Pagan Shopping: Wicca Moon Yule Ritual Box

My Yule Ritual Box from Wicca Moon arrived in the post yesterday - and the box was so large that I didn't guess what it was inside until I had opened it up. I thought maybe someone had sent me an unexpected box of books, it was so big and heavy.

As much as I like books, what was in the box - all wrapped in gold tissue - was much more exciting than some reading material. Just look at the picture above! It really felt as though my Christmas had started.

The box contains a kit to conduct a ritual for Yule, the festival celebrating the Winter Solstice and the rebirth of the sun in the Wheel of the Year. As well as the words for a seasonal rite suitable for a solitary practitioner, my Yule box contains all the following goodies:

• A handmade ceramic statue of the Winter Goddess
• A handmade offering plate with a pentacle pattern
• Incense cones
• A seasonal scented jar candle
• A red-and-green beeswax candle
• Crystals in a pouch
• A festive altar cloth
• Two Yule tree hanging decorations
• A sleigh bell and a fir cone
• Yule oil
• Handmade soap
• Ritual bath herbs
• A wishes jar
• A wrapped mystery item that I haven't yet opened...

I will be posting a full review of the Wicca Moon Yule Ritual Box when I've had more of a chance to try it out. You can order the set online here: https://www.wiccamoon.co.uk/ourshop/prod_6570256-Yule-Ritual-Box-with-Crystal-Reading-Cards-and-Free-Crystals-OFFER-OF-THE-WEEK.html

Pagan supply shop Wicca Moon is at 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham, London, SE9 6SH. The staff are very happy to help, so if you have any questions, do pop in or phone them on 020 8850 7803.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.wiccamoon.co.uk/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/09/a-magical-afternoon-with-witches-at.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/review-wicca-moon-samhain-box.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/09/review-wicca-moons-equinox-mabon-ritual.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/01/review-wicca-moon-imbolc-ritual-box.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/03/pagan-shopping-wicca-moon-ostara-ritual.html

My Favourite Soap & Bath Bomb Makers Now Online

Well, I am a happy bunny - or a happy witch, anyway.

Bewitched Botanicals, the people who make my favourite soaps and bath bombs, now have an online store. You can find it here: https://bewitchedbotanicals.com/

The website looks great too.

Jacqui and Steve, who make all the Bewitched Botanicals products, are regulars at pagan festivals and witchy markets. I've been buying the most amazing soaps from them every time I see them at an event.

The photo on the right is one I took at the Enchanted Market earlier this year.

All of their products are made with natural ingredients, but what I really like about them is that they smell and look wonderful - and have names you could probably conjure with! The prices are very reasonable and they use the most environmentally friendly packaging they can get.


Sadly, I've now run out of the soaps I bought when I last saw Jacqui and Steve - and I have presents to buy. Being so busy at the moment, I wasn't going to have time to get to anywhere Bewitched Botanicals will have a stall before Yule.

That problems is now solved. I'll be buying online.

I do have another problem though -  do I go for my favourite Smaug soap or do I try something new? I'm pretty tempted with the new Yule collection including Krampus soap and Black Phillip Yule Cauldron bath bombs.

Links and previous related posts
https://bewitchedbotanicals.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/pagan-shopping-witches-cauldron-bath.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/02/pictures-and-views-of-enchanted-market.html

Dr Johnson's House and his Definition of a Witch

Yesterday I visited Samuel Johnson's house in London. I'd walked past it many times over the years - and seen the statue of his cat Hodge outside - but this was the first time I'd had a look around the rooms. It is a lovely home with a friendly atmosphere and really gives an impression of the man who was the most famous writer of his era.

Dr Johnson is created the first large-scale English dictionary, published in 1755. Although there had been dictionaries before that, they hadn't been particularly good. This one was huge and was much better researched than any of the earlier ones. It took him nine years to compile.

If you visit Dr Johnson's house, you can leaf through a copy of his dictionary, in the attic room where he worked on it.

I looked up with word "witch", because I was curious to see how Samuel Johnson defined it back in the eighteenth century. This is what he wrote:

WITCH. n. s. [picce, Saxon.]
1. A woman given to unlawful arts.
Wife judges have prescribed, that men may not rashly believe the confessions of witches, nor the evidence against them, For witches themselves are imaginative; and people are credulous, and ready to impute accidents to witchcraft. Bacon's Nat. Hist.
The night-hag comes to dance
With Lapland witches, while the lab'ring moon
Eclipses at their charms. Milton
When I consider whether there are such persons as witches, my mind is divided : I believe in general that there is such a thing as witchcraft, but can give credit to no particular instance of it. Addison's Spectator. No 117.
2. [From pic, Saxon] A winding sinuous bank.
Leave me those hills where harbrough nis to see;
Nor holy bush, nor briar, nor winding witch. Spenser

He also defined "to witch" as "to bewitch or to enchant", "witchcraft" as "the practice of witches" and "witchery" as "enchantment".

Witchcraft was still illegal in the 18th century, but the witchcraze was over and in the enlightenment many intellectuals were sceptical about it.

Johnson's most famous quote, however, is about London: "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life."

I have to say that although I have lived in London all my life, I am still finding new places to visit and things to see and do, which is never tiring.

You can view Dr Johnson's dictionary online too: https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/

Links and citation
http://www.drjohnsonshouse.org/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Samuel-Johnson
"Page View, Page 2287." A Dictionary of the English Language: A Digital Edition of the 1755 Classic by Samuel Johnson. Edited by Brandi Besalke. Last modified: December 6, 2012. https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/page-view/&i=2287.

Crowleymass this Saturday at Atlantis Bookshop

Here's an event I failed to put on my list of pagan events this morning. I've now added and am sharing the details in full here:

The Atlantis Bookshop is celebrating Crowleymass on Saturday 1st December from noon to 6pm.

Every year Bali and Geraldine of the Atlantis Bookshop in London invites people to join them to commemorate the death of one of the shop's most famous customers, by celebrating the Greater Feast of the Prophet of the New Aeon, Aleister Crowley.

Crowleymass this Saturday starts at noon. Mince pies and mulled wine will be available all day and the first 39 customers that utter the magic phrase: “The Beast is Dead. Long live The Beast” will claim a present.

There’s no need to book in advance – just go along and mark the start of the Festive Season.

The Atlantis Bookshop is at 49a Museum Street, London, Eng WC1A 1LY. http://theatlantisbookshop.com/

The picture at the top shows Aleister Crowley's hat and pipe on display at last year's Crowleymass.

This Week's Pagan Events In and Near London

Here is a listing of events in London plus a few in other parts of the UK over the next week 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.

Now - Sun 17 Mar 2019; Cats on the Page - free exhibition that includes a section on witches' cats. Venue: The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB. https://www.bl.uk/events/cats-on-the-page

Now - 12 January 2019; Divine Proportions. Dinner cabaret from Shotgun Carousel, based on the story of Dionysus, God of Pleasure and Mischief. Venue: The Vaults, Arch 234-236, Leake Street, London, SE1 7NN. Tuesday - Sunday, doors open 6.30pm. Tickets: Previews: £30, general admission: £35/£55. https://www.thevaults.london/divine-proportions

Now – Tuesday 19 February 2019; Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War. Exhibition at the British Library. Venue: PACCAR Gallery, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB. Full price tickets £16. https://www.bl.uk/events/anglo-saxon-kingdoms

Now - 24 February 2019. I am Ashurbanipal, King of the World, King of Assyria. Exhibition at the British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Now - 9 January 2019; Spellbound: Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft exhibition in Oxford. Venue: Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2PH. Tickets: £6/£11.25/£12.25. https://www.ashmolean.org/  You can also view the exhibition catalogue, Spellbound, on Amazon.

Wednesday 28 November; Indigenous North American arts: technology and spirituality. Venue: Room 26, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 1.15pm. Free event. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Wednesday 28 November; Time to Meditate - group meditation (every Wednesday). 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 28 November; First Steps in Thelema. Evening workshop with Marco Visconti . Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm start. Tickets £20. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Wednesday 28 November; Hertford and Ware Moot Moot. (Usually last Wednesday of each month.) Venue: The Brewery Tap, 83 High St, Ware SG12 9AD. Time: 8pm. Entry: £3. https://www.facebook.com/groups/104788436218047/

Thursday 29 November; Late night showcase of Wicca Moon's magickal products, healings, workshops and readings. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SH. Time: 6pm-9pm. Free entry, but you must reserve a place in advance. Contact Shirlee@wiccamoon.org.uk, call 0208 850 7803 or visit https://www.facebook.com/WiccaMoonEltham/

Thursday 29 November; Paths Between Head and Heart. Talk at 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 29 November; Through Technology from Tools to Technosophy. Talk by Patrick Dixon at Earthstars Group. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, Marylebone, London NW1 6XT. Doors open 7pm. Entry £12. https://www.facebook.com/events/2260158487547802/

Thursday 29 November; Concealed and Revealed: Magic in the post-medieval home? Talk by Dr Ceri Houlbrook at London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX.. Time: 7.45pm. Tickets: £4/£2. http://forteanlondon.blogspot.com/

Friday 30 November; The John Michell Memorial Lecture: The Glastonbury Zodiac Milky Way Pilgrimage Route: Ancient trackway or modern delusion? Rilko (Research Into Lost Knowledge) public lecture by Anthony Thorley. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 6.45pm, lecture starts 7.15pm. Entrance: £8/£10. http://www.rilko.org/lectures-2018-winter/

Friday 30 November; Launch party for The Confessions of Isobel Gowdie hosted by Hell Fire Club Books Esoteric Publishers. Venue: Treadwell's Books, 33 Store Street, London. WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/2373794412637621/  or https://hellfireclubbooks.com/

Friday 30 November; Holistic Sound Bath Meditation - Summoning The Sacred (weekly ceremonial gathering). Venue: Training Points Fitness and Therapy, 5-6 Coopers Yard, Crystal Palace, London SE19 1TN. Time: 7pm. Entry £15/£13. https://www.facebook.com/summoningthesacredsound/

Saturday 1 December; Being Creative with Nature with Alan Albiston. Venue: Woodford Church at 9 Grove Crescent, South Woodford, London E18 2JR. Time: 11am. Cost: £10/£12. http://woodfordchurch.com/

Saturday 1 December; Alchemical Symbolism. Day Course with Paul Cowlan. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am-5.30pm start. Tickets £75. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 1 December; Strange December Book Fair: UFOs, Ghosts, Zombies and More. London Fortean Society afternoon of talks on ghosts, UFO art, voodoo, the world's first amphibious baby and much more. There will be book sales, stalls pizza and beer. Venue: Backyard Bar and Kitchen, 231 Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2 0EL. Time: 12pm-6pm. Advance tickets £15 / £10. http://forteanlondon.blogspot.com/

Saturday 1 December; Crowleymass. Annual event to commemorate the death of Aleister Crowley. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop,  49a Museum Street, London, Eng WC1A 1LY. Time: noon - 6pm, Free event, just turn up. http://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Saturday 1 December; Heart Beat Drumming Collective with Olaf Nixon. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £20/£22. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 2 December; Morning tour: an introduction to ancient Egypt. Venue: Room 4, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 8.50am. Tickets £30. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Sunday 2 December; Awaken The Power Within with Nikola Penkov. Venue: Aho Studio, 13 Prince Edward Rd, London, E9 5LX. Time: 10am-4.30pm. Tickets: £75. www.aho.community

Sunday 2 December; Max Meditation class with Lisabetta every Sunday. Drop-in class suitable for beginners and more experienced meditators. Venue: The Little Escape Therapy Centre, 4 Paxton Mews, off Westow St, London SE19 3RW. Time: 10am-11am. Cost: £12 per class, £30 for 3 classes.
http://www.harmonious-healing.com

Sunday 2 December; North West Kent Green Pagan Circle Moot. Venue: Chislehurst Caves, Bromley, BR7 5NL. Time: 11am. https://www.facebook.com/groups/445487428816887/

Sunday 2 December; The Marseille Tarot Introduced. One-day Course with Adrien Mastrosimone . Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am-5.30pm start. Tickets £75. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Sunday 2 December; The British Museum and the Awakening of English Magic. Walking Tour with Caroline Wise organised by Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am. Ticket price £15. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Sunday 2 December; Satanic Flea Market AntiXmas Fayre 2018. Venue: The Old Baths, 80 Eastway, London, E95JH. Time: Noon-6pm. Entry: £3. https://www.facebook.com/events/2224736584429621/

Sunday 2 December; Ageless Wisdom for Everyone. Lecture at the Theosophical Society in London. Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8EA. Time: 2pm. Donations welcome. http://theosophicalsociety.org.uk/

Sunday 2 December; Restorative Retreat for the Winter Solstice with Charlotte and Fiongal. Venue: 42 Acres, 66 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LW. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25. For more details visit: https://www.42acresshoreditch.com/events/

Sunday 2 December; Heart Beat - Drumming Collective with Gong Master Olaf Nixon. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Tickets: £20/£22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 3 December; City Lit tasters: Aromatherapy. Venue: City Lit, Keeley Street, Covent Garden, Camden, London WC2B 4BA. Time: 2pm. Cost: Full fee: £39;  Course code: FCL12. http://www.citylit.ac.uk/ or call 020 7492 2530.

Monday 3 December; Watching Darkness Fall ~ a mindful meditation from daylight to darkness with London Forest Bathing and Nature Connection Meetup. Venue Culpeper Community Garden, 1 Cloudesley Road, London N1 0EG. Time: 3.20pm. Suggested donation £10. Booking essential: https://www.meetup.com/London-Forest-Bathing-Nature-Connection-Meetup/

Monday 3 December; London Dreamtime Story Circle - Explore mythology, legend and folklore in a social night for storytellers and story lovers. Venue: Library London 112 St Martin's Ln, London WC2N 4BD. Time: 6pm for a 6.30 start. Tickets: £6 per person (must be bought in advance from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-dreamtime-story-circle-4-tickets-51967251448?) For more details email vanessa@londondreamtime.com or visit https://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Monday 3 December; Midwinter Witchcraft. Evening Class with Rebecca Beattie. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm start. Tickets £20. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Tuesday 4 December;  How the World Thinks. Talk by Dr Julian Baggini as part of the APRU/FPU Invited Speakers Series. Venue: Ian Gulland Lecture Theatre, Whitehead Building, Goldsmiths, New Cross, London. Time: 6.10pm. Further details: https://www.gold.ac.uk/apru/speakers/

Tuesday 4 December; Journey to the Heart Cacao Gong Ceremony. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London E9 7AD. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. www.sheslostcontrol.co.uk

Tuesday 4 December; Citizens of London - storytelling with Vanessa Woolf of London Dreamtime. Venue: CloudM 40 Trinity Square London EC3N 4DJ. Time: 7pm. Tickets: free but must be got in advance from https://www.eventbrite.com/e/citizens-of-london-vanessa-woolf-tickets-50735481190 For more details email vanessa@londondreamtime.com or visit https://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Tuesday 4 December; Romford Moot hosted by Mamma Moon Magick . Venue in Upminster,· London. Time: 7pm. Free event. https://www.facebook.com/mammamoonmagick/

Tuesday 4 December; Witches' Inn Gathering. Venue: The Hatch Public House, 44 Hatchlands Road, Redhill, RH1 6AT. Starts at 8pm. Moots are the first Tuesday of each month. For more details visit: https://www.facebook.com/The-Witches-Inn-1568424150049437/

Wednesday 5 December; Candle Magic Workshop. I am running an evening workshop based on my book Pagan Portals - Candle Magic. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £20 per person. You can book online at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by calling 020 7419 8507, emailing info@treadwells-london.com or visiting the shop.

Thursday 6 December; How to write in cuneiform: the oldest writing system in the world. Workshop at British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 3pm. Tickets £12, booking essential. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Thursday 6 December; Armageddon's Earliest Temples: An Early Bronze Age Monumental Sacred Compound at Megiddo, Israel. Lecture at British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 4pm. Tickets free but booking essential. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Thursday 6 December, Psi Research in China. Lecture by Dr Simon Duan. Venue: Society for Psychical Research HQ, 1 Vernon Mews, London, W14 0RL. Time 6pm. Tickets: £5/£2. https://www.spr.ac.uk/

Friday 7 December; Open Evening - Christmas 2018. An evening of demonstrations, taster readings, food and drink and the chance to meet college tutors and staff. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Pl, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 4.30pm - 9pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 7 December; Theresa Cheung and Claire Board on The Premonition Code. 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 7 December; Witches' Banquet Old Moon. Witches' Banquet monthly meeting. Venue: Souk Medina, 1a Shorts Gardens, London WC2H. Time: 6.15pm. Advance booking recommended. https://www.meetup.com/London-Wicca/

Friday 7 December; Intuitive Tarot Readings Night with the Tarot and Esoteric Discovery Group. Beginners welcome. Venue: The Light Zone, Apt B, 61 Compayne Gardens, London NW6 3DB. Time: 7pm. Cost: £12/£15. https://www.meetup.com/Tarot-and-Esoteric-Discovery-Group/

Friday 7 December; Félicien Rops and Evil Women: Art of a Decadent Demoniac. Lecture by Madeleine LeDespencer launching Three Hands Press WITCH-IKON. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.30pm start. Tickets £9. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 8 December;  Herb Magic: Spells, Lore and Workings. Afternoon class with Rebecca Beattie. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm-5.30pm start. Tickets £40. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 8 December; Wicca New Moon Circle with Healing an Protection Magic workshop by Mani Navasothy and London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Location: Queen's Woods, Near Highgate Station. Meet at the Woodman pub at 3pm to walk to the woods. Tickets: £3. Details: https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Pagans-Magicians/

Saturday 8 December; Sacred Feminine: The Art of the Goddess with London Drawing Group. Venue: The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG. Time: 7pm. Tickets: · £26. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sacred-feminine-the-art-of-the-goddess-tickets-52088259386?

Sunday 9 December; Red Tent - Vision Boards. Venue: Private address in West Norwood. Time: 11.30am. Meetings are free unless there are consumables costs. https://www.meetup.com/South-London-Red-Tent/

Please note: I am not responsible for any of these events except my candle magic workshop at Treadwell's. 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. If you want an event listed on my blog, or spot anything that needs changing, please email badwitch1234@gmail.com.

Many Believe Positive Thinking is Better than Vitamins

I will admit that I do take a vitamin supplement every day. I take a capsule that contains evening primrose oil and some vitamins that are supposed to be good for my hair and nails as well as my skin. I started taking it because I have a tendency to get eczema and was told it might help. To be honest, I'm still not sure that it does, but I carry on taking it anyway - as well as using a cream prescribed by my GP.

But that's my personal history with taking vitamins.

I was recently sent the results of a survey into the nation’s attitude towards health, undertaken on behalf of a company that sells supplements.

The survey revealed that while 38 per cent of us describe ourselves as ‘fairly health conscious’, the nation's knowledge of what techniques and habits can improve our health is sometimes wrong.

The study, conducted by Simply Supplements, asked over 2,000 Brits to identify what improvements they could make to their lives in order to improve their health. The respondents could choose multiple options, 24 per cent chose 'Increase fresh air intake' and 27 per cent picked 'Thinking positively'. A mere 19 per cent selected taking daily supplements to top up vitamins needed by the body.

The study also appears to have exposed a big gap in some people's knowledge. This is shown in almost half the population (46 per cent) not understanding that eating healthy balanced meals would improve their overall health, less than a third (29 per cent) realising that decreasing alcohol intake would improve their overall health, and 5 per cent mistakenly believing that arsenic was something they should be taking daily.

Arsenic occurs naturally in the earth, and at low levels is harmless. However, when consumed over a long period of time, it can lead to adverse effects on the stomach and liver. This pales in comparison to 4 per cent believing that radioactive isotope polonium would improve health if consumed, when in actual fact would give you metal poisoning, liver damage, followed by death.

The company behind the survey,  Simply Supplements, said if you do want to get healthier, the impact a healthy diet can have on the body is wide-ranging, from increased alertness, improved sleep, and reduced risk of heart disease. Having a balanced diet gives the body all the nutrients it needs, meaning we have enough energy without excess calories being stored as fat. The company also said that taking daily vitamin supplements can be beneficial.

Matt Durkin MSc, a nutritionist from Simply Supplements, said: "According to recent research by the British Nutrition Foundation, almost 25 per cent of adult men and nearly 50 per cent of adult females are believed to have insufficient levels of selenium. Selenium is a crucial nutrient for the creation of glutathione in the body, more commonly known to nutritionists as the ‘master antioxidant’. Similarly, around a third of females between the ages of 11 and 64 have an insufficient intake of iron, which is an important mineral for cognitive function and energy levels. As a result, it is therefore quite worrying that such low numbers of Brits identify supplements as an effective method of supporting good health."

Now, I am no health or diet professional, and I'm not offering this blog post - or the press release that the survey and quotes came from - as advice. I'm putting it up here as a matter of interest and possible discussion only.

What do you think?

Witches and Pagans in the News and on TV

Here is a round-up of recent news stories about paganism and witchcraft. Several are inspired by yesterday's episode of Doctor Who:

"Pagans guilty of Stonehenge trespass" - story at The Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pagans-guilty-of-stonehenge-trespass-zs5g72qt

"How Christians co-opted the winter solstice" - story at Big Think: https://bigthink.com/culture-religion/how-christians-co-opted-the-winter-solstice

News stories about Sunday's Doctor Who episode, which I haven't seen yet, so no spoilers please:

"Doctor Who: What happened during real-life witch trials, and who were the Pendle Hill witches?" - story at Radio Times: https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-11-25/doctor-who-series-11-episode-8-history-pendle-hill-witch-trials-king-james/

"Doctor Who: Witches and kings and Alan Cumming, oh my" - story at Culturess: https://culturess.com/2018/11/23/doctor-witches-kings-alan-cumming-oh/

"James I: how the king's obsession with witches inspired Shakespeare's Macbeth" - story at inews.co.uk: https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/king-james-i-witches-macbeth-doctor-who-the-witchfinders-season-11/

"Doctor Who season 11: Were the Pendle Hill witch trials real?" - story at Express.co.uk: https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1049446/Doctor-who-season-11-dr-who-pendle-hill-witch-trials-real-the-witchfinders-king-james-I

"Doctor Who, episode 8, review: 'The Witchfinders' is Jodie Whittaker's Scariest Outing Yet"- story at The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/doctor-who-episode-8-witchfinders-jodie-whittaker-alan-cumming-amazon-leak-a8648651.html

And some other news about witches on TV and on the stage:

"Satanists settle lawsuit with Netflix over goat-headed statue" - story at KSAT San Antonio: https://www.ksat.com/entertainment/satanists-settle-lawsuit-with-netflix-over-goatheaded-statue

"Call The Midwife nun Victoria Yeates quits the show to become a witch" - story at Mirror.co.uk: https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/call-midwife-nun-victoria-yeates-13629543

"Ask Not What You Can Do for Your Country, but What Witchcraft Can Do for You" - story at Esquire.com: https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a25131301/witchcraft-occult-movies-tv-shows-2018/

Craft: Cooking Up Gingerbread Angels & Yule Puddings

Yes, I know these look more like UFOs or maybe octopuses, but they are supposed to be gingerbread angel wings.

I made them to take to my Yule tree angel and fairy doll workshop yesterday, using a recipe from my book Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls.

Rather than use my larger fairy or angel cookie cutters, I decided to use the smallest ones from my set so I got the most gingerbread biccies from the mixture. The littlest shape was the angel wings. I'd not used it before - I might not do so again - but at least the gingerbread tasted good :)

It is thought that things like gingerbread biscuits were the very first type of decoration put on Yule trees and that Christmas tree decorating in general started in Germany and Scandinavia around the 15th century. If you want to make gingerbread angels or fairies to hang from you tree, then get a suitable cookie cutter for the basic shape (better than the one I used here!), but put a little hole in the top before you bake the biccies. You can then put ribbon through them after they are cooked, to hang them from your tree.

Today is also the traditional time to make a Christmas pudding. The fruit pudding - or plum pudding - has its origins in medieval England. It usually contains alcohol, so making it a month before the winter feast is supposed to give it enough time to mature.

Do you make a pudding for the winter festivities and, if so, when do you make it?

If you are a pagan, do you eat it on the Winter Solstice at December 21st or do you eat it on Christmas Day, the 25th?

Witches' Cats - and Others - at the British Library

Witches' cats have an entire display in the new exhibition Cats on the Page, which opened at the British Library yesterday.

I was at the British Library on Friday doing research for my English Literature MA, but took a break to go around the exhibition - more fun than the 18th century poetry I was supposed to be studying.

The exhibition celebrating our furry friends in literature is free and you can find it in the entrance hall of the British Library until 17 March 2019.

The display on witches' cats in literature includes a 16th century pamphlet on witchcraft describing the activities of Elizabeth Stile and three other "notorious witches", with a woodcut image accompanying the description of the black cat or familiar belonging to Mother Devell (who is alleged to have fed it with milk mixed with her own blood).

The picture at the top of this post is another witch and her cat - from the children's books Winnie and Wilbur.

Other depictions of felines in Cats on the Page include Mog by Judith Kerr, Beatrix Potter’s Kitty-in-Boots as imagined by Quentin Blake, Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat by Ursula Moray Williams, Fred by Posy Simmonds and two illustrations for T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by Axel Scheffler. You can also see Lewis Carroll’s own copy of the rare third edition of Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There (1893), in which the author notes his frustration with the printing including a comment on an illustration of Alice’s kitten.

A selection of sound recordings for all ages include a reading of Macavity the Mystery Cat by T.S. Eliot, songs from the musical Cats and Disney’s The Aristocats and music by The Cure.

Cats on the Page celebrates the myriad ways in which cats have captured the cultural imagination for hundreds of years. It offers poetry, artwork, fables and fairytales from around the world. There is also a series of events running alongside the exhibition including, on 11 December, the Crick Crack Club delve into the world of Felix Catus and other feral felines with storytelling for grown-ups.

Alison Bailey, lead curator of Cats on the Page, said: "Cats have inspired our imagination and creativity for many years - long before their days of dominance on the internet. At an early age we meet them in rhymes and picture books whilst as adults we are introduced to more stories to savour and reflect upon.

"By bringing cats we know and love together with new ones from unexpected sources, Cats on the Page showcases the light-hearted side of the British Library’s world-class collections through a selection of just some of the hundreds of paws prowling the pages of its books and manuscripts."

Pictures: Winnie Turns Wilbur Green, Winnie and Wilbur illustration (c) Korky Paul; Northumberland Bewitched by Lillian Lancaster, 19th century (c) The British Library Board; Tabby Polka by P- Bucalossi, 1865 (c) The British Library Board'; Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer illustration (c) Axel Scheffler, published in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (c) T.S. Eliot and Faber and Faber;

I previously reviewed the book Grimalkyn: The Witch's Cat

Book News: Candles, Poppets & Every Day Magic

A year ago, my book Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days was officially published. It wasn't entirely my own work - there were nearly 50 contributors, including myself - but I compiled and edited the book as well as writing many of the entries. I am very proud of it.

Every Day Magic contains 366 spells, rituals, meditations, Pagan prayers, divinatory techniques, poems to read, recipes and craft projects to try out, along with the details of festivals throughout the year. You can dip into it or follow it from day to day each month. The book has sold about 1,000 copies in its first year.

My most recent book, Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls, was published at the end of August. I was delighted to learn from my publisher, Moon Books, that it had sold more than 500 copies in the two months up to the end of October.

The book offers a history of and a practical guide to the uses of poppets and magical dolls in sympathetic magic. I've been running a series of workshops showing various ways of making magical dolls for positive effects. I at The Henge Shop in Avebury at Samhain, showing how to make a traditional protection poppet. This Saturday, I will be teaching a workshop in Epping, London, on making Yule tree angels and fairies.

My best-selling book is Pagan Portals - Candle Magic, which had sold 3,248 copies to the end of October. The book is all about using candles in spells and seasonal rituals as well as essential craft techniques. I teach regular workshops on candle magic at Treadwell's in London. The next is on December 5.

Another book that I contributed to is called Shaman Pathways - Deathwalking. It came out last month and contains chapters from Imelda Almqvist, Kenn Day, Yvonne Ryves, Elen Sentier, Dorothy Abrams, Vani Neelakantan, Janet Gale, Danu Forest and Laura Perry as well as myself, Lucya Starza. You can read my entry here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/deathwalking-three-encounters-with-death.html

I really want to thank everyone who has bought my books, come to my workshops and encouraged me in my writing.

You can view my author page on Amazon.

News: Witches, Witchcraft and Witch Hunts

Here's a round-up of recent stories in the news about witches, witchcraft and witch hunts:

"Number Of Witches Rises Dramatically Across US As Millennials Reject Christianity" - story at Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/witchcraft-wiccans-mysticism-astrology-witches-millennials-pagans-religion-1221019

"Meet the Cornish witch casting global spells through social media" - story at Cornwall Live: https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/meet-cornish-witch-casting-global-2231347

"British 'witch' casts global spell from Cornwall home in hope of saving planet" - another story on the same subject at Mirror.co.uk: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-witch-casts-global-spell-13613195

"'Being a witch, casting spells and creating potions is my full-time job'" - interview with a witch at cosmopolitan.com (UK) https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/worklife/careers/a25159509/how-to-be-a-witch-interview/

Personally I think you could find better gifts for witches at proper pagan shops like Treadwell's, Wicca Moon or Atlantis Bookshop, but Nerdist is running a feature on "10 Gift Ideas for the Amateur Witch in Your Life": https://nerdist.com/10-gift-ideas-for-the-amateur-witch/

"Janet Paisley, poet, novelist, dramatist and witch – obituary" at Telegraph.co.uk: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2018/11/14/janet-paisley-poet-novelist-dramatist-witch-obituary/

"Witch: 60-year-old man beaten to death by villagers in Assam's Karbi Anglong district" - story at indiablooms: https://indiablooms.com/news-details/N/44149/witch-60-year-old-man-beaten-to-death-by-villagers-in-assam-rsquo-s-karbi-anglong-district.html

"Vardø, Norway" - story about the historic "witch capital of Norway" - at The Outline: https://theoutline.com/post/6613/vardo-norway-halloween-steilneset-memorial?zd=1&zi=dwbruz6d

"The case against accused witch Anne Boleyn" - a story about historic witchcraft allegations at SYFY WIRE: https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-case-against-accused-witch-anne-boleyn

This Week's Pagan Events In and Near London

Here is a listing of events in London over the next week or so plus a few in other parts of the UK that could be of interest to pagans. If you know of an event that you want listed, please email the details to me at badwitch1234@gmail.com.

Now - 9 January 2019; Spellbound: Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft exhibition in Oxford. Venue: Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2PH. Tickets: £6/£11.25/£12.25. https://www.ashmolean.org/  You can also view the exhibition catalogue, Spellbound, on Amazon.

Now - 12 January 2019; Divine Proportions. Dinner cabaret from Shotgun Carousel, based on the story of Dionysus, God of Pleasure and Mischief. Venue: The Vaults, Arch 234-236, Leake Street, London, SE1 7NN. Tuesday - Sunday, doors open 6.30pm. Tickets: Previews: £30, general admission: £35/£55. https://www.thevaults.london/divine-proportions

Now – Tuesday 19 February 2019; Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War. Exhibition at the British Library. Venue: PACCAR Gallery, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB. Full price tickets £16. https://www.bl.uk/events/anglo-saxon-kingdoms

Now - 24 February 2019. I am Ashurbanipal, King of the World, King of Assyria. Exhibition at the British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Wednesday 21 November; Time to Meditate - group meditation (every Wednesday). 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 21 November; Gemini Full Moon Gong Bath. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London E9 7AD. Time: Sessions at 7-8pm and 8.30-9.30pm. Tickets: £20. www.sheslostcontrol.co.uk

Wednesday 21 November; South East Sisters Circle and Ecstatic Dance. Venue Lee Green Community Centre, 3 Leegate, London SE12 8SS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10 https://www.meetup.com/South-East-London-Inner-Goddess-circle-with-ecstatic-dance/

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

Thursday 22 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 9am and 5pm PDT (US) time, which is between 4pm and midnight 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/

Thursday 22 November; Heavenly Advisors: the astrological purpose of public clocks in Italy. Lecture at British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 6pm. Tickets free but booking essential. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Thursday 22 November; Miles Neale on Gradual Awakening. 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 22 November; Full Moon Stone Magic with Wolf Sister. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London E9 7AD. Time: 7pm-9.30pm. Tickets: £40. www.sheslostcontrol.co.uk

Friday 23 November Morning tour: an introduction to ancient Egypt. Venue: Room 4, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 8.50am. Tickets £30. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Friday 23 - Saturday 24 November; Two-day introduction course to making sacred art, run by Imelda Almqvist. Venue: Rabbit Hill Studio, 21 Jerningham Road, London SE14 5NQ. Time: 10am-5pm. Cost: £160, deposit £35. (Bring your own lunch). Details: http://www.shaman-healer-painter.co.uk/index.cfm

Friday 23 November; Swami Saradananda on The Cleansing Power of Yoga. 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 23 November; Full Moon Magic Ceremony. Venue: London, NW1 7SU (Exact address will be provided after booking). Time: 7.15pm. Tickets: £18. http://uk.funzing.com/funz/full-moon-magic-ceremony-11769?

Friday 23 November; Vigil at Crossbones 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://crossbones.org.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/events/1925385734218936/

Friday 23 November; Holistic Sound Bath Meditation - Summoning The Sacred (weekly ceremonial gathering). Venue: Training Points Fitness and Therapy, 5-6 Coopers Yard, Crystal Palace, London SE19 1TN. Time: 7pm. Entry £15/£13. https://www.facebook.com/summoningthesacredsound/

Friday 23 November; TLC: Full Moon Ceremony by the river Thames with London Woodland Witches Magicians and Outdoor Pagans. Venue: Meet at Tate Modern green outside Tate Modern and Bankside Gallery, London SE1 at 7.30pm for a Wiccan circle ritual on the banks of the Thames. 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-Pagans-Magicians/

Saturday 24 November; Urban Magic: Making Magic in an Urban Environment. Workshop with John Constable. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Pl, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 10am - 5pm. Tickets: £75/£95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 24 November;  Fourth Sophia Centre London Conference. Day of talks by graduates of the MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology. Venue: University of Wales TSD, London Campus, Winchester House, 11 Cranmer Road, London, SW9 6EJ. Time: 10am-5pm. Tickets: £30. http://sophia-project.net/GraduateConferences/conf2018/
,
Saturdays 24 November and 1 December. Two-day workshop on Carl Jung: The Roots of his Thought and Practice, with tutor Kenneth Rees. Venue: The Mary Ward Centre, Queen Square, London WC1 (nearest tube stations – Holborn, Russell Square). Time: 10.15am – 5.30pm. Course No: 449. Fees: £56 Cons: £20. Enrolment: 0207 269 6000 (or online). Enquires: 0208 671 6372. www.marywardcentre.ac.uk

Saturday 24 November; Yuletide Crafting and Magic - double workshop by myself,  Lucya Starza, with Patricia McNally and Daniel Naughnane. Venue: Friends Meeting House, Hemnall Street, Epping, CM16 4LL. Time: 1.30pm to 5.30pm. First, I will be running a workshop on making a Yuletide Fairy or Angel plus a short talk about poppets, magical dolls and Yule tree fairies. This part of the workshop costs £8 including materials and refreshments. After a break Patricia McNally and Daniel Naughnane will be running a workshop called Workings with the Magic of Yuletide. The whole day will cost £20 including refreshments. To reserve a place in advance text 07927 288904 or email rainbowhealingsanctuary@outlook.com More details: https://artfromtheheart1.blogspot.com/

Saturday 24 November; Tarot Cards for Absolute Beginners (Minor Arcana). Full afternoon class with Sue Terry. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm-5.30pm start. Tickets £40. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 24 November; Ecstatic Shamanic Transformational Conscious Dance. Venue 9 Shaklewell Lane, London, E8 2DF. Time: 8.15pm – 11.30pm. Tickets: £11-£16. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ecstatic-shamanic-24th-november-tickets-51878735695?

Sunday 25 November; Max Meditation class with Lisabetta every Sunday. Drop-in class suitable for beginners and more experienced meditators. Venue: The Little Escape Therapy Centre, 4 Paxton Mews, off Westow St, London SE19 3RW. Time: 10am-11am. Cost: £12 per class, £30 for 3 classes.
http://www.harmonious-healing.com

Sunday 25 November; Ageless Wisdom for Everyone. Lecture at the Theosophical Society in London. Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8EA. Time: 2pm. Donations welcome. http://theosophicalsociety.org.uk/

Sunday 25 November; The Kith of the Tree and the Well heathen moot. Venue: The Horseshoe Inn, 26 Melior Street, London SE1 3QP. Time: 2pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/2201261753477085/

Sunday 25 November; Full Moon Rituals with Wolf Sister and Danielle Copperman. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London E9 7AD. Time: 4pm. Tickets: £40. www.sheslostcontrol.co.uk

Sunday 25 November; Celtic Shamanic Evening with ceremony evoking Celtic Gods and Goddesses plus a shamanic journey to the Mother Earth to discover power animals.  All welcome. Monthly ceremony led by Lisabetta Vilela. Venue: Training Points Fitness and Therapy, 5-6 Coopers Yard, Crystal Palace, SE19 1TN. Time: 6pm-8.30pm. Tickets: £30. harmoniousshiatsu@ymail.com https://harmonious-healing.com/

Sunday 25 November; Cleansing and Protection Workshop. Venue: The Chartherhouse Clinic, 98 Crawford Street, London, W1H 2HL. Time: 6pm. Cost: £10. https://www.meetup.com/Self-Development-and-Spiritual-Workshops-Central-London/

Monday 26 November; Spiritual Growth and the Enneagram. Talk by Robert Holden at Alternatives. Venue: St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL. Doors open 6.30pm. Event starts: 7pm. Tickets £15 online. http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Monday 26 November; Living Witchcraft: Magic with Saturn. Evening class with Rebecca Beattie. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm start. Tickets £20. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Tuesday 27 November; Enfield Town Circle Pagan Moot. (Usually 4th Tuesday each month.) Venue: Crown and Horseshoes pub, 15 Horseshoe Lane, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 6PZ. Time: 7pm to 11pm. https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Pagans-Magicians/

Tuesday 27 November; Hauntology: Be Afraid...Be Very Afraid. Lecture by Demian Allan. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Tickets: £14/£12. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 28 November; First Steps in Thelema. Evening workshop with Marco Visconti . Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm start. Tickets £20. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Wednesday 28 November (tbc); Hertford Pagan Moot. (Usually last Wednesday of each month.) Venue: White Horse Pub, 33 Castle Street, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HH (45 mins from central London). The pub does not have disabled access. Time: 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/104788436218047/

Thursday 29 November; Late night showcase of Wicca Moon's magickal products, healings, workshops and readings. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SH. Time: 6pm-9pm. Free entry, but you must reserve a place in advance. Contact Shirlee@wiccamoon.org.uk, call 0208 850 7803 or visit https://www.facebook.com/WiccaMoonEltham/

Thursday 29 November; Paths Between Head and Heart. Talk at 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 29 November; Through Technology from Tools to Technosophy. Talk by Patrick Dixon at Earthstars Group. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, Marylebone, London NW1 6XT. Doors open 7pm. Entry £12. https://www.facebook.com/events/2260158487547802/

Thursday 29 November; Concealed and Revealed: Magic in the post-medieval home? Talk by Dr Ceri Houlbrook at London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX.. Time: 7.45pm. Tickets: £4/£2. http://forteanlondon.blogspot.com/

Friday 30 November; The John Michell Memorial Lecture: The Glastonbury Zodiac Milky Way Pilgrimage Route: Ancient trackway or modern delusion? Rilko (Research Into Lost Knowledge) public lecture by Anthony Thorley. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 6.45pm, lecture starts 7.15pm. Entrance: £8/£10. http://www.rilko.org/lectures-2018-winter/

Friday 30 November; Launch party for The Confessions of Isobel Gowdie hosted by Hell Fire Club Books Esoteric Publishers. Venue: Treadwell's Books, 33 Store Street, London. WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/2373794412637621/  or https://hellfireclubbooks.com/

Saturday 1 December; Being Creative with Nature with Alan Albiston. Venue: Woodford Church at 9 Grove Crescent, South Woodford, London E18 2JR. Time: 11am. Cost: £10/£12. http://woodfordchurch.com/

Saturday 1 December; Alchemical Symbolism. Day Course with Paul Cowlan. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am-5.30pm start. Tickets £75. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 1 December; Strange December Book Fair: UFOs, Ghosts, Zombies and More. London Fortean Society afternoon of talks on ghosts, UFO art, voodoo, the world's first amphibious baby and much more. There will be book sales, stalls pizza and beer. Venue: Backyard Bar and Kitchen, 231 Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2 0EL. Time: 12pm-6pm. Advance tickets £15 / £10. http://forteanlondon.blogspot.com/

Saturday 1 December; Heart Beat Drumming Collective with Olaf Nixon. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £20/£22. Advance booking recommended. For details call: 020 7589 3292 or visit https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 2 December; Awaken The Power Within with Nikola Penkov. Venue: Aho Studio, 13 Prince Edward Rd, London, E9 5LX. Time: 10am-4.30pm. Tickets: £75. www.aho.community

Sunday 2 December; North West Kent Green Pagan Circle Moot. Venue: Chislehurst Caves, Bromley, BR7 5NL. Time: 11am. https://www.facebook.com/groups/445487428816887/

Sunday 2 December; The Marseille Tarot Introduced. One-day Course with Adrien Mastrosimone . Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am-5.30pm start. Tickets £75. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Sunday 2 December; The British Museum and the Awakening of English Magic. Walking Tour with Caroline Wise organised by Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am. Ticket price £15. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Sunday 2 December; Restorative Retreat for the Winter Solstice with Charlotte and Fiongal. Venue: 42 Acres, 66 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LW. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25. For more details visit: https://www.42acresshoreditch.com/events/

Note: I am not responsible for any of these activities except my own Yule tree angel-making workshop. Although I try to make sure my listings are accurate I do know always know about changes or ticket availability. Please contact the organiser before attending any event.