Green London: Winter Walk in Beckenham Place Park

I love going on walks in the great outdoors in the days between Christmas and New Year. I took these photos at Beckenham Place Park, which is a huge green space in the Borough of Lewisham in South East London, although it takes its name from a village on the borders of Kent. 

The park includes areas of ancient woodland, meadows, a lake, and sustainable gardens. There are several walking routes to enjoy, including part of South East London’s Capital Ring and Green Chain Walk, which are clearly signposted. The River Ravensbourne runs along the eastern edge too. 

A Palladian-style mansion in the grounds is a community hub that offers lots of events and workshops, including Mind, Body, Spirit and crafting activities. You can find out the details here. An old stableyard has been turned into a lovely cafe too. The park hosts fairs and festivals as well. At the moment there's a winter funfair and skating rink. If, like me, you want to avoid the commercialism of a funfair, the park is large enough that you can get well away from it and simply enjoy being in nature. As the sign in the picture below suggests:

• Leave your headphones in your pocket
• Allow yourself time in nature
• Slow your pace
• Look at the base of a tree then follow the trunk skywards
• Gaze at the leaves framing the clouds (or bare branches at this time of year)
• Look for the bird that owns the song
• See the beautiful, question the unusual
• Allow curiosity, fascination, and wonder to take hold
• Actively connect to nature, it's good for you

You can find out more about Beckenham Place Park here: beckenhamplacepark.com/

Green London

I've been blogging regularly about London's green spaces in an effort to dispel a prevalent myth in the pagan community that it's just all concrete. Even in the City, which is of course heavily built up, there are still places where nature thrives, while Greater London has huge areas of woods, commons, parks and beautiful gardens.

The pictures on this post were all taken by me. Please do not use them without my permission.

Some Previous Green London Posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/07/green-london-ruskin-park-tranquil-gem.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/04/green-london-rookery-streatham-common.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/03/green-london-plumstead-common-its.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/03/green-london-londons-first-botanical.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/09/green-london-st-alphege-gardens-city.html

Craft: A Yule Wreath From Natural Materials

Wreaths seem to be a trendy Yuletide decoration this year. I've also seen lots of expensive workshops on how to make them being advertised. I made the wreath in the photo completely for free from natural vines, leaves and berries I picked in my own garden and from my neighbour's hedge.

I didn't even pay for the base. I've found it's really easy to make bases using honeysuckle. I picked long vines, stripped the leaves, then wrapped them round and round to form a circle of many strands. I tucked the ends in so nothing unravels. 

To dress the base, I picked winter foliage, ivy and berries. I tucked the stalks into the base, then wrapped ivy around everything to hold it more firmly in place, tucking the ivy ends in as well. The wreath is now hanging from my front door. I used natural garden twine for that.

I should probably mention that if you are going to pick holly, remember it is very sharp. Wear gardening gloves to avoid being pricked.

There are more ideas for seasonal activities in my book Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year, published by Moon Books. Copies can be found at Treadwell's bookshop at 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London, or online at Amazon.

(Note: I earn commission from advertisers for some links.

Previous related posts
badwitch.co.uk/2024/11/poppet-craft-how-to-make-magical-yule.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/11/craft-making-long-lasting-yuletide.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/10/craft-box-of-charms-amulets-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/10/craft-i-made-100-natural-autumn-wreath.html

WINTER50: The Special Code to get 50% off my Books

If you want to buy Rounding the Wheel of the Year or any of my Pagan Portals witchcraft books, or my Gothic novel Erosion cheaply, now's your chance. My publisher Moon Books, which is part of Collective Ink, is offering 50 per cent off all e-books until December 31st. 

All you need to do is:

• Click here > https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
• Choose your e-book(s)
• Click 'Add to basket for direct download.'
• Click on your shopping basket
• Click on 'Do you have a coupon?'
• Apply promo code WINTER50  and Validate.
• Proceed to Checkout.

You can order any e-books from any of Collective Ink's imprints. Moon Books publishes well respected titles on magickal topics, particularly the Pagan Portals series. Other imprints cover mind, body, spirit subjects, culture and politics, history and fiction.

If you want to search for my books, you can go straight to my Lucya Starza author page. I've written on candle magic, poppets, guided visualisations, scrying and the wheel of the year as well as my novel Erosion. You can read an excerpt from Erosion here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/10/seance-with-skull-from-my-gothic-novel.html

Rounding the Year: Wintery Bare Trees in Betts Park

I took this photo of a wintery scene in Betts Park, near where I live, just before 4pm and the sun is low in the sky. It is less than a month to the Winter Solstice. I still enjoy getting out and going for a walk in my local parks and observing the changes as the wheel of the year turns. This time of year can still be beautiful. 

Betts Park was once ancient common land called Penge Common, so walking here also helps me feel a connection to my ancestors of place. You can read more about it here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/06/green-london-betts-park-tales-of.html

Sharing seasonal photos

Inspired by ideas in my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year, I've sharing seasonal pictures, art, crafts, words and other creativity. I'd love to encourage readers to record what's happening in nature in various ways including photographs, journalling, drawing or painting and crafting. 

Here are ways to share the things you're doing or what you see out and about as the wheel turns:

• Leave a comment on this post about what you're up to
• Find my prompts to share on my Facebook Page: Lucya Starza Pagan Portals Author
• Share on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) with the tag #RoundingtheYear

Where to find my books

You can order both the ebook and the paperback of all my books from publisher Moon Books' website as well as view Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year on Amazon. 

(Notes: I earn commission from advertisers for some links.)

Other previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/09/rounding-year-rosehips-and-raindrops.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/11/rounding-year-fallen-leaves-in-my-local.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/10/rounding-year-mushrooms-in-my-local-park.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/11/rounding-year-first-frost-of-winter.html

Rounding the Year: The First Frost of Winter

Many parts of England have seen the first snowfalls of the season. It didn't settle enough in my area of South East London for me to photograph, but the next day I woke to see the sun shining down on the first frost of winter. I took the photo above of thick frost on a car roof in the street outside my house. 

Perhaps, as a nature-worshipping pagan, I should have taken a picture of frosty plants or grass instead, but this sight caught my eye as looking arty. I'm a city witch, and believe the manmade environment is still part of nature to some extent, not entirely separate from it. 

The first frost has an important impact on plants, however. Some late blooms will now wilt, not to be seen again until next year. Some berries and fruits are best picked after the first frost, including rosehips, medlars, and sloes. The cold softens them, makes them easier to prepare for cooking, and improves the flavour. Rosehip syrup, sloe gin, and medlar jelly are things traditionally served at Yule, so this is a good time to make them if you feel inclined. 

Sharing seasonal photos

Inspired by ideas in my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year, I've sharing seasonal pictures, art, crafts, words and other creativity. I'd love to encourage readers to record what's happening in nature in various ways including photographs, journalling, drawing or painting and crafting. 

Here are ways to share the things you're doing or what you see out and about as the wheel turns:

• Leave a comment on this post about what you're up to
• Find my prompts to share on my Facebook Page: Lucya Starza Pagan Portals Author
• Share on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) with the tag #RoundingtheYear

Where to find my books

You can order both the ebook and the paperback of all my books from publisher Moon Books' website as well as view Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year on Amazon. 

(Notes: I earn commission from advertisers for some links.)

Other previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/09/rounding-year-rosehips-and-raindrops.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/11/rounding-year-fallen-leaves-in-my-local.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/09/rounding-year-autumnal-michaelmas.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/10/rounding-year-mushrooms-in-my-local-park.html

Holly Folklore from Rounding the Wheel of the Year

As many of us are starting to decorate our homes for Yule, the Winter Solstice or Christmas, here's a seasonal extract from my book Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year. It's about holly in folklore and nature:

Holly

Before Christmas trees, people brought holly into the home. Romans decorated their villas with it for Saturnalia, which was somewhat like modern Christmas. Magically, holly has protective powers, particularly if planted around your home, and brings good luck if you hang it inside at Yule. Put it in your bedroom to help your pleasant dreams come true, and put on your altar to boost the success of your spells. However, it was traditionally considered unlucky to bring holly into the house at any time other than midwinter. 

Rachel Patterson, in A Kitchen Witch’s World of Magical Herbs, writes: “The holly berry is symbolic of the life-giving blood of the Goddess.” I agree holly is a goddess tree, although many books on herbal magic list it as male. Actually, holly trees, or more accurately shrubs, can be male or female. Only female bushes have berries and they need to be close to a male bush for the flowers to be pollinated. If you have holly in your garden that never produces berries, it’s a male or a lonely female. The tale of the Holly King ruling over the half the year from midsummer to midwinter, then fighting with his rival the Oak King at Yule, who defeats him to lead us back into summer, is a relatively modern myth. It comes from Robert Graves’ The White Goddess, although he was inspired by older mythology of battling heroes.

Holly berries are poisonous, so don’t eat them, and make sure they’re out of reach of any pets.

You can find copies of Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year at Treadwell's bookshop in London, at online shops including Amazon and at my publisher Moon Books: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-rounding-wheel-year 

On Tuesday 12 December I've giving an online talk on Magic for the Yuletide through The Last Tuesday Society. It starts at 7.30pm and tickets ·are from £5.82. You can find more details and book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

(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/2023/10/video-of-my-talk-on-rounding-wheel-of.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/11/authors-on-their-own-writing-ellen.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/06/im-at-book-festival-heres-my-magical.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/03/books-first-copies-of-rounding-wheel-of.html

Pagan Eye: Winter Cherry Blossom on a Daily Walk

This cherry tree blossoming in January caught my eye while walking around my town looking at street art the other day, so I photographed it too. It was a bright, sunny day and the sight of new life returning lifted my spirits as much as anything. It is easy to think that this time of year is devoid of flowers, but it isn't true. You just have to look a little harder than in the spring or summer. In the past I've blogged about other early flowering plants including yellow winter aconite, which is somewhat different from purple aconite - or monkshood - which blooms in summer or autumn. 

On each Pagan Eye post, I show a photo that I find interesting, with a few words about it. I'm not quite sure what I'll be including - it could be 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.

Previous Related Posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/01/a-poem-for-month-januarytrees.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/11/pagan-eye-tree-viewed-from-king-henrys.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/11/pagan-eye-autumn-tree-from-my-study.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/03/pagan-eye-spring-blossom-on-apricot-tree.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/02/trees-learning-to-recognise-ash-in.html

A Poem for the Month: January Trees

Here's a poem I wrote inspired by the view of the sun through the bare branches of a tree outside my study window. January can be a bleak month, but the sight of the changing light and the sky through the trees is one I find beautiful. 

January Trees

Bare branches

Let through the light

On a winter’s day,

And the moon’s glow 

In the night

I've decided to try to write a poem each month this year - as well as my other resolutions.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/11/pagan-eye-autumn-tree-from-my-study.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/03/pagan-eye-silver-birch-catkins-and.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/06/walking-bodies-seeking-chaos-chance.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/04/spells-earth-dragon-drumming-chant-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/03/magical-words-spell-to-get-through.html

Pagan Eye: Mahonia Shrub in Bloom in Winter

This yellow Mahonia shrub, always cheers me up when I go into my garden in winter, as that's when it is in flower. Many years ago was a gift from my coven sister Bekie, who co-hosts The Witching Hour on the Witches Inn YouTube channel every Wednesday evening. 

When she gave it to me it was a tiny plant in a pot, but I planted it outside in my front garden where it's flourished. I took this photo on a wet, grey day and it looks lovely even covered in raindrops. I think plants are lovely gifts at any time of year, but perhaps more so in winter time.

What is your favourite winter-flowering plant?  Please leave a comment or, better still, send a photo!

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures. If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/12/holly-king-or-should-that-be-queen.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/11/pagan-eye-autumn-tree-from-my-study.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/11/pagan-eye-scarlet-oak-leaves-in-autumn.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/09/the-triple-tree-seeing-and-hearing.html

Divination: Ten of Pentacles from the Wicca Moon Tarot

Here's the card I drew as a reading for the world: the Ten of Pentacles from the Wicca Moon Tarot. The meaning given in the book say the card means "Good fortune and security. Doors opening."  That certainly ties in with the traditional meaning of this card in other decks, but the image here seems to me to suggest the good fortune will be found despite the prevailing difficult times.

The Pentacle cards in the Wicca Moon Tarot portray a journey through a winter woodland. Snow is falling, the trees are bare, and the way isn't entirely clear, although there's still beauty in the natural world. In the tenth card of the suit, however, there are signs of spring and an opening ahead in which lit windows in a tall building can just be seen. It's a card of hope for the future, and suggests comfort and rest lie ahead with just a little more effort.

I really love the Wicca Moon tarot, created by shop owner and witch Shirlee. It's highly original with gorgeous artwork that's full of symbolism. I also heard some good news about it the other day. Wicca Moon, in Eltham, is currently printing some more copies of the deck, which had been out of print for a while.

You can find the shop at 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham, London SE9 6SH and visit the store online here: https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/review-wicca-moon-tarot-deck.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/09/a-magical-afternoon-with-witches-at.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/12/review-look-inside-wicca-moons-yule.html

Pagan Eye: Twisty Tree Seen on a Daily Walk

The snow might be gone, but clear blue skies make lovely weather for a daily walk. Winter is also the best time of year to really study the trunks and branches of trees without their leaves.

Lee Edwards messaged me with this photo. She wrote: "I saw this fascinating twisted tree on my walk today."

I have no idea what could have caused the trunk to twist in that fashion. If you have an idea, do leave a comment. 

On each Pagan Eye post, I show a photo that I find interesting, with a few words about it. I'm not quite sure what I'll be including - it could be 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.

The photo is copyright Lee Edwards.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/11/pagan-eye-trained-oak-at-plotlands-essex.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/11/winter-time-walks-and-watchers-in-trees.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/09/the-triple-tree-seeing-and-hearing.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/04/pagan-eye-hollow-tree.html

Guilty Pleasures: A Sunday Snowfall & Tales of Jack Frost

I love the snow. I have done ever since I was tiny, as I'm just old enough to remember the long winter of 1963. I remember building snowmen and tobogganing in the park and having snowball fights. I was fascinated by the fernlike patterns of ice that built up on the windowpanes, and remember listening in awe to my father telling me tales of Jack Frost, who was responsible for creating them. In fact, I was so delighted by the tales of Jack Frost, and pestered my father for more and more tales about him, that I expect he made some of them up.

Jack Frost is a kind of trickster spirit of winter, apparently more common in tales from Eastern Europe than England, but then again my dad was from Poland. But in our house, Jack Frost ended up being blamed for all sorts of things that went wrong in winter, from chilblains to burst pipes to stealing the milkshake that was in the fridge... (Yes, I did eventually realise my dad was behind that last one). I loved the idea of Jack Frost so much that in warmer weather my dad invented his brother, Pretend Frost, who misted up windows rather than freezing them.

My love of winter weather hasn't gone away, and yesterday I was delighted when it snowed. I sat in the warm, sipping my coffee and watching the big fat flakes of snow fall, covering everything in a blanket of white. Then, when it stopped, I went outside and took some photographs. In normal times, I'd have been donning my snow boots and going off for a long walk around Crystal Palace Park to see it transformed into a winter wonderland, but I'm being ultra cautious at the moment, so I just stayed in my own garden.

But I said this is a guilty pleasure, and it is. I am lucky that I can go indoors to the warm. I'm lucky that I can afford to heat my home and have a roof over my head, as there are plenty of people who don't have those luxuries. Icy pavements also make it difficult for the elderly or those with disabilities to get to the shops. Jack Frost might make the world look beautiful, but really, he can also be a killer. If you know someone who might be struggling in the cold weather, do consider phoning them and checking they are okay.

Earlier this month I wrote a guided visualisation on the winter garden, and you can find that here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/01/magic-for-month-of-january-video-and.html

Divination for the Day: The King & Queen of Pentacles

Here is a tarot card for the day - the King and Queen of Pentacles from the Wicca Moon Tarot.

I felt drawn to using the Wicca Moon Tarot for a daily divination reading. I've not used this deck for a while, but I really like it. It was designed by Shirlee, who runs the lovely witchcraft shop Wicca Moon, in Eltham, in south-east London, and the cards depict local people in the roles of tarot's major and minor arcana characters.

The King and Queen of Pentacles are named as Wendy and Richard, who I never met personally, but look lovely. The card shows them smiling and content, which is appropriate as the card is about enjoying the abundance of life, with sufficient financial rewards gained from hard work. People like this bring a memory of the warmth of summer with them, even when the days grow colder and the nights lengthen.

The suit of pentacles relates to the element of earth, and the importance of remaining grounded, but also represents the season of winter. As the saying goes, winter is coming. When there is the potential of hard times ahead, it is important to manage your resources well and try to stay grounded in reality, but also take comfort in the good things that you have, including the cheer of good friends.

What is interesting about the Wicca Moon Tarot is that it depicts the kings and queen together on single cards for each suit. In the book that comes with the deck, Shirlee writes that she did this 'to bring their elemental energies into balance as a manifestation of power.' I like this combining of both male and female energy, and its message of the importance of people working together in an inclusive way, rather than making unnecessary divisions relating to gender.

You can read my review of The Wicca Moon Tarot here. Copies of the deck can be bought at the shop at 50 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SH or online. For further details contact shirlee@wiccamoon.org.uk

Every Day Magic: The Start of Winter Festivities

When I say it's time to start celebrating the winter festivities, you might be thinking I'm talking about Black Friday. But not exactly.

According to Every Day Magic - A Pagan Book of Days, which is celebrating its own official launch today, November 24 is the start of the festival of Brumalia.

Today's entry in the book says of Brumalia: "This Ancient Roman winter festival was similar to modern Christmas. The festival, which involved feasting, drinking and merrymaking, was in honour of Saturn, God of plenty, renewal and time, and Ceres, Goddess of agriculture. Bacchus, God of wine, was also honoured.

"The holiday started earlier and earlier over the years – much like modern Christmas celebrations. By the Byzantine era, it began on November 24th and lasted for a month until the return of the light at Saturnalia. Share a drink with friends, with the traditional blessing, ‘Vives annos’, or, ‘Live for years’."

Every Day Magic contains 366 spells, rituals, meditations, Pagan prayers, divinatory techniques, poems to read and recipes and craft projects to try out, along with the details of festivals that take place throughout the year. All the activities are intended to be easy to follow so you can pick up the book, open it to a day and find something you can do.

There are contributions from nearly 50 pagan authors and practitioners from many different traditions across the world, including Atlantis' Geraldine Beskin, best-selling pagan authors Ellen Evert Hopman, Melusine Draco, Harmonia Saille, Rachel Patterson, Caroline Wise, Elen Sentier and other Moon Books writers. I edited the book and also contributed some of the entries, including today's one about Brumalia.

You can order a copy of Every Day Magic from Amazon or buy it at The Atlantis Bookshop in London or at Treadwell's Bookshop.

The pictures on this post show me holding a copy of Every Day Magic outside The Atlantis Bookshop and a copy of the book surrounded by cakes at the launch party.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.moon-books.net/
http://theatlantisbookshop.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/11/where-to-buy-every-day-magic-pagan-book.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/11/pagan-eye-cakes-and-magic-at-atlantis.html

Pagan Eye: Trees Signs in Abbots Wood

Here is a photo I took in Abbots Wood, Sussex, where I went for a walk over the festive holiday weekend. I always love to do a woodland walk at this time of year as it is the perfect antidote to the crowded shops and a bit of exercise to walk off the rich food.

Abbots Wood currently has a series of signs giving information about different types of trees, what wildlife they house and what humans use them for - including stuff about what makes a good Christmas tree. The signs were put up by the Forestry Commission, which manages the woods. They are mainly written with children in mind, so if you want to help youngsters learn about trees this would be a great place to take them for an outing over the holidays if you are in the area.

On each of my Pagan Eye posts, I show a photo that I find interesting, with a few words about it.

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
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/abbotswood
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/11/pagan-eye-holly-trees-in-tower-hamlets.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/12/a-winter-walk-in-crofton-woods.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/12/pagan-eye-walk-in-autumn-wood.html

Review: Pagan Portals - The Cailleach

With the Summer Solstice behind us, winter is coming...

...and one of the most famous goddesses of winter is The Cailleach from Gaelic mythology. Her name means "hag" in Scottish, but she appears in tales from Ireland, the Isle of Man and some parts of England as well as from the northern lands. Also, according to a new book called Pagan Portals - The Cailleach by Rachel Patterson, she is far more than just a winter crone.

In fact, Rachel says in her introduction: "She has many myths and legends all passed down verbally and most of them have the same theme, that of renewal, each generation adding or changing bits of the story to suit the times...turning her from a goddess of creation, wisdom, harmony and rebirth into a dark and evil hag. She does seem to have been given the ‘Hollywood’ treatment making her out to be the ‘bad guy’ and trapping her in the confines of winter. But she is so much more…"

Primarily she is a goddess of the landscape, according to Rachel, and is associated with many mountains, caves, rivers and landmarks. Much of the work Rachel has done in researching her book is in collating tales and folklore from around the British Isles that might have a connection with The Cailleach. I thought this was fascinating reading and has given me a real urge to visit some of these ancient sites to photograph and blog about them. Some are even relatively close to me in southern England - so The Cailleach certainly doesn't only have Scottish associations.

Publisher Moon Books says on its website: "The Cailleach - goddess of the ancestors, wisdom that comes with age, the weather, time, shape-shifting and winter. Within the pages of this book Rachel Patterson gives the reader an introduction to the mysteries, myths, legends and magic of the ancient hag goddess The Cailleach, drawing upon ancient legends, stories told and her own experiences."

There are also chapters on practical ways of working magic with the Cailleach, the lessons she teaches and a ritual to honour her. Rachel says that the book offers an introduction to this ancient goddess. I would say it goes a beyond being just an introduction. The small books has a wealth of information packed into it.

The photo at the top shows The Carlin's or Hag's Stone at the Commoncraigs, by Roger Griffith, shared from Wikimedia in the public domain. The stone is associated with The Cailleach.

Rachel's previous books include Arc of the Goddess, Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch and Pagan Portals - Moon Magic.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.moon-books.net/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/05/review-arc-of-goddess-by-rachel.html

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/05/review-grimoire-of-kitchen-witch.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/01/review-moon-magic-for-full-moon.html

Trees: Learning to Recognise Ash in a Winter Wood

Last weekend a pagan friend who is a tree expert took me on a woodland walk to learn to recognise trees without their leaves on. He also told me a bit about their medicinal uses.

Here are some photos I took of bare ash trees. I must admit, just looking up into the stark canopy overhead I would not have been able to tell an ash from an oak without my friend's help. Apparently, ash tree shoots, or twigs, are always a bit upturned and that is one way of identifying them. Also, the buds at the end of the shoots are distinctively black.

Ash trees are very tall when fully grown and have light grey bark. This is smooth in young trees but scaly in older ones. Ash tree seeds grow in bunches called keys. They hang from the twigs in clusters and go brown in the winter time. They only drop to the ground in spring.

As most pagans know, in Norse mythology the world tree Yggdrasil was probably an ash. In Celtic mythology ash is also thought of as the tree of life, which touches the three worlds.

Medicinally, the bark was used as a tonic and astringent. It was considered good for rheumatism.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/11/damh-bard-on-ogham-at-witchfest.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/10/london-necropolis-hardy-tree.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/04/squirrel-mythology.html

TV: Sleigh Ride, Reindeer Girls and Harry Price

Tonight at 7pm on BBC4 there's another chance to watch a beautiful two-hour sleigh ride with Sami women and reindeer through Norway's frozen landscape. All Aboard! The Sleigh Ride was previously shown on December 24. I found it absolutely captivating - although deliberately slow. Do watch until the end as the last few minutes show the Northern Lights in the sky above a traditional Sami tent. Breathtaking!

At 9pm tonight on BBC4 there is a documentary called Reindeer Girls: Natural World. It is about two cousins from the reindeer-herding Sami people.

Tomorrow, December 27, at 8.30pm there is a drama about paranormal investigator Harry Price on ITV. It is called Harry Price: Ghost Hunter.

The picture at the top is one I took of a reindeer when I was in Norway.

Previous related posts:

Questing for the Northern Lights

Reindeer, Huskies and Northern Lights

Solstice Eve: The Hooded Man and the Hermit in Tarot

The tarot card that most represents the Midwinter Solstice for me is The Hooded Man from the Wildwood Tarot. In fact, the the book that comes with the deck says: “The Hooded Man stands at the Midwinter on 21 December.”

The card depicts a lone figure standing before an ancient oak tree. Thick snow covers the ground. The Hooded Man is dressed in a cloak covered in evergreen holly. It is night-time.

The Wildwood Tarot book goes on to say: “Associated with the Earth and the dark sun, this is the time of solitude and contemplation.”

I think many of us feel the darkness at this time of year as something almost palpable. The commercialisation of Christmas tells us we ought to be full of happiness and cheer, but so often we aren’t. It is particularly harsh for those living alone, especially the elderly.

The Hooded Man holds a lantern that illuminates a door, hinting at a safe haven and a way out of darkness and into the light. On one level, this can represent the secular holiday that lies ahead on 25th December – a time to rest and relax with family, to eat too much and enjoy the entertainments of the day. But, on another level, it means much more than that. The Wildwood Tarot description says: “It is the gateway of the dead and rebirth, the womb of the Earth”

The Hooded Man is more commonly depicted as the Hermit and modern tarot interpretations for the card often say that the Hermit represents a wise teacher or a time for contemplation, appreciating our own company or a desire to seek greater meaning in life. That is all quite at odds with the way Christmas is represented these days – a time for partying, being sociable and having fun.

Yet that to me sums up the difference between what I do as a pagan at the time of the Winter Solstice on 21st or 22nd December, and what I do to celebrate Christmas with my family a few days later on 25th December.

I do like to spend time alone around the Solstice. I like to go for quiet walks in winter woods away from the crowds. I also like to spend time alone meditating – often with a single candle or, indeed, a candle lantern like the one the Hermit holds. I remember my ancestors who have died and I let the ghosts of Christmases past show me memories of times gone by. I also contemplate the present and take stock of what I have, then look to the future and what I must work towards in the year to come.

Once I’ve done that, I can more easily move on and enjoy the company and celebrations of the festive holidays in the days ahead.

It is also worthwhile noting that in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, an older meaning of the Hermit is “Prudence, circumspection; also and especially treason, dissimulation, roguery, corruption.”

That might seem at odds with the more usual interpretations given today, but winter is a tricky time quite apart from the harshness of the weather. Burglars, fraudsters and other crooks look on this as a bumper season for criminal activities. It really is worthwhile being prudent and cautious.

The Hermit’s Lantern
As I mentioned earlier, the hermit is nearly always depicted holding a lantern and this holds a particular resonance for me because my book – Pagan Portals Candle Magic – is due to be published early in 2016. I’ve already arranged a launch party at Treadwell’s Bookshop on January 29th.

More than any other card in the tarot, the Hermit is the card of candle magic. The candle lantern he holds represents lighting the way forward, particularly on a spiritual path. It also represents magical power that we can use to hold darkness at bay and lead us to the door of self-knowledge.

This Winter Solstice, my personal meditation by candlelight will be upon the image of the Hermit in his - or her - many guises, and I will see where he or she leads me as the longest night ends and the year turns.

The picture at the top shows the Hermit from the Guardian Angel Tarot, the Mystic Faerie Tarot, The Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot and the Robin Wood Tarot. The picture top right shows the Wildwood Tarot and the picture to the left shows the Fairy Tarot.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/12/a-dream-of-tarot-and-collectable-tea.html
Fairy Tarot: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/11/review-fairy-tarot-cards-by-doreen.html
Guardian Angel Tarot: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/09/review-guardian-angel-tarot-cards.html
The Robin Wood Tarot: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/04/shopping-half-price-tarot-decks.html
The Wildwood Tarot: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/08/review-wildwood-tarot.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/10/a-dream-of-gifts-and-visit-from-dead.html
http://www.tarotwikipedia.com/tarot-card-meanings/major-arcana/hermit-tarot-card-meanings/

A Winter Walk in Crofton Woods

At this time of year I love to go for a walk through woodlands. It is one of the things that gets me in the right mood for celebrating the season and is the perfect antidote to the crowds and over-commercialisation of the shops before Yule.

Yesterday I went for a walk in Crofton Woods, in the Borough of Bromley in south-east London. Although I would have liked it to be crisp and cold, with a clear blue sky overhead and frost covering everything in sparkling crystals of ice, it was in fact one of the mildest days on record for London in December. At least that meant I didn't have to wrap up in layers of jumpers and scarves under my coat and my fingers didn't freeze when I took them out of my gloves to snap some photographs.

I was particularly fascinated by the number of interesting trees with hollows and twisting fallen logs on the ground.

Crofton Woods is Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is among the largest stretches of woods of this kind in London.

Standing on London clay, it has many different types of trees, shrubs and herbs. Those in the ancient wood are mainly oak and hazel, with a central area that was at one time fields and is now forested over.

Kyd Brook runs through the woods. A circular walk that you can download from the council website crosses the brook twice and runs along the bank for a while. The London Loop also goes through the area.

My walk through Crofton Woods let me complete something on my list of New Year resolutions for 2015 - visiting three peaceful wildlife havens within London. It was a very peaceful afternoon - I only saw three other people, who were all out walking dogs.

Although I didn't see any rare birds when I was there, the woods are home to woodpeckers, tree creepers and chiff-chaffs. I'm sure plenty of other wildlife can also be found.

A sign at the entrance said that fly agaric mushrooms can often be spotted growing near birch trees. Although I looked out for some to photograph, I didn't see any. In spring, I've been told that Crofton Woods is carpeted with bluebells. I love bluebell woods, and that will give me a good reason to come back in a few months time.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.bromley.gov.uk/downloads/file/2350/crofton_woods_circular_trail
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/11/pagan-eye-holly-trees-in-tower-hamlets.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/01/my-10-new-year-resolutions-for-2015.html