Book Review: Albion's Eco-Eerie - Haunting TV & Movies

As a member of the "haunted generation" who grew up watching weird TV and movies, I loved reading Albion's Eco-eerie. Like author Phil Smith, I can remember watching early episodes of Doctor Who and Quatermass from behind the sofa, and being scared and thrilled by films such as Night of the Demon, The Company of Wolves, and TV adaptations of MR James' spooky stories. 

I've heard these and similar movies and programmes being described as contemporary occulture, as flowerings of the 1970s' Age of Dark Aquarius, and as folk horror. They show a nostalgic look at the myths and memories of the past, but also a fear of such things as well as fears for the future. This is sometimes described as hauntology, hence the subtitle of Albion's Eco-eerie: "TV and Movies of the Haunted Generations". 

However, in this book Phil Smith shows that many of these weird films and TV shows also have an unexpected ecological and political message. As it says on publisher Temporal Boundary Press's website: 

"Unlike most approaches to folk horror or hauntology, we are interested here in an alternative reading; one that attends to the unhuman characters, the materials and the edgeland spaces. A hobgoblinology. Albion's Eco-eerie is a fantastic exploration into culture’s obsession with ‘the other’. Dissecting some of our most regarded folk horror creations, to present us with the political and theoretical heart that beats inside. How our desire for escape through parallel worlds holds the key for a deeper future."

Phil Smith uses the term "goblin" in a positive rather than a negative sense, meaning figures from mythology that are an intrinsic part of our landscape, yet are underappreciated. He describes hobgoblinology as "an amalgam of phenomenology, folklore and auto-ethnography." But please don't get put off reading this lovely book because it uses an odd term. If, like me, you have ever cheered on the underdogs rather than the think-they-know-it-alls in charge, that's what it basically means.

As well as enjoying reading more about some of my favourite weird films and TV shows, I really like the way this book shows they have an environmental message: that blending best practices from the past with best aspects of modern science, and accepting a change of the way we live, might be necessary to save the Earth.   

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/09/altars-household-gods-assemble-for-eco.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/07/book-review-goblin-queens-and-qualia.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/03/book-extract-living-in-magical-mode-by.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/07/review-on-walking-psychogeographical.html

Witches Online: TV Programmes & Games Driving Trends

I’m not a TikTok witch, but I think everyone’s been doing things online more this past year – including witches. And what’s more, witches and witchcraft have become increasingly fashionable. I’ve seen a lot of threads on social media discussing whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. In this post I’m not going to tackle the subject of newcomers to the craft – or “baby witches” as the trending phrase seems to be – and how best to introduce them to real witchcraft rather than the TV version. That’s for a later post. What I’m going to be blogging about today is a few of the witch-themed things like TV programmes and games that are driving the fashion.

Fictional Witchcraft on TV

I’m sure anyone likely to read this post is aware of the hugely popular Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The American series about the teenage witch Sabrina Spellman was based on an Archie comic book series of the same name, which also inspired the earlier 1996 series Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Sadly the recent version only ran to four seasons before being cancelled, but you can still find it on Netflix. I must admit I really enjoyed it, although opinions on pagan social media groups are usually divided. The issue is that Sabrina is a Satanic witch rather than a pagan. Some people feel this gives newcomers the incorrect idea that real-world witchcraft is about worshipping the devil and cursing rather than celebrating the seasons and doing healing spells.

More recently, WandaVision came to Disney+. This is based on more magical characters from comic books: Wanda Maximoff, or the Scarlet Witch, and her partner Vision. This takes inspiration from 1960s TV sitcoms I Dream of Jeannie, about a genie living in 20th century America, and Bewitched, about a witch who marries a mortal and tries to be a suburban housewife, but using a little magic to solve everyday problems. I don’t want to give away too many spoilers, but WandaVision also has an appearance by another witchy character.

Witch Inspired Slot-Based Games

I’m not really a gambler, but my fellow blogger Alex pointed out to me that the world of online casinos has been booming lately, and one surprising theme we can see pop up in them is magic! While it’s no surprise to see that classic table games like Poker, Roulette, and Baccarat do well on these websites, the popularity of magic and witch-themed slot games was somewhat of a surprise. You can take a spin on this site, and give these fan-favorite modern games a try right now.

It seems that everyone wants a bit of magic in their life in one way or another and themed slots do an excellent job of giving it to them. While we can’t miss that many of these themed slots take a silly approach to the witch trope, it’s still nice to see witches not depicted as terrifying monsters. These action-packed games incorporate the witch theme into gameplay by adding symbols like cauldrons, spell books, and hats, along with mysteriously haunting music.

Looking Ahead

I’m going to be blogging more about Witchcraft online in the future, but in the meantime, do leave a comment about your own favourite witches in popular media.

Note: Please be responsible when spending online.

Magical Folklore Podcast & Sacred Wonders TV Series

Here are details of a podcast and a new TV series that explore the magical and the sacred:

Folklore Podcast on Magical House Protection
The latest episode of the Folklore Podcast is all about magical house protection. Podcast presenter Mark Norman talks to Brian Hoggard about his new book and research into things like witch-bottles, charms, protective marks, and concealed objects including shoes, dead cats and horse skulls. These have been used widely in history to keep members of households safe from curses and negative energy. You can listen to the episode for free via the Folklore Podcast website: https://thefolklorepodcast.weebly.com/

Sacred Wonders on BBC1
A new documentary series called Sacred Wonders is starting on BBC1 this Wednesday, 7 August, at 9pm. It looks at spectacular landmarks around the world that are connected to religions or have spiritual significance. You can find out more about it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0007fhl

You can view Brian Hoggard's book Magical House Protection: The Archaeology of Counter-Witchcraft on Amazon .

TV: Mystic Britain and the Ice Age Shaman

Until now, I managed to completely miss a series called Mystic Britain on the Smithsonian Channel, although it has been available in the UK since earlier this year. The next episode going out is called Ice Age Shaman and is on TV tonight, Tuesday 18 June, at 8pm.

I was alerted to it by my fellow Moon Books author Imelda Almqvist, who is appearing on tonight's show. In this episode, presenter Clive Anderson looks at the world 10,000 years ago, before the dawn of civilisation. Mary-Ann Ochota shows how our ancient ancestors were sophisticated hunters, craftsmen and shamans.

Imelda said: "I am the shamanic practitioner who models a Stone Age antlered head dress from a museum in York - and then takes Clive on a time travel adventure to Neolithic times..."

She added: "Life is never dull in this house! My children were hiding upstairs when the film crew was here, for fear of 'accidentally appearing on TV'!"

The Smithsonian Channel is available on Freeview 99, Freesat 175, Sky 195, 889, Virgin Media 295.

I am also going to have to find out if the earlier episodes of Mystic Britain are available to watch online. One of the first ones was apparently on witches.

Imelda is the author of Natural Born Shamans and Sacred Art: A Hollow Bone for Spirit. You can view her author page on Amazon.

TV: Witches Featured in Digging Up Britain's Past

Channel 5's archaeology programme, Digging Up Britain's Past, last night was set in Pendle and was called Witches. The series aims to explore fascinating periods in British history and I think this one is about the Pendle witch trials.

I haven't seen the episode on witches yet, but I did manage to catch an episode last week about Robin Hood and King John, which I enjoyed. I'd describe the series as Time Team-light. You can watch Witches here: https://www.my5.tv/digging-up-britains-past/season-1/episode-4-2-2-3

Earlier episodes are on the Viking invasion and Stonehenge and are also available to catch up on My5. I think I know what my viewing will be today.

ADDED NOTE:  I've just watched what I Tivo'd last night and it seems Channel 5 broadcast a different episode than the one advertised. It was about the Black Death in the 14th century. Hopefully they will show the one about witches at a later date.

Witches & Witchcraft in the News, Film & TV

Here is a round-up of recent news stories about witches and witchcraft. A few are about real-life incidents, others are about fictional portrayals on TV and in the movies. First, several stories about TV show The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina:

"Sabrina: Satanists sues Netflix over goat statue used in new witch TV series" - story at Mirror.co.uk: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/sabrina-satanists-sues-netflix-over-13563484

"Real Witches Judge the Witch Culture of 'The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'" - story at FANDOM: http://fandom.wikia.com/articles/real-witches-sabrina

"Building a witch's world takes its own magic" - story at CBC.ca: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/sabrina-teenage-witch-production-designer-1.4896654

"The original series of Sabrina the Teenage Witch is officially returning to British screens… and 90s kids are losing it: - story at The Sun: https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/7709346/sabrina-the-teenage-witch-returns-to-british-screens/

And some other witchy news:

"The unstoppable rise of the modern day witch and why your obsession with crystals and tarot reading is the ultimate act of feminism" - story at Glamour UK: https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/modern-witchcraft

"Alice Kyteler: The Kilkenny 'Witch' Who Ran While her Servant Burned" - story about a historic case at Ancient Origins: https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-important-events/alice-kyteler-0010954

"Faith leaders share end-of-life values" - story at Gaston Gazette: https://www.gastongazette.com/news/20181109/faith-leaders-share-end-of-life-values

"The Honest Truth about hedgehogs: Prickly beastie once branded witch now at sharp end of habitat threats" - story at The Sunday Post: https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/the-honest-truth-about-hedgehogs-prickly-beastie-once-branded-witch-now-at-sharp-end-of-habitat-threats/

"'The Wicker Man' and western anxieties: exploring the modern resonance of pagan horrors" - opinion piece at The Bowdoin Orient: https://bowdoinorient.com/2018/11/09/the-wicker-man-and-western-anxieties-exploring-the-modern-resonance-of-pagan-horrors/

"'Suspiria' and Rethinking the Witch" - story at Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-suspiria-redefined-witch-movies-new-generation-1158152

Round-up of News Stories on Witchcraft and the Occult

We are living in the Year of the Witch, according to the news. They are appearing in movies and TV programmes, there is a growing interest in the history of witchcraft and witch trials, and witches are also making themselves heard. Here is a round-up of recently published stories and features on that topic:

"Reading the occult" - a look at London's occult bookshops including Watkins, The Atlantis Bookshop and Treadwell's. Story at Boundless: https://unbound.com/boundless/2018/11/05/occult-bookshops/

"The occult is having a moment. Companies want in, but not if witches can help it." - story at Vox: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/10/31/18042850/sephora-witch-kit-sage-urban-outfitters-magic-tarot

"Between 'Suspiria' and 'Sabrina', 2018 is the Year of the Witch" - story at /FILM: https://www.slashfilm.com/year-of-the-witch/

"Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina's Pagan Set Designer Defends The Show's Controversial Religion" - story at Refinery29: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/11/215797/chilling-adventures-of-sabrina-religion-backlash-defense

"Which TV Witch World Is Best To Be a Witch?" - story at E! Online: https://www.eonline.com/news/982569/which-tv-witch-world-is-best-to-be-a-witch

"Here's Why This Witch Is Preparing For Midterm Elections By Hosting a Hex on Brett Kavanaugh" - story at TIME: http://time.com/5442528/brett-kavanaugh-hex/

"Witches in the age of the Me Too movement" - story at BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-46032479

"Canada's last witch trials: Women accused of fake witchcraft" - story at BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45983540

"GLOBAL: The Witches of Baltimore - Young black women are leaving Christianity and embracing African witchcraft in digital covens." Story at The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/11/black-millennials-african-witchcraft-christianity/574393/

The photo at the top shows the interior of Treadwell's occult bookshop in London, viewed through its front window.

News: Occult, Paganism, Witchcraft, History and Art

A round- up of news of recent stories including the unveiling of a Baphomet statue, Celtic pilgrimages, witchcraft, witch hunts, archaeology, TV, movies and music:

"The Satanic Temple Protested a Ten Commandments Monument in Arkansas With Its Baphomet Statue" - story at TIME: http://time.com/5370989/satanic-temple-arkansas/

"Satanists unveil 8-foot 'Baphomet' statue at Arkansas State Capitol" - A blog post on the same subject at Big Think: https://bigthink.com/stephen-johnson/satanists-unveil-8-foot-baphomet-statue-at-arkansas-state-capitol

"Witchcraft in the #MeToo Era" - story at New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/nyregion/witchcraft-in-the-metoo-era.html

"In Rural India, Protecting Women From Witch Hunting, and an Impending Flood" - story at SELF: https://www.self.com/story/in-rural-india-protecting-women-from-witch-hunting-and-an-impending-flood

"Celtic spirituality draws pagans and Christians alike" - story at Religion News Service: https://religionnews.com/2018/08/17/celtic-spirituality/

"This Golden Head Adds a Twist to Ancient Roman History" - story at National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/08/news-ancient-rome-statue-horse-head-germany-waldgirmes-archaeology/

"A Discovery of Witches streaming: How to watch A Discovery of Witches online" - story at Express.co.uk: https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1004115/A-Discovery-of-Witches-streaming-how-to-watch-online-Sky-Now-TV-cast-plot-trailer

"20 Crazy Revelations Behind The Making Of The Witches" - story at Screen Rant: https://screenrant.com/the-witches-behind-scenes-making-details-trivia/

"The secrets of Led Zeppelin IV: from ecology to the occult" - story at Louder: https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-secrets-of-led-zeppelin-iv-from-ecology-to-the-occult

TV: Bacchus Uncovered: Ancient God of Ecstasy

Tonight at 9pm on BBC Four, historian Bettany Hughes is looking at the god Bacchus in a documentary called Bacchus Uncovered: Ancient God of Ecstasy

She travels to Georgia, Jordan, Greece and Britain to investigate is origins and also ways in which the god of wine, revelry, theatre and excess is presented in the modern world.

You can find out more about the programme and watch some clips from it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09z8d01

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/03/i-was-teenage-maenad.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/11/every-day-magic-start-of-winter.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/12/pagan-london-temple-of-mithras.html

News: Witches in Books, Film, TV, Stage & Culture

"From Circe to Clinton: why powerful women are cast as witches" - story at The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/apr/07/cursed-from-circe-to-clinton-why-women-are-cast-as-witches

"Circe, a Vilified Witch From Classical Mythology, Gets Her Own Epic" - a look at the background to a new book, at New York Times (You can view Circe, by Madeline Miller, on Amazon)

"Sesame Studios welcomes The Witch Sisters" - story at Kidscreen: http://kidscreen.com/2018/04/06/sesame-studios-welcomes-the-witch-sisters/

"Why Scarlet Witch Probably Won't Get A Solo Movie, According To Elizabeth Olsen" - story at Cinema Blend: https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2398901/why-scarlet-witch-probably-wont-get-a-solo-movie-according-to-elizabeth-olsen

"Sabrina the Teenage Witch: First image from the Netflix reboot" - story at BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-41349976

"Which witch is best? Wicked is defying gravity and exceeding expectations at Apollo Victoria Threatre" - story at London News Online: https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/which-witch-is-best-wicked-is-defying-gravity-and-exceeding-audience-expectations-at-apollo-victoria-threatre/

"I Thought I Knew What To Expect At A Witchcraft Convention. I Was Wrong" - story at Refinery29: https://www.refinery29.uk/witch-convention-uk

News: Paganism, Witchcraft, Witch Hunts & History

Here is a round-up of news stories about paganism, witchcraft, witch hunts, archaeology, culture and history:

"Racists Are Threatening to Take Over Paganism" - story at VICE: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/59kq93/racists-are-threatening-to-take-over-paganism

"A Pagan Exorcism in Sardinia" - story at Condé Nast Traveler: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/a-pagan-exorcism-in-sardinia

"Massive Ancient Drawings Found in Peruvian Desert" - exclusive story at National Geographic: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/new-nasca-nazca-lines-discovery-peru-archaeology/

"In memory of the witches" - a look at equality and diversity when studying historic witch persecution, at Equal Times: https://www.equaltimes.org/in-memory-of-the-witches#.WscTHy7wbIU

"1773 women killed in rape, dowry, witch hunting in 12 yrs" - story at Business Standard: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/1773-women-killed-in-rape-dowry-witch-hunting-in-12-yrs-118040201234_1.html

"Mirrors at Leicester Square Theatre" - review of a play about archetypes including a witch, at The Upcoming: https://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2018/03/30/mirrors-at-leicester-square-theatre-theatre-review/

"Sabrina the Teenage Witch: First image from the Netflix reboot" - story at BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-41349976

"9 Myths About Witchcraft That Modern-Day Witches Like Me Are Tired of Hearing" - story at Allure Magazine: https://www.allure.com/story/real-life-witches-myths-misconceptions

Catching Up With Witchcraft News & Occult TV

I've had the flu and been too ill to blog over the past week, but I'm on the mend now and catching up with things. Talking of catch-up, if you missed the BBC quiz show QI's episode on the occult at the weekend, you can still watch it via BBC IPlayer. Here are some links to news stories from the past few days about druids, witches, pagans more TV and movies:

"Rude Brittania! Top druid says Sky Atlantic's new Roman TV epic is an insult to peace-loving Celtic holy men" - story at the Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5292737/Top-druid-says-new-insult-peace-loving-druids.html

"Witch-swinging: Tales of witchcraft and torture" - A look at attacks on women accused of witchcraft in colonial India. Story at Livemint: http://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/svrJW51AYt8PNG9hkfWjUN/Witchswinging-Tales-of-witchcraft-and-torture.html

"Why is Papua New Guinea Still Hunting Witches?" - story at The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/why-is-papua-new-guinea-still-hunting-witches/

"Highland Views: Witches, Wicca and a pagan view of the world" - A Protestant minister and interfaith chaplain's look at pagans and witches, at Asheville Citizen-Times: http://www.citizen-times.com/story/life/2018/01/19/highland-views-witches-wicca-and-pagan-view-world/1037899001/

"Crystals, potions and tarot cards: the mystical rise of new age businesses" - story at The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2018/jan/18/crystals-potions-and-tarot-cards-the-mystical-rise-of-new-age-businesses

"Mail-order magic: the rise of subscription witchcraft" - story at The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2018/jan/16/mail-order-magic-the-rise-of-subscription-witchcraft

"Movie Review – Curse of the Witch's Doll (2018)" - review at Flickering Myth: https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2018/01/movie-review-curse-witchs-doll-2018/

Review: Embracing the Darkness by Dr John Callow

At the longest nights of the year, when even the moon is absent from the nocturnal sky, embrace the darkness... Pick up a copy of John Callow's new book and read about tales of witchcraft and persecution, pour over pictures of sorceries past and venture into the wild woods where myths and legends grow.

Embracing the Darkness by John Callow is about witchcraft beliefs as shown in popular culture from Classical times to the 20th century. It is the most interesting book on witchcraft I have read this year. That's is high praise because I also read Ronald Hutton's latest book on witchcraft this year, and that was brilliant.

As the subtitle says, it is a cultural history of witchcraft. It is about the stories, art, poetry, films and other forms of popular media that have influenced and been influenced by beliefs about witchcraft.

I heard John callow speak about Isobel Gowdie at the London Fortean Society's conference on the Haunted Landscape last month. It was a fascinating talk based on one of the chapters from his book, about how a Scottish woman's four confessions to magistrates in 1662 led to various novels, songs and books on folklore. Many of these embellished or changed the scant facts we can find out from historical research and have gone on to influence modern pagan witchcraft practices.

John is giving a lecture based on another chapter at Treadwell's in London in January. The talk is called Urbain Grandier the Witch: History, Literature and Film. It looks at the horrific 1634 witch trial of  Loudon's Urbain Grandier, the events surrounding which included multiple public exorcisms of supposedly demon-ridden nuns. The dramatic events attracted generations of  writers and film makers including Alexander Dumas, Aldous Huxley, Ken Russell and Derek Jarman.

The last chapter in Embracing the Darkness looks at the myths, legend, folklore, fiction and film surrounding Herne the Hunter, including the 1980s TV series Robin of Sherwood - much loved by many modern pagans of that era.

Publisher IB Tauris says on its website:

From the Salem witch trials to the macabre novels of Dennis Wheatley; from the sadistic persecution of eccentric village women to the seductive sorceresses of TV's Charmed; and from Derek Jarman's punk film Jubilee to Ken Russell's The Devils, John Callow brings the twilight world of the witch, mage and necromancer to vivid and fascinating life. He takes us into a shadowy landscape where, in an age before modern drugs, the onset of sudden illness was readily explained by malevolent spellcasting. And where dark, winding country lanes could terrify by night, as the hoot of an owl or shriek of a fox became the desolate cries of unseen spirits.Witchcraft has profoundly shaped the western imagination, and endures in the forms of modern-day Wicca and paganism. Embracing the Darkness is an enthralling account of this fascinating aspect of the western cultural experience.

What I particularly liked about the book is that it is beautifully written as well as painstakingly researched. John's evocative writing style brings to life each episode from the history of witchcraft as well as giving you the facts. He is also very sympathetic towards modern pagans, showing that fiction really is just as important as fact when dealing with the power of myth, magic and the imagination.

You can view Embracing the Darkness: A Cultural History of Witchcraft on Amazon and also order buy copies at Treadwell's bookshop.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/11/john-callow-on-isobel-gowdie-at-haunted.html
http://www.ibtauris.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/08/review-witch-history-of-fear-by-ronald.html
https://www.treadwells-london.com/shop/embracing-darkness-cultural-history-witchcraft/

TV: Bettany Hughes' Venus Uncovered

Professor Bettany Hughes is on BBC Four at 9pm this Wednesday with a new documentary called Venus Uncovered: Ancient Goddess of Love.

I'm really looking forward to watching this. However, if you get the channel BBC World News, you can watch the programme earlier than Wednesday. In fact, according to the BBC World New website, it is on tonight.

The description of Venus Uncovered on the BBC Four website says:

In 1914, the suffragette Mary Richardson attacked the Rokeby Venus at the National Gallery in London. But why did this painting fire such outrage? Professor Bettany Hughes embarks on a voyage of discovery to reveal the truth behind the Venus depicted in the painting, proving that this mythological figure is so much more than just an excuse for sensual nudity and chocolate-box romance. Because Venus Uncovered is the remarkable story of one of antiquity's most potent forces. And more than that - hers is the story of human desire, and how desire transforms who we are and how we behave.

Charting Venus's origins in powerful ancient deities, Bettany demonstrates that Venus is far more complex than first meets the eye. Beginning in Cyprus, the goddess's mythical birthplace, Bettany decodes Venus's relationship to the Greek goddess Aphrodite, and, in turn, Aphrodite's mixed-up origins both as a Cypriot spirit of fertility and procreation - but also, as a descendant of the prehistoric war goddesses of the Near and Middle East, Ishtar, Inanna and Astarte. We start to see the Venus is about desire of all kinds - malign as well as benign. Hughes meets world experts who reveal the mysterious and obscure ways this ancient goddess was imagined and worshipped (including as a bearded, gender-fluid woman and even as a giant, sinister, volcanic rock), and visits the sites where the real women and men of the Bronze Age adored her as 'greater than a god' - a creature who gave all and took all away. 

The photo at the top shows the Rokeby Venus, which is in the National Gallery, London

Watch Me on Oracle TV's Halloween Special 2017

If you missed watching me on Oracle TV on Saturday evening, here is the first part of the Halloween Special on YouTube, in which show presenter Carrie interviews me about Samhain, my new book Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days and my earlier book on candle magic.

Ronald Hutton, JK Rowling & Me on Telly Tonight!

At 9pm tonight you can watch Professor Ronald Hutton, JK Rowling and me on the telly.

Or you could if you could watch three different channels at the same time. Sadly, I'm not going to be on the same programmes as the eminent Professor Ronald Hutton or the author of the Harry Potter books, but we are all on TV.

I will be appearing on a Halloween Special broadcast live on Facebook from the Oracle TV Studio at 9pm tonight. Follow this link to find out more and to watch the programme: https://www.facebook.com/events/323941201348781/

Professor Ronald Hutton will be on More4 at 9pm tonight in A Very British Witchcraft. You can find out more details here: http://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/cmyfvs/a-very-british-witchcraft/

JK Rowling will be in the documentary Harry Potter and the History of Magic on BBC2 at 9pm. You can see some clips here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09d5n6b

TV: Supernatural Nazis Documentary on Channel 5

A new documentary series called Supernatural Nazis starts at 8pm tonight Channel 5. It looks at Hitler's plans to use occult forces to win the Second World War. One of the things I've been told this series examines is the Nazi's SS Witches Division and its efforts to prove that historic witches really existed.

Part 1, called The Nazi Jesus, looks at how the Nazis treated religion. It airs this evening, Saturday August 26, at 8pm, and is repeated on Wednesday at 3.10am.

You can read a news story about it, from The Sun, here: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/4320391/supernatural-nazis-channel-5-new-series/

News: Witchcraft, Feminism, Witch Hunt, Avebury

"Are witches the ultimate feminists?" - A look at a new book, Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive by Kristin J Sollee, at the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jul/05/witches-feminism-books-kristin-j-sollee

"These Modern Witches Want to Cast a Spell on You" - story at the Daily Beast: http://www.thedailybeast.com/these-modern-witches-want-to-cast-a-spell-on-you

"Witch-hunt in 2017: People suspicious of evil powers burn widow's house in Russia's Far East" - story at RT: https://www.rt.com/news/395294-russia-witch-house-arson/

"Avebury stone circle contains hidden square, archaeologists find" - story at the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/29/avebury-stone-circle-contains-hidden-square-archaeologists-find

"Carol Lee Scott dead at 74 – Grotbags actress and 80s kids TV icon has passed away" - story at the Sun: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/3957264/grotbags-carol-lee-scott-dead-74/

News: Rag Tree Stripped, Witches, History, TV

"Anger after holy well tree in Northern Ireland is stripped of hundreds of prayer rags" - story at Belfast Telegraph: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/anger-after-holy-well-tree-in-northern-ireland-is-stripped-of-hundreds-of-prayer-rags-35344948.html

"The Powerful Woman Known as Maria Solina - The Most Famous Witch of Galicia" - story at Ancient Origins http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/powerful-woman-known-maria-solina-most-famous-witch-galicia-007333

"St. Omer Cemetery Witch Grave" - story at Atlas Obscura - http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/st-omer-cemetery-witch-grave

"Now that's TV magic: With stunning special effects and a whole coven of top-notch stars, CBBC's The Worst Witch will cast a spell on young and old alike" - story at Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4091692/Now-s-TV-magic-stunning-special-effects-coven-notch-stars-CBBC-s-Worst-Witch-cast-spell-young-old-alike.html

News: Occult Gifts, Winter Solstice, Witches, TV

"An Occult Gift Guide for the Mystic in Your Life" - Witches are high fashion these days with a gift guide at Vogue.com: http://www.vogue.com/13510699/occult-gift-guide-mystic-gifts-crystals-tarot/

"How Scotland's witches will be celebrating their own version of Christmas this Wednesday night" - story about Winter Solstice celebrations in Scotland at Herald Scotland: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14973595.How_Scotland__39_s_witches_will_be_celebrating_their_own_version_of_Christmas_this_Wednesday_night/

"Harry Potter for girls? I'm not that kind of Worst Witch, says TV's new Mildred Hubble" - story about a new series of the popular children's programme at The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/dec/18/worst-witch-children-tv-adaptation

"What Star is This? The Pagan Origins of Christmas Symbols" - story at Ancient Origins: http://www.ancient-origins.net/history/what-star-pagan-origins-christmas-symbols-007205