News: Witchcraft, Witch Hunts, History, Folklore

"Police raid home of New Orleans witch, find bones, teeth" - story at SunHerald: http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/crime/article69079287.html

"Starved 'witch' toddler's incredible recovery" - story at New Zealand Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11613903

"Heritage campaigners bid for new memorial to burned 'witches'" - story at the Scotsman: http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/heritage-campaigners-bid-for-new-memorial-to-burned-witches-1-4084622

"Chhattisgarh woman branded witch, beaten to death by family - Raipur" - story at NYOOOZ: http://www.nyoooz.com/raipur/403294/chhattisgarh-woman-branded-witch-beaten-to-death-by-family

"Palm Sunday traditions blend in Finland" - story at The Columbian: http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/mar/26/palm-sunday-traditions-blend-in-finland/

London: Regent's Canal by Queen Mary University

Yesterday afternoon I went to a panel discussion at Queen Mary University of London on African witchcraft. It was a brilliant event and I'm going to be blogging about it at length - but not today because writing it up will take some time. Instead I am sharing a view of Regent's Canal, which runs alongside the university.

I arrived at the East London campus with some time to spare and the bus stop I alighted at was called Regent's Canal I thought I'd go and explore the waterway before heading to the lecture room.  It was a lovely place for a springtime stroll and I took this photo when I was there.

Regent's Canal winds through North London from Little Venice to Limehouse in East London, where it joins the Thames. Although it was originally a busy 19th century route for transporting cargo, these days it is a quiet and peaceful place to get away from the noise and crowds of the city.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/08/canal-views-and-wild-swimming.html
http://www.qmul.ac.uk/
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/

This Week's Pagan Events In and Near London

Here are some events in and near London that could be of interest to pagans. The most important event this weekend is the launch of the exhibition on Folklore, Magic and Mysteries: Modern Witchcraft and Folk Culture in Britain, in Brighton. The picture above shows some of the items from Doreen Valiente collection, which should be on show.

Now - 29 July; Scholar, Courtier, Magician: the lost library of John Dee. London exhibition. Venue: Royal College of Physicians, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4LE. Entry free. Opening times vary but normally only Monday-Friday until 5pm, visit the website for details: https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/events

Now - 12 September; Austin Osman Spare - A Major Retrospective. Venue: The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and Natural History, 11 Mare Street, London E84RP. Opens 1pm Saturday 6 Feb. http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/

Now - 31 August; Akhenaten: Heretic, Visionary, Icon Exhibition at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, UCL Malet Place, London WC1E 6BT. Lunchtime tours: 1.15pm-1.45pm. For more details, email events.petrie@ucl.ac.uk or phone 020 7679 4138.

Wednesday 30 March; Worlds of Witchcraft: Comparing African and European Histories of the Occult. Venue: School of History, Arts 2 Senior Common Room, Arts 2 Building, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Rd, E1 4NS. Time: 1pm-5pm. Free event. Tickets: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/worlds-of-witchcraft-tickets-22489577933

Thursday 31 March; South London Wicca Meetup Initiatory Training Group event. Venue: Private house in Tooting Bec, South London. Time: 7pm. You must be a member of the meetup group to reserve a place on this event: http://www.meetup.com/South-London-Wicca-Meetup/

Thursday 31 March; Isis Ritual at Cleopatra's Needle for Festival of all Lunar Goddesses. Location: Cleopatra's Needle, Victoria Embankment. Time: 6.30pm to 8pm. For more details and to reserve a place visit: http://www.meetup.com/LondonMagicians/

Thursday 31 March; Personal Pagan Mentorship- Explore the witch in you... with Ashley Summers. Venue: 61 Beechwood Avenue. Hayes, UB3 1JW. Time: 7pm to 8.30pm. Cost £6. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/personal-pagan-mentorship-explore-the-witch-in-you-tickets-21133828851

Thursday 31 March; Cthulhu and Contemporary Occultures. Talk organised by the London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX.. Tickets: £4/2. Time: 7.45pm. Details: http://forteanlondon.blogspot.co.uk/ Tickets: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/346901

Friday 1 April; Mandrake’s Saturn Return – Party. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm to 10pm. Price: Free but RSVP to get put on the guest list. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Friday 1 April; Pagan Piss-Up. Pub crawl with Hertford Pagan Moot. Starting at the White Horse pub, Hertford, at 8pm. (Note: Hertford Pagan Moot normally meets on the last Wednesday of every month in the upstairs room of the White Horse Pub, 33 Castle Street, Hertford, at 8pm).

Saturday 2 April to 30 September; Folklore, Magic and Mysteries: Modern Witchcraft and Folk Culture in Britain - exhibition of artefacts, manuscripts and documents from the Doreen Valiente Foundation. Venue: Preston Manor, Preston Drove, Brighton BN1 6SD. Time: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 2-5pm. Free entry to exhibition with Preston Manor admission (adult £5.85, child (5-15) £3.15). Details: http://brightonmuseums.org.uk/prestonmanor/

Saturday 2 April; Launch event for Folklore, Magic and Mysteries: Modern Witchcraft and Folk Culture in Britain exhibition. Venue: Preston Manor, Preston Drove, Brighton BN1 6SD. A day of talks and film screenings about Doreen Valiente. Time:  10am-5pm; Sunday 2-5pm. Price: £6.60. Details: http://www.wherewitchcraftlives.org/doreen_valiente-exhibition-launch-14.php

Saturday 2 April; Making Silver Amulets workshop. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am to 5.30pm. Price: £40. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 2 April; Leaping Hare convention 2016. Talks include: Derek Starkswood: Paganism in the Old Testament, Robin Herne: Celtic Poetry and Magic, Nick Ford's talk: On the Death of Gods, Oscar Kolkowski: The Kalevala. There will also be workshops, performances and ritual. Venue: Highwoods Community Centre, Colchester, Essex. Advance tickets £6.50, More details: http://www.leapinghare.webs.com/

Saturday 2 April; Eerie stories on the roof - storytelling and music with London Dreamtime  and at a secret rooftop location near Bond Street Tube Station, Central London. Time 6pm. Cost £3, booking is essential, email vanessa@londondreamtime.com. For more details, visit http://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Saturday 2 April; Hendon Heathens Moot, Venue: Greyhound Pub, Church End, Hendon, London, NW4 4JT. Time: 6pm. Hendon Heathens meets at this pub the first Saturday of every month.

Sunday 3 April; Meditation at Russell Brands Trew Era Cafe, 30 Whitmore Road, London N1 5QA. Starts 10.15am. Free event. Details: http://www.meetup.com/londonspiritualcommunity

Sunday 3 April; Author Philip Heselton will be signing copies of his latest book Doreen Valiente Witchat Waterstones, 71-74 North Street, Brighton, BN1 1ZA. Time: 11.30am. Details: https://www.waterstones.com/events/doreen-valiente/brighton

Sunday 3 April; Healing Portraits - Heal with Art with the Sensing Energy and Intuition Development Meet-up Group. Venue: Latvian House, 72 Queensborough Terrace, London, W2 3SH, Time: Noon. Cost: £15. http://www.meetup.com/Sensing-Energy-and-Intuition-Development/

Monday 4 April; The Desire Code. Talk and book signing by Pierre Franckh at Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6pm. Free event. For more details Tel 020 7836 2182 or visit the website http://www.watkinsbooks.com/

Monday 4 April; Alchemy’s Splendor Solis. Lecture by Paul Cowlan. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.15pm - 9pm. Price: £8. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Tuesday 5 April; Judy Hall's Card Reading Workshop with the Crystal Wisdom Healing Oracle.Venue: Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6pm-9pm. Tickets £35/£50. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/judy-halls-card-reading-workshop-with-the-crystal-healing-wisdom-oracle-tickets-22420042952

Tuesday 5 April; London Magicians Moot - Talk on the Forbidden Grimoire of Harut and Marut. Venue: Souk Media, 1a Short's Gardens, London, WC2H 9AT. Time: 6.30pm for 7pm start. For more details and to reserve a place visit: http://www.meetup.com/LondonMagicians/

Tuesday 5 April; Cobwebs and Cauldrons Moot. Venue: Romford White Horse Pub, 118 High Road, RM6 6NU. Moot takes place on the first Tuesday of every month. 7.30pm start.

Tuesday 5 April; Wand workshop at the Witches' Inn Gathering. Venue: The Feathers Hotel in Merstham, Surrey RH1 3EA. Starts at 8pm. Moots are the first Tuesday of each month. For more details and to reserve a place visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Witches-Inn/1568424150049437

Thursday 7 April; Psychometry Workshop - Psychic and Spiritual Circle. Venue: Fairkytes Art Centre, 51 Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1AX. Time: 7pm. £8. https://www.facebook.com/events/1046637655392775/

Friday 8 April; Leasungspell: an Anglo-Saxon fool's tale. Venue: Room 41, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 6.30pm. Free event. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Friday 8 April; London College of Spirituality social and pub moot. Venue: New Moon Pub (Downstairs), 88 Gracechurch Street, Bank, London, EC3V 0DN. Time: 7pm. Entry: Only those who have booked. Details and booking: http://www.meetup.com/londonspirituality

Saturday 9 April; Practical Candle Magic. Afternoon workshop with myself, Lucya Starza, author of Pagan Portals - Candle Magic. (Note: This workshop has now sold out but I am running it again on June 12) Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm to 3.15pm. Ticket price £20 in advance, all materials supplied. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 9 April: Sacred Oils workshop with Felicity Warner. Venue: The Study Society, Colet House, 151 Talgarth Road, London W14 9DA. Time 1pm start. Tickets £50/£60 online. For more details and to book tickets: http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Saturday 9 April; Subterranea: Myths, Mysteries and Magic of the Underground World hosted by London Fortean Society. Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Time: 2.30pm-5.30pm. Tickets: £8+booking fee. Details and booking: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lfs-subterranean-saturday-tickets-21428647662

Sunday 10 April; First part of four one-day workshops on the Path of Earth run by Shamanic Spirit at a venue in Croydon, South London. Starts 10am. For more details and to book places call 07952 041477. For more information, visit http://shamanicspirit.co.uk

Note: The only one of these events I am personally involved with is my candle magic workshop. I am not responsible for any of the other events listed here. Do check with the organisers about tickets and timings before turning up to any event. I try to keep my listings accurate, but do not always know of late changes, cancellations or ticket availability.

A Christian Reverend Chats to Me About Witchcraft

Some time ago the Rev Peter Laws interviewed me for an online Christian magazine and asked me questions about witchcraft and also about what witches think of the Church. The issue with the article in has now been published and you can read it here: http://www.premierchristianity.com/Past-Issues/2016/April-2016/Meet-The-Real-Life-Witches

As Peter mentions in the article, we first met at Assap's conference on demonic possession, Seriously Possessed. We chatted again at Seriously Bewitched. Oh and the witch who Peter said offered him a glass of red wine was my friend, Ridge Radio DJ Rebecca Bird.

Event: New Date to Learn Candle Magic at Treadwell's

I'm going to be running my workshop on practical candle magic at Treadwell's Bookshop for a third time - on Sunday 12 June in the afternoon.

I first ran it on February 2, a few day's after the launch party for my book  Pagan Portals - Candle Magic. It filled up fast so a second date was scheduled, for Saturday, April 9, but that has now sold out too so Treadwell's has asked me to run it a third time.

Candle magic is a basic and central skill in the repertoire of pagans, in accordance with traditional spellcraft. My workshop covers basic techniques and a few advanced ones too. Everyone gets a chance to prepare a candle or two to take home with them, with all materials supplied.

The afternoon costs £20 per person. To book a place call 020 7419 8507 or email info@treadwells-london.com. You can buy copies of Pagan Portals - Candle Magic at Treadwell's store and online: https://www.treadwells-london.com/shop/candle-magic-lucya-starza/

Treadwell's is at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS.

Links and previous related posts
https://www.treadwells-london.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/01/outside-treadwells-at-launch-of-pp.html
https://www.treadwells-london.com/shop/candle-magic-lucya-starza/
http://www.moon-books.net/books/pagan-portals-candle-magic

Review: Pagan Portals - Brigid: The Celtic Goddess

Brigid is one of the most popular Goddesses with pagans of the 21st century. I suspect the Celtic Goddess of poetry, the forge and healing wells particularly appeals because she has so many roles, extending beyond those perhaps traditionally assigned to women. It feels good to honour a goddess who might fix your car as much as she might inspire your creative writing and help make you feel better when you are unwell.

A new book in the Pagan Portals series - Brigid: Meeting The Celtic Goddess of Poetry, Forge, and Healing Well - offers a well-researched insight into the history of Brigid as well as ways for modern pagans to honour her in ceremony and prayer.

Publisher Moon Books says on its website:

Pagan Portals - Brigid is a basic introduction to the Goddess Brigid focusing on her history and myth as well as her modern devotion and worship. Primarily looking at the Irish Goddess but including a discussion of her Pan-Celtic appearances, particularly in Scotland. Her different appearances in mythology are discussed along with the conflation of the pagan Goddess with Catholic saint. Modern methods for neopagans to connect to and honor this popular Goddess include offerings and meditation, and personal anecdotes from the author's experiences are included as well.
Who was Brigid to the pre-Christian pagans? Who is she today to neopagans? How do we re-weave the threads of the old pagan Goddess and the new? Learn about Brigid's myths among the pagan Irish, the stories of Bride in Scotland, and the way that people today are finding and honoring this powerful and important deity to find the answer.

I found the book very interesting to read and well researched. Although the entire Pagan Portals series is aimed at those just starting out on a pagan path, I discovered things about Brigid in it that were new to me. What is particularly good about Pagan Portals - Brigid is that it goes back to the earliest available source material and offers tales about the goddess as well as prayers to her that are authentic and yet easy to use in a modern context

Author Morgan Daimler says in her introduction: "Pagan Portals: Brigid was written as a resource for seekers of the pagan Goddess specifically and offers both solid academic material and anecdotes of connecting with Brigid in a format that is accessible and designed to be easy to read."

I am sure I will be referring to this book in the future for rites to honour Brigid - or Brigantia as she was known in England.

Pagan Portals - Brigid: Meeting the Celtic Goddess of Poetry, Forge, and Healing Well can be ordered via Amazon.

The photo to the left shows a statue of Brigantia that was on display at the recent Celts exhibition at the British Museum

Links and previous related posts
Pagan Portals - Brigid: Meeting The Celtic Goddess Of Poetry, Forge, And Healing Well
http://www.moon-books.net/books/pagan-portals-brigid
Ley Line Pilgrimage to Bride's Well
Candle Magic - Brigid's Flame

News: Easter, Witchcraft, Pagans, Druids, Ásatrú

"A Witch Looks at Easter" - story at the Huffington Post: "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/courtney-weber/a-witch-looks-at-easter_b_9544472.html"

"Want to Become a Pagan? Depends on Whether You Ask a Wiccan, Neo-Druid or Gaian" - story at Inverse: "https://www.inverse.com/article/13306-want-to-become-a-pagan-depends-on-whether-you-ask-a-wiccan-neo-druid-or-gaian"

"Church Membership Taking A Dive, Pagans Increasing" - story about the rise of paganism in Iceleand at Reykjavík Grapevine: https://grapevine.is/news/2016/03/25/church-membership-taking-a-dive/

"Brittany mayors stage 'Druid healer' hoax to highlight shortage of doctors" - story at Telegraph.co.uk: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/12198022/Brittany-mayors-stage-Druid-healer-hoax-to-highlight-shortage-of-doctors.html

"Does this spooky snap show the ghost of a WITCH sitting next to a young girl?" - story at Express.co.uk: "http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/655340/Picture-ghost-WITCH-young-girl"

A Walk to the Sea Over the Sussex Downs

Yesterday the sun was shining, the sky was blue and my hubby and I went for a lovely walk over the Sussex Downs to a little cove that we thought was something of a secret only known about by those who live in the area and dedicated ramblers.

The route to the beach is normally pretty deserted even when nearby Seven Sisters Country Park is teaming with tourists. Certainly we hardly saw any other humans while we were walking - although there were plenty of rabbits to be seen hopping about happily on the grassy slopes, enjoying the bright morning. We arrived at the cove just as the tide was turning and starting to go out. Waves were still breaking over the bottom of the steps.

We almost had the beach to ourselves and we found a sheltered spot against the bottom of the chalk cliff where we could sit and have a picnic while we watched waves crash over rocks.

It had been a particularly high spring tide that day and the shoreline was scattered with beautiful shells that had been washed in. I picked up a few large ones to take home to use as holders for candles or to burn herbs in on my altar.

Links and previous related posts
Traditional Witchcraft for the Seashore
Oysters, Pearls and Treasure from the Sea
My Home-Made Staff From Beachcombed Flotsam

Learning to Tell a Grass Snake from an Adder

I'm spending a few days in the Sussex countryside for the Easter holidays and enjoying going on lovely walks. I spotted this snake in a water meadow by a stile I was about to cross. I managed to get one photograph before it swiftly slithered off into the undergrowth.

I guess I don't have Harry Potter's skills in snake communication because I think the poor thing was more frightened of me than I was of it. I was unsure if it was a harmless grass snake or a poisonous adder because I couldn't see the back of its head where the adder has a tell-tale V or X marking.

After I got home I looked it up online on the BBC nature website and I am now pretty sure it was a grass snake. Apparently grass snakes have black bars down the side of the body whereas adders have zig-zag stripes.

Although I don't suffer from ophidiophobia, or a phobia of snakes, I am wary of being bitten by a poisonous variety. Many years ago, my uncle was bitten on the bum while using a hole-in-ground toilet when camping in woods. He then had an embarrassing trip to hospital with his trousers still round his ankles.

Shortly after seeing the snake, I wondered if it had been an omen warning me not to cross the stile.The meadow on the other side of the hedge was deceptively boggy and my boots sunk into deep mud. It got worse the further across the field I went, and I eventually turned back when faced with a stream that had burst its banks.

In terms of spiritual messages, snakes often represent renewal and transformation - letting go of the old and letting in the new - because they shed their skins. I recently cast a springtime candle spell to help me declutter my life. Seeing a snake could perhaps be a sign that it is the right time to discard things that have outlived their purpose and make room for change.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/08/review-invoking-animal-magic-for-pagan.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/04/divination-water-dragons-gifts-from-sea.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/12/bluebirds-dreams-and-spirit-animals.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/05/review-animal-wisdom-tarot-boxed-set.html

Review: The Secret Lore of London

I love books about the mysteries, myths and magic of London (there's an alliteration for you). I've got quite a collection and I frequently use them to get ideas for places to visit  and for things to blog about.

Sometimes I look at my bulging bookcases and wonder which books I would keep and which would go if I had to downsize. One of my most treasured books about London's legendary past is one of the first I acquired, The Aquarian Guide to Legendary London. It was published over 25 years ago by the Aquarian Press and is a collection of essays edited by John Matthews with Chesca Potter, the same artist who created the Greenwood Tarot.

Today, a new book about London edited by John Matthews is published. It is called The Secret Lore of London and was co-edited by Caroline Wise, author of Finding Elen, the Quest for Elen of the Ways, with a foreword by Iain Sinclair, author of books including Lud Heatand London Orbital.I was lucky enough to get sent a preview copy and I promised to post a review on the day the book was launched.

Publisher Hodder said in its press release:

London is a city immersed in ancient history, whose foundations date back thousands of years; a city containing layer upon layer of story ranging from the historical to the mythical... Material includes an exploration of the witches who once openly plied their trade without retribution, an indepth account of the Beating of the Bounds, one of oldest surviving traditions of London, as well as the mysterious Celtic legend describing the burial of the head of God Bran beneath the White Hill – now the site of the Tower of London. The book also includes a useful Gazetteer section, a practical guide to the many sites and legends mentioned and details of how to explore them at first hand.

I've really enjoyed reading The Secret Lore of London. It is full of fascinating details about many of my own favourite parts of London, including Bunhill Fields where William Blake is buried and St Pancras Old Church where you can find the Hardy Tree. It covers famous places such as the Tower of London, but also many hidden gems including the London Stone, Postman's Park and Camlet Moat.

While I was reading The Secret Lore of London, I did notice similarities with The Aquarian Guide, so I asked Ruby Mitchell, publicity manager at Hodder and Stoughton, what the connection was. She explained that the new book contains some essays from the earlier one, but its gazetteer has been fully updated and also some of the stories from London’s past.

I have to say that I am delighted that the best material from The Aquarian Guide has been given a new lease of life, letting new readers enjoy a collection of wonderful essays that have been long out of print. The new material makes the book even better - and the title and cover are a lot more up to date too!

Back to my question about what would stay and what would go if I had to downsize my book collection. Well, The Secret Lore of London is definitely a keeper.

The photos of London sites are by me and show a view of the Thames, the Hardy Tree and the London Stone.

Links
The Secret Lore of London
https://www.hodder.co.uk/
Guide to Legendary London

This Week's Pagan Events In and Near London

Here are events in London and other parts of the UK taking place over the bank holidays and the week ahead that could be of interest to pagans. If you know of an event that you want listed, please email the details to me at badwitch1234@gmail.com.

Now - 12 September; Austin Osman Spare - A Major Retrospective. Venue: The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and Natural History, 11 Mare Street, London E84RP. Opens 1pm Saturday 6 Feb. http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/

Now - 29 July 2016; Scholar, courtier, magician: the lost library of John Dee. London exhibition. Venue: Royal College of Physicians, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4LE. Entry free. Opening times vary but normally only Monday-Friday until 5pm, visit the website for details: https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/events

Now - 31 August; Akhenaten: Heretic, Visionary, Icon Exhibition at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, UCL Malet Place, London WC1E 6BT. Lunchtime tours: 1.15pm-1.45pm. For more details, email events.petrie@ucl.ac.uk or phone 020 7679 4138.

Thursday 24 March; PF-London Spring Equinox Open Ritual. Venue: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn London. Time: 7.30pm for 8pm start. Ritual ends around 9pm followed by feasting until 10pm. 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/

Saturday 26 March: The Canterbury Faerie Fayre with ceremony, entertainment and a market. Venue: Westgate Hall, Westgate Hall Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2BT. Starts: 10.30am. Tickets £2.50. Details: http://www.mysticalarts.co.uk/

Saturday 26 March: Past Life Regression Lecture with the Sensing Energy and Intuition Development Meet-up Group. Venue: Latvian House, 72 Queensborough Terrace, London, W2 3SH. Time: Noon. Cost: £15. http://www.meetup.com/Sensing-Energy-and-Intuition-Development/

Saturday 26 March: COVEN: Spell Bound. An evening of witchy entertainment. Venue: Resistance Gallery, London E2 9RF. Time: 9pm. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1581957805461787/

Sunday 27 March; The Kith of the Tree and the Well Heathen Moot. Upstairs at The Horseshoe Inn, Melior St, London SE1 3QP. Time: 2pm.

Sunday 27 March; Meditation at Russell Brands Trew Era Cafe, 30 Whitmore Road, London N1 5QA. Starts 10.15am. Free event. Details: http://www.meetup.com/londonspiritualcommunity

Monday 28 March;: Group Healing Share with London Healing Share. Venue: Friends Meeting House, 52 St Martins Lane, London WC2N 4EA. Time: 7.15pm. Price: £8. http://www.meetup.com/londonhealingshare/

Monday 28 March; Tarot Archetypes - The Moon  Card. Talk by Marysia Kay. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.30pm to 9.15pm. Ticket price £8 in advance. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Tuesday 29 March; God, or Nature: On the Trail of the Green Man with Nina Lyon. Venue: October Gallery, 24 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AL. Arrive 6pm for a 6:30pm start. Entry £7 /£5 concessions. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/god-or-nature-on-the-trail-of-the-green-man-nina-lyon-tickets-21348291314

Tuesday 29 March; Navigating the Energies: Wisdom Sharings - Vaz and the London College of Spirituality. Venue: Columbia Hotel (Viceroy Suite), 95 - 99 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3NS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. Details and booking: http://www.meetup.com/londonspirituality

Tuesday 29 March; 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

Wednesday 30 March; Worlds of Witchcraft: Comparing African and European Histories of the Occult. Venue: School of History, Arts 2 Senior Common Room, Arts 2 Building, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Rd, E1 4NS. Time: 1pm-5pm. Free event. Tickets: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/worlds-of-witchcraft-tickets-22489577933

Wednesday 30 March; Hertford Pagan Moot. Venue: White Horse Pub, 33 Castle Street, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HH (45 mins from central London). The pub does not have disabled access. This moot meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 8pm. contact via Facebook page Hertford Pagan Moot

Thursday 31 March; Isis Ritual at Cleopatra's Needle for Festival of all Lunar Goddesses. Location: Cleopatra's Needle, Victoria Embankment. Time: 6.30pm to 8pm. For more details and to reserve a place visit: http://www.meetup.com/LondonMagicians/

Thursday 31 March; Personal Pagan Mentorship- Explore the witch in you... with Ashley Summers. Venue: 61 Beechwood Avenue. Hayes, UB3 1JW. Time: 7pm to 8.30pm. Cost £6. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/personal-pagan-mentorship-explore-the-witch-in-you-tickets-21133828851

Thursday 31 March; Cthulhu and Contemporary Occultures. Talk organised by the London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX.. Tickets: £4/2. Time: 7.45pm. Details: http://forteanlondon.blogspot.co.uk/ Tickets: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/346901

Friday 1 April; Mandrake’s Saturn Return – Party. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm to 10pm. Price: Free but RSVP to get put on the guest list. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 2 April; Making Silver Amulets workshop. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am to 5.30pm. Price: £40. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 2 April; Leaping Hare convention 2016. Talks, workshops, performances and ritual. Venue: Highwoods Community Centre, Colchester, Essex. Advance tickets £6.50, More details: http://www.leapinghare.webs.com/

Saturday 2 April; Hendon Heathens Moot, Venue: Greyhound Pub, Church End, Hendon, London, NW4 4JT. Time: 6pm. Hendon Heathens meets at this pub the first Saturday of every month.

Sunday 3 April; Meditation at Russell Brands Trew Era Cafe, 30 Whitmore Road, London N1 5QA. Starts 10.15am. Free event. Details: http://www.meetup.com/londonspiritualcommunity

I do not organise any of these events myself and am not responsible for them. Although I try to be as accurate as possible, it is always worth checking the details with the organiser as schedules can change. If you know of an event that you want listed, please email the details to me at badwitch1234@gmail.com.

News: Witches, Easter, Spring, Folklore, Murder

"Little Witches in Finland Cast Good Spells Before Easter" - story at ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/witches-finland-cast-good-spells-easter-37790806

"Wiccan Ostara Rituals for Rebirth and Renewal" - story at World Religion News: http://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/wiccan-ostara-rituals-for-rebirth-renewal

"The Spring Equinox gives local pagans a chance at rebirth" - story at Shreveport Times: http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/life/community/2016/03/18/spring-equinox-gives-local-pagans-chance-rebirth/81934554/

"Taos area man found guilty of murdering woman he said was witch" - story at Santa Fe New Mexican: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/taos-area-man-found-guilty-of-murdering-woman-he-said/article_27f12494-0238-5cfd-a199-63f40bd6a57f.html

"Pagan candidate dropped from speaking at International Left Hand Path Con" - story at Examiner.com: http://www.examiner.com/article/pagan-candidate-dropped-from-speaking-at-international-left-hand-path-con

Witchy Days Out: Shopping in Glastonbury

Earlier this month, I spent an afternoon shopping in Glastonbury – my favourite place to shop for witchy stuff. I feel a *little* guilty saying that, because I live in London, which has occult shops that are just as fine as any in Glastonbury. However, they aren’t all on the same high street between guest houses catering for witches, a Goddess temple and vegetarian cafes, and just around the corner from two sacred wells and a sacred tor.

I went to Glastonbury primarily because it was pretty much on my way to Bristol, which was where Assap’s conference on faeries was taking place, but also because I wanted to start doing research for my next book.

It was a slightly strange feeling, because almost exactly a year previously I had been in Glastonbury researching for my book Pagan Portals - Candle Magic. I bought several rare and out of print witchcraft books and also chatted to shop owners about my project. This time, Pagan Portals - Candle Magic has just been published and I was chatting to bookshop owners about how it was selling. Trevor Jones, owner of one of Glastonbury’s oldest witchcraft shops, the Cat and Cauldron, said he was currently reading my book and that it “wasn’t too shabby” – which I took as a pretty good review from a man who must have read almost every magic book there is.

Whenever I am in Glastonbury I love to pop in to the Goddess temple, in the Court Yard just off the High Street. Sitting there quietly in contemplation for a few minutes is an essential part of the Glastonbury experience even if I don’t have time to take part in a ceremony there.

Underneath the Goddess temple is Star Child, which sells the most amazing incense and oil mixtures. Even though I am capable of making my own incense, my attempts never seem to match those from Star Child, so I always stock up when I am there.

Just up the road is Labyrinth Books - another shop I love to browse in and usually find a few tomes to spend my money on. I was chatting to a lovely woman who works there and mentioned that I’m giving candle magic workshops at Treadwell’s in London. She said that she would get in touch with me about the possibility of my giving a talk about candle magic at Labyrinth sometime in the future. That would be really exciting and I hope it happens.

Another shop that seemed interested in inviting me to give a talk some time was Woods Witch One-Stop-Shop. This is a new shop that opened last summer and which sells lovely locally produced handmade candles as well as other tools of the Craft.

I came away from Glastonbury with a shopping bag full of books, incense and other witchy paraphernalia – and I am really hoping I will be back there soon, perhaps to give a talk or two. I was very happy with my purchases and am enjoying doing research for my next book. I’m not ready to reveal what it is going to be about just yet. Perhaps I’ll do that when I next give a talk.

If you want to contact the places I’ve mentioned, here are the details:

Cat and Cauldron, 7 Market Place, Glastonbury: http://www.witchcraftshop.co.uk/
Labyrinth Books, Vestry Hall, High Street, Glastonbury: http://www.labyrinthbooks.co.uk/
Star Child, The Court Yard, 2-4 The, High St, Glastonbury: http://www.starchild.co.uk/
The Glastonbury Goddess Temple: The Court Yard, 2-4 High St, Glastonbury
Woods Witch One-Stop-Shop, 1 The Monarch, 15 High Street, Glastonbury

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/03/pagan-eye-easter-bunnies-with-attitude.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/03/pagan-eye-glastonbury-tor-in-sea-of-mist.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/10/chalice-well-goddess-and-grail.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/01/glastonbury-tor-entrance-to-land-of.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/09/pagan-eye-glastonbury-sunrise.html

Question: Do You Celebrate Ostara or Easter?

The Spring Equinox is now behind us, spring is well and truly here with the hours of daylight now longer than the hours of night. Many modern pagans celebrate the festival of Ostara with rituals and ceremonies - but probably fewer than the numbers that celebrate the Summer Solstice, Samhain or Yule.

Next weekend is the Christian festival of Easter - although, like Christmas - it seems more of a secular holiday these days. While the shops are full of chocolate eggs to give as gifts, not that many people will go to church for a service to celebrate Christ rising from the dead unless they are devout Christians.

But what do you celebrate and how?  Do you go to any Pagan, Christian or other religious rites? Do you mark the time of year in your own personal way? Do you give gifts - and, if so, what do you give and when?

Event: Whispers from the Earth Book Launch

Here is a pagan event for those living in Lincolnshire - the book launch for Whispers from the Earth by Taz Thornton. I know I usually blog about events in or near London, because that's where I live, but I wanted to mention this launch party because I enjoyed reading the book so much.

Whispers From The Earth, published by Moon Books, is a work of shamanic dreaming, journeys and meditations. The author has worked closed with ancestor spirits and earth energies to bring forward a selection of teaching stories for seekers trying to navigate their way through the modern world.

The launch is on April 7 at 7.15pm at Bookmark of Spalding, 18-20 The Crescent, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE11 1AF. If you go along you can meet the author and hear readings from the book. There will also be a Q and A session and book signings.

Tickets are available from Bookmark. Email enquiries@bookmark-spalding.co.uk or call 01775 769231 to reserve your place. Ticket cost £3.50 each and include juice or wine.

You can read my review of Whispers from the Earth here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/03/review-whispers-from-earth-teaching.html
Here is a link to my interview with Taz Thornton: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/03/interview-with-shamanic-storyteller-taz.html