Pagan Eye: Countryside Bluebell Wood or City Park?

Where do you think I took this photo of bluebells - out in the countryside on a woodland ramble, or in a tiny urban park?

It was the latter. I saw the swathe of bluebells when I was taking a shortcut through my local recreation ground to drop off handcrafted things for a May Day Market stall in aid of Ukraine. I've often heard pagans say you have to get out of the city to enjoy the beauty of nature, but it isn't true at all. You have to keep your eyes open a bit more to spot it in urban areas - but nature is everywhere.

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures. If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself. 

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/pagan-eye-standing-under-blossom-tree.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/pagan-eye-tiny-spider-among-may-blossom.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/05/pagan-eye-picture-of-perfect-bluebell.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/01/get-outside-to-cheer-yourself-up-on.html

Pagan Eye: A Tiny Spider Among the May Blossom

I spotted this hawthorn tree just coming into blossom in a small courtyard near where I live. Hawthorn has white or pink blooms by early May in England, which is why it is also called the “May tree”. In the wild, most have flowers with five petals but some varieties – like this one – have double flowers. I’m sharing it here as part of my Floralia flower photo series of posts. 

Hawthorn boughs are traditionally cut and used to deck places for May Day celebrations, and are often put across doorways or other entrances in English customs. According to Irish folklore specialist Morgan Daimler, in their book Where the Hawthorn Grows, an Irish tradition is to put a “May bush”, often hawthorn, outside the front door for luck. It's decorated with flowers, ribbons and eggshells. On May 1st people dance around it, lighting candles or a bonfire as night approaches. The decorations can be left up until the end of the month or until they get tatty. 

Hawthorn twigs have spines, which are really modified shoots that emerge from leaf axils. These “thorns” can be collected and used in the pricking of poppets if you are so inclined. You might have also spotted the little spider on the hawthorn blossom in my photo. I didn’t notice it when I took the picture – only when I posted it on my blog! Well, April 30th, or May Eve, is Walpurgis Night and a time when things a little creepy are supposed to come out to play. 

You can view Where the Hawthorn Grows on Morgan’s page at Moon Books. You can also see my own book on poppets on my page at Moon Books.

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures. If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself. 

Other previous related posts

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/pagan-eye-standing-under-blossom-tree.html

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/03/pagan-eye-cherry-blossom-on-london-tree.html

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/03/pagan-eye-silver-birch-catkins-and.html

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/festival-of-week-floralia-and-goddess.html

Magickal Events for Beltane Online and in London

Beltane and May Day are this weekend! Here's a list of talks, workshops, rituals and other events for pagans, witches and those with similar interests over that time and the week ahead. As well as online activities, I also in-person things taking place in or near London - and a few larger events further afield. If you know an event you want included, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com

Now to 17 July; The World of Stonehenge. Exhibition at the British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Tickets: £20/£10/free for members. https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions-events

Now - Saturday 30 April; Original artworks from  the Beowulf Oracle by Joe Machine on exhibition. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: During shop hours. Free. http://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Every Wednesday and Friday; Open Days at the College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am - 4pm. Free, just pop in. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Now - Friday 29 April; Seiðr/Fornsed and Norse Shamanism introductory course with Imelda Almqvist, author of North Sea Water in my Veins. Online course with  2-3 sessions a day plus tasks set for working at home on your own. Tickets: £595. https://pregnant-hag-teachings.teachable.com/courses

Wednesday 27 April; CACAO Ceremony Outdoors,  on Hampstead Heath, with Freya via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Meet at Hampstead Heath near Parliament Hill, London, N6 6JS). Time: 11am. Tickets: £11 pay cash on the day. https://www.meetup.com/LondonWoodlandWitches/

Wednesday 27 April (tbc but usually weekly); W!tchy B!tchy Sisterhood Bookclub: Reading group session. Venue: Princess Louise, 208 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7EP. Time: 6.30pm. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/43585355653

Wednesday 27 April; Learn Marseille Tarot - Course on Major Cards. Start of 4-session course with Adrien Mastrosimone via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start. Tickets: £100. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 27 April; The Witch Wavelength Workshop. Join author Sheena Cundy for an elemental workshop of personal development for the magical self. Venue: Crystal Shack, 14 Edwards Walk, Maldon CM9 5PS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.facebook.com/events/4894516163995590/

Wednesday 27 April; Witchcraft series 3 of 4 - Living Witchcraft. Online event by Heritage Lincolnshire. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £7.06 – £9.21. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/heritage-lincolnshire-20095110961

Wednesday 27 April (every Wednesday); The Witching Hour on the Witches Inn YouTube channel. Time 8pm. Free. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw4Kl-MbdjsApFvodCnvANA

Wednesday 27 April: Cornish Bards and Witch Hunting in Cornwall in the early 20th Century. Lecture by Jason Semmens via Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 28 April; Midweek Meditation with the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 3pm. Tickets: free for members/£7.50 for non members. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 28 April; Dante's Divine Comedy. Online talk by Mark Vernon via Watkins Bookshop.  Time: 5.30pm. Tickets: free. https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks

Thursday 28 April; Inspired by Stonehenge and its world. Online event by the British Museum. Time: 5.30pm. Tickets free but you must reserve a place. https://www.britishmuseum.org/events/inspired-stonehenge-and-its-world

Thursday 28 April; The Curious History of Labyrinths and Mazes with Dr Julie E Bounford. Online event by Heritage Lincolnshire. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £7.06 – £9.21. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/heritage-lincolnshire-20095110961

Thursday 28 April; Talk on a paranormal subject for ASSAP members. Time: 7pm. Free event, with Zoom link details emailed out to members. To join ASSAP, for £5 per year, visit http://www.assap.ac.uk/.

Thursday 28 April; The Magic Mirror: The History and Practice of Skrying. Online lecture by me, Lucya Starza, via the Magickal Women Conference. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.magickalwomenconference.com/events

Friday 29 April (every Friday); Friday Live Chat hosted by Rachel Patterson, author of the Kitchen Witch series of books. Time: 9am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/RachelPattersonbooks/

Friday 29 April; Moonology Dark Moon Ceremony with Yasmin Boland. On Facebook Live. Time: 4pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/yasminbolandmoonology

Friday 29 April to 2 May;  Hastings Jack-in-the-Green Festival - traditional annual event to celebrate May with music, a procession, Morris Dancing, a May Queen and Jack-in-the-Green. Full four-day festival programme culminating on Bank Holiday Monday with the parade.  https://hastingstraditionaljackinthegreen.co.uk/

Friday 29 April to 2 May; Space to Emerge. Family-friendly Lake District festival. Venue: Newby Bridge, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8NN. Tickets: 4-day adult £220/ 1-day £70. https://www.spacetoemerge.com/

Friday 29 April; Dark Moon Ceremony with Yasmin Boland. On Facebook Live. Time: 4pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/yasminbolandmoonology/events

Friday 29 April; Ancient Goddesses of London - Evening Walking Tour with short rituals by Out of the Norm Tours. Meet at the Statue of Queen Anne, St Paul's Churchyard, London. Time: 5.30pm. Donations welcome. https://www.facebook.com/events/503821648049044

Friday 29 April; Goddesses of Beltane. Second part in 2-Friday online event by Tatum Christina/Owner of Akashic Alchemy. Time: 6pm. Tickets: free. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/goddesses-of-beltane-tickets-322139787777

Friday 29 April; Beltane Moot with the Wonky Witch. Venue: Kallima Wellbeing Centre, 8A Adam Business Centre, Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, SS14 3JF. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £17.84. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/kallima-wellbeing-centre-15972923230

Friday 29 April; Yoga with Gobal Fusion Music and Arts Free Stuff. Time: 7.30pm. Free online event. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Saturday 30 April - 1 May; Beltane Pilgrimage to Sacred Sites of Glastonbury organised by Aho Studio. Leaving from London. Tickets: £190. www.aho.community

Saturday 30 April;Writing and Rewriting Fairytales. Weekend online course with 2 sessions by Helen Cox via City Lit. Full fee: £69, Senior fee: £69, Concession: £28. Course Code: HW566 To enrol call: 020 7831 7831 or visit the City Lit website: https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/weird-and-wonderful-city-lit

Saturday 30 April - 2 May; Rochester Sweeps Festival 2022. Folk music and folk dance festival, including lots of traditional May Day customs and Spiritual Alley. Free to attend. https://www.visitmedway.org/events/rochester-sweeps-festival-2022-79679/

Saturday 30 April; Meditation Session Global Fusion Music and Arts Free Stuff. Time: 10am. Free online event. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Saturday 30 April; Working with Animal Spirit Guides. Online class with Hernan Cotroneo via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 11am. Tickets: £105. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 30 April; Free And Open Gorsedd For Beltain - Druidic ritual. Venue: Avebury Stones, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1RF. Time: 1.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/386450312951568/

Saturday 30 April; Woodland Witches Beltane Ceremony and Seasonal Gathering with Mani via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Meet at the entrance to Queen's Woods, Queenswood Rd, Highgate, London N6 5UU). Time: 2pm. Tickets: £7/£5. https://www.meetup.com/LondonWoodlandWitches/

Saturday 30 April: Beltain Festival - Burning of the Wickerman. Venue: Butser Ancient Farm, Petersfield, Hampshire. Starts: 4.30pm. Early tickets £25 Adult, £18. https://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/whats-on/beltain-festival-2022

Saturday 30 April: Evening Sound Bath Meditation with Molly Anne Chinner. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Two Sessions: 6pm and 7.30pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Saturday 30 April: The OBOD Online Bealtaine Ceremony. Free online event. Time: 7pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/1039043000355668/

Saturday 30 April: Walpurgisnacht: Stories of the witches' night. Online event by storytellers Jason Buck and Rosalind Buck. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets:  £2.50-£9.50. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walpurgisnacht-stories-of-the-witches-night-tickets-262774795487?

Saturday 30 April: Solar Eclipse Star Wisdom. Online meditation workshop via Zoom by The Henge Shop in Avebury, Cosmic Classroom and Sue Coulson . Time: 8.30pm.  Tickets  £21.28. www.cosmicclassroom.co.uk/eclipse-meditation-workshop-s2022

Saturday 30 April: New Moon Eclipse Ritual (Taurus) with Yasmin Boland. On Facebook Live. Time: 9pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/yasminbolandmoonology

Sunday 1 May; Waffling Witches - Kitchen Witchcraft 10th Anniversary. Online event with Rachel Patterson. Time: 11am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/502541981355497/

Sunday 1 May; Mythic London Super-Walk. Three hour walk with Caroline Wise, co-author of The Sceret Lore of London. In-person event via Treadwell's. Meet outside St Clement Danes, Strand, St Clement Dane Church, Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1DH. Time: 11.20am start. Tickets: £30. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Sunday 1 May;  May Day 2022: Fowlers Troop will be processing in Deptford with Jack in the Green. Timetable: Noon: Dog and Bell, 116 Prince St  SE8 3JD;

12.30: Sail Loft, 11 Victoria Parade, SE10 9FR; 13.15: Duke, Creek Road; 14.00: Birds Nest, Church Street; 15.00: Royal Albert, New Cross Road; 15.45: Market Yard/Job Centre; 16.20: Villages Brewery, Resolution Way; 17.10: Dog and Bell, 116 Prince St. https://www.deptford-jack.org.uk/mayday2022.htm

Sunday 1 May; Beltane New Moon Circle with Tree Carr. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Tickets: £45. Time: noon. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Sunday 1 May (and other dates); Drury Lane - a guided walk by Minimum Labyrinth. Meet at Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5QD. Time: 2pm. Tickets: from £19.50. http://minimumlabyrinth.org/

Sunday 1 May;  Story Co-Operative (Theme: Celebration). Organised by London Dreamtime. Venue: The Electric Elephant Cafe, 186A Crampton Street, London, SE17 3AE, Time: 3pm. Free but you must reserve  a place. https://www.londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Sunday 1 May (and other dates); Women's Circle by Kate.Venue: Sanderstead Road, South Croydon, CR2. Time: 5.30pm. Tickets: £16.76. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-circle-tickets-264032828297?

Sunday 1 May; Woodland Bard Online - Oak. Event by Walkwithtrees. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £7. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/jonathon-huet-at-walk-with-trees-30650264428

Sunday 1 May;  Women's Circle - Beltane. Part of the Women's Circles collection by The Reformed Bohemian. Online event. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-circle-beltane-tickets-241411256567

Sunday 1 May; Beltane Celebration Cunning Folk. Free online event. Time: 7pm.  https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cunning-folk-7829505560

Sunday 1 May; Beltane Wheel of the Year ritual at Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. http://www.rosslynhillchapel.com/

Sunday 1 May; Goddess Temple Beltane Ceremony (Online): Opening to Her Pathway Ahead by Glastonbury Goddess Temple. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £5. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/glastonbury-goddess-temple-30131715820

Sunday 1 May; The Spiritualism Symposium: Spiritualism, Science of Crime. Lecture by Cathy Gutierrez by Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Monday 2 May; 'Birth of the Greek Gods' IV. Part of 4-session course with Sasha Chaitow via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start. Tickets: £100. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Tuesday 3 May; The Sound and Touch of Summer. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Tuesday 3 May; Lucid Dreaming Workshop. Start of 4-week evening class course with Sarah Janes via Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 7pm. Tickets · from £52.84. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Tuesday 3 May (usually first Tuesday each month); CANCELLED: Talk on Dr John Dee. Romford Pagan Moot. Venue: The Golden Lion, 2 High Street, Romford. Time: 7.30pm. Entry £4. https://www.facebook.com/Romford-Pagan-Moote-634178063700381

Tuesday 3 May; The Last Witches of England: the Bideford Witches. Talk by John Callow. Venue (tbc as might move online): The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, London SE1 3SS. Time: 7.45 Tickets: £5 / £2. http://forteanlondon.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 3 May (first Tuesday each month);  Beltane at The Witches' Inn Moot. Venue: The Pavilion, Plough Road, Smallfield, Horley, RH6 9JL. Time: 8pm. Free event. https://www.facebook.com/The-Witches-Inn-1568424150049437

Wednesday 4 May  (tbc but usually first Wednesday of the month); Drumming and Meditation Online with Taz Thornton. Monthly event. Time: 7pm Price: free. https://www.facebook.com/TazThorntonOfficial#

Wednesday 4 May;  Drum Healing Session. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 4 May; Old Magic and Lore of May Day. Workshop with Hannah Sanders via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start. Tickets: £20/£18. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 4 and 11 May; Intro to Chaos Magick 1: Spells and Sigils . Two-evening workshop with David Lee via Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 7pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Wednesday 4 and 18 May; Tarot Cards of Challenge with Kasia Gwilliam. Online event via She's Lost Control. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 4, 11, 18 and 30 May; Effective Spells II: Servitors and Godforms. Start of Mark Vincent Smith's new four-week course on applying chaos magic to a real-life issue. Dates: May 4th,  via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start. Tickets: £100. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 4 May; The Mythologies of Death: Psychopomps, Liminal Spaces. Start of 6-evening class course with  with Joanna Ebenstein via Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets · from £99.86. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 5 May; Earth Alchemy Oracle Card Deck. Talk by Katie-Jane Wright and Nikki Strange. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Court, · London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5.30pm. Tickets: free. https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks

Thursday 5 May;  Fertility - Listening to Spirit Baby event with Chloe Isidora. Online and in-person event via She's Lost Control. Address: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Friday 6 May; The Witches Circle Monthly Class. Venue: Kallima Wellbeing Centre, 8A Adam Business Centre, Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, SS14 3JF. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £16.76. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/kallima-wellbeing-centre-15972923230

Saturday 7 May; SPR Study Day with talks on physical and psychical research in the late nineteenth century, Phantasms of the Victorians, mediumship 1880s-1930s, archives, Looking to the future. Via Zoom through the Society for Psychical Research. Starts 10am.. Tickets £25/£20/£15. https://www.spr.ac.uk/

Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 May; A Festival for Pagans and Witches. Venue: Campsite at Meriden, Coventry. Tickets: £30. https://www.covenofgaia.co.uk/

Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 May;  Beltane Fire and Feast Festival by The Wellderness CIC. Venue: Wild Heart Hill Camp, Long Furlong, Worthing, BN14 0RJ. Starts at noon. Tickets: £10. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beltane-fire-and-feast-festival-tickets-273499643797

Saturday 7 May;  Scrying Skills and Ancient Divination. Online workshop with Ann Théato via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 11am-5pm. Tickets: 105. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 7 May; Sweat Lodge Ceremony organised by Aho Studio. In-person event. Venue: Berkeley Farm, a few miles outside London. Time: 1pm-6pm. Tickets: £80. www.aho.community

Saturday 7 May;  Beltane Celebration. Venue: Colet House, 151 Talgarth Rd, London. Time: 3pm. Tickets from £14. https://www.facebook.com/events/992452978316547/

Saturday 7 May; The Unburied Corner of London - a guided walk by Minimum Labyrinth in the environs of the Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5HN. Time: 3.30pm. Tickets: from £9.50. http://minimumlabyrinth.org/

Saturday 7 May; Introduction to Welsh Folk Magic and Cunning Traditions. Online event with Mhara Starling by Sisterhood of Avalon. Tme: 5pm. Tickets: $30. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/sisterhood-of-avalon-32592136039

Sunday 8 May;  Beginner's Guide to Crystals with Gemma Petherbridge. In-person event via She's Lost Control. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: Morning. Tickets: £35.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Sunday 8 May; Woodspirits - Beltane. Meet at Cheshunt station before walking to Lee Valley Park. Time: 3pm. Free in-person event for members of Woodspirits group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/4032235040150960

Sunday 8 May (tbc); Luna Iter Ritual. In-person ritual in Hackney, East London for members of the group. Time: afternoon. Entry: £8/£6. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1230392930656154

Notes: I am not responsible for the content of any of these events except my own scrying workshop. Contact the organisers directly if you have any questions or to check any changes or cancellations. Where a practitioner is offering information about magical wellbeing and healing, this is *not* medical advice. 

Festival of the Week: Floralia and the Goddess Flora

In Ancient Rome, a five or six-day festival of Floralia, in honour of the goddess Flora, began on what is now the 27th or 28th of April. Her name means vegetation, and the goddess of flowers and fertility was one of most honoured deities in Rome. She had a huge temple and her festival was one of the most popular of the year. It was a time of dancing, gathering flowers and wearing bright, multi-coloured clothes (or sometimes no clothes at all). 

Flowers, especially lupins, were scattered over the crowds enjoying the festivities to promote fertility - but it was also a celebration of sex for pleasure as well as procreation. There were games, theatrical performances and ceremonies in which sacrifices were made to the goddess. According to historian Ed Whalen: "Some scholars believe that the Floralia was the inspiration for the May Day Festival."

Flora's origin storyis told by Ovid: Zephyrus, the West Wind, kissed the nymph Chloris who as a result became deified as Flora. The goddess later helped Juno become pregnant with Mars by giving her a magical flower.

A bit of folklore in Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Day also links the end of April to May with weather and flower lore:  "Sweet April showers/Do spring May flowers. (From a poem written in 1610)" 

Over the last week or so I've beeng posting pictures of spring blooms on my blog, and this carries on the theme. If you have a photo of flowers you'd like to share, please leave a comment. In particular, it would be great to see some pictures of lupins if you spot any growing!

The picture at the top is a Jill in the Green I created from flowers and leaves from my garden a couple of years ago.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/pagan-eye-bees-and-blossom-on-crab.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/pagan-eye-pink-blossom-and-good.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/pagan-eye-standing-under-blossom-tree.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/04/full-moon-festival-flowers-and-sex.html

Some Candle Magic to Celebrate a Success Milestone

I got some really exciting news from my publisher: Pagan Portals - Candle Magic has now sold 7,000 copies worldwide. 

It was the first of my books on witchcraft published by Moon Books, and has sold really well since it was launched at Treadwell's Bookshop six years ago. That means it is still selling about 1,000 copies per year.

To celebrate, I decided to do some traditional candle magic and light a birthday cake candle. I didn't put it on a cake - I did eat some cake, but it was the squishy kind and I didn't want to get creamy filling all over my books. Instead I put the small candle into a holder I'd made from air-drying clay. As I lit the wick, I said a few words of thanks to the universe and to everyone who supported me over the years. 

The reason I used that kind of candle was partly because of associated with celebrations, but also because of environmental concerns. Candles might not be the worst polluters in the world, but using the smallest size possible for whatever you are doing makes a slight difference to your carbon footprint. Small candles also take less time to burn down, which is good for spells that require you to wait until the flame goes out naturally.

Looking at the monthly sales figures for all my books, I was also really pleased to see that the latest one, Pagan Portals - Scrying, has sold about 800 copies since it was published just over a month ago. You can find out more about all of my books via my Moon Books author page and my Amazon author page as well as order copies via Treadwell's.

Othe previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/01/candle-magic-spell-for-springtime-wishes.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/03/witch-room-tales-when-candle-is-too.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/a-little-history-of-candle-making.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/01/my-candle-magic-book-has-sold-milestone.html

Folklore: Divining Love & Death on St Mark's Eve

For those into macabre forms of divination, then tonight, 24th April, is just as good as Halloween or Walpurgisnacht, on April 30th. 

According to folklore, if you want to dream of your future lover, then pick a blade of grass from a grave at midnight and put it under your pillow on St Mark's Eve to dream of them. Or perhaps you would rather summon the wraith of your beloved to visit you? If so, wash an intimate item of clothing and sit with it drying by the fire in silence. At midnight, their shade - or perhaps the shadow of their future self - will join you. 

If you want to know who will be ill and who will die in the coming year, then wait in the porch of your parish church. At midnight a ghostly procession of people you recognise from your local community will pass you in silence. They will not seem to notice you, but will walk in single file into the church. Do not follow them. Some will come out again after a short while. They are the ones who sickness will not claim, although they will be ill. Those who stay inside are fated to die. 

Those examples from English folklore are recounted in more detail in Steve Roud's The English Year. However, he writes: "St Mark's Eve is one of the key nights on which to divine the future, but there is no clue as to why this particular date was chosen. Certainly, there seems to be nothing in the life or writings of the Evangelist St Mark that would deserve this reputation." He adds that the custom was nevertheless widespread from the 17th century to the 19th century.

If you don't fancy summoning the ghosts of your loved ones or hanging around in church porches at midnight, you could try less macabre forms of divination such as scrying in water. I would, of course, suggest my own book Pagan Portals - Scrying to anyone wanting to find out more.

You can view Pagan Portals - Scrying on Amazon. It is published by Moon Books. You can also view Steve Roud's The English Year on Amazon. (Note: I earn commission from some links, this helps support my blog at no extra cost to readers)

Earth Day: Cleanups, Media & Magic, What Will You Do?

Today is Earth Day. This year the message is that a concerted effort is needed to invest in the planet. It's vitally important that businesses and governments do more to improve their environment impact, but most of us could probably do a little bit more too. Together we can bring about change.

One example this year is the The Great Global Cleanup. This is is a worldwide campaign to remove rubbish from neighborhoods, beaches, rivers, lakes, the countryside and parks — reducing waste and plastic pollution, improving habitats, and preventing harm to wildlife and humans. Today, you could search online and find a clean-up near you to sign up for, or you could just go out for a walk and pick up the litter you find along the way, then put it for recycling.

That's just one suggestion. I asked some of my friends and fellow Moon Books' authors what they were doing for Earth Day. Imelda Almqvist, author of  North Sea Water in My Veins wrote about connecting with trees, which I posted yesterday. 

Steve Andrews, author of an Earth Spirit book Saving Mother Ocean, said: "Every day is Earth Day for me! But today I have been busy so far promoting the fact that the music video for Mother Nature Rap is trending on Now HipHop News."

Irisanya Moon, author of the upcoming Earth Spirit book Honoring the Wild: Reclaiming Witchcraft and Environmental Activism, is also a year-round environmental campaigner. She said: "While I tend to think of Earth Day as every day, this year I plan to spend some time in my favorite local park, offering it prayers and spells of healing and renewal. I want to honor the resilience of the Earth and remember my impact. After all, environmental activism can be in small whispers as well as loud voices."

Andrew Anderson works in an environment role for Shakespeare Birthplace Trust as well as being the author of Pagan Portals - Artio and Artaois. He said: "I'm launching a new webpage about sustainable actions undertaken by my organisation." It is collaborating and communicating more, becoming sustainable, encouraging biodiversity and measuring its impact. The website will be updated regularly with news stories and blogs: https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/about-us/sustainable-shakespeare/

My own Earth Day plans are to go for a walk and take part in the global cleanup on a local level. It's recycling day in my area on Saturday and I will be seeing what rubbish I can remove from the streets and verges around my home to put where it can be recycled. 

I'll also *not* be mowing my grass. That picture to the left is the lawn in my garden and it is just full of wildflowers that bees and insects love. In fact the top photo is one I took earlier this week of a bee in my lawn. My neighbour mowed his grass short the other day. He gives my garden a disapproving look, but I know I'm doing more for nature by leaving it a while longer.

As Steve and Irisanya said, every day should be Earth Day. So, even if you are too busy to take action today you could set an intention or book an activity to do another day. What are your plans? Please leave a comment.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/04/spells-earth-dragon-drumming-chant-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/03/pagan-eye-east-end-street-art-promotes.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/04/pagan-eye-upcycled-plastic-bottles-as.html

Earth Day: Our Roots Reach by Imelda Almqvist

I asked some of my friends and fellow Moon Books' authors what they were doing for Earth Day, which is on 22 April. Imelda Almqvist, author of  North Sea Water in My Veins and Medicine of the Imagination, wrote this beautiful post ahead of the day:

Our Roots Reach

For two weeks I sat out in the forest, in Sweden, daily, a spiritual practice called utiseta in Old Norse. Acutely aware of all the suffering in our world I asked the trees how they relate to an area where drastic logging had occurred. The answer was immediate and simple: “Our roots reach!” They collectively sent me a mental picture of a mycelium: underground and invisible, tree roots also make a vibrant and huge web. Like a safety net it extends, deep down in the Earth, even under areas of total devastation.

I created runes on the forest floor from twigs, anchoring illumination/enlightenment (the rune Dagaz) and also anchoring the presence of the Divine Mother witnessed by silver birch trees (the rune Bjarka or Berkana).

I sat out and reflected on what resurrection or rebirth means to me. I feel that our chances to heal the world and make it a better, fairer, balanced and more peaceful place depends on the capacity of all individuals to accept and grieve loss, to stare Death in the face yet cherish Life, to heal and transform and constantly rebirth ourselves. Giving - and forgiving - others the space to roll through intense processes of deep soul transformation too, which is not always pretty or predictable. I see that as the only way to illumination and enlightenment. I painted rune Dagaz on my forehead.

For two weeks I ran with deer (quite literally), offered both sacred tears and drops of blood to the Earth, walked snowy deer trots in the dead of night, gazed in wonder at halos around the Moon, chanted at the Bears in the Night Sky - and asked them for more stories for picture books for children. I woke up to giant crane tracks in the snow outside my window, briefly wondering if Mother Goose had stood there in the night, looking in while I slept.

I hiked out to visit forest temples, natural places of great power where I chanted the runes and performed ceremonies focussed on healing through rebirth. I asked for both personal and collective healing. I sang songs for the healing of Mother Earth, as our life-giver and Ultimate Mother. On Earth Day, I will revisit and re-power the work I did in Sweden, from London in the UK, using soul travel and linking locations.

You can view North Sea Water in My Veins on Amazon. I will be sharing more Earth Day posts tomorrow. 

Previous related posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/04/spells-earth-dragon-drumming-chant-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/03/pagan-eye-house-of-stories-by-imelda.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/06/book-excerpt-shadow-side-of-creativity.html

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

Here's a list of magical events over the next week or so with a mixture of online and in-person things to do. I generally list events in the UK, especially in or near London, but some are outside that time zone. Friday 22 April is Earth Day, and I've included some activities but you can find more Earth Day events here. If you know an online or London-based event you want included, please email badwitch1234@gmail.com

Now to 17 July; The World of Stonehenge. Exhibition at the British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Tickets: £20/£10/free for members. https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions-events

Now - Thursday 21 April; The Journey of Your Soul: A Free 3-Part Virtual Event with Rebecca Campbell via Hay House. Time: 7pm. https://experience.hayhouseu.com/discoveryourcosmicblueprint-webinar-homepage/

Now - Saturday 30 April; Original artworks from  the Beowulf Oracle by Joe Machine on exhibition. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: During shop hours. Free. http://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Every Wednesday and Friday; Open Days at the College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am - 4pm. Free, just pop in. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 20 April; W!tchy B!tchy Sisterhood Bookclub: Reading group session. This week and for the next few discussing Robert Graves and his versions of the Greek Myths. Venue: Princess Louise, 208 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7EP. Time: 6.30pm. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wtchy-btchy-sisterhood-bookclub-tickets-313626474227

Wednesday 20 April; Cacao Rose Sound Ceremony with Louise Shiels. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 20 April; The Ancient Stories of Sound with Lexi Elven. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 20 April; Real Magic in Folk Song: 'Of Poppets and Posies'. Folk singer Hannah Sanders uncovers magical motifs in traditional songs. Via Treadwells Online In partnership with FOLK RADIO UK. Time: 7pm start. Tickets: £10/£8. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 20 April; Runes in Depth. Workshop with Meditation with Andre Henriques via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start. Tickets: £20/£18. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 20 April; Cunning Folk Reading Group - We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson. Online event. Time: 7pm. Price: Free. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cunning-folk-7829505560

Wednesday 20 April; Cursed Britain: Witchcraft and Black Magic in Modern Times. Lecture by Dr Thomas Waters by Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Wednesday 20 April (tbc but usually 3rd Wednesday every month); The More Mead Moot. Venue: The Hope pub, Carshalton, Surrey. Time: 7:30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/Pagan-FutureFests-352385661439366/

Wednesday 20 April; Witches of Zoom Gathering. Online event by Witches of Zoom CoA Gathering and Children of Artemis. Time: 7:30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/682463096291315

Wednesday 20 April (every Wednesday); The Witching Hour on the Witches Inn YouTube channel. Time 8pm. Free. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw4Kl-MbdjsApFvodCnvANA

Thursday 21 April; Midweek Meditation with the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 3pm. Tickets: free for members/£7.50 for non members. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 21 April;  Myung Sung The Korean Art of Living Meditation Talk by Jenelle Kim. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Court, · London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5.30pm. Tickets: free. https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks

Thursday 21 April; Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal - A Magical Approach. Online lecture by Join Paolo Sammut via the Magickal Women Conference. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.magickalwomenconference.com/events

Thursday 21 April; Talk on a paranormal subject for ASSAP members. Time: 7pm. Free event, with Zoom link details emailed out to members. To join ASSAP, for £5 per year, visit http://www.assap.ac.uk/.

Thursday 21 April; Weather Magic. Folk Magic Workshop with Hannah Sanders via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start. Tickets: £20/£18. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 21 April; Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal: A Magical Approach. Online lecture by with Paolo Sammut via the Magickal Women Conference. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.magickalwomenconference.com/events

Thursday 21 April; Poetry Evening. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London · NW1 6XT. Time: 7.30pm. Entry: Free. https://www.meetup.com/rudolf-steiner-spiritual-science/events/

Thursday 21 April;  Empty Cauldrons. Talk on magic and depression by Terence P. Ward for Desperate House Witches. Free online event. Time: 9.30pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/4446978278736089/

Friday 22 April; Friday Live Chat hosted by Rachel Patterson, author of the Kitchen Witch books. Time: 9am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/RachelPattersonbooks/

Friday 22 April;  Earth Day Panel Talk - Redefining Culture, organised by YAYZY. Venue: WeWork Office Space, 8 Devonshire Square, 

London, EC2M 4PL. Time: 11am. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/earth-day-panel-talk-redefining-culture-tickets-320601827697?

Friday 22 April; Virtual Earth Day Sound Bath. Online donation-based event. Time: 3pm. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-earth-day-sound-bath-donation-based-tickets-306856103867

Friday 22 April; Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Online evening class with William Sterling via City Lit. Tickets: £69, £49, £42. Course Code: RC774 To enrol call: 020 7831 7831 or visit: https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/weird-and-wonderful-city-lit

Friday 22 April; Goddesses of Beltane. First part in 2-Friday online event by Tatum Christina/Owner of Akashic Alchemy. Time: 6pm. Tickets: free. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/goddesses-of-beltane-tickets-322139787777

Friday 22 April; Sister Sound Circle - Earth Day. Venue: Skylight Lounge - Private Venue, South Kensington, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://billetto.co.uk/e/sister-sound-circle-earth-day-tickets-623324

Friday 22 April; Yoga with Gobal Fusion Music and Arts Free Stuff. Time: 7.30pm. Free online event. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Friday 22 April; London Witches. Walking Tour with Maria Beadell organised by Treadwells. Meet outside Farringdon Tube Station. Time: 8pm start. Tickets: £16.50. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Saturday 23 April; Myung Sung: The Korean Art of Living Meditation. In-person workshop with Dr Jenelle Kim with the College of Psychic Studies. Venue: 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 23 April; Reiki Workshop by Shirlee of Wicca Moon, Eltham, South East London. Time: noon. Tickets £60. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/

Saturday 23 April (and other dates); Ten Faces of the Goddess. Venue: Tara Yoga Centre, Ironmonger Row, London, EC1V 3QW. Time: 2pm. Tickets: ££32.93. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ten-faces-of-the-goddess-tickets-179107363947?

Saturday 23 April; Meditation Session Global Fusion Music and Arts Free Stuff. Time: 2pm. Free online event. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Saturday 23 April; EVENT POSTPONED. Talk on scrying for the April Book Club at Dragonfly. Venue: Dragonfly Yoga Studio, 24 Sydenham Road, London SE26 5QW. Time: 4pm. Entry by donation (£3 suggested).  https://www.dragonfly-yoga.org/  To reserve a place, please R.S.V.P via WhatsApp/SMS to Gladys, the book club host, on 074730455780 or email

gldyssanjuan@gmail.com

Saturday 23 April: PF 50th Anniversary: Pagan Arts Festival by The Pagan Federation. Venue: St. Peter's House, 1 Forster Square, Bradford, BD1 4TY. Tickets · Free-£9.21

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pagan-federation-50th-anniversary-pagan-arts-festival-tickets-170444183140

Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 April; Retreat - The Art of Flower Essences. Two-day online workshop with Bel Senlle. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Tickets: £150. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Saturday 23 April (every 23rd of the month); Crossbones Vigil to honour the outcast dead of Crossbones Graveyard, Southwark. Location: Redcross Way, London, SE1 1TA. Time: 6.45pm for 7pm. Free. Details here: http://crossbones.org.uk/category/events/ 

Saturday 23 April: North American Paganisms. Lecture by Professor Sabina Magliocco by Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Sunday 24 April: North West Kent Pagans walk and picnic at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve, South Downs National Park, Chichester. Time: 11am. Free for members of the group. https://www.facebook.com/events/5520851654600285/

Sunday 24 April: Satanic Flea Market - Beltane Fayre. Venue: 7 Torrens Street, London, EC1V 1NQ. Time: noon - 6pm. Entry £3 at the door. https://www.facebook.com/events/456508235995294/

Sunday 24 April: Beltane Celebration with Hertford Pagan Moot. Venue: Barclay Park, Hoddesdon EN11 8JX. Meet at 1:30pm, for ritual at 2pm. Free and all pagans welcome. https://www.facebook.com/events/1396724130753941/

Sunday 24 April: A Wake for Jean Elizabeth Beck, pagan priestess. Venue: The Horseshoe Inn, 26 Melior St, London. Time: 2pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/328593639254779

Sunday 24 April: 'Angel Of Hackney'. In-person and online Spiritualism lecture by Paul Bell. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store St, London WC1E 7BS, UK. Time: 5pm start. Tickets: £12 in-person, £10 online. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Sunday 24 April (and other dates); Women's Circle by Kate.Venue: Sanderstead Road, South Croydon, CR2. Time: 5.30pm. Tickets: £16.76. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-circle-tickets-264032828297?

Sunday 24 April: The Magic and Mystery of Birds: A Journey into Modern Voodoo. Lecture  by Mark Cocker via Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Sunday 24 April: Philosophizing Aliens, UFOs, and Astrobiology. Lecture by Dr Stephen Asma via Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Sunday 24 April: Summoning The Spirits. Seance with Medium Patti Negri on Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £26.72. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Monday 25 - Friday 29 April; Seiðr/Fornsed and Norse Shamanism introductory course with Imelda Almqvist, author of North Sea Water in my Veins. Online course with  2-3 sessions a day plus tasks set for working at home on your own. Tickets: £595. https://pregnant-hag-teachings.teachable.com/courses

Monday 25 April; The Science and Theory of Out-of-Body Experiences. Online talk by Graham Nicholls -via The Society for Psychical Research. Time: 8pm. Tickets free for members, £5 non-members. https://www.spr.ac.uk/

Monday 25 April; Hellenistic Astrology – Part Two (1). Online event by Israel Ajose via the Astrological Lodge of London.  Time:  8.30pm. Tickets: £10. https://astrolodge.co.uk/events/

Tuesday 26 April; Everyday Magic: Spells for Positivity and Manifestation. Online class with Semra Haksever via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 26 April; Fertility - Nourished Mama event with Chloe Isidora. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25-£35.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Tuesday 26 April; Ancient Egypt - Reconnecting with Atlantis event with Katie Jane Wright. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £45.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Tuesday 26 April; Merlin. Part of the Ronald Hutton series of lectures collection via Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Tuesday 26 April; Gong Bath / Sound Meditation for Relaxation - with Sara Ubaldi. Venue: Carnegie Library, Herne Hill, 192 Herne Hill Road, London, SE240AG. Time: 7.45pm. Tickets: £22.15 – £32.93. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gong-bath-sound-meditation-for-relaxation-herne-hill-tickets-313020391417?

Tuesday 26 April; The Fragrant Garden: Aromatherapy and Gemstones for Prosperity. Free online event with Llewellyn Worldwide. Starts: 10.45pm. https://www.facebook.com/LlewellynBooks/

Wednesday 27 April; CACAO Ceremony Outdoors,  on Hampstead Heath, with Freya via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Meet at Hampstead Heath near Parliament Hill, London, N6 6JS). Time: 11am. Tickets: £11 pay cash on the day. https://www.meetup.com/LondonWoodlandWitches/

Wednesday 27 April; Witchcraft series 3 of 4 - Living Witchcraft. Online event by Heritage Lincolnshire. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £7.06 – £9.21. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/heritage-lincolnshire-20095110961

Wednesday 27 April; Learn Marseille Tarot - Course on Major Cards. Start of 4-session course with Adrien Mastrosimone via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start. Tickets: £100. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 27 April: Cornish Bards and Witch Hunting in Cornwall in the early Twentieth Century. Lecture by Jason Semmens via Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 28 April; Inspired by Stonehenge and its world. Online event by the British Museum. Time: 5.30pm. Tickets free but you must reserve a place. https://www.britishmuseum.org/events/inspired-stonehenge-and-its-world

Thursday 28 April; Dante's Divine Comedy. Online talk by Mark Vernon via Watkins Bookshop.  Time: 5.30pm. Tickets: free. https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks

Thursday 28 April; The Magic Mirror: The History and Practice of Skrying. Online lecture by me, Lucya Starza, via the Magickal Women Conference. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.magickalwomenconference.com/events

Friday 29 April; Moonology Dark Moon Ceremony with Yasmin Boland. On Facebook Live. Time: 4pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/yasminbolandmoonology

Friday 29 April to 2 May;  Hastings Jack-in-the-Green Festival - traditional annual event to celebrate May with music, a procession, Morris Dancing, a May Queen and Jack-in-the-Green. Full four-day festival programme culminating on Bank Holiday Monday with the Jack in the Green parade.  https://hastingstraditionaljackinthegreen.co.uk/

Friday 29 April to 2 May; Space to Emerge. Family-friendly Lake District festival. Venue: Newby Bridge, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8NN. Tickets: 4-day adult £220/ 1-day £70. https://www.spacetoemerge.com/

Friday 29 April; Dark Moon Ceremony with Yasmin Boland. On Facebook Live. Time: 4pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/yasminbolandmoonology/events

Friday 29 April; Ancient Goddesses of London - Evening Walking Tour with short rituals by Out of the Norm Tours. Meet at the Statue of Queen Anne, St Paul's Churchyard, London. Time: 5.30pm. Donations welcome. https://www.facebook.com/events/503821648049044

Friday 29 April; Beltane Moot with the Wonky Witch. Venue: Kallima Wellbeing Centre, 8A Adam Business Centre, Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, SS14 3JF. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £17.84. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/kallima-wellbeing-centre-15972923230

Friday 29 April (tbc but usually last Friday of the month); Pagan Federation Community monthly online quiz. Time: 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/paganfed

Saturday 30 April - 1 May; Beltane Pilgrimage to Sacred Sites of Glastonbury organised by Aho Studio. Leaving from London. Tickets: £190. www.aho.community

Saturday 30 April - 2 May; Rochester Sweeps Festival 2022. Folk music and folk dance festival, including lots of traditional May Day customs and "Spiritual Alley". Free to attend. https://www.visitmedway.org/events/rochester-sweeps-festival-2022-79679/

Saturday 30 April; Working with Your Animal Spirit Guides. Online class with Hernan Cotroneo via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 11am. Tickets: £105. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 30 April; Free And Open Gorsedd For Beltain - Druidic ritual. Venue: Avebury Stones, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1RF. Time: 1.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/386450312951568/

Saturday 30 April; Woodland Witches Beltane Ceremony and Seasonal Gathering with Mani via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Meet at the entrance to Queen's Woods, Queenswood Rd, Highgate, London N6 5UU). Time: 2pm. Tickets: £7/£5. https://www.meetup.com/LondonWoodlandWitches/

Saturday 30 April: Beltain Festival - Burning of the Wickerman. Venue: Butser Ancient Farm, Petersfield, Hampshire. Starts: 4.30pm. Early tickets £25 Adult, £18. https://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/whats-on/beltain-festival-2022

Saturday 30 April: Evening Sound Bath Meditation with Molly Anne Chinner. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Two Sessions: 6pm and 7.30pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Saturday 30 April:The OBOD Online Bealtaine Ceremony. Free online event. Time: 7pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/1039043000355668/

Saturday 30 April: Solar Eclipse Star Wisdom. Online meditation workshop via Zoom by The Henge Shop in Avebury, Cosmic Classroom and Sue Coulson . Time: 8.30pm.  Tickets  £21.28. www.cosmicclassroom.co.uk/eclipse-meditation-workshop-s2022

Saturday 30 April: New Moon Eclipse Ritual (Taurus) with Yasmin Boland. On Facebook Live. Time: 9pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/yasminbolandmoonology

Sunday 1 May;  May Day 2022: Fowlers Troop will be in Deptford, London, this year. More details to follow. https://www.deptford-jack.org.uk/mayday2022.htm

Sunday 1 May; Waffling Witches - Kitchen Witchcraft 10th Anniversary! Online event. Time: 11am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/502541981355497/

Sunday 1 May; Mythic London Super-Walk. Three hour walk with Caroline Wise, co-author of The Sceret Lore of London. In-person event via Treadwell's. Meet outside St Clement Danes, Strand, St Clement Dane Church, Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1DH. Time: 11.20am start. Tickets: £30. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Sunday 1 May; Beltane New Moon Circle with Tree Carr. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Tickets: £45. Time: noon. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Sunday 1 May (and other dates); Drury Lane - a guided walk by Minimum Labyrinth. Meet at Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5QD. Time: 2pm. Tickets: from £19.50. http://minimumlabyrinth.org/

Sunday 1 May;  Story Co-Operative (Theme: Celebration). Organised by London Dreamtime. Venue: The Electric Elephant Cafe, 186A Crampton Street, London, SE17 3AE, Time: 3pm. Free but you must reserve  a place. https://www.londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Sunday 1 May;  Woodland Bard Online - Oak. Event by Walkwithtrees. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £7. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/jonathon-huet-at-walk-with-trees-30650264428

Sunday 1 May; Beltane Celebration Cunning Folk. Free online event. Time: 7pm.  https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cunning-folk-7829505560

Sunday 1 May; Goddess Temple Beltane Ceremony (Online): Opening to Her Pathway Ahead by Glastonbury Goddess Temple. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £5. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/glastonbury-goddess-temple-30131715820

Sunday 1 May; The Spiritualism Symposium: Spiritualism, Science of Crime. Lecture by Cathy Gutierrez by Zoom through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Notes: I am not responsible for the content of these events except my own talks on scrying. I don't always know about changes or cancellations to events I don't run - tbc means to be confirmed. Contact event organisers directly if you have questions. I generally list things in the UK, especially in or near London as well as festivals and conferences further afield and some online things outside that time zone. Where a practitioner is offering information about magical wellbeing and healing, this is *not* medical advice.