer, where she also took the pictures of a burning wicker man and a fire breather that I posted on my blog a few weeks ago.

Labyrinths are different from mazes. Labyrinths can be in a variety of different designs, but are always a single path that folds and winds back on itself, leading eventually towards the heart of the pattern. A maze is made up of diverging paths with a choice of routes, many of which are dead ends but only one correct way to the middle. Labyrinths are found in cultures all over the world and throughout history, and many have spiritual or religious significance.

The Signs and Symbols Bible says: "Labyrinths are represented symbolically as drawings or physically on the ground, where they can be walked from their entry points to the centre and back out again. Historically they have been used in both group rituals and for private meditation. The labyrinth symbolises a psychological or spiritual journey to the centre of one's psyche or soul, to experience insight and then return to the everyday world transformed."

It seemed timely to post these pictures this week, as on Friday, 26 October, Robert Stephenson is giving a talk on Labyrinths and Mazes Worldwide at Research into Lost Knowledge Organisation (Rilko). The venue for the talk is the Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, W1U 8EA. The Doors open 6.45pm and admission is £5 for Rilko members and £7 for non-members.

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures.

If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself.

The photos are copyright Joe Saul and Joolz Darling and are used with permission. Please do not download or copy them without permission.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/10/into-labyrinth-of-minotaur.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/08/days-out-amazing-maize-maze.html
http://www.rilko.net/EZ/rilko/rilko/home.php
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/07/review-signs-and-symbols-bible.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/09/pagan-eye-wicker-man-on-fire-under-full.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/08/pagan-eye-face-in-tree.html
http://www.merciangathering.com/merciangathering.htm
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/09/pagan-eye-fire-breather.html

Halloween Reading: The Witch's Handbook

Regular readers of A Bad Witch's Blog might expect any book I reviewed called The Witch's Handbookwould be about how modern witches are nice people and not nasty hags who cackle at others' misery when they aren't actively bringing that misery about.

Well, this is Halloween, so here's a book all about how to be a wicked witch, as well as how to look the part, warts and all.

It is, of course, aimed at kids. And it is meant to be funny. It is. I cackled all the way through it, in true wicked-witch style.

I came across The Witch's Handbook at a friend's house and loved it so much that my friend kindly lent it to me to write about for my blog - and just maybe also try out the knitting patterns for a black pointy hat and fingerless gloves with stars and moons on them.

So, what's so great about The Witch's Handbook? Well, it is wonderful mixture of the traditional witch's craft, fun stuff to make or do for Halloween and humour that shows there is a bit of the wicked witch in all of us.

I could only nod in agreement at the page on herb lore - knitbone as a poultice to help painful joints, soapwort for washing clothes and sage flowers to boost the memory. Wearing mismatched socks and inside-out clothes with twigs sticking out of them would not only help one get that literal hedge-witch appearance, but would also genuinely be lucky, at least as far as folklore is concerned. The basic introduction to tea-leaf reading is spot on too.

Then there's recipes for scary food that I would love to try out next time I have a Halloween party. Worm Soup uses bits of spaghetti and red lentils to get that wriggly appearance and pink colour just right. Dubious Trifle contains dead flies made out of raisins with slivers of almond for wings, and spiders made out of black grapes and liquorice.

And there's also plenty of advice about how to look like a witch, from gruesome beauty tips, to broom-making instructions and the above-mentioned pattern to knit a witch's pointy hat.

What makes the book really appealing is that it is all done in delightful cartoon form, with great pictures containing lots of fun things to spot. Some of those things I spotted brought home a few truths. Yes, indeed, my witch's garden does have green slimy moss on the path, dead things in the flowerbeds and spiders, slugs and a stinky Tom cat as its main wildlife. I might like to have a fairy garden with pretty flowers and butterflies, but the truth is at the moment I have one that looks like it belongs to a genuine bad witch.

The Witch's Handbookis not a new book. In fact I have discovered it is rather rare and becoming collectible. Even second hand paperback copies can change hands for around £30.

Nevertheless, if I had kids of my own, I would buy them this book for Halloween.

A Good Night to Watch the Orionid Meteor Shower

I'm no astronomer, but this message about the Orionid meteor shower, which is doing the rounds on Facebook, seemed worth sharing.

Yes, I know it has spelling mistakes - and a little research has shown me that the Orionids occur every year, so aren't exactly rare - but the message is correct in saying that the night of 20 to 21 October should be the best time to see them, if we get a clear sky.

The Orionids are fast-moving meteors that often leave bright fireballs in their wake, which can be seen from the UK at this time of year, especially at around the time of the new moon.

According to the website EarthSky: "If you trace these meteors backward, they seem to come from the club of the famous constellation Orion the Hunter."

Links and previous related posts
http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide
http://www.ukweatherworld.co.uk/forum/index.php?/topic/94335-orionids-meteor-shower-2021-october-2012-reports/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/01/pictures-of-northern-lights.html

Pagan Events Over Samhain In and Near London

Hallowe'en - or Samhain - is the time when the veil between the worlds is thin, and the spirits of the dead can  return to the land of the living. For pagans, Samhain is one of the most important festivals of the year. It is a time to honour and remember the ancestors and loved ones who have died, but it is also a time to tell ghost stories. Here are some of the pagan events taking place in London and nearby in the couple of weeks leading up to Hallowe'en.

Now until 6 January 2013; Collective Observations: Folklore and Photography from Benjamin Stone to Flickr. Exhibition at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne, Sussex. Free event. For more details, visit http://www.townereastbourne.org.uk/exhibition/collective-observations-folklore-photography-from-benjamin-stone-to-flickr/

Friday 19 October; Treadwells Hallowe'en Party at Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm start. Free event but advance booking essential. For further details: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Friday 19 October; Demonstration of Mediumship by Anthony Kesner at The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm Cost: £8/£12. Advance booking advised. Tel: 020 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Saturday 20 October; Hallowe'en: Custom, Lore, Magic. One-day workshop about the lore of Samhain or Hallowe'en with Wiccan priestess Suzanne Corbie. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am-5.30pm. Ticket price £35, deposit of £20 in advance. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Sunday 21 October; Samhain Celebration with Pagan FutureFests. One-day pagan festival in Balham, South London. Venue: The Bedford Hotel, 77 Bedford Hill, Balham London SW12 9HD. Time: noon until 10pm. Tickets £13 all day, £7 evening only, includes entry to all activities. For more details and to book tickets visit: http://www.paganfuturefests.org.uk/id1.html

Sunday 21 October; Dawn of the Oak. Pagan moot on the third Sunday of each month. Venue: Upstairs at The Castle, 34-35 Cowcross Road, Farringdon, London EC1M 6DB (near Farringdon tube). Time: 3pm-6pm.

Sunday 21 October; October Plenty - an Autumn harvest celebration held annually in Southwark, starting at noon on the Bankside, by Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Free event. For more details, visit http://www.thelionspart.co.uk/octoberplenty/index.html

Monday 22 October; Hecate Goddess Of Transformation, Magic, And Death. Talk by Carrie Kirkpatrick and showing of the film Hecate Rising, showing a Samhain ritual. Venue: pagan forum Secret Chiefs, 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/

Monday 22 October; Choice Point. Movie screening at Alternatives, St. James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LL. Time: 7pm to 8.45pm. Tickets £10/5 concs. To book tickets and for more info visit the Alternatives website: http://www.alternatives.org.uk/Site/Talks.aspx

Tuesday, 23 October; Halloween Vigial to honour The Goose and the outcast dead of Cross Bones Graveyard, with elements of the Halloween of Crossbones Ritual Dramas from previous years. 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, but bring ribbons or other items to decorate the shrine. http://www.crossbones.org.uk/

Wednesday 24 October; The Energy and Folklore of Crow as Spirit Companion and 'Sin Eater'. Talk by hedge rider Jacqueline Gemini Honeybee at The Moot with No Name. Venue: The Blue Posts at 81 Newman Street just off Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 3ET. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £5.

Thursday, 25 October; The Moon and Madness. Talk by Dr Niall McCrae, lecturer in mental health at King’s College, London, at the London Fortean Society, upstairs at the Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX. 7.30pm for 8pm start. £3/£2 concessions. Society meets on the last Thursday of each month. For more details, visit http://forteanlondon.blogspot.co.uk/

Friday, 26 October; Labyrinths And Mazes Worldwide. Lecture by Robert Stephenson at
Research into Lost Knowledge Organisation (Rilko). Venue: Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, W1U 8EA. Doors open 6.45pm. Admission £7 non-members, £5 members. http://www.rilko.net/EZ/rilko/rilko/home.php

Friday 26 to Sunday 28 October; The Yoga Show 2012 at Olympia in London. Admission: Adults £12; Concessions £10; Children free. Book early online and save money. For details visit: omyogashow.com

Friday 26 October, Spooks and Spoofs: Psychologists and Psychical Research in the Inter-War Years. Lecture by Professor Elizabeth Valentine at The Royal Society, London. Free event, no tickets required. Doors open at 12.30pm; talk 1pm – 2pm. Full details here: http://royalsociety.org/events/2012/spooks-and-spoofs/

Friday 26 October, An Evening of Angel Readings with Amanda Roberts at The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm.- 8.30pm Cost: £8/£12. Advance booking advised. Tel: 020 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Friday 26 October; an evening for adults to celebrate Samhain with live music, fortune telling and a bar at Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton, Hants. From 7pm. Tickets £12. For more details, call 02392 598838 or visit http://www.butser.org.uk/

Friday 26 October; Inauguration of the CoH Sanctuary Hekate Magna. First public event of the Covenant of Hekate sanctuary in London - a devotional meeting to celebrate the magic of Hekate. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London WC1A 1LY. 7pm start. Entry: £6.

Saturday 27 October; London Ghost Conference, presented by London Fortean Society. Venue: Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4QH. Time: 10.30am-6pm.  Tickets £20 plus £2 booking fee. Tickets can be booked here: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/183287

Saturday 27 October; Free and Open Gorsedd of Caer Abiri Samhain Ritual at Avebury Sun Circle, in Avebury, Wiltshire. Open druidic style ceremony to mark Samhain, the end and beginning of times. Meet at the Red Lion Pub, Avebury, around noon for rite at around 1.30pm, ending at around 3pm. As it is Halloween there will be small gifts for children in fancy dress. Contributions of song, poetry, mead and cakes are welcome. There will be music and entertainment in the Red Lion pub in the evening. Overnight camping will be allowed in the nearby overflow car park.

Sunday, 28 October; Anderida Gorsedd Samhain 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, 28 October; The Shamanic Journey and Personal Creativity. One-day workshop suitable for both novices and experienced practitioners by Zoe Bran of Shaman UK at a venue in Covent Garden, London. Time: 10am until 5pm. Tickets £90. For more details visit http://www.shaman.uk.com/ or call 07847 894453.

Sunday, 28 October; The Mantra Of Life, The Song Within. Workshop with Bruce Scott at Caer Corhain Shamamic Development Centre of the Isle of Sheppey, North Kent. Time: 10am-4pm or 5pm. Cost: £35 bring a packed lunch. To book a place email Bruce on auberzone@yahoo.com. For more details, visit http://www.touchtheearthuk.com/

Sunday 28 October; Samhain Celebration to Honour the Ancestors. Wheel of the Year ritual drawing from Celtic earth/pagan traditions at Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Tel: 020 7433 3267.

Sunday 28 October; Ghosts, Revenants and Witch Hunters - Hallowe'en at the Rose. Hallowe'en walk with Boo Tours and the Rose Bankside. Venue: The Rose Theatre, Bankside, 56 Park Street, London SE1 9AS. Tickets: £22/£20 Concessions. Time 7pm. For more details and to book tickets visit http://www.rosetheatre.org.uk/events/

Monday 29 October; Songs of the Prophet. Evening Concert at Alternatives, St. James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LL. Time: 7pm to 8.30pm. Tickets £10/5 concs. To book tickets and for more info visit the Alternatives website: http://www.alternatives.org.uk/Site/Talks.aspx

Tuesday 30 October; Tarot - A Potted History and the Practical Value of Oracles. Talk by Avril Price at The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm Cost: £5/£8. Advance booking advised. Tel: 020 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Tuesday 30 October; Destiny And Purpose Demonstration. Talk by Tracey Ash at The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm Cost: £5/£8. Advance booking advised. Tel: 020 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Tuesday 30 October; Chertsey Moot. A social moot held on the last Tuesday of the month at the Golden Grove pub, Ruxbury Road, St Annes Hill, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9EN. All welcome. From 8pm to 11pm. For more details, email: sian_ap_pysgotwr@yahoo.co.uk

Tuesday 30 October; Journey to the Dark Goddess. Talk by Jane Meredith, author of the book of that title. Venue: Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5.30pm. Free event. For more details Tel 020 7836 2182 or visit the website http://www.watkinsbooks.com/

Wednesday 31 October; Circle of Ankerwycke Samhain ritual under an ancient yew tree, deep in the woods near Staines, just west of London. Meeting at 7.30pm in a car park and at 7.45pm processing through the woods to the ritual site where the ritual will begin at 8pm. Advance booking essential as numbers are limited. Email ankerwycke_steering_group-owner@yahoogroups.com

Wednesday 31 October; All Hallow's Eve at Chalice Well World Peace Garden, in Glastonbury. Programme of events including activities for children and fancy dress. Gardens open at 4.30pm and go on until a resting ceremony at 8pm. Price £7 adults, £4.50 children. For more details about Chalice Well, visit the website
http://www.chalicewell.org.uk/

Thursday 1 November; Druid Order Open Introductory Evening. A chance to learn more about at The Druid Order (A.D.U.B.) at an evening with talks and a meditation. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Price: £7. For more details, call Druid Order on 020 8659 4879.

Thursday 1 November; PFL Samhain Open Ritual by The New Broom Ritual Team in Central London. Venue: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn London. Time: 8pm start. Entrance: £6/£5 PF members. Please bring seasonal food and drinks to share at feast after ritual. For more details, visit http://london.paganfed.org/

Sunday 4 November; Celebration of Samhain with the loose association of druids of Primrose Hill. Gather in the Hawthorne Grove at Primrose Hill, London, between 12.30pm and 12.45pm to prepare the site ready for a prompt 1pm start. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm. Bring a small contribution of picnic food and drink to share. All are welcome. For more details, contact Jeremy on 07956 831503 or visit the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LooseAssociationOfDruidsOfPrimroseHill

London Necropolis: West Norwood Cemetery

Highgate cemetery, in North London, might be famous for its Gothic tombs but before that was built West Norwood Cemetery, in South London, was created as the UK's first Gothic cemetery - and I think it is just as impressive.

Back in Victorian times there was a real problem of where to bury the dead. City graveyards were overflowing with corpses - quite literally. Seven magnificent new burial grounds, including West Norwood, were constructed around the edges of London to cope with the surfeit. The others were Kensal Green, Abney Park, Brompton, Nunhead, Tower Hamlets and Highgate. They became known as The Magnificent Seven Cemeteries.

Famous people buried at West Norwood include cookery writer Mrs Beeton, natural historian Gideon Mantell, inventor of the automatic machine gun Sir Hiram Maxim and potter Henry Doulton. You can see the inscription on the Doulton terracotta monument in the photo to the left. It states: "He discovered deep things out of darkness, And bringeth out to light the shadow of death." Sounds rather magical.

I visited West Norwood Cemetery on a sunny Sunday last month and took the photographs you can see on this page, as well as visiting an art installation called the Streetscape Carousel, which displayed silhouettes of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries on the walls within West Norwood's Greek Chapel.

I blogged about the carousel a couple of weeks ago, and you can see pictures of it here.

The small photo to the top right shows the outside of the Greek Chapel - an impressive neo-classical structure based on the Parthenon, which makes a striking contrast against the primarily Gothic architecture in the rest of the burial ground. These days, as well as still housing a working crematorium, the West Norwood cemetery distinguishes itself from rest of the Magnificent Seven by being an art venue.

One of the oddest things in West Norwood Cemetery, which took me quite by surprise when I spotted it, is a bus stop named "The Last Request". When I saw it, I was half expecting to then see some Harry Potter style magic bus turn up to take departing spirits on their journey off to the next world. I later learnt the bus stop was left from an art installation back in June, called The Curious Trail. The cemetery also hosts theatrical and musical productions as well as talks.

The next talk is on Saturday 17 November and could appeal to steampunk fans and other admirers of Victorian engineering. Paul Dobraszczyk of Reading University will be talking about Charles Henry Driver (1832-1900), a Victorian architect who designed many railway stations and, with Bazalgette, designed Crossness and Abbey Mills pumping station.

Dr Dobraszczyk is the author of a book calledInto the Belly of the Beast: Exploring London's Victorian Sewers.

The Friends of West Norwood Cemetery, who help organise and run the artistic and literary events at the cemetery, love people to visit it to admire the wonderful architecture even when there aren't special exhibitions or talks taking place. And Hallowe'en, or Samhain as pagans call it, would be the perfect time for a walk amongst the Gothic tombs to admire their beauty and to pay respects to those buried there.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/10/london-necropolis-victorian-cemetery.html
http://www.fownc.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Norwood_Cemetery
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/10/london-necropolis-highgate-cemetery.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/walking-among-londons-dead.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/10/london-necropolis-brompton-cemetery.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/halloween-controversy.html
http://www.westnorwoodcemetery.com/maps_and_trails/
http://www.westnorwoodcemetery.com/curious_trail/

Pagan Eye: The Externsteine in Germany

The photos above and below show the Externsteine, a massive rock formation in northwest Germany consisting of several tall, narrow tors that rise out of the surrounding wooded hills. They are popular tourist attractions - sometimes called Germany's Stonehenge, although  the Externsteine are natural rather than built by man.

Considerable mystery surrounds the stones' past. There is a historic Christian chapel at the site, but many people believe they were also a place of worship by ancient pagans even though no archaeological evidence of it has been discovered there. At the top of the tallest stone is a chamber that appears to be an altar. Directly above the altar stone a circular hole is cut into the wall, facing the direction of sunrise at the summer solstice.

Controversy over the Externsteine increased after Nazi occultist and archaeologist Wilhelm Teudt and head of the SS Heinrich Himmler set up the Externstein Foundation in 1933 to investigate the stones and potentially use them for ceremonial purposes.

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures.

If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself.

Links and previous related posts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externsteine
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/06/pagan-eye-lake-nemi-and-sacred-groves.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/07/pagan-eye-waylands-smithy-on-sunny-day.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/07/pagan-eye-bryn-celli-ddu-on-anglesey.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/06/pagan-eye-rollright-stones.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/07/pagan-eye-roman-temple-of-fortuna.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/01/nazi-sorcerers-at-stonehenge.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/03/news-nazi-crystal-skull-found.html

Event: Victorian Seance at Charles Dickens Exhibition

View Larger Map

I've only just heard about an event happening on Thursday evening, which sounds perfect for around the time of Halloween or Samhain and, even better, is free to get in.

This Thursday, London Dreamtime will be at the Cuming Museum in South London performing a Victorian-style seance as part of an exhibition about Charles Dickens and Dickensian London.

Vanessa of London Dreamtime said: "The museum commissioned us to create a new performance piece about a seance as part of their exhibition on Charles Dickens. 'Charles and The Flickering Lights' is a mixture of storytelling and vintage soundscapes, Moog, Ring Modulator etc and, as ever, the whole thing is inspired by our beloved London. Enter another world."

The Cuming Museum is a small musuem in South London with displays that include archaeology, ethnography, social history and natural history items collected by Cuming Family in the 19th Century.

The show is on Thursday 18 October from 6pm-8pm at the Cuming Museum, 151 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RY.

For more details, visit The London Dreamtime website at http://www.londondreamtime.com/London_Storyteller.html and Southwark Council's page on the Cuming museum at http://www.southwark.gov.uk/cumingmuseum

The map at the top shows the location of the Cuming Museum