Pagan Eye: Of Shadows at Treadwell's Bookshop

Carl Holmes, the new manager at Treadwell's bookshop, in London, sent me this photo of the shop window showing a display of the new book Of Shadows, set up by author Sarah Hannant.

Of Shadows is a new book of photographs of objects from the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, in Cornwall, as well as information about each one pictured. You can read my review here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/10/review-of-shadows-museum-of-witchcraft.html

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.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/11/pagan-eye-launch-party-for-of-shadows.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/04/witchcrafts-artefacts-illustrated-talk.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/10/review-of-shadows-museum-of-witchcraft.html
https://www.treadwells-london.com/

This Week's Pagan Events In and Near London

Here are events in London and a few in other parts of the UK over 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 - 9 December; Art Exhibition - The Bees and the Kingdom of the Animals, Libuse Mikova-Mika. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: open from noon to 7pm. Details: http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/pages/exhibit.php

Wednesday 30 November; Study Group - Foundations of Esotericism. Venue: 35 Rudolf Steiner House, Park Rd, London NW1 6XT. Time: 4.15pmpm. Entry: £3. Details: https://www.meetup.com/spiritual-science-at-rudolf-steiner-house/

Wednesday 30 November; Numerology: What will life be like in 2017 for you and the world? Talk and book signing by Sonia Ducie. Venue: 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/

Wednesday 30 November; Open to Love: Heart Chakra Healing Journey with Sound with Himesh of the London College of Spirituality. Venue: Viceroy Suite, Columbia Hotel, 95- 99 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3NS. Time: 7pm. £25. Details and reservations: http://www.meetup.com/londonspirituality/

Wednesday 30 November; 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 1 December; Meet-up with Tim Freke to talk about Deep Awake. Venue: Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6.30pm. Free event. For more details Tel 020 7836 2182 or visit the website http://www.watkinsbooks.com/

Thursday 1 December; Crowleymass - celebrate the life and times of Atlantis Bookshop's most notorious customer, Mr Crowley. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49A Museum St, London WC1A 1LY. Starts 7pm. Tickets £10, includes drinks, nibbles, entertainment and a gift. For more details and to reserve a place email atlantis@theatlantisbookshop.com or call 020 7405 2120.

Thursday 1 December; Temple of Levanah Meditation Circle with Vivianne  and Chris  Crowley. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Ticket price £10. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Thursday 1 December; Joglaresa perform folk and medieval songs for Yuletide. Venue: St Christopher's Hospice 51-59 Lawrie Park Road, London SE26 6DZ. Time: 7.30pm. £10 ticket includes interval canapés and wine! http://www.stchristophers.org.uk/event/concert-series-2016-joglaresa/

Thursday 1 December; Soundbath with Gong and Singing Bowls WinterWonderlandSou­ndScape with Anne Malone. Organised by the Oasis of Sound Meetup Group. Venue: The Life Centre, Notting Hill, 15 Edge Street, London W8 7PN. Tickets £15. Time: 7.45pm-9pm. Tickets: http://www.thelifecentre.com/  Details: https://www.meetup.com/Oasis-of-Sound-Sound-Bath-n-Sound-Scape/

Friday 2 December to 18 December; Exhibition: Austin Osman Spare: A Focus on Life. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49A Museum St, London WC1A 1LY. Open from 11am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday and noon to 5pm on Sundays. Entry is by catalogue, which costs £5. For more details, email atlantis@theatlantisbookshop.com or call 020 7405 2120.

Friday, 2 December; Henry will be speaking about Curiocity: In Pursuit of London at The London Society Christmas Event: In Pursuit of London. Venue: The Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL
Time: 6.30pm-8.30pm. Tickets Tickets: £7 members / £14 non-members, includes drinks, mince pies and other Christmas treats! http://www.londonsociety.org.uk/event/pursuit-london-evening-curiocity-author-henry-eliot/

Friday 2 December; Magikal Trance. Lecture by Edwin Courtenay. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm-8.30pm. Cost: £14/£18. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 2 December; Consciousness of Working with one's Biography. Talk by Julia Dvinskaya. Venue: 35 Rudolf Steiner House, Park Rd, London NW1 6XT. Time: 7.30pm - 9pm. Entry: £5 (£3 concessions) - no need to prebook, just turn up. Details: http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/

Saturday 3 December, Myth in the Greek and Roman Worlds - study day. Venue: Stevenson Lecture Theatre, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: starts 10am. Tickets £23, booking advised. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Saturday 3 December; Second session in Ken Rees's two-day Saturday course Creating Personal Mythology. Venue: The Mary Ward Centre, Queen Square, London WC1. Time: 10.30am – 5.30pm. Fees are £53 or £19 concessions. Course No. 444. Enquiries: 020 8671 6372 or email: kenrees@talktalk.net Enrolment (credit/debit card): 020 7269 6000 or on-line via: www.marywardcentre.ac.uk

Saturday 3 December, Hoodoo -'Melting Pot' Workings Afternoon Workshop with Lisa Mead. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm-5.30pm. Ticket price £40. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 3 December, Michael Bertiaux: Launch of Ontological Graffiti, published by Fulgur. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Free event but advance booking essential. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 3 December, Anima, Sacred Waters - Sound Healing Concert with Daniela. Venue: St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG. Time: 7.30pm - 10pm (doors open 7.10pm). Tickets £15. There are other dates for this concert in other parts of England. http://www.animamusic.co.uk/events/

Sunday 4 December, Meditation at Russell Brands Trew Era Cafe, 30 Whitmore Road, London N1 5QA. Starts 10.15am. Free event. Details: http://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Sunday 4 December; Ageless Wisdom for Everyone. Ongoing study class. Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8EA. Time: 2pm. Details: http://www.meetup.com/Theosophical-Society-in-London/

Sunday 4 December, Making Silver Amulets. Workshop with Jutta Rethe. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am-5.30pm start. Ticket price £70 (deposit £40). Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/ or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Sunday 4 December, Basic Alchemical Tincturing Workshop with the Alchemy Guild Meetup Group. Venue in Tooting. Time: noon. Cost: donations. You must bring your own ingredients. Details and booking: https://www.meetup.com/alchemy-london/

Monday 5 December; Wisdomkeepers, Paqo Andino. Talk by Jeffrey Wium. Organised by Alternatives. Venue: St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL, Doors open 6.30pm. Talk starts: 7pm. Book signings at the end. Tickets £12/£8 online. For more details and to book tickets: http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Monday 5 December; John Dee's Enochian Magic. Lecture by Emma Doeve Elizabethan. Venue: Treadwell's, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets £8, advance booking required. For further details: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Monday 5 December; Moonlight Goddess Gathering - monthly event organised by Anoushka through Funzing. Venue: Clifton Gardens, London, W9 1DT. Time: 7.15pm. Tickets: £20. Details and bookings: http://uk.funzing.com/funz/2940?

Tuesday 6 December; You will come to this talk: Current knowledge of suggestion and suggestibility. Talk by Dr Devin Terhune. Part of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit Invited Speaker Series 2016/17 at Goldsmiths. Venue: Room LG01, Prof Stuart Hall Bulding, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW. Time: 6pm for 6.10pm. Free entry, no need to book. Details: http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/apru/speakers

Tuesday 6 December; Angel Card Reading Workshop with Chrissie Astell. Venue: Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6pm. Tickets £30. For more details Tel 020 7836 2182 or visit the website http://www.watkinsbooks.com/ https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks/

Tuesday 6 December; Healing Energy Workshop: Healing Power of Colours, with the Sensing Energy and Intuition Meetup Group. Venue: St Stephen's Church Hall, 48 Emperor's Gate, London SW7 4HJ. Time: 7pm. Tickets Price: £15. https://www.meetup.com/Sensing-Energy-and-Intuition-Development/

Tuesday 6 December; Healing Evening. Venue: Private venue in London, address on booking. Time: 7pm for 7.15pm start. Suggested donation: £10-£25. Details: http://www.meetup.com/Behind-The-Veil-Shamanism/

Tuesday 6 December; Cobwebs and Cauldrons Moot. Venue: Romford White Horse Pub, 118 High Road, RM6 6NU. Entry £4. Moot takes place on the first Tuesday of every month. 7.30pm start.

Tuesday 6 December; Witches' Inn Gathering. Venue: The Feathers Hotel in Merstham, Surrey RH1 3EA. Starts at 8pm, but leaving the pub at 9pm armed with ghost-hunting equipment. 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

Wednesday 7 December; Walter Benjamin and Weimar Germany's Astrology. Lecture by Dr Jenn Zahrt.Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Ticket price £8. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Wednesday 7 December; Greenwich Skeptics in the Pub - How to be a Psychic Con Artist. Talk by Ash Pryce. Venue: The Star and Garter, 60 Old Woolwich Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NY. Time: 7.30pm. Details: http://greenwich.skepticsinthepub.org/

Thursday 8 December; Enfield Town Circle Pagan Moot. Venue: Crown and Horseshoes pub, 15 Horseshoe Lane, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 6PZ. Time: 7pm to 11pm. This moot takes place on the 2nd Thursday of every month. For more details join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EnfieldTownCircle/

Thursday 8 December; The Mysteries of Samothrace. Talk by Julia Cleave hosted by Earthstars Sacred Space. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, London NW1 6XT. Time: doors open 7pm, talk at 7.30pm. Tickets £12.  https://www.facebook.com/Earthstars-Sacred-Space-104790729559515/

Thursday 8 December; Ritual Land Uncommon Ground. Talk and folk songs by George Hoyle at South East London Folklore Society (SELFS). Venue: The Old King's Head, Kings Head Yard, 45-49 Borough High St, London SE1 1NA. Entry: £3/£1.50 concessions. Time: 8pm. (Meetings are normally the second Thursday of each month.) http://www.selfs.org.uk/ To guarantee a seat, email nigelofbermondsey@gmail.com

Friday 9 December; The Body and Soul Wellbeing Fair. Venue: Azelia Hall, Beckenham, Bromley. Entry £2 - half price if prebooked. Time: from 6pm. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1596098407352795/

Friday 9 December; Sound Bath and Mantra with Anne Malone and the Oasis of Sound Meetup Group. (Every 2nd Friday of the month.) Venue: The Life Centre, 15 Edge Street, Notting Hill,  London W8 7PN. Time: 7.30pm. Cost £15 advance book recommended. Details: http://www.meetup.com/Oasis-of-Sound-Sound-Bath-n-Sound-Scape/

Saturday 10 December; Introduction to the Wicca Moon School of Witchery. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Rd, London, SE9 6SH. Free, but reserving a place in advance is advised. Time: 2pm-5pm. For details or to book a place email shirlee@wiccamoon.org.uk or call 020 8850 7803. You can also visit the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Wicca-Moon-101700123226695/

Saturday 10 December; “Portals and Pathways” Candlelit walk in Brompton Cemetery With Vanessa Woolf of London Dreamtime. Venue:Brompton Cemetery, London. Time: 7pm Tickets: £6/8. Booking essential. For details email vanessa@londondreamtime.com or visit http://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Sunday 11 December; Code the Collection: Lucky Charms. Digital workshop. Venue: Samsung Centre, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 11am. Free, just drop in. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Sunday 11 December; Woodland Wicca Full Moon Ritual. Meet at  the mall monument by bus stop Parkside Avenue, Wimbledon, at 3pm. Wear outdoor clothing. You must reserve a place in advance. Cost: £3. Details and bookings: http://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Outdoor-Pagans/

Sunday 11 December;  Myths retold - Where the Bear Sleeps: The Kalevala.  Crick Crack Club storytelling for adults with Ben Haggarty. Venue: BP Lecture Theatre (in the Clore Education Centre beneath the Great Court), The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG  Time: 3pm. Tickets:  £8/£6. Details: http://www.crickcrackclub.com/MAIN/EVENTSF.HTM

Note: I am not responsible for any of the events listed here and cannot comment on their quality or content. I try to keep my listings accurate, but do not always know of late changes, cancellations or ticket availability. Check with the organisers for any further details about the events, including tickets and timings, before turning up.

Tales from the Witch Room: Cracks in the Walls

Over the past year I’ve been dealing with a problem that has caused me not a little worry and taken up a lot of my time – and I’m honestly not sure why I haven’t blogged about it before.

About this time last year, when I was putting up the Yule tree, I discovered a massive crack in a wall of my house. It must have been there for a while, but had been hidden behind a curtain.

I have home insurance and the company sent round a structural engineer who confirmed my worst fears – it was subsidence. We also found smaller cracks in several other rooms and outside walls.

Then followed months of people digging big holes in my garden to try to find out what had caused it. They eventually determined that it was an antique drain that had broken and was causing the ground around my house to become waterlogged.

There were some very smelly days in midsummer when the drain was fixed, then I had to pack up the contents of three rooms so they could be mended and decorated.

One of those rooms was my sanctuary – the room I call my witch room. It was lined with bookcases and cabinets full of all the things I use as reference for my writing and for my magical work. It is also where I gather with friends for tea and cackling - and sometimes the odd workshop. It felt like I was gutting the heart from my home.

Under the insurance, the parts of the rooms decorated were only where there were cracks, and in my witch room that was just the ceiling. But to decorate the ceiling the contents of the room still had to me removed or pulled to the centre and covered in dust sheets. And so I decided to paint the walls myself before putting everything back.

But, I have also been very busy with work – not a bad thing in itself, but it has left me very little time for decorating.

As I approach the Yuletide season, it seems like my house will be a building site for some weeks yet. But, I am looking forward to a new year with a witch room that I will enjoy being in even more than I used to before the cracks appeared. And I am looking forward to tea and cackling with friends once again.

The photo at the top shows my witch room as it is now, the two packing boxes are a couple of the crates containing the contents of my library of occult books, and the one to the side shows candles by the fireplace of my witch room in the past.

Witchfest 2016 - Review by Jenny Cartledge

Witchfest International was always going to be a strange one this year, stepping away from the ever faithful Fairfield Halls in Croydon to a new venue of The Brighton Centre in, you guessed it, Brighton. In a roundabout way it was a three-day event, with an opening concert on Friday with Spriggan Mist, Crow Dancers, and Inkubus Sukkubus and a book end on Sunday of the Doreen Valiente Foundation Exhibition, “Where Witchcraft Lives” at Preston Manor.

Briefly speaking about Friday, the concerts were fantastic. I have seen Spriggan Mist and Inkubus Sukkubus before, but the sound in the main auditorium was far better than any other venues I’ve seen them play in which allowed me to enjoy their live performances far more than I have done in the past. Crow dancers were something else, harnessing the spirit of The Dolmen and going further with that same energy, certainly one to watch for in the future.

The main event it’s self was fantastic. Once again an amazing array of talks, workshops and musical entertainment which means I was often disappointed due to several speakers I wished to attend clashing, though this isn’t unusual for Witchfest! The usual faces were there, Ronald Hutton, Damh the Bard, Kate Wes, Rufus and Melissa Harrington, Barbara Meiklejohn-Free, Flavia Peters, Kevin Groves, Pete Jennings and Raegan Shanti, along with some new names I’d not seen before.

All the talks I went to were extremely well attended. The “small” rooms were larger than the ones at Fairfield but there was clearly no difficulty filling them, in all the talks I attended in those rooms people were still sat on the floor. The only issue I feel is that more of them could do with microphones, while I could hear where I sat I think others nearer the back may have struggled.

The market was bustling and full of beautiful wares to tempt the many people to part with their money. I felt it was a bit more crowded than Fairfields, though that might have just been the sheer number of people attending. However, due to the spread out nature of the building, you only really got a sense of exactly how many people were attending when everyone had filed into the auditorium for the opening blessing at the beginning.

As I left the building, after enjoying Damh the Bard and The Dolmen (who all again very much benefited from the fantastic sound), I couldn’t help but wonder what was next. I feel that Children of Artemis would perhaps struggle to return to Fairfield Halls if Witchfest remains as huge a success next year in Brighton as it was this year. With more opportunities for people to attend the talks they wished to attend, I feel there would be arguments when speakers who have easily filled a 400 capacity room is forced back into one with only 100 seats.

All in all it was a fantastic weekend, there are things to work on, but Children of Artemis are very aware of this and know it’s something to work on for next year. It was always going to be a learning experience the first time around, I’m sure they’ll get it perfect in 2017. 

Review by Jenny Cartledge

Seriously Suspicious Conspiracies: Helen Duncan

There have recently been calls to pardon the last woman imprisoned in England under the Witchcraft laws. Her name was Helen Duncan and she was a psychic medium. The details of her life and the case brought against her were the subject of a talk at Assap’s Seriously Suspicious conference on conspiracies on Saturday.

The talk was by Ben Emlyn-Jones and it was called Witchcraft Trial. It was about conspiracy theories and the last person to be sent to jail under the Witchcraft Act. Ben started by saying that he is a conspiracy theorist and, in particular, doesn’t like injustice. What was done to Helen Duncan 72 years ago, he saw as an injustice, but it is still relevant case. Here is a shortened version of the transcript I took of his talk:

Helen Duncan (pictured top right) was born in 1898 and she was a psychic medium – a clairvoyant. She was part of an elite group of mediums - physical mediums. They can affect physical world with things like raps on tables, making objects move and manifesting physical forms, which is what Helen did. Witnesses described seeing ectoplasm, which is a white substance that resembles shapes of people who have died; spirits.

She became one of the most famous in world and travelled all over UK, visiting Spiritualist halls and private homes etc. There are two photos (left) that are obvious fakes with papier mache dummies, sheets and coat hangers. People say these prove she was a fraud, but there is always more than one side to each story. Yes, these are fakes, but were intended as a reconstruction of what Helen Duncan in trance would look like.

Helen operated in an unusual manner to other mediums. There would be rows of seats for sitters, you paid 12s at the door - not cheap - sitters would sit in front of stage, which had a cabinet/cubicle with a seat. Helen Duncan would prepare in another room. It was important to her that people believed her. She would strip and a nurse would check her to say she wasn’t hiding props and also invite female members of the audience to watch the body search.

Then she would move into the cubicle, curtains were drawn and the room was lit by a low-power red bulb. That lighting could be said to hide tricks, but proponents of this said it was done to protect the spirits, which were harmed by bright light.

In 1939 when World War Two broke out, Helen’s fortunes changed. Her services were required. People were very frightened and uncertain. Her business boomed. But, on 25 may 1941, things went wrong. Her spirit guide appeared – one was a man called Albert, an Australian, and another was a young girl called Peggy. At this séance Albert said a British battle ship has just been sunk and that he had 1,400 of her officers with him in spirit. One man in the audience, Brigadier Firebrace, was head of army intelligence in Scotland as well as being a paranormal researcher. He went to his office and checked with a phone call. Initially the reply was no, everything was fine. Then he got a phone call saying that HMS Hood had gone down off Scapa Flow and 1,400 were dead at the time Helen did her séance.

The loss was a major blow to war effort.

Because Brigadier Firebrace had a belief in paranormal and he realised Helen was getting war information from the dead and could possibly reveal classified information, he was worried. His daughter has a letter that he wrote saying there should be intelligence monitoring of Helen.

She carried on her tour. On 24 Nov she was doing a séance in the Master Temple in Portsmouth, which was actually a small room above a chemist’s shop run by Mr and Mrs Homer (modern photo right). Albert said another battle ship had sunk and hundreds of officers were in the spirit world. There were probably intelligence agents in room watching. What made it worrying was that the government had decided to keep the sinking of HMS Barham quiet. It was just after Dunkirk and morale was a major concern. Even some relatives were not informed and secrecy was high, so it is unlikely that Helen had found out by normal means.

She carried on, but she was probably monitored - maybe by enemy agents too. Nothing more was done for three years. She was arrested 19 Jan 1944 in the Master Temple in Portsmouth. She had a conviction for fraud from several years earlier and in that instance she had been fined. This time, instead of getting a fine, she got something totally unexpected and the case escalated. She was taken to the Old Bailey and charged under the Witchcraft Act of 1735, which was about pretending to use witchcraft or sorcery, or pretending to do any occult science.

It was almost first sceptic law as it said that people who claimed to have psychic powers were pretending. It was not common to use this old law by the 1940s. The Witchcraft Act was on the verge of being repealed. However, the judge sentenced her to nine months in prison.

A look behind the original news stories offers a chance to find out what happened. The trial became media sensation and even war stories were second paged.

John Cyril Maude KC prosecuted the case in courtroom 4 of the Old Bailey. Helen had not been given bail – she was a remand prisoner. He was a member of one of the Inns of Court, a senior member, and after he convicted her he was knighted and became an MP. Is this a coincidence?

Sir John Cyril Maude was dealing with two cases. Also, in court 1, he was prosecuting a case of a man on trial for murder in Portsmouth – the Portsmouth chief constable was a witness in both trials. The murder suspect said he was framed and was acquitted.

Maybe the government wanted Maude because he was a wartime intelligence operative charged with tracking sources of rumours. The office he was in would have been employed to keep an eye on Helen.

The presiding judge was also a senior naval officer, so would have been emotionally involved in the case. There is also a letter specifically asking for Maude to preside over prosecuting the case.

One of the most recent books about the case is called Helen Duncan the Mystery Show Trial, by Hartley 2007. It offers evidence that there was a conspiracy to imprison Helen.


It looks as though there was a secret cabal that included Commander Ian Fleming. He was a naval intelligence officer, a member of Society for Psychical Research, an occultist and, of course, wrote the James Bond novels.

There were difference in the way the witnesses for the prosecution and defence reported the events. Prosecution witnesses said they were lured there and saw Helen in a sheet. Two people were put there by the police and said they pulled a sheet off and blew a police whistle. One of them said he was motivated to do that because he was disillusioned by seeing Helen was a fake. He lied under oath. The defence council asked him if he was a member of the intelligence services. He said no, but he was.

The bed sheet should have been a major exhibit in court, but it wasn’t. It got lost – even though two people said they had their hands on it in the police raid. There were discrepancies in the details of how it got lost. There were contradictions in how low the lights were and whether faces were recognisable. Harry Price, the paranormal investigator, coached the prosecution’s witnesses.

The jury found her guilty in half an hour and she was taken to Holloway Prison.

One hypothesis is that she was a real psychic medium or people in government thought she was and constructed a conspiracy to put her in jail because of D-Day, which was being kept very secret. All it took for the secret to come out was if in one of Helen’s séances something came out.

However, why didn’t the government pay Helen off or make her sign the Official Secrets Act?
After she was released, Helen returned to mediumship and the Witchcraft Act was eventually repealed.

There is now a campaign to pardon Helen Duncan. You can find out more here: http://www.helenduncan.org.uk/

Separately, 'ectoplasm' produced by Helen Duncan is currently on display at a museum in Cambridge. You can find out details here: https://exhibitions.lib.cam.ac.uk/curioustrailer/

Other links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/04/hellish-nell-by-malcolm-gaskill.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/12/tv-tony-robinson-blitz-witch.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/11/02/ghostly-ectoplasm-from-britains-last-witch-on-display-at-cambrid/

Seriously Suspicious Conspiracy: Satanic Ritual Abuse

Yesterday I attended Seriously Suspicious – the Assap conference on conspiracy theories – and three of the talks were directly about the occult and witchcraft. Two of those talks were about Satanic Ritual Abuse, and that is what I am going to blog about now.

The two talks were from two seemingly opposing perspectives. Tim Tate, best-selling author of dozens of popular books about murders, sex offences and child abuse with titles including Children for the Devil (now withdrawn), Slave Girl and The Murder of Childhood, gave a talk called Satanic Ritual Abuse. This was followed by Professor Chris French of Goldsmiths’ APRU who specialises in the psychology of paranormal beliefs and experiences offering A Further Perspective on Satanic Ritual Abuse.

Now, I said that the two talks were from seemingly opposing perspectives, but actually there were a few fundamental thing both speakers appeared to agree on.

Firstly, there is no conspiracy of Satanists who are ritually abusing children and there never has been. For a conference about conspiracies, that’s the biggie. And, although neither of the speakers specifically mentioned this in their talks, I think both would completely agree that child abuse is not a normal or accepted practice of The Church of Satan.

Secondly, and this is also an important and serious point, ritual abuse of children sadly does happen. In recent years a sizable number of the child ritual abuse cases that have reached courts in the UK have been by Christian groups and individuals performing exorcisms on children involving torture and even murder. The most famous example is probably that of Victoria Climbie. Added to that, in some - thankfully extremely rare – cases, paedophiles have self-identified as Satanists and abused children in horror film-like settings. All child abuse is awful, but adding that extra level of terror is, of course, despicable.

Before I get to the area of disagreement, I’m going to talk about the background to the idea of the Satanic Ritual Abuse conspiracy – sometimes called the Satanic Panic.

Back in the 1980s and 90s, first in America but also in the UK and other parts of the world, there was a spate of children being taken away from their parents, guardians or child-care workers, who were suspected of being part of an international Satanic conspiracy. Groups and individuals who were allegedly members of this conspiracy were accused of ritually sexually abusing the children, murdering children in satanic orgies, running baby farms by impregnating the children and then ritually aborting the foetuses and eating them or sacrificing the babies in Satanic rites.

In the UK, without exception, these claims were found to be untrue. Absolutely no forensic evidence was found despite very thorough searching, not even a drop of blood. Charges were also later dropped in the USA too.

This Satanic Ritual Abuse panic was actually part of a wider fear of Satanism that was prevalent in the latter part of the 20th century. The Devil’s influence was seen everywhere in pop music, films, books, TV shows, roleplaying and computer games. This was dubbed the Moral Panic, and some groups – particularly evangelical Christians – saw it as part of an international conspiracy by powerful Satanists to recruit people – especially the young - to bring an evil plot to fulfilment.

It all might seem a bit laughable now, at a time of real threats to the world. Except, of course, that the false accusations brought misery to those families accused, separated and put on trial in the modern-day witch hunts.

So, where did Tim Tate disagree with Professor Chris French on this issue?

Well, it is really down to the definition of Satanic Ritual Abuse.

Tim Tate uses the definition of ritual abuse taken from Nursery Crimes by Finkelhor, Meyer and Burns (1988): “Abuse that occurs in a context linked to some symbols or group activity that have a religious, supernatural or magical connotation; and that where the invocation of these symbols or activities, repeated over time, is used to frighten and intimidate the children.”

Professor Chris French quoted the definition given by Jean La Fontaine in 1994: “Rites that allegedly include the torture and sexual abuse of children and adults, forced abortion and human sacrifice, cannibalism and bestiality may be labelled as Satanic or Satanist. Their defining characteristic is that the sexual abuse of children is part of the rites to a magical or religious objective.”

Jean La Fontaine was specifically talking about the Satanic Panic - claims of a widespread network of Satanic ritualists engaging in extreme abuse, baby-farming and infanticide. Tim Tate’s preferred definition is much more general.

Tim Tate talked about the case of Albert and Carolee Hickman, two self-identified, isolated Satanists who pleaded guilty to assaulting, raping and torturing a schoolgirl in “Hammer Horror film”-style rites. It is, of course, an awful and shocking case.

As Chris French said: “If you accept Tim’s definition of satanic ritual abuse, then yes it occurs – people using trappings of Satanism to frighten children.”

However, there is absolutely no evidence that this is the same thing as the widespread, organised Satanic sexual abuse, forced abortions, infanticide and cannibalism, fears of which led social workers to break up families in the 1980s and 90s.

Wouldn’t it just be lovely if we could all agree that abusing children is really bad, but rekindling a fake moral panic isn’t that helpful either.

Earlier this year I want to a conference entitled The UK Satanic Abuse Scare 25 Years On. Here are three links to posts I wrote following that event:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/07/uk-satanic-abuse-scare-25-years-on_7.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/07/uk-satanic-abuse-scare-25-years-on-jean.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/08/review-satanic-panic-1980s-pop-cultural.html

Exhibition: Austin Osman Spare: A Focus on Life

The Atlantis Bookshop in London is putting on an exhibition called A Focus on a Life, celebrating the life and work of Austin Osman Spare (1886 - 1956).

The exhibition runs from 2 December to 18 December and is open from 11am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday and noon to 5pm on Sundays. Entry is by catalogue, which costs £5.

The shop is at shop at 49A Museum St, London WC1A 1LY, close to Tottenham Court Road and Holborn tube stations. For more details, email atlantis@theatlantisbookshop.com or call 020 7405 2120.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/02/dark-monarch-magical-exhibition.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/08/pagan-eye-austin-osman-spares-scrying.html
http://www.theatlantisbookshop.com/

Review: Gods and Goddesses Colouring Book

Starting to feel festive yet? This picture of the Oak and Holly King from Moon Books Gods and Goddesses Colouring Book made me feel quite in the mood to get ready for Yule. I started colouring it in almost as soon as I got a preview copy of the book, which is due in the shops today.

On its website, this is what Moon Books says: "Take a journey across the pantheons of the world and allow your creative energy to flow, colouring in images and mandalas for some of the most interesting and inspiring deities.

"Each deity has a beautiful image to colour in using paints, pencils or pastels, whatever your preferred medium. Also included is a deity-specific mandala, some information about them and a chant or mantra to use when colouring to help that creativity and spirit to flow. The goal of each colouring image is to provide a meditative tool for your spiritual journey…or you can do it just because it is fun!"

The gods and goddesses included come from spiritual traditions all over the world including Celtic, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Hindu and Norse deities. On each double page spread there is a picture of the deity to colour in, a mandala to colour in and text about the god or goddess.

This is a great way for someone who is new to paganism to learn about the different pantheons as well as being a way to honour the gods and goddesses and to express your creative talent in colouring the pictures in.

The text is by Rachel and Ben Patterson, with artwork by their daughter, up-and-coming young artist Emma Patterson. Rachel Patterson is also the author of The Art of Ritual, Arc of the Goddess, Pagan Portals - Moon Magic and Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch.

You can order Moon Books Gods and Goddesses Colouring Book from Amazon.

Pagan Eye: Mycenaean Octopus Jar

Reviewing The Minoan Coloring Book yesterday, which contains a line drawing of an ancient Minoan octopus jar, I was reminded of this picture that I took in the British Museum. It shows a Mycenaean octopus jar dating from 1300-1400BC that was found at Rhodes.

Altough I have always liked this jar, I think the one depicted in The Minoan Coloring Book is more fun - the octopus has such a cheeky expression. I have no idea what either octopus jar originally contained, but I sort of hope it wasn't a real octopus.

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

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

Links and previous related posts:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/02/pagan-eye-aphrodite-statue-at-british.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/09/review-ariadnes-thread-ancient-minoan.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/11/review-minoan-coloring-book-by-laura.html

Book Launch: The Mystery of Spring-Heeled Jack

Tomorrow evening, Thursday 24 November, there is a book launch party for The Mystery of Spring-Heeled Jack at The Atlantis Bookshop in London. Here are details I was sent about the book:

Spring-heeled Jack - a tall, thin, bounding figure with bat-like wings, clawed hands,wheels of fire for eyes, and breath of blue flames - first leapt to public attention in Victorian London in 1838, springing over hedges and walls, from dark lanes and dank graveyards, to frighten and sometimes physically attack women. News of this strange and terrifying character quickly spread, but despite numerous sightings through 1904 he was never captured or identified.

Exploring the vast urban legend surrounding this enigmatic figure, John Matthews explains how the Victorian fascination with strange phenomena and sinister figures paired with hysterical reports enabled Spring-heeled Jack to be conjured into existence.

Atlantis Bookshop is inviting people to celebrate the launch of The Mystery of Spring-Heeled Jack from 7pm. There will be special guests, signings and more. If you want to go you need to reserve a place in advance. Call the Atlantis Bookshop on 020 74052120.

If you are unable to attend but would like an inscribed copy, Atlantis will be happy to arrange that for you.

John Matthew is also one of the creators of the Sherlock Holmes Tarot.

Review: The Minoan Coloring Book by Laura Perry

I've always loved Minoan art, ever since I visited Crete on holiday years ago, so I was very pleased to get a colouring book that is letting me enjoy the art of ancient Crete all over again. The Minoan Coloring Book is by Laura Perry, author of Ariadne's Thread: Awakening the Wonders of the Ancient Minoans in our Modern Lives, which I reviewed a few years ago and really like.

The Minoan Colouring Book is independently published through CreateSpace, and the description given says: "Discover the amazing world of the Minoans of ancient Crete through this beautifully-drawn collection of images to color. With 48 line drawings of bull leapers, snake goddesses, prancing dolphins and more, The Minoan Coloring Book will provide you with hours of relaxation and enjoyment."

It is unusual, fascinating and well drawn. The pictures are quite easy to colour as well - which is good, because I'm not the most experienced artist.

Laura says in her introduction to the Minoan Coloring Book: "Within these pages you’ll find snake goddesses, bull-leapers, princes and priestesses, dolphins and octopi. When I was trying to decide which bits of Minoan art to include in this book, I thought about which frescoes and other beautiful finds from ancient Crete mean the most to me, the ones that draw me right back to Minoan civilization when I see them. In other words, these are my favorites. I hope they’re yours, too.

"This coloring book contains single-sided coloring pages. These images are not clip-part or pictures I’ve Photoshopped. These are all hand drawings I’ve made based on photographs of the frescoes, figurines, jewelry, pottery, and other artifacts from ancient Crete."

You can see some of the pictures on this post. I haven't had a chance to start colouring them in yet, but I am tempted to start with that delightful octupus jar. There's one very much like it in the British Museum, which has often caught my eye as I have browsed the Minoan gallery in the past. I might dig out my photo of that and pop it on my blog tomorrow.

You can order The Minoan Coloring Book via Amazon.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/09/review-ariadnes-thread-ancient-minoan.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/06/pagan-eye-minoan-tarot-artists-desk-and.html

This Week's Pagan Events In and Near London

Here are events in London and other parts of the UK for the end of November and early December 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 to 27 November; 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. Opening times: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 2-5pm until 30 September, then at weekends and some Fridays in October and November. Free entry to exhibition with Preston Manor admission (adult £5.85, child (5-15) £3.15). Details: http://brightonmuseums.org.uk/prestonmanor/

Now to 27 November, Sunken Cities - Egypt’s Lost Worlds. Major exhibition at the British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Tickets £16.50. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Now - 9 December; Art Exhibition - The Bees and the Kingdom of the Animals, Libuse Mikova-Mika. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: open from noon to 7pm. Details: http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/pages/exhibit.php

Now to 26 November; Autopsia Thanatopolis.Exhibition at the Horse Hospital, 30 Colonnade, London, WC1N. Details: http://www.thehorsehospital.com/now/autopsia-thanatopolis/

Now - Sunday 27 November; Doreen: An English Witch. A play about Doreen Valiente at the Marlborough Theatre, Brighton, Sussex. Tickets £5-£15. Evening performances start at 8pm. Bookings: https://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/53293/chk/ef4d/

Tuesday 22 November; Film Screening and Discussion: Wisdomkeepers, Paqo Andino and The Andean Holy Mountain Tradition with Jeffrey Wium. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm-9pm. Cost: £14/£18. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 22 November; Behind The Veil - Shamanism. Journey Group - everyone welcome - Inviting Joy in our Lives. Venue: Private venue in London, address on booking. Time: 7pm for 7.15pm start. Suggested donation: £10-£25. Details: http://www.meetup.com/Behind-The-Veil-Shamanism/

Wednesday, 23 November; Crossbones Vigil to honour The Goose and the outcast dead of Cross Bones Graveyard. Bring a flower, a ribbon, a totem or memento to tie to the shrine. Gather from 6.45pm for a 7pm start in Redcross Way outside the Memorial Gates, London SE1 1TA. For more details, visit http://www.crossbones.org.uk/ The new website is: http://crossbones.org.uk/

Thursday 24 November, The original night-mare: The psychology and mythology of sleep paralysis. Talk by Dr Brian Sharpless talking in the Psychology Department's Research Seminar Series. Venue: Cinema, Richard Hoggart Building Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW. Time: 4pm. Free entry, no need to book. https://www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id=10255

Thursday 24 November, Curator's Introduction to the BP Exhibition Sunken Cities: Egypt's Lost Worlds. Venue: BP Lecture Theatre, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 1.30pm. Free, but booking advised. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Thursday 24 November; The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, Illustrated talk by Sylvia Francke hosted by Earthstars Sacred Space. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, London NW1 6XT. Time: doors open 7pm, talk at 7.30pm.  https://www.facebook.com/Earthstars-Sacred-Space-104790729559515/

Thursday 24 November, Religion and Ritual by the River: Archaeology in the Inter-Tidal. Talk by Nathalie Cohen hosted by London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX. Time: 7.45pm. Tickets: £4 / £2 concessions https://www.wegottickets.com/event/378558

Thursday 24 November; The Art House and the Crick Crack Club Present Cinema of the Imagination! Little Red Riding Hood, and other Lost Girls. Performance Storytelling by Nell Phoenix. Venue:  ArtHouse Crouch End, 159A Tottenham Lane, N8 9BT. Time: 8.30pm. Audience: 14 (Or Thereabouts) + Tickets £8/10. http://www.arthousecrouchend.co.uk/crickcrackclub/

Friday 25 November; Meet up with Lars Muhl and talk about The Seer. Venue: Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6.30pm. Free event. For more details Tel 020 7836 2182 or visit the website http://www.watkinsbooks.com/

Friday 25 November; The Astrology of the ‘Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn’. Lecture by Demian Allan. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm-8.30pm. Cost: £10/£12. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 25 November; The John Michell Memorial Lecture: John Wood and the Cosmological Vision of Albion. Talk by Simon Wilson.  Venue: Rilko (Research Into Lost Knowledge). Public lecture. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 6.45pm, lecture starts 7.15pm. Entrance: £8/£6. http://www.rilko.net/EZ/rilko/rilko/home.php

Friday 25 November; Eily: Austin Spare's Muse - Jerusalem Press book launch. Venue: Treadwell's, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.30pm start. Free, but advance booking required. For further details: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Friday 25 - Saturday 26 November; Witchfest International - witchcraft conference organised by Children of Artemis. Venue: The Brighton Centre, Brighton, Sussex. Time: 6pm-11pm Friday, 10am-late Saturday. Tickets for non-members advance/online £40 for two days, £30 for Saturday; members £35/£25. Details and booking: http://witchfest.net/events/witchfest-international/

Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 November; Spellcrafting With Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki. Venue: Islington Ecology Centre, Gillespie Park, London. Time. Starts 9.30am Saturday, ends 5pm Sunday. Cost is £145, Deposit is £75. To reserve a place contact Maria-Teresa either at mariateresaharmer@yahoo.co.uk. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1255811307797519/

Saturday 26 November Seriously Suspicious Conference co-organised by ASSAP (the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena) and the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths College, University of London. Venue: Goldsmiths College, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW. Time: 10am - 7pm. Advance tickets booked online £13/£20, regular tickets £30. Free advance tickets for students. More details and ticket booking: http://www.assap.ac.uk/suspicious/index.html

Saturday 26 November; Astral Doorways Into Other Realms. Learn about astral projection with Hayley and Trefor. Venue: 28 New James Court Nunhead, London SE15. Cost £35. Time: 11am-5pm. Advance booking essential. https://www.facebook.com/events/108339202967150/

Saturday 26 November and Saturday 3 December; Tutor Ken Rees is running a two-day Saturday course called Creating Personal Mythology starting on 26 November. Venue: The Mary Ward Centre, Queen Square, London WC1. Time: 10.30am – 5.30pm. Fees are £53 or £19 concessions. Course No. 444. Enquiries: 020 8671 6372 or email: kenrees@talktalk.net Enrolment (credit/debit card): 020 7269 6000 or on-line via: www.marywardcentre.ac.uk

Saturday 26 November; All Souls Festival. Venue: 35 Rudolf Steiner House, Park Rd, London NW1 6XT. Time: 6pm. Entry: £5. Details: https://www.meetup.com/spiritual-science-at-rudolf-steiner-house/

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

Sunday 27 November; September Kith of the Tree and Well Moot. A talk and discussion on Yuletide and a seasonal Blot ceremony. Venue: The Horseshoe Inn, 26 Melior Street, London SE1. Time: 2pm. Details: https://www.facebook.com/groups/860184530737157/

Sunday 27 November; Ageless Wisdom for Everyone. Ongoing study class. Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8EA. Time: 2pm. Details: http://www.meetup.com/Theosophical-Society-in-London/

Sunday 27 November; Psychedelic Supper: The Magic of Mushrooms, hosted by The Psychedelic Society of London. Venue: Hosted by The Psychedelic Society of London. Starts: 6pm. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1802699160001049/

Monday 28 November; The Celtic Revival's Forgotten Mystic - Art O’Murnaghan. Lecture by Sally North.Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.30pm. Ticket price £8. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Monday 28 November; Witches Gathering (was Croydon Children of Artemis Gathering). (Usually meets on the last Monday of each month.) Venue: downstairs in the cellar of the Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BS. Starting for 7.30pm. onwards. For any questions email coacentral@witchcraft.org or visit http://www.witchfest.net/

Tuesday 29 November; Imaginal Reality. Talk by writer and broadcaster Dr Paul Broks. Part of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit Invited Speaker Series 2016/17 at Goldsmiths. Venue: Room LG01, Prof Stuart Hall Bulding, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW. Time: 6.10pm. Free entry, no need to book. Details: http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/apru/speakers

Tuesday 29 November; Healing Energy Workshop: Healing Energy of Food, with the Sensing Energy and Intuition Meetup Group. Venue: St Stephen's Church Hall, 48 Emperor's Gate, London SW7 4HJ. Time: 7pm. Tickets Price£15. https://www.meetup.com/Sensing-Energy-and-Intuition-Development/

Tuesday 29 November; Behind the Veil - Shamanism. Healing Evening. Venue: Private venue in London, address on booking. Time: 7pm for 7.15pm start. Suggested donation: £10-£25. Details: http://www.meetup.com/Behind-The-Veil-Shamanism/

Tuesday 29 November; 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 November; Numerology: What will life be like in 2017 for you and the world? Talk and book signing by Sonia Ducie. Venue: 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/

Wednesday 30 November; Open to love: Heart Chakra Healing Journey with Sound with Himesh of the London College of Spirituality. Venue: Viceroy Suite, Columbia Hotel, 95- 99 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3NS. Time: 7pm. £25. Details and reservations: http://www.meetup.com/londonspirituality/

Wednesday 30 November; 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 1 December; Temple of Levanah Meditation Circle with Vivianne  and Chris  Crowley. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Ticket price £10. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Thursday 1 December; Joglaresa perform folk and medieval songs for Yuletide. Venue: St Christopher's Hospice, 51-59 Lawrie Park Road, London SE26 6DZ. Time: 7.30pm. £10 ticket includes interval canapés and wine! http://www.stchristophers.org.uk/event/concert-series-2016-joglaresa/

Friday 2 December; Magikal Trance. Lecture by Edwin Courtenay. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm-8.30pm. Cost: £14/£18. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 2 December; Consciousness of Working with one's Biography. Talk by Julia Dvinskaya. Venue: 35 Rudolf Steiner House, Park Rd, London NW1 6XT. Time: 7.30pm - 9pm. Entry: £5 (£3 concessions) - no need to prebook, just turn up. Details: http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/

Saturday 3 December, Myth in the Greek and Roman Worlds - study day. Venue: Stevenson Lecture Theatre, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: starts 10am. Tickets £23, booking advised. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Saturday 3 December, Hoodoo -'Melting Pot' Workings Afternoon Workshop with Lisa Mead. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm-5.30pm. Ticket price £40. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 3 December, Michael Bertiaux: Launch of Ontological Graffiti, published by Fulgur. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 70pm. Free event but advance booking essential. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Sunday 4 December, Making Silver Amulets. Workshop with Jutta Rethe. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am-5.30pm start. Ticket price £70 (deposit £40). Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/ or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Note: I am not responsible for any of the events listed here and cannot comment on their quality or content. I try to keep my listings accurate, but do not always know of late changes, cancellations or ticket availability. Check with the organisers for any further details about the events, including tickets and timings, before turning up.