You are Never Too Old to Follow Your Dreams

It is New Year's Eve and I'm reflecting on the huge change of course I took in my life in 2018.

Back on June 13, a week before the Summer Solstice, I wrote a post for the Moon Books blog that had the title You are Never Too Old to Follow Your Dreams.

It was the birthday of Gerald Brosseau Gardner (1884–1964), the founder of modern Wicca. In the Moon Books community book Every Day Magic, the entry for that day was about him. I quoted it on the blog post I wrote, and here is the quote again:

Gerald Gardner is known as the Father of Wicca and was hugely influential in the history of modern Pagan witchcraft. He founded the Bricket Wood coven, wrote several books on magic and witchcraft, and helped Gardnerian Wicca spread worldwide. He did this after his retirement, proving that you are never too old to take up a new cause. What might you do?

Reading that over, I decided I would take up that challenge myself. I'd often thought I'd like to do an MA, but not done anything about it. So, on June 13, I took the first step and started looking around at the courses available at universities in London.

Within a few weeks I had been offered an unconditional place on an English Literature MA at Greenwich University, specialising in Literary London. The course started in September.

I won't deny that it is hard work. It has been nearly 40 years since I left university after my BA. Although I'd written books since then, I hadn't done an academic essay for years. Also, the university environment is very different from working in publishing - which I'd been doing for most of my career up to this year. But I don't regret it, even though I've found it tough at times.

I submitted my first essay last Friday and have no idea what kind of mark I will get for it. I have another essay to write in the next fortnight and I've not even started that yet. Nevertheless, I am already considering applying to do a PhD after this course finishes.

So, what do you want to do? What are your dreams? It is never to late to follow them.

Links
http://moon-books.net/blogs/moonbooks/you-are-never-too-old-to-follow-your-dreams/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/09/the-bad-witch-goes-back-to-school.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/09/charge-of-goddess-conference-2010.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/12/book-witchfather-life-of-gerald-gardner.html
Lucya Starza Amazon author page

New Year Resolutions: Looking Back at my 2018 Plans

This is the time of year when I look over the resolutions I made 12 months ago and see whether I achieved any of them.

Instead of making just one resolution each year, I like to write a list of at least 10 things I want to do. The idea is that with a lot of goals there's a good chance of getting at least some of them done. Here's the list of what I hoped to do in 2018 and how well I succeeded:

1. Run talks and workshops based on my book Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magic Dolls, which was released in August 2018.

Yes, I ran several - at Treadwells in London, at Wicca Moon in Eltham, at The Henge Shop in Avebury, at the Aspects of Witchcraft moot in Guildford, at a couple of private locations and I ran a Yule Tree Angel workshop at Friends Meeting House in Epping. You can see a picture of me signing books in Avebury to the left.

2. Create a candle labyrinth.

No. This has been on my list for several years now, but I still haven't got around to making one.

3. Try out a different craft project every month.

I succeeded in this. Here's a list of craft projects I blogged about this year:
Beeswax Candles
A Shamanic Drum
Upcycled Jam Jar and Buttons Tea-Light Holder
Twig Tree with Upcycled Bottle Leaves
A Drum Bag
A Witch Intent Doll from Silver Ravenwolf's Poppet Magick book
A Terry Pratchett-Style Shamble
Knotted Wool Poppet
Restringing a Necklace
Lavender Suffumigation Bundles
Knitted Poppets
Dark Mirrors and Scrying Balls
Poppet of Protection for Dark Nights
A Yule Tree Angel or Fairy Hanging Ornament
Yule Tree Topper

4. Visit at least one ancient site I haven't yet blogged about before.

I managed to get to several sacred sites, but I think my favourite was Wayland's Smithy.

5. Visit somewhere connected with the history of witchcraft that I haven't visited before.

When I was on holiday in Scotland, I visited a rock called Witches' Leap, with a fascinating legend.

6. Explore more of London on foot and write about aspects of the city I've not yet blogged about.

This year I went on the Pantheon of Pancras walk with Minimum Labyrinth, which took me to some beautiful sacred sites I'd never been to before as well as a few I was familiar with. I also went to the Roman Dead exhibition and Dr Johnson's house. The photo at the top of this post was taken on the Pantheon of Pancras walk.

7. Write a monthly post called Tales from the Witch Room, about my own sacred space.

Here's a list of my Witch Room posts this year, although the photo to the right actually shows me doing a craft project in my witch room:
What Occult Bums Sat Here?
Saving Alan Leo's Papers
Cauldrons Big and Small
Pointy Hats
A Three-Legged Stool
My Sun Light for the Solstice
An Instrument to Call the Storms
UFOs and Papers All Over the Place
Autumn Equinox Decluttering
With Candles, Size Matters
Wow! What a Mess
My Real Yule Tree

8. Attend at least one large pagan open ritual for a Wheel of the Year festival.

I went to a wonderful open ritual in Glastonbury for Beltane, featuring the dragons of summer and winter

9. Try out at least half a dozen guided visualisations from published books or audio recordings and review them.

Well, I half did this. I did the first six pathworkings in The Shining Paths by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki, which is such a classic book on the Qabalistic Tree of Life that I didn't really feel it needed me to review it. You can view The Shining Paths on Amazon.  However, I did review a book called The Witches' Pyramid: Wiccan Cabbala.

10. Start another writing project.

I started doing an MA in English Literature and submitted my first written essay yesterday. Does that count? I'll give myself another half for that I think.

That means I succeeded in 8 out of the 10 goals I set myself this year - if you add the two halves together. That's one better than the previous year. Who said New Year Resolutions don't work?

I'm now going to start thinking of 10 things I want to do in 2019.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/12/new-year-resolutions-looking-back-at-my.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/place-of-ancient-dead-waylands-smithy.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/08/scottish-folklore-witches-leap-at.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/09/pantheon-of-pancras-gods-goddesses-women.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/12/tales-from-witch-room-my-real-yule-tree.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/05/dragons-of-summer-winter-battle-in.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/magical-dolls-poppet-of-protection-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/p/craft.html

Pagan Events Over the New Year in and Near London

Here is a listing of pagan events in London plus a few in other parts of the southern England over New Year 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

Now to 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

Saturday 29 December; The Thin Veil of London. Two-hour walk around Holborn and Bloomsbury, interwoven with mysteries from the stories of Arthur Machen, with Minimum Labyrinth. Tickets:  £17.50 (£12.50 concessions). Time: 4pm-6.30pm. Details and booking:  www.minimumlabyrinth.org.

Saturday 29 December; Opening the road ritual. This is a ritual you can do in your own home with suggestions by Kitchen Witch Coven of Natural Witchery. The event is hosted Rachel Patterson. Venue: Your own home, wherever you are, at a time to suit you between 8am and 11pm. Free event. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1973507059434581/

Monday 31 December; New Year's Eve Peace Fires. Light a candle or fire for peace wherever you are in the world, for just for 10 minutes or an hour or longer and state the intention: “Let there be peace on earth and love for one another.” Details: http://peacefires.org/

Thursday 3 January 2019; The Thin Veil of London. Two-hour walk around Holborn and Bloomsbury, interwoven with mysteries from the stories of Arthur Machen, with Minimum Labyrinth. Tickets:  £17.50 (£12.50 concessions). Time: 4pm-6.30pm. Details and booking:  www.minimumlabyrinth.org.

Friday 4 January; 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/

Saturday 5 January and Sunday 6 January 2019; 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

Saturday 5 January 2019; Vision Boards and Ritual with Leah Salmon. Workshop with Leah Salmon. at Alternatives. Venue: De Vere West One, 9-10 Portland Place, London W1B 1PR. Time: 11am- 5pm. Tickets £85 online. http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Saturday 5 January 2019; Heart Beat - An Evening of Song and Drumming with Gong Master Olaf Nixon. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 6pm - 7.30pm. Tickets: £21/£23. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 6 January 2019; 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 6 January 2019; Oracle cards with Natasha Mann at the Red Tent Meetup Group. Venue in south east London. Time: 11.30am. Meetings are free but donations welcome. https://www.meetup.com/South-London-Red-Tent/

Sunday 6 January 2019;  Twelfth Night celebration. Holly King, Mummers' Play, the Bankside Wassail and more seasonal entertainment with The Lion's Part. Venue: Shakespeare's Globe, Bankside and Borough Market, Southwark, London, SE1 9DT. This is a free event starting at 2pm. For details visit http://www.thelionspart.co.uk/twelfthnight/index.html

Sunday 6 January 2019; Embodied Archetype Workshop The Huntress with Lewis Barfoot. Venue: Aho Studio, 13 Prince Edward Rd, London, E9 5LX. Time: 2.30pm. Tickets: £30. www.aho.community

Sunday 6 January 2019; Sacred Sounds Gong Bath with Gong Master Olaf Nixon. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 6pm - 7.30pm. Tickets: £22/£25. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Please note: I am not responsible for any of these events. Please contact the organisers of any event before turning up.

Witch Games: Legendary Buffy the Vampire Slayer

One of the presents I was given this Yule was a board game - Legendary: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I played it twice yesterday and really enjoyed it.

There's a whole Legendary series, including Marvel Super Heroes, Aliens, Predator and Firefly as well as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They are co-operative card games - and I must say I rather like games in which you work with the other players to defeat a common threat. I'm also a something of a Buffy fan, so this game was always going to appeal to me.

It is for one to five players. Yes, you can do it solo, although I played it with my husband and it worked very well with just the two of us. We lost the first time and won the rematch, so I would say it has an interesting level of difficulty.

Essentially it works by the players recruiting characters including Buffy, Angel, Willow and Giles plus others like Jenny Calendar and Riley Finn in an attempt to stop a Big Bad and minion villains complete an evil scheme. All of these are represented by cards and there's a mixture of luck and skill in picking the right combination to overcome the threats.

I have played some other Legendary titles in the past - including Aliens and a few of the superhero ones and I really like all of them. I'm only blogging about this one because it obviously has witches in it and I've been reviewing a series of games with witchy themes or characters, including another Buffy board game, Hogwarts Battle and Terry Pratchett - The Witches.

You can view Legendary: Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Amazon.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/witch-games-buffy-vampire-slayer-board.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/01/review-terry-pratchett-witches-boardgame.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/11/witch-games-harry-potter-hogwarts-battle.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/04/witch-games-abracadawhat-magical-contest.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/04/witch-games-dark-gothic-supernatural.html

Yule Ghost Tale: Things That Go Bump in the Night

I do love a Christmas Eve ghost story, so here's a tale of something spooky that I've personally experienced.

As you know if you read my blog regularly, this autumn I started doing an MA course at the University of Greenwich, which is in the buildings of the Old Royal Naval College.

The college, as you might expect from buildings that are hundreds of years old, has quite a few tales of ghostly goings on. One of them relates to a room where go for a seminar one afternoon a week.

The room always felt a little odd to me. Right at the start of term I blogged that the staircase leading to it was a bit creepy. Several times during seminars everyone there has heard strange thumping sounds. The room often seems stifling and claustrophobic, even with the windows open. Once the door swung open for no obvious reason at all.

Yes, of course, there's almost certainly a rational explanation for all of those things. But, doing a bit of research, I also learnt that the room is supposedly haunted.

Apparently what are now the upper classrooms in Queen Mary Court were once dormitories for naval college pensioners - and the one that is my classroom was once the scene of a murder. For no reason that could be determined, one of the retired seamen brutally killed a fellow pensioner in his bed one night.

From time to time since then, people have reported hearing banging and thumping sounds that are, perhaps, the sounds of the struggles between the murderer and his victim somehow repeating again and again over the years. I even asked one of security staff if he had witnessed anything ghostly. He said he hadn't actually seen anything, but like me he had heard strange sounds in the building. He said he had heard the bumps mostly late at night when he was supposedly the only one there.

I'm glad my seminar is early in the afternoon, before it gets dark even in the depths of winter. I don't think I'd like to be on my own there late at night.

The photo shows a corner of the Old Royal Naval College at night.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/09/uni-days-winding-stairs-maze-like.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/12/yule-ghost-tale-spectral-nazi-of-ripe.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/12/yule-ghost-tale-royal-institution.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/12/yule-ghost-tales-most-haunted-house-in.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/11/occult-london-hawksmoors-coffin-shaped.html

Yule Tree Visualisation for Winter Solstice Magic

Here is a guided visualisation to help you tap into the magic of the Winter Solstice. To do this you need to be sitting somewhere comfortable and safe, where you will not be disturbed.

You can record the visualisation first if you like, then play it back to yourself. It is perfect to do if you have crafted your own fairy or angel doll for you Yule tree, but that isn't essential. When you are ready to start, sit comfortably. Close your eyes and relax and then take three deep breaths in and out.

In your mind’s eye, visualise a beautiful evergreen tree. Image yourself dressing the tree with all of your favourite ornaments.

Last of all, you place onto the tree a fairy or angel doll. 

You stand in front of the decorated tree and look at it. Look at the beautiful, green branches and smell the scent of the pine needles. Admire your handiwork in decorating it.

As you observe the tree, you can see the vibrant green energy of the deep earth going up into it, up through its roots and into its trunk, flowing along its branches. 

You can also see silver energy from the heavens coming down and reaching the top of the tree, flowing all over its branches, down its trunk and into the earth at its roots. 

You see the two streams of energy mingle and combine, suffusing everything on the tree and making it all glow with light. As you watch, the energy flows into your fairy or angel, bringing them to life. They glow with energy. 

You see that your angel or fairy has eyes and a mouth and other features on their face. They look at you and speak. “Do you have a wish?” they ask you.

If you do have a wish, tell your fairy or angel what it is you wish for this Yuletide, and know that your wish will be heard by the spirit of the season.

Spend a little more time conversing with your fairy or angel.

When you are ready, bring the conversation to an end. Say your goodbyes, but know that your fairy or angel will be watching over you and throughout this Yuletide. Your tree and all that is on it will be filled with the magic of the season.

Return now from your visualisation. 

Be aware of your body. Take a deep breath in and out, wiggle your fingers and toes, then open your eyes when you are ready.

It is also a good idea to have something to eat and drink to help yourself ground after doing any visualisation or magical work.

If you want to make your own angel or fairy doll to decorate your tree, here are my instructions for making a tree topper angel and a hanging angel or fairy ornament.

You can also view my book Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls on Amazon. It has lots of information about dolls for seasonal celebrations, among other things. 

2024 UPDATE: This guided visualisation is one I've included in my book, Pagan Portals - Guided Visualisations. You can view it on Amazon

Please note I earn commissions from some links

Links and previous related posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/12/craft-angel-or-fairy-yule-tree-hanging.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/12/craft-easy-to-make-angel-or-fairy-yule.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/11/magical-dolls-history-of-poppets-effigy.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/12/magical-dolls-yule-tree-fairy-angel.html

Pagan Shopping: Bathtime Goodies for Yule

A lovely selection of bathtime treats from Bewitched Botanicals arrived for me in time for Yule. In the box that I got in the post was:

• A Herne bath orb
• A Supernatural Soap Stack containing a selection including Krampus, Belsnickle, Yule, Lycaocomia, Frau Holle and Bah Humbug.
• A jar of Spellbinding Scrub
• A jar of Wicked Whips moisturising body cream
• Two little extra samples of Black Phillip and Miskatonic soap.

Just the thing for the perfect ritual bath before my Winter Solstice celebration tomorrow!

Links and previous related posts
https://bewitchedbotanicals.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2007/11/purification.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/05/sea-purification.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/pagan-shopping-witches-cauldron-bath.html

A Top 10 Googled Question is: Is Christmas Pagan?

"Is Christmas Pagan?" was one of the most asked questions this year according Google's data.

Analysts at a Manchester-based online security consultancy collated the most asked Christmas-related questions. Among the most commonly asked questions were queries relating to the history of certain Christmas traditions, the nutritional benefits of popular Christmas food and the origins and location of the man himself, Santa Claus.

One of the top Santa Claus related searches was, "Is Santa Claus Turkish?" This question is entirely valid. Saint Nicholas of Myra, who is believed to have been one of the inspirations for the ‘Father Christmas’ figure has origins in ancient Greece, parts of which are in modern day Turkey, so Santa Claus does have Turkish roots.

The researchers also noticed that a high number of queries were related to the environmental impact of Christmas. “Is tinsel recyclable?” was the top hit for questions related to the unfashionable decoration and “Are Christmas trees ethical?” was the fourth most common search related to Christmas trees.

A spokesperson for Online Spy Shop, which conducted the research, said: “As a company, we take a keen interest in online search behaviour. The queries people make can highlight knowledge gaps, biases and even upcoming consumer trends. But in other cases, you just spot something that’s interesting enough to investigate further for curiosity’s sake. This was the case here and we couldn’t resist finding out the answers to the most popular questions, which we published on our blog.”

Several of the most-Googled questions this year involved paganism, including:

• Is Christmas Pagan?
• Are Christmas presents Pagan?
• Are Christmas decorations Pagan?
• Are Christmas trees Pagan?

I'm sure anyone who reads my blog will know that the answer to all of those is yes - they all have some pagan origins that pre-date Christianity.

If you want to find out all the most asked questions about Christmas, or find out the longer answers to those I've blogged about, go over to the Online Spy Shop Blog here: https://www.onlinespyshop.co.uk/blog/biggest-christmas-questions-2018-answered/

Book Excerpt: Healing Plants of the Celtic Druids

Here is an excerpt from the Excerpt: Healing Plants of the Celtic Druids. Author Angela Paine explains why she wrote her inspiring and fascinating book on the use of traditional healing herbs:

Why I Wrote this Book

In 1991 I went to the Palazzo Grassi in Venice, to see an exhibition: The Celts, under the scientific direction of Sabatino Moscati. This was a quarter of a century ago but the memory lingers on of a wonderful display of Celtic artefacts from twenty four countries, covering a period of a thousand years from 600 BCE. The exhibition was an Aladdin’s cave of enormous golden torques, bracelets and earrings, bronze and terracotta vessels, bowls and cups, bronze and iron belts and helmets, iron swords and shields, chariots and statues, of exquisite craftsmanship, all decorated with swirling, elegant Celtic designs. Leafy tracery and stylised animals spoke volumes about the interconnectedness of life, both plant and animal.

These objects made up a poetic ode to nature, honouring all living things, including forests, tribal goddesses and powerful beasts. I was transported to an ancient time when the world was full of trees and animals, all sacred and important in their own right and humans did not value themselves more highly than their environment. Though they left almost nothing written down, the ancient Celts expressed their beliefs through designs which capture the essence of the horse, the tree, the deer, the wild boar, the ram, the stork, the eagle, the bull, rather than trying to depict an exact replica, as the Romans did. There were many mythological animals, such as horned serpents with fish tails, as well as dragons and abstract designs and even a little golden votive boat from Ireland. The exhibition traced the sphere of influence of the ancient Celts from 600 BCE onwards, their culture, language and way of life, right across Europe. There were representations of mistletoe, madder, woad and yew, all plants with spiritual significance. The sheer quantity of beautiful objects on display made a lasting impression on me and left me feeling that the Celts were a highly cultured people, intimately connected with their environment.

At the time I was carrying out my PhD research into the tropical plants used to treat tropical diseases at the London School of Pharmacy. On obtaining my doctorate I left London and academia and went to live on the borders of Wales. I studied and grew the native healing herbs, eventually teaching a small group of students and travelling round the country giving talks about the subject. Repeated requests for a book on Celtic herbs led to my writing The Healing Power of Celtic Plants. I chose from an array of plants mentioned in the Physicians of Myddvai’s thirteenth century Welsh herbal, the earliest British secular herbal that I could find. From this selection I focussed on those that were growing in Britain at the time of the ancient Celts, during the first millennium BCE, as evidenced by samples of pollen from that era. Then from this collection I selected a few that herbalists, and in some cases doctors, still use today. I looked at the research that had been carried out on these plants, investigated their chemical constituents and noted how these affect the human body. I analysed the results of clinical trials that looked at the effect some of these plants had on groups of patients and demonstrated that if herbal medicine is used correctly it can be effective in curing a number of conditions.

You can view Healing Plants of the Celtic Druids on Amazon and read a review of it here.

Pagan Events for Winter Solstice, Yule & the New Year

Here are some of the events in London plus a few in other parts of southern England over the Winter Solstice, Yule and New Year's Eve that could be of interest to pagans. However, you celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful Yuletide.

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

Now to 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

Wednesday 19 December; 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 19 December; Winter Solstice Open Circle at More Mead Moot with 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/  details: https://www.facebook.com/events/338567983409018/

Thursday 20 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

Thursday 20 December; PFL Winter Solstice Open Ritual with London Reclaiming. Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Time: 7.30pm. Entry: £6/£5 (PF members and concessions). https://pflondon.info/

Friday 21 - Saturday 22 December; Winter Solstice at the Henge Shop, High Street, Avebury, Wiltshire, SN8 1RF. Two days of talks and other events. Details: https://www.facebook.com/TheHengeShop/

Friday 21 December; Winter Solstice Festival: Wheel of the Year Meditation and Singing. Venue: 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, then Winter Solstice singing at 2pm. Free admission to the gardens from 10am to noon. For more details, visit the website http://www.chalicewell.org.uk/

Friday 21 December; Solstice animal charity fundraising event.  Second Chance Animal Rescue will be at Wicca Moon with furry, feathered and scaly friends. Enjoy mulled wine and mince pies while fundraising for a good cause.  Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SH. Time: 2pm. For further details contact Shirlee@wiccamoon.org.uk, call 0208 850 7803 or 07985506869. https://www.facebook.com/events/739979066367321/

Friday 21 December; Winter Solstice Ritual at the historic Camlet Moat in Trent Park near London. Celebrate the birth of the New Sun with the Cassi Grove - a small group of druids. Meet at the Ferny Hill Road entrance, EN4 0QA. Time: 2pm. For further info and details contact Anne on

Friday 21 December; Andrew O'Neill's Black Magick Fun Hour. Venue The Underworld Camden, 174 Camden High Street, London NW1. Time: 7pm - 10pm. Tickets: £12 in advance.  www.theunderworldcamden.co.uk

Saturday 22 December; Stonehenge Winter Solstice Managed Open Access with a celebration at sunrise at the stone circle. Free entry is allowed from 7.45am, but car parking costs £5. For full details: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/plan-your-visit/winter-solstice-at-stonehenge/

Saturday 22 December; Winter Solstice with Kent Gorsedd at Coldrum Stones, Neolithic Long Barrow, Trottiscliffe, Kent. Meet in the carpark before the event. Time: noon. https://www.facebook.com/events/307255833385451/

Saturday 22 December; Sisters of the Stones of Caer Abiri Winter Solstice Circle at Avebury in Wiltshire. Time: meet at 1pm, event starts 1.30pm. Free to attend. https://www.facebook.com/events/200023027562974/

Saturday 22 December; Yule Winter Solstice Ceremony with Watchers of the Old Ways at the Rollright Stones, off the A3400, Chipping Norton OX7 5QB. Time: Picnic from 1pm then ritual from 2pm - 3.30pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/194195568149109/

Saturday 22 December; Woodland Mid-Winter Ritual and Yule Celebrations with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Location: Queen's Woods, Near Highgate Station. Meet at the Woodman pub at 2pm to walk to the woods. Tickets: £5/£3. Details: https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Pagans-Magicians/

Saturday 22 December; Full Moon Celebration - The Journey Home. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London E9 7AD. Time: 7pm-9.30pm. Tickets: £35. www.sheslostcontrol.co.uk

Sunday 23 December; Full Moon Peace Fires. Light a candle or fire for peace wherever you are in the world, for just for 10 minutes or an hour or longer and state the intention: “Let there be peace on earth and love for one another.” Details: http://peacefires.org/

Sunday 23 December, Winter Solstice 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/LooseAssociationOfDruidsOfPrimroseHill/

Sunday 23 December; Holly King – an ancient Pagan midwinter celebration for parents and children. Venue: Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Petersfield PO8 0BG. Two sessions: 10.30am – 11.30am and 12.30pm to 1.30pm. Tickets £10. www.butserancientfarm.co.uk

Sunday 23 December; Christmas Vigil for the Outcast 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/GooseandCrow/

Saturday 29 December; The Thin Veil of London. Two-hour walk around Holborn and Bloomsbury, interwoven with mysteries from the stories of Arthur Machen, with Minimum Labyrinth. Tickets:  £17.50 (£12.50 concessions). Time: 4pm-6.30pm. Details and booking:  www.minimumlabyrinth.org.

Saturday 29 December; Opening the road ritual. This is a ritual you can do in your own home with suggestions by Kitchen Witch Coven of Natural Witchery. The event is hosted Rachel Patterson. Venue: Your own home, wherever you are, at a time to suit you between 8am and 11pm. Free event. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1973507059434581/

Monday 31 December; New Year's Eve Peace Fires. Light a candle or fire for peace wherever you are in the world, for just for 10 minutes or an hour or longer and state the intention: “Let there be peace on earth and love for one another.” Details: http://peacefires.org/

Thursday 3 January 2019; The Thin Veil of London. Two-hour walk around Holborn and Bloomsbury, interwoven with mysteries from the stories of Arthur Machen, with Minimum Labyrinth. Tickets:  £17.50 (£12.50 concessions). Time: 4pm-6.30pm. Details and booking:  www.minimumlabyrinth.org.

Friday 4 January; 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/

Saturday 5 January 2019; Vision Boards and Ritual with Leah Salmon. Workshop with Leah Salmon. at Alternatives. Venue: De Vere West One, 9-10 Portland Place, London W1B 1PR. Time: 11am- 5pm. Tickets £85 online. http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Saturday 5 January 2019; Heart Beat - An Evening of Song and Drumming with Gong Master Olaf Nixon. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 6pm - 7.30pm. Tickets: £21/£23. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 6 January 2019; 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 6 January 2019; Oracle cards with Natasha Mann at the Red Tent Meetup Group. Venue in south east London. Time: 11.30am. Meetings are free but donations welcome. https://www.meetup.com/South-London-Red-Tent/

Sunday 6 January 2019;  Twelfth Night celebration. Holly King, Mummers' Play, the Bankside Wassail and more seasonal entertainment with The Lion's Part. Venue: Shakespeare's Globe, Bankside and Borough Market, Southwark, London, SE1 9DT. This is a free event starting at 2pm. For details visit http://www.thelionspart.co.uk/twelfthnight/index.html

Note: I do not organise any of these events. Although I try to make sure my listings are accurate, I am not responsible for late changes or ticket availability. Please contact the organisers before attending any event. If you notice something that needs correcting or changing - or if you want an event to be listed on my events page in future - please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com

Book Excerpt: Gate & Key: Sidereal 13 Sign Astrology

Here is an excerpt from a new book called Gate and Key: Sidereal 13 Sign Astrology - an introduction to Sidereal 13 Sign Astrology for lightworkers and evolving beings. It is by occultist G Desiree Fultz and was officially launched on December 13:

The 13th Zodiac, Ophiuchus, and its esoteric significance is in every underlying magical system and even hidden by allegory and symbol within many of the world religions and epic creation stories. Just a few interesting factoids suggesting the occult connection to Ophiuchus:

The number 13 is known to theologians as 'theophanic', meaning a 'manifestation of God to man'. Theophany is the appearance of a deities/gods to a human. Most cults have been born of a connection to a Theophanic event.

In the Kabala, 13 signifies the arrival of a new cycle: the thirteenth hour is also the first.

The 13th Chakra is where matter merges with light; the gate of Astral Projection. 13th chakra is outside the body, but the energy of the 13th chakra is experienced in the heart. The energy it resonates is unconditional Love. Unlike the seven major centers of the body, this one cannot become blocked.

There are 12 cosmological constants and 1 uncertainty principle in astrophysics; the branch of astronomy concerned with the nature of stars and other celestial bodies. It explores physics and chemistry, and applies of the laws and theories of physics to explain astronomical observations.

The Bible assigns the number 13 with the esoteric meaning representing“rebellion against constituted authority”.

[US] Independence Day (which was an act of open rebellion against tyranny) is 13 days after the Summer Equinox and divides the year exactly in half. One side before and one side after. [There are] 13 red and white stripes on the U.S. Flag.

A witches' coven consists of 13 members. There are 13 steps leading to the hanging gallows. There are 13 loops in a hangman’s noose. Apollo 13 is the only unsuccessful moon landing.

The 13th Tarot card is Death. The card is connected to Pluto (which rules Scorpio, and it the zodiac nearest Ophiuchus) There are 78 (6 x 13 = 78) Tarot cards in a Tarot deck.

The 13th Rune is Eiwaz. This rune is the balance point between light and dark (the point of transformation)

The letter M is the 13th letter in the English and Hebrew alphabets and hold sacred esoteric significance with a meaning that rules the transition of day and night, and even death and life.

Sacred Geometry: Within the symbol of the Flower of Life is found the 'Fruit of Life'. The shape of the Fruit-of-Life is composed of 13 circles. 13 is also the key for unity and for transition between worlds and dimensions as mentioned before, where light and dark meet.

Music theory: Chromatic scales of the 12 notes include The 13th note is actually repeating the first note, only on a higher frequency. When you attain a higher octave you enter a higher dimension and so on, up the scale, every 13th note bringing you up to the next level.

The number 13 is a prime number and is only divisible by itself, incorruptible.

Ophiuchus: the hunted, the hidden, the misunderstood. She has been slandered, accused, misrepresented, because her ultimate aim is to create, seek, heal, love unconditionally, and usurp the powers of tyrants. She is a threat to the regime, a silent power that liberates and frees the innocent by any means necessary, even if it means death and rebirth. She is the gateway to immortality and the knowledge of good and evil. She is the 13th constellation and absolutely relevant to our times!

'Ophiuchus is the gateway and Chiron is the key,
the way to life and healing, to immortality.'

You can view Gate and Key: Sidereal 13 Sign Astrology on Amazon

Guilt and Pressure: Late Yule Gift Shopping Woes

With two essay deadlines looming for my MA course, I'm really behind with my Yule shopping this year. Today is also the last day for sending second class post to arrive by 24th December and I need to get my card writing finished too.

Yes, the festive season is a stressful time - particularly if you are as skint as most students are.

Some new research I was sent shows that the pressure of festive giving apparently leaves a quarter of people in the UK in financial trouble. Twenty-two percent of us feel pressured to buy more expensive gifts than we feel comfortable spending the money on.

The research (conducted by Peachy), surveyed 2002 people’s Christmas shopping habits and attitudes towards money; showing the differences between those of a different gender and age. Financial woes are expected to affect a quarter of Britons due to a costly and pressurising Christmas.

The research showed that men spend more money than women, but believe they spend too much. However, the majority of men (66%) felt relaxed when browsing and buying gifts for their loved ones, felt less pressured to buy a more expensive gift and found it less challenging to stick to a set budget compared to women who were significantly more stressed and less money conscious despite on average spending less of their wages on Christmas gifts than men.

Forty percent of 18 to 24-year-olds fretted about what others had bought them for Christmas and felt guilty if others had spent more on gifts than they had. About a quarter of those aged 18 to 24 admit to poor budgeting at Christmas time. Those 55 years old and over found Christmas shopping too hectic and only a third wished they could spend more on Christmas gifts.

To ease financial worries in the festive season, Katre Kaarenperk-Vanatoa from Peachy suggests: “Try to shop wisely by sticking to a budget and creating a gift list. Do not compare your gifts to others and remember that it is sentiment that counts not the price. Sometimes, handmade gifts are more greatly appreciated than expensive gadgets.”

I completely agree about making handmade gifts if you have the time. People appreciate the effort you put in and won't try to put a monetary value on it. There's a whole page on my blog with craft ideas.

One suggestion might be to make people individual Yule tree ornaments, such as my angel made from upcycled materials or cute charms from corks.Another idea might be to turn jam jars into colourful tealight holders or you could bake gingerbread - hopefully better than mine, which were meant to be angels but were probably upside-down reindeer heads!

Review: Wicca Made Easy - Awaken the Divine Magic

I always like to have a look at new books introducing Wicca and witchcraft to seekers as people often ask me what introductory reading I would recommend for newcomers to the Craft.

Wicca Made Easy - Awaken the Divine Magic Within You by Phyllis Curott fits that category very well. It is full of practical exercises to guide any seeker on the path of modern pagan witchcraft.

These days there are many different strands of Wicca - from initiatory Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca to many eclectic paths. This book is on the eclectic side and aimed at solitary practitioners rather than those undergoing coven training, but there's nothing wrong with that. Solitary trainees need good exercises to follow.

In Wicca Made Easy, Phyllis draws on core shamanism and new thought techniques. She puts a lot of emphasis on guided meditations, guided visualisations, breathing exercises, chants and mantras and journeying as teaching techniques - particularly in the early chapters. The book also covers standard Wiccan practices such as circle casting, setting up altars, celebrating the Wheel of the Year, invoking pagan Goddesses and Gods, and casting spells using natural magic.

Phyllis offers a practical, commonsense approach to learning the techniques of Wiccan-style witchcraft. Her writing is easy to follow and nicely non-didactic.

My only word of caution would be to point out that this is an American book and some of the information Phyllis gives isn't entirely correct for those in other countries. For example, in America there are federally recognised churches of Wicca - that isn't so in the UK. Other than that minor point, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn the Craft of the Wise in the modern age.


You can view Wicca Made Easy - Awaken the Divine Magic Within You on Amazon  (Note: I earn commission from some links. This helps subsidise my blog at no extra cost to readers)

Links and previous related posts
https://www.hayhouse.co.uk/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/01/wicca-witchcraft-finding-out-basics.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/12/review-earth-wisdom-by-glennie-kindred.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/05/review-witch-unleashed-untamed.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/09/review-divine-magic-by-doreen-virtue.html

Book Excerpt: A Legacy of Druids by Ellen Hopman

Here is an excerpt from the book A Legacy of Druids: Conversations With Druid Leaders of Britain, The USA and Canada, Past and Present by Ellen Evert Hopman, Archdruid, Tribe of the Oak. It is an interview with Rev. John R. Adelmann (Fox) by Ellen.

“When we began the work of establishing spiritual connections with the land we quickly realized that we needed to gain an understanding of the spiritual character of our people. The work and discussions that followed culminated in a night of trance and divinatory work reaching out for a God to come forward to stand as our divine ancestor, a father to stand with us in a sacred marriage to the land.

“The God who answered our call is Lugh. He is a close cognate to the mythological Lugh Lamhfhadha or Lleu of the Old World. Since we believe that the Deities grow and change over time we never identify our deities as identical to those frozen in textbooks. Lugh is our protector, guide and inspiration. We seek his help and advice often through the year and especially honor him at our annual Lughnasadh gathering.

“Tradition has taught us that the ability to live in peaceful harmony with the spirits of the land hinges on a very special bond between our folk and the mother Goddess. At the Summer Solstice of 1995 we conducted a rite of sacred marriage between Ana and our father God, Lugh. Her acceptance of him signified that we are welcome to remain in this place and have been accepted as her children.

“Each Summer Solstice this bond is reaffirmed in a ceremony conducted in the forest. At that time newcomers to our folk are invited to join in the sacred pact. This relationship comes with a heavy obligation as we strive to live responsibly as her respectful children. We consider ourselves to be the protectors of the watershed and the many species with whom we share this home.

“The spirits of our ancestors are also very significant in our world view. We consult and honor them continually as we go about our busy lives. At Samhain we go out into the forest at sunset and invite them to join us in a joyful trance dance where the spirits of all generations entwine. We consult them when making decisions and seek their guidance in all matters of import.

“The God who helps us to make contact with the dead is Manannan mac Lir. He guides our loved ones across the boundary between the worlds and cares for them until their return. He is a beneficent and gracious host in the Otherworld where they enjoy great banquets and are free from disease. The Grey Walker is key to all of our rites involving the dead and we call to him by ringing bells and blowing on a conch shell. Those who aspire to the arts of magic and particularly that of shape changing have been known to seek him along the quiet banks of our many lakes, where his birds, the crane and the heron frequent.

“At the social center of our tribe is the Goddess Brid. She seems to be very similar to the textbook Brighid with the exception of the latter’s river Goddess aspects. She tends our spiritual hearth and rules over the laws of hospitality. She is key to our success, watching over the social glue that holds our group together.

“Our God of youth, beauty and romantic love, Aren, is a cognate of Angus mac Oc. He appears to us at Beltaine and rules over our springtime rites. According to our mythos he joins in our springtime revelry and catches the eye of Ana. As star-crossed lovers they pursue their desire in a short-lived, but passionate affair that ends each Samhain as he flees in the form of a swan.

“There is one additional God who is a part of our world for whom we have no name. Despite nearly a full year of searching for him our contacts continue to be fleeting but awe-inspiring. He is the Lord of the Wild who holds dominion over the wild lands and the animal kin beyond our cities and towns. He usually appears in stag form, but too little is known of him to be sure of his full character.

“Each spring and fall we send out a hunting party in an effort to know and honor this important God. We take no weapons on these journeys, but travel and camp as if we were a party in pursuit of the wisest of game. We travel through the wild country of our homeland in silent reverence for the natural world. We find our way through the use of augury, watching the flight of birds, the behavior of deer, listening to the sounds around us and the voices in our souls.

“Also important to our people is a group of entities that we collectively call ‘the Allies’. They include the spirits of the Native American dead who once called this land home, their living descendants and their Gods. We offer them respect as honored guests though we do not worship them. A number of their descendants are among the members of our new tribe, and are invited to share in our celebrations around our sacred hearth.

“The rite on each high day starts in the forest at sunset and lasts until after the following sunset. Once per year, at Beltaine, the flame that is tended in our Grove shrine is extinguished. The new flame is lit using a bow drill and is consecrated with nine sacred woods. Prior to all our rites, regardless of the weather, we gather to kindle the ritual fire from that sacred flame and keep a vigil over it throughout the night.

“Our year begins with the celebration of Samhain. The main rite is on the day following the fire vigil and centers around honoring the dead and the Otherworldly God, Manannan. We hold a public feast in their honor and speak fondly of their memory.

“At Yule we celebrate the return of the sun. At this time we also celebrate the children in our community. Some years we perform a sacred drama of helping the sun return, decorate a community tree and gather food and clothing for the homeless.

“Imbolg is the holiday of the Goddess Brid. We celebrate the first signs of spring and our impending rescue from the cold grip of winter. Huddled around the winter hearth, we also work to strengthen the social ties of our community.

“Spring Equinox is our time of seed blessing and preparing for the work of summer. We gather to celebrate the fertile power of the Earth and talk about our plans for the coming busy season.

“Beltaine is a rite of the fertility of the Earth and the joys of youthful love presided over by the God Aren. We hold a lively Maypole dance and revel in the delights of the springtime. We choose a King or Queen for the day, by drawing pieces of bannock cake from a basket. This individual voluntarily sacrifices him or herself for the fertility of the land and the health of the people by thrice jumping the ceremonial fire.

“At the Summer Solstice we re-enact the sacred marriage between our people and the land, embodied in the marriage of Ana and Lugh. The two aren’t actually reunited until Samhain, but we choose this time to encourage the return to the proper social order. The sovereignty afforded by this rite is particularly important to us through the remainder of the summer and harvest season.

“Lughnasadh is the time of our annual gathering. We host a Pagan festival in our watershed and people from near and far join us in our revelry. We conduct the traditional rites of the first grain harvest and of praise to Lugh. We hold athletic competitions to select our Grove Champion and we feast and laugh, forming new bonds of friendship in the community.

“The final rite of the year is the Fall Equinox, our harvest celebration. We gather to feast and give thanks to the spirits of nature and the deities for the abundance that our hard work through the summer has yielded.”

Rev. John R. Adelmann (Fox)
Interviewed November and December, 1996
Via internet

Ellen Evert Hopman is a herbalist and author ᚓᚂᚂᚓᚅ ᚓᚃᚓᚏᚈ ᚆᚑ ᚋᚐᚅ (her name in Ogham), living in America. You can visit her bookstore and blog here www.elleneverthopman.com 

You can also learn herbalism with Ellen at The Western Massachusetts School of Herbal Studies (October to April each year) POB 219, Amherst, MA 01004, USA.

A Legacy of Druids: Conversations With Druid Leaders of Britain, The USA and Canada, Past and Present by Ellen Evert Hopman, Archdruid, Tribe of the Oak is published by Moon Books.

You can view A Legacy of Druids on Amazon.

Links:
www.elleneverthopman.com
http://getBook.at/DruidLegacy
www.tribeoftheoak.com
www.johnhuntpublishing.com/moon-books/