A bad witch's blog

Thursday, 26 February 2026

Magic: Broken, Burnt, Buried - Ancient Ritual Practice

In magic and religion, breaking things can be done deliberately. Sometimes it's part of a curse, sometimes as an offering or sacrifice, sometimes to show its purpose has ended. An exhibition currently on at London's Petrie Museum is called Broken, Burnt, Buried: Ritual Lives of Objects in Ancient Egypt. It looks at various ritual reasons behind this.

The museum website explains:

"Across ancient Egypt, people broke, buried, and even burned objects - not by accident, but deliberately and with deep meaning. Broken, Burnt, Buried explores how everyday items were transformed through religious and ritual practices across thousands of years.
"The broken pots, figurines or amulets on display offer a rare glimpse into the lives and beliefs of ancient Egyptians. Through the deliberate act of damage these objects became powerful tools that ordinary people used to protect, to heal, and even communicate with the divine."

I went there and took these photos. The one at the top shows figurines sometimes interpreted as fertility votives. However, the description at the Petrie explains they had a wider use in protection and healing rituals. Apparently, some texts show they helped cure other illnesses, and that after medical procedures the figurines may have been broken to stop the illness recurring.

Ancient Egyptians placed pottery, including those broken shards in the photo above, underneath temples, tombs, palaces and city walls. These were offerings and were intended to strengthen the structure.

Scorpions were a serious hazard, so magical rituals to catch them involved smashing a clay model while saying words instructing the creatures to "break out" so they could be trapped. This nearly intact one is a rare survivor, as most were obviously broken during the rite.

Broken, Burnt, Buried is on at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology, Malet Place, London WC1E 6BT until 16 May. It's open Tuesdays to Fridays 1-5pm and Saturdays 11am-5pm. Entry is free. Find out more here: www.ucl.ac.uk

Wednesday, 25 February 2026

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. I mainly include in-person things in or near London, because that's where I'm based, as well as online talks and workshops you can do anywhere and a few big things further afield.

Now to 20 April; Welcome To Fairy Land - Luciana Nedelea Art Exhibition. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: Museum opening hours, free entry https://thelasttuesdaysociety.org/museum/events-exhibitions/

Now to 2 May; Conspiracies exhibition. Venue@ Warburg Institute, Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AB. 11am to 6pm. Free entry. https://warburg.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/conspiracies

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

Now – 19 April; Expecting: Birth, Belief and Protection Exhibition. Venue: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. Free https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/thirst-in-search-of-freshwater

Now – 26 February; Exhibition: Elective Affinities. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH , Time: 10am-5pm Monday - Friday. Free, but book a ticket. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/events/elective-affinities/

Now to 16 May; Broken, Burnt, Buried. Exhibition of Egyptians objects deliberately broken as part of ritual and religious practices. Venue: Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology, Malet Place, London WC1E 6BT. Free. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-collections/

Every Wednesday and Friday; 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-5pm weekdays. 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

Various dates; London Witches and Chilling History Bankside Walking Tour. Meet at Southwark View Point, Minerva Square, London, SE1 9DF. Times various. Tickets around £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/enthral-experiences-58960674733

Wednesday 25 February; Remote Viewing the Spirit World with Ann Théato, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 8am. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 25 February (and other dates); Tea with a Medium. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 2.30pm Cost £60 https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Wednesday 25 February (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 25 February (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 25 February; Witch Clinic with Hannah Sanders via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 25 February; Nervous System Regulation for Psychics. Start of 2-session course run by Andréa Ararê, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 25 February; 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 25 February; Sacred Gong Meditation with Joe Summerfield. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Wednesday 25 February; Talking Weird: A Thrilling Journey into the Mysteries of the British Isles with Andy McGrath on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £3.35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Wednesday 25 February (last Wednesday or Thursday every month); Solitary Practice for Pagans. 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

Thursday 26 February (most Thursdays); Shamanic Dance with Luisa Passalacqua. Venue near Wandsworth Town Station, London. Time: 11am. Tickets donations (or free) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/luisa-passalacqua-16972493584?

Thursday 26 February (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 26 February; Gary Lachman - Touched by the Presence. Talk and signing. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, London, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ, UK. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 26 February; Working with Energy Through Colour. Start of 3-session course run by Daniel Pitt, via the College of Psychic Studies online. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £170. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 26 February; A Diagrammatic Foray into the World of Animals and Machines with Dean Anthony Kenning'. Venue: Swedenborg House, The Swedenborg Society, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way London WC1A 2TH. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/8460713300?

Thursday 26 February; Madness and Decadence in the 1890s – a Zoom talk with Nick Freeman via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets ·from £3.35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Friday 27 February; Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema with Mary Wild. Talk and signing. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, London, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ, UK. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Friday 27 February (4th Friday of the month); The Wild Wood Tarot study group. Free online event. Time: 7pm. https://www.meetup.com/astrotarotkitchen/events/

Friday 27 February (and other dates); Magic, Mystics and Martyrs Walking Tour with Maria Beadell of Herstorical Tours. Meet: Fish St Hill, London EC3R 8AH. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £18. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/book

Friday 27 February; Manifesting and Visualising the Ghost Child. Talk by Dr Jen Baker on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £3.35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Saturday 28 February; How to Read Objects with Psychometry with Tia Price, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 28 February; When Spirit Calls. Workshop with Nicoletta Stephens. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Saturday 28 February; Connecting the Trees Ritual. Venue: Beddington Park , London Road, Wallington, SM6. Time: 1.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Saturday 28 February; I'm running an in-person workshop on traditional methods of cleansing and protection in witchcraft and folk magic practices. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 2pm. Cost: £25 per person. Visit https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Saturday 28 February; Margarita Gluzberg, Paul O’kane, Natalia Zagorska-Thomas: Elective Affinities Finissage Event. Venue: Swedenborg House, The Swedenborg Society, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way London WC1A 2TH. Time: 2pm. Free but reserve a place. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Saturday 28 February; Traditional Fairy Seership with Danú Forest, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 28 February; Lemurian Dragon and Crystal Skull Workshop. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 2pm . Tickets £45. https://www.wiccamooninherservice.co.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Saturday 28 February (every 4th Saturday of the month until February 28, 2026) Psychic Development - Beginners Mediumship. Venue: Yurt, 11, Strathearn Rd SW19 7LH, London. Time: · 5pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.meetup.com/astrotarotkitchen/events/

Sunday 1 March; Essex Witchcraft and Pagan Spring Fayre. Venue: Marks Tey Parish Hall, Marks Tey Market, Colchester, CO6 1EJ. Starts 10.30am. Entrance £3. https://www.facebook.com/events/1797236367879231/?

Sunday 1 March; British Museum and the Magical Revival Walking Tour with Caroline Wise organised by Treadwell's. Time: 10.50am. Meet outside the British Museum (North Entrance), Montague Place, London, WC1B 3DG. Tickets: £50. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Sunday 1 March; Meet the Female Ascended Masters. Workshop with Natasha Astara. Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Sunday 1 March (and other dates and times); Soul Restore Sound Healing. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 11am. Tickets: £30. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Sunday 1 March; Talk on Anglo Saxon Magic 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 1 March; Late Wassail at South Norwood Lake. Meet at the tennis courts South Norwood Lake and Grounds, 8 Auckland Road, London, SE19 2DL Time: 12.30pm. Just turn up. https://www.facebook.com/events/2339122879847241/

Sunday 1 March; Exploring Intuition and the I Ching. Workshop with Dr Lisa Langer, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 1 March; Mindful Stroll and Forest Bathing in Crystal Palace Park. Meet at Sydenham Gate, CP Park, London SE20. Time: 2pm. Free, but parking is paid. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/parkbathe-34393467709

Sunday 1 March; Nidra and Reiki. Venue: Hwyl Studio, Anerley Works, London SE20. Time: 2.30pm. Tickets £33. https://www.thecirclespace.co/

Sunday 1 March; The History and Evolution of the Demonic Witch with Dr Debora Moretti via By Seed Talks. Online event. Time 5pm . Tickets £17 – £26.50. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/seed-talks-36463428713

Sunday 1 March; Greg Chapman’s Discovery of Witchcraft. Venue: The Cinema Museum, London, SE11 4TH. Doors open 7pm. Tickets

£14. https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/witchcraft/the-cinema-museum-london-greg-chapman-s-discovery-of-witchcraft/2026-03-01/19:30/t-qmjjaoy?

Sunday 1 March; Mr. Punch’s journey from Napoli to somewhere-on-sea . Talk by John Rudlin on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £3.35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Monday 2 - Saturday 14 March; Stuart Inman art exhibition: The Return - To Bloomsbury/To Painting. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 11.30am - 6pm daily except Sundays. Free entry https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Monday 2 March; The Houses (Part 1). Free online talk via the Astrological Lodge of London. Starts 5pm. Tickets free. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Monday 2 March (every Monday); It All Starts in our Mother’s Uterus. Talk by Smiljana Gavrančić followed by chart discussion. Online talks via the Astrological Lodge of London. Times 7pm/8.30pm. Tickets £9/£6. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Monday 2 March; Hugh Lupton Performs Beowulf. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 5.30pm. Tickets from £20. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Monday 2 March; Ascending with Angels workshop Led by David Goddard. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 6.30pm Cost £40 https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Monday 2 March; The Witch's Apprentice: Natural Magic. Start of 4-Part Course with Rebecca Beattie, author of Planetary Magic and Nature Mystics, via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £80. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Monday 2 March; Full Moon and Imbolc Celebration with South East London Pagans. Venue: Private address near One Tree Hill, Honor Oak, South London. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Monday 2 March; Theosophy. Online discussion group via Rudolf Steiner House. Time: 7pm. Tickets free https://www.meetup.com/rudolf-steiner-spiritual-science/events/

Monday 2 March (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 3 March (and other dates and times); Viktor Wynd Museum Guided Tour + a Devil's Botany Absinthe. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6pm. Tickets from £16. Price includes a Cocktail with Devil’s Botany. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Tuesday 3 March to 5 March; Print and the Ascent of Magic. Evening class course. Venue: Durning-Lawrence Library, Senate House and Wohl Reading Room, Warburg Institute, Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AB Time: 5.30pm. Tickets: £175/£100. https://warburg.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/print-ascent-magic-march-2026

Tuesday 3 March (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 3 March; Women's Full Moon Gong Bath. Venue: Akasa, 5a Prince Edward Rd, Hackney Wick, London E9 5LX. Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £25.63. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sunita-kaur-34415293427

Tuesday 3 March; Full Moon Ritual by the Thames with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Millennium Bridge, Thames Embankment, · London. Time: 7pm. More info: https://mani.org.uk/ Tickets: £6.13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803

Tuesday 3 March; Marseille Tarot for Beginners. Start of six-session course run by Bel Senlle, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £165. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 3 March (tbc but usually first Tuesday each month); Talk at Romford Pagan Moot. Venue: The Golden Lion, 2 High Street, Romford. Time: 7.30pm. Entry £4: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064489640955

Tuesday, 3 March; Jung, Dante, and the Making of the Red Book. Talk by Dr Tommaso Priviero on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £3.35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Wednesday 4 March (tbc but usually first Wednesday of the month); Drumming and Meditation online with Taz Thornton. Time: 7pm. Free https://www.facebook.com/TazThorntonOfficial

Wednesday 4 March (usually on a Wednesday each month); Massaged to Death by Mermaids. Online via the Folklore Centre. Time: 7pm. Tickets £5. https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/

Wednesday 4 and 11 March; I'm running a two-part online evening class on Scrying: Divination Using Crystals, Mirrors, Water and Fire via the College of Psychic Studies. Each class starts at 7pm. Tickets are £90. Find our more here: https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/workshops/psychic-training/scrying-with-crystals-mirrors-water-fire/?

Wednesday 4 March; Moonchild – A Nurturing Full Moon Gong Bath To Soothe Your Inner Child. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion, Place Park, The Mansion, Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.beckenhamplace.org/whatson/

Wednesday 4 March; 7 Essential Plants for Protection. Class with Hannah Sanders via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 4 March; Mirror Magic. Workshop with Levannah Morgan via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 4 March (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

Wednesday 4 March; The History and Mythology of Werewolves with Dr Laura Kounine. Hybrid event via By Seed Talks. In-person venue: The Blues Kitchen Brixton, London. Time 7pm . Tickets from £13.50. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/seed-talks-36463428713

Wednesday 4 March; The Haunted Folklore of Norway and Sápmi. Talk by Lena Heide-Brennand on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £3.35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 5 March; After Earth School with Leon Deith, Talk and signing. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, London, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ, UK. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 5 March; Aleister Crowley and Frieda Harris's Thoth Tarot. 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

Thursday 5 March; Extraterrestrials, Evolution and AI Talk by Dr Pascal Michael on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £3.35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Friday 6 March (usually every Friday); Live Chat hosted by Rachel Patterson, author of Gods and Goddesses of England and the Kitchen Witch series of books. Time: 9am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/RachelPattersonbooks/

Friday 6 March (usually 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 6 March; Infinite Edge by James Vincent. Talk and signing. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, London, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ, UK. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Friday 6 March; An Evening of Mediumship with Q and A with Tony Stockwell Venue: College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Friday 6 March (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: 7.30pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/holistic-sound-bath-meditation-summoning-the-sacred-tickets-223970159777?#

Friday 6 - Saturday 7 March; Awakening the Feminine Divine. An online gathering with talks for International Women's Day organised by Mystical Soul Academy. https://www.mysticalsoulacademy.com/afd?

Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March; Experience Braco's Gaze: Small Intimate Sessions. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Various times from 10am. Tickets: from £30. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 7 March; The Elysian Tarot by Lucia Dami. Talk and signing. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, London, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ, UK. Time: noon (tbc). Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Saturday 7 March; Brothers: Meet Up, Work and Fireside Gathering. Event organised by Aho. Venue: Berkeley farm, a few miles outside London. Starts noon. Tickets: free. https://www.aho.community/

Saturday 7 March; Beckenham Library Book Fayre. I will be have a stall and be giving a talk there during the afternoon. Venue: Beckenham Library, 22, Beckenham Road, Beckenham, BR3 4 PE. Time: 2pm to 5pm. Free. Just turn up.

Saturday 7 March; Guides of the Akashic Realms. Workshop with Claire Broad, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 7 and 8 March 2026; Writing and rewriting fairytales. 2-session online course via City Lit. Time: 2pm. Fee: £79/£40. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing-and-rewriting-fairytales

Saturday 7 March; Isis Blessing of the Fleet Ritual with Mani of London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Hollyhock Cafe, Terrace Gardens, Petersham Road, TW10 6UX (to walk to ritual site). Time: 2pm. More info: https://mani.org.uk/ Tickets: £6.13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803

Saturday 7 March (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 8 March; Group Constellation Workshop by Avideya. Venue: 30 Friern Watch Avenue, London N12 9NT. Time: from 10am to 5pm. From £53.80. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/avideya-30020254011

Sunday 8 March; Wisdom and Wyrd Psychic Market. Venue: Venue: Chislehurst Caves, Imperial Place, Chislehurst, NW Kent. Time: 11am. Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1335736923852705/

Sunday 8 March; Satanic Flea Market - Rites of Spring. Venue:· Electrowerkz, 7 Torrens Street, London, EC1V 1NQ. Time: noon-6pm. £5 Entry. https://www.facebook.com/events/2013885819185668/?

Sunday 8 March; I'm running an in-person workshop based on my book Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm. Cost: £25 per person. You can find out more at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Sunday 8 March (date tbc); Ritual in the Tower (Luna Iter). 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: £9.73. https://www.hildegardmaier.co.uk/luna-iter or https://www.facebook.com/groups/1230392930656154

Sunday 8 March; Sound Bath Meditation. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Sunday 8 March; Paganism: From Ancient Myths to Modern Realities. Talk by Ethan Doyle White on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £3.35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

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 for some links.

Tuesday, 24 February 2026

Salem 1692 - Is this Social Deduction Game Offensive?

How do you feel about games with the theme of historic witch trials, especially if they depict the witches as murderers?

A few years ago I was gifted a copy of a social deduction game called Salem 1692. I wavered over that question so much I didn't play it until last weekend at a games convention. Now I have, I thought I'd both review the game, and blog about my feelings on the subject. First, the review.

How it Works as a Game

As social deduction games go, the mechanics work well. In case you don't know the term, think of party games like Murder in the Dark and Are You a Werewolf? or the TV show The Traitors. Everyone is assigned a role only they know. Most people are innocents and potential victims, while one or more are murderers of some kind. In one phase the killers attempt to bump someone off without being detected, while in another phase everyone discusses what happened, examines evidence, and votes to eliminate a player accused of being a villain.

Salem 1692 is more complicated than that. First there's also a constable role, with the power to save one player from murder. Players also have cards giving them the identity of someone who featured in the historic witch trials. Each has a special ability such as needing more accusations than normal to be tried, or being able to discard accusations played. Another deck of cards are events that affect what happens, such as robbery, which means a player discards all their cards.

The extra complexity makes the game interesting and varied, and the events and powers are well-balanced. I'd thoroughly recommend it purely as a game, if you aren't put off by the theme. Let's get on to that now.

Is the Theme Offensive?

I fully expect there will be many different personal opinions about this. I can only give my own thoughts.

I like that Salem 1692 includes some historical facts. It explains that after a few girls had fits blamed on "the devil", the town of Salem became engulfed in witch trials that led to more than 150 people being accused, 19 hangings, 1 person being pressed, and several other deaths in prison. There's also a biographical paragraph on each of the characters.

However, although this background information implies how unfair the trials were, and how dodgy the evidence, it doesn't specifically state that the convictions were eventually annullled and that few nowadays believe any of the accused were really witches. Also, those tried for witchcraft in Salem weren't even accused of killiing anyone.

These points mean I still feel a little uncomfortable about the way witchcraft is presented in this game. That doesn't mean I'll never play it again. I enjoyed it and will happily give it another go. I'm capable of accepting the fantasy horror trope of witches as evil while knowing that isn't the case in real life, and that the game isn't totally historically accurate. The people I play games with are all pagan-friendly and astute enough to do this too.

What do you think?

Whether you' ve played Salem 1692 or not, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on the topic. Is this game offensive in your opinion? Would you play it or not? If you have given it a go, did you enjoy it?

Please leave a comment.

Monday, 23 February 2026

Green London: An Urban Park and Ancient Woods

London is full of little parks much loved by locals. They are great places to get out and enjoy fresh air on a sunny Sunday. I took these photos yesterday afternoon. They show Forster Memorial Park in the London Borough of Lewisham.

What's unusual about this park is that the central grassed area is surrounded by a ring of ancient woodland. At this time of year you can see blossom starting to appear on the hedgerows, and leaf buds on the trees.

To give you its history, it was once woods and fields owned by Lord Forster, who lived in the area. He turned part of his estate into this public park as a memorial to his two sons who were killed during the First World War.

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.

Previous Green London Posts
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/2025/03/green-london-japanese-gardens-in.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/09/green-london-riverview-walk-river-pool.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/10/green-london-ancient-woodlands-around.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/04/green-london-rookery-streatham-common.html

Friday, 20 February 2026

Animal Wisdom Tarot: A Card Reading for the World

I drew a tarot card as a reading for for the world using the Animal Wisdom Tarot and the Rat was revealed. I know some people dislike rats, but they really aren't that bad. They are resourceful, intelligent, hard working, and in cities often live on the waste us humans discard.

In the Animal Wisdom deck, it's number 4 in the suit of fossils. This corresponds with pentacles in more traditional sets, which is often called the miser card and warns against hoarding wealth. That's not all it represents here though. It's also about ensuring you have the material things you need simply for survival.

Both meanings are very relevant for the world in our current times. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening. On one hand billionnaires are sitting on vast amounts of money without giving a thought to those in need, while ordinary people are struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table.

This card teaches us to be alert to greediness. While we all need sufficient assets to feel secure, material things are not the be all and end all of life. Prioritise what's really important to you, which should include friends, family and those you love as well as possessions. Rat is resourceful. Keep a cool head and adapt with circumstances.

This is also a card related to the element of earth. Don't stay stuck indoors. Get out and about and enjoy the bounty of nature now that spring is on the way. Trees, plants and sunshine are great healers.

The Animal Wisdom Tarot is published by Cico Books.

You can view the deck on Amazon.

Please note: I earn commission from some links

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