Magic School: The Mystery Traditions and Alchemy

This March, there is a two-day Saturday course called Mystery Traditions and the Alchemical Imagination taking place at the Mary Ward Centre, in London. Here is the description of the course supplied by tutor Ken Rees:

Religions have always had their esoteric side, existing as cults, or independent associations alongside more public institutions. We will examine such traditions drawing our examples from classical times, through early modern Europe to the contemporary world in order to show both their continuities and differences. The alchemical transformative formulae of death and rebirth, solve and coagula, are shown to be common to them all. Such traditions demonstrate a constant need by individuals and cultures to deepen their spiritual sensibilities through secret or semi-secret mystical societies using specialised ritual and myth. 

Such mystery traditions have always remained an alternative option to mainstream religion and philosophy. History provides us with a catalogue of these, often embedded in actual institutions as well as whole societies. Thus we find the Gnostics, the Greco-Roman and Egyptian mysteries plus the likes of Anatolian and Druidic cults. Later the Rosicrucian, Freemasonic and Christian theosophical currents emerge, while the 19th century saw a revival of Renaissance magic best exemplified by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Using a range of such examples, this course will explore how all such traditions acted in an alchemical manner, providing their members with a system of cosmic symbolism aimed at achieving a mystical oneness with the world and transforming the personality from ‘base metals into gold’.

The classes will run at the Mary Ward Centre, Queen Square, London WC1 on Saturday 18 March and Saturday 25 March from 10.30am to 5.30pm. Fees are £53 or £19 concessions.

Enquiries: 020 8671 6372 or email: kenrees@talktalk.net
Enrolment (credit/debit card): 020 7269 6000 or on-line via: www.marywardcentre.ac.uk - Course No. 446.

The picture at the top shows the Mary Ward Centre, the one to the right is from a replica of the Ripley Scroll.

The Wild Hunt & the Witches Talk by Ronald Hutton

A new talk by Professor Ronald Hutton about the history of witchcraft is not to be missed, especially when it takes place in my home city of London, in the sumptuous Senate Room at Senate House. Last Wednesday I went to a lecture by him entitled The Wild Hunt and the Witches, organised by the Folklore Society in the iconic Art Deco building that is part of the University of London.

As most pagans in the UK are aware, Professor Hutton is a leading expert in the history of witchcraft and his talks - and books - are always fascinating. He is also famous for deconstructing the misconceptions that have grown up around pagan subjects. This time, he picked apart the legends of the Wild Hunt and the suggestion that the hunt is a remnant of ancient European shamanism and also might portray witches riding to Sabbats led by a Goddess.

In the talk, Professor Hutton argued that our modern picture of wild hunt was actually a conflation of several different folktales by Jacob Grimm for his treatise Deutsche Mythologie (Teutonic Mythology), published in Germany in the 1830s. With his brother, Jacob Grimm attempted to piece together German folk beliefs by collecting tales from various sources and places and removing any discrepancies.

The Brothers Grimm held the idea that these tales descended from the ancient world. This was based on the idea - popular in the 19th century, but now been discredited - that history could be reconstructed by combining folklore and folk tales from various sources and regions.

With regards to the Wild Hunt, tales that were combined included legends of spectral huntsmen, the idea of ghostly armies led by a God, the Devil looking for sinners, and sinners forced to wander after their deaths. Herne the Hunter was tagged on as a leader of the Wild Hunt too. Grimm used him because of his name, but he was probably invented by Shakespeare and doesn’t lead spirits.

An important idea about the Wild Hunt discussed by modern historians including Michael Bailey and Carlo Ginzburg is that in German and Celtic legends the Wild Hunt was often led by a divine female figure, which could be Berta or Diana among other names. There is also the idea that these female deities led groups of women, instead of the dead, and took them to the witches’ Sabbat.

Professor Hutton argued that this tale of women being led by a strong female figure was actually an independent regional development in parts of medieval Europe that included the Italian Alps; it was not a hangover from ancient paganism. It centred around the idea of The Lady or The Good Lady visiting the houses of ordinary women, partaking in feasts and teaching her followers spells. This was called The Good Game and was something new - a popular counterculture movement, probably involving some wish-fulfilment on the part of the women who said they took part in it.

Professor Hutton said that being a medieval invention that was particular to a specific region made this folk belief even more interesting than if it had been just a hangover from ancient paganism. It was something truly original and probably empowering for the women who claimed to be part of the Good Game.

Professor Ronald Hutton's new book The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present is due to be released in August this year. It is about the European witch hunts and will be published by Yale University Press.

Links and previous related posts
http://folklore-society.com/
http://yalebooks.co.uk/
http://folklore-society.com/events/the-wild-hunt-and-the-witches
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/01/review-pagan-britain-by-ronald-hutton.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/09/highlights-day-with-ronald-hutton-and.html

Magic School: Introduction to Wicca, London Class

Mani Navasothy, an initiated Wiccan High Priest, and April Jonquil, an initiated Wiccan Priestess, are running a one-day Introduction to Wicca course at The Atlantis Bookshoo in Central London - in the basement room that Gerald Gardner once used as his own coven temple. The class is on Saturday, June 17, 2017, and runs from 10.30am to 5.30pm. The fee is £30.

This course is aimed at beginners, students and seekers who are interested in Wicca and witchcraft. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary. You only need an open mind, patience and willingness to learn what Wicca is all about - and its history since Gerald Gardner's time in the 1950s in England to its contemporary forms.

Teachers Mani and April will use explanations, photos, videos, pathworking and practical demonstrations of certain parts of Wiccan ritual. Full notes of the topics covered will be handed out so students can focus on listening and learning.

Syllabus
Origins of Modern Wicca
Wiccan law and principles
Basic energy work
Altars and Wiccan ritual tools
Consecrations
Sacred space and casting a magic circle
Working with elements and quarters
Power raising and the Witches' Rune
The Horned God and Moon Goddess
Magic and spellcraft in Wicca
The Wheel of the Year - eight major sabbats/festivals and their related seasonal myths and rituals
Initiations and covens.

Details
Date: Saturday, June 17, 2017
Time: 10.30am to 5.30pm
Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49A, Museum Street, London WC1A 1LY.
Price: £30 per person, includes tea, coffee and handouts
Booking: You can book online at https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Outdoor-Pagans/events/237928535/ or in person at The Atlantis Bookshop.

The photo at the top shows The Atlantis Bookshop and is copyright Lucya Starza

February Mandala: Hearts, Flowers, Seeds and Leaves

Here is a photograph of a mandala I created yesterday as a collage using items from my house and garden.

One of my resolutions for the year was to create a mandala each month including seasonal items. Although this is only the second mandala I've done this year, I'm already seeing how my mandalas are reflecting my moods. Back in January I was suffering from toothache and due to have a dental operation. My mandala reflected my anxiety - I called it Lips as Red as Blood.

My February mandala shows me in a much happier place. It is heart-shaped and includes various heart motifs within it. Earlier this month, before Valentine's Day, I created the central heart shape out of seeds as an illustration for a guided visualisation I wrote, called The Seeds of Love.

I decided to add to that, using flowers, fresh leaves, a rose-hip and seed-pod from my garden; fresh herbs from my kitchen window; beads and glass baubles from my trinket box and a bracelet that was given to me by my parents as a gift when I was a child. All of these are things I find beautiful or have sentimental attachment to. This is a mandala about love, beauty and hope for the future.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/01/january-mandala-lips-as-red-as-blood.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/01/the-bad-witchs-10-new-years-resolutions.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/02/guided-visualisation-seeds-of-love.html

This Week's Pagan Events In and Near London

Here are events in London plus a few in other parts of the UK over the next 10 days or so 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.

Thursday 23 February; Moments. Talk and book signing by Laura Lovehearts. 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 23 February; Developing Extrasensory Abilities: Telepathic Communication with the Meditation, Sensing Energy and Intuition Development Meetup Group. Venue: St Stephen's Church, Gloucester Road, London SW7. Time: 6.30pm. Price: £12. Details and booking: https://www.meetup.com/Sensing-Energy-and-Intuition-Development/

Thursday 23 February; 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 23 February; Wilhelm Reich and the Occulted Body Lecture. Lecture by Dan Lowe. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pmstart. Ticket price £8. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Thursday 23 February; Killer Clowns: Moral Panic and Urban Myth - talk at London Fortean Society by Scott Wood, author of London Urban Legends. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London, E1 7EX. Tickets £4/£2 plus online booking fee. Time: 7.45pm. Bookings: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/383003 Details: https://www.facebook.com/LondonForteanSociety/

Thursday 23 February; The Art House and the Crick Crack Club Present Others from the Other Side. Performance storytelling by Clare Muireann Murphy live on the Arthouse stage. 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 24 February; Perpetual Choirs. Talk by Giles Bryant. 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/£10. http://www.rilko.net/EZ/rilko/rilko/home.php

Friday 24 February; Gerrie March presents her Students. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Cost: £10/£12. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 24 February; Earthstars Group Meeting. Merlin, Thresholds and the Fatherless Child. A presentation by Elen Sentier, author of the book Merlin: Once and Future Wizard. Venue:  Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, London NW1 6XT. Time: doors open 7pm, talk at 7.30pm. Entry £12.  https://www.facebook.com/Earthstars-Sacred-Space-104790729559515/ or www.elensentier.co.uk

Friday 24 February; London Dreamtime: Haunted Hampstead. A walk through Hampstead’s narrow alleyways, picturesque streets and dark woodlands. Venue: Meet in a secret location. Time: 7.30pm. Price: £9 tickets. For details email vanessa@londondreamtime.com or visit http://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Sunday 26 February; Meditation at Russell Brands Trew Era Cafe, 30 Whitmore Road, London N1 5QA. Starts 10.15am. Free event. Details: https://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Sunday 26 February; South London Red Tent Meetup. Women-only event and you must be a member of the group to attend. Venue: The Horse and Groom, 60 Streatham High Road, South London. Time: 11.30am. Details and booking here: https://www.meetup.com/South-London-Red-Tent/

Sunday 26 February; Living in the Body - Not Just in the Head. Workshop. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 1pm. Cost: £35. Details: http://www.trudylewis.com/

Sunday 26 February; Children of The Wild Wood - Initiatory Study Circle: Stone Magic organised by Grove of the Green Goddess. Venue: The Goat Pub, Carshalton Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 4HJ, Near Mitcham Junction train Station/tram link. Time: 2pm. Donations of £3 welcome. https://www.meetup.com/Grove-of-The-Green-Goddess/

Sunday 26 February; Ageless Wisdom for Everyone - talk about Theosophy. Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place London, W1U 8EA. Time: 2pm. Details: https://www.meetup.com/Theosophical-Society-in-London/

Sunday 26 February; The Thin Veil of London. Two-hour walk around Holborn and Bloomsbury, interwoven with mysteries from the stories of Arthur Machen, with Minimum Labyrinth. Tickets:  £17.50 (£12.50 concessions). Time: 4pm-6.30pm. Details and booking:  www.minimumlabyrinth.org.

Sunday 26 February; Remote Rite: Dark Moon Banishing Rite with the London Pagan Community and the Grove of the Green Goddess. You must be a member of the meetup group to book for this event and take part. Time: 7.30pm https://www.meetup.com/Londonpagancommunity/

Sunday 26 February; New Moon Circle of Sisterhood -Journey to the Dark Goddess - Women Only with Behind the Veil Shamanism. Venue: The Hall, St Philips Church, Earls Court Road, London W8 6QH. Time: 7.30pm. Entry: £18. Details: http://www.meetup.com/Behind-The-Veil-Shamanism/

Monday 27 February; London Drawing Group at the British Museum: Witches and Feminine Magick. Venue: The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time@ 11am-4pm. Donations £5. Paper and Pencils provided. You must book at ticket in advance: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ldg-at-the-british-museum-witches-and-feminine-magick-tickets-32024770952

Monday 27 February-Friday 31 March; Exhibition - The Four Elements in the Human Body by the Visual Arts and Sculpure Students of Emerson College. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/

Monday 27 February; Hand Magic Class: Energy of Earth with the Meditation, Sensing Energy and Intuition Development Meetup Group. Venue: St Stephen's Church, Gloucester Road, London SW7. Time: 6pm. Price: £10. Details and booking: https://www.meetup.com/Sensing-Energy-and-Intuition-Development/

Monday 27 February; The Art of Dying. Talk by Felicity Warner organised by Alternatives. Venue: St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL, Doors open 6.30pm. Event starts: 7pm. Tickets £8/£12 online. For more details and to book tickets http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Monday 27 February; William Blake among the Druids, Lecture by Ruth Clydesdale. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.30pm start. Ticket price £8. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Monday 27 February; 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?

Monday 27 February; Witches 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/

Monday 27 February; Monumental Memories: Indigenous memory and Stonehenge. Talk by Dr Lynne Kelly at The London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London, E1 7EX. Tickets £4/£2 plus online booking fee. Time: 7.45pm. Bookings: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/386802 Details: https://www.facebook.com/LondonForteanSociety/

Tuesday 28 February; How to Break Out of Plato's Cave with Carl H Smith. Organised by Ecology, Cosmos and Consciousness. Venue: October Gallery, 24 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AL. Time: 6pm for 6.30pm start to 8.30pm. Entry £8 /£6 Concessions. https://www.facebook.com/events/214517289016323/

Tuesday 28 February; Haunted data, weird science and archives of the future. Talk by Professor Lisa Blackman. Part of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit Invited Speaker Series at Goldsmiths. Venue: Ian Gulland Lecture Theatre in the Whitehead Building, 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 28 February; Healing Energy Workshop: Connecting to your Spirit Guides with the Meditation, Sensing Energy and Intuition Development Meetup Group. Venue: St Stephen's Church, Gloucester Road, London SW7. Time: 7pm. Price: £15. Details and booking: https://www.meetup.com/Sensing-Energy-and-Intuition-Development/

Tuesday 28 February; Gongs and Ancient Instruments Explained and Experienced with Gong Master Olaf Nixon. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm-9pm. Cost: £15/£19. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 28 February; 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 1 March; Let's Meditate - group meditation. Venue: Buddha on a Bicycle, Covent Garden, London. Starts 6pm. Donations of £3 recommended. Details: http://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Thursday 2 March;  The Lazy Guru’s Guide to Life. Talk and book signing by Lawrence Shorter. 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 2 March; Expression - Part of the Divine I Am Ancestral Series (Money, Expression, Power) at the London College of Spirituality. Venue: Columbia Hotel, 95-99 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3NY. Time: 7pm. Tickets £33. http://www.londoncollegeofspirituality.co.uk/

Saturday 4 March; The Hedge Witches Celebrate Spring. A one-day workshop to make magical lotions and potions for yourself and to spring clean your home. Venue: 4 Moore St, Strood, Kent ME2 3BD. Time: 10am to 4pm (approx). Cost £50 Includes lunch (detox soup and roll), tea and coffee. Booking essential ~ email mayeve@blueyonder.co.uk or louisebalderston1@virginmedia.com
www.mayeve.co.uk

Saturday 4 March; Candle Magic Afternoon Workshop - I am running another session of my popular candle magic workshops based on my book Pagan Portals - Candle Magic. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm to 3.15pm. Cost: £20 per person. You can book online at https://www.treadwells-london.com/events/ or reserve a place by calling 020 7419 8507, emailing info@treadwells-london.com or visiting the shop.

Saturday 4 - Sunday 5 March; How Do We Live with Death? Weekend of talks, part of a year-long festival called Belief and Beyond Belief about what it means to be human. Venue: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Weekend tickets £25. More details and booking: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/festivals-series/belief-and-beyond-belief

Saturday 4 - 18 March; The Mystical Art of Karen Cater. Exhibition to coincide with Pagan Art, Folk Art book launch. Karen will be in residence on 4, 11 and 18 March. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49A Museum St, London WC1A 1LY. The shop is near the British Museum. The exhibition is open every day except Sundays from 10.30am to 6pm, For details, email atlantis@theatlantisbookshop.com, phone 020 7405 2120 or pop in to the shop.

Sunday 5 March; Isidias Navigatum- Goddess Isis Blessing of the Fleet Ceremony 2017 with London Woodland Witches Magicians and Outdoor Pagans. Venue: Richmond Riverside. Meet at Richmond train station at 1.30pm to walk to the site. Cost £3. You must reserve a place in advance. Wear outdoor clothes and bring food and drink to share. Details and bookings:  https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Outdoor-Pagans/

Note: I am not responsible for any of these events except my candle magic workshop. Although I try to make sure the details on my listing are accurate, I do not always know about late changes or ticket availability etc. Please contact the organiser before attending any event.

News Stories: Witches, Witchcraft and Warts

"Meet The Women In Modern Covens" - story at The Debrief: http://www.thedebrief.co.uk/news/opinion/meet-the-women-in-modern-covens-20170266582

"You Can Change Your Hair Color With Your Mood, Thanks To This Witch's Invention" - story at Refinery29: http://www.refinery29.com/2017/02/141715/witch-color-change-hair-dye

"Inside the macabre witchcraft museum displaying 'corpse trousers' made of human skin" - story at Mirror.co.uk: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/inside-macabre-witchcraft-museum-displaying-9842057

"How to find anti-witch evil averting marks in your house that could indicate it was once believed to be haunted" - story at NEWS.com.au: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/how-to-find-antiwitch-evil-averting-marks-in-your-house-that-could-indicate-it-was-once-believed-to-be-haunted/news-story/682818790b216970d1f82a86493b24a4

"Making Sense of Medicine: Warts don't happen only to witches" - story at The Daily News of Newburyport: http://www.newburyportnews.com/news/lifestyles/making-sense-of-medicine-warts-don-t-happen-only-to/article_4ff59c68-813d-5852-9009-a5da20f2b843.html

First Copies: Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days

In this photograph you can see the very first copies to be printed of a book that I spent most of last year working on. It is called Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days and contains contributions from nearly 50 pagan authors and practitioners from many different traditions across the world, including Caroline Wise, Elen Sentier, Ellen Evert Hopman, Geraldine Beskin, Melusine Draco and Rachel Patterson.

As publisher Moon Books says on its website:

Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days contains 366 spells, rituals, meditations, Pagan prayers, divinatory techniques, poems to read and recipes and craft projects to try out, along with the details of festivals that take place throughout the year. All the activities are intended to be easy to follow so you can pick up the book, open it to a day and find something you can do. There are festivals from the ancient world and modern Pagan celebrations as well.

As well as coming up with the idea for Every Day Magic, I edited and contributed to it. However, as it is a community book I will not be receiving royalties - I asked for any money raised from it to be used to help bring more pagan writers' works into publication.

The book isn't due to be officially launched until November 24, but you can put in pre-orders. The RRP for the paperback is £8.99 in the UK and $14.95 in the US, while the e-book should be £3.99 / $5.99. The ISBN is 978-1-78535-567-7.

The photo shows a few early copies I was sent as samples of the printing.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/01/the-bad-witchs-10-new-years-resolutions.html
http://www.moon-books.net/books/pagan-portals-pagan-book-days
http://www.moon-books.net/books/pagan-portals-candle-magic

Pagan Eye: Totality - Solar Eclipse Art in Exhibition

This is a photo of Totality, an art installation by Katie Paterson. It is part of an exhibition called A Certain Kind of Light that is on at Eastbourne's Towner Gallery at the moment.

A Certain Kind of Light explores how artists have responded to light, its materiality, transience and effect. Katie Paterson's glitterball is made with images of almost every solar eclipse that has been known to humans. The images move across the room, reflecting the progression of an eclipse. It is pretty stunning to see - although all of the exhibits were impressive.

There is due to be a real solar eclipse on 26 February. It will be an annular eclipse, meaning the sun will look like a ring of fire around a dark central circle. The eclipse should be visible from the southern tip of South America to Angola in Africa. Sadly it will not be visible at all in London, but you could pop down to Eastbourne and see Totality to make up for that.

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

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

Links and previous related posts
http://www.townereastbourne.org.uk/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/05/pagan-eye-solar-eclipse.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/05/solar-eclipse-this-sunday-may-20-my.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/10/pagan-eye-blood-moon-in-october-2014.html

Review: Hay House Basics - Astrology

Astrology is one of those things I've always wanted to be able to do - particularly because my grandma was an astrologer. Back before the First World War she worked for Alan Leo, who is often called The Father of Modern Astrology. Sadly, my grandma died when I was a child and so never taught me the skills of constructing a birth chart or interpreting one.

Over the years I've read several books with the intention of teaching myself the skills of astrology, but still didn't get the hang of it. In general I found they were either too superficial or too complicated for me to get beyond the basics of what the various zodiac signs and planets symbolise.

However, I am very pleased to say I have finally got over that hurdle. The book that did it for me was Astrology: A Guide to Understanding Your Birth Chart by Yasmin Boland. It is in  the Hay House Basics series, which is a range of reasonably priced books teaching mind, body, spirit subjects in a clear and concise way so that anyone can understand them. I'm a big fan of the series and Hay House Basics - Astrology is possibly my favourite so far.

Right from the start the book gets you working on your own birth chart with practical exercises that you can either fill in on the pages or in a notebook. (I did the latter, as I don't like to deface books.)
It takes everything slowly and explains the principles in easy-to-grasp terms. By the end I felt I was finally able to look at my chart and understand what the lines, rings and symbols on it mean.

Of course, it is a beginner's book, aimed at giving a ground in the subject. Reading it and doing the exercises can only be the first step in actually learning to be an astrologer. And, as Yasmin Boland says in the conclusion, the best thing to do when you have finished is read the entire book all over again - perhaps using it to work on the birth chart of a friend, loved one or family member. I expect I'll be doing that, too.

You can order Astrology: A Guide to Understanding Your Birth Chart via Amazon.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.hayhouse.co.uk/
http://charts.allstarastrologers.com//form/YB/FREECHART/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/12/review-hay-house-basics-numerology.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/01/review-angels-lead-new-series-of-basics.html
https://www.facebook.com/yasminboland
@HayHouseUK
@hayhouse

This Week's Pagan Events In and Near London

Here are events over the next 10 days or so that could be of interest to pagan. Most are in London, because that's where I live, but I often mention a few that are in other parts of southern England. If you know of an event that you want listed, please email the details to me at badwitch1234@gmail.com.

Thursday 16 February; Start of four-week shamanic course - Walking the Medicine Wheel with Giselle. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Rd, London, SE9 6SH. £80.00 per person for the entire course. Time: 12.30pm-2pm. 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/

Thursday 16 February; The Thin Veil of London. Two-hour walk around Holborn and Bloomsbury, interwoven with mysteries from the stories of Arthur Machen, with Minimum Labyrinth. Tickets:  £17.50 (£12.50 concessions). Time: 6pm-8.30pm. Details and booking:  www.minimumlabyrinth.org.

Thursday 16 February; The Heart of Life. Talk and book signing by Jez Hughes. 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 16 February; Wisdom of the Body - movement class with live drumming with Behind the Veil Shamanism. All welcome, Venue: The Hall, St Philips Church, Earls Court Road, London W8 6QH. Time: 7pm for 7.15pm start. Entry: £18, you must reserve a place in advance. Details: http://www.meetup.com/Behind-The-Veil-Shamanism/

Thursday 16 February; South London Wicca Meetup. Initiatory Training - Qabala. Venue: Tooting Bec, London - a private house. 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 16 February; LDN Talks @ Night, The Science of Paranormal Activity. Talk by Professor Chris French organised via Funzig. Venue: Hoxton Square, London, N1 6QT  (Exact address will be provided after booking). Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. http://uk.funzing.com/funz/8357

Thursday 16 February; Divine I Am Inner Child Healing and Shadow Work at the London College of Spirituality. Venue: Columbia Hotel, 95-99 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3NY. Time: 7pm. Tickets £25/£30. http://www.londoncollegeofspirituality.co.uk/ev13february2017

Thursday 16 February; The Circle of Ankerwycke moot on the third Thursday in each month. Venue: Function room at the back of the Two Rivers Pub, 43 Church Street, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 4EN. Time: 8pm.

Thursday 16 February; House of Heron Drum Circle to Shamanic Journey. Venue: Caer Corhrain, 1 Southleas farm cottages, Lower Road, Minster, Sheppey, ME12 3SW. Time: 7.30pm. This takes place on the third Thursday each month. For more information visit http://www.touchtheearthuk.com/

Friday 17 February; Ascension Intelligence: Attaining Wholeness in a World of Delusion. Talk by William Henry. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Cost: £14/£18. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 17 February; Colour between Light and Darkness Seminar with Georg Schad. Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7pm. Details: https://www.meetup.com/spiritual-science-at-rudolf-steiner-house/

Saturday 18 - Sunday 19 February; Palmistry/Hand Analysis Conference 2017. Hosted by the London School of Astrology. Venue: Friends Meeting House, 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. Time: 10.30am Saturday to 4.45pm Sunday. To book your place, call the LSA on 020 8402 7772, email  admin@londonschoolofastrology.co.uk or make payment to ‘LSA’ and post to: LSA, BCM Planets, London WC1N 3XX. Cost: £55 per day (in advance), £60 on the door, or £100 for the weekend. https://www.facebook.com/events/1247200538696544/

Saturday, 18 February; Labyrinth – Gateway to the Infinite Self. Workshop with Tony Christie. Organised by Alternatives. Venue: The Columbia Hotel, 95-99 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3NS. Doors open 10am, runs to 5pm. Tickets £65/£50 online. For more details and to book tickets: http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Saturday, 18 February; Exorcism: A one day seminar with David Goddard at Atlantis Bookshop. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 11am-5pm. Tickets: £50. Tel: 020 7405 2120 or email atlantis@theatlantisbookshop.com.

Saturday, 18 February; Religion, Myth and Superstition in London's History - guided tour at the Museum of London. Venue: Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £12.50/£10. Booking and details: http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london

Saturday, 18 February; Within Walls: the archaeology of magical house protection. Talk by Brian Hoggard. Venue: Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, London N6 5HG. Time: 4.30pm-5.30pm. Tickets £5. http://www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/

Sunday 19 February; Meditation at Russell Brands Trew Era Cafe, 30 Whitmore Road, London N1 5QA. Starts 10.15am. Free event. Details: https://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Sunday 19 February; Ageless Wisdom for Everyone - talk about Theosophy. Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place London, W1U 8EA. Time: 2pm. Details: https://www.meetup.com/Theosophical-Society-in-London/

Sunday 19 February; Practical Sigil Magic. Afternoon Class with Mark Vincent. 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/

Sunday 19 February; Dawn of the Oak. Pagan moot on the third Sunday of each month. Venue: Upstairs at The Castle, 34-35 Cowcross Road, Farringdon, London EC1M 6DB (near Farringdon tube). Time: 3pm-6pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/759478640871356/

Monday 20 February; Short Talks, Big Message. Series of short talks organised by Alternatives. Venue: St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL, Doors open 6.30pm. Event starts: 7pm. Tickets £15/£10 online. For more details and to book tickets http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Tuesday 21 February; Healing Energy Workshop: Connecting to your Intuition with the Meditation, Sensing Energy and Intuition Development Meetup Group. Venue: St Stephen's Church, Gloucester Road, London SW7. Time: 7pm. Price: £15. Details and booking: https://www.meetup.com/Sensing-Energy-and-Intuition-Development/

Tuesday 21 February; Unveiling the Sushumma: The New Navigating System. Lecture by David Manning. 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/

Wednesday 22 February; “The Wild Hunt and the Witches” lecture by Ronald Hutton. Talk at The Folklore Society. Venue: The Senate Room, Senate House, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU. Time: 5pm-6pm. Tickets £5. http://folklore-society.com/events/the-wild-hunt-and-the-witches

Wednesday 22 February; Let's Meditate - group meditation. Venue: Buddha on a Bicycle, Covent Garden, London. Starts 6pm. Donations of £3 recommended. Details: http://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Wednesday 22 February; Hertford Pagan Moot. Interview with Gardnerial HP Tam Campbell. 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 23 February; Moments. Talk and book signing by Laura Lovehearts. 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 23 February; 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 (pictured at the top of this post). 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 23 February; Wilhelm Reich and the Occulted Body Lecture. Lecture by Dan Lowe. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pmstart. Ticket price £8. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Thursday 23 February; Killer Clowns: Moral Panic and Urban Myth - talk at London Fortean Society by Scott Wood, author of London Urban Legends. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London, E1 7EX. Tickets £4/£2 plus online booking fee. Time: 7.45pm. Bookings: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/383003 Details: https://www.facebook.com/LondonForteanSociety/

Thursday 23 February; The Art House and the Crick Crack Club Present Others from the Other Side. Performance storytelling by Clare Muireann Murphy live on the Arthouse stage. 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 24 February; Perpetual Choirs. Talk by Giles Bryant. 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/£10. http://www.rilko.net/EZ/rilko/rilko/home.php

Friday 24 February; Gerrie March presents her Students. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Cost: £10/£12. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 24 February; Earthstars Group Meeting. Merlin, Thresholds and the Fatherless Child. A presentation by Elen Sentier, author of Pagan Portals - Merlin: Once and Future Wizard. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, London NW1 6XT. Time: doors open 7pm, talk at 7.30pm. Entry £12.  https://www.facebook.com/Earthstars-Sacred-Space-104790729559515/ or www.elensentier.co.uk

Friday 24 February; London Dreamtime: Haunted Hampstead. A wintery walk through Hampstead’s narrow alleyways, picturesque streets and dark woodlands. Venue: Meet in a secret location. Time: 7.30pm. Price: £9 tickets. For details email vanessa@londondreamtime.com or visit http://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Sunday 26 February; South London Red Tent Meetup. Women-only event and you must be a member of the group to attend. Venue: The Horse and Groom, 60 Streatham High Road, South London. Time: 11.30am. Details and booking here: https://www.meetup.com/South-London-Red-Tent/

Sunday 26 February; Children of The Wild Wood - Initiatory Study Circle: Stone Magic organised by Grove of the Green Goddess. Venue: The Goat Pub, Carshalton Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 4HJ, Near Mitcham Junction train Station/tram link. Time: 2pm. Donations of £3 welcome. https://www.meetup.com/Grove-of-The-Green-Goddess/

Sunday 26 February; The Thin Veil of London. Two-hour walk around Holborn and Bloomsbury, interwoven with mysteries from the stories of Arthur Machen, with Minimum Labyrinth. Tickets:  £17.50 (£12.50 concessions). Time: 4pm-6.30pm. Details and booking:  www.minimumlabyrinth.org.

Sunday 26 February; Remote Rite: Dark Moon Banishing Rite with the London Pagan Community and the Grove of the Green Goddess. You must be a member of the meetup group to book for this event and take part. Time: 7.30pm https://www.meetup.com/Londonpagancommunity/

Sunday 26 February; New Moon Circle of Sisterhood -Journey to the Dark Goddess - Women Only with Behind the Veil Shamanism. Venue: The Hall, St Philips Church, Earls Court Road, London W8 6QH. Time: 7.30pm. Entry: £18. Details: http://www.meetup.com/Behind-The-Veil-Shamanism/

Note: I do not organise any of these events. Although I try to make sure the details on my listing are accurate, I do not always know about late changes or ticket availability etc. Please contact the organiser before attending any event.

Magic School: Candle Magic & Scrying Classes

Here are the details of workshops on candle magic and scrying (divination using things like crystal balls) I am running in London over the next couple of month:

Candle Magic Afternoon Workshops at Treadwell's in Bloomsbury

I am running two sessions of my popular candle magic workshop at Treadwell's Bookshop in Central London in March and April - one on Saturday 4 March and one on Saturday 8 April. The workshops run from 1pm to 3.15pm.

The classes cover the basic techniques for candle spells and rituals - 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.

Each workshop costs £20 per person and you can find out more details here: https://www.treadwells-london.com/events/ You can book online or reserve a place by calling 020 7419 8507, emailing info@treadwells-london.com or visiting the shop at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS.

Scrying by Candlelight at The Atlantis Bookshop in Central London

On Saturday, 25 March, I'm running an afternoon workshop called Scrying by Candlelight in the lovely basement temple at The Atlantis Bookshop, which is near the British Museum. The workshop will teach the techniques of scrying using crystal balls, dark mirrors, candles and water. It is a practical afternoon with lots of opportunity to develop your psychic senses to see the past, the future and the answers to questions in reflective surfaces, flames and smoke. All materials, as well as tea, coffee and biccies, are included.

The workshop runs from 2pm to 5pm, with a break for refreshments in the middle. The cost is £20 per person. To book a place, email atlantis@theatlantisbookshop.com, phone 020 7405 2120 or pop in to the shop at 49A Museum St, London WC1A 1LY. The shop is in between Tottenham Court Road and Holborn tube stations.

You can also buy copies of my book Pagan Portals - Candle Magic at The Atlantis Bookshop, Treadwell's or online via Amazon. You can find out more about the book on publisher Moon Books' website: http://www.moon-books.net/books/pagan-portals-candle-magic

Pagan Eye: Go on a Valentine's Day Me Date

Not everyone has a partner, or is going to spend Valentine's Day with their partner. If you are on your own by choice or necessity today, the board I photographed in the window of the shop Inner Space has some good advice for things to do alone on a Me Date.

Inner Space is dedicated to meditation and personal development. It is right next door to New Age shop Mysteries, which has just moved to a new location at 34 Short's Gardens, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9PX.

I took the photo when I was walking past Mysteries just over a week ago, on my way to run one of my scrying by candlelight workshops at nearby occult bookshop Atlantis. I had hoped to get a photo of the new venue to put on my blog, but at that time Mysteries was still closed and setting up. It is open now, I understand, and I hope to visit soon and blog about it.

However, my detour wasn't wasted, as my photo shows, and Inner Space a lovely shop too.

If you are looking for a meditation to do alone on Valentine's Day, try this visualisation on the Seeds of Love: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/02/guided-visualisation-seeds-of-love.html

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.

Link and previous related posts
http://www.innerspace.org.uk/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/01/mysteries-of-covent-garden-is-moving.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/02/guided-visualisation-seeds-of-love.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/02/magic-school-scrying-by-candlelight-on.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/08/pagan-eye-geraldine-and-bali-at-pf.html

Magic School for Witches & Wizards comes to Dorset

There are a few places left on the herbal apprenticeship course run by Sensory Solutions. Here are the details sent to me by Karen, one of the course founders:

There’s a hint of magic in the air at The Springhead Trust, as Dorset prepares for it’s annual intake of herbal medicine students.

Over four seasonal weekends, trainee witches and wizards will embark on the Sensory Herb Apprenticeship. They will learn how to make their own potions and lotions and create their own healing magic from native plants that grow abundantly in the fields, gardens and hedgerows. The School of Sensory Herbalism trains people in the mysterious and practical art of herbal medicine and is run by the Seed SistAs: experienced herbalists, Karen Lawton, Fiona Heckels and Belle Benfield.  At just £1,850 it is a steal.

 “People that make potions with plants, have been labelled witches and wizards throughout history and that’s what we do at Sensory Solutions: we make medicine from plants,” says Fiona Heckels, a medical herbalist from Dorchester with 20 years experience in the field. “Our students learn how to
identify and use plants that are growing right under their noses. It is magical to be able to turn weeds into medicine and then use that medicine to avoid catching a cold, or to soothe your eczema”.

If you’ve ever wondered about how to make sense of all the herbal supplements available these days, then the Seed SistAs might be just who you need in your life. They founded their ethical practice with the goal of connecting people to their local plants and the land around them.

How many people do you know who speak to packed audiences dressed as witches talking about medicine and self care with plants?  Karen, Fiona and Belle are passionate about their subject and share their immense knowledge with quick wit and anecdotes galore. You will definitely remember your lessons!

“We infuse everything we do with creativity,” adds Karen Lawton.  “Herbal medicine is a science and an art, we love to share both our medical training and our love of art with our students.”

The beautiful gardens of The Springhead Trust will be over-run with trainee witches and wizards in March. The Seed SistAs believe deeply in spreading the knowledge about our native and naturalized plant medicine and have dedicated their lives to herbal education.

 “Herbal medicine has given us tools for life,” raves one of their past apprentices.

“The hedgerow has opened up to me in new ways,” claims another.

If you’ve ever created potions out of rose petals or imagined the old books on your shelves were spell books or if you just have a love of nature, gardening or plants, then the Sensory Herbalism Apprenticeship might just be for you.

You can contact these inspiring women via www.sensorysolutions.co.uk.

Here: is a link to the course: http://www.sensorysolutions.co.uk/template-twelve-top-menu/quick-links/foundation_year.html

Guided Visualisation: The Seeds of Love

Love sometimes seems one of the most elusive things and the loss of a loved one can be hard. But being in love and feeling love for another person, is also the most wonderful feeling in the world. Here is a guided meditation - or guided visualisation - about love and the cycles of nature:

Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Take three deep breaths in and out and let your mind turn to a time you felt love.

Recall your strongest feelings of love. It could be feelings for someone you currently love, or someone from your past. It doesn’t matter, so long as you can still recall that feeling. Feel that love in your heart and let the feeling grow, filling your being with light and warmth and joy.

Without opening your eyes, cup your hands in front of you and visualise a tiny seed in your cupped hands. Visualise your love flowing through your arms and from your heart into that seed, infusing it with that light and warmth and joy. It is a seed of love.

Visualise in front of you a flower pot, full of rich, soft, dark earth. Then visualise yourself planting the seed into the pot and placing that pot somewhere where the sun will shine on it and the rain will water it.

Visualise the seed sprouting, a small shoot growing upwards, through the soil, into the light; and roots growing down, through the soil, to nourish and secure it. Watch it grow. A tiny fold of green leaves breaking through the soil and stretching upwards into the light, and a network of roots growing below it in the dark soil.

A bud forms, a green sepal protecting the petals within. Watch as the bud opens, revealing tiny petals. The petals expand and open and become the most beautiful flower. Examine the flower, its outer petals and inner stamen and pistil – the parts of the plant that allow it to reproduce.

Then, as you watch, a bee lands on the flower and enters the inner folds of the petals, brushing against the stamen in its search for the sweet nectar within, then re-emerging, flecked with pollen, and flying off on its busy way.

Look back at the flower, see how beautiful and perfect it is. But, as you watch, the petals start to fade and wither, and one by one they fall to the ground, and in their place grows a tiny fruit – different from the petals. You watch as it grows and ripens.

It is perfect and beautiful too, but slowly the fruit softens, darkens and wrinkles, then it too falls from the plant and lands on the soil, where it splits open, revealing inside seeds – many, many seeds. Seeds just like the one you held in your cupped hands and filled with love.

You collect the seeds and hold them in your cupped hands. Look at how many more there are than the one seed you started with. They are all precious seeds of love, that you can plant them, to grow, blossom and flower to bring joy into the world.

Take three more deep breaths in and out. Then open your hands, shake your limbs and return to your normal consciousness.

Open your eyes, but know that with this visualisation you can help plant seeds of love in the real world.

Note: The photographs on this post are all copyright Lucya Starza. If you want to reuse them you must credit Lucya Starza www.badwitch.co.uk


You can find more guided visualisations in my book Pagan Portals - Guided Visualisations.