Author Interview: Irish Writer Geraldine Moorkens Byrne

Geraldine Moorkens Byrne is an Irish poet, novelist and teacher of folk magic. I've chatted to her about her books in my interview series Authors On Their Own Writing.

Q: Out of all that you've written, which is your favourite published book?

A: Draíocht Ceoil - The Sound of Magic in Irish Traditions is hands down my favourite book to date. It took quite a few years to write, and it was a subject very dear to my heart. 

Q: What’s it about?

A: "Draíocht Ceoil" means music magic, in Irish, but really the practice is about all kinds of sound magic from voice to instruments to words.

It has been a part of Irish magical practices since our earliest ancestors, and uses techniques recorded in pre-Christian society. Obviously it is deeply rooted in Irish culture but one of the great joys of Draíocht Ceoil is that belief in the power of sound is universal. It can be adapted to any magical path, and you'll find it mirrored across many indigenous societies. It is also a way to access magical energy that can be used in everyday life. 

Q: Why is it your favourite?

A:  I wanted to preserve an important folk tradition but it soon expanded to trying to create an accessible guide to music and sound magic, that could be used in any path or culture. And the research I did deepened my own understanding of a practice I thought I knew. 

Q: Tell me a bit more about yourself and anything else you’ve written.

A: I am a poet, novelist and writer from Dublin, Ireland. I research and teach Irish folk magic and folklore, and also write and perform ceremonies including weddings, Funerals, transition and naming ceremonies. 

I am a Bean Feasa, or witch in English. I am also an Irish Polytheist, with a particular dedication to An Morrigan.

Q: What other books have you written?

A: My bestselling collection of poetry is called Dreams of Reality. This is currently in its second edition, revised and updated in 2025.

I am also the author of a series of mystery books The Music Shop Mysteries, and I write several popular series under the pen name Nina Hayes, including The Old Bat Chronicles, The Ellie and Lexi Mysteries and coming in 2027 from PPP Publishing, The Kilallee Courier mystery series. 

Q: What are you working on now?

A: I have just completed Celtic Christianity, part of Moon Books' new Popular Pagan History series. It will be published next year. 

I am now working on Urban Pagan, Guardian of the City. This is a poetic and philosophical exploration of urban Paganism with poems, prayers, meditations and journal prompts as well as guidance on building a relationship with the gods in community. 

Q: What else do you do?

A: I offer free companion videos working through the exercises in my book Draíocht Ceoil, available on Celebratingwords.com 

My podcast Draíocht Ceoil, featuring interviews and discussions of art activism and magic launches in September. I'm teaching a class on Immrama meditation also in September. Details of both are also available at Celebratingwords.

You can view Draíocht Ceoil on Amazon. It is published by Moon Books, which is part of Collective Ink.

(Please note, I earn commission from some links)

Previous related posts

https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/07/authors-on-their-own-writing-green.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/07/authors-on-their-own-writing-lisa.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/07/authors-on-their-writing-feminist-witch.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/07/authors-on-their-own-writing-katie-ness.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/08/authors-on-their-writing-greek.html

International Cat Day Wisdom: Appreciate your Family

Tomorrow is International Cat Day, so I've used the Cat Wisdom oracle in a reading for the world. The card is family, and the message in the book that comes with the set reads:

"Appreciate your family. They are a source of unconditional love and guidance to which you can turn whenever you need advice."

To me, family doesn't necessarily mean your actual relatives. As a witch, I know my brothers and sisters in the Craft will always be there to help me if I need it, even if I haven't been an actual coven member for many years. We can have chosen families too - our close friends and loved ones. 

Our pets are also our adopted family members. International Cat Day reminds us to look after our fur-babies by making sure they are happy and as healthy as possible. In this hot weather, please also put water outside your home to help any outdoor moggies stay hydrated.

Here's a link to International Cat Care, which co-ordinates  International Cat Day on August 8 every year.

You can view the Cat Wisdom Oracle on Amazon

(Please note, I earn commission from some links)

Previous related posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/08/divination-for-international-cat-day.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/05/divination-for-world-judgement-in-cat.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/05/london-lore-wittington-man-myth-cat.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/05/witchy-craft-i-knitted-lucky-black-cat.html

Authors On Their Writing: Greek Priestess Elyse Welles

Elyse Welles is a native Greek Priestess reviving the lost earth temple arts in her work with land spirits and the frame drum. She teaches online classes and guides immersive pilgrimages to Greece's sacred places in and around Delphi and Eleusis. She's also a prolific writer. I've chatted to her about her books in my interview series Authors On Their Own Writing.

Q: Out of all that you've written, which is your favourite published work?

A: My favorite book I've written that's currently published is Sacred Wild: An Invitation to Connect with Spirits of the Land.

Q: What’s it about?

A: Sacred Wild is the first book in which I share my practices for connecting to and working with land spirits. As I was writing it, I was surprised to realize no one had categorized spirits of the land in such an accessible way, exploring not only fairies but the actual spirits that reside and hold dominion of land, as the land. This book explores the reciprocity required to work with land spirits and how to begin that relationship, regardless of your spiritual path.

Q: Why is it your favourite?

A: This is the book the land gave me. It is my favorite for many reasons, but it's also the one that feels most like an offering to the land who taught me so much. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring more people to the power of working with the land.

Q: Tell me a bit more about yourself and anything else you’ve written.

A: My work is reviving the lost earth temple arts: the oneness, re-enchantment, and empathy for life and land that our ancestors across the world knew and cherished. I am a multicultural witch and priestess, both an American and Greek citizen. I've lived in both countries and split my year to be able to bring the magic of Greece to festivals, conferences, and experiences in the US, where magic and hope for a less patriarchal world are so needed! I work with the oracle sites of mainland Greece, including Delphi, and am working to uncover the forgotten oracles of Mycenaean, Minoan, and older, pre-patriarchal tribes of Greece whose relationship with land inspires much of my work.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: A new book going deeper into magic and practices for working with the land spirits is coming in 2027. I also write for Llewellyn's annuals in the coming years, including a chapter on Ostara and Persephone for the Sabbats Almanac of 2027. I have a chapter on Thetis, Queen of the Nereids and mother of Achilles in the Lesser Known Gods anthology with Crossed Crow in 2027.

My next big project is Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Earth. Inanna is the original goddess at the liminal cusp of the transition between tribal and patriarchal living in the ancient Near East who greatly influenced the Mediterranean cultures in the successive millennia. She is a force of empowerment during times of great patriarchal oppression like no other, and the goddess who brought me home to my work many years ago. I am so excited to share that with the world through Moon Books' Pagan Portals series.

Where to find out more

• Sacred Wild: An Invitation to Connect to Spirits of the Land is published by Llewellyn Books. 
• You can find her website at elysewelles.com and follow her at @seekingnumina on Instagram and Facebook.
• You can also view Sacred Wild on Amazon

Previous related posts

https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/07/authors-on-their-own-writing-green.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/07/authors-on-their-own-writing-lisa.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/07/authors-on-their-writing-feminist-witch.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/07/authors-on-their-own-writing-katie-ness.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 (highlighted in bold) plus in-person talks and workshops in or near London, 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/

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 - 11 September; After Fragments by Hannah Hughes - Exhibition. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH. Time: during daytime opening hours. Tickets free. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

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 5 August (montlhly);  Allan Johnson leads a discussion of 'Lolly Willowes', Sylvia Townsend Warner’s novel of witchcraft and freedom at Treadwell's Esoteric Book Club. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 5 August  (first Wednesday of the month); Drumming and Meditation online with Taz Thornton. Time: 7pm. Free  https://www.facebook.com/TazThorntonOfficial

Wednesday 5 August; A Demonstration of Psychic Mediumship with Daniel Pitt. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 5 August (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 5 August; An Exploration of Tarot and Comic Books with B.Earl. 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 6  – 10 August; Out To Grass - Malvern: The Great Heathen Gathering - Friggsmoot. Venue: Woodend Farm/Bromyard Rd, Malvern WR13 5JW. Adult tickets £140/£125/£45. https://www.asatruuk.org/

Thursday 6  August (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 6  August;  Sussex Coils and Loops with Paul Holman. 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 6  August; Where the Shadows Linger: Folklore and the Dark Woods. Author event by Forbidden Planet. Venue: 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8JR. Time: 5:30pm. Tickets £11.55 (£10 can be redeemed against the cost of a book) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/where-the-shadows-linger-folklore-and-the-dark-woods-tickets-1994794401754?

Thursday 6  August;  Ancient myths and legends with authors Eliza Chan and Sunyi Dean. Venue: 

Waterstones, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5EJ. Time: 7pm. Tickets:  £6 - £26. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/15241684138?

Friday 7 August (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 7 August  (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 7 August;  Know: Where the Status Quo Ends and You Come to Life with Amy Vasterling. 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 7 August; Lions Gate Ritual. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets £25. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/events-and-workshops/lions-gate-ritual/? or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

​

Friday 7 August (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?

Friday 7 August (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: £19. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/book

Saturday 8 - Sunday 9 August; Wolfheim Viking Festival. Lots of activities including a talk on Heathenry by author Thea Prothero. Venue: Arreton Barns, Isle Of Wight. Starts 10am. https://www.facebook.com/events/1797888204486628/?

Saturday 8 August; Karmic Configurations talk by Zsuzsanna Griga. Online talks via the Astrological Lodge of London. Starts 10.30am. Tickets £6/£9. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Saturday 8 August;  Source Healing to Meet Your Multidimensional Self workshop with Giancarlo Serra. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 8 August (and other dates);  New Moon, Full Moon or Divine Union Cacao Ceremony,Heart Ritual and Gong Bath. Venue: Private Location near Wandsworth Town/Clapham Junction. Time: noon. Tickets from £36.17. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/7885666957?

Saturday 8 August; Hindu Gods Tarot with Iulia Filipovscaia. 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

Saturday 8 August; 8/8 Lionsgate Portal Soul Alignment with Gemma Petherbridge. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 8 August;  Qigong Workshop. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. 2pm. Tickets £10. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Saturday 8 August; Son’s of Shadow: Men of Craft. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 2pm. Tickets £10. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/events-and-workshops/lions-gate-ritual/? or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Saturday 8 August (and other dates); New Moon, Full Moon or Divine Union Cacao Ceremony, Heart Ritual and Gong Bath. Venue: Private Location near Wandsworth Town/Clapham Junction, London. Time: 3pm. Tickets:  From £32.93 https://www.eventbrite.com/o/fouzia-javaid-7885666957

Saturday 8 August;  Lions's Gate -8-8-8 Ceremony with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Hollyhock Cafe, Richmond, London. Time: 7pm.   Tickets: £8. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803 or https://mani.org.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/PaganFrontiersOfLondon.

Sunday 9 August; The British Museum and the Magical Revival Walking Tour with Caroline Wise organised by Treadwell's Bookshop. Meet at: British Museum (North Entrance), Montague Place, London, WC1B 3DG. Time: 10.50am. Tickets: £50. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Sunday 9 August; Unseen - Alexandrian Witchcraft x Bexhill Museum.  Live online viewing of Alex Sanders exhibition  with walkthrough by Julian Porter.  Time: 4pm. Tickets: £7.50. https://www.alexandrianwitchcraft.com/unseen

Sunday 9 August (date tbc but usually second Sunday of the month - not confirmed for August); Luna Iter (Ritual in the Tower). In-person ritual in Hackney, East London for members of the group, guests and seekers on the path. Meet at the Pembury Tavern, 90 Amhurst Rd, London, from 4.30pm, moving on to a historic site to start the ritual at 6pm. Entry: £10. https://www.hildegardmaier.co.uk/luna-iter or https://www.facebook.com/groups/1230392930656154 

Sunday  9 August;  Mantra Journey. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Sunday 9 August ; Psychedelic Plant Medicines and Faerie Realms with Zina Brown. 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

Monday 10 August; Weaving with Angela – make a wand, dream catcher, weave a stick. Forest School chidlren's activities, must be acccompanied by an adult. Meet at: Gate next to 53 Riverview Park, Lodnon SE6 4PL. Time: 10am. https://www.facebook.com/events/2237093010425445/? or https://wildcatwilderness.org/?

Monday 10 August (every other 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 10 August; Horror Movies and Psychology with Katie Evans. 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 10 August; 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 10 August; Popular Curses and Their Remedies.  Online Workshop with Rebecca Beattie via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Monday 10 August (date tbc but usually on a Monday early in the month - not confirmed for August);  South East London Pagans Moot. Venue: The Ivy House, 55 Stuart Road, London, SE15 3BE. Time: 7.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Monday 10 August  (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

11-20 August; Discovery Days with the Royal Parks. Free children's storytelling with Vanessa Woolf Sessions, Venue: The Learning Centre, Hyde Park W2 2UH . Time: from noon. Tickets free. https://londondreamtime.com/calendar/)

Tuesday 11 August (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/

Wednesday 12 August (and other dates); 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: 6pm. 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

Wednesday 12 August  (tbc but usually 2nd Wed each month);  Enfield Town Circle Moot. Venue: Crown and Horsehoes, Horseshoe Lane, Enfield, EN2 6PZ.  Time: 7pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/EnfieldTownCircle/

Wednesday 12 August; Soul-to-Soul Readings with Tyrone Cusack. Start of 2-session online course. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 12 August (most Wednesdays); Gong Bath. Venue:  Akasa, Hackney Wick,  London E9. Time: 7pm. Tickets:  from £23.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sunita-kaur-34415293427

Wednesday 12 August;  Sekhmet Power and Leo New Moon and Solar Eclipse magic with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Bankside Beach by Millennium Bridge, 52 Hopton Street, London SE1 9JH. Time: 7.30pm.   Tickets: £6.13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803 or https://mani.org.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/PaganFrontiersOfLondon.

Thursday 13 and Friday 14 August; Summer Spirit Circle with Nicoletta Stephens. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am-5pm. Tickets: £265. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 13 August (2nd Thursday each month); Magick Without Tears Moot. Venue: Fitzroy Tavern, 16 Charlotte St., London W1T 2LY. Time 6pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/mwtpubmoot

Thursday 13 August; Drum Circle. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets  £15. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Thursday 13 August;  The World of Santería alk and Soirée with Iyalorisha Odofemí (Morgan M Page). Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 13 August;  Way of the Witch monthly online circle with Samantha K. and Jacqui C. Time: 8pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.meetup.com/sammi-k-shamanic-practitioner-psychic-medium/events/

Thursday 13 August; Folklore of Dorset. Talk by Cunning Folk at South East London Folklore Society. Venue: The Electric Elephant Cafe, 186A Crampton Street, London, SE17 3AE. Time: 8pm, Free but £5/£8 donations welcome.  Email cunningfolkmusic@gmail.com to book a space or visit  https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cunning-folk-7829505560

Friday 14 August (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 14 to 16 August; Awakened Spirit Festival. A community based festival with workshops and live music.  I'll be running a cloud and tree scrying workshop on Saturday afternoon. Venue: Crossland Riverside, Box End, Bedford, MK43 8RN. Weekend ticket including camping £150, Day tickets £60. https://awakenedspirit.co.uk/

Friday 14 August (and other dates); Hex and the City Walking Tour with  Maria Beadell of Herstorical Tours. Meet: Cowcross St, Farrringdon, London EC1M 6BY. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/

Saturday 15 - Sunday 16 August; Vintage Tarot Fair. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: noon-5pm. Tickets: £5 early access, otherwise free entry. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Saturday 15 August; Psychic Fayre and Witches' Market organised by Herne and the Goddess Events. Venue: Wainscott Memorial Hall, Holly Road, Wainscott, Kent ME2 4LG. Time: noon. Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/events/1000721825913928?

Saturday 15 August; Mantra, Sound and Consciousness 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/

Saturday 15 August;  Afternoon of Mediumship. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. 2pm. Tickets £10. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Saturday 15 August;  Psychic Development Workshop. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 2pm. Tickets  £25. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Sunday 16 August (then 13 Sept, 18 Oct, 15 Nov);  Base Chakra. Wicca Women’s Circles Focus on a Chakra. Venue: Crystal Wicca,  West Wickham, BR4. Time: tbc. Tickets: £33 or £55 for two classes. https://www.facebook.com/TheCrystalWicca

Sunday 16 August (tbc but usually a Sunday each month); Dawn of the Oak Pagan moot. Venue: The Sir John Oldcastle, Farringdon Road/Greville Street, London EC1M 3JF. Time: 2pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dawnoftheoak/ 

Sunday 16 August; Tree Folklore and Bookbinding Workshop organised by London Wildlife Trust. Venue:  Grosvenor Square, 

London W1K 6LF. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £21.68 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/7357843879?

For activities after these dates please visit my events page. 

Please note that I am not responsible for the content of these events except my own talks and workshops. 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 Also please note I earn commission from advertisers for some links.

Green London: Nature Suffering in the Drought

I often write that London is one of the world's greenest cities, but it is now far less green than it should be. We might not be experiencing wildfires here, but everywhere is suffering in the extreme heat. The photos on this page show expanses of brown grass, a river far lower than it should be, and ducks in the mere puddles that remain of their dried-up lake.

A few years ago I walked part of Waterlink Way through South East London following the Pool and Ravensbourne rivers. It was a idyllic corridor of natural beauty running throught the city, and you can see what it looked like here. Last weekend I decided to continue the walk to the Thames, then under it by the Greenwich foot tunnel. It still took me through urban nature reserves, parks and beside flowing water, but it was tragic to see how much plants and wildlife are struggling in the heat.

What makes it even more poignant for me is that I did my earlier walk as part of an eco-awareness project, involving writing to hightlight the problems of climate change and other environmental issues.  I hope this post continues to do that.

We can all do a bit to help by conserving water. Personally, I'm not flushing the toilet every single time I go for a wee. If everyone one reduced their number of flushes, it would make a bit of a difference. I'm also leaving bowls of water out in my garden for birds and animals. I know there's still more I could be doing, and I'd welcome comments with suggestions how how we can all do our bit.

London's 'Green' Places Pictured

• Woman and Fish statue at Millwall Park with London's Docklands skyline in the background
• The lake at Brookmill Park. If you look closely you can see a sad looking duck at the edge. This park also contains a small nature reserve
• The Ravensbourne river at Lewisham, SE London
• Island Gardens, which is next to the Thames on the north side of the Greenwich foot tunnel.

I regularly write Green London posts to show that the city isn't all concrete. It has many parks, commons, woods, nature reserves and other places where nature usually thrives.

Other Previous Related Posts

https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/06/green-london-bloomsburys-secret-gardens.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/07/green-london-strange-things-in-soho.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/07/green-london-st-jamess-park-ghost-and.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/06/green-london-lincolns-inn-fields.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/06/green-london-great-plane-in-brunswick.html