Pagan Eye: My Gift of the Museum of Witchcraft Calendar

One of the lovely gifts I was given for Yule was a copy of the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic Calendar. You can see it in the photo I took.

I do like to have a paper calendar on the kitchen wall even in this digital age. This one has great pictures from the museum but also shows the dates of new moons and full moons, Pagan festivals and public holidays. Brilliant!  

It's making me look forward to starting the new year in a magical way. 

On each Pagan Eye post, I show a photo that I find interesting, with a few words about it - a seasonal image, a pagan site, an event, or just a pretty picture. 

If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself and you must confirm that you are submitting it for A Bad Witch's Blog.

Links and previous related posts
https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/10/pagan-eye-gift-of-rowan-cross.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/01/pagan-eye-museum-of-witchcraft-in-london.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/12/yule-gifts-beautiful-books-for-magical.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/08/boscastle-and-museum-of-witchcraft_3235.html

Gifts: The Tiniest, Cutest Tarot Deck - With Cats

A friend gave me the tarot deck in the picture above. I photographed it with a ruler to show just how tiny it is. What's more it has really cute cats on it!  I love it! I particularly like the Hanged Man, which is a kitty all tied up in a ball of wool.

The cards are actually stickers and intended for use in scrapbooking but they seem firm enough to use as cards if I leave them on their backings. I wanted to blog about them so my friend sent me the link to where she got them. Here it is: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005906168759.html?

I reckon a set would be a purrfect stocking filler at Yule (excuse the pun)

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/10/a-lucky-black-cat-poppet-for-black-cat.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/08/some-cat-wisdom-for-international-cat.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/03/books-folklore-magic-of-cats-by-andrew.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/01/pagan-eye-lucky-cat-for-chinese-new-year.html

Witchy Crafting: What's Inside the Paper Egg?

I made the hollow egg pictured on my altar out of papier mache. I then painted it and stuck on a coloured paper sun and flowers, but what do you think is inside? Could it be:

• A gift to be revealed when the egg is cracked open?
• Wildflower seeds to throw as a guerrilla gardening granade?
• A spell to incubate in the energy of the season?
• Or is it just an empty decoration for the seasonal holiday?

Before I tell you, I'll explain how I made it. I used a metal egg ornament as a template. I covered each side of that with plastic film (reused from a from pizza wrapping), then applied four layers of strips of cut-up newspaper with non-toxic glue to make papier mache egg halves.

When both sides were completely dry I removed the template and plastic film. Then I picked what was going inside (not telling you yet...). I stuck both sides together using a bit of card inside and more papier mache strips on the outside. 

Finally I decorated the papier mache egg shell with a sunny spring landscape. I know I'm not the most talented artist, but I always think magic works better if you put your own efforts into it, even if it doesn't look as perfect as something made in a factory. 

I've given you a clue as to what's inside, haven't I? 

Yes, it's the spell, not the tiny fluffy bunny toy, although papier mache eggs are perfect for those other things I listed too. If you're going to leave one outside - for decoration, as part of an Easter egg hunt or to throw as a seed bomb - make sure everything you use is completely safe. Personally I'd use something like flour-and-water paste instead of any artificial glue and only colour it with natural dye.

In previous years I'd put the metal egg (the one I used as the template) on my altar with a wish inside, but this feels a lot more personal. Papier mache is a bit fiddly, but I think it was worth the effort. What do you think?

There are more seasonal crafting ideas in my forthcoming book Pagan Portals Rounding the Wheel of the Year, published by Moon Books.  

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

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/01/witchy-crafts-mini-broomstick-jewellery.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/06/craft-making-flower-crown-just-from.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/03/craft-new-witchs-hat-for-my-mouse-helper.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/03/global-recycling-day-lets-talk-about.html

Shopping: A Tea Leaf Reading Kit from Treadwell's

Spring Bank Holiday weekends are the perfect time for a traditional afternoon tea, and a spot of tea leaf reading. If you fancy giving it a go, or are looking for the perfect present for a witchy friend,  this Tea Leaf Reading Kit from Treadwell's could be just the thing to order. You can see the set in the photo above, and here's the description from Treadwell's website:

"This beautiful starter box gives you all you need to read tea leaves right away. We're lucky to have found a large china  bowl and saucer, charmingly illustrated with the symbols -- a home feature in itself. With it we include: our favourite book on tea leaf reading , a bright leaflet for quick reference, and a glass jar of our favourite loose-leaf assam tea. It is all packed beautifully into a gift box which is a delight to open." 

Tea leaf reading is one of the most sociable forms of divination, and one of the easiest to learn to do. You could have a tea party and do it with friends, have a go at your next witchy get-together, or enjoy a cuppa on your own and then examine the leaves to find what the future might hold. 

Treadwell's also does a range of other boxes of magical goodies that make great gifts or witchy starter sets, including a Kitchen Witch kit, a Sun Magic Box and a Moon Bath Self Care Kit (pictured right). April's full moon is in just a couple of days, but its influence will be felt for several nights before and afterwards. This would be the perfect time for a moon bath.

Treadwell's Bookshop at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7BS. As well as selling esoteric books and products, the shop runs a range of talks and workshops both online and in-person. You can find the main website here: www.treadwells-london.com/ 

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/08/magical-books-treadwells-book-of-plant.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/10/samhain-shopping-4-halloween-reads-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/06/review-cup-of-destiny-tea-leaf-reading.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/05/photos-ronald-huttons-queens-of-wild.html

Poetry for Yuletide: An Offering of Treasure

This year, a lot of people are having to cut back on their present-buying for the festive season due to the cost of living crisis. There's also the sustainability issue of excess packagaing on many items sold as gifts. With those things in mind, I wrote this poem:

An Offering of Treasure

I offer you this treasure,
In a box.
Wrapped in paper.

Unpeel it.
Open it.
Fold back the tissue.

Is it what you wanted?
Nestled inside the packaging.
Promising so much.

Remember that feeling
When you see the reality.

Will you thank me
With honest eyes?

Tell me, truthfully
What you saw
In that empty box.

The poem is about how overpackaged gift sets sold in high street shops are often disappointing inside and not worth the money paid for them. In previous years I've blogged with posts suggesting Yule gift ideas. This year I'm not going to be doing that because it puts unecessary pressure on people to buy things they might not be able to afford. Remember that most friends and family will completely understand if you tell them you won't be offering them presents this season.

Previous poetry posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/08/poetry-of-witchcraft-spell-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/11/the-poetry-of-tarot-four-of-swords.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/08/the-poetry-of-witchcraft-crone.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/07/poetry-of-witchcraft-goddess-who-lights.html

Shopping: Soap Delivery from Bewitched Botanicals

I'm always excited when a new parcel arrives from Bewitched Botanicals. I order my soaps and some other toiletries from them partly because I like to support independent pagan shops and crafters, but also because Bewitched Botanicals makes my absolute favourite soaps. 

The scents are wonderful, I love the fact that the products are really kind to my sensitive skin, and I love the packaging everthing comes in. Oh and the soaps are beautiful inside their packets too - I'll post a piccy of one or two some time, after I've completely opened them!

Each box I unwrap feels like a present, even though I've paid for the goodies inside. Nevertheless, my order did contain a little extra - a small bar of Vanir soap to try out, as a treat!

You can visit Bewitched Botanicals' online shop here: https://bewitchedbotanicals.com/

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/10/shopping-bewitched-botanicals-halloween.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/11/gifts-lovely-soap-by-bewitched.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/02/pictures-and-views-of-enchanted-market.html

My Yule Gifts: Witchy Wall Ornaments & Visiting Family

In the photo are two great witchy wall plaques I was given at Christmas, one from a friend and one from my niece. I love them both and will hang them up in my kitchen. However, the best gift of all this year was being able to visit family again. We were all very careful and did lateral flow tests beforehand, but being able to share a meal with loved ones was something I was so glad to be able to do, considering none of us in England were able to do that the year before.

I really hope your Christmas was a happy one, with lots of sympathy going to those who were ill or had other misfortunes over the holidays. I'm wishing that 2022 will bring better things for everyone.

Yule Gifts: Bewitched Botanicals, Minoan Tarot, Craft Kits

This December I've been blogging about gift ideas from crafters and small businesses. I know many of us prefer to buy Yuletide presents from independent traders rather than big companies. We're getting close to the last posting dates before the holidays, so make sure you don't miss out on any of these lovely suggestions for witchy presents:

Bewitched Botanicals Soap and More

I'm a huge fan of Bewitched Botanicals soap - I always use it as it smells and looks lovely, and is kind to my sensitive skin. The range includes whips, scrubs, melts and other gorgeous toiletries too.  It also makes fantastic Yule gifts. One thing that caught my eye on the website is the Krampus-inspired Mystical Melt Collection (pictured). It offers 4 seasonal wax tarts in a nifty gift box: 1 x Krampus, 1 x  Krampus Kandy, 1 x Belsnickle and 1 x Frau Holle. The last posting to ensure you get things before the Christmas break is early on Friday 17 December, so have a look on the website today if you want to get an order in for that. 

You can find the website here: https://bewitchedbotanicals.com/

The Minoan Tarot Deck by Laura Perry

Ancient Minoans meet modern Tarot in this vibrant 86-card deck and guidebook set that calls on archetypes of Tarot through iconography inspired by beautiful works of art from ancient Crete. Connect with mysterious snake priestesses, labyrinthine temple complexes, and courageous bull-leapers. Explore gender-balanced face cards reflecting the egalitarian nature of Minoan society that makes this deck especially relevant for modern users: Priest and Priestess, Lord and Lady, Youth and Maid.

Each card's hand-painted artwork in the style of ancient Minoan art includes Linear B symbols (a writing system used in ancient Crete) reflecting literal image concepts or pointing to deeper meanings. This deck and comprehensive guidebook can also be used for meditation and personal growth. Experienced and new readers will find The Minoan Tarot a natural tool.

The deck has its own website here: https://www.minoantarot.com/ where people can see a lot of the card art and find links to many different online places where it's sold.

WyrdStitchers Cross Stitch Kits

WyrdStitchers offers original artwork turned into cross stitch kits. Each one contains everything you need to get crafting. Robin, Sarah and Lou's lovely creations include cute Cthulhus, bats, dragons and other designs including the one in the picture. Prices start from £6 with free postage. WyrdStitchers is a London-based small business. You can find the website here: www.wyrdstitchers.com

If you are an independent pagan trader or crafter, feel free to add a short description and details as a comment on this post.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/12/yule-gifts-seasonal-esoteric-shopping.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/12/yule-gifts-get-early-copies-of-pagan.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/12/yule-gifts-baroque-tales-accessories.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/12/yule-gifts-beautiful-books-for-magical.html

Yule Gifts: Beautiful Books for the Magical Season

I love the idea of the Icelandic tradition of giving books to friends and family on Christmas Eve so they can start reading them that night. It's called jolabokaflod, and apparently started during WWII but continues to this day. 

For a few years I've done something similar with my husband. When present shopping in early December, the last shop we go to is a bookstore. We buy each other an early Yuletide gift of fiction, then go to a coffee shop and start reading. Last year lockdown meant we ordered books online, and the coffee was made at home, but the reading tradition continued. I hope it does so for many years. 

The photo to the left is one I took at Lightopia. The illumination portrays the idea of being reborn through engaging with the worlds you encounter inside wonderful stories. 

If you want to give a loved one the gift of a beautiful book this festive season, here are a few suggestions in the Gothic, Witch Lit and fantasy genres, including something for children:

Weep, Woman, Weep
A gothic fairytale by award-winning writer Maria DeBlassie 

The women of Sueño, New Mexico don’t know how to live a life without sorrows. That’s La Llorona’s doing. She roams the waterways looking for the next generation of girls to baptize, filling them with more tears than any woman should have to hold. And there’s not much they can do about the Weeping Woman except to avoid walking along the riverbank at night and to try to keep their sadness in check. That’s what attracts her to them: the pain and heartache that gets passed down from one generation of women to the next.

Mercy knows this, probably better than anyone. She lost her best friend to La Llorona and almost found a watery grave herself. But she survived. Only she didn’t come back quite right and she knows La Llorona won’t be satisfied until she drags the one soul that got away back to the bottom of the river.

In a battle for her life, Mercy fights to break the chains of generational trauma and reclaim her soul free from ancestral hauntings by turning to the only things that she knows can save her: plant medicine, pulp books, and the promise of a love so strong not even La Llorona can stop it from happening. What unfolds is a stunning tale of one woman’s journey into magic, healing, and rebirth.

You can find copies here: mybook.to/weepwomanweep

The Bed
Urban fantasy/Witch Lit/magical realism fiction by Laura Perry

Liz just wants a happy birthday. Is that too much to ask? A beautiful antique bed: her birthday present to herself. The nice delivery men set it up in her bedroom, and then all Hell breaks loose. Literally. Her family is the usual pain in the you-know-where, and her boyfriend starts asking difficult questions, all on her birthday. But the ghost of her new bed’s former owner is the biggest problem of all. When it turns out he’s not basking in the glow of a happy afterlife, Liz must face some nasty adversaries to help him. Why on earth would she risk her life and her sanity to help a ghost? Certainly not because she’s in love with him. Certainly not.

Laura's website has links to 12 different places to buy it: https://www.lauraperryauthor.com/the-bed

The Face in the Bathroom Floor
A Witch Lit novel by Portland Jones 

 What’s it about? Well, Erica is a normal mum  just making her way through life as best she can. She sees faces in her bathroom floor. Fortunately she knows the witch who runs a local shop who is a bit abrupt but helpful. Sometimes people are not who they seem. Erica goes on a wild ride of discovery – not only are her ancestors witches, but she is also. This isn’t a wand-blazing, fingers sparking kind of witchcraft – it’s much more true to  life, though with a flourish towards the end.

In a tale that crosses generations, Erica, an unknowing witch, meets the spirits of those who have gone before – on her bathroom floor. Their lives are revealed as Erica walks by their side through love, hate and war. Between the school run, a demanding mum and a rocky relationship with husband David, will she unravel the secrets from the past in time to save her future?

The book is available on Amazon as e-book and paperback; also available via Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08X3QGQ6F

The Madness and the Magic
The Witch Lit Series box set (Kindle and Audiobook) by Sheena Cundy 

This is a series of three books about the chaotic world of wacky witch, Minerva, and her crazy antics to snare the local guitar-playing vicar, while under the influence of brandy, tarot cards, and the (hormonal) horrors of the dreaded meno-whats-it disease. It is a mad and magical romantic comedy.

You can find out more at Sheena's website: www.sheenacundy.com 

The Green Bear
A new series of picture books for children by Imelda Almqvist

Linnea and Lars are twins. They live in a cottage in the forest in Sweden and they have many friends in the same location. In the forest surrounding their house, there are many big rocks and boulders, covered in moss and lichen. One of those rocks is really a bear in disguise. On certain days, so called Green Days, The Green Bear awakens and takes local children on nocturnal adventures while their parents sleep. Those adventures include a trip up the Milky Way, a visit to the enchanted realm of the Animal Mothers and a lesson in Magic from the local Forest Witch.

In book #1 Lars and Linnea learn about the night sky in in the Northern Hemisphere and key constellations that circle around the Pole Star. In book #2 they learn that Animal Mothers watch over their animal children in our world and they watch over human children too. They learn the ancient arts of animal communication and shape-shifting. The Green Bear always drops them off at home only minutes before their parents wake up and a regular school day starts.

These books focus on keeping the magic alive and children forging a deep and lasting soul connection with all life forms, the Earth and the Cosmos.

Imelda works with children and families in her shamanic healing practice and I believes that the future of our planet depends on our children developing a completely different relationship with the Earth and all non-human beings we share our beautiful planet with. She is running a special offer this month: new subscribers to her newsletter get to download one (bonus) Green Bear book for free, you can find the link to join and get the book here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/pmz0jfeqt1. 

Yule Gifts: Baroque Tales, Accessories & Solstice Magic

Every December I blog about gift ideas from crafters and small businesses. I know that among my incredibly talented friends and readers of my blog there are crafters, designers, makers of art, workshop leaders and authors of wit and talent. I also know many of us prefer to buy Yuletide presents from independent traders rather than big businesses. Here are the first few lovely gift ideas this season. Do let me know if you make stuff or run a small pagan business and would like to be mentioned. I'll be blogging more over the coming weeks.

Winter Solstice and Yule Ritual Boxes

Wicca Moon of Eltham is offering both Yule and Winter Solstice ritual boxes, which would make a wonderful gift for a pagan friend or a treat for yourself. The Yule kit (pictured above) contains an altar cloth, a gold candle, a Yule card, a hand-blended ritual incense, a festive fragrance oil, and a scroll with a lovely ritual to perform. It costs £13. The Winter Solstice box is an immense collection of items, full of treats and essentials to honour the season. It costs £160.

Wicca Moon is at 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham, London SE9 6SH. You can also order via the website: https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/

London Baroque by Robert Kingham and Rich Cochrane

A stock-take in one of the dusty haunted turrets of Minimum Labyrinth Towers uncovered ten pristine hardback copies of London Baroque. I can thoroughly recommend Robert Kingham and Rich Conchrane's book of short stories from 2018, which takes you on tangled journeys through London in the sprawling seventeenth century. You can buy one for £23 including P&P (in the UK). Email minimumlabyrinth@richardcochrane.com for details and to reserve a copy.

You can also find out more about Minimum Labyrinth's wonderful London walks and excursions further afield here: http://minimumlabyrinth.org/

Sustainable Accessories and Jewellery

Jez Designs offers accessories and jewellery on Etsy, lots of it sustainable. Items available now include painted silk scarves and other items, posh and formal bags, yoga mat bags, tea bag wallets, wraps and shawls, jewellery, pouches and Steampunk costume items. You can find the store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/jezdesigns/?

The sister store offers crafting items and kits, including card-making kits. You can find it here https://www.etsy.com/shop/jezdesignscrafts/?

Previous related posts with other gift ideas:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/10/review-wemoon-diary-2022-magical-dark.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/10/review-verity-moss-perpetual-diary.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/12/witchy-gifts-for-yule-books-pictures.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/11/yule-season-planning-pukka-tea-advent.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/11/witch-gifts-happiness-voucher-incense.html

Yule Season Planning: Pukka Tea Advent Calendar

I've treated myself to a Pukka Tea advent calendar as an alternative to a chocolate one. I'm looking forward to enjoying 24 different organic blends from flavours designed to wake you up for the day to calming herbs for the evening - or so the description suggests. The ingredients are organic, ethically sourced, vegetarian, and with non-GM ingredients. It also comes in recyclable packaging. So, a relatively guilt-free way of counting down to Christmas.

I've always enjoyed advent calendars, and while the Winter Solstice is the time I do my spiritual observances, I still enjoy the secular festive holiday a few days later. 

In the run-up to Yule, I'll be doing what I usually do at this time of year and blogging about suitable gifts for witches and pagans, especially things from independant crafters and traders. If you want me to feature things you make or sell, email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com with a picture and the details, including where people can buy your goods.

As for the Pukka Tea advent calendar, I bought mine at Holland and Barrett when I was there getting a nut roast mix and some veggie sausages, but you can also view them at Amazon.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/12/crafty-upcycling-yule-stocking-advent.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/10/review-wemoon-diary-2022-magical-dark.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/12/witchy-gifts-for-yule-books-pictures.html

Review: Verity Moss - A Perpetual Diary Almanac of Herbs

I do love journals that are also full of folklore, herblore, spells and other snippets from traditional magic. Verity Moss - A Perpetual Diary Almanac of Herbs and Cures and Organic Recipes fits the bill very nicely. It is compiled by Judith Page and Paul F Newman.

As well as having lots of space for day-by-day notes throughout the year, it includes so much more. There's practical things to try like 'The Magic of Rosemary', 'Moon Phases and Planting', and 'Mirror Scrying'. There's also anecdotes about medieval customs, recipes and details about historical and mythological characters.

Much of it is written as though by a 17th century girl called Verity Moss, who was the character in the novel The Path of Verity Moss, also by Judith Page and Paul F Newman. Although the accounts of this time-travelling herbalist's apprentice are fictionalised, much of what is in these two books is well-researched history and folklore.

Verity Moss - A Perpetual Diary Almanac would make a lovely gift for a fellow witch, or just something to get as a treat for yourself to help you keep inspired over the year ahead.

Judith Page is a storyteller and poet, whose books aim to bring mystery and magic alive.

You can view Verity Moss on Amazon

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/08/book-excerpt-lords-ladies-by-j-page-and.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/11/books-perpetual-occultists-diary-and.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/06/book-excerpt-my-inner-guide-to-egypt.html

Looking Back at the Christmas Holiday in a Plague Year

How was your Christmas holiday this year? I hope that, despite all the restrictions, you managed to have as good a break from regular work and duties as was possible. 

In normal years I blog after the bank holiday about what I did and the presents I was given. This year I realise so many people have had awful times that I thought long and hard about whether I should do it or not in 2020. In the end I decided to. I've been trying to keep the festive season as close as possible to what I traditionally do, and this is part of it.

Being pagan, my spiritual observances were at the Winter Solstice. I watched the sunrise livestreamed from Newgrange and later in the day lit a candle and made a wish for hope and happiness for all in the year to come. It wasn't a full ritual as I just felt too tired and stressed for it, but that's okay. 

Part of the reason I was feeling stressed is that my central heating keeps breaking down. I've had an engineer out three times - including one visit on the Solstice itself - and he's going to have to come out a fourth time soon as the boiler still keeps failing to come on. 

Also, the night before I'd noticed my cat Tuppence had a badly infected scratch. I managed to get a video appointment for her to be seen on the 21st, then picked up antibiotics later in the day. You can see a picture of Tuppence in her cone on this post. She's now nicely healing, and I'm so grateful to my wonderful vet for seeing her so quickly and in a socially distanced way.

I normally visit friends and family on 25th and 26th December. This year those meetings were via Zoom, but the Tier 4 restrictions meant I couldn't even drive over to exchange gifts. My elderly relatives are in the process of being vaccinated - they had their first injection just before Christmas. I really hope  I'll be able to see them for real, and hand over their presents, some time soon.

I've spent the long weekend holiday with my husband at home. We gave each other gifts (the photo at the top shows the lovely witchy things I got), played board games, cooked a roast dinner and drank wine. We also listened to the Queen's Speech on the telly. It was surprisingly moving as she recognised people of many different faiths who are doing wonderful things to help their local communities in these difficult times. 

Today I'm going to be following another tradition among my friends - I'm going to be looking over my list of resolutions for 2020 and seeing what I achieved. I know that many of them simply weren't possible this year. Then I'll make a new list for 2021, and hoping that this time next year we are all able to visit our friends and family for real.

Witchy Gifts for Yule: Books, Pictures & Seasonal Soap

I've been blogging with Yule gift ideas from independent shops as well as crafters and makers of art. Here are more suggestions of things you can buy from independent traders rather than big businesses. 

Ghost Tales from London: Here Comes and Candle
Everyone loves a ghost story or two before Christmas, don't they? Here Comes the Candle, a Photographic Summoning of London Ghosts by Ruth Bayer and Caroline Wise is a beautiful book offering the details of 26 London ghosts, with inspiring photographs of their locations.  

The book is available from Starfire Publishing and apparently all the copies signed. The cost is £8 + £3.00 p+p via paypal at starfire.books@btinternet.com  You can find out more here: http://www.starfirepublishing.co.uk/here_comes_the_candle.htm?

Commission Fantastic Art
Jon Kaneko-James is a really talented digital artist who normally does professional book covers and other commercial art, but also does commissioned pieces. He said: "I can do a custom horror/sci-fi portrait for £70 (with high quality print shipped to you or a friend for an additional £25), plus commissioned art starting at £115."

You can find Jon on https://design.darksheepbooks.co.uk/ and you can also see all his latest pieces by following him on Twitter: @DarkSheepArts

Seasonal Soap from Bewitched Botanicals
I know I've blogged about Bewitched Botanicals a few times in the past, but I have to say that for me Yule wouldn't be Yule for me without some soap from their Christmas collection. This year I'll be wishing for Frau Holle in my Solstice stocking and snow in the festive holidays. 

This is what the Bewitched Botanicals website says:

Yuletide blessings from Frau Holle,

Wrap up warm and be you jolly

Our lady of the hearth and home

She sits upon a winters throne.

She shakes her cloak and snow does fall

And now she has us in her thrall.

The scent: green pine forests, mistletoe and holly with a blast of winter snow.

You can visit the Bewitched Botanicals website and view their complete range of soaps, whips, scrubs and melts here: https://bewitchedbotanicals.com/

Here are links to my earlier posts on other witchy gift ideas: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/11/witchy-gifts-gorgeous-accessories-and.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/11/witch-gifts-happiness-voucher-incense.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/11/witchy-gifts-yule-boxes-books-bags-and.html

Witchy Gifts: Yule Boxes, Books, Bags and Embroidery

Here's another blog post with Yule gift ideas from independent shops as well as crafters and makers of art. I also know many of us prefer to buy from independent traders rather than big businesses, and it is always good to support pagan businesses too. 

Treadwell's Bookshop is offering several yule gift bundles, including two Green Man sets, a Yule Gift Box, a Plant Magic Box and a Candle Magic set. The picture to the right shows Green Man Bundle No. 1. priced at £35, with a hardback book and a Green Man plaque. The description on the website says: 

"An evergreen gift for a leafy loved one! This bundle is composed of a book on the mighty British Oak by Archie Miles, a wonderfully comprehensive, illustrated story of this iconic tree. Including the profiles of 50 famous oaks, a map and gazetteer to help you plan your own foliate pilgrimage, and 250 fabulous images. Our long relationship with this king of the wood from ancient symbolism to ship's timber makes for fascinating reading. Included with the book is a weatherproof plaque of a Green Man, chosen at random."

The other sets are lower priced, and I was delighted to spot that the Candle Magic set costs £15contains my own book, Pagan Portals - Candle Magic, as well as seven candles and a holder. You can order online, but from Wednesday 2 December you can also pop into the shop at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS.

The picture to the left shows felted bags made by Sue Jolly of Jolly Dicey. Together with he colleague Kate Dicey, she can handmake items to order, but also offers items you can buy ready made via Etsy. 

Sue said: "I make stuff from felt. I have a few things in stock but thrive on commissions. Everything from glasses cases and keybells, to fantastic witches' hats!"

If you want to contact Sue, then visit the website linked to earlier, or email su@jollydicey.co.uk

If you know someone who likes crafting, or enjoy making things yourself, then WyrdStitchers offers cross stitching kits for people fed up of flowers and kittens. The kits feature original artwork by Robin Sarah and Lou turned into kits. You can see a photo of one to the right. The items on the Etsy store cost from about £3 up to about £50, with plenty at the lower end of the range so there's lots of gift ideas available whatever your budget.

I'll be mentioning other independent traders and crafters in the run-up to Yules. Here are links to my earlier posts: 
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/11/witchy-gifts-gorgeous-accessories-and.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/11/witch-gifts-happiness-voucher-incense.html

Witchy Gifts: Gorgeous Accessories and Crafting Kits

Here's another blog post with Yule gift ideas from friends and readers of my blog who are crafters, designers, makers of art, workshop leaders and authors. I also know many of us prefer to buy from independent traders rather than big businesses. So, I asked people to let me know what they are offering as potential presents suitable for pagans (and others). 

My friend Julie has two Etsy shops. In the main one, Jez Designs, she offers scarves and other accessories such as bags brooches and fabric jewellery. She makes them by hand, often from sustainably upcycled materials, and some are budget, while others are luxury. Julie said: "Some of my pouches are popular for storing divination cards, crystals and Wiccan paraphenalia!"  

You can see a picture of some of the bags to the left. UK customers get free shipping.

Her second Etsy store is Jez Design Crafts. That offers kits, supplies and sewing gear for those who like to make things or mend them themselves, plus a few papercrafts, patchwork and other tutorials, and homewares/gifts. 

Julie said: "Literally anyone can make a wreath like the one in the picture, or a brooch from one of my kits!" Most of it is free shipping in the UK too. 

I can vouch for the fact that Julie's kits are great and come with clear instructions, as I have made one of her flower brooches myself. I even photographed it and it appeared at the top of one of my events listings a few weeks ago. Please tell Julie if you buy anything from her site after visiting this post.

Julie has added that last orders for Christmas are:

• Australia/NZ Nov 27th (made to order)/ Dec 4th (ready to ship)
• USA, Africa, Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe Dec 1st (made to order)/ Dec 8th (ready to ship)
• Western Europe Dec 4th (made to order)/ Dec 11th (ready to ship)
• UK Dec 11th (made to order)/ Dec 18th (ready to ship)

I'll be mentioning other independent traders and crafters and over the next weeks. Here's a link to my earlier post: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/11/witch-gifts-happiness-voucher-incense.html

Witch Gifts: Happiness Voucher, Incense & Cross Stitch

Yuletide is coming and many of us are shopping for gifts. I know that among my incredibly talented friends and readers of my blog there are crafters, designers, makers of art, workshop leaders and  authors of skill, wit and ability. I also know many of us prefer to buy from independent traders rather than big businesses. So, I asked people to let me know what they are offering as potential presents suitable for pagans (and others). 

Here are the first few lovely gift ideas. I'll be mentioning others over the next few weeks.

Be Happiest Gift Vouchers
Be Happiest offers life coaching, mindfulness sessions, listening and hypnosis therapies, and wellbeing walks in the London area. Caitriona Horan, who runs Be Happiest, wrote: "I’m starting a mindfulness course Wednesday evenings in December and some daytime sessions will follow. My website shows what I do and anything can be creatively packaged into a gift voucher for a loved one"

The gift vouchers range from £1 to £100 and can be used to pay in part or in full for any BeHappiest course or event. You can find out more and purchase them via the Be Happiest website: https://behappiest.co.uk/

House of Kiya Incense and Soap
Kevin Groves, who teaches Kemetic and Chaos Magic and works with the Egyptian deity Selket, also runs the online shop House of Kiya. As well as offering courses, he makes amazing incense in the way it would have been made in the temples of Ancient Egypt, and handcrafted soaps.

He wrote: "I use a lot of my own luxurious Kapet incense for Kemetic rituals. Now others too can enjoy this amazing sweet spicy and earthy incense! All of them are, of course, suitable for non-Kemetics too!" 

You can find out more on the House of Kiya website: https://www.houseofkiya.co.uk/

Commission a Cross Stitch
A friend of mine is taking commissions for custom cross-stitches until the end of the month. She is wonderfully creative and if you'd like to discuss a project, you can reach her at sewcrude@gmail.com. She said that all budgets catered for. You can see just a few of her cross-stitch patterns in the picture to the right.

Before Samhain, and earlier in the year, I ran similar blog posts about witchy gifts. Those online stores are now selling amazing things for Yule and are worth checking out. Here are links to some of my previous posts:

Stardust Apothecary: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/10/shopping-stardust-apothecary-season-of.html
Bewitched Botanicals: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/10/shopping-bewitched-botanicals-halloween.html
Dark Delights and Pretty Witch Things: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/10/samhain-shopping-tempting-treats-witchy.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/03/treat-yourself-to-online-gift-support.html

Treat Yourself to an Online Gift & Support Small Shops

London has a wonderful range of independent pagan shops. If we want to help them survive through this time of social distancing and isolation, we need to support them all the more by using their online or telephone services. Let's face it, we are all likely to have more time to fill while we are stuck at home, so could read more, learn new skills from books, or buy kits and other materials for solitary spells and rituals. So, this Spring Equinox, why not treat yourself to a gift by ordering from one of London's superb independent retailers? Here are the details:

Treadwell's
Treadwell's is putting extra effort into its online shop . Why not go there and browse the selection of new and second-hand books as well as beautiful crystals balls, tarot decks, candles and incense?
Christina of Treadwell's also said her shop has just launched a new part of its website called Treadwell's Online, with introductory how-to videos on things like candle magic. You can listen to Treadwell's podcast: Christina interviews Phil Hine there too. More podcasts, videos and even online lectures will be rolled out every few days over the coming weeks.

Atlantis Bookshop
Atlantis Bookshop, at 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, will be open for its birthday celebration this Saturday. Geraldine and Bali of Atlantis sent a message to customers saying: "We can safely say that this is the oddest birthday celebration we can ever remember. Saturday will see The Atlantis Bookshop turn 98! If you are in the area and would like to pop in, please do - we'll be here, celebrating with tea and cake." If you are social distancing or self-isolating, you can order books and other items by phoning 020 7405 2120 or emailing atlantis@theatlantisbookshop.com. You can visit the Atlantis website for more details.

Wicca Moon
The online shop of Wicca Moon, of Eltham, is excellent. Shirlee, shop owner and magical crafter extraordinaire, has a superb range of spell and ritual kits that are perfect for solitary practise, as well as a wide range of other witchcraft supplies. The picture at the top shows the Ostara Ritual Kit I received from Wicca Moon and reviewed on my blog a couple of years ago. You can visit the website to shop online here.

Mysteries of Covent Garden
Update 24 March 2020: Mysteries is now closed until it is safe to return. They are still offering premium rate telephone readings: https://www.mysteries.co.uk/

Stepping Stones of Greenwich
During the crisis, this psychic shop is offering telephone readings. You can find out more about its services on its website.

Watkins Bookshop
Watkins has decided to close for an indefinite period. If you have an outstanding order, please email service@watkinsbooks.com.

Links
https://www.treadwells-london.com/shop/
http://theatlantisbookshop.com/
https://www.wiccamoon.co.uk/
https://watkinsbooks.com/
https://www.steppingstonesgreenwich.co.uk/
https://www.mysteries.co.uk/

Grateful for the Gift of a Lovely Yule with Family

This is a picture of three of the lovely things I was given for Yule. London is a Forest and Dan Cruicksank's London are both new books I had put on my wish list and really hoped I would be given. The Tarot of Nostradamus looks like great addition to my collection of divination sets. I'll be trying it out soon. But the greatest gift of all was time spent with family on December 25. For me, that is what Christmas Day is all about.

I am very, very lucky to have wonderful family who make me feel welcome, although they are not my blood relatives. My mum and dad both passed on a few years ago. I have cousins who I keep in touch with on Facebook or exchange cards with, but it is my husband's family who have made me feel at home every Christmas since my mum died. Sometimes, family can be people we are close to in other ways: perhaps brothers and sisters in the Craft, or friends who feel like kin.

The gift of being with family this Yule is what I am most grateful for. Thank you!

My Attempts at a More Sustainable Yuletide

I am trying to reduce the amount of waste I create this festive season. One of the ways I'm doing that is by being careful with present wrapping.

I wrapped the gifts in the photo using scarves bought from charity shops, rather than paper. The person getting the gift can keep the scarf as an extra present, or give it back to a charity shop if they don't want it. Zero waste.

For the gift tags, I cut the fronts off Christmas cards I was given last year. Every January, when I take my cards down, I cut the fronts off for reuse in that way, then put just the backs of the cards in the recycling. I tied the scarves with leftover wool from another crafting project.

Some of the gifts I am giving have been wrapped in paper, but instead of using sellotape, I tied the parcels up with ribbons saved from things I've been given in the past. When I buy any new paper, I intend to make sure it is recyclable - so no plastic or glitter on the surface. (The glittery thing in the background of the photo is a vintage scarf I inherited from my mother, so that won't be going in the waste.)

I'd also add that I am not buying gifts that are over-packaged this year, and I'm making an effort to get things from small or independent sellers rather than big stores. The items inside both of those parcels in the photo came from stalls at a local Christmas market.

If you have any suggestions for making this Yuletide more sustainable, do leave a comment.