Bookshop Day: Where to Browse Magic Tomes in London

Today is National Bookshop Day, an annual celebration of high street bookshops. It offers a reminder that real bricks-and-mortar shops contribute to our communities as well as offering a service for their customers. Personally, I much prefer the experience of browsing in a bookshop to choose what I want to read, rather than selecting something online. I also know I can get great advice from the staff who work there.

As I'm a London witch, I'm highlighting these three fabulous independent esoteric bookshops in my city:

• Treadwell's Bookshop at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7BS. Website: www.treadwells-london.com/ (The photo at the top shows the interior of Treadwell's with a guardian mummy!)
• The Atlantis Bookshop at 49a Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY. Website: theatlantisbookshop.com/
• Watkins Bookshop at 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Website: www.watkinsbooks.com 

I'll be in Treadwell's later today teaching a candle magic workshop. You can find signed copies of my books there too. I'm Lucya Starza. As well as writing A Bad Witch's Blog I'm the author of titles in Moon Books' Pagan Portals series on Candle Magic, Guided Visualisations, Poppets and Magical Dolls, Scrying, and Rounding the Wheel of the Year. My Gothic novel Erosion is also published by Moon Books and available to buy at Treadwell's. 

Bookshop Day happens annually in October. It's run by the Booksellers Association to encourage book lovers to shop at their local bookshop. You can find your nearest bookseller on the map on the website: www.booksellers.org.uk/

You can help support your favourite bookshop on social media by popping into your favourite - or any bookshop you are passing - take a photo and share it with the tags @booksaremybag and #BookshopDay!

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/10/samhain-shopping-4-halloween-reads-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/12/yule-gifts-seasonal-esoteric-shopping.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/10/seance-with-skull-from-my-gothic-novel.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/10/my-events-scrying-candles-poppets.html

This Week's Pagan Events In and Near London

Here are events over the Easter holidays and the next week or so that could be of interest to pagans. Most of these are in London because that's where I am based. If you know of an event that you want listed, please email the details to me at badwitch1234@gmail.com.

Now - 30 April; Exhibition of Dr. Cagliostro's Cabinet of Curiosities. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1A 1LY. Exhibition is free to view during shop opening times, Monday to Saturday from 10.30am-6pm. Telephone: 020 7405 2120. Website: http://www.theatlantisbookshop.com/

Wednesday 12 April; Let's Meditate - group meditation. Venue: Buddha on a Bicycle, Covent Garden, London. Starts 6pm. Donations of £3 recommended. Details: http://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Wednesday 12 April; The Secret Garden Sharing Circle - women only. Location in Little Venice. Cost £15. Time: 7.15pm. You must be a member of the Goddess Space meetup group and reserve a place in advance. https://www.meetup.com/The-Goddess-Space/

Wednesday 12 April; Awaken Your Hero - Free Webinar hosted by Academy of Greatness. Online event, join in wherever you are. Time: 7.30pm - 9.30pm. Tickets: www.awakenyourhero.com

Thursday 13 April; Let’s Talk about… Nature. Talk by Nick Biddle, Royal Parks Manager. Venue: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE London. Time: 11am - 12.30pm. Free admission. https://www.facebook.com/events/1341618445900603/

Thursday 13 April; Gallery Talk - The Myth of Osiris in Ancient Egypt. Venue: Room 4, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 1.15pm. Free, just turn up. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Thursday 13 April; Meetup with Theresa Cheung about her new book The Bliss of I Do. Venue: Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6.30pm. Free event. For more details Tel 020 7836 2182 or visit the website http://www.watkinsbooks.com/

Thursday 13 April; The Druid Order Open Meeting. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7.30pm. Entry £5. http://druidorder.macmate.me/meetings.html

Thursday 13 April; Matthew Hopkins - Witchfinder General. Talk at Folklore Society (SELFS). Venue: The Old King's Head, Kings Head Yard, 45-49 Borough High St, London SE1 1NA. Entry: £3/£1.50 concessions. Time: 8pm. (Meetings are normally the second Thursday of each month.) http://www.selfs.org.uk/ To guarantee a seat, email nigelofbermondsey@gmail.com

Friday 14 April; Oasis of Sound - Sound Bath and Mantra with Anne Malone. Organised by the Oasis of Sound Meetup Group. Venue: The Life Centre Islington, Brittania Row, London. Tickets £15. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: http://www.thelifecentre.com/  Details: https://www.meetup.com/Oasis-of-Sound-Sound-Bath-n-Sound-Scape/

Sunday 16 April; Margot Adler Day. Worldwide day to celebrate the life of Margot Adler. https://www.facebook.com/events/1248856691866658/

Sunday 16 April; Meditation at Russell Brands Trew Era Cafe, 30 Whitmore Road, London N1 5QA. Starts 10.15am. Free event. Details: https://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Sunday 16 April; Dawn of the Oak. Pagan moot on the third Sunday of each month. Venue: Upstairs at The Castle, 34-35 Cowcross Road, Farringdon, London EC1M 6DB (near Farringdon tube). Time: 3pm-6pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/1843833052532887/

Monday 17 April: Great Southwark Dragon Quest, part of the Southwark Festival. Meet in Tabard Street piazza, London SE1 1JA - between the Church of St George the Martyr and the gardens (near Borough tube) at 11.15am for a prompt 11.30 start. Tickets: £3/£0, must be bought in advance: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-southwark-dragon-quest-tickets-32917369739

Tuesday 18 April; Yoga for Healing. Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place London, W1U 8EA. Time: 11am. Tickets £7. Details: http://theosophicalsociety.org.uk/all-events

Tuesday 18 April; LDN Talks @ Night, The Science of Paranormal Activity. Talk by Professor Chris French organised via Funzig. Venue: Hoxton Square, London, N1 6QT  (Exact address will be provided after booking). Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. http://uk.funzing.com/funz/8357

Tuesday 18 April; Witches Gathering. (Now meets on the third Tuesday of each month.) Venue: front bar of the Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BS. Starting for 7.30pm. onwards. For any questions email coacentral@witchcraft.org or visit http://www.witchfest.net/

Wednesday 19 April; Let's Meditate - group meditation. Venue: Buddha on a Bicycle, Covent Garden, London. Starts 6pm. Donations of £3 recommended. Details: http://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Wednesday 19 April; More Mead Moot promoted by Pagan FutureFests. Venue: Hope Pub, 48 West Street, Carhsalton SM5 2PR. Time: from 7.30pm. Meets on the third Wednesday of each month. https://www.facebook.com/Pagan-FutureFests-352385661439366/ http://www.meetup.com/Londonpagancommunity/

Thursday 20 April; Sutton Hoo under the Microscope. Venue: BP Lecture Theatre, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 1.30pm. Free, but advance booking essential. For more details visit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Thursday 20 April; Living Tantra - The Dance of Transformation. Talk and book signing with Doug Ducan and Catherine Pawasarat. Venue: Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6.30pm. Free event. For more details Tel 020 7836 2182 or visit the website http://www.watkinsbooks.com/

Thursday 20 April; The Genealogical Tree of Religions. Talk hosted by Gnosis London. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London NW1. Time: 7pm. Details: http://www.gnosis.org.uk/

Thursday 20 April; A Thelemic Rite: Star Ruby (Liber XXV). Evening Mini-Workshop with Luke Fleming Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Ticket price £20. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Thursday 20 April; Initiatory Training Group: Tarot Part 2: The Major Arcana with the South London Wicca Meetup. Venue: A private house in Tooting Bec. Time: 7pm. You must be a member of the meetup group to reserve a place on this event: http://www.meetup.com/South-London-Wicca-Meetup/

Thursday 20 April; House of Heron Drum Circle to Shamanic Journey. Venue: Caer Corhrain, 1 Southleas farm cottages, Lower Road, Minster, Sheppey, ME12 3SW. Time: 7.30pm. This takes place on the third Thursday each month. For more information visit http://www.touchtheearthuk.com/

Thursday 20 April; The Circle of Ankerwycke moot on the third Thursday in each month. Venue: Function room at the back of the Two Rivers Pub, 43 Church Street, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 4EN. Time: 8pm.

Friday 21 April: Great Southwark Dragon Quest, part of the Southwark Festival. Meet in Tabard Street piazza, London SE1 1JA - between the Church of St George the Martyr and the gardens (near Borough tube) at 11.15am for a prompt 11.30 start. Tickets: £3/£0, must be bought in advance: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-southwark-dragon-quest-tickets-32917369739

Saturday, 22 April; Introduction to Shamanism with Behind the Veil Shamanism. Venue: The Hall, St Philips Church, Earls Court Road, London W8 6QH. Time: 9.30am-3.30pm. Entry: £95. Details: http://www.meetup.com/Behind-The-Veil-Shamanism/

Saturday, 22 April; Pagan Future Fests - Belostra Festival 2017. Day of workshops, entertainment, a market, food and a bar. Venue: Stanley Halls, 12 South Norwood Hill, London SE25 6AB. Starts 10am. Tickets £15. Details: https://www.facebook.com/Pagan-FutureFests-352385661439366/ and https://www.meetup.com/Londonpagancommunity/events/236019820/

Saturday, 22 April; Great Southwark Dragon Quest, part of the Southwark Festival. Meet in Tabard Street piazza, London SE1 1JA - between the Church of St George the Martyr and the gardens (near Borough tube) at 11.15am for a prompt 11.30 start. Tickets: £3/£0, must be bought in advance: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-southwark-dragon-quest-tickets-32917369739

Saturday, 22 April: Earth Day 2017 Gathering - Family friendly, Picnic, Socials and Earth-Healing with London Woodland Witches Magicians and Outdoor Pagans. Venue: Trent Park, Cockfosters Gate, Cockfosters Road, Greater London. Meet at 1pm at Trent Park Cafe to walk to the site. You must reserve a place in advance. Wear outdoor clothes and bring food and drink to share, things to put on the altar and a drum if you have one. Details and bookings:  https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Outdoor-Pagans/

Saturday, 22 April; Awaken Your Magical Self - Afternoon Ladies Retreat with the The Happy Hummingbird Haven. Venue: Bridens Camp, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 6EZ. Time: 2pm. Tickets £22. Details: https://www.meetup.com/The-Happy-Hummingbird-Haven/

Saturday, 22 April; Heathen Blot for Spring. Talk and rite led by Andre and Amanda Henriques. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 6.30pm. Ticket price £10. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday, 22 April; Earth Day meditatiion. London venue, details tba. Time: 7pm. Details and reservations: https://www.meetup.com/The-London-Wicca-Meetup-Group/

Saturday, 22 April; Starlight storytelling in Richmond with London Dreamtime: Secret Location in Richmond. Time: 8pm. Price: £3. For details and to reserve a place email vanessa@londondreamtime.com or visit http://londondreamtime.com/calendar/

Sunday 23 April; Meditation at Russell Brands Trew Era Cafe, 30 Whitmore Road, London N1 5QA. Starts 10.15am. Free event. Details: https://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Sunday 23 April; Religion, Myth and Superstition in London's History - guided tour at the Museum of London. Venue: Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £12.50/£10. Booking and details: http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london

Sunday 23 April; Children of The Wild Wood - Initiatory Study Circle: British Museum Visit organised by Grove of the Green Goddess. Venue: British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 2pm. Donations of £3 welcome. https://www.meetup.com/Grove-of-The-Green-Goddess/

Sunday 23 April; The Thin Veil of London. Two-hour walk around Holborn and Bloomsbury, interwoven with mysteries from the stories of Arthur Machen, with Minimum Labyrinth. Tickets:  £17.50 (£12.50 concessions). Time: 4pm-6.30pm. Details and booking:  www.minimumlabyrinth.org.

Sunday 23 April; Crossbones Vigil to honour The Goose and the outcast dead of Cross Bones Graveyard. Bring a flower, a ribbon, a totem or memento to tie to the shrine. Gather from 6.45pm for a 7pm start in Redcross Way outside the Memorial Gates, London SE1 1TA. For more details, visit http://www.crossbones.org.uk/ The new website is: http://crossbones.org.uk/

Note: I do not organise any of these events. Although I try to make sure the details on my listing are accurate, I do not always know about late changes or ticket availability etc. Please contact the organiser before attending any event. If you want an event listed on my blog, or spot anything that needs changing, please email badwitch1234@gmail.com.

Review: The Wisdom Seeker's Tarot

Every so often a tarot deck comes out that focuses on offering original insights into how to read and interpret the cards rather than just new artwork themes. The Wisdom­ Seeker's Tarot is one such deck. Don't get me wrong, the artwork is good, but the main focus of the deck is on personal development rather than fortune telling or divination.

The Wisdom­ Seeker's Tarot is by David Fontana who was a Fellow of the British Psychological Society with a long and illustrious background in psychology as well as a tarot expert. This is what he brought to bear on this deck.

The press release I was sent, by publisher Watkins, described the deck as "cards and techniques for self-­discovery and positive change".

It continued: "This beautiful kit is ideal for everyone interested in improving their self-­knowledge and boosting their self­-empowerment. Tarot cards have captivated seekers of the truth since the 15th century. Whether used for self-­development or meditation, these fascinating cards can hone your intuition and enhance your understanding of the many influences affecting your life."

The book that comes with the set covers the history of tarot and the historic and esoteric background to the symbolism of the major arcana, court cards and minor arcana. What I found particularly fascinating was that the minor arcana are described primarily in terms of the meanings of the suits and also the symbolism of numbers, rather than giving a Rider-Waite-Smith type interpretation for each card.

You are not meant to learn by rote what each card means and use that when reading them. Instead, you are prompted to use them as tools for meditation and personal insight. David Fontana explains that although you can do readings in which you take the cards as having some synchronicity with life events, you can also regard them as being drawn completely by chance, but nevertheless use the images to stimulate your thoughts.

The deck is perfectly suitable for both experienced tarot users and newcomers. In fact I think it strikes a great balance between potentially offering new insights for intermediate-level readers and explaining the cards simply enough for beginners to learn with. At the moment it is one of my favourite tarot decks to work with and I am using it a lot.

I should mention that The Wisdom-Seeker's Tarot is an updated version of David Fontana's Truth-Seeker's Tarot, which is now out of print and collectable, so if you are lucky enough to have the earlier version you probably don't need to buy this one. However, if you don't have the old set, this is your chance to get a new copy at a very reasonable price. The RRP is just £14.99.

The Wisdom­ Seeker's Tarot has a publication date of April 20 and can be preordered via Amazon

Note: David Fontana lived from 1934-2010 and wrote numerous books on psychology, meditation, symbolism and tarot.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.watkinspublishing.com/
@watkinswisdom
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/06/ive-won-bundle-of-books-from-watkins.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/07/review-sacred-sites-oracle-cards.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/04/review-magical-year-by-danu-forest.html

I've Won a Bundle of Books from Watkins Publishing

I've won a competition! My prize was a big bundle of books from Watkins Publishing, which you can see in the photo above. How lovely to get a big box of books arrive on the doorstep! I think the one I am most interested in reading is Play the Forest School Way by Peter Houghton and Jane Worroll.

Although I don't have kids of my own, many of my friends do and one of them has just started running a group where both pagan adults and children can learn traditional crafts and skills as well as celebrate the changing seasons in a family-friendly way. This could be a very useful reference book. The description of Play the Forest School Way on Watkins' website says:

Help your child connect with nature, be adventurous and most of all have fun, with these woodland games, crafts and skill-building activities from Forest School.

The ultimate guide to woodland fun with kids! Forest School is founded on a philosophy of nature-based play and learning that encourages children to develop confidence and self-esteem. This book will get your kids outside, making and building in the real world (instead of on a computer screen!). Whether your local woodland is a forest or a strip of trees along the edge of an urban park, these activities provide fantastic opportunities for family time and will encourage your children to fall in love with outdoor play. This is the first book to share Forest School games, crafts and skill-building activities with families and friends, its magical illustrations and simple instructions drawing children easily into a world of wonder.

* Be a fox tracking its prey, a moth evading a bat, a rabbit fleeing a forest fire!
* Make a working bow and arrow, spectacular headdresses, beautiful woodland jewellery, magic wands – all with materials gathered from the forest floor.
* Learn wilderness survival skills: build a shelter, make fire, forage and cook wild food.

I'm looking forward to reading this and then maybe help my friend run a workshop or two!  I think I'll enjoy doing fun stuff outdoors as much as the kids.


Links and previous related posts
http://www.watkinspublishing.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/04/review-magical-year-by-danu-forest.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/07/review-sacred-sites-oracle-cards.html

Review: The Crystal Wisdom Healing Oracle

I do love crystals. The main problem with using them in the practise of witchcraft and magic is that it can be expensive to get more than a basic few. Here are the details of a lovely boxed that help you get over that issue.

The Crystal Wisdom Healing Oracle is a versatile set of cards depicting 50 different crystals and comes with a small book explaining how to use them for healing and divination. It is by Judy Hall, who is the author of famous books including The Crystal Bible series and the Crystal Prescriptions series. Judy has also appeared three times on the Watkins Bookshop Spiritual 100 List of the most spiritually influential living people of the 21st century.

The edition of The Crystal Wisdom Healing Oracle I'm reviewing is an updated version of one that came out a few years ago and was a best-seller. The new edition features a 120-page full-colour handbook and 50 crystal oracle cards, which is 10 more than the earlier one.

The cards all have lovely photographs of real crystals against a black background. They are absolutely ideal for someone who wants to learn how to use crystals for healing, divination or magic, but doesn't have access to lots of real stones and can't afford to go out and buy them. Some of the crystals depicted are rare - such as Preseli bluestone - which even a keen amateur is not likely to own.

The idea is that you can use a card instead of a crystal and get pretty much the same effect. I'm going to be honest here - I don't think using a printed card, even one with a very good photo on it, is *quite* the same as the real thing, but it is certainly better than nothing. The high quality photographs certainly help you visualise real crystals being present, learn about their symbolism and meaning, and practise using them.

The book explains in succinct and easy terms how to use crystals for healing - by placing them (or the cards) on your body or around it - and how to use the cards for divination. It offers several layouts, or "lattices", for different types of questions you might want to ask. You can also, of course, just pick a card for the day.

My hubby and I have been using the cards over the past couple of weeks and we experimented by first picking cards at random, shuffling and choosing one face down; then going through them face up and picking the one that appealed to us most each day. We found that the face-up method seemed to work best for us and gave us something that was most appropriate whenever we tried it.

The set's RRP is just £14.99 - pitched at the right level for a gift or for a starter set for a beginner.   Personally, I would recommend getting another book or two at the same time if you seriously want to learn about crystal healing. Apart from The Crystal Bible and Crystal Prescriptions, two books to think about are and Earth Blessings: Using Crystals for Personal Energy Clearing, Earth Healing and Environmental Enhancementand Hay House Basics: Crystals.

Publisher Watkins's press release about the Crystal Wisdom Oracle Deck says:

Crystals have been used for divination since ancient times. Their powerful intrinsic energies can serve as mirrors to reveal your true path and link you to the part of yourself that is all-seeing and all-knowing. Created by best-selling crystals expert Judy Hall, The Crystal Wisdom Healing Oracle will connect you to your higher, intuitive self, providing insights into your past, present, and future.

Draw a card from a shuffle for an immediate insight, or spread the cards according to the author’s "lattice" designs for more in-depth readings, each one suitable for a different type of enquiry. Five card suits reflect the vibrational frequencies of the crystals within them, and allow you to conduct divinations at various levels, from the material to the spiritual. The cards themselves can be used for healing in place of the actual crystals, making this deck extremely accessible and effective. 

Superb, specially commissioned photography captures the essence of each of the 50 crystals shown on the cards, on a black background mimicking the traditional black scrying cloth used for divination. This gives users access to rare crystals as well as many popular ones. Perfect for anyone drawn to the beauty and healing energy of crystals, this Oracle shows you how to call upon them, even in card form, for life guidance and self-knowledge, and to utilise their healing properties to bring your body back into balance.

You can order the Crystal Wisdom Healing Oracle Kitvia Amazon.

Links and previous related posts
Crystal Wisdom Healing Oracle Kit
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/06/review-crystal-bible-v2.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/08/pagan-eye-austin-osman-spares-scrying.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/06/extract-crystal-prescriptions-2-by-judy.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/02/review-hay-house-basics-crystals.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/review-crystal-tarot.html
http://www.watkinspublishing.com/