Wednesday 14 June 2017

Summer Solstice & Midsummer Pagan Events


The Summer Solstice in 2017 is a week away - at 5.24am on Wednesday, 21 June - but there are lots of things to do over the next week or so to mark the moment when the sun appears to stand still before the lengthening days turn into lengthening nights. The Summer Solstice is most celebrated festival of the pagan Wheel of the Year, while traditional midsummer is a few days later on 24 June. Here are pagan events over that time. Many of the ones I list are in London, because that is where I am based, but some are in other parts of England including the stone circles at Stonehenge and Avebury.

Now to 30 September; Austin Osman Spare exhibition at the Last Tuesday Society. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/

Now to 31 December; The London Stone on Display. Venue: Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN. Free exhibition during museum opening ours. http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london

Now to the end of 2017; Poppets, Pins and Power - an exhibition on the craft of cursing at the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle, Cornwall. http://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk/

Wednesday 14 June; 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 14 June; Mind Magic. Two classes with Gary. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: First class 6.30pm, second class 7.30pm. Entry £10 for one class, £18 for two. Booking essential https://www.facebook.com/events/881889881963429/

Wednesday 14 June; Angelic Healing Circle with Katie-Jane Wright. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Rd, London E9 7AD. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35. http://www.sheslostcontrol.co.uk/

Thursday 15 June; Witchcraft of Enchantment for the Solitary Witch: Moon 3 with the London Wicca Meetup Group. Venue: South East London location - more details given to those who book a place. Time: 7pm. Details: https://www.meetup.com/The-London-Wicca-Meetup-Group/

Thursday 15 June; Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft - Launch Event with Author Presentations. (Read my review) Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.30pm. Free event but advance booking essential. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Thursday 15 June; 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/

Thursday 15 June; PFL Summer Solstice Open Ritual with Kith of the Tree and the Well hosted by The Pagan Federation London. Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL/, Time: 7.30pm. Entry £5/£6. https://www.facebook.com/events/903563746451902/

Thursday 15 June; 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.

Friday 16 June - 18 June; Pentacle Drummers Summer Solstice Festival 2017. Venue: Langney Sports Club, Priory Lane, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 7QH. Tickets: Weekend £10, Evening or day only £6. www.thesummersolstice.co.uk

Friday 16 June; The Magdalene. Talk and book signing with Lars Muhl. 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/

Friday 16 June; Magicians in the Matrix. Lecture by Andrew Martin at the College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Cost: £14/£12. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 16 June; Exploring the Visionary Landscape hosted by Earthstars Sacred Space. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7.30pm. Entry donations. https://www.facebook.com/events/685133041696983/

Saturday 17 June; Free and Open Gorsedd Summer Solstice Rite at Avebury Stone Circle in Wiltshire. Open Druidic style ceremony to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Meet at the Red Lion pub from Noon for ceremony at 1.30pm until 3pm. Free event - offerings of song, poetry, cake, mead are welcomed. https://www.facebook.com/events/1890402041207576/

Saturday 17 June; Woodland Midsummer Ritual by Hern's Tribe with London Woodland Witches Magicians and Outdoor Pagans. Venue: Outdoor location Queen's Woods, Highgate. North London. Meet at The Woodmans' pub garden from 1pm then go to the woods at 2pm. Cost: £3 You must reserve a place in advance. Wear outdoor clothes and bring a blanket to sit on. Details and bookings: https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Outdoor-Pagans/

Saturday 17 June; Experience Spirits of Nature - Come and Touch One! Venue: Gandhi Statue, Tavistock Square, Bloomsbury, London. Time: 2pm. Yoiu must reserve a place in advance. https://www.meetup.com/Experience-Spirits-of-Nature/

Saturday 17 June; Litha Summer Solstice Sabbat at the Rollright Stones hosted by Watchers of the Old Ways. Venue Rollright Stones, Little Rollright, Warwickshire, OX7 5. Time: 2pm. Bring a picnic. https://www.facebook.com/events/1379230478829940/

Sunday 18 June; Discovering the Decks - The New Mythic Tarot. Event with the Tarot and Healing Group. Venue: The Crosse Keys, 9 Gracechurch Street, London. Time: 12.30pm. Tickets £8, advance reservation necessary. https://www.meetup.com/Tarot-and-Healing-Group/

Sunday 18 June; The Ageless Wisdom For Everyone. Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place London, W1U 8EA. Time: 2pm. Entry: Donations welcome. Details: https://www.meetup.com/Theosophical-Society-in-London/

Sunday 18 June; Dawn of the Oak. Pagan moot on the third Sunday of each month. Venue: Upstairs at The Castle, 34-35 Cowcross Road, Farringdon, London EC1M 6DB (near Farringdon tube). Time: 3pm-6pm.

Sunday 18 June; Outdoor Cacao Ceremony and Journey by Sadiye Dreameca with London Woodland Witches Magicians and Outdoor Pagans. Venue: Trent Park, Cockfosters Gate, Cockfosters Road,
Enfield, Barnet. North London. Time 3pm. Cost: £14. You must reserve a place in advance. Details: https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Outdoor-Pagans/

Sunday 18 June; Summer Solstice Celebration. Evening service led by the Wheel of the Year Group at Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. http://www.rosslynhillchapel.com/

Monday 19 June - 24 June; Women’s Gathering into the light of the Summer Solstice. Week-long celebration of the divine feminine and setting a sacred circle with a different goddess honoured each day, also raising awareness and funds for the PDSA and Padiyanoor Chamundi Temple Trivandrum Kerala Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Rd, London, SE9 6SH. Many events are free, readings are £20. Time: Most devotions start about noon. For details or to book a place email shirlee@wiccamoon.org.uk or call 020 8850 7803. https://www.facebook.com/events/1359204320867045/

Monday 19 June; Energy Tune-Up. Talk by Lee Harris organised by Alternatives. Venue: St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL, Talk starts: 7pm. Tickets £10/£15 online. http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Monday 19 June; Personal Power for the Young Urban Witch. Evening Mini-Workshop with Rebecca Beattie. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets £20. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Monday 19 June; Pagan Pathfinders - June meeting. Venue in Finchley, London N3. Time: 7.30pm. https://www.facebook.com/PaganPathfinders/

Tuesday 20 June; LDN Talks at Night: Urban Legends of London with Scott Wood. Venue: The Dead Dolls House, 181 Upper Street, London N1 1RQ. Time: 7pm. Tickets £10. http://uk.funzing.com/funz/ldn-talks-night-urban-legends-of-london-9875?

Tuesday 20 June; Witches Gathering. Venue: front bar of the Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BS. Starting for 7.30pm. onwards. Meets on the third Tuesday of each month. For any questions email coacentral@witchcraft.org or visit http://www.witchfest.net/

Tuesday 20 June; West Byfleet and Woking Monthly Moot. Venue: The Station Pub next to West Byfleet Station. Time: evening, but check before turning up as this might be cancelled due to people going to Litha events elsewhere. More details can be found on NW Surrey Pagans meetup group, or West Byfleet and Woking Moot's Facebook page. Alternatively email Westbyfleetmoot@gmail.com

Wednesday 21 June; Secret Summer Solstice Party in London. Details to be given out nearer the time. https://www.facebook.com/events/207450106363619/

Wednesday 21 June; Wheel of the Year Festival - Summer Solstice at Chalice Well World Peace Garden, in Glastonbury. Gather at the well head for midday meditation until 12.30pm, followed by conversation on the lower lawn. Free admission to the gardens from 10am to noon. For more details, visit the website http://www.chalicewell.org.uk/

Wednesday 21 June; Lake District event: The Birkrigg Druids' Standing Stones Summer Solstice Ritual. Birkrigg stones are on Birkrigg Common near Bardsea between Ulverston and Barrow, off the coast road. All paths are welcome; the circle is hosted by Paul the druid and supported by Libra Crystals Ulverston. Time: 12 noon. Bring a picnic to share, your drum/guitar/flute etc.

Wednesday 21 June; Stillness and Meditation at Mandeville Place. Venue: School of Economic Science, 11-13 Mandeville Place, London. Free lunchtime event starting 1pm. https://www.meetup.com/Light-in-London/

Wednesday 21 June; World Peace and Prayer Day. Global Sacred Fire Ceremonies (Pujas) for World Peace and Healing Venue: Wherever you are in the world. Details: http://www.pujasforpeace.org/

Wednesday 21 June; Summer Solstice. Talk and book signing with John Awen. 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 21 June; 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 21 June; Summer Solstice Gong Immersion with Gong Master Olaf Nixon at the College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Cost: £44/£40. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 21 June; More Mead Moot promoted by Pagan FutureFests. Venue: Hope Pub, 48 West Street, Carhsalton SM5 2PR. Time: from 7.30pm. Meets on the third Wednesday of each month. https://www.facebook.com/Pagan-FutureFests-352385661439366/ http://www.meetup.com/Londonpagancommunity/

Wednesday 21 June - Thursday 22 June; Stonehenge, the 5,000-year-old megalithic monument on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, is the most famous place in England to celebrate the solstices. English Heritage, which manages the site, will be providing "managed open access" to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice. English Heritage allows individuals and groups to conduct their own ceremonies and rituals during the opening times, from 7pm on 21 June until 8am on 22 June. No camping is allowed. There is a car park and buses run from Salisbury railway station. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/plan-your-visit/summer-solstice/

Thursday 22 June; Rising Sign astrology workshop with Madeleine Botet de Lacaze. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Rd, London E9 7AD. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. http://www.sheslostcontrol.co.uk/

Thursday 22 June; Music Gig: Gallows Ghost - Acoustic Performance. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 8pm. Tickets £12. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Friday 23 June; Crossbones St John's Eve Vigil to honour The Goose and the outcast dead of Cross Bones Graveyard and the dead and wounded of the London Bridge attacks. 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://crossbones.org.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/events/1680720662232878/

Friday 23 June; Sensing the Spiritual in Medicinal Plants. Lecture by With Pamela Tinker. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7pm. Entry £5/£3. http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/

Friday 23 June; Women's Empowerment with Mamma Moon Magick. Venue: The Upminster Complementary Healing and Teaching Sanctuary, Pea Lane, Upminster, Havering, RM142XH. Time: 7pm. Cost: £15. https://www.facebook.com/events/315494282226854/

Friday 23 June; The City of Djinn. Illustrated Lecture by Darragh Mason Field. 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/

Saturday 24 June; Midsummer Sacred Chant Workshop with Chloe Goodchild, Nikki Slade, Illumina snd Sudha organised by Alternatives. Venue: Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent's Park Rd, London NW1 7AY. Time: 10am-5pn. Tickets £50/£40. http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Saturday 24 June; One-day Isis workshop Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Rd, London, SE9 6SH. Time: 11a,-4.30pm. Tickets £20 in advance, £39.99 on the day. For details or to book a place email shirlee@wiccamoon.org.uk or call 020 8850 7803. https://www.facebook.com/events/1359204320867045/

Saturday 24 June; South London Red Tent. Venue: Private house in London SW16. Time: 11.30am. https://www.meetup.com/South-London-Red-Tent/

Saturday 24 June; Midsummer meanders, meditation and munch in Woking, Surrey. Meet in Woodham Common car park, just off the 6 ways Roundabout, on Monument Road, Woking, at 10.30 am, for a meander to the two longbarrows. The group will then go on to The Peace Garden, which is the former Muslim burial ground for a guided meditation, before retiring to Sands at The Bleak House for refreshment. This is close to the sand pits which HG Wells used as the landing point for his martians in War of The Worlds.

Saturday 24 June; Gallery Talk - Greek mythology on Greek vases. Venue: Room 69, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 1.15pm. Free, just turn up. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Sunday 25 June; 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 25 June; Tarot Reading for Intermediate Students. Day Workshop with Sue Merlyn Farebrother. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am-5.30pm. Tickets £70 (deposit £40). Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Sunday 25 June; Alban Heruin/Lithe/Mid-Summer Solstice on Primrose Hill with the Loose Association of Druids. Open ritual hosted by Jeremy Morgan, the Druid of Wormwood Scrubbs. Venue: The Hawthorne Grove, Primrose Hill, Regents Park, London NW1. Starts at 12.30pm, ends at about 2.30pm. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm.

Sunday 25 June; Informal chat over coffee "Ethics in Witchcraft" with Leatherhead and Guildford Pagan and Witchcraft Group. Venue: Squires Garden Centre, West Horsley, Epsom Road
Leatherhead, Guildford KT24 6AR. Time: 2.30pm. https://www.meetup.com/The-Guildford-area-Witchcraft-and-Pagan-Meet/

Sunday 25 June; The Secret Journey of Doctor Dee - Mortlake with London Dreamtime. Venue: Secret Location in Mortlake. Time: 3pm. Price: £4 per person - advance booking essential. Email vanessa@londondreamtime.com or visit http://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

I am not responsible for any of these events and I recommend checking with the organisers before turning up to any of them. If you know of an event that you want listed, please email the details to me at badwitch1234@gmail.com.

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