Pagan Eye: The River God Father Thames in London

This pyramidal-shaped work of art depicts the river god Father Thames and you can find it at William Henry Walk, Nine Elms Wall, London, between between Vauxhall and Battersea. It was crafted by sculptor Stephen Duncan in 1988.

The photo was taken by my witchy friend Jessica Howard, who is a fellow writer at Moon Books and the author of The Water Witch. I was delighted to learn about this depiction of Father Thames as I'd not seen it myself. I really must pay a visit.  

Father Thames is London's most famous river god. No one yet knows how long ago he was first named, but there's archeological evidence of worship in general at the banks of the river since ancient times. 

You can see another representation of Father Thames at Trinity Square. 

I've blogged more about deities of the Thames here: https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/deities-of-week-thames-isis.html

Pagan Eye Posts

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.

The photograph at the top is copyright Jessica Howard

Other Previous Related Links

https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/09/london-gods-neptune-at-secret-rivers.html 

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/03/london-goddesses-isis-her-temple-by.html

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/05/goddesses-of-london-trivia-and-cloacina.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/review-thames-sacred-river-by-peter.html

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

Here's a list of events for pagans, witches and those with similar interests over the next couple of weeks. There are online things you can do anywhere (bolded for emphasis) plus in-person talks and workshops in or near London, as that's where I'm based, and some festivals further afield.

Now – 29 November; The Coming of Age Exhibition - including displays on witches and crones. Venue: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. Open daily 10am-6pm.  Free. https://wellcomecollection.org/

Friday 19 June -17 July; That Large Ghost, Curated by Jack Catling Exhibition. Venue: Swedenborg House, The Swedenborg Society, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way London WC1A 2TH. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/private-view-that-large-ghost-curated-by-jack-catling-tickets-1990949444383

Now - 8 September; The Sun and The Moon: Art Inspired by the Celestial. Exhibition. Venue: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London, SW3 4RY. Open 10am-6pm. Tickets from £13. https://www.saatchigallery.com/whats-on

Now to 13 September;  Hail, Delirium! Surrealist Dorothea Tanning art exhibition.  Venue: The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society.  Time: during normal opening hours. Free entry. https://thelasttuesdaysociety.org/museum/

Now to end of June; Dark Secrets: The Esoteric Exhibition. Venue: The Vaults, Leake Street, SE1 7NN. Open Wednesdays to Sundays. Tickets from £21. https://darksecretsexhibition.com/london/

Now – 16 August; Olivia Plender: Little Fennel’s Complaint Exhibition. Venue:: Modern Art Oxford, 30 Pembroke Street, Oxford, UK, OX1 1BP. Open from 11am Tuesday - Sunday. Tickets from £7.21. https://modernartoxford.org.uk/

Now – 13 September; The Material Heart: Front Line to Home Front. Exhibition of WWI folk art. Venue: Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF.  Open: Tuesdays – Saturdays, 11am – 6pm. Tickets free with general museum admission ticket or a ticket to the Paint, Pattern, Print exhibition that's also on, costing £11.50. https://fashiontextilemuseum.org/

Now on; Vikings: The Immersive Experience. Venue: Dock X, Unit 1 Canada Water, Surrey Quays Rd, London SE16 2XU.  Opening hours: daily from 9am. Adult tickets from £23 and children from £16. https://vikings-immersive.co.uk/london/?

Every Tuesday to Sunday except over bank holidays; College of Psychic Studies -  pop in to have a look around the lovely building.  Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am-4pm. Free entry. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

 https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Most lunchtimes and some other times: Meditation - in-person or online. In-person venue: Inner Space, 36 Shorts Gardens, Covent Garden, London · WC2H 9AB. Time: 1pm (for lunchtime meditation). Free. https://www.meetup.com/inner-space-covent-garden/events/

Every lunchtime: Rainbow Spirit offers a shared vegetarian lunch from a flat in Soho, London, for all people LGBT+Allies. The foundation is British witchcraft. Each meal is followed by Ancestor Circle, passing the talking stick. Alcohol-free event. To attend join the Whatsapp chat group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LhDxaCzGsmE2YI6AReyw3W

or email: rainbowawakening1@gmail.com

Wednesday 24 June; Qabalistic Psychology and the Path of the Initiate with Dr. David Shoemaker, via The Atlantis Bookshop. Venue: The White Hart, 191 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5QD. Time: 6.30 pm. Tickets £15.   https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Wednesday 24 June; Bloomsbury Folklore Club – Trees. Via London Dreamtime. Venue: Gower Street Waterstones event space, 82 Gower Street, Lower Ground Floor, London WC1E 6EQ.  Doors at 6.30pm.Tickets  £10. https://connectionwithwonder.com/events/

Wednesday 24 June (most Wednesdays); Gong Bath. Venue:  Akasa, 5a Prince Edward Rd, Hackney Wick,  London E9 5LX. Time: 7pm. Tickets:  from £23.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sunita-kaur-34415293427

Wednesday 24  June (monthly); Melissa's Tarot Club. Monthly In-Person Workshop. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £15 per person.  https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Wednesday 24 June (every Wednesday); Feeling Sound. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £18.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 24 June;  Sacred Gong Meditation with Joe Summerfield. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 7pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 24 June;  Nordic Midsummer Stories with Lena Heide Brennand. Talk online via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society.  Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from  £6.59. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 25 June (every Thursday); Midweek Meditation with the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 3pm. Tickets: free for members/£7.50 non members. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Thursday 25 June;  Witch Choir with Nicole Bettencourt Coelho Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £15 per person.  https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Thursday 25 June; Quantum Healing of the Future. Talk by Gemma Petherbridge, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 25 June; Heartspaces spiritual gathering. Venue: Essex Hall, Essex Street, London WC2R 3HY. Doors at 6.30pm. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/121061473538?

Thursday 25 June (last Thursday every month); Solar Magic talk at Hertford Pagan Moot. Venue: The White Horse Pub, 33 Castle Street, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HH) (45 mins from central London). Time: 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/104788436218047

Friday 26 June (and other dates); Drum Birthing Workshop with Lynn Gosney. Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain, Minster, Kent. Starts 8.45am. Tickets £225/£250. https://www.facebook.com/shamaniccentrecaercorhrain

Friday 26 June  (every Friday); Live Chat hosted by Rachel Patterson, author of Gods and Goddesses of England and the Kitchen Witch series of books. Online event. Time: 9am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/RachelPattersonbooks/

Friday 26 June; Releasing the Knot of the Mind with Anam Thubten. Talk and signing, Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Friday 26 June; Friday Lates: Art beyond the human - spirits, ecologies, and A.I. Workshop with  Christopher Collier via City Lit.  Online event. Time: 6pm. Full fee: £19. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/

Friday 26 June;  Woodland Cacao and Angelic Magic with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at the entrance to Queen's Woods, Queen's wood Road, London N6 5UU, to be led into woods to the ritual spot. Bring a torch and wear suitable clothing and footwear. Time: 7pm. Tickets £8.83 - £15. More info: https://mani.org.uk/ or visit  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803

Friday 26 June; An Evening of Soul Mediumship with Claire Broad. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 26 June (4th Friday of the month);  The Wild Wood Tarot study group. Free online event. Time: 7pm. https://www.meetup.com/astrotarotkitchen/events/

Saturday 27 June; Earthfest 2026 family-friendly community day celebrating sustainability. Venue@ Aga Khan Centre, King’s Cross, London. Time: 10am-5pm. Tickets free.  https://web-eur.cvent.com/event/bf21234d-d776-479f-8984-620cb1e7e3b9/summary?

Saturday 27 June - 11 July; Rediscovery: The Gary Dickinson Exhibition. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 11am-6pm  Free entry https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Saturday 27 June; Rebalance with the Chinese 5 Elements. Workshop with Doe Warnes. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 27 June; Divination to Meet Your Inner Oracle. Workshop with Tyrone Cusacks. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11apm. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 27 June (and other dates); 9D Transformative Breathwork. Venue: Hilton, 61 - 67 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HU. Time: 12.30pm. Tickets £30. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/121074557489?

Saturday 27 June;  Connecting the Trees - A Call to Arms. Part of a series of environment rituals. Venue: Moat Mount Open Space, off Barnet Way, London. Time: 1.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/trefor.wickens

Saturday 27 June (and other dates); Crowley Crawl 2026 with Marco Visconti, author of The Aleister Crowley Manual. Venue: West End London walk. Time: 2pm. Tickets £50, For £70 for walk plus visit to The Hidden Society cocktail bar on Goodge Street. https://www.marcovisconti.org/events/crowleycrawl2026?

Saturday 27 June; The Forgotten Dimension. Workshop with Lars Muhl and Naleea Landmann, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 27 June; Tarot and the Miraculous Body. Workshop with Davide De Angelis, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 27 June (and other dates); Full Moon Ceremony. Venue: Hilton, 61 - 67 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HU. Time: 7pm. Tickets £45. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/121074557489?

Saturday 27 June (and other dates); Magic, Mystics and Martyrs Walking Tour with  Maria Beadell of Herstorical Tours. Meet: Fish St Hill, London EC3R 8AH. Time: 8pm. Tickets: £18. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/book

Saturday 27 June; When the Spirit Moves You: The Strange History of the Poltergeist, with Deborah Hyde. Online event via the Folklore Library and Archive. Time: 8pm. Tickets:  £6.13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-folklore-library-archive-68703440013?

Sunday 28 June; Crystals for Beginners. Workshop with Sarah Jane Dennis. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 28 June; Connect with the Archangels of Joy. Workshop with Liesl Duffy, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 11am. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 28 June; Mediumship and Spirit-Inspired Art. Workshop with June-Elleni Laine. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 28 June; Shamanic Group with Les Fuller. All welcome Venue: Woodford Church at 9 Grove Crescent, South Woodford, London E18 2JR. Time 11am-3pm. Tickets: £10. http://woodfordchurch.com/

Sunday 28 June (and other dates and times); Viktor Wynd Museum Guided Tour and a Devil's Botany Absinthe. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time from noon. Tickets from £12. Price includes a Cocktail with Devil’s Botany. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Sunday 28 June;  Women's Mindful Stroll and Forest Bathing in South Norwood Lake and Grounds. Meet at Sylvan Road, London SE25 4AN. Time: 1pm. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/parkbathe-34393467709

Sunday 28 June; The Healing Portal of 'Know Thyself. Workshop with Lars Muhl and Naleea Landmann, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 28 June; Storytelling Sunday: Doors (Guest Host: Emily Hanna). Via London Dreamtime. Venue: Love Shack, 299 Cambridge Heath Road, #Arch 298, London E2 9HA.  Time 2pm.Tickets  £6.66. https://connectionwithwonder.com/events/

Sunday 28 June;  The Art History of Folk Horror and Women. Talk via Seed talks. Hybrid event.  In-peson venue: 21 Soho, 3 Sutton Row, London W1D 3QPTime: 4pm. Tickets from £13. 

Sunday 28 June;  Jungian Dream Interpretation Workshop via Seed talks. Online event.  Time: 5pm. Tickets from £17. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jungian-dream-interpretation-workshop-tickets-1988174750198?

Monday 29 June (every Monday); MHA The Wilderness forest bathing walk (all mobilities welcome). Meet MHA The Wilderness, 17 Shirley Church Road, Croydon CR9 5AL. Time: 11am. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/parkbathe-34393467709

Monday 29 June; Starting Your Psychic Journey. Start of 5-session course run by Gary Wright, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 5pm. Tickets: £180. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 29 June; Week 5 – The Houses (Part 1). Free online talk via the Astrological Lodge of London. Starts 5pm. Tickets free. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Monday  29 June;  The Dark History of Women and The Paranormal. Talk via Seed talks online.  Time: 6.30pm. Tickets from £17. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/36463428713?

Monday 29 June; Magical Symbols: Patterns in Ritual Building with Wayne Perkins. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets  from £16.14, includes a cocktail. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Monday  29 June;  Full Moon Celebration with South East London Pagans. Venue:  One Tree Hill, Honor Oak, South London. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Monday 29 June; Moonchild – A Nurturing Full Moon Gong Bath in the Mansion. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion, Place Park, The Mansion, Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.beckenhamplace.org/whatson/

Monday 29 June; Full Moon Women's Gong Bath Ceremony. Venue: Akasa  Felstead Street, London E9 5LT. Time: 7pm. Tickets:  from £25,63. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sunita-kaur-34415293427

Monday 29 June;  Full Moon Ritual by the Thames with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Millennium Bridge, Thames Embankment, · London. Time: 7pm.   Tickets: £6.13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803 or https://mani.org.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/PaganFrontiersOfLondon.

Monday  29 June (every full and new moon); Moon Space online event via She's Lost Control. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Monday 29 June;  Theosophy. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7pm. Tickets free https://www.meetup.com/rudolf-steiner-spiritual-science/events/

Monday 29 June; Talk on the Horoscope through a Psychological Lens with Pamela Tyler followed by chart discussion. Online talks via the Astrological Lodge of London. Starts 7pm. Tickets £6/£9. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Monday 29 June (tbc but usually every Monday); Tea With a Druid. Free online event by the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Time 8pm. https://druidry.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/druidry

Tuesday 30 June (and other dates); Yoga for Mind, Breath and Body. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion, Place Park, The Mansion, Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 6.15pm. Tickets: £12. https://www.beckenhamplace.org/whatson/

Tuesday 30 June; Sacred Purification for Renewal. Workshop with Hannah Sandersl  via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events 

Tuesday 30 June; The Levitating Hamster and the Salmon of Doubt.Talk presented by London Fortean Society. Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London, E1 7EX. Door time: 7.30pm. Start time: 8pm  Tickets £5.50/£3.30. http://forteanlondon.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/LondonForteanSociety/ or https://wegottickets.com/f/21077

Tuesday 30  June;  Investigating Psychic Criminology with Dr Ciaran O’Keeffe. Talk online via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society.  Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from  £6.59. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Wednesday 1 July; Begninners Tarot. Start of 8-session online course with Jane Meredith. Time: 9.30am. Tickets AUD $400, concession: $350. https://www.facebook.com/events/1688469552400307/?

Wednesday 1 July; Venus Rising Oracle with Outi Harma. Talk and signing, Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: noon. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Wednesday 1 July (usually on a Wednesday each month);  Sophie Hollinshead: Lincolnshire Witches and Cunning Folk. Online talk via the Folklore Centre. Time: 7pm. Tickets £5. https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/

Wednesday 1 July  (first Wednesday of the month); Drumming and Meditation online with Taz Thornton. Time: 7pm. Free  https://www.facebook.com/TazThorntonOfficial

Wednesday 1 July;  Deathbed Visions: What do we see at the edge of life? with Stuart Gray. Talk online via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society.  Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from  £6.59. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 2 July; Fungi: Creatures and Cultures with Kit Ondaatje Rolls. Talk and signing, Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 2 July (tbc);  Event with Kingfisher Coven. Venue:  Lost Souls Pizza Camden, 245 Eversholt Street, London NW1 1BA.  Time: 7pm. Tickets: £6.13 https://www.eventbrite.com/o/keith-broad-kingfisher-coven-88810783003

Friday 3 July (1st and 3rd Friday each month); Pagan Portal Podcast by Moon Books. Time: noon (or listen to recording later). Free event. https://open.spotify.com/show/11N4kNj65tTz9NFUcZTMa7?

Friday 3 July; Revealing the Stele, with Gary Dickinson. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 6.30 pm. Tickets £25.   https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Friday 3 July (and other dates); Holistic Sound Bath Meditation - Summoning The Sacred. Venue: Training Points Fitness and Therapy, 5-6 Cooper's Yard, London SE19 1TN. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £25.  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/20043657289?

Saturday 4 July; Journey to the Akashic Records workshop with Frances Billinghurst, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 10.30am. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 4 July; Florence Farr and the Magical Imagination IV, esoteric conference. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am -6pm. Tickets £70. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/special-events/esoteric/florence-farr-conference/?

Saturday 4 July; Shamanic Drumming. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. Noon-2pm. Tickets £20. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Saturday 4 July (date tbc but usually first Saturday each month); Gong Bath. Venue: Upminster Sanctuary Pea Lane, Upminster, RM142XH. Time: 7pm. Tickets: tbc.  https://upminstersanctuary.com/

Sunday 5 July;  The Power of Breath with Sven Carlson. Start of 6-session course with Maria Antoniou, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 10am. Tickets: £200. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 5 July; Talk on Mediumship at North West Kent Pagans Moot. Organised by NWK Pagans for members of the group. Venue: Chislehurst Caves, NW Kent. Time: 11.30am. https://www.facebook.com/groups/445487428816887

Sunday 5 July; Kundalini: The Lived Phenomena. Workshop with Ann Mathie. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 1pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 5 July; Midsummer ritual for members of the Woodspirits group. Venue: Highgate, London. Meet from noon for a social then ritual at 3pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/4032235040150960

Sunday 5 July; Understand Grief and Trauma with Tarot. Workshop with Jo Tiller, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 5 July (first Sunday each month); Empowerment and Inner Strength - Collective World Meditation with Pauline Flitton. Online event. Time: 7:30pm - 8:30pm. Free. Contact Pauline 07415 054280 or Email

contact@crystal-manifestations.co.uk for the free Zoom link. Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1514249646502331/?

For activities after these dates please visit my events page. 

Please note that I am not responsible for the content of any of these events. Contact organisers directly if you have questions or to check ticket availability. Where a practitioner is offering information about magical healing, this is *not* medical advice. If you're running an event you want included, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com I earn commission from advertisers for some links.

Midsummer Lore: Street Parties and St John's Wort

Tomorrow, June 24th, is traditionally Midsummer's Day and was once among the most widely celebrated festivals in England. Modern pagans put more emphasis on the Summer Solstice, on June 21st, but according to Steve Roud in The English Year: 

"...from the time of the earliest records, midsummer in in England was celebrated with bonfires, processions and parades, and by decorating houses and churches with greenery."

In Christian terms, June 24th was also the feast day of St John. Steve Roud also points out that the time from St John's Eve on the 23rd right up to St Peter's Day on June 29th was something of a holiday. John Stow, writing in the 1590s, described London during those days as being filled with street parties. People set out tables for all the neighbours to feast, drink, and have fun together. 

Bonfires would be lit as part of the festivities, but also because it was thought fires would clear the air of any malignancy. Stow also describes various herbs and flowers that were traditionally hung over doorways on St John's Eve:

"...every man's door being shadowed with green birch, long fennel, St John's wort, orpin, white lilies...garnished upon with beautiful flowers."

He also mentions the streets being hung with lamps that were kept alight late into the night.

St John's wort

Historically, St John’s Day was when it was particularly customary to gather St John's Wort. This herb with yellow flowers has long been seen as a means to keep evil away magically and as well a  herbal remedy. From at least medieval times it's been hung over doors and windows to keep away malefic spirits. In some areas, the flowers were traditionally dipped in a bowl of water and left outside exposed to the night until the following morning, when people washed their faces in the flower dew.

You can see St John's Wort in the photo at the top.

More seasonal lore

My book Rounding the Wheel of the Year offers more ways to acknowledge and celebrate the seasons in magic, folklore and nature. 

You can view Rounding the Wheel of the Year on Amazon, find it at esoteric bookshops or via my publisher Moon Books: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-rounding-wheel-year

(Please note: I earn commission from some links.)

Previous related posts

https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/06/customs-summerween-festival-or-fakelore.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/05/folklore-customs-bromleys-broom-day.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/06/collecting-magical-herbs-on-st-johns.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/07/pagan-eye-echinacea-flowers-in-bloom.html

My Candle Magic Book Has Sold a Milestone 9,500 Copies

I got some great news from my publisher: Pagan Portals - Candle Magic has now sold more than 9,500 copies. It was the first of my books on witchcraft published by Moon Books, and has done really well since it was launched at Treadwell's Bookshop ten years ago, in 2016. 

Here's what's written about it on the back cover and on Moon Books' website:

"Candle magic is something almost everyone has tried, even as a child - who hasn’t made a wish over a birthday cake? Candle spells are among the easiest yet also the most effective to perform. They are perfect for anyone who wants to have a go at casting a spell for the first time and for the solitary witch with a busy life. Yet candles are also an important part of modern pagan witchcraft rituals. They are used to mark the quarters of the circle, placed on the altar and can represent the changing seasons of the year. This book is aimed at all who want to use candle magic, from beginners to those experienced in the craft; with everything from simple castings to elaborate and beautiful ceremonies. It offers a background to candle magic as well as spells, rituals, divination techniques, meditations, a guide to making your own candles and more."

I want to thank everyone who has bought my books, attended my events and supported me by writing reviews over the years. I also want to thank Treadwell's for keeping all my books in stock at the lovely esoteric bookshop at 33 Store Street, London, WC1E 7BS. 

Candle Magic Workshop In-Person at Treadwell's 

On Sunday 12 July I'm running a workshop based on Pagan Portals - Candle Magic at Treadwell's Bookshop.  It starts at 1pm and tickets are £25 per person.  To find out more visit https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

My Next Pagan Portals Title: Dowsing

My next title in the Pagan Portals series is Dowsing: A Witch’s Guide to Divining with Pendulums and Rods. It's published by Moon Books. This is the description on the website:

"In Pagan Portals - Dowsing Lucya Starza teaches the basics of using pendulums, rods, and the tingles in your fingers to find what you are looking for, whether that falls within the elemental categories of earth, air, fire, and water, or the boundless remit of the realm of spirit."

The book is due to reach shops early in 2027 but can already be pre-ordered.

You can view Pagan Portals - Dowsing on Amazon.

(Please note: I earn commission from some links)

Previous Related Posts

https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/03/revealing-cover-of-my-next-book-dowsing.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/06/my-witchy-events-charms-dowsing-dolls.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/02/craft-recycled-wax-candle-for-magical.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/03/easy-candle-wishing-spell.html

Sacred Traveler Solstice Divination: Fogged In, Go Slow

I drew a card for the world from the Sacred Traveler Oracle in the days before the Summer Solstice. "Fogged In" is what it said. At first glance it seemed a strange divination when the sun is at its peak and many of us are planning exciting things like festivals or holidays. But the message is "Go slow; take time."

It makes more sense when you consider that many of us are living in a state of almost constant uncertainty. We don't know what the future holds in terms of security and even freedom to be ourselves. This is the fog that surrounds us. If the way forward is unclear, go carefully and mindfully. The book that comes with the set offers these words, which put it into greater perspective: 

"When you take the time to go slowly, new perceptions emerge that you can't see if you're moving fast. Move away from the rapid pace of everyday life, and step into the majesty of stillness."

Solstice is often interpreted by pagans as being when the sun appears to stand still. In astronomical terms it doesn't, but psychologically this rings true. This is the perfect time to put stresses and worries on hold. Be quiet and still in the moment. Think and ponder rather than rushing into anything rashly. The book definition continues:

"Resist the impulse to go ahead with your first instinct. Take time to tune in to your deeper intuition. Power is born in those times when you relax into the present moment."

While the fog muffles sight and sound, we can still use our our psychic awareness to sense our best way forward - carefully.

The Sacred Traveler Oracle is one I regularly use in my readings for the world at in early summer. It's when many of us travel. There can be a spiritual element, including visiting sacred sites or going on a pilgrimage. 

You can view The Sacred Traveler Oracle on Amazon It is by Denise Linn and published by Hay House.

(Please note I earn commission from some links)

Previous related posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/07/divination-great-adventure-as-sacred.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/06/divination-begin-now-sacred-traveler.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/07/divination-finding-sanctuary-as-sacred.html
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https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/05/a-tarot-reading-for-world-ace-of-wands.html