A bad witch's blog: October 2023

Tuesday, 31 October 2023

Ritual Poetry: Call to the Ancestors at Samhain

Here are some words I wrote to be used to honour the beloved dead at Samhain - or at other times. This call to the ancestors could be used as part of a solitary observation or a ritual with a larger pagan group. If you are on your own you could simply light a candle and say the poem, pausing in the middle to remember loved ones who have passed.

Call to the Ancestors

By memory I call to thee
Bloodlines of my ancestry
Beloved friends and family
Or distant names upon that tree

By memory I call to thee
Those I can no longer see
Veiled beyond mortality
Harken to this liturgy

By memory I call to thee
On this night please visit me
That we might reunited be
And talk again in harmony

[Pause for silent meditation on the ancestors]

By memory I called to thee
Beloved friends and family
Now bid you reverentially
To rest in peace and blessed be.

Copyright Lucya Starza October 2023

You can find more ideas for seasonal magic and ritual in my book Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year, published by Moon Books. Copies can be bought from Treadwell's bookshop at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London, or from online sellers such as Waterstones and Amazon.

Monday, 30 October 2023

Green London: Ancient Woodlands Around Highgate

Highgate might be most famous for its Victorian cemetery, but many pagans know it because it has acres of woodland that are a wonderful site for rituals. There are actually four ancient woods in the borough of Haringey in North London: Highgate Wood, Queen's Wood, Coldfall Wood and Bluebell Wood.

Visit the woods around the time of any of the Wheel of the Year festivals and you are likely to see druids, witches, shamanic drummers and followers of various spiritual traditions honouring nature, the season and the ancient gods. I was in Queens Wood at the weekend for a beautiful Druid Samhain rite and took the photo at the top of this post. I also took the photo of our altar with a cauldron and turnip lanterns set up before we began.

I've been blogging regularly about London's green spaces in an effort to dispel a prevalent myth that it's just all concrete. My posts cover everything from beautiful trees in the Square Mile itself, to gardens in and around Bloomsbury, to rivers running through meadows in south London, to large parks and woods where you can wander for hours.

Saturday, 28 October 2023

Halloween Crafts: Little Ghosts & Shadow Monsters

I made these little ghosts and shadow monsters out of leftover scraps of wool as Halloween or Samhain decorations. The scraps of were really quite tiny - they were the leftover offcuts from crocheting granny square blankets. This is how to make them:

Lay out several strands of wool together side by side. It's fine if they are slightly uneven lengths as the ghosts and ghouls look better if they are a bit raggedy and spindly.

Get another strand of wool and tie it tightly around the middle of the other lengths. This is the bit you will use to hang it up from.

Fold the main bunch of strands in half then tie another strand a little way down to form a head and a spooky body.

You could use the monsters to decorate a Halloween tree or hang them up anywhere you like. You could even tie them together to make a long ghostly garland.

I've also blogged about other Halloween crafting and magic:

There are more ideas for seasonal activities in my new book Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year, published by Moon Books. Copies can be bought from Treadwell's bookshop at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London, or from online sellers such as Waterstones and Amazon. (Note: I earn commission from advertisers for some links.)

Friday, 27 October 2023

Video of My Talk on Rounding the Wheel of the Year

If you missed my Facebook Live launch event for my new book Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year this morning, here's the video recording on YouTube!

You can order copies from my publisher Moon Books, or from places like Amazon, Waterstones and Barnes and Noble. If you are in London then you can find them at Treadwell’s bookshop at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, and at the College of Psychic Studies at 16 Queensberry Place, South Kensington. I also teach workshops at both of those places.

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

Wheel of the Year Altars: My Ancestor Altar for Samhain

Here's my ancestor altar for Samhain, the festival celebrated by modern pagans to honour loved ones who have passed. On the altar I put old photographs of my parents, my grandma and the cat I owned when I was a child.

Altars are good ways to mark the turning of the seasons and the Wheel of the Year. They don't have to be big. This one is on top of the fireplace in my witchy room. On it I always have small statues of deities but the other things change. It can have seasonal flowers, candles of an appropriate colour and other things such as small pictures or photographs.

I'm sharing this picture on the day my new book is published: Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year. It covers things to do to celebrate the changing seasons including folklore, customs, magic, ritual and crafts.

This morning I'm doing a free online talk to mark the launch. It will be on Facebook Live, but the recording will be put on my YouTube channel afterwards. I'll be reading from the book, chatting and answering questions. It's 10am for the live event, but will be available for watching later too. You can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/events/829297315867310

Copies of Rounding the Wheel of the Year can be found at my publisher Moon Books: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-rounding-wheel-year

They can also be bought from Treadwell's bookshop at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London, or ordered online from Waterstones and Amazon. (Note: I earn commission from advertisers for some links. This helps support my blog at no extra cost to those who read my posts.)

Thursday, 26 October 2023

Book Extract: Circle, Coven & Grove Full Moon Ritual

Here's an extract from the new edition of a classic book of rituals for groups of witches. The book's called Circle, Coven, and Grove by Deborah Blake and it's published by Crossed Crow Books. This extract is a lovely October Full Moon Ritual. This year, 2023, the full moon falls on October 28, just before Samhain.

October Full Moon Ritual: Opening the Inner Eye

As we move indoors for the colder weather, we also turn our attentions inward. The October Full Moon, preceeding Samhain, is ideal for working on prophecy and inner vision. As the veil between the worlds grows thinner, it becomes easier to see that which is normally unseen and to hear the quiet inner voice that sometimes guides us.

Witches have historically used various forms of divination including tarot cards, rune stones, scrying mirrors, and crystal balls. All of these tools help us to access our sixth sense which moves in areas beyond the normal five. Not all Witches are psychic nor are all psychics Witches—but it is not uncommon for those who are drawn to Wicca to also have a gift for working with the tools of divination.

If those in your group do not have tarot cards or rune stones, now is the perfect time to get them and start to develop a feel for using them. Some Witches are more comfortable with one tool than another, and some use them all. (There are even a few folks who are uneasy with the whole idea—they can just observe and learn if that is what they wish. Never force anyone in your group to do anything that makes them uncomfortable.)

For this ritual, the members of Blue Moon Circle used tarot cards, since we all had them, even though some of us had been reading cards for years (one professionally), and two had just started. If your group doesn’t want to get tarot cards, they can easily buy or make their own rune stones and use those instead.

The main focus of this Full Moon ritual is on opening the inner eye (or vision) so that we can see more clearly, but there is also a small blessing for use in consecrating your cards or stones. This blessing can also be used during other rituals to consecrate additional tools for magickal use.

Supplies needed:

Tarot cards or rune stones (preferably one set for each member in the group, although you can share if you need to).
Magickal oil (good ones to use for divination include lemongrass, sage, patchouli, and sandalwood, but you can use whatever makes you feel relaxed and centered).

Consecrate and cleanse the circle by passing sage or incense.

Consecrate and cleanse the circle by passing salt and water.

Cast the circle hand to hand.

Call the Quarters. (If you like, you can ask Air for help with psychic powers, Fire for help with courage in facing the unknown, Water for help with intuition, and North for help staying grounded and focused during the work.)

HPS invokes the Goddess. (Full Moon invocation)

If desired, this is a good time to read The Charge of the Goddess.

Sit in the circle and get comfortable. Discuss past experiences with the cards (or whatever tools you are using for this ritual) and divination. If anyone has new tarot cards or rune stones, the HPS can use this blessing (originally found in the February chapter) to consecrate them.

Tool Consecration Blessing

Great Goddess, bless these cards,
That they may be used for good and never harm.
That they may help me in my Craft
And aid me in my magickal work.
From this day forward
May they be blessed and consecrated
By the power of Earth (sprinkle tool with salt),
By the power of Air (waft with feather, incense, or sage),
By the power of Fire (pass tool over candle),
And the power of Water (sprinkle tool with water),
And by the power of the spirit which lies within us all.
So Mote It Be.

Take turns going around the circle and doing a reading for each other. It is fine for the more experienced readers to help out any members who are still unsure of what they are doing. You are tuning in to the cards (or stones) during this part of the ritual, but you can also be having fun!

Once you have each had a turn, you can do the following spell to open your inner vision even more. In the future, you can do this spell any time you are in need of guidance—although you may find that it was so effective the first time that you never have to repeat it.

Pass the magickal oil around the circle and place a drop on your third eye (between the eyebrows, thought to be the center of psychic power) OR take turns around the circle placing the oil on each other. When you are finished, focus, and say this spell:

Spell to Open the Inner Eye

Moon, Moon, burning bright,
Help me hone my inner sight.
Make my vision clear and true,
Show me what I need to do.
Whether cards or stones of old,
Show me what I need to know.
Guide my heart and guide my hand,
Help me see and understand.
So Mote It Be.

Pass Cakes and Ale.

Pass the Speaking Stick.

Dismiss the Quarters.

HPS thanks the Goddess.

Open the circle

Circle, Coven, and Grove is published by Crossed Crow Books and you can find it here. It's both hardback and paperback editions. You can also view the book on Amazon. (Note: I earn commission from advertisers for some links. This helps support my blog at no extra cost to those who read my posts.)

Wednesday, 25 October 2023

Magical Events for Samhain Online & Near London

Here's a list of online witchy events and in-person activities over October's full moon, Samhain or Halloween, and the week ahead. I mostly list online events and things taking place in London, as that's where I live, plus a few festivals, rituals and conferences further afield. I hope you have a magical time, whatever you get up to!

Now - 31 October; Halloweek! The College of Psychic Studies doors are open - explore six floors of haunted photos, spirit art and intriguing artefacts and enjoy a packed programme of Halloweek specials. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: from 11am. Free entry to explore the college during the day, some ticketed lates and special events. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Now - 31 December; Documenting British Folklore in Paint, Photography and Sculpture. Exhibition by Ben Edge at The Viktor Wynd Museum of UnNatural History. Venue: 11 Mare Street, London, E8 4RP. https://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/museum/

Now - 22 December; Exhibition - Histories and Hauntings. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20-21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH. Tickets free https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Now - 1 November; London Month of the Dead organised by Curious Invitation and Antique Beat in conjunction with Brompton and Kensal Green cemeteries. Tours, talks, workshops and entertainment on the theme of death. For a full list of the events and to book tickets, visit the London Month of the Dead website: http://www.londonmonthofthedead.com/

Now - 11 November; Witchcraft and Magic exhibition. Venue: Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery, Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF. Free entry. https://peterboroughmuseum.org.uk/events/witchcraft-magic-exhibition

Now - 28 October; Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram. Venue: Southwark Cathedral. Various times. Adult tickets £3. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/southwark-cathedral-35795829

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 25 October (every Wednesday); Live Chat hosted by Rachel Patterson, author of the Gods and Goddesses of England and the Kitchen Witch series of books. Time: 9am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/RachelPattersonbooks/

Wednesday 25 October; College of Psychic Studies Guided Tour with Curator and Archivist Vivienne Roberts. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 25 October; Music, Merriment and Mead: A Traditional Álfablót Elf Ritual with Andreas Kornevall. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £24. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 25 October; The Art and Science of Scrying. Online talk by Julian Vayne via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 25 October; Spiritual Intelligence in an Age of Pervasive AI. Online Presentation by Dr Mark Vernon, hosted by the Scientific and Medical Network. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £11.99. https://scientificandmedical.net/events/

Wednesday 25 October; Multi-Dimensional Starseed Elevation and Activation Circle. 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

Wednesday 25 October; Magic of the Greek Magical Papyri. Start of Four-week Course with Lucia Segura , via Treadwell's. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £100 for the course. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 25 October (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 25 October; The Esoteric Psychology of Halloween or... Talk by Kieran Jarvis-Brown. Venue: Walthamstow Trades Hall, 61-63 Tower Hamlets Rd, Walthamstow, London E17 4RQ. Door time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £5. https://www.wegottickets.com/event/593404

Wednesday 25 October (last Wednesday every month); Samhain at Hertford Pagan Moot. Venue: The White Horse, 33 Castle Street, Hertford. Time: 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/104788436218047

Wednesday 25 October; Women, Witches and the Wild Hunt. Talk by Sarah Lloyd Winder via Zoom through The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 9pm. Tickets · from £5.68. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 26 October; Amazonia: Differing Research Perspectives in Ethnography and Folklore. Folklore Society day of talks. Venue: 50 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 5BT. Time 10am. https://folklore-society.com/

Thursday 26 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 26 October; Hallowe’en Takeover at the Wellcome Collection. Talks, discussion, a film screening and workshops on the topic of Halloween from 4pm-6pm. Free, just pop in. Venue: 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. https://wellcomecollection.org/

Thursday 26 October; Author Talk - Stage Ghosts and Haunted Theatres by Nick Bromley. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 9-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5.30pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 26 October; Sacred Sounds Healing. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £31.05. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Thursday 26 October; Ghosted - Reclaim Your Inner Witch. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Thursday 26 October; Magical Writing and Living. Witch Lit authors, Kate Genet author of The Gathering and Sheena Cundy, author of Riches for Witches and The Witch Wavelength will chat about magical writing and living online. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/1721864924956475

Thursday 26 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 https://assap.ac.uk/

Thursday 26 October; Scorpio Season Planet Pulse Astro Circle. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Friday 27 October; Online launch of my book Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year. It will be on Facebook Live, but the recording will be put on my YouTube channel afterwards. Time 10am for the live event, but will be available for watching later too https://www.facebook.com/events/829297315867310

Friday 27 October - 1 November; Deathless Spells: Aliki Karveli solo exhibition. Venue: Crypt of St Pancras New Church, 165 Euston Rd, London NW1 2BA. Time: 11am-8pm. Tickets available for performances and sound art nights. https://linktr.ee/alicekarveli.blackarrows

Friday 27 October; Celebrate Samhain with Rituals and Spells. Online workshop with Rachel Patterson via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 27 October (and other dates); Mind, Body Restore Online Yoga. Time: 6.15pm. Free online event. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents/

Friday 27 October; Go with the Flowga. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Friday 27 October; A Halloween Gathering of Ghostly Tales with Sara Kestelman. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Tickets: free. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 27 October; The Heart of Sekhem. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Friday 27 October (and other dates); Online Meditation Session. Time: 7.30pm. Free online event, but donations welcome. https://www.meetup.com/freestuffandfreeevents

Saturday 28 October; The Magical And Medicinal Uses of Herbs. One-day workshop with Trefor Wickens of South East London Pagans. The Electric Elephant Cafe, 186A Crampton Street, London, SE17 3AE. Time: 10am. Tickets: £45. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834/

Saturday 28 October; Samhain Witches Market. Venue: Marks Tey Village Hall, Colchester, Essex. Time: 10am. https://www.facebook.com/events/s/samhain-goddess-and-witches-ma/672008311403425/

Saturday 28 October; Constructing the witch: how women became maleficent. Class with Ann Jeffers via City Lit. Venue: Keeley Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 4BA, Time: 10.30am. Tickets: £59/£47/£38. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/

Saturday 28 October; The Shamanic Path: Honouring Our Ancestors with Jez Hughes, author of The Heart of Life. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £115. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 28 October; Sacred Sweat Lodge Honouring Samhain. Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain Kent. Run by Lynn Gosney. Time: 11.30am. Tickets tbc, email lynn.gosney@hotmail.com for info and to book. https://www.facebook.com/shamaniccentrecaercorhrain/

Saturday 28 October; Witches' Tea Party. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London, SE9 6SH. Time: from Noon. Free to pop in for a chat, readings £15. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/product-category/events-and-workshops/

Saturday 28 October; Healing Heart Urban Retreat. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 1.30pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Saturday 28 October; Free and Open Gorsedd Samhain Rite at Avebury Stone Circle in Wiltshire. Open Druidic style ceremony. Meet at the Red Lion pub from Noon for ceremony at 1.30pm until 3pm. Free event - offerings of song, poetry, cake, mead are welcomed. https://www.facebook.com/groups/49080749624

Saturday 28 October; The World of Witches talk by Dr Ian Browne. Venue: Havering Museum, 19-21 High Street, Romford, RM1 1JU. Time: 1.30pm. Tickets £5. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-world-of-witches-29th-october-tickets-659333633647?

Saturday 28 October; Walking in the footsteps of your year, at this Samhain Solar Festival. Sacred walk. Starts at: 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 28 October; Samhain at the Rollright Stones, Chipping Norton OX7 5QB. Time: 2pm. Ritual is free but there is a small entry fee to enter the field with the stones. https://www.facebook.com/groups/191116414323528/

Saturday 28 October; Crystals for Ancestral Healing. Online workshop with Nicholas Pearson via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £80. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 28 October; Drumming Circle, organised by Emma Hewitt of Salamay Tarot and Healing Arts. Venue: Forest Hill Friends Meeting House, 34 Sunderland Road, London SE23 2QA. Time: 2pm. Tickets £10. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/emma-hewitt-salamay-tarot-healing-arts-38061527643

Saturday 28 October; 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/

Saturday, 28 October; Full Moon Circle Calling Dark Goddess. Witches, Herbalists and Healers. Venue: The Goddess Studio, 116 Whitehouse Way London N14 7LU. Time: 4pm Tickets £36.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/claudia-chapman-reikilifecoach-20248016862

Saturday, 28 October; The Roots of Samhain. Talk by Professor of Religion, Graham Harvey. Venue: Tooting Commons - Woodfield Pavilion, via 16A Abbotswood Road, London SW16 1AP. Time: 5pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-roots-of-samhain-tickets-735652555597

Saturday 28 October; Fearsome Folktales and Enchanted Echoes. Venue: Butser Ancient Farm, Waterlooville, Hampshire. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £18. https://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/

Saturday 28 October; 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

Saturday 28 October; Taurus Full Moon Circle. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Saturday 28 October; Full Moon Women's Circle. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Saturday 28 October (and other dates); Witches and Witchcraft History - Pay What You Can Walking Tour - London by Wonders of London. Meet outside the exit of Tower Hill Station by Trinity Square Gardens, Tower Hill Station, 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-687827950917?

Sunday 29 October; A Tarot Connection to our Ancestral Voices with Avril Price. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 10am. Tickets: £115. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 29 October; Celebrating Samhain - Yoga, Journaling and Sound Journey (Gongs, Bowls). 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

Sunday 29 October; 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 29 October; Anderida Gorsedd Samhain 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 29 October; Sacred Rage Ceremony - Sound Journey, Movement, Breathwork and Energy Release. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £40. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Sunday 29 October; Woodland Samhain 2023 - Seasonal Ritual with Mani via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Venue: Queen's Wood, Highgate, North· London. Time: 3pm. Tickets: £10/£7 https://www.meetup.com/londonwoodlandwitches/events/

Sunday 29 October; Cut the Cord. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 4pm. Tickets: £35/£40. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Sunday 29 October; Pipes of Pan Hallowe'en Market! Venue: Helgi's, 177 Mare Street, London E8 3RH. Time: 4pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/290394283844565

Sunday 29 and Monday 30 October; Dark Norse, storytelling by Jason Buck. Venue: Drayton Arms Theatre, 153 Old Brompton Road, London SW5 0LJ. Times: Sun 29 Oct 5pm, Mon 30 Oct 7.30pm. Tickets: £14/£10. https://www.thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk/

Sunday 29 October; Utiseta. 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 29 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 29 October; Samhain/Halloween 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 29 October; The Samhain (Hunters/Red/Blood) Full Moon Ceremony. Venue: 2 Webber Street, London, SE1 0GB. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/samhain-huntersredblood-full-moon-ceremony-tickets-709767723367

Monday 30 October; Spanish 2/3: Celebraciones en España: “Halloween”, herencia celta, ritos y leyendas. Discover Spanish traditions of celebrating Halloween. Online class with Vanesa Guzman taught in Spanish via City Lit. Time:noon. Full fee: £29, Concession: £19. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/

Monday 30 October; The Witchcraze in 16th and 17th century Europe History: Witch Stereotypes. Online talk by Emma via Rest Less Events. Time: 2:30 pm £2.99/Free for members. https://events.restless.co.uk/event-calendar/the-witchcraze-in-16th-and-17th-century-europe/

Monday 30 October; Spooky Soirée - explore the art and artefacts on display. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 6pm. Tickets: free but you must reserve a place. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 30 October; Taking Nature's Hand: November. 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 30 October; Samhain Celebration online by GreenSpirit. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/861081215537726

Monday 30 October; Witches in The Ancient World. Talk by Professor Diane Purkiss via Zoom through The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 9.30pm. Tickets · from £5.68. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Monday 30 October; Moon Ritual: Finding the language for our grief, by Intimate Animals and Ugly Duck. Venue: Ugly Duck, 49 Tanner Street, London SE1 3PL. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £10 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/intimate-animals-ugly-duck-48346099203

Monday 30 October; Planetary days and hours – the Time of Your Life with Trav Travers; The Ascending sign (2) with Wanda Sellar. Two online talks on astrology via the Astrological Lodge of London. Time: 7pm and 8pm. Tickets £12 each talk for non members. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Monday 30 October (every Monday); Tea With a Druid. Free online event by the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Time 8pm. https://druidry.org/

Tuesday 31 October - 3 November; Scottish Goddess Conference - Oracles of the Divine. I will be giving a pre-recorded talk on scrying with mirrors during the conference https://www.scottishgoddessconference.com/

Tuesday 31 October; Samhain at Chalice Well World Peace Garden, in Glastonbury. Free admission to the gardens between 10am and 12pm for meditation Normal admission prices after noon. Music and the Samhain fire at 4pm. http://www.chalicewell.org.uk/

Tuesday 31 October; Bibi's Samhain Circle | Celtic New Year Celebration, Spiritual Gathering. Venue: Rons Coffee House, Holdrons Arcade, 135a Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bibis-samhain-circle-celtic-new-year-celebration-spiritual-gathering-tickets-668162641447

Tuesday 31 October (and other dates); New Moon, Full Moon or Divine Union Cacao Ceremony, Heart Ritual and Gong Bath. Venue: Private Location near Wandsworth Town/Clapham Junction, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £29.70. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-moonfull-moon-or-divine-union-cacao-ceremony-heart-ritual-gong-bath-tickets-169545022727

Tuesday 31 October; Thames River of Souls 2023: Candle-lit walk, Ritual and Social with Mani via London Woodland Witches, Wiccans and Pagans. Venue: Bankside Pier, Bankside, SE1 9DT. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £3 https://www.meetup.com/londonwoodlandwitches/events/

Tuesday 31 October; Samhain Soul Alignmet. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Tuesday 31 October (and other dates); Witches and Witchcraft History - Pay What You Can Walking Tour - London by Wonders of London. Meet outside the exit of Tower Hill Station by Trinity Square Gardens, Tower Hill Station, 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-687827950917?

Tuesday 31 October; Witches' Familiars. Start of Two-Session Workshop with Suzanne Corbie, via Treadwell's. Time: 7pm, but delayed viewing avaiable. Tickets: £40. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Tuesday 31 October; Samhain Ceremony - Honouring Ancestors and Working With The Thinner Veil. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Tuesday 31 October; Samhain Online Ceremony with Cunning Folk. Time: 7pm. Tickets: Free but yu must reserve a place. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cunning-folk-7829505560

Tuesday 31 October; In Person Study and Conversation Group - Occult Background To The Bhagavad Gita. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, London · NW1 6XT, Time: 7pm. Tickets £3 https://www.meetup.com/rudolf-steiner-spiritual-science/events/

Tuesday 31 October; Full Moon and Samhain Celebration with South East London Pagans. Venue: One Tree Hill, Honor Oak, London. Time: 7.30pm. Free, bring food and drink to share. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834/

Tuesday 31 October; TV Adaptations of Dracula. Talk by Jon Dear via Zoom through The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets · from £5.68. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Tuesday 31 October; Hallowe'en Special Presented by: London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX. Door time: 7:30pm, Start time 8pm. Tickets: £5. https://www.wegottickets.com/event/595522/

Tuesday 31 October; Samhain ceremony to honour the ancestors, run by me, Lucya Starza. Venue: Crystal Wicca, 4a Station Buildings, Station Approach, Hayes BR2 7EN. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £30. https://crystalwicca.co.uk/shop-events-1

Tuesday 31 October; This Samhain Night. Venue: St Benedict’s Church, Glastonbury BA6 9NB (doors open 7.30pm). Tickets: £12 on door (cash only). Advance tickets: £10 (cash) from Man Myth and Magic, Magdalene Street, Glastonbury. Online (card) from: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/this-samhain-night-tickets-716487181447

Wednesday 1 November; Women's Self-Love Ceremony Healing Trauma. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Wednesday 1 November; The Meaning of Witchcraft. Online talk by Julian Vayne via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 1 November (first Wednesday of the month); Drumming and Meditation online with Taz Thornton. Time: 7pm Price: free. https://www.facebook.com/TazThorntonOfficial

Wednesday 1 November; Where Magic Dwells in the Land - Class with Hannah Sanders on the magic of place and being, via Treadwells Online, delayed viewing available. Time: 7pm but delayed viewing available. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 1 November; Day of the Dead Ancestor Honouring. Online via She's Lost Control. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 1 November; Gong Bath Sound Meditation in the Mansion - Samhain/Halloween Special. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion (Old Dining Room), Place Park, Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gong-bath-sound-meditation-in-the-mansion-samhainhalloween-special-tickets-722327911227

Wednesday 1 November; Goddesses and Crystals. Start of 6-week class with Gemma Petherbridge via the College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £175. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 1 November; Kitchen Kundalini. Zoom talk by Xanthe Gresham Knight through The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 9pm. Tickets · from £5.68. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 2 November; What is prayer? - Jennifer Kavanagh. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 9-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6.30pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 2 November; Sacred Sounds Healing. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £31.05. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Thursday 2 November; PF London Samhain 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

Friday, 3 November; The Tapeworm and Through the Looking Glasses present: Bonfire of the BASF. A seasonal sonic seance by Travis Elborough with Ruth Bayer, Caroline Wise, Kemper Norton and The Howling. Venue: The Horse Hospital, Colonnade, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1JD. Doors: 7pm, event at 7.30pm. Tickets: £8. https://www.thehorsehospital.com/events/basf?

Friday, 3 November; Restorative and Healing Breathwork. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £40. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Saturday, 4 - Sunday 5 November; A Weekend of Psychic Mediumship. Hybrid event. In-person venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: from 10am. Tickets: various prices, but both days in-person is £235/£210, online tickets £65/£55 each day. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday, 4 November; Wisdom and Wellbeing - a Psychic and Holistic Market. Venue: Fairfield Halls, Croydon, CR9 1DG. Starts 10am. Entry is Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/605312105085276

Saturday, 4 November; Festival of the Accused. Reinventing and reclaiming the witch with Kirsty Logan, Juno Dawson, Malcolm Gaskill, Shahidha Bari, Marion Gibson, John Callow, Shami Chakrabarti, Marisa Carnesky, Ron Athey, Zoë Howe, the Witches of Scotland, Jenny Runacre, Amy Kingsmill and more. Venue: Knowledge Centre, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London

NW1 2DB. Time: 10am-9pm. Tickets: £5 – £30. https://www.bl.uk/events/a-festival-of-the-accused-day-pass?

Saturday, 4 - Sunday 5 November. Origins conference. Hybrid online and in-person event in Pewsey, Wiltshire, on Saturday and outdoors event at nearby Avebury on Sunday. Starts 10am. Tickets: Saturday in-person £50, conference and tour £65, online livestream £35. megalithomania.co.uk

Saturday, 4 November; Hands-on with the Marseille Tarot - Workshop with Adrien Mastrosimone. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm-6pm. Cost: £120 per person. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Saturday, 4 November; Inclusive Samhain Ceremony by Indigo Earth, working with the Spirit of the Black Cat and the energy of Mysticism, Power and Shadow. Venue: Hackney Marshes, 146 Lea Bridge Road, London E5 9RB. Time: 4pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/priest-of-indigo-earth-joseph-atiase-35528479563

Saturday, 4 November; House of Hackney's Witchmas: Return of the Witch Panel Discussion. Venue:

House of Hackney, Mark Street London EC2A 4ER. Time: 6pm. Tickets tbc https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/house-of-hackneys-witchmas-return-of-the-witch-panel-discussion-tickets-727589819737?

Saturday 4 November; The OBOD Online Samhain Ceremony by the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/druidry

Saturday, 4 November; Folk Narrative For Writers with Ceallaigh Maccath-Moran. Online talk via the Folklore Podcast. Time: 8pm. Tickets £5. http://www.thefolklorepodcast.com/

Sunday 5 November; 1-Day Sacral Chakra (Womb) Virtual Retreat with Spiritual Tiik. Online event. Starts 9am. Tickets from £73.30. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1-day-sacral-chakra-womb-virtual-retreat-tickets-734125137047?

Sunday 5 November; Solar Plexus Chakra Healing - Retreat Day - Calling back your power, organised by Emma Hewitt of Salamay Tarot and Healing Arts. Venue: 146 The Street Kingston CT4 6JQ. Time: 11am. Tickets £55. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/emma-hewitt-salamay-tarot-healing-arts-38061527643

Sunday 5 November; Dancing the Tarot - In-person experiential workshop with Adrien Mastrosimone, exploring the tarot through embodied working. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm-6pm. Cost: £120 per person. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Sunday 5 November; Storytelling Co-Operative with London Dreamtime. Venue: Pullens Centre (Green door) 184 Crampton St SE17 3LL. Time: 2.30pm for 3pm. Tickets Free. https://www.londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Sunday 5 November; (and other times and dates); Soul Restore Sound Healing. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 4pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Sunday 5 November; Sacred Sounds Healing. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £28. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Sunday 5 November; Chakra Balancing Guided Meditation with Hannah. Venue: Crystal Wicca, 4a Station Buildings, Station Approach, Hayes BR2 7EN. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. https://crystalwicca.co.uk/

Sunday 5 and 26 November; Gong Bath - Sound Meditation in Brockley. Venue: 179 Brockley Road London SE4 2RS. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gong-bath-sound-meditation-in-brockley-tickets-725201405927

Sunday 5 November; Satan’s Places: In search of Baphomet and the Black Mass. Zoom talk by Andy Sharp through The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £5.68. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

For details of events after 5 November 2023, please visit my events page

Please note that I am not responsible for the content of any of these events except my online launch for Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year and my Samhain ritual at Crystal Wicca. Contact organisers directly if you have any questions or to check ticket availability. Where a practitioner is offering information about magical protection, this is *not* medical advice. If you know an event you want included, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com

Tuesday, 24 October 2023

Pagan Eye: A Jolly Skeleton at the CPS for Halloweek

This skeleton is browsing one of the esoteric tomes in the College of Psychic Studies, but he's ready to meet anyone who ventures through the doors for Halloweek! I popped in this morning to have a look and took this photo as well as several others I'll share another time.

From today until 31 October the College of Psychic Studies' doors are open for Halloweek. You can explore six floors of haunted photos, spirit art and intriguing artefacts and enjoy a programme of Halloweek specials. This evening (Tuesday 24th October) I'm giving an online talk on October Magic and Folklore for the Thinning of the Veil as part of the activities. It starts at 7pm and tickets are £16. You can find the details here: https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/talks/myth-magic/october-magic-and-folklore-for-the-thinning-of-the-veil/

If you want to pop in to see the exhibition, rhe College of Psychic Studies is at 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. There's free entry to explore the college during the day, some ticketed lates and special events. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

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.

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