Bad Witch in Print: Essays in Contemporary Paganism

Here's a book I can't actually review, because I'm one of its authors. I'm very proud of being included too.

The book is called Essays in Contemporary Paganismand is due to reach the shops in a couple of weeks or you can order it from Amazon now. It is a collection of essays by pagan authors all over the world, from different traditions and backgrounds. The idea came from Trevor Greenfield, the publisher at Moon Books, back in the spring. Several famous writers, including Emma Restall Orr and Jane Meredith, were already contributing to it when I spoke to Trevor, but he wanted to include a couple of chapters from unknown authors as well. I'm now one of them.

Before I wrote my chapter, Trevor explained what he wanted. He said: "The rules are that it has to relate to contemporary Pagan experience, it can't be fiction or bio/life-story writing."

So, I wrote about what I know - a chapter called A Week in Pagan London. I wanted to show how London is, as I wrote, "a melting pot – or a cauldron – of magical ideas". There are so many pagan events going on in London that pretty much every day of the week, every week of the year, you can find something to do. And that is what I set out to explore. I spent the week around Imbolc this year visiting some of London's most famous pagan sites, moots, open rituals and bookshops.

I hope my chapter will help visitors to London and those who live in the city but are new to paganism find their path. I also hope those who are regular attendees at PF London open rituals, Loose Association of Druid rites on Primrose Hill, talks at Treadwell's and the Moot with No Name will enjoy reading what I wrote about them as much as I enjoyed my visits to their events.

If you like my blog, I hope you will enjoy reading my chapter in Essays in Contemporary Paganism too. Even if you don't, I am sure you will find other chapters that do interest you - from the sacred landscape of Australia, to modern reconstructions of ancient druidry, to ways of parenting a pagan child, to life with King Arthur and his warband, to a look at the future of paganism.

It really does give a fascinating overview of modern paganism from varied perspectives, by pagans themselves. As I say in my chapter, I believe we are at the start of a Golden Age of paganism, but that isn’t just happening in London. It is happening all over England, Europe, America and Australia. And it is growing.

Essays in Contemporary Paganism is published by Moon Books and you can order copes through Amazon.

Links and previous related posts
Essays in Contemporary Paganism
http://www.moon-books.net/books/essays-contemporary-paganism

The Moot With No Name at the Devereux 29 May

The Moot With No Name is returning to its old venue, the Devereux pub, in Devereux Court (opposite the Royal Courts of Justice), London WC2R 3JJ, this Wednesday, 29 May.

Organiser Steve Wilson said: "Due to short notice this will be a social meet-up, free of charge, though with a few possible events to interrupt the drinking! Be prepared for a pub quiz, though for a change this will only have ONE occult section."

Steve also asked those who are coming to the moot to think about the following:

• What was the most influential adult book you read that stimulated your interest in the Occult?
• What was your favourite magical book as a child and why?
• What do you think is the best occult or pagan film ever?
• And what was the best TV show.

The time for the event is 7:30pm for 8 pm, and the moot is back every other Wednesday as before.

Atlantis Bookshop Presents... has a new home

Weekly pagan moot Atlantis Bookshop Presents... has a new home.

The moot, which was also at one time called The Moot With No Name and takes place every Wednesday evening, now meets at The Blue Posts at 81 Newman Street just off Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 3ET. The doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start and tickets are still only £5.

This week's speaker is Lon Milo DuQuette, author of My Life With The Spirits: The Adventures of a Modern Magicianand Low Magick

The event is organised by Atlantis Bookshop. The Blue Posts pub serves food as well as wine and beer.

Links
http://www.theatlantisbookshop.com/
http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/clubs_bars/venue-1385.php

Pagan events in and near London

Here are highlights of this week's pagan events in and near London. To find out about future events, click on the events link at the top of the page.

Tuesday 30 November; Quantum Field Healing. Talk by David Hamilton at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £5/£8. Advance booking essential. Tel: 020 - 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Wednesday 1 December; Crowleymass at The Moot with No Name. Venue: Devereux public house (pictured), 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £5/£3.

Thursday 2nd December; Free Crossbones Night. An evening of short films, live performance, info and open floor on the history and future of the Crossbones burial ground, including a performance by John Constable aka John Crow of the Southwark Mysteries. Event starts at 7.30pm at ShortWave Cinema, 10 Bermondsey Square, London SE1 3UN. Tel: 0207 357 6845.

Thursday 2 December; Building Peace Circles. Talk by Giles Bryant at Sacred Space, Rudolph Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, London NW1. 7.30pm start. Nearest tube Baker St. Email marionbriggs148@btinternet.com for more details.

Friday 3 December; Student Demonstration of Trance with college tutor Elizabeth Roberts at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £5/£8. Advance booking essential. Tel: 020 - 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Sunday 5 December; Petersfield Angel Festival. Stalls, readings, guided meditations and more at Festival Hall, Petersfield, GU31 4DZ. From noon to 6pm. Cost £3 for adults, £1.50 for children and OAPs. For more details, call Jill on 01730 268220 or email jill@paff.biz

Please note: I try to keep my events page accurate, but if you do spot any errors, please let me know by leaving a comment. If you know of any other events you would like mentioned, please email badwitch1234@gmail.com

This week's pagan events

For details of future events visit my events page at http://paganevents.blogspot.com/, but here are this week's events of interest to pagans in London and other parts of England:

Until 21 March; The Dark Monarch. Art exhibition named after an infamous 1962 book entitled The Dark Monarch: A Portrait from Within by Sven Berlin. It explores how folklore, mysticism, mythology and the occult have influenced British art in the past 100 years. Venue: The Towner Art Gallery, Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ. It is open Tuesday - Sunday from 10am - 6pm. For more details, call: 01323 434660 or visit the website http://www.eastbourne.gov.uk/leisure/museums-galleries/towner/exhibitions/

Monday 15 March; Interactive Destiny. Talk by Andrew Soltau at pagan forum Secret Chiefs at its regular meeting time of every other Monday. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8.30pm. Admission £2.

Monday 15 March; Secret Symbols of the Hell Fire Club - Sacred to Liberty & Friendship. A private talk on the inner traditions of the 18th-century group and its modern survivals. Venue: The Seance Room, upstairs at the Creaky Cauldron, Henley St, Stratford upon Avon CV37 6QW. Time: from 7.30pm. Advance book essential. For more details, visit The Creaky Cauldron website at http://www.seekthemagic.org/creakycauldron/

Tuesday 16 March; Healing the World Sould. Masterclass with Dr Roger Woolger at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 9pm. Cost: £8/£12 - advance booking essential. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Wednesday 17 March; How Shakespeare Cleaned His Teeth. Lecture on 17th century medicine by Katherine Knight at The Moot With No Name. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £2.

Thursday 18 March; Gothic Tarot Workshop in Rochester from 7pm-10pm. Cost £10. For more details, call Pammie Couchman on 07876545512 or email pammie.couchman@googlemail.com

Thursday 18 March; Interview with a Witch: Marian Green Speaks to Christina Oakley Harrington on Nearly 50 Years of Country Witchcraft. Lecture at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Entry £7, advance booking necessary. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.

Thursday 18 March; Croydon CoA Witches Gathering organised by Children of Artemis. Venue: The Dog and Bull pub, Surrey St, Croydon. Tickets cost £1 for CoA members and £2 for non-members. For more details, call 0870 442 290 or visit the website http://www.witchfest.net/

I will be posting details of Spring Equinox Events later on A Bad Witch's Blog

This week's pagan events

For details of future events visit my events page at http://paganevents.blogspot.com/, but here are this week's events of interest to pagans in London and other parts of England:

Monday 8 March; "I tried the death experience from a £5 hit": Ketamine - horse tranquillizer or facilitator of near-death states?. Illustrated slide lecture by Dr Ornella Corazza of Kings College, London, at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Entry £7, advance booking necessary. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.

Tuesday 9 March; Black Ravens and Green Dragons: Introduction to Alchemical Symbolism. Lecture by Paul Cowlan at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Entry £7, advance booking necessary. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.

Tuesday 9 March; Pilgrimage Through the Chakras. Masterclass with Swami Saradananda at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 9pm. Cost: £8/£12. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Wednesday 10 March; The Quest for Camelot. Lecture by Lionel Beer at The Moot With No Name. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £2.

Thursday 11 March; Unknown Ghosts of London. Talk by Alan Murdie at South East London Folklore Society (Selfs), The Old King's Head, King's Head Yard, 45-49 Borough High Street, London SE1 1NA. Talks are on the second Thursday of each month at 8pm. The cost is £2.50/£1.50 concessions.

Friday 12 March; Healing the Spine. Lecture by Stefan Rippel at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £5/£8. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Friday 12 March; Some Secret Place: Pagan Ritual Evening with Peter James & friends.
Monthly pagan ritual evenings for solitary witches and solitary pagans looking to explore group ritual. Not suitable for absolute beginners. Venue: Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Entry £7, advance booking necessary. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.

Sunday 14 March; Artha's Fire with Tribe of Avalon 2009-2010 Goddess Study Group. Open study group looking at the Mother of Fire of the Spring Equinox from 1pm to 5.30pm at Treadwell’s, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. Cost: £10 (£7 unwaged).

This week's pagan events in London

Monday 30 November; Shamanism and Creativity, seminar by Shaman UK. From 6.30pm - 9pm at The Open Centre, 188 Old St, London EC1V 9FR. Cost £12 waged, £8 unwaged. Booking essential. For more details or to reserve a space email Zoe on info@shaman.uk.net.

Monday 30 November; Abraham Abulafia and Ecstatic Kabbalah: Mystic, Wanderer, Ecstatic Kabbalist and Messiah. Talk by S. Leigh at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15 for 7.30pm start. Entry £5, booking essential. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.

Wednesday 2 December; Andrew Collins will talk about the Lost Underworld of the Pharoahs at pagan forum The Moot With No Name. Venue Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £2. For more details, visit http://www.theatlantisbookshopevents.com/page13.htm

For details of future events, visit http://paganevents.blogspot.com/2008/09/pagan-events.html

This week's pagan events in and near London

For details of future events visit my events page at http://paganevents.blogspot.com/, but here are this week's events of interest to pagans in London and other parts of England:

Tuesday 20 October; Healing Your Ancestral Patterns. Lecture with David Furlong at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £5/£8. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Tuesday 20 October; The Devil is a Gentleman: The Life and Times of Dennis Wheatley: book launch party organised by Dedalus Press at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7pm start. Entry free but booking essential. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.

Wednesday 21 October; Robert Cochrane: The Man, the Myth and his Magick. Talk by Shani Oates at The Moot With No Name, Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £2.

Sunday, 25 October; Succeeding in Turbulent Times. Joey Yap, author of a new book on Face Reading, will be speaking at The Hilton Hotel, London, from 10am-5pm. The cost is £58 for a one-day ticket and £100 for two one-day tickets. More details about the day can be found on www.cicobooks.co.uk

If you know of any pagan events and want them listed on A Bad Witch's Blog, email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

This week's pagan events

Tuesday 5 May; The Breton Male Witch Burning. Talk by Chris Crowley at Sacred Hart Moot in the Golden Lion pub, 2 High Street, Romford, Essex, RM1 1HR. 7pm. to 10.30pm. Entry £2. For more details email Sarah at romfordsacredhart@hotmail.com or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sacredhartPF/


Wednesday 6 May; Exploring the Invisible. Talk by Marian Green, author of A Witch Alone: Thirteen Moons to Master Natural Magic at The Moot With No Name, Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £2.


Wednesday 6 May; The Corpus Hermeticum. Talk by Earl Fontainelle on the latest research on The Magicians' Bible. Venue: Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Entry £5, booking advised. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com. www.treadwells-london.com/lectures.asp

Thursday May 7, Pagan Federation London Indoor Beltane Ritual by Woodspirits. Venue: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL. 7.30pm for 8pm start. Entrance £5 (£4 for members). Bring food and drink to share. No photographs allowed. Visit www.pflondon.org

Thursday 7 May; Book launch party organised by Atlantis Bookshop for Shaman's Wisdom: Reclaim Your Lost Connection with the Universe by Tony Samara. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2. 7.30pm for 8pm start. The event is free, but call 020 7405 2120 or email atlantis@theatlantisbookshop.com to reserve a place or get more details.

For details of future events/ future events visit my new events page at http://paganevents.blogspot.com/

If you know of any pagan events and want them listed on A Bad Witch's Blog, email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Pagan events and festivals

Tuesday 10 February; Doctors, Delusions and the Great Wen: Alternative Medicine's London Roots. Talk by Roberta Bivins, an Associate Professor of the History of Medicine of The University of Warwick. Venue: The Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH. Tickets cost £7 or £5 concessions. The event starts at 7.30pm. Advance tickets necessary, call 020 7392 9220 during office hours. For more details, visit http://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/events_details.asp?EventsID=347

Tuesday 10 February; Past Lives and the Akashic Record. Special lecture by past life regression expert David Wells at the College for Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. 7pm-9pm. Tickets £10 members, £15 non-members. Advance booking essential. Tel: 020 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 11 February; The Ghosts of Tarot Past & Spirits of Tarot Future Tarot. Talk by authors Liz Dean (Golden Tarot, Art of Tarot) and Kay Stopforth (Quantum Tarot) at The Moot With No Name. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2. Meet from 7.30pm, talk starts at 8.pm. Admission £2. For details visit http://www.theatlantisbookshopevents.com/page13.htm

Thursday 12 February; Talk on druidism. One in a series of druid talks, followed by a druid meditation, questions and tea, at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.30pm start.

Future events:

11 & 12 April. Magical Fairy Festival. Family festival and parade organised by Magical Festivals. Venue: The Westgate Hall, Canterbury, Kent. Entry is £5 for adults and £2.50 for children, under 12s are free. Event starts at 10am each day. You can book tickets at http://www.magicalfestivals.co.uk/. For more details call Matthew on 07845438340 or email matthew@magicalfestivals.co.uk

Saturday April 25; Spring Clean Detox, Herb Day, Walk ‘n’ Workshop with The Wild Wicked Witches. Venue Lee Valley Village YHA, Hertfordshire. Time: 10.30am -5pm, Cost: £60 / £45 concessions, deposit of £20 and booking essential. For details, call Karen on 07865081927 or Fiona on 07830195745. www.sensorysolutions.co.uk

Saturday 25 April; London Lore. Conference run by the Folklore Society and the South East London Folklore Society at The Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH. Tickets cost £10 or £8 concessions. The event runs from 10am to 5.30pm . To book tickets call 020 7392 9220 during office hours. For more details, visit http://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/events_details.asp?EventsID=343

Saturday 16 May 2009; Witchfest South. Witchcraft convention organised by The Children of Artemis with talks and workshops, entertainment, a bar and catering plus stalls. Venue: Stanley Halls, South Norwood, south London. Tickets cost £9 for CoA members and £12 for non-members. http://www.witchfest.net/

August 7, 8 & 9; Artemis Gathering. Three-day festival in the Oxfordshire countryside with talks, workshops, a bar and catering facilities. Early bird weekend tickets cost £31 for members, £34 for non-members. http://www.witchfest.net/artemis_gathering.htm

Saturday 7 November; Witchfest International. Large pagan and witchcraft convention organised by The Children of Artemis. Venue: Fairfield Halls, Croydon, Surrey. Tickets cost £16 for CoA members and £20 for non-members. http://www.witchfest.net/

If you know of any pagan events and want them listed on A Bad Witch's Blog, email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Pagan events and festivals

Wednesday 28 January; The Mysteries of The 21st Century. Talk by David Goddard at The Moot With No Name, Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2. Meet from 7.30pm, talk starts at 8.pm. Admission £2. For details visit http://www.theatlantisbookshopevents.com/page13.htm

Wednesday 28 January; Ghouls, Demons and Vampires from Malaysia & the Philippines. Talk by Jenina Bas at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Entry £5, booking essential. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com. www.treadwells-london.com/lectures.asp

Thursday 29 January; Imbolc Open Ritual organised by Pagan Federation London at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London. Arrive at 7.30pm for social, ritual begins at 8pm. Bring food for the feast. Entrance £5. For details, visit http://www.pflondon.org/index.html

Sunday 1 February; Imbolc ritual and gathering by The Gorsedd of Bards of Caer Abiri at Avebury, Wiltshire. Meet at noon by the cafe before walking to the stones for the ritual. Bring food and drink, songs and poems. For further details call Morgan on 01458 835518. http://druidnetwork.org/en/events/events09/feb09.html

Sunday 1 February; Imbolc on Primrose Hill. Open ritual hosted by J T Morgan, the Druid of Wormwood Scrubbs. Venue: Primrose Hill, Regents Park Road, London NW1. Starts at 12.45pm, ends at 2.30pm.

If you know of any pagan events and want them listed on A Bad Witch's Blog, email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Pagan Events and festivals

This week's events:

Tuesday 21 October; Discover & Explore the Secret Language of Your Body. Masterclass by Inna Segal at the College for Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Doors open 6.30pm; lecture 7pm-9pm. Advance booking essential. Tickets £8 members, £12 non-members. Tel: 020 7589 3292.

Wednesday 22 October; The Goose, The Crow and the Cross Bones Portal. Talk with poems and songs by John Constable (AKA John Crow) at The Moot With No Name, Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2. Meet from 7.30pm, talk starts at 8.30pm. Admission £2.

Sunday, 26 October; October Plenty. Autumn harvest celebration combining ancient seasonal customs and contemporary festivities as part of Borough Market's Apple Day Festival. Venue: Shakespeare's Globe, Bankside and Borough Market, Southwark, London, SE1 9DT. Free event from noon to 4pm. For details visit http://www.thelionspart.co.uk/octoberplenty/

Sunday 26 October; Apple Day Celebrations. Family activity event with apple tasting for National Apple Day at High Elms Country Park, Shire Lane, Farnborough, Kent BR6 7JH. 11.30am - 4pm. Tel 01689 862815.

Forthcoming events:

Sunday 2 November; Thriving in Challenging Times (Using Classical Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology). Workshop with Joey Yap at The Hilton, Tower Bridge, London. Times: 10am - 4pm (registration at 9am). Ticket Price earlybird until October 20 £68, regular £88, advance booking necesssary. For more information and to book tickets: http://www.masteryacademy.com/tict/

Tuesday 4 November; Feng Shui: How Chinese Metaphysics Really Works. Lecture and book signing by Joey Yap at Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7LP. Times:
6.45pm - 7.45pm followed by drinks. Tickets: Asia House Friends & concs £5, others £8. Web: http://www.asiahouse.org/net/

Wednesday 5 November; Joey Yap book signing at Border’s bookshop, Charing Cross Road, London. From 6.30pm. Free. For more details: www.cicobooks.co.uk

Saturday 8 November; Witchfest International. One of the most popular gatherings of witches in the world, featuring talks, workshops, a market, live music, food, a bar, a late rock club, dancing and much more organised by The Children of Artemis. 10am to 1am. Tickets priced £20/£24. For more information and to buy tickets online, visit: http://www.witchfest.net/

If you know of any pagan events and want them listed on A Bad Witch's Blog, email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Pagan Events and Festivals

Tuesday 7 October; In the Footsteps of John Dee. Talk on John Dee's travels by Robin Cousins. Third in The Mortlake Lectures series of four talks. Venue: St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake High Street. Doors open at 7pm, lecture starts at 8pm. Tickets £7 on the door; joint ticket of all four lectures £25.


Tuesday 7 October; Voudon Gnosis - book launch party. Party to launch Voudon Gnosis by David Beth. Venue: Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7pm start. Entry is free but booking is essential. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.

Tuesday 7 October; Right Brain - Our Connection to Spirit, Psychic Ability & Creation. Lecture by June-Elleni Laine at the College for Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Doors open 6.30pm; lecture 7pm-8.30pm. Tickets £5 members, £8 non-members. Tel: 020 7589 3292.

Wednesday 8 October; Tree hugging and statue venerating. Talk by Dr Graham Harvey at The Moot With No Name, Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2. Meet from 7.30pm, talk starts at 8.30pm. Admission £2.

Saturday 11 October; Circle of the Elements workshop with Marian Green at Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London WC1A 1LY. 11am to 5pm. Price £30. Booking essential. For more details and tickets call 020 7405 2121 or visit http://www.theatlantisbookshop.com/

Saturday 8 November; Witchfest International. One of the most popular gatherings of witches in the world, featuring talks, workshops, a market, live music, food, a bar, a late rock club, dancing and much more organised by The Children of Artemis. 10am to 1am. Tickets priced £20/£24. For more information and to buy tickets online, visit: http://www.witchfest.net/

If you know of any pagan events and want them listed on A Bad Witch's Blog, email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Pagan Events and festivals

Tuesday 23 September; The Esoteric Grail - Early 20th Century Britain. Talk by Dr Juliette Wood of the University of Cardiff about the chalice found Glastonbury in the early 20th Century. Venue: Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets £5 in advance, booking essential. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.


Tuesday 23 September; Big Cat Research in London & the South East. Talk by Neil Arnold at London Earth Mysteries Circle, Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA. 7pm start. Admission £4 or £2.50 members.

Tuesday 23 September; Cosmos in a Cottage. Talk by Benjamin Woolley about John Dee. First in The Mortlake Lectures series of four talks. Venue: St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake High Street. Doors open at 7pm, lecture starts at 8pm. Tickets £7 on the door; joint ticket of all four lectures £25.

Wednesday 24 September; Cup-and-Ring Art and the Cosmic North. Talk by Gyrus at The Moot With No Name, Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2. Meet from 7.30pm, talk starts at 8.30pm. Admission £2.


Wednesday 24 September. An evening with shaman, medium and musician Barbara Meicklejohn-Free at Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London WC1A 1LY. For more details and tickets visit http://www.theatlantisbookshop.com/


Friday 26 September; Saturn's Influence and the Mind of God. Talk on astrology and religion by Brian Underwood at Research Into Lost Knowledge Organisation, Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA. 7.15pm start. Admission £7 or £6 members.

Saturday 27 September; Gaia-Fortuna Convenion. A pagan convention including talks, workshops, craft stalls and opening and closing rituals, organised by the Pagan Federation London. Venue: University of London Union, Malet Street, London; nearest tube Warren Street. Noon to 9pm. Tickets £10 in advance, £8 for PF members. Tel: 077689 41373 or email: info@pflondon.org. For more information, visit: http://www.pflondon.org/

Saturday 8 November; Witchfest International. One of the most popular gatherings of witches in the world, featuring talks, workshops, a market, live music, food, a bar, a late rock club, dancing and much more organised by The Children of Artemis. 10am to 1am. Cheap advance tickets are available until 30 September at £16 for Children of Artemis members and £20 for non-members. They increase to £20/£24 on 1 November. For more information and to buy tickets online, visit: http://www.witchfest.net/

If you know of any pagan events and want them listed on A Bad Witch's Blog, email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Pagan Events

Now until 20 July; Solstice. Film installation with soundtrack marking the summer solstice by Neeta Madahar at PM Gallery and House, Walpole Park, Mattock Lane, London W5 5EQ. Tel: 020 8567 1227. www.ealing.gov.uk/services/leisure/museums_and_galleries/pm_gallery_and_house

Monday 30 June; The Woman Magus - A Woman's Adventures in the World of Modern Magick. Talk by Jaq Hawkins at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets £5 in advance, booking essential. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.

Wednesday 2 July; The Shaman, the Vision and the Brain. Repeat of sold-out lecture by Dr David Luke, of the University of Northampton, at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets £5 in advance, booking essential. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.

Wednesday 2 July; The Assassins and the End of Time. Talk by Boz Temple-Morris at The Moot With No Name, Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2. Meet from 7.30pm, talk starts at 8.30pm. Admission £2.

If you know of any pagan events and want them listed on A Bad Witch's Blog, email me via my blog or leave a comment below.

Talk on Paganism in the New Centuries

This evening, May 21, The Moot With No Name is holding a talk called Quantum Spirituality: Paganism in the New Centuries.

Mani Navasothy, who is known for his lively talks on controversial subjects, will be discussing our need to recycle spiritual paths from our past lives. Are we empowering ourselves by looking within or are we dis-empowered by living in the past?

Mani will be questioning our pagan ways and offering some personal points of view on the way forward.

The Moot With No Name meets upstairs at the Devereux pub, 0ff Essex Street, London WC2, close to Temple tube station. The talk starts at 8pm. The doors open at 7.30pm. Entry costs £2.

Creating a ritual

Tonight, The Moot With No Name is holding a talk on how to create a ritual.

Ritualist Jeremy Morgan, who has years of experience of organising open events on Primrose Hill, will give simple instructions on how to create powerful and appropriate ceremonies and how to run them on the day.

The Moot With No Name meets upstairs at the Devereux pub, 0ff Essex Street, London WC2, close to Temple tube station. The talk starts at 8pm on Wednesday May 7. The doors open at 7.30pm. Entry costs £2.

Magic in Shakespeare

Shakespeare's plays contain many references to magic and the occult.

On Wednesday, April 23, theatrical director Alison Rockbrand will be giving a talk entitled The Magic In Shakespeare at The Moot With No Name, in central London.

Alison will be discussing the bard's identity, his views on the occult and the esoteric symbolism in his works.

The Moot With No Name meets upstairs at the Devereux pub, 0ff Essex Street, London WC2, close to Temple tube station. The talk starts at 8pm and the doors open at 7.30pm. Entry costs £2.

Talk tonight

At The Moot With No Name tonight, Mark Pointer will be giving a talk entitled Of Heaven, Hell and the Seven-Headed Serpent.

He will be looking at Mesopotamian and ancient Iranian religions and their influence on Judaeo-Christianity. He will also be considering the symbolism of the Seven-Headed Serpent, which appears in many religions.

The Moot with No Name meets on February 27 at 7.30pm. Entry is £2.

The Devereux is at 20 Devereux Court, off Essex St, London WC2. For a map of how to get there visit: www.multimap.com/maps/?&hloc=GBWC2R%203JJ

Legends of London

Tomorrow, The Moot With No Name is hosting a talk on the history and myths of ancient London.

Rob Stephenson, founder of London Earth Mysteries Circle, will be delving into the past of the city, which legend says was inaugurated by the Trojan leader Brutus who built a temple to Diana on the spot that is now St Paul's Cathedral.

The Moot with No Name meets on February 13 and the talk, entitled Capital Myths, starts at 7.30pm. Entry is £2.

The Devereux is at 20 Devereux Court, off Essex St, London WC2. For a map of how to get there visit: www.multimap.com/maps/?&hloc=GBWC2R%203JJ

For more details: www.pflondon.org/html/moot_with_no_name.html