Rivers of London: Walking the Course of the Westbourne

I walked the entire course of the River Westbourne earlier this week and I've still got blisters. Very glad I did it though. The Westbourne is one of the Thames' lost tributaries as it's almost completely below London's streets these days, but its influence can still be seen in the landscape. 

Several years ago I was given a copy of London's Lost Rivers - A Walker's Guide by Tom Bolton and meant to follow the walks within in it, but I was busy and then the pandemic happened. So, it stayed on my shelf except when I used it as a wonderful reference book when I wrote the London section for Rivers of London - The Roleplaying Game. 

This year, I put walking a lost river or two on my list of resolutions and with spring here I've begun, along with Dr Helen Cornish of Goldsmith's, University of London. 

Before starting our trek we met in the coffee shop at Waterstone's in Hampstead, surrounded by books on travel, which seemed appropriate. Ben Aaronovitch, author of the Rivers of London novels once worked as a bookseller for Waterstones. A haunted branch features in one of his short stories and Hampstead is the location for his novella What Abigail Did That Summer.

The walk in London's Lost Rivers starts at Whitestone Pond on Hampstead Heath (picture at the top of this post). It's at the highest point in London and close to the source of three London rivers: the Tyburn, the Fleet and the Westbourne. The route leads down a grassy slope to a rather muddy pond (pictured above right), which is the last you see the Westbourne above ground for most of its length. But, even though you can't see the river, you can sometimes hear it through manhole covers as the water rushes below the pavement. You can also see traces of its route in depressions in the land and in the names of streets and buildings along the way.

The first part of the route goes through Hampstead, Kilburn and Paddington to Regent's Canal. That's a separate waterway as the Westbourne is channelled underneath the canal, although the walking route crosses it by bridge and leads to a park called Westbourne Green. 

Helen and I next found ourselves beside water in Hyde Park. This is the most beautiful part of the walk. The Serpentine was originally created by damming the Westbourne in 1731 for Queen Caroline. However, it was basically a sewer and not very pleasant, so is now fed by other underground streams. Queen Caroline is an important background figure as a patron of magical societies in the Rivers of London books. In real life, Queen Caroline did encourage learning and apparently collected strange objects, but probably wasn't a secret magic practitioner.

The course of the Westbourne these days runs beneath the path at the edge of the Serpentine. Water from the lake flows under a bridge into water gardens. Below the gardens, both streams mix and continue on to the Thames. The outflow is near Chelsea Bridge and can be seen from the foreshore at low tide. In the Rivers of London, the goddess of the Westbourne prefers to go by the name of Chelsea. I took the photo at the bottom from Chelsea Bridge looking westward over the Thames.

Helen and I did the entire journey in about 7 hours. London's Lost Rivers says it's an 8-mile walk, but for us it was nearer 9. Maybe that's because we got lost a couple of times and detoured to cafes. Although I was tired and footsore by the end of it, I enjoyed every moment. Highlights were the green spaces at Hampstead, Paddington Recreation Ground and Hyde Park, the glimpses and sounds of running water, and the atmospheric side streets and historic mews that follow the course of the lost river and are often missed by those rushing through London's main thoroughfares.

You can view London's Lost Rivers - A Walker's Guide by Tom Bolton on Amazon and find Rivers of London - The Roleplaying Game on publisher Chaosium's website. If you fancy doing something a bit different over the bank holidays, you could walk a river or try a roleplaying game about occult mysteries involving the goddesses of London's waters. (I know which one will make your feet ache more.)

(Note: I earn commission from advertisers for some links. This helps support my blog at no extra cost to those who read my posts.)

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/08/guided-visualisation-element-of-water.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/04/my-novel-and-rpg-writing-with-ben.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/04/charity-shop-find-cult-of-water-line.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/12/sacred-sites-st-cedds-well-north.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/09/london-gods-neptune-at-secret-rivers.html

Pagan Eye: A Good Year for Bluebells in my Garden

It's a really good year for bluebells in my garden, so I've taken a photo of one patch. I realise they're hybrid bluebells rather than English ones, which is a shame, but most of those that grow in London gardens and parks are a bit of a mixture these days. I've blogged about the difference between them and the environmental issues here. 

Bluebells are among my favourite flowers and I love to see them in bloom around Beltane. I'm still hoping to get time to go to a proper bluebell wood this year, but in the meantime I'm enjoying the ones that grow by my doorstep. The Londonist has an article with good places to see them in London, so that might inspire a trip over May's bank holiday weekends.

On each of my Pagan Eye posts, I show a photo that I find interesting, with a few words about it. 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 and you must confirm that you are submitting it for A Bad Witch's Blog.

Other previous posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/05/pagan-eye-bluebells-and-wood-anenomes.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/05/pagan-eye-vase-of-bluebells-and-wild.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/pagan-eye-countryside-bluebell-wood-or.html

Magickal Events for Beltane Online and in London

Beltane and May Day are this bank holiday Monday! 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 list in-person things taking place in or near London - and a few larger events further afield. 

Now to Saturday 17 June, Two exhibitions: Animal Guising and the Kentish Hooden Horse; Discovering a Bronze Age Hoard. Both exhibitions are at Maidstone Museum, St. Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LH. Free entry. https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk/

Now to 10 July; A Bestiary of Austin Osman Spare art exhibition. Venue: The Viktor Wynd Museum and The Last Tuesday Society, 11 Mare Street, London, E8 4RP. https://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/

Now to Friday 30 June; Tremulations, an exhibition with the premiere of Mark Leckey’s first virtual reality work: The Bridge, curated by Daniel Birnbaum and Jacqui Davies. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20-21 Bloomsbury Way WC1A 2TH. Open Mondays-Fridays 10.30am-5pm. Tickets free but book in advance; £3 for the VR experience. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tremulations-tickets-594569622747

Now to July; Exhibition: Envisioning Egypt via The Egypt Exploration Society. Venue: 3 Doughty Mews, London, WC1N 2PG. https://www.ees.ac.uk/

Now to 30 July; Labyrinth - Knossos, Myth and Reality. Exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Full price tickets £15.30. https://www.ashmolean.org/exhibition/labyrinth-knossos-myth-reality

Every Wednesday and Friday (except bank holidays); 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 - 27 May; Dancing at Lughnasa. Play by Brian Friel set during the Festival of Lughnasa in 1936 in which Pagans and Christians meet. Venue: Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX. Evening performances at 7.30pm. Tickets from £20. https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/dancing-at-lughnasa/

Now - Friday 5 May; Visualisations.The Magical Drawings of Renate von Charlottenburg. Venue: The Gardner Room at The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London, Eng WC1A 1LY. Free entry during shop opening hours. https://theatlantisbookshop.com/ 

Now - Wednesday 26 April; Expanded States of Consciousness World Summit. A free, 9-day online event featuring 60+ speakers. Starts 10am. https://www.meetup.com/Light-in-London/events/292386078/

Wednesday 26 April (every Wednesday); Live Chat hosted by Rachel Patterson, author of the Kitchen Witch series of books. Time: 9am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/RachelPattersonbooks/

Wednesday 26 April;  History, Icons and Representations of Saman’s Divine Abode. Lecture by Professor Mahinda Deegalle. In-person event by the Research Forum. Venue: The Courtauld Institute of Art, Lecture Theatre 2, Vernon Sq Campus, Penton Rise London WC1X 9EW. Time: 6pm. Free but you must reserve a place. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/history-icons-and-representations-of-samans-divine-abode-tickets-574411128147

Wednesday 26 April; Finding Lost Gods in Wales. Talk by Professor Ronald Hutton. Hybrid event. In-person venue: David Game College, 31 Jewry Street, London, EC3N 2ET. Time: 6pm. To register for the free online viewing visit: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/

Wednesday 26 April (every Wednesday); Feeling Sound Bath. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 26 April; In conversation In conversation; the druid and the witch. Dr Jonathan Woolley and Dr Rebecca Beattie, author of The Wheel of the Year, discuss celebrations, connection and the wheel of the year. Online event via Treadwell's. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 26 April and 3 May; Practical Energy Magic 2 with David Lee. Online evening class course through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 7pm. Tickets · £52.84. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Wednesday 26 April; Shamanic Womb Awakening with Drumming. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Thursday 27 April (and other dates); Morning Meditation. Free online event via Rest Less Events. Time: 9am. https://events.restless.co.uk/event-calendar/30-minute-morning-meditation/?

Thursday 27 April; Wendy O’Bierne - free introduction to "Cultivating Self Trust". Free online event by Mind Body Spirit. Time: 11am. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mind-body-spirit-6186126875

Thursday 27 April; Monica Parker - free introduction to “The Power of Wonder". Free online event by Mind Body Spirit. Time: 1pm. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mind-body-spirit-6186126875

Thursday 27 April (and other dates); 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 April; Goddess Astrology. Free talk and book signing with Elisabeth Brook. Venue:  Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Court, · London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5.30pm. https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks

Thursday 27 April; Shamanic Fire Ceremony with Itzhak Beery. Venue: the College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 27 April; Magical Qabalah Introduced. Online workshop with Julian Vayne via Treadwell's. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 27 April; Shamanic Plant Ceremony. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Thursday 27 April (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 https://assap.ac.uk/

Thursday 27 April; The Grail, the Cauldron and the Spiritual Quest. Online talk by Dr Vivianne Crowley via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 27 April; Tarot Circle. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £27.80. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Thursday 27 April; PF London Beltane Open Ritual via Pagan Federation London. Venue: Pirate Castle, Gilbey's Wharf Oval Road NW1 7EA London, UK Time: 7.20pm. Entry £8 for PF members, £10 for non-members (cash only). https://www.facebook.com/PaganFederationLondon

Thursday 27 April;  Song Medicine. Venue: Studio 2, Telegraph Hill Centre, Kitto Road, SE14 5TY. Time: 7.30pm, Tickets: £15. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/heartsongcollective/740541

Thursday 27 April; Rosaleen Norton: Pan’s Daughter: Presentation by Julia Phillips. Online talk 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 27 April (every Thursday); Eimear Burke, Chief of the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids, has an in-depth conversation with fellow practitioners on Facebook Live. Time: 8pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/druidry

Friday 28 April (and other dates), Mindfulness - Adult colouring. Venue: Paddington Library, 45 Porchester Road, London W2 5DU. Time: 5.30pm. Free but you must book a ticket. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mindfulness-adult-colouring-tickets-598984567967?

Friday 28 April; Michael Staley presents Kenneth Grant's The Ninth Arch. Venue:  Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Court, · London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5.30pm. Free https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks

Friday 28 April;  Sacred Cacao Ceremony with Itzhak Beery. Venue: the College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

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

Friday 28 April; Crystal Healing and Mindful Art to Manifest Your Dreams. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Friday 28 April;  Psychedelic Sound Meditation. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Friday 28 April; Beltane/Mayday  Celebration with South East London Pagans. Venue: One Tree Hill, Honor Oak, South London. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/516498460514835/

Friday 28 April (and other dates); Online Meditation Session. Time: Time: 7.30pm. Free online event, but donations welcome. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Friday 28 April; Gef the Talking Mongoose with Christopher Josiffe Online talk 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 28 April - 1 May; Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green 2023. A long weekend of celebrations with entertainment and a procession. Free, just turn up. https://www.facebook.com/events/592158329221299/

Saturday 29 April; Connecting with Nature through Movement and Meditation: Co-creation for the Future. One-day workshop. Venue: Rudolf  Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, Marylebone, London. Time: 10am. Tickets: £45 full/£35 concession. https://www.michaelfullergardens.co.uk/workshops-courses/?

Saturday 29 April - 1 May; Rochester Sweeps Festival 2023.  Three-day celebration of folk music, dance and more. Venue: Rochester, Kent. Free, just turn up. https://www.facebook.com/events/1667218683734069/

Saturday 29 April; Hunting for Essex Witches through archives and archaeology. Venue: Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6YT. Time: 10.30am. Tickets: £11 – £13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hunting-for-essex-witches-through-archives-and-archaeology-tickets-514720642297?

Saturday 29 April; Beltane Bliss. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 11am. Tickets: £35. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 April; How Vision Heals: Shamanic Diagnostic and Healing Practices. Weekend workshop with Itzhak Beery. Venue: the College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £230. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 29 April; The Pagan Federation Online Beltane Festival by the Community Support Team. Time: 11am to 5pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/260878089700832/

Saturday 29 April (and other dates); Soul Restore Sound Healing. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Two times: 11.45am and 4pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Saturday 29 April; Altered States through Meditation. Workshop with Ann Mathie. Venue: the College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £80. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 29 April; Free and Open Gorsedd of Caer Abiri Beltane open ritual, Venue: the stone circle at Avebury, Wiltshire. Meet at noon by the Red Lion pub before heading to the stone circle for the ritual at 1.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/763349625056846

Saturday 29 April; Woodland Beltane 2023 Ceremony and Gathering with Mani via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Venue: Meet Queen's Woods, Queenswood Road entrance, Highgate, North · London. Time: 2pm. Tickets £5. https://www.meetup.com/londonwoodlandwitches/events/291796696/?

Saturday 29 April; Walking in the Footsteps of your Year, at this Ostara Solar Festival. Guided walk with Jeremy Rye. Meet at the London Stone (TBC prior to the walk) 111 Cannon Street London EC4N 5AR. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/jeremy-rye-31055883021#

Saturday 29 April; Beltane Ceremony with Watchers of the Old Ways at the Rollright Stones, off the A3400,Chipping Norton  OX7 5QB. Time: 2pm. Entry: £1. https://www.facebook.com/events/715924950322900

Saturday 29 April; Michael Staley presents Kenneth Grant's The Ninth Arch. Free online event via Watkins Bookshop. Time: 5.30pm. https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks

Saturday 29 April; Beltane Cacao Ceremony. Venue: Revive Yoga and Pilates Tooting Bec, 249 Balham High Road, London SW17 7BE. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets from £25.08. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beltane-cacao-ceremony-tickets-559079450687?

Saturday 29 April (and other dates); Witches and Witchcraft History. Pay What You Can Walking Tour by Wonders of London. Meet at Tower Hill Station, Trinity Square Gardens, London EC3N 1JL. Time: 7pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/witches-witchcraft-history-pay-what-you-can-walking-tour-london-tickets-481606948347?

Sunday 30 April; Glastonbury Dragons May Fair - fair and procession with dragons. Venue: Abbot's Kitchen, Glastonbury Abbey and Town, Wiltshire. Time: 10am to 5pm. Free. https://www.glastonburyabbey.com/whats-on/special-events/glastonbury-dragons-may-fair.php

Sunday 30 April; Shamanic Group with Les Fuller. All welcome Venue: Woodford Church at 9 Grove Crescent, South Woodford, London E18 2JR. Time 11am-3pm. Tickets: £10. http://woodfordchurch.com/

Sunday 30 April;  Anderida Gorsedd Beltane open ritual. Venue: Long Man of Wilmington, Wilmington, near Eastbourne, East Sussex. Meet near the car park between 1.30pm and 2pm, walk up to the chalk hill figure at 2pm. Afterwards, the Giants Rest pub. https://www.facebook.com/groups/227609495203/

Sunday 30 April; Astro Cartography - Locational Astrology. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £44. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Sunday 30 April; Venus and Aphrodite: History of a Goddess. Bettany Hughes on the Roman goddess Venus. Venue: Knowledge Centre, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB. Time: 3pm. Tickets: £2.50 – £10. https://www.bl.uk/events/

Sunday 30 April; Myths and Legends of London May Eve Special Guided Walk  led by Kevin Flude, a former archaeologist at the Museum of London. Time: 3pm. Tickets: £5 – £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/myths-and-legends-of-london-may-eve-special-guided-walk-tickets-601332480637?

Sunday 30 April; The Higher Self. Online event via Bennu's Table. Within Bennu’s Table, Katie Gerrard blends psychology with witchcraft and shamanism. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £2. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bennus-table-48276445013

Sunday 30 April;  Untame Your Heart - Beltane Magic. A Crimson Craft Retreat with Halo Quin. Online event. Time: 6pm-9pm. Full price tickets £79. https://haloquin.ck.page/products/divine-love-retreat

Sunday 30 April (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 April; Beltane Celebration. 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 April; Ghosts in Antiquity and in Magic with Prof Marguerite Johnson. Online talk through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets · from £6.86. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Monday 1 May;  Garland Day. Venue: Lewes, Sussex. Time: 10am. Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/events/2157199764490652

Monday 1 May; Beltane Yoga, Journalling and Sound Journey. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 10.30am. Tickets: £25. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Monday 1 May; Fowlers Troop and the Deptford Jack in the Green will be out and about in South London this May Day. Jack will start from the Dog and Bell at noon. From there the troop will make tour of Greenwich and Deptford.  Everyone is welcome to come along. Details: https://www.deptford-jack.org.uk/

Monday 1 May; Sound Bath and Energy Ritual. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 1.30pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Monday 1 May; Women's Circle: Beltane. Venue: The DOJO space, 2a Doyle Gardens, London. Time: 2.30pm. Tickets: £16.96. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womens-circle-beltane-tickets-615656995647

Monday 1 May; Beltane Ceremony and Shamanic Drumming. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 5pm. Tickets: £26. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Monday 1 May; Taking Nature's Hand: May. What has nature in mind for you this month? Online event with Jeremy Rye.  Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/jeremy-rye-31055883021#

Monday 1 May; Beltane: an free online celebration by
Cunning Folk. Time: 7pm.  https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cunning-folk-7829505560

Monday 1 May; Unleash your SuperGenius and Master your Life. Free online event by Mind Body Spirit. Time: 7pm. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mind-body-spirit-6186126875

Tuesday 2 May; Ananta Ajmira - free introduction to “Channel Your Emotions". Free online event by Mind Body Spirit. Time: 3pm. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mind-body-spirit-6186126875

Tuesday 2 May; Where Do I Start? First class in 6 session online course by Anthony Kesner via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 5.15pm. Tickets: £145 for the course. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 2 May; Mediumship for Beginners. First class in 12 session online course by Anthony Kesner via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £230 for the course. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 2 May; Beltane Celebration 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 2 May; (tbc but usually first Tuesday each month); The Witches' Inn Moot. Venue: Halt and Pull pub, Horley. Time: 8pm. Free event. https://www.facebook.com/The-Witches-Inn-1568424150049437

Tuesday 2 May;  Geomitica - the Mythology of Shape - with maze expert Adrian Fisher. Online talk through The Last Tuesday Society and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £6.86. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Wednesday 3 May; Blue Lotus Cacao Ceremony via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Venue: Hampstead Heath woods, North · London (meet at Bistro Laz). Time: 11am.  Tickets £11. https://www.meetup.com/londonwoodlandwitches/events/291796696/?

Wednesday 3 May; Mechanics of Mediumship. First class in 12 session online course by Anthony Kesner via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 5.15pm. Tickets: £240 for the course. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 3 May; Storytelling by Candlelight. Outdoor storytelling for adults with London Dreamtime and special guest Debs Newbold. Venue: Asylum Chapel Caroline Gardens, London SE15. Time: 6.30pm.. Tickets  £8 - £25. https://www.londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Wednesday 3 May; Drum Healing. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 3 May (first Wednesday of the month); Drumming and Meditation online with Taz Thornton. Time: 7pm Price: free. https://www.facebook.com/TazThorntonOfficial#

Wednesday 3 May; Tales of Hidden Bulgaria By A Spell In Time. Online talk 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 4 May - 13 August; Luxury and Power - Persia to Greece exhibition. Venue: British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Tickets £15/free for members. https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Thursday 4 May; Lavina Mehta - free introduction to “Feel Good with Lavina”. Free online event by Mind Body Spirit. Time: 1pm. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mind-body-spirit-6186126875

Thursday 4 May; Against the Grain. Free talk and book signing with Prema Goet. Venue:  Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Court, · London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5.30pm. https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks

Thursday 4 May; A Feminist's Guide to Botany - Hilma AF Klint and Theosophy. Online talk via London Drawing Group. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/london-drawing-group-11407647443

Thursday 4 May;  Monthly Full Moon Ceremony. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £27.80. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Thursday 4 May; Folk Charming Series: On Bells. Online workshop with Hannah Sanders via Treadwell's. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 4 May; Holly Husler - free introduction to “Manifesting Magic". Free online event by Mind Body Spirit. Time: 3pm. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mind-body-spirit-6186126875

Thursday 4, 11, 18 and 25 May; Awakening the Volva. First class in an online course on Seidr Norse shamanisms and divination. Optional in-person rite on 27 May, 2-6pm. Taught by Katie Gerrard and Andre Henriques via Treadwell's Bookshop, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £80 online course only, £90 including ritual. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 4 May; May the 4th be with You! Science, Fiction and Magic. Online talk by Julian Vayne via Treadwell's. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Friday 5 May; Bo and Bon. Free talk and book signing with Dmitry Ermakov. Venue:  Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Court, · London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5pm. https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks

Friday 5 May; Full Moon Peace Fires. Light a candle or fire for peace wherever you are in the world, for 10 minutes or longer and state the intention: “Let there be peace on earth and love for one another.” Free.  http://peacefires.org/

Friday 5 May;  Moon Space - SLC's cosmic cyber circle with Tree Carr. Online via She's Lost Control. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Friday 5 May; Scorpio Lunar Eclipse - Full Moon Ceremony by the Thames with Mani via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Venue: Meet by the Millennium Bridge, · London. Time: 7pm. Tickets £5. https://www.meetup.com/londonwoodlandwitches/events/291796696/?

Friday 5 May; Full Moon in Scorpio Eclipse Circle. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Friday 5 May; Full Moon Ritual with the Goddess Hekate. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London, SE9 6SH. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/product-category/events-and-workshops/

Friday 5 May; Beginner Witches Circle Monthly Class. Venue: Kallima Wellbeing Centre, 8A Adam Business Centre, Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, SS14 3JF. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/kallima-wellbeing-centre-15972923230

Friday 5 May; Rite of Her Sacred Fires 2023 - Celebration of the Goddess Hekate. Free online event with Sorita d'Este. Time: 9.30pm. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rite-of-her-sacred-fires-2023-online-tickets-616148154717?

Saturday 6 May; Women's Sacred Healing Circle with the Moon Circles, Ceremonies, Meditations and More Meetup Group, Venue: Private address in · London SW17. Time: noon. Tickets £22/£15. https://www.meetup.com/sw-london-healing-circles-ceremonies/

Saturday 6 May; Beltane Celebration Honouring the Green Man. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London, SE9 6SH. Time: 3pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/product-category/events-and-workshops/

Saturday 6 May; Taurus Season Astro Circle. Venue: She's Lost Control, Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Saturday 6 May; The OBOD Online Bealtaine/Beltane Ceremony, by Order of Bards Ovates and Druids. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/189067097291365/

Sunday 7 May; Sweat Lodge organised by Aho Studio. In-person event. Venue: Berkeley Farm, a few miles outside London. Time: noon. Tickets: £80/£40. www.aho.community

Sunday 7 May; Priestesses in conversation: Janet Farrar, co-author of A Witches' Bible, and Rebecca Beattie, author of The Wheel of the Year, on Wicca and Witchcraft. Online event via Treadwell's. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Sunday 7 May; Storytelling Co-Operative: “Poisons and Cures” with London Dreamtime. Venue: Pullens centre (Green door) 184 Crampton St SE17 3LL. Time: 2.30pm.. Tickets  Free. https://www.londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Sunday 7 May (usually around the first Sunday of the month); Beltane 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 7 May; Soul Gathering - ceremonies, talks, demonstrations and performances. Venue: Bradwell Village Hall and Caravan Rally Site, Southminster, Essex. Time: 5pm. Standard tickets: £30. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/soul-gathering-tickets-594971354337?

Sunday 7 May; Stone Club: Rediscovering Ancient Sites, with Lally MacBeth and Matthew Shaw, author of The Atmosphere of Mona. Online talk 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 any of these events. 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. If you know an event you want included, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com

Occult London: Witchy Shopping at Wicca Moon

Eltham, in South East London, has one of London's best witchcraft shops - Wicca Moon. I've described it in the past as an Aladdin's cave because it's so full of wonderful treasures. 

The shop is large with lots of different spaces displaying a range of magical things to buy. There are also rooms for readings and a workshop area tucked away at the back. I popped in on Saturday to pick up a copy of the new Wicca Moon Goddess Oracle, which you can see in the photo to the right. I'll be posting a review of the deck in the near future.

One of the things I love about Wicca Moon is that it sells a huge variety of esoteric things including books, tarot decks, spell ingredients, crystals, jewellery, statues, and the shop's own handcrafted range of magical products - some of which you can see in the photo at the bottom. 

Shirlee has been running Wicca Moon for decades and is one of the most experienced witches I know. She runs a great range of training courses covering goddess worship, the wheel of the year, and practical magic. The shop is very much part of both the local community and London's magical community. It's the kind of place you can just pop in and browse, chat or ask for advice on witchy topics.  

Wicca Moon is at 50 Well Hall Rd, Eltham, London SE9 6SH, about a 5-minute walk from Eltham Station. The shop's also situated between historic Eltham Palace and the lovely park of Well Hall Pleasaunce, both of which are worth visiting. 

As well as being a physical shop, Wicca Moon also sells a huge range of items online. You can find out more here: https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/

Other previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/review-wicca-moon-tarot-deck.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/04/pagan-shopping-wicca-moon-beltane.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/06/summer-solstice-review-wicca-moon-litha.html

My Events: Protection, May, Candles, Psychogeography

Here are details of the talks, workshops and other events I'm involved with in May and June. There's a mix of online and in-person events on cleansing and protection, seasonal folklore and witchcraft, candle magic, and psychogeography.

May Events

Cleansing and Protection Online Talk via The College of Psychic Studies

On Tuesday 16 May I'm giving an illustrated online talk on Cleansing and Protection Magic through The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16 from https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/talks/myth-magic/cleansing-and-protection-magic/

Magic for May at the Sussex Faerie Festival

I'm running a workshop on folklore and magic for May at the Sussex Faerie Festival 2023. The festival runs from 19 to 21 May and is a camping event with entertainment, a market and workshops, but you can pop along for a single day. My workshop will be on the Saturday and is free for anyone who has a ticket for the festival. The site is at Pleasant Rise Farm, Alfriston, East Sussex. Tickets are priced from £10 for one day. https://www.magicalfestivals.co.uk/shop

June Events

Candle Magic at Treadwells 

My next in-person in-person candle magic workshop is at Treadwell's in London on Saturday 3 June. It's based on my book Pagan Portals - Candle Magic. Treadwell's Bookshop is at 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.

Psychogeography Online Talk via the College of Psychic Studies

On Tuesday 27th June I'm giving an illustrated online talk on Psychogeography: Mystical Alignments in the Land through The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16.   https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/talks/energy-work/psychogeography-mystical-alignments-in-the-land/

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, Scrying, and Rounding the Wheel of the Year.  

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, and on my Amazon author page. (Note: I earn commission from advertisers for some links. This helps support my blog at no extra cost to those who read my posts.)