A bad witch's blog: October 2022

Monday, 31 October 2022

Poetry of Witchcraft: Halloween

Here's a poem inspired by the things we get up to at Halloween. I'll admit I sat down to write something serious, about the deities of death, but the words didn't come to me. So, I left that unfinished and switched to carving a turnip lantern for a Samhain rite I was taking part in (not the one in the photo). Then I wrote the following, far more playful poem:

Halloween
Light a candle or a fire
'Gainst the darkness of the year.
Tell yourself it's time again
To face the things you fear.
Wear the masks of monsters,
Make merry with the dead,
Tell tales of ghostly horrors
'Til you're scared to go to bed.

Previous poetry of witchcraft links
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/06/poetry-of-witchcraft-circes-test.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/07/poetry-of-witchcraft-goddess-who-lights.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/08/poetry-of-witchcraft-spell-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/08/the-poetry-of-witchcraft-crone.html

Sunday, 30 October 2022

I'm Being Interviewed on Esoteric London & More

I've been interviewed for a radio show on Esoteric London, which is being broadcast on Goldsmith's student radio station at 7pm on Monday 31st October. Robert Kingham who leads walks around London via Minimum Labyrinth is also interviewed. Here's the link for Goldsmith's radio station: https://wired.gold/

I'm also running a workshops at Treadwell's esoteric bookshop in London on candle magic next month. It's on Saturday 26 November and is an in-person workshop based on my book Pagan Portals - Candle Magic. It starts at 1pm and costs £22 per person. You can find out more and reserve a place at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or by visiting the shop. Treadwell's is at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS.

I'm Lucya Starza and as well as writing A Bad Witch's Blog I'm the author of books in the Pagan Portals series on Candle Magic, Guided Visualisations, Poppets and Magical Dolls, and Scrying. I also edited Every Day Magic. You can buy my books at Treadwell's Bookshop, via Amazon, at the College of Psychic Studies in London and at other bookshops. You can find more about me at my author page at publisher Moon Books.

Friday, 28 October 2022

London Tarot Reading: The Sewer Gas Lamp (2 of Coins)

I drew a card for the world using the London Lore Tarot and found The Sewer Gas Lamp. I must admit I gave a wry chuckle, as it really does seem many things are metaphorically going down the drain at the moment. However, the card isn't actually bad news, as it represents a cunning Victorian method of energy efficiency and recycling. The book that comes with the set explains:

"London's last sewer gas lamp burns day and night on Carting Lane, known to locals as 'Farting Lane'. These lamps were designed in the Victorian era, to burn off the stench and dangerous gases that built up in London's sewers."

What does it mean in a reading? Well, the book says it represents: "The need to balance conflicting obligations, a juggling act. Being pulled in many different directions. Prioritisation and time management are important." It corresponds with the Two of Coins in more traditional decks, which often show someone juggling two coins and can indicate a need to balance both finances and priorities.

While most of us are all facing those kinds of issues right now, I think a far more literal interpretation can be taken. Fuel prices are soaring. We all need to look at alternative ways of managing our heat and light, and governments need to look at methods of producing energy that are kind to the environment. This is also the perfect card for this time of year, showing a lamp that lights the way in the darkness. It is, as well, a metaphor for delving deep and finding the riches within, even in places we might fear to go.

Thursday, 27 October 2022

Pagan Eye: Medusa Mosaic at Dion in Greece

This photo shows a mosaic of Medusa at the Archaeological Park of Dion, an important archaeological site at Mount Olympus in Greece. The picture was sent in by someone who reads this blog.

Dion contains the archeological remains of sanctuaries from the Hellenistic and Roman periods and the park shows the importance of ancient Dion. The mosaic is in the Villa of Dionysus, one of the most important private buildings in the area.

Medusa of Greek and Roman mythology, although often depicted as a monster, has also been seen as a victim, a metaphor for unrest, and an icon for feminist rage. Angry women often get unfairly accused of being monstrous, with the reasons for their anger dismissed. Even in ancient times Medusa was considered to be protective as well as fierce. Her image was sometimes worn as an amulet to help keep the warer safe or ward off the evil eye.

The reader who kindly emailed me this photo sent several other pictures from Dion. I'm sharing this before Halloween as a reminder that the legends behind monsters can sometimes have more than one interpretation.

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.

The photo is copyright the photographer and used here with permission

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/09/organising-goddesses-harder-than.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/10/pagan-eye-lilith-dorsey-introducing.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/01/book-excerpt-healing-plants-of-greek.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/06/london-necropolis-roman-dead-in.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeological_Park_of_Dion

Wednesday, 26 October 2022

Magical Online & London Events for Samhain

Here is a list of online witchy events and in-person activities over Samhain, or Halloween, and the week ahead. I mostly list online events, and things taking place in London, as that's where I live, and use UK times. If you know an online ritual, talk, meeting or workshop you want included, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com

Throughout October; London Month of the Dead, a month-long festival of talks, concerts, workshops and guided walks, many taking place at in Kensal Green Cemetery Dissenters' Chapel or Brompton Cemetery. Tickets for individual events are £12-£25. You can find the full programme here: https://londonmonthofthedead.com/index.html

Now -10 December; Creative Spirits Art Exhibition. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-5pm. Details: https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Now - 30 October; Gaia at Southwark Cathedral Southwark Cathedral. Exhibition of Luke Jerram's installation. Venue: Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, London, SE1 9DA. Monday - Saturday daytime tickets are free but you must reserve a place. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/southwark-cathedral-35795829

Now to 19 February 2023; Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt. Exhibition at the Sainsbury Gallery at the British Museum, London. Find out more here: britishmuseum.org/hieroglyphs

Now to 6 January 2023; Wicked Spirits? Witchcraft and Magic. Exhibition at Colchester Castle, Essex, CO1 1TJ. The Museum is also running some after-hours events. https://colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/wickedspirits/

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 26 October; A Witch's Plantasmagoria at the SLBI. Halloween half-term event aimed at 7+ children. Venue: The South London Botanical Institute, 323 Norwood Road, London, SE24 9AQ. Morning and afternoon sessions. Tickets: £5. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-south-london-botanical-institute-8460758615

Wednesday 26 October; (every Wednesdays); Evening Sound Bath Meditation. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £15. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 26 October; Deepening Your Work with the Spirit Doctors and the Spirit World. Start of 6-week online class with Susan Gash, via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 5pm. Tickets: £175. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 26 October; Kundalini Meditations to Activate the Third Eye. Online talk by Gemma Bliss, via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 26 October; Book Launch - Cloven Country - the Devil and the English Landscape by Jeremy Harte. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY. Tim: 7pm. Tickets free but you must reserve a place. http://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Wednesday 26 October; The Witch's Feast: A History of Kitchen Witchcraft. Zoom talk by Melissa Madara 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 26 October; New Moon Sound Bath and Meditation With Spiritual Tiik London. Free Online Event. Time: 8pm. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/spiritual-tiik-29294295627

Wednesday 26 October; Treadwell’s Horror Movie Night - Night of the Living Dead. Film is being screened in-person. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store St, London WC1E 7BS, UK. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £7. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 26 October; Winternights, a Heathen ancestors celebration. Lecture and ceremony with Andre Henriques. Online via Treadwell's Bookshop. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 26 October; Free Online Introduction to the Shamanism and the Medicine Wheel Foundation Course, which starts online on Tuesday 1 November. Time: 7.30pm. www.aho.community

Wednesday 26 October; (last Wednesday every month); Samhain: Discussion at Hertford Moot. Venue: The White Horse, 33 Castle Street, Hertford), Time: 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/104788436218047

Thursday 27 October (and other dates); Morning Meditation. Free online event via Mirthy. Time: 9am. https://www.mirthy.co.uk/event-calendar/30-minute-morning-meditation/

Thursday 27 October; Midweek Meditation with the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 3pm. Tickets: free for members/£7.50 non members. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 27 October; 'Dancing with Trees' Opening Night. Art exhibition opening. Venue: The Muse, 269 Portobello Road, London, W11 1LR. Time: from 6pm. Tickets: free. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dancing-with-trees-opening-night-tickets-424971981637

Thursday 27 October; Gower St Presents: Malcolm Gaskill on The Ruin Of All Witches. Venue: Waterstone's 82 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6EQ. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £5 – £13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/waterstones-15241684138

Thursday 27 October; Film Screening: Veneno Para Las Hadas. Latin American horror movie with witchcraft themes. Venue: Latin American House, 10 Kingsgate Place, London, NW6 4TA. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: free but you must reserve a place. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/latin-american-house-603816333

Thursday 27 October; Leonora Carrington, Drawing Tarot. Onine talk followed by practical drawing workshop via London Drawing Group. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/london-drawing-group-11407647443

Thursday 27 October; Antique Beat Salon - London City of Shadows - City at Night City of Light - Journeys into Lamplit London. Talks by Professor Matthew Beaumont and Christopher Sugg. Venue: The Horse Hospital, Colonnade, London, WC1N 1JD. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £9.21. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/antique-beat-30320437690

Thursday 27 October; Ghosted: That's So Scorpio Shadow Work with Alice Briselden Waters. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Thursday 27 October (every Thursday); 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 27 October; Ancient Witches and The Goddess Hecate. Zoom talk by Prof Marguerite Johnson through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 8.30pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Friday 28 October; (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 28 - Sunday 30 October; Mind Body Spirit Festival Birmingham 2022. Venue: NEC, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, B40 1PP. Starts 11am. Tickets · £13-£30. https://www.facebook.com/events/1899217576936466/

Friday 28 October; Curator's Exhibition Tour of the exhibition Creative Spirits with Vivienne Roberts. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies. 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £12. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 28 October; Higher Healing: Outdoor Samhain on Hampstead Heath, with Freya via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Meet at Hampstead Heath near Parliament Hill, London, N6 6JS). Time: 4pm. Tickets: £13. https://www.meetup.com/LondonWoodlandWitches/

Friday 28 October (and other dates); Mind, Body Restore Online Yoga. Time: Time: 6.15pm. Free online event. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Friday 28 October; The Wheel of the Year - Free book launch event by author Dr. Rebecca Beattie's, with witchcraft historian Dr. John Callow. Hybrid event. In-person venue: Treadwell's, 33 Store St, London WC1E 7BS Time: 7pm. Tickets: Free but reserve a place. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Friday 28 October (and other dates); Laughter Playshop. Time: Time: 7pm. Free online event but £2 donations welcome. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Friday 28 October; Samhain Celtic Celebration . Venue: Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton, Hants. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16. https://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/

Friday 28 October; Samhain Incense Magick. Incense creation workshop by

Earth Remedies. Venue: Earth Remedies 45 Dace Road London E3 2NG. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £38.32 https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/earth-remedies-32296357985

Friday 28 October; Online Guided Journey with Goddess Athena, run by Under the Dancing Tree and Rachel Sarah. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £12. https://www.underthedancingtree.co.uk/shop/JOURNEY-WITH-ATHENA-~-Autumn-Equinox-~-Online-Celebration-~-23rd-Sept-2022-p227773092?

Friday 28 October (every Friday); Meditation Session. Time: 7.30pm. Free online event but donations welcome. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Friday 28 October; Wonky Witch Samhain Moot. Venue: Kallima Wellbeing Centre, 8A Adam Business Centre, Cranes Farm Rd, Basildon, SS14 3JF. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £17.84. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/kallima-wellbeing-centre-15972923230

Friday 28 October (and other dates); Hex and the City - immersive theatre walk about the history of London's witches. Time: 8pm. Tickets: from £14. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/hexandthecity

Saturday 29 October; Botanical Magic Series - Craft a Witch Bottle. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 10am 4pm. Tickets: £70 includes: all materials, and your handmade witch bottle, with botanicals to make further witch bottles. https://www.theperfumemistress.com/workshops/2022/10/29/botanicalmagicseriescraftawitchbottle-2022

Saturday 29 October; House of Hackney's Festival of Witchmas: Herbalism Workshop with Harriet for Samhain. Venue: House of Hackney, Mark Street, London, EC2A 4ER. Time: 10am. Tickets: £37.06. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/house-of-hackney-10655822250

Saturday 29 October; The Essex Samhain Witches Market and Masked Ball. Venue: Kelvedon Institute, 78 High Street, Kelvedon, Essex. Witches Market from 10.30am til 4.30pm, Masked Ball 7pm til 10.30pm. Market entry £3, Masked Ball £15/£18. https://www.facebook.com/events/571107647380974

Saturday 29 October; Constructing the Witch: How Women became Maleficent. One-day course with Ann Jeffers via City Lit. Venue: Keeley Street, Covent Garden, London. Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm. Full fee: £59, Senior fee: £47, Concession:£36. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/constructing-the-witch-how-women-became-maleficent

Saturday 29 October; Wisdom and Wellbeing Fair with readings, talks and a market. Venue: Kenley Memorial Hall, 92 Godstone Rd, Kenley. Starts 11am. https://www.facebook.com/events/585693283111094

Saturday 29 October; Ghosted: Samhain Women's Circle For Manifesting A New World with Molly Anne Chinners. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 11am. Tickets: £35. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Saturday 29 October; Clairsentience: The Psychic Feeling. Online workshop with Hernan Cotroneo via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 11am. Tickets: £105. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 29 October; Nature Spirits. Online workshop with Rachel Patterson, via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 29 October; Walking in the footsteps of your year, at this Samhain Solar Festival. Guided walk with Jeremy Rye. Meet at the Tower of London, Lion Gate, St Katharine's and Wapping, London EC3N 4AE, Time: 2pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/jeremy-rye-31055883021

Saturday 29 October; Sacred Samhain Women's Circle. Venue: The Bridge, 73-81 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 0NQ. Time: 4.30pm. Tickets: £18. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/jojo-mclaren-33983985257?

Saturday 29 October; Samhain Ceremony by Indigo Earth. Inclusive event with priest of Indigo Earth Joseph Atiase. Venue: Hackney Marshes, 146 Lea Bridge Road, London E5 9RB. Time: 5pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/samhain-ceremony-by-indigo-earth-tickets-431231995507

Sunday 30 - Monday 31 October; Samhain Virtual Event via The Pagan Federation Community. Spanning two days, a variety of content courtesy of Pagan Federation Community members, and by the Interfaith and LGBTQIA+ teams. Free online event. Starts 10am. https://www.facebook.com/groups/paganfed/events

Sunday 30 October - 10 November; Samhainfest 2022 at Mystery School of the Goddess. Twelve days of online events with a Samhain ritual led by Priestess Kimberly Moore and including a reading of Brigit Death Poetry with Mael Brigde on 9 November. Register at graveyardgoddess.com.

Sunday 30 October; How to Use the Dragon Path Oracle. In-person workshop with Caroline Mitchell. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies. 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am-4pm. Tickets: £125 includes a set of the oracle cards. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 30 October; Mythic London Walk: Legendary heroes, gods and goddesses of the City of London, with Caroline Wise, organised through Treadwell's Bookshop. Meet outside St Clement Danes, Strand, St Clement Dane Church, Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1DH. Time: 11.20am start. Tickets £30. Book online at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Sunday 30 October; Woodland Witches Samhain Ritual 2022 with Mani via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Venue: Queen's Wood, Highgate, North London. Time: 3pm Tickets: £7. https://www.meetup.com/LondonWoodlandWitches/

Sunday 30 October; Samhain Fire Ritual and Storytelling (plus Hot Tub and Seasonal Fare). Venue: 65 Cliffview Rd, London SE13 7DB. Time: 3pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/emma-pask-and-nick-tulett-54697661073

Sunday 30 October; Ghosted: Samhain Circle. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 5pm. Tickets: £30-£35. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Sunday 30 October (every Sunday); 30-Minute Mindfulness for people of all beliefs. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 6pm. Free, just turn up. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk/

Sunday 30 October; KW Online Samhain Ritual. Online event for members of Kitchen Witch Coven of Natural Witchery. Time: 7pm. Free for members. https://www.facebook.com/events/5516163861795393/

Sunday 30 October; The Wiches' Sabbath - Film screening of the silent movie Haxan with piano accompanyment. Part of London Month of the Dead. Venue: Guys Hospital Chapel, London SE1. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15. https://acuriousinvitation.com/

Sunday 30 October; Samhain Pagan Ceremony. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, just turn up. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk/

Sunday 30 October; Halloween in New Orleans. Zoom talk by Dr Louise Fenton 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

Sunday 30 October; The Treasure Seeker and other Suffolk Ghost Tales by Kirsty Hartsiotis through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 9pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Monday 31 October - 5 November; Beyond the Veil Summit Free Online Event. Organised via Llewellyn Worldwide and Past Life Lady. Free online event. Starts 1pm. https://www.facebook.com/LlewellynBooks

Monday 31 October; Walking the Wheel with Hekate at Samhain. Workshop. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London, SE9 6SH. Time: 2pm- 8pm. Tickets: £50. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/product-category/events-and-workshops/

Monday 31 October; Halloween Open Evening by Candlelight at Crossbones Graveyard, Southwark. Location: Redcross Way, London, SE1 1TA. Time: 5pm to 7pm. Recommended donations £5. Details here: https://www.bost.org.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/BanksideOpenSpacesTrust/

Monday 31 October; Ecological Decline and the Rise of Modern Witchcraft, Drawing Tarot. Online talk by Anna Titov via London Drawing Group. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/london-drawing-group-11407647443

Monday 31 October; Malcolm Gaskill on The Ruin Of All Witches book launch event. Venue: Hatchards, London W1J 9LE. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-ruin-of-all-witches-with-malcolm-gaskill-hatchards-tickets-439552823327?

Monday 31 October; Taking Nature's Hand: November. What has nature in mind for you this month? Online with Jeremy Rye. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/jeremy-rye-3105588302

Monday 31 October; (every Monday); Candlelit Lunar Yoga. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15 per session. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Monday 31 October; Women's Circle for Samhain - part of the Women's Circles collection by The Reformed Bohemian. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-reformed-bohemian-39644491363

Monday 31 October; Samhain - Online Celebration with Cunning Folk. Time: 7pm, Free but you must register for a ticket. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cunning-folk-7829505560

Monday 31 October; Pluto the Profound. Online talk on astrology by Patricia Godden via the Astrological Lodge of London. 60 Gloucester Place. Time: 7pm. Tickets £10. https://astrolodge.co.uk/events/

Monday 31 October; Pagan FutureFests Samhain Open Circle. Venue: The Hope, Carshalton, Surrey - in the marquee at the rear. Time: 7pm for 7.30pm. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063671617518

Monday 31 October; Samhain - Zoom Death Meditation Ceremony. Breathwork meditation journey. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.breathceremony.com/service-page/samhain-zoom-death-meditation-ceremony?

Monday 31 October; Waxing Moon Ritual-Workshop: earth intimacy and queer ancestors. Venue: Ugly Duck 49 Tanner Street London SE1 3PL. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £5.98. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/intimate-animals-amp-ugly-duck-48346099203

Monday 31 October (and other dates); Magic, Witchcraft and Paranormal Walk with Nigel. Starts at Saint Paul's Churchyard, London. Starts at 7.30pm. Tickets: £15. https://uk.funzing.com/funz/magic-witchcraft-paranormal-walk-17554?

Monday 31 October; The Hermetic Journey Through the Zodiac (2). Online talk on astrology by Smiljana Gavrancic via The Astrological Lodge of London. Time: 8.30pm. Tickets: £10. https://astrolodge.co.uk/events/

Tuesday 1 November; Ghosted: Death, Transformation and Karmic Cord Cutting. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Tuesday 1 November; Moina Mathers: Mistress of Magic.Online talk by Geraldine Beskin, via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 1 November; Walking London’s Horror History and Offbeat British Cult Films. Talks by Lauren Jane Barnett, Darrell Buxton and Jennifer Wallis. Presented by: London Fortean Society. Venue: Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Rd, London SE14 6TY. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £6.60. https://www.wegottickets.com/LondonForteanSociety

Tuesday 1 November (first Tuesday each Month); Essex Witch Trials. Talk at Romford Pagan Moot. Venue: The Golden Lion, 2 High Street, Romford. Time: 7pm. Entry £4. https://www.facebook.com/Romford-Pagan-Moote-634178063700381

Tuesday 1 November; Shamanism and the Medicine Wheel Foundation Course, first of 16 sessions. Online event through Aho Studio. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £30 for the course. www.aho.community

Tuesday 1 November (tbc but usually first Tuesday each Month); The Witches' Inn Moot. Venue: Halt and Pull pub in Horley. Time: 8pm. Free event. https://www.facebook.com/The-Witches-Inn-1568424150049437

Wednesday 2 November; Covid-19 Memorial Ceremony for Day of the Dead. Venue: Latin American House, 10 Kingsgate Place, London, NW6 4TATime: 6.30pm. Tickets: free but you must reserve a place. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/latin-american-house-603816333

Wednesday 2 November; Lincolnshire Witches; Spellcrafting workshop. Online event via Heritage Lincolnshire. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £11.37. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/heritage-lincolnshire-20095110961

Wednesday 2 November (first Wednesday of the month); Drumming and Meditation online with Taz Thornton. Time: 7pm Price: free. https://www.facebook.com/TazThorntonOfficial#

Wednesday 2 November; Making Magical Altars. Workshop-Class with Hannah Sanders. Online via Treadwell's Bookshop. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 2 November (and other dates); Sensory Gong and Sound Bath. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £40. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Wednesday 2 November (and other dates); Awakening Wednesdays: Online Drop-in Group with Harry MacDonald via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 8pm. Tickets: £10 (free for members). https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 2 November; Samhain - stories of ghosts and the darker face of faerie by Hugh Lupton through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 9pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 3 November; The First Ghosts. Talk by Irving Finkel. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Court, · London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5.30pm. Free event. https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks

Thursday 3 November; Fem-Animist Alchemy. Online talk with esoteric artist Hazel Florez via Magickal Women and Company. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.magickalwomenconference.com/events

Thursday 3 November; Elemental Fire Circle and Gong Healing. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Thursday 3 November; PF London Samhain Open Ritual with AV Coven and Luna Iter via Pagan Federation London. Venue: Pirate Castle, Gilbey's Wharf Oval Road NW1 7EA London, UK Time: 7pm. Entry £8 for PF members, £10 for non-members. https://www.facebook.com/PaganFederationLondon

Thursday 3 November; Mantra and the Power of Sound. Online talk by Ann Mathie via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 3 November; Discovering Your Psychic Self. Start of 6-week online class with Jeremy Turner-Welch, via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £175. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 3 November; Spiritual Abduction: ETs, NDEs and DMT. Online talk by Pascal Michael 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

Friday 4 and 11 November; Lincolnshire Witches; Shadow Work Part 1 and 2. Online event via Heritage Lincolnshire. Time: 7pm. Tickets £17.84 – £26.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/heritage-lincolnshire-20095110961

Thursday 3 November; Drum Healing. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Friday 4 November; The Witches Circle Monthly Class. Venue: Kallima Wellbeing Centre, 8A Adam Business Centre, Cranes Farm Rd, Basildon, SS14 3JF. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £16.76. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/kallima-wellbeing-centre-15972923230

Saturday 5 November; Black Lotus Kult Annual Celebration: One Beyond Ten - A Celebration of the works of Kenneth and Steffi Grant. Caroline Wise will give an illustrated talk on Kenneth Grant’s London Town. London venue, details of location and times sent to those who book. https://blacklotuskult.com/2022/10/15/blk-celebration-2022-speaker-caroline-wise/

Saturday 5 November; A Visionary Afternoon of Art and Auras. In-person workshop with Katja Tschährä. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £65. . https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 5 November; Show and Share: Visions of the Occult. Tate Archivist Victoria Jenkins guiding a tour of books, drawings, photographs, and other objects on witchcraft, folklore and pagan rituals, demonology, magic, astrology, and tarot. This is followed by projector show, a panel, performances and film screenings with guests Lally MacBeth, Emma Sharples and Jamie Sutcliffe. Venue: Tate Archive, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG. Time: 1pm-5.45pm. Tickets £30, including a copy of Victoria's new book, Visions of the Occult. https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/show-and-share-visions-of-the-occult

Saturday 5 November; Gods of the Underworld: Persephone, Hades, Demeter. Online workshop with Joanna LaPrade via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 5 November; Ghosted: Meet the Wild Woman Within. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £35. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Sunday 6 November; Communication from Beyond the Veil. Online workshop with Gerrie March via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £80. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 6 November; Manifesting with the Ancestors and Goddesses. Online workshop with Abiola Abrams via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 3pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 6 November; Full Moon Event with 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.” Free. Details: http://peacefires.org/

Sunday 6 November; Storytelling Open Mic- Fire and Water. Venue: Electric Elephant Cafe, 186A Crampton Street, London, SE17 3AE, Time: 3pm, but earlier if you want to order food. Suggested donation £5. https://www.facebook.com/events/682788859855911/

Sunday 6 November (first Sunday of the month); Samhain with Woodspirits. 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 6 November; Woodland Bard Online - Pine. Event by Walkwithtrees. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £7. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/jonathon-huet-at-walk-with-trees-30650264428

Sunday 6 and 13 November; Roleplaying the Occult Imagination. Two-session workshop with Peter Bebergal and Gareth Branwyn. Online via Treadwell's Bookshop. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Notes: I am not responsible for the content of these events. Contact event organisers directly if you have any questions. I generally list things in the UK, especially in or near London, but some are outside that time zone. Where a practitioner is offering information about magical wellbeing and healing, this is *not* medical advice.

Tuesday, 25 October 2022

Bastet at the British Museum for National Black Cat Day

Today is National Black Cat Day, so here's a statue of the cat goddess Bastet currently on display at the Hieroglyphs exhibition at the British Museum. Bastet, or Bast, is an example of shared beliefs by both Ancient Egyptians and Greeks living in Egyptian cities. The information panel reads:

"Greeks and other foreigners lived in Naukratis long before the arrival of Alexander the Great. Temples dedicated to Egyptian gods operated next to Greek sanctuaries, and foreign residents supported the local cult of the cat-goddess Bastet, known as Bubastis in Greek."

Statues like the one in the photo were often left as offerings in her temple. Although this statue is white, she is also often seen as a black cat - and you can find some brilliant black Bast statue replicas and toys in the British Museum gift shop. Ideal for a bit of Halloween shopping in my opinion.

National Black Cat Day was set up by charity Cats Protection to help celebrate the majesty of beautiful black cats. The campaign was launched because black and black-and-white cats take, on average, seven days longer to find a home compared to cats of other colours. As a witch with a cheeky black-and-white called Tommy, who loves to help me when I'm casting spells, I can vouch for the fact that cats of all colours are great companions.

Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt is in the Sainsbury Gallery at the British Museum, London, until 19 February 2023. You can find out more here: britishmuseum.org/hieroglyphs

There's a book coming out early next year called The Magic of Cats, by Andrew Anderson, which I was lucky enough to read as a manuscript before it went to be published. I can recommend it as a great overview of the folklore and magic of our feline companions. You can view The Magic of Cats on Amazon and at Moon Books' website.

Other previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/10/pagan-eye-thoth-god-of-writing-at-bm.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/pagan-eye-black-cat-statuette-as-every.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/10/a-lucky-black-cat-poppet-for-black-cat.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/06/midnight-magic-jigsaw-puzzle-spell-for.html

Monday, 24 October 2022

Samhain Shopping: Whimsigothic Fashion and Fragrance

Whimsigothic is the word for this season's trends, or so I was told. Here are a few more goodies, whimsical or otherwise, that fit the bill for some Samhain - or Halloween - shopping.

Supernatural Soaps from Bewitched Botanicals

First, Nevermore soap created by Bewitched Botanicals. You can't get more Gothic than Poe's ancient and wise raven, which this soap is named after. The fragrance is notes of musty old books, smoke and a leather heart, according to the website, and the colour is as black as the night sky. It's one of my personal favourites and I have a bar in my bathroom right now.

Bewitched Botanicals also have lots of other magical stuff to pamper yourself and please the most Gothic sensibilities, including Ghost Puffs Whip body cream and Miskatonic Spellbinding Scrub. You can find their website here: https://bewitchedbotanicals.com/

Witchy Fashion from Mortal and Wild

The season of the witch is time to stock up on fabulous Goth-fest goodness, such as the wonderful and original designs created exclusively for Mortal and Wild. One example is this retro cartoon witch T-shirt. The digital illustration was inspired by vintage cartoon illustrations.

Mortal and Wild's website says: "She’s kind of sassy with her wand, red eyes and horns, as she gives you a wave. A fun cute halloween t shirt for women and men, unsex, in a selection of different colours for you to select the one you like."

You can find more details, and some other wonderful gothy goodies, on the website: https://mortalandwild.co.uk/

Cobwebby Costume and Crafts from Jez Designs

Julie Winnard of Jez Designs has some wonderful cobwebby Gothica reticules, like the ones in the photo, which she makes to order. She also has other lovely things in her steampunk and costume section: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JezDesigns?section_id=22665170

If you're feeling crafty yourself, you can get a tutorial to make your own at Julie's crafts Etsy store at www.jezdesignscrafts.etsy.com Look in the "other patterns/tutorials" section for the bags, or in the kit sections for the fabric as well as a paper copy.

I hope to be posting more tempting items for Samhain Shopping this week, so do come back to see more. You can also get ideas from my previous related posts:

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/10/samhain-shopping-4-halloween-reads-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/10/samhain-shopping-museum-of-witchcraft.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/10/halloween-shopping-lots-of-savvy.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/07/review-magical-herbal-tea-by.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/08/witchy-shopping-halloween-tray-and.html

Friday, 21 October 2022

Pagan Eye: Lilith Dorsey Introducing The Bloodettes

I went along to Treadwell’s for a screening of The Bloodettes in a series of horror movie nights. The Bloodettes is a stylish although low-budget African film set in the near future in which two women use the power of the Mevungu to defeat the patriarchy. At the shop it was introduced by Voodoo Priestess Lilith Dorsey M.A. digitally from New Orleans, and the photo above shows her talking about Mevungu and magic in the movie. It was really fascinating. I learnt something about Camaroon mysticism and I recommend the movie too if you like somewhat unusual horror films. I should warn you it's a bit gory in places, particularly the scene with the testicle...

If you're interested, you can watch a trailer here (although in the trailer it's called The Bleeders, symbolising menstrual moon power I think): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVaaDPkeuP0

Treadwell's also stocks a range of books on African mysticism, magic and religion, including titles by Lilith Dorsey. The shop is at 33 Store St, London WC1E 7BS. You can find the website here: https://www.treadwells-london.com/

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.

Thursday, 20 October 2022

Samhain Shopping: Whimsigothic for a Witchy Home

Witches are always in fashion for Halloween but apparently more so this year than usual. Whimsigothic is a trend both for what we wear and what we put in our homes, or so I'm told.

Samhain or Halloween are great times to stock up on great gothy stuff, whimsical or otherwise, but a homestyle press agency has sent me an email with lots of gorgeous goodies incorporating celestial motifs like moons, stars, constellations and zodiacs, which are intended to spark a sense of joy and magic, and are associated with luck, love, and protection. I'm a fan!

Look at the photo to the right to see some of the ideas. What you can see there are a brass candle holder by Abode Living, a resin cat by Gisela Graham London, an antique style brass star decoration by Ivyline, an abalone shell moon necklace by Luna Charles, a Saturn and stars cushion in velvet by Jan Constantine, a blue and metallic sunrise poster by Desenio, a brass candle votive by Hudson Home and a man in the moon and moth embroidery craft sewing kit by MakeBox.

One of the other things that caught my eye was the Italian tea or coffee set in the other photo. It's a set of six cups with saucers in porcelain by Easy Life. I guess you could use it for tea too.

None of the lovely things in the picture are particularly cheap, sadly, but they are undoubtedly much better made than the average high street Halloween wares, and everyone needs a luxury treat now and then.

I'll be doing at least one more Samhain Shopping blog post before October 31st, so if you make and sell witchy stuff, do let me know as I'm happy to help pagan crafters with small businesses with a little mention when I can.

Wednesday, 19 October 2022

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

Here's a list of weird, wonderful and witchy 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. If you know an online or London-based event you want included, please email badwitch1234@gmail.com

Now to 19 February 2023; Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt. Exhibition at the Sainsbury Gallery at the British Museum, London. Find out more here: britishmuseum.org/hieroglyphs

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/

.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Wednesday 19 October (and other dates); Viktor Wynd's Guided Tour of His Museum and a Devil's Botany Absinthe. Venue: The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London, E8 4RP. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £16-£20. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Wednesday 19 October; Treadwell’s Horror Movie Night - The Bloodettes, introduced (digitally) by Voodoo Priestess Lilith Dorsey M.A. Film is being screened in-person. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store St, London WC1E 7BS, UK. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £7. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 19 October (and other dates); Sensory Gong and Sound Bath. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £40. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Wednesday 19 October; (every Wednesdays); Evening Sound Bath Meditation. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £15. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 19 October; Medium and Magician - Charlie Hall and Mark Vincent Smith in Conversation. Online via Treadwell's Bookshop. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 19 October; Lincolnshire Witches; Halloween series: Paranormal Phenomenon. Online event via Heritage Lincolnshire. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £5.89. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/heritage-lincolnshire-20095110961

Wednesday 19 October; Cunning Folk Reading Group - The Picture of Dorian Gray. Online event. Time: 7pm. Price: Free. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cunning-folk-7829505560

Wednesday 19 October; Giants in Scandinavian mythology and folklore. Talk by Dr Tommy Kuusela 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

Wednesday 19 October (3rd Wednesday each month); The More Mead Moot. Venue: The Hope pub, Carshalton, Surrey, Time: 7.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/Pagan-FutureFests-352385661439366/

Wednesday 19 October; Awakening Wednesdays: Online Drop-in Group with Harry MacDonald via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 8pm. Tickets: £10 (free for members). https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 20 October (and other dates); Morning Meditation. Free online event via Mirthy. Time: 9am. https://www.mirthy.co.uk/event-calendar/30-minute-morning-meditation/

Thursday 20 October; Midweek Meditation with the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 3pm. Tickets: free for members/£7.50 non members. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 20 October; Curator's Exhibition Tour of the exhibition Creative Spirits with Vivienne Roberts. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies. 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Times: 2pm and 7pm. Tickets: £12. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 20 October; Secrets From A Herbalist's Garden. Talk by Jo Dunbar via Watkins Bookshop. Free online event. Time: 5.30pm. https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks

Thursday 20 October; Menstrual Magic Workshop with Levanah Morgan. Online via Treadwell's Bookshop. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 20 October; Lost and Forgotten UFO Encounters: A Pictorial History. Online talk by Michael Schratt via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 20 October (every Thursday); 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 20 October; The Story of a Cornish Witch: Joan Wytte. Talk by Helen Cornish 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

Thursday 20 October; Conversation Club: The Sacred Herbs of Samhain. Author Ellen Evert Hopman discusses her book The Sacred Herbs of Samhain – Plants to Contact the Spirits of the Dead. Free online event but you must register. Time: 9pm. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conversation-club-the-sacred-herbs-of-samhain-tickets-235465472567

Friday 21 October; (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 21 October (and other dates); Mind, Body Restore Online Yoga. Time: Time: 6.15pm. Free online event. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Friday 21 October (and other dates); Laughter Playshop. Time: Time: 7pm. Free online event but £2 donations welcome. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Friday 21 October (and other dates); New Moon, Full Moon or Divine Union Cacao Ceremony, Heart Ritual and Gong Bath Private Location near Wandsworth Town/Clapham Junction. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £27.54. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-moonfull-moon-or-divine-union-cacao-ceremony-heart-ritual-gong-bath-tickets-169545022727

Friday 21 October; Psychedelic Meditation. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35 per session. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Friday 21 October; John Cowper Powys: A Magician Between Worlds. Talk by Dr Kevan Manwaring in-person. Venue: The Gardner Room, The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY. Tim: 7pm. Tickets £10. http://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Friday 21 October (every Friday); Meditation Session. Time: 7.30pm. Free online event but donations welcome. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Friday 21 October, Llewellyn's Virtual Author Forum: Why Psychic Skills Are Important to Witchcraft via Llewellyn Worldwide. Free online event. Time: 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/LlewellynBooks

Saturday 22 October, Glastonbury Fairy Weekend by Karen Kay's Faery Events. Venue: Glastonbury Town Hall, Magdalene Street, Somerset BA6 9EL. Starts: 10am. Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/events/1097506944194065

Saturday 22 October, New Moon Women Circle with Moon Circles, Ceremonies, Meditations and More. Venue: Tooting, London SW17. Time: noon. Tickets: by donation. https://www.meetup.com/sw-london-healing-circles-ceremonies/

Saturday 22 October, Scrying workshop based on my book Pagan Portals - Scrying. In-person event. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm. Cost: £22 per person. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Saturday 22 October; Meet Your Spirit Guides. Online workshop with Sarah Tyler-Walters via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £80. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 22 October; Sacred Geometry and the Feminine. In-person workshop with Nicole Frobusch. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies. 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 22 October; The Witches Apothecary. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SH. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/product-category/events-and-workshops/

Saturday 22 October; The Morrigan's Call Retreat: Online Samhain Gathering. Online weekend of workshop, discussions, and devotion to the Morrigan. Starts: 2.45pm. Tickets: $70.39 https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5493087

Saturday 22 October; Scared to Death in the Woods storytelling for adulsts with London Dreamtime. Venue: A secret woodland location in NW3. Time: 7pm. Tickets £10. https://www.londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Saturday 22 - Sunday 23 October; Wachuma Night Time Ceremony organised by Aho Studio. In-person event. Venue: Berkeley farm, a few miles outside London. Starts 6pm. Tickets: £150. www.aho.community

Sunday 23 October; October Plenty Harvest Festival with The Lion's Part. Procession, music, dancing and plays all day. Starts at 11am with a procession from London's Bankside, near the Globe Theatre, to Borough Market, Southwark. Free, just turn up. http://www.thelionspart.co.uk/octoberplenty/

Sunday 23 October; The Psychic Playground. In-person workshop with Jeremy Turner-Welch. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies. 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £115. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 23 October; Behind the Veil: Connecting to Ancestors and Ancient Voices with Tarot. Online workshop with Avril Price via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 11am. Tickets: £105. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 23 October (and other dates); Drury Lane: Walking tour of Drury Lane, London, and environs with street theatre, songs and pub stops via Minimum Labyrinth. Time: 2pm. Tickets £19.50. http://minimumlabyrinth.org/

Sunday 23 October; Permission to Grieve Circle. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 3pm. Tickets: £45 per session. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Sunday 23 October; Moonology Eclipse workshop with Yasmin Boland. On Facebook Live. Time: 5pm. Tickets $29.99. https://www.facebook.com/yasminbolandmoonology

Sunday 23 October (every Sunday); 30-Minute Mindfulness for people of all beliefs. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 6pm. Free, just turn up. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk/

Sunday 23 October; Woodland Bard Online - Elder. Event by Walkwithtrees. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £7. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/jonathon-huet-at-walk-with-trees-30650264428

Sunday 23 October (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/ or https://www.bost.org.uk/

Sunday 23 October; On Wildness, Witchery and things that go bump in the Night. Talk by Vivianne Crowley 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

Monday 24 October; Moonology Dark Moon Ritual with Yasmin Boland. On Facebook Live. Time: 5pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/yasminbolandmoonology

Monday 24 October; Samhain: Night of the Dead. Class with Rebecca Beattie, author of The Wheel of the Year, via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Monday 24 October; (every Monday); Candlelit Lunar Yoga. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15 per session. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Monday 24 October; New Moon Ritual-Workshop: Wolf-Human Kinship. Venue: Ugly Duck 49 Tanner Street London SE1 3PL. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £5.98. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/intimate-animals-amp-ugly-duck-48346099203

Monday 24 October; The Blessing of Ixion, Pluto’s New Lawless Brother. Online talk on astrology by Alan Clay via the Astrological Lodge of London. 60 Gloucester Place. Time: 7pm. Tickets £10. https://astrolodge.co.uk/events/

Monday 24 October; Poppets and Magical Dolls. Zoom lecture by me, Lucya Starza, through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets · from £5.82. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poppets-and-magical-dolls-by-lucya-starza-tickets-312398661807

Monday 24 October; Might Psychic Abilities be Enhanced by Fasting, Vegetarianism, and Other Dietary Practices? Talk by Mike Daw for the Society for Psychical Research. Online event. Time: 8pm. Tickets free for members/£5 non-members. https://www.spr.ac.uk/

Monday 24 October; The Hermetic Journey Through the Zodiac (1). Online talk on astrology by Smiljana Gavrancic via The Astrological Lodge of London. Time: 8.25pm. Tickets: £10. https://astrolodge.co.uk/events/

Tuesday 25 October; Ghosts in the Machines: A History of Spirit Communication Devices. Online talk by Brandon Hodge via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 25 October; Thames River of Souls 2022- candle-lit walk, rite and social with Mani via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Venue: Meet near the Millennium Bridge, London. Time: 7pm. Free event but you must reserve a place. https://www.meetup.com/LondonWoodlandWitches/

Tuesday 25 October; City of The Beast, talk by Phil Baker, author of the new Crowley biography, via Antique Beat. Venue: The Century Club, Soho, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £12. https://acuriousinvitation.com/

Tuesday 25 October; New Moon Cacao and Sound Ceremony. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £50. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Tuesday 25 October; ‘I Was Satan’s Roadie’ – Tracking The Devil In English Local Lore. Talk by Folklorist Jeremy Harte, author of Cloven Country, at London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London, E1 7EX. Door time: 7:30pm, Start time: 8pm. Tickets: £5.50/£3.50. https://www.wegottickets.com/event/555568

Tuesday 25 October; Paganism and Folklore. 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 25 October; (tbc but usually the last Tuesday each month); Heron Drums Shamanic Drumming Circle. Venue: Singleton Environment Centre, Ashford, Kent, TN23 5LW. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £10 https://www.herondrums.co.uk/servicesback/p/heron-drums-shamanic-drumming-circle

Tuesday 25 October; Ghosted: The Dark Side Of The Sun New Moon In Scorpio Circle with Tree Carr. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 8pm. Tickets: £15-£25. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 26 October; Book Launch - Cloven Country - the Devil and the English Landscape
by Jeremy Harte. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY. Tim: 7pm. Tickets free but you must reserve a place. http://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Wednesday 26 October; New Moon Sound Bath and Meditation With Spiritual Tiik London. Free Online Event. Time: 8pm. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/spiritual-tiik-29294295627

Wednesday 26 October; (tbc but usually last Wednesday every month); Discussion at Hertford Moot. Venue: The White Horse, 33 Castle Street, Hertford), Time: 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/104788436218047

Thursday 27 October; Gower St Presents: Malcolm Gaskill on The Ruin Of All Witches. Venue: Waterstone,s 82 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6EQ. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £5 – £13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/waterstones-15241684138

Friday 28 October; The Wheel of the Year - Free book launch event by author Dr. Rebecca Beattie's, with witchcraft historian Dr. John Callow. Hybrid event. In-person venue: Treadwell's, 33 Store St, London WC1E 7BS Time: 7pm. Tickets: Free but reserve a place. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Friday 28 October; Samhain Celtic Celebration . Venue: Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton, Hants. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16. https://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/

Friday 28 October; Samhain Incense Magick. Incense creation workshop by

Earth Remedies. Venue: Earth Remedies 45 Dace Road London E3 2NG. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £38.32 https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/earth-remedies-32296357985

Friday 28 October (tbc but usually around this time of the month); The Pagan Federation Community Event. Free online event. Time: tbc. https://www.facebook.com/groups/paganfed/events

Friday 28 October (and other dates); Hex and the City - immersive theatre walk about the history of London's witches. Time: 8pm. Tickets: from £14. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/hexandthecity

Saturday 29 October; House of Hackney's Festival of Witchmas: Herbalism Workshop with Harriet

for Samhain. Venue: House of Hackney, Mark Street, London, EC2A 4ER. Time: 10am. Tickets: £37.06. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/house-of-hackney-10655822250

Saturday 29 October; Wisdom and Wellbeing Fair with readings, talks and a market. Venue: Kenley Memorial Hall, 92 Godstone Rd, Kenley. Starts 11am. https://www.facebook.com/events/585693283111094

Saturday 29 October; Nature Spirits. Online workshop with Rachel Patterson, via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 30 October; Ghosted: Samhain Circle. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 5pm. Tickets: £30-£35. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Sunday 30 October; Samhain Pagan Ceremony. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, just turn up. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk/

Monday 31 October; Walking the Wheel with Hekate at Samhain. Workshop. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SH. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £50. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/product-category/events-and-workshops/

Monday 31 October; Samhain - an online celebration with Cunning Folk. Time: 7pm, Free but you must register for a ticket. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cunning-folk-7829505560

Notes: I am not responsible for the content of these events except my talks and workshops poppets and scrying. Contact event organisers directly if you have any questions. I generally list things in the UK, especially in or near London, but some are outside that time zone. Where a practitioner is offering information about magical wellbeing and healing, this is *not* medical advice.

Pages

Monday, 31 October 2022

Sunday, 30 October 2022

Friday, 28 October 2022

Thursday, 27 October 2022

Wednesday, 26 October 2022

Tuesday, 25 October 2022

Monday, 24 October 2022

Friday, 21 October 2022

Thursday, 20 October 2022

Wednesday, 19 October 2022