Watch Me on Oracle TV's Halloween Special 2017

If you missed watching me on Oracle TV on Saturday evening, here is the first part of the Halloween Special on YouTube, in which show presenter Carrie interviews me about Samhain, my new book Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days and my earlier book on candle magic.

Craft: A Halloween Mandala for October

Here is my mandala for October and Halloween - or Samhain, as pagans like to call the festival on October 31 that marks the end of summer and honours those who have died.

One of my new year resolutions for 2017 was to create a mandala each month to show the changing seasons and including things from my own garden. I was inspired to do that after I created a mandala for the front cover of the book Every Day Magic: A Pagan Book of Days - which I edited last year and is being launched in November this year.

The mandala for my book cover used natural and found items, jewellery and trinkets that held a personal meaning for me. I enjoyed making it and it helped me explore the cycle of the seasons in a personal way, both from exploring my own garden in a search for suitable things for the craft project and thinking about what the Wheel of the Year actually means to me.

Unlike my earlier mandalas, I set this one out on a background of black paper to represent the dark night of Halloween. The natural objects from my garden were a mixture of plants and flowers that had died back and gone to seed as well as some lavender, which is still just flowering. I had to include Japanese lanterns as they always remind me of this time of year and I think both the seed cases look wonderful when they are bright orange and when they are a skeletal filigree. I also used items from my jewellery box - some of which I haven't worn for a long, long while.

Finally, I sprinkled a little silver glitter over it - but not any old glitter. This was from a tube of glitter leftover from my childhood days, long ago. I found it after my parents died, among their things, and have been keeping it for something special, like this mandala.

Oh and if you are wondering why there is a small key in the picture, it's because I spotted it and remembered this: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/03/witchs-niece-and-magical-key-tree.html

You can view Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days on Amazon.

Here are links to some of my earlier mandalas:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/03/mandala-for-march-goddess-of-life-death.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/06/june-mandala-summer-solstice-sun-in.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/08/mandala-august-harvest-of-apples-and.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/09/september-mandala-green-man-of-autumn.html

A Round-Up of Halloween News Stories

Here are links to some of the Halloween news stories that have been in the Press recently. Some of them are good, some fun and some downright dreadful. First, my favourite:

"Halloween? It’s more than trick or treat" - Opinion piece by Professor Ronald Hutton in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/28/halloween-more-than-trick-or-treat-origins

Now some interesting or useful ones:

"Love It or Hate It, Halloween Is Going Global" - story at National Geographic: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/10/halloween-world-costumes-germany-uk/

"Halloween 2017 survival guide: How to cope with nuisance callers" - story at Derby Telegraph http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/halloween-2017-survival-guide-how-534508

"Americanised festival of Halloween is a horrible nightmare on my street" - story at Daily Record: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/family-kids/americanised-festival-halloween-horrible-nightmare-11423956

Here's a cute but silly story:

"Pictures: Dogs get dressed up for Halloween!" - story at BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/41788840

Finally, probably the worst and most inaccurate story about Samhain (a pagan name for Halloween) I think I have even seen in a British newspaper:

"DEAD SCARY Samhain is the pagan origin of Halloween – and its terrifying rituals include human sacrifices and pumpkins filled with burning human fat" - story at The Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/4711600/samhain-is-the-pagan-origin-of-halloween-and-its-terrifying-rituals-include-human-sacrifices-and-pumpkins-filled-with-burning-human-fat/

Ronald Hutton, JK Rowling & Me on Telly Tonight!

At 9pm tonight you can watch Professor Ronald Hutton, JK Rowling and me on the telly.

Or you could if you could watch three different channels at the same time. Sadly, I'm not going to be on the same programmes as the eminent Professor Ronald Hutton or the author of the Harry Potter books, but we are all on TV.

I will be appearing on a Halloween Special broadcast live on Facebook from the Oracle TV Studio at 9pm tonight. Follow this link to find out more and to watch the programme: https://www.facebook.com/events/323941201348781/

Professor Ronald Hutton will be on More4 at 9pm tonight in A Very British Witchcraft. You can find out more details here: http://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/cmyfvs/a-very-british-witchcraft/

JK Rowling will be in the documentary Harry Potter and the History of Magic on BBC2 at 9pm. You can see some clips here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09d5n6b

Every Day Magic Can Now be Ordered for Kindle

Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days, the Moon Books community book that I edited, can now be ordered via Kindle as well as in paperback. You can view Every Day Magic on Amazon here.

Here is the description from Moon Books' 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 - and I'm very proud of 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 contains contributions from nearly 50 pagan authors and practitioners from many different traditions across the world, including Geraldine Beskin, Ellen Evert Hopman, Melusine Draco, Harmonia Saille, Rachel Patterson, Caroline Wise and Elen Sentier and other Moon Books writers.

It will be officially released on November 24, but there is a launch party is on November 4 at The Atlantis Bookshop, 49A Museum St, London WC1A 1LY. The party runs from 4pm to 7pm and is free to attend, but you will need to reserve a place in advance. Tel: 020 7405 2120, email atlantis@theatlantisbookshop.com or pop into the shop to book your place.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/10/events-not-long-to-launch-of-every-day.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/01/pagan-portals-candle-magic-available-on.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/09/help-announce-every-day-magic-with.html

I'm a Top 50 Pagan Blogs Winner!

Yesterday I got some news that really made my day - A Bad Witch's Blog has been named as one of the top 50 pagan blogs in the world! In fact, my blog comes in at number 12.

The Pagan Blogs List searches for what it considers the best pagan blogs from thousands of pagan blogs in its index using search and social metrics. Data is refreshed once a week and blogs are ranked based on following criteria:

• Google reputation and Google search ranking
• Influence and popularity on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites
• Quality and consistency of posts
• Feedspot’s editorial team and expert review

The award means I have the honour of displaying the above badge on my site. You can find the complete list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/pagan_blogs/

How to Make Wizard School-Style Floating Candles

When Harry Potter first arrived at the fictional wizard’s school of Hogwarts and entered the great hall,“it was lit by thousands and thousands of candles which were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting.” So the description by JK Rowling in her famous first novel goes.

I’ve always thought that candlelight is particularly magical. Even in the mundane world, where we have electric lights whenever we want them, we still choose to use candles to enchant our lives – to make a meal for two a romantic dinner, to turn our bathrooms into a relaxing spa, to make the telling of ghost stories really spooky...

Candles create a kind of liminal atmosphere, a flickering half-light in which all things are possible – the best kind of light for magic to work. Witchcraft, as far as I am concerned, should always be done by candlelight.

While I would prefer real candles when I’m doing candle magic, sometimes it isn’t safe to use them and if you are having a Halloween party where real flames could be a hazard, what better than to create some fake ones similar to those in the wizard school in the movies?

I learnt at the Warner Brothers Harry Potter studio tour that for the films, to create the illusion of floating candles, tubes were filled with spirit oil and wicks put on top, then these were suspended by wire. You can see a photo that I took of them at the top of this page and the description from the tour to the left.

Apparently these weren’t particularly safe either as they kept falling down, so later on they simply added the floating candles digitally.

However, here’s how to make some really safe Hogwarts style floating candles like the one you can see above right, which I photographed hanging in my witchy room from a stand holding an old hat.

You need the cardboard tubes, fake LED tea lights, cocktail sticks, flat cardboard, glue and paint. I used extra long cardboard tubes from inside rolls of paper used to go on top of therapy couches – kindly donated to me by a friend – but regular kitchen roll tubes are fine.

Cut out cardboard circles the same size as the end of your tubes then glue these to the bottom. At the top of the tubes, poke two cocktail sticks right through both sides of the cardboard at the level you want your LED tea lights to sit inside, so that the artificial flame just shows over the top.

Glue these in place on the inside, then trim them flat with the outside of the cardboard tube when the glue has dried.

Paint the outside of your imitation candle in whatever colour you like.

The ones in the movie are white, but you could also make some black ones for a Halloween party like the one in the photo below and to the right. When the overall coating of paint has dried, drizzle some thick paint down from the top to look like dripping candle wax.

Then loop thin string or cotton around the cocktail sticks to hang the candle up from and pop your LED tea light inside. I bought some clear cotton thread and found that was almost invisible, but a bit tricky to tie in place. (The photo to the left shows  ones at the Warner Brothers tour, hanging from a gantry by wire.)

If you prefer to stand the cardboard tube candles up, like the one I photographed at the bottom or the black one to the left, then I recommend putting small pebbles or some dried rice or seeds inside the tubes to weight them down. I used pumpkin seeds - it seemed particularly seasonal.

If you want to find out more about real candle magic, I have written a book called Pagan Portals - Candle Magic, published by Moon Books. You can view Pagan Portals - Candle Magic on Amazon.

Links and previous related posts
https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/home
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/10/a-fantastic-day-with-harry-potter.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/05/harry-potter-and-bricket-wood-coven.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/02/review-pagan-portals-candle-magic.html

Halloween Pagan Events in London & Elsewhere

It is Halloween - or Samhain as many pagans like to call it - on 31 November. Here are some of the events in London plus a few in other parts of the UK over the next 10 days or so that could be of interest. If you know of an event that you want listed, please email the details to me at badwitch1234@gmail.com.

Now - Wednesday 28 February 2018; Harry Potter: A History of Magic. Venue: PACCAR Gallery, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB. Timed slots every day. Tickets £16 adult, £8 child. Enquiries: 01937 546546. https://www.bl.uk/

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/

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

Now - Sunday 5 November; Certaine Wytches: Fear, Myth and Magic - exhibition by Anne Jackson. Venue: Museum in the Park, Stratford Park, Stratford Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4AF. Entry: Free. There is also a series of talks and other events running alongside the exhibition, tickets £5/£7/£3. Details: http://www.museuminthepark.org.uk/certaine-wytches/

Now - 29 October; London Month of the Dead - series of talks, performances and workshops hosted by A Curious Invitation. Venues include Brompton Cemetery, Nunhead Cemetery, Kensal Green Cemetery, St Brides Church and the Petrie Museum. Tickets from £10/£12. Details and Bookings: http://www.londonmonthofthedead.com/

Now - Friday 27 October; Exhibition - 'Perception has Nothing to do with your Eyes'. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/ and https://www.meetup.com/rudolf-steiners-spiritual-science/

Wednesday 25 October; Gallery talk: Ancient Egyptian Gods, Goddesses and Sacred Animals. Venue: Room 4, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 1.15pm. Free, just turn up. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Wednesday 25 October; Wicca Moon Halloween Week - Day 3. Make a charm to protect your home. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Rd, London, SE9 6SH. Cost is £15. 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/

Wednesday 25 October; Time to Meditate - group meditation. Venue: Buddha on a Bicycle, Covent Garden, London. Arrive 6pm for 6.10pm start. Donations of £3 recommended. Details: http://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Wednesday 25 October; A Haunting we will go! Explore Halloween the Myths and Magick. Venue: Pimp Hall Park and Nature Reserve, Chingford E4. Time: 7pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/125377698100831

Wednesday 25 October; 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. https://www.facebook.com/groups/104788436218047/

Wednesday 25 October; The Cage St Osyth: Media Frenzy or Haunting to be Taken Seriously? Talk at The London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX. Time: 7.45pm. Tickets: £4/£2. http://forteanlondon.blogspot.co.uk/

Thursday 26 October; Wicca Moon Halloween Week - Day 4. Make a poppet. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Rd, London, SE9 6SH. Cost is £15. 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/

Thursday 26 October; How to Read the Cards for Yourself and Others. Talk and book signing by Tori Hartman. 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 27 October; Wicca Moon Halloween Week - Day 5. Drumming for the ancestors. Magical workshop. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Rd, London, SE9 6SH. Cost is £15. 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/

Friday 27 October; Working with the Elemental Landscape. Lecture by John Gordon at Rilko (Research Into Lost Knowledge). Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Doors open: 6.45pm. Entrance: £8/£10. http://www.rilko.net/EZ/rilko/rilko/home.php https://www.facebook.com/rilkotrust/

Friday 27 October; Meeting the Healing Plants. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7pm. http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/ and https://www.meetup.com/rudolf-steiners-spiritual-science/

Friday 27 October; Angelic Energies in a Time of Change. Talk by Chrissie Astell. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Cost: £12/£14. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 27 - Sunday 29 October. Samhain: A festival of Life and Death with Intothewild. Weekend camping festival with music, workshops, ritual and feasting. Venue: Emerson College, Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JX. Tickets £80. www.intothewildgathering.com

Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 October; Sacred Sisters – Divine Feminine Initiation and Healing two-day workshop. Venue: Healer's Grove, Denham, London. Time: 10am-5pm each day. Cost:  £135, Call suneet@divinesouls.co.uk to book. https://www.meetup.com/Drum-Spirit-and-Tree-Medicine/

Saturday 28 October; The Astrology and Magic of Samhain. Day workshop with Demian Allan. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 10am-5pm. Cost: £95. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 28 October; Introduction to Shamanism and Shamanic Journey. Venue: The Music Room, The Tabernacle Notting Hill, 35 Powis Square, London W11 2AY. Time: 10.45am to 5.30pm. Price: £125. https://www.meetup.com/Behind-The-Veil-Shamanism/

Saturday 28 October; Wicca Moon Halloween Week - Day 6. Hecate workshop and ritual. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Rd, London, SE9 6SH. Cost is £20. Time: Noon-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 28 October; Free and Open Gorsedd of Caer Abiri Samhain Rite at Avebury stone circle, in Wiltshire. Time: 1.30pm. Bring food and drink to share. https://www.facebook.com/events/716507118549068/

Saturday 28 October; Samhain 2017 - Woodland Wicca Seasonal Ritual and Halloween Gathering. Venue: Queen's Woods, Near Highgate Station, North London. Meet at The Woodman's Pub, Archway Road, from 3.00pm. You will be led to the woods at sunset, 4.40pm exactly, where you will pay the `ferryman' your fee, and enter ritual space!. Time: 3pm to 7pm. Fee: £3. You must reserve a place in advance. https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Outdoor-Pagans/

Saturday 28 October; “Once Upon a Midnight Dreary” Halloween Ball hosted by A Curious Invitation inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe. Venue: The Century Club 61 - 63 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6LQ. Time: 9pm. Price: Tickets start at £15./ https://curious-invitation-balls.designmynight.com/

Saturday 28 October;  Oracle TV's Halloween Special. Tune in wherever you are.  Time: 9m-Midnight. http://www.oracletelevision.com/

Sunday 29 October; 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 29 October; Seeds, Berries and Roots - Autumnal Foraging, with The Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park. Venue: Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, The Soanes Centre, Southern Grove, London E3 4PX. Time: 10am-1pm. Tickets: £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/seeds-berries-and-roots-autumnal-foraging-tickets-37818564344

Sunday 29 October; Anderida Gorsedd Samhain open ritual at the Long Man of Wilmington, Sussex. Meet near the car park between 1.30pm and 2pm for a walk up to the chalk hill figure at 2pm. Afterwards back to the Giants Rest pub in Wilmington for a social drink together.

Sunday 29 October; Samhain outdoor Sabbat with the London Wicca Meetup Group. Meet at The Woodman, 414 Archway Road, Highgate, London at 2pm to walk to nearby woods for a ritual at 3pm. Wear outdoor clothes and bring food and drink to share. https://www.meetup.com/The-London-Wicca-Meetup-Group/

Sunday 29 October; Astronomy with Maggie Aderin-Pocock. Hogwarts Curriculum Lecture - part of a series running alongside the Harry Potter Exhibition. Venue: British Library Knowledge Centre, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB. Time: 2pm-3.15pm. Tickets: £15/£10. Visit https://www.bl.uk/events/hogwarts-curriculum-lectures? or call 01937 546546

Sunday, 29 October; The Ageless Wisdom for Everyone study class. Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8EA. Time: 2pm. Free entry but donations welcome. https://www.meetup.com/Theosophical-Society-in-London/  and http://www.theosophicalsociety.org.uk/

Sunday 29 October; Hypnosis and Reincarnation. Talk by Charles Caruana. Part of the London Month of the Dead series of talk. Venue: Dissenters' Chapel, 364 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5AB. Time: 5pm. Tickets £12. Details and Bookings: http://www.londonmonthofthedead.com/

Sunday, 29 October; Psychic and Spiritual Development Class. Venue: Violet Hill Studios , 6 Violet Hill, St Johns Wood, London, NW8 9EB. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15. https://www.meetup.com/London-NW8-Psychic-and-Spiritual-Development-Group/

Monday 30 October, The Eight Sabbats: A Seminar Series. I: The Folk Roots of Halloween Seminar Evening with Will Hunter and Ellie Hughes. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets £20. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Monday 30 October, The Dark Tarot - Halloween season meetup with the Tarot and Healing Group. Venue: The Knights Templer pub, Carey Street London, London WC2A 1DT. Time: 7pm. Entry: £5, but you must be a member of the meetup group. https://www.meetup.com/Tarot-and-Healing-Group/

Monday 30 October; Science and Spiritual Practices. Talk by Rupert Sheldrake. Organised by Alternatives. Venue: St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL, Starts: 7pm. Tickets £10/£15 online. http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Tuesday 31 October; Wheel of the Year Festival - Resting 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/

Tuesday 31 October; Heaven Is Calling You. Talk and seance with Theresa Cheung and Claire Broad. Venue: Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Entrance: 6pm, talk starts 6.30pm. Free event. For more details Tel 020 7836 2182 or visit the website http://www.watkinsbooks.com/

Tuesday 31 October, Death, DMT and Discarnate Entities. Venue: October Gallery, 24 Old Gloucester St, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 3AL. Time: 6pm for 6.30pm start. Entry £8 /£6. https://www.facebook.com/events/933916663443127/

Tuesday 31 October, Embracing the Darkness: A Cultural History of Witchcraft Halloween Book Launch: Talk and Soiree Dr John Callow (IB Tauris Press). Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Free, but you must reserve a place in advance. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Tuesday 31 October, The Highgate Vampire at Burgh House, including storytelling by Vanessa Wood of London Dreamtime. Venue: Burgh House New End Square, Hampstead, London NW3 1LT. Time: 7pm start. Price: £18. Details: http://www.burghhouse.org.uk/whats-on/events/the-highgate-vampire/event-type/recitals/page/20 or https://londondreamtime.com/calendar
.

Tuesday 31 October, Brooms, Wands and Cauldrons: Instruments of Magic. Talk by Simon Costin. Venue: Knowledge Centre, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB. Time: 7pm Full Tickets: £12/£8. https://www.bl.uk/events/brooms-wands-and-cauldrons-the-instruments-of-magic-with-simon-costin

Tuesday 31 October; Halloween lantern-lit walk and Tamesa river of Souls Ritual by the Thames  with Woodland Witches and Outdoor Pagans. Gather by the Bankside Pier, next to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Bankside, London SE1 9DT at 7.30pm for a procession along the riverbank and a ritual. Wear fancy dress and bring food and drink to share. Cost £2. You must reserve a place in advance. https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Outdoor-Pagans

Tuesday 31 October; So Moot It Bee Samhain Open Ritual. Venue: 3 John Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1YL. Time: 7.30pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/231816117352248/

Wednesday 1 November; Time to Meditate - group meditation. Venue: Buddha on a Bicycle, Covent Garden, London. Arrive 6pm for 6.10pm start. Donations of £3 recommended. Details: http://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/
Wednesday 1 November; Greenwich Skeptics in the Pub: Many happy returns? Investigating reincarnation claims in Lebanon. Talk by Prof Chris French. Venue: The Star and Garter, 60 Old Woolwich Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NY. Time: 7.30pm. Details: http://greenwich.skepticsinthepub.org/

Wednesday 1 November; Wicca for Absolute Beginners. First session in five-week evening class course taught by Suzanne Corbie . Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Deposit £90 for entire course. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Wednesday 1 November; Honouring and Remembering the Dead with Behind the Veil Shamanism. Venue: English National Ballet School, Hortensia Rd, London SW10 0QS. Time: 7.15pm Tickets: £25. https://www.meetup.com/Behind-The-Veil-Shamanism/

Thursday 2 November, Chakra Meditation. Talk by Swami Saradananda. 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/

Thursday 2 November, Private view of  The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic: An exhibition dedicated to Cornwall’s most magical Museum, featuring photographs from Of Shadows: One Hundred Objects from The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic by Sara Hannant and Simon Costin. Last Tuesday Society. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/

Thursday 2 November; PFL Samhain Open Ritual hosted by The Pagan Federation London and guests. Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL, Time: 7.30pm for 8pm start. Entry £5/£6. https://pflondon.info/

Thursday 2 November; Earthstars Group Meeting: Samhain - a celebration of the Dead and our Ancestors. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London NW1 4SH. Time: Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start. Entry by donations. https://www.facebook.com/Earthstars-Sacred-Space-104790729559515/

Thursday 2 November - 8 April 2018; Exhibition: Living with Gods: peoples, places and worlds beyond. Venue: British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Tickets: £15 standard, members free but booking essential. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Starting 3 November, The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic: An exhibition dedicated to Cornwall’s most magical Museum, featuring photographs from Of Shadows: One Hundred Objects from The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic by Sara Hannant and Simon Costin. Last Tuesday Society. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/

3-5 November, Mind Body Spirit Wellbeing Festival Birmingham. Venue: NEC Birmingham, Halls, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT. Times: 10am - 6pm Friday, Saturday, 10am - 5pm Sunday. Prices: Friday £11/£9, other day tickets £13/£11. http://www.mindbodyspirit.co.uk/birmingham

Friday 3 November; The Shamanic Path - Healing the Stories that Define Us. Talk by Jez Hughes , author of The Heart of Life - viewable on Amazon. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Cost: £12/£14. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 3 November; Valentine Penrose, Surreal Occultress. Lecture by  Dr Sabina Sten. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets £8. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Friday 3 November;  Wicca Full Moon Ceremony (Taurus) by the Thames with London Woodland Witches Magicians and Outdoor Pagans. Meet at Tate Modern green, outside the Tate Modern, London SE1 at 7pm to walk to the ritual site. Donations of £3/£2 welcome. You must reserve a place in advance. Wear outdoor clothes. Details and bookings: https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Outdoor-Pagans/

Friday 3 November; Valentine Penrose, Surreal Occultress. Lecture by Dr Sabina Stent. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets £8. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Friday 3 November; Om Healing for body mind and soul. Venue: The Dhyana Centre, 50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA. Time: 8pm. https://www.meetup.com/Light-in-London/

Saturday 4 November; The Shamanic Path - Healing the Stories that Define Us. Day workshop with Jez Hughes, author of The Heart of Life - viewable on Amazon. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 10am-5pm. Cost: £95. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 4 November; SPR study day - Psi in Nature. Venue: Society for Psychical Research HQ, 1 Vernon Mews, London W14 0RL. Time: 10.20am-5.30pm. Entry: £42/£38. https://www.spr.ac.uk/

Saturday 4 November; Full Moon Magic Ceremony. Venue: London, NW1 7SU (Exact address will be provided after booking). Time: 2pm start. Tickets: £8 http://uk.funzing.com/funz/full-moon-magic-ceremony-11769?

Saturday 4 November; Dragons! From China to Alchemy to Medieval England, Afternoon Lecture by Ruth Clydesdale coinciding with the British Library Harry Potter Exhibition. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 3pm. Tickets £8. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 4 November; Launch party for Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days. This is a Moon Books community book, which I edited. There will be a cream tea and Geraldine and Bali will make the place look lovely and twinkly and snuggly as it will be dark outside. There will be early copies of the book available and I will do some readings from it. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49A Museum St, London WC1A 1LY. Time: 4pm to 7pm. The party will be free to attend, but you will need to reserve a place in advance. Tel: 020 7405 2120. Website: http://www.theatlantisbookshop.com/

Sunday 5 November; 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 5 November; Druidic Samhain/Hallowmas Celebration on Primrose Hill with the Loose Association of Druids. Gather in the Hawthorne Grove at Primrose Hill, London, NW1 8YH, between 12.30pm and 12.45pm to prepare the site ready for a prompt 1pm start. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm. Bring a small contribution of food and drink to share. All are welcome. https://www.facebook.com/notes/loose-association-of-druids-of-primrose-hill/kalendar-of-rituals-for-2017/1402901283113536/

Sunday 5 November; Candle Magic Workshop - I am running another session of my candle magic workshops based on my book Pagan Portals - Candle Magic. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm. 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. (View my book at Treadwell's)

Sunday 5 November; The Crick Crack Club presents Beowulf. Venue: BP Lecture Theatre. British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Tickets: £8. Time: 2.30pm. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Sunday 5 November; November Full Moon Peace Fires. Light a candle or fire for peace wherever you are in the world, for as short or long a time as you like between 8am and 4pm PDT (US) time, which is between 3pm and 11pm GMT (UK time). You can light a candle just for an hour or so and state the intention: “Let there be peace on earth and love for one another.” Details: http://peacefires.org/

Note: I do not organise any of these events except my candle magic workshop and the book launch party for Every Day Magic. I try to ensure the details I list are accurate, but please contact the organisers before turning up to any event in case of changes. If you spot something that needs correcting, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com

Events: Not Long to the Launch of Every Day Magic

In exactly a month's time - November 24 - Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days will be officially launched, and I'm eagerly counting down the days.

Every Day Magic contains contributions from nearly 50 pagan authors and practitioners from many different traditions across the world, including Atlantis' Geraldine Beskin, best-selling pagan authors Ellen Evert Hopman, Melusine Draco, Harmonia Saille, Rachel Patterson, Caroline Wise, Elen Sentier and other Moon Books writers.

Here is the description from publisher Moon Books' 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 - and I have to say I am really proud of 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.

However, although the book isn't due to be officially launched until November 24, you will be able to see and buy early copies of the book at a launch party on Saturday afternoon, November 4, at The Atlantis Bookshop in central London. There will be a cream tea and I will do some readings from the book.

The Atlantis Bookshop is at 49A Museum St, London WC1A 1LY and the party runs from 4pm to 7pm. The launch event will be free to attend, but you will need to reserve a place in advance. Tel: 020 7405 2120 or pop into the shop to book your place - and possibly even sneak a very early view of the book if you ask nicely. The shop website is http://www.theatlantisbookshop.com/

To promote the book on November 24, I've set up a Thunderclap campaign. It would be great if you could join in. It cost's nothing at all to do this - all you need to do is click on this link and offer to share the promotion on your Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr account. If you do that, Thunderclap will share a one-off post about Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days when the book officially launches.

Here is the Thunderclap link in full: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/61034-every-day-magic

You can also view Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days on Amazon - but you are likely to get your copy earlier - before the publication date - if you order it from The Atlantis Bookshop by calling 020 7405 2120.

Pictures from the Mind Body Soul Experience

I always love going to the Mind Body Soul Experience in London - it has a huge number and wide variety of stalls to browse, interesting workshops and it is in the beautiful venue of Alexandra Palace.

Now, I know a lot of pagans give this festival a miss because it isn't exclusively a pagan event like Witchfest, but that's rather what appeals to me. I get to try out a lot of things I might not otherwise have done. The event even runs alongside a yoga show and a ticket for one lets you enjoy the other as well. So, you can have a go at yoga as well as things like exploring your past lives, learning about numerology or meditating to singing bowls.

The picture at the top shows the stall run by my fellow Moon Books authors Barbara Meiklejohn-free and Flavia Kate Peters, who were selling lovely clothes, divination decks, drums and rattles as well as copies of their books, including The Book of Destiny, which is a rather unusual divination system where you simply open a page to get an intriguing message.

Another book I was was really tempted to buy was the One Year Wiser gratitude journal, in which you are encouraged to record lovely things that happen to you throughout the year that you are grateful for. I didn't, because I actually put my thoughts into my blog already, but a friend I was with bought a copy. You can see the author, Mike Medaglia, signing it for her and also drawing a lovely picture in the front (above right). If you are interested, you can view the One Year Wiser gratitude journal on Amazon.

The photo to the left shows Stephanie Harrison and her daughter Alicia. I went to an inspiring workshop run by Stephanie called The Sacred Journey of the Soul. This included two guided visualisations to help you explore the cycles or spirals of life that we all go through - often many times. She described this as following six stages, which we visualised first as a seed growing to a mature tree, then as a path we might follow.

Stephanie said that each time we spiral around from awakening to what she called "soul radiance" - or the fulfilment of a stage in our development - we build on everything we have done before. I don't think I've explained it quite as well as she did, but if you are interested you can find out more about her workshops at http://lifeguidanceandinspiration.com/

Alicia makes lovely silver jewellery, which you can see on the stall in the photo or  at her website http://www.lili29designs.com/

My favourite discovery at the event were the hand-painted soul stones by Alexis. I blogged in full about her stones on Sunday, but I thought I'd show another photo of one of her creations here. It is a stone that forms a natural candle holder and has also been beautifully painted. I was quite tempted to buy it as well as the small stone I did get - candle magic is, after all, one of my favourite types of magic.

I took the picture at the bottom while resting in a hammock by the Pukka tea stall. There are always lots of interesting things to eat and drink at the Mind Body Soul Experience.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/10/pagan-eye-soul-stones-at-mind-body-soul.html
https://london.mbsevents.co.uk/
http://www.lili29designs.com/
http://lifeguidanceandinspiration.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/05/review-book-of-destiny-answers-from.html
http://mikemedaglia.com/

News: Raymond Buckland, Wicca, Witchcraft, History

"Raymond Buckland, author and high priest of Wicca – obituary" - story at Telegraph.co.uk (shame it describes his modern pagan witchcraft practises as "the Dark Arts"): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2017/10/20/raymond-buckland-author-witch-obituary/

"Wicca patient called devil worshiper by staffer at doctor's office" - story at Fox 2 Detroit: http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/wicca-patient-called-devil-worshiper-by-staffer-at-doctors-office

"'Haunted gin' made with possessed apples from UK's most haunted village goes on sale" - story at Bristol Post: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/haunted-gin-made-possessed-apples-652727

"Historical Society to explore witch trials" - story at The Darien News: http://www.dariennewsonline.com/news/article/Historical-Society-to-explore-witch-trials-12291299.php

"Witches are still hunted in India—and blinded and beaten and killed" - story at The Economist: https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21730470-most-risk-are-those-who-are-low-caste-or-own-land-others-covet-witches-are-still-hunted

Pagan Eye: Soul Stones at Mind Body Soul London

These amazing painted stones were on my favourite stall at the Mind Body Soul Experience, which I went to yesterday. The event is on all this weekend at Alexandra Palace, in north London and the stall where I photographed these stones is 127a, if you want to go and have a look yourself.

They are hand-painted by Alexis and each one has a unique message. This is just a small selection - the themes cover love, friendship, travel, nature, the sun and moon and various other things. They are really tactile as well as beautiful and I spent ages turning each one over and examining them before picking one to buy for myself. Alexis also runs workshops where you can learn the techniques involved to create your own soul stone.

I'm going to be writing more about the Mind Body Soul Experience later, but I wanted to share this photo first. The event is on today until 5pm at Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY. Day tickets cost £12 online.

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.soulstones.co.uk/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/10/a-wonderful-day-at-mind-body-soul.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/09/indulge-yourself-at-mind-body-soul.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/08/pagan-eye-sand-sea-and-sky-through.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/03/pagan-eye-shabaka-stone-at-british.html
https://london.mbsevents.co.uk/

A Fantastic Day with Harry Potter: A History of Magic

Harry Potter: A History of Magic, the exhibition that started today at the British Library, is fabulous. Whether you are a fan of the Harry Potter books or interested in the history of real-world magic, you will not be disappointed.

I was very lucky to get tickets for the day it opened and had been looking forward to going for a long while. Sometimes, when you are eagerly anticipating something, the event itself is an anti-climax. Not this time.

The exhibition is gorgeous. It has been designed to make you feel as though you might be walking through somewhere in Hogwarts. Separate rooms are themed on subjects taught at Hogwarts, JK Rowling's fictional school for witches and wizards. These cover potions, alchemy, herbology, charms, astronomy, divination, defence against the dark arts and care of magical creatures.

A central magnificent artifact is on display in each room. For example, the potions room has the Battersea Cauldron, for alchemy there is the superb Ripley Scroll and Care of Magical Creatures has a historic bestiary with life-size colour pictures of birds.

Some of the display cases around the walls show genuine occult books, items and pictures; some show pages from JK Rowling's original manuscripts and notes for novels; some have interactive screens where you can do things like potion-making or tarot reading. There are also beautiful drawings and paintings used for illustrations in the books.

What I also liked about the exhibition is that it didn't feel particularly crowded, even though all tickets for the day were sold out. This was at least partly because everything was set out very well so people weren't channelled along a single route in each room. If there was a crowd in front of one cabinet I could go and look at another one, then come back when the first one was less busy.

It was pitched at just the right level to appeal to Harry Potter fans of all ages as well as those interested in history and magic. I loved it.

There are also two books accompanying the exhibition, Harry Potter - A History of Magic, which is aimed at adults, and Harry Potter - A Journey Through A History of Magic, which is more of a children's book.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic is on from now until 28 February 2018 at The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB. There are timed slots every day. Tickets are £16 adults, £8 children. https://www.bl.uk/

You aren't allowed to take photos inside the British Library, so the photo at the top is of the outside and the other shows a book cover.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/10/reviews-news-british-library-harry.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/04/i-got-tickets-for-london-harry-potter.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/05/harry-potter-and-bricket-wood-coven.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/02/the-art-of-alchemy-and-philosophers.html

Reviews & News: British Library Harry Potter Exhibition

Today I am off to the British Library in London to see the Harry Potter and the History of Magic exhibition. Before I go, I thought I'd see what the press has to say about it. Here are some links:

"A sneak peek at the British Library's Harry Potter exhibition" - story at The Bookseller: https://www.thebookseller.com/booknews/harry-potter-british-library-exhibition-657271

"Broomsticks and dragon bones in British Library's Harry Potter magic show" - story at The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/oct/18/broomsticks-and-dragon-bones-in-british-librarys-harry-potter-magic-show

"Harry Potter at the British Library: Five magical objects you need to see" - story at The Evening Standard: https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/arts/harry-potter-at-the-british-library-five-magical-objects-you-need-to-see-a3662866.html

"Harry Potter: A History of Magic, British Library review - weirdly wonderful" - story at The Arts Desk: http://www.theartsdesk.com/visual-arts/harry-potter-history-magic-british-library-review-weirdly-wonderful

"Harry Potter in real life: An actual philosopher's stone, mythical beast and other items that inspired JK Rowling" - story at mirror.co.uk: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/harry-potter-real-life-actual-11367579

Tickets are now on sale at www.bl.uk.

Harry Potter, a Journey Through the History of Magic, is on at the British Library, London, from today until 28 February 2018. Next autumn it will be on at the New York Historical Society. You can also see a TV documentary, Harry Potter: A History of Magic on BBC2 on 28 October at 9pm.

The pictures show Harry Potter - A History of Magic: The Book of the Exhibition, viewable on Amazon and Harry Potter - A Journey Through A History of Magic, viewable on Amazon too.