A bad witch's blog

A Bad Witch's Blog Named Among the Top Witch Sites

2026-09-24T08:00:00.000+01:00

A Bad Witch's Blog has once again been listed among the top 60 Witchcraft blogs worldwide according to Feedspot. This year I'm at number 13, which is lucky enough, but slightly lower than my placing last year. You can find the full list here: https://bloggers.feedspot.com/witchcraft_blogs/

Feedspot ranks the best Witchcraft blogs based on multiple factors, including content relevancy, subject expertise, posting frequency, and freshness of content.

I'm also on the list of top Pagan blogs, but a bit lower down. You can find that here: https://bloggers.feedspot.com/pagan_blogs/?

Feedspot is an RSS Reader that lets you subscribe to blogs, news sites, and any website you want to keep up with.

Manningtree, the Witch Trials, and Folk Stories

2026-09-23T08:00:00.000+01:00

A few days ago, I sat on the bench you can just see in the shadow of the large house and spent a few moments honouring Anne West, Helen Clark, Marian Hocket, and Anne Cooper, who were cruelly treated by Matthew Hopkins, the self-appointed Witchfinder General. The pleasant-looking little village green, high on a hill in South Street, Manningtree, is where the four women were hanged after being accused of witchcraft in 1645. At least, that was what I read on a pdf I downloaded called Walking With Witches.

I was also sititng there waiting for the opening time of Manningtree Museum, just along the high street, which I'd been told was full of information about the 17th Century East Anglian witch trials. When I got to the museum, I learnt that a lot of what I'd just read - and in fact much of what's online about the area's witch persecutions - is conjecture, overly romanticised folk stories, or just fake news.

While it's true those poor women were executed in Manningtree, the site of the gallows wasn't recorded. It might have been there, but more likely was in the old marketplace, which was larger. Nevertheless, South Street is one of the roads where Matthew Hopkins resided. The only other place he is recorded as having lived is the old rectory of Mistley Heath Church. But plenty of other places claim he once dwelt there, especially if they're tourist attractions. It's good for business even if it can't be proven.

While I was at the museum I bought a booklet called Manningtree 'Witch-hunts' - The full facts. It isn't professionally produced, but it was painstakingly researched and put together by a local historian and the Manningtree Museum and Local History Group. The information inside, I was told, is reliably accurate. The group was also behind the plaque you can see in the photo in the middle of this post.

The picture at the bottom shows Old Knobbley, a huge hollow oak which is the second oldest tree in Essex, at around 900 years. I saw it on the Walking with Witches trail. According to legends it was a sanctuary for witches fleeing persecution. As amazing as the tree is, that's almost certainly another bit of romantic storytelling.

I should add that Manningtree is now a really delightful town. It's situated on the Stour and is also famous as part of Constable country. Flatford Mill is about 4 miles away - a pleasant walk along the riverbank.

Witchy Autumn Events Around London & Online

2026-09-22T08:00:00.000+01:00

While many pagans will have celebrated Autumn Equinox last weekend or on September 21, in 2026 it falls on Spetember 23rd astronomically. There are still ways to honour the time of balance from now until the end of the month. Here's a listing of pagan and witchy events in or near London over the next couple of weeks, but I also a few festivals further afield and plenty of things online (bolded) that you can enjoy anywhere.

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 to 8 November; The Occult Temple of Agape - Exhibition. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6pm. Tickets free. https://thelasttuesdaysociety.org/museum/

Now - 25 October; Richard Dadd - Beyond Bedlam exhibition. Venue: Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD Time: 10-6pm every day. Tickets £15. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/

Now to 9 January 2027; Anne Ryan’s Folkmoot art exhibition on London archaeology. Venue: London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, 12 Walbrook, London, EC4N 8AA. Free entry during opening hours. https://www.londonmithraeum.com/bloomberg-space/

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

Tuesday 22 September (every Tuesday); 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 22 September; Learn Morris Dancing. Venue: Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, London, NW1 7AY. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets £10.50 per class, £77 for a term. https://www.efdss.org/

Tuesday 22 September; Beyond the Dream Gateway. Start of 10-session course with Tree Carr. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £290. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 22 September; The Templars' Lost Sacred Feminine. Online talk by Helena B. Scott via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 22 September; Meeting Ourselves in Film. Start of 5-session course with Mark Wentworth. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £180. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 22 Septembert; 7 Essential Roots For Witches. Online Class with Hannah Sanders via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Tuesday 22 Septembert; Sláine: The Horned God with professional storyteller Jason Buck. Venue: Canal Cafe Theatre, Delamere Terrace, Little Venice, London W2 6NG. Tel: 020 7289 6054. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £18.50. https://canalcafetheatre.com/our-shows/slaine/?

Tuesday 22 September; Scottish Peasants in the Magical Landscape with Julian Goodare. Talk via the Folklore Society online. Time: 7pm. Tickets £6. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-folklore-society-32190494089

Tuesday 22 September; Equinox Special Enfield Town Circle Moot. Venue: Crown and Horsehoes, Horseshoe Lane, Enfield, EN2 6PZ. Time: 7.30pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/EnfieldTownCircle/

Wednesday 23 September; Autumn Equinox at Stonehenge. English Heritage allows managed free open access to the stones for the sunrise, although the car parking is charged. Access to stones from: 5.15am-8.30am. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-do/autumn-equinox/

Wednesday 23 September; Unlock and Manifest Your Abundance. Online class by Abiola Abrams via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 23 September (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 23 September; Travel with the Sacred Drum with Heather McDonald. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 6.30pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 23 September; Autunm Equinox Crossbones Vigil to Honour the Outcast Dead of Crossbones Graveyard, Southwark. Location: Redcross Way, London, SE1 1TA. Time: 6.45pm for 7pm. Free, just turn up You can also view the vigil online. http://crossbones.org.uk

Wednesday 23 September; Tarot Intermediate. Start of 10-session course with Avril Price. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £290. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 23 September; Exploring the Dream Realms. Start of 10-session course with Tree Carr. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £280. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 23 September; Witch Choir with Nicole Bettencourt Coelho. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Wednesday 23 September (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 23 September (and other dates); Gong Bath. Venue: Akasa, Hackney Wick, London E9. Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £23.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sunita-kaur-34415293427

Thursday 24 and Friday 25 September; Reiki 1 with The Reiki Academy - Claire Hall and Olivia Griesser. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 9.30am. Tickets: £247. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 24September (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 24 September; Pantheon with Rachel Roberts. 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 24 September; 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 24 September; Witch Hunting in Blighty: Then and Now. Talk via Pints of Knowledge. Venue: The Alma, Wandsworth, SW18 1TF. Time: 7pm. Tickets £20.25. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pintsofknowledge

Thursday 24 September; Develop the Intuitive Mind: Intermediate. Start of 10-session course with Maria Antoniou. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £290. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 24 September; Hookland with David Southwell – In-Person Lecture by David Southwell . Lecture and Soirée with Dr Anna Milon. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £tbc. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 24 September; Psychometry: Learn to Read Objects. Start of 10-session course with Tia Price. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £240. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 24 September; A Journey with Spirit. Start of 10-session course with Gary Wright. Hybrid event via The College of Psychic Studies. In-person Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7.15pm. Tickets: £280. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 24 September (last Thursday every month); Autumn Equinox 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 24 September; The Lost Mythology of Celtic Goddesses - Candlelight History with Kim Willis via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 8pm. Tickets from £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Friday 25 September (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 25 September (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 25 September (and other dates); Shamanic Drumming, Healing and Journeying. Venue: Atlantis Spiritual Centre, Crews Hill, Enfield EN2 9DG. Time 10.30am. Tickets: £11.55. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/110820030781?

Friday 25 - Sunday 27 September; The Rainbow Tribe: Medicine Wheel Festival. Venue: Berkeley farm, Berkeley Farm, Lambourne End, Manor Rd, Essex RM4 1NH , a few miles outside London. Tickets: £75. https://www.aho.community/

Friday 25 September; Festival of Astronomical Ideas. Talk of talks including The Strange Story of Astroarcheology by Professor Ronald Hutton, author of Triumph of the Moon and Blood and Mistletoe, via Gresham College. Venue: Gresham College, Barnard's Inn Hall, Holborn, London EC1N 2HH. Time: 11am. Tickets from free. https://www.gresham.ac.uk/

Friday 25 September; Wild City with Steve Williams and Jon Davies. 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

Saturday 26 September; Coffee Morning. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. Time 10am. Reading £10. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Saturday 26 September; Norfolk Witches and Pagans Autumn Equinox Fayre Hosted by Earth Spirit Events, Venue: Charles Burrell Centre, Thetford. Time: 10:30am - 4pm. Entrance £3 at the door, or purchase tickets at www.earthspiritevents.co.uk

Saturday 26 September; Forest Bathing at West Norwood Cemetery. Meet at West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium, Norwood Road, London SE27 9JU. Time: 11am. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/parkbathe-34393467709

Saturday 26 September; The Sisterhood of the Rose workshop with Mel Collins. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 26 September; Inner Child Healing 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 26 September; A Journey to Lemuria with Gemma Petherbridge. Online via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 26 September (and other dates); Crowley Crawl 2026 with Marco Visconti, author of The Aleister Crowley Manual. Venue: London walk. Time: 2pm. Tickets £50, For £70 for walk plus visit to cocktail bar. https://www.marcovisconti.org/events

Saturday 26 September; Psychic Development Workshop. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 2pm. Tickets £30. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Saturday 26 September; Healing the Mother Wound (with Family Constellations) By Emma Hewitt. Venue: FKin Wellbeing Studio, 79 Church Road, London SE19 2TA. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £49.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/38061527643?

Saturday 26 September; Woodland Witches Full Moon Ritual with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Richmond Park Terrace Gardens (by Holyhock Cafe), Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 6UX. Time: 5.30pm. Free entry, but donations welcome on the day. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803 or https://www.facebook.com/PaganFrontiersOfLondon.

Saturday 26 September; 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

Saturday 26 September (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

Sunday 27 September; Southwark Hysteries with Maria Beadell of Herstorical Tours. Meet: Green Dragon Court, London SE1. Time: 11am. Tickets: £22.50. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/book

Sunday 27 September; 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 27 September; Automatic Art and Spirit Communication with Anji Main. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 27 September; Deep Listening with Blanc Sceol. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 1pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 27 September; Women's 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 27 September; Meeting of Heathen Kindred Blot (was Kith of the Tree and the Well). Venue: The Horseshoe Inn, 26 Melior Street, London SE1 3QP. Time: 1.30pm. Entry £3. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dawnoftheoak/events and https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/113978234531?

Sunday 27 September; Storytelling Sunday: Uncanny, organised by Connection With Wonder. Venue: Love Shack, 299 Cambridge Heath Road, #Arch 298 London E2 9HA. Time: 2pm. Tickets £6.66. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/3858279213?

Sunday 27 September; Live Music and 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 27 September; Palmistry in Britain and the United States with Joan Navarre . 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 28 September (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 28 September; Austin Osman Spare: Artist and Visionary with Phil Baker. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets from £15, includes a cocktail. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Monday 28 September; Harvest Full Moon Moon and Autumn Equinox: Moon Circle and Workshop. Venue: Millers Way Project, Miller's Way, London W6 7NH. Time: 7pm. Tickets From £17.50. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/95867879283?

Monday 28 September; 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 28 September; The History of Greek Mythology and Women with Dr Emily Hauser via Seed Talks. Hybrid event. In-person venue: 21 Soho, 3-5 Sutton Row, London W1D 4NR Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-in-london-1252979?

Monday 28 September (monthly); Melissa's Tarot Club. Online Workshop via Treadwell's Bookshop, . Time: 7pm. Cost: £15 per person. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Monday 28 September (recurring event); Welcome Men's Circle. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: optional donation of £5 - £15. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Monday 28 September (4th Monday each month); Occult Pop by Jason Atomic. Talk at Nova Stella pagan moot. Hybrid event. In-person venue: The Angel, City Road, London EC1Y 18D. Time: 7.30pm. Entry £5/£6.13. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1472510443017948 or https://www.eventbrite.com/o/120712003251?

Monday 28 September; Rags, Bones, and Other Sacred Objects with Ed Simon. 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 28 September (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 29 September (every Tuesday); 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 29 September (fortnightly); Writing Group. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH. Time: 6pm. Tickets free. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Tuesday 29 September; The Absinthe Parlour's 10th Birthday! Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Tuesday 29 September; Wisdom of the Mayan Tzolkin Calendar with Tiffany Lazic. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 29 September; Hauntology, Lost Futures and Folk Horror via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Tuesday 29 September; The Golden Dawn and the Arts. Talk by Dr Felix Taylor 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/

Tuesday 29 September; Carl Jung and finding meaning in a living world with Rob Faure Walker. 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 30 September; An Afternoon with…Benjamin Stimpson to talk about his book Of Toads and Hares. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 2.30pm Cost £20 https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Wednesday 30 September; Spirit Circle: Intermediate with Nicoletta Stephens. Start of 8-session course. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £255. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 30 September; Hand Reading for Beginners with Robin Lown. Start of 10-session course. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £280. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 30 September; Bloomsbury Folklore Club – Baba Yaga. 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 30 Septembert; Ritual Writing for Solitary Practitioners. Online Class with Bernadette Russell via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 30 September (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 30 September; Pathologizing Mediumship in the Victorian Era with Dr Kate Cherrellr. 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

Throughout October: 31 days of Witchcraft Daily Practice with author Rachel Patterson. Free online event. No need to sign up. https://www.rachelpatterson.co.uk/single-post/31-days-of-witchcraft-daily-practice?

October 1 to early November; London Month of the Dead organised by Curious Invitation and Antique Beat in conjunction with London cemeteries. Talks, walks, workshops, and performances, on the theme of death. For a full list of the events and to book tickets, visit the London Month of the Dead website: http://londonmonthofthedead.com/index.html

Thursday 1 October; Medicinal Trees Tour in Chelsea History Festival. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: 11am. Tickets: £20. https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visit/whats-on/

Thursday 1 October - 16 December. Visionary Landscapes. Exhibition. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH. Time: during opening hours. Tickets free. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Thursday 1 October; Practical Ancient Necromancy. Start of 2-Part Online Workshop. Online Class with Jules McArthur via Treadwells. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £50. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 1 October; Finding the Philosopher's Stone. Online talk by Eliza Swann via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 1 October; Ghost Lore with Three Ravens – Launch and Soirée. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 1 October; Recognise and Clear Negative Energy. Start of 8-session online course with Martha Brett via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £255. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 1 October (recurring event); Welcome Women's Circle. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House | 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: optional donation of £5 - £15. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Friday 2 October. Radionics Board for Healing and Intention with Nishant Sharmaa. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £150. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 2 October (tbc but 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 2 October; The Magic of Obsidian, with Sarah-Jane Jay Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 6.30pm Cost £25 https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Friday 2 October; Moon Magic. A Workshop in Lunar Witchcraft with May Draper as part of London Month of the Dead. Venue: Kensal Green Cemetery, London. Time: 7pm Tickets £35 http://londonmonthofthedead.com/index.html

Friday 2 October (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 3 and Sunday 4 October; 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, 3 and Sunday 4 October; Open Weekend. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: from 10am. Tickets: free. https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visit/whats-on/

Saturday 3 October; Intuito nella vita quotidiana. Class taught in Italian by Susanna Copelli. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 3 October; Firewalk and ceremony to honour Tyr, Norse god of justice and courage, organised by Sheelagh Keddie and Anita Odin. Venue: The Clophill Centre, Shefford Road, Clophill, Beds, MK45 4BT. Time 3:30 pm to 9pm. Tickets £65 per person or £60 each for 2 or more booking together. To book email harmony@sheelaghkeddie.com or text on 07751828303 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063454031524 and https://www.facebook.com/AOdin73

Saturday, 3 October; Hex in the Garden - Healers, Harmers and the Witch Craze with Herstorical Tours. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/book

Saturday, 3 October; Arcana Awakened. A Tarot Workshop with May Draper as part of London Month of the Dead. Venue: Kensal Green Cemetery, London. Time: 7pm Tickets £40 including a tarot deck http://londonmonthofthedead.com/index.html

Saturday, 3 October; In-person evening for anyone interested in learning about the Alexandrian Tradition from initiated witches. Venue: Northwest London (exact details given to attendees). Time: 8pm. Tickets free. RSVP by email alexandrianwitchcraft@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/alexandrianwitchcraftsoiree

Sunday 4 October; Luck and Plenty workshop. Venue: Crystal Wicca, West Wickham, BR4. Time: 11am. Tickets: £33. https://www.facebook.com/TheCrystalWicca

Sunday 4 October; Macabre Makers Market at The Absinthe Parlour. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 11am. Tickets free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Sunday 4 October; Mythic London Walking Tour with with Caroline Wise, organised through Treadwells. Meet outside St Mary Le Strand Church, Strand, London WC2R 1ES. Time: 11.20am. Tickets: £35. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Sunday 4 October; Orpington Alternative Market. Venue: The Priory, Church Hill, Orpington. Time: 11am. Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1335736923852705/

Sunday 4 October. Neurographica: Clarity and Flow States with Carol Bosack. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 1pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 4 October; 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 4 October; Beginner Tarot (Major Cards). Start of 4-session In-Person Course with Delphine de la Mar. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £150. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Sunday 4 October (first Sunday each month); Release and Letting Go - 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/?

Sunday 4 October (and other dates); Sister Circle. Venue: Atlantis Spiritual Centre, Crews Hill, Enfield EN2 9DG. Time 6pm. Tickets: £11.55. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/110820030781?

Sunday 4 October; Deep Dive into the Water Signs and Houses with Carmen Turner-Schott. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 4 October; Symbolism of Tibetan Rope Divination with Alexander Smith. 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 7 and 14 October; 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-more/?

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.

An Equinox Tarot Card for the World: Five of Wands

2026-09-21T08:00:00.000+01:00

As we approach the equinox I drew a card as a reading for the world using the Greenwood Tarot. The Five of Wands revealed itself. The word on it is "Power" and the book that comes with the set gives this definition:

"A fertile or concentrated male energy or drive that needs to be grounded in intent. Raw spiritual power or life force that can be built up or focused for good intent."

But what does that mean at this time of year? The suit of wands is generally associated more with spring than autumn, but of course the southern hemisphere is experiencing the spring equinox, and this is a reading for the entire world.

I live in England, and am sensing autumnal Green Man energy around at the moment. Rain has made the grass grow green again after the summer drought, so there is a feeling of renewal in nature even though we are heading towards the dark time of the year. I was also reminded of a dream I had in autumn many years ago. You can read the entire post here, or this quote from it:

"I dreamt I met the King of the Trees. At first I thought he was wearing a billowing cloak of autumn leaves, but then I realised he was entirely made of leaves. Not a Green Man but a man all gold and brown and crimson, from his face to his feet.
When he spoke, his voice was like the rustling of the leaves in the autumn winds, and this is what he said: 'You call the Oak King and the Holly King two, and set them at war, but I am both and all the changing seasons. There is no conflict.'
Then the wind gusted and the leaves swirled and he was gone, while I drifted further into slumber."

The image on the Five of Wands in the Greenwood Tarot is Cerne Giant, an English chalk hill figure that is thought to date from late Saxon era. The figure possibly represents the earlier Saxon god Heil or Helith, as the nearby abbey was founded at least partly to draw people away from pagan worship of that deity.

How does that reflect on my interpretation of this card? Well, the Christians didn't destroy the hill figure so perhaps this represents religious tolerance, and the focus of male energy towards environmental renewal and preserving all heritage rather than fighting over religious differences.

You can read my earlier post on the new edition of the Greenwood Tarot here.

Other previous related posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/10/wind-harp-ace-of-air-from-witches.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/03/tarot-ace-of-cups-signs-of-new.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/05/a-tarot-reading-for-world-ace-of-wands.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/10/wheel-of-year-crafts-preserving-autumn.html

Author Interview: Robin Corak on Goddesses & Writing

2026-09-17T08:00:00.000+01:00

In this post I've chatted to Pagan priestess Robin Corak, continuing my interview series Authors on Their Own Writing:

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

A: I have a special relationship with all of the books I have published, but out of the Moon Books publications I've authored I would have to say that Persephone: Practicing the Art of Personal Power is my favourite.

Q: What’s it about?

A: Persephone explores the various versions of the myth of Persephone and how we can learn from her lessons. The book also identifies ways we can work with Persephone on shadow work, communicating with our beloved dead, discernment and self sovereignty. There are guided meditations and hands on activities to assist with this.

Q: Why is it your favourite?

A: I think Persephone holds a special place in my heart because she was my first full book that I wrote but also because I have loved her myth for as long as I can remember. For reasons described in the book, Persephone is one of the first goddesses that I felt a strong connection with and I continue to resonate with her story, particularly as I continue to go deeper and deeper in my work with her as time goes on. In addition, I have had multiple readers tell me this book helped them in various aspects of their lives, which is so meaningful to me as I see my writing, in part, as a service to the deities I work with and to others.

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

A: I've always loved to write but never thought of doing it as a profession until eight years ago. I have a background in non-profit management and was for many years a CEO of a large, social services non-profit organization. Currently, I am retired but still do consulting, training, and coaching on topics such as leadership development diversity, equity and inclusivity, and non-profit management. I am also a certified life and business coach, end-of-life doula, and I present at various pagan conferences nationally and internationally. I live in the San Juan Islands in Washington state with my husband and a cat who thinks she is royalty.

In addition to Persephone, I've written Demeter (Moon Books), Dream Magick (Llewellyn), and Medusa Rising (Llewellyn) the latter of which will be out in December this year. I also recently had an essay and a song published in a new devotional Arianrhod anthology entitled "Silver Wheel", published by Ninth Wave Press.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: I am currently working on a book about the nine Muses of Greek mythology which is scheduled to be released in late 2027 or early 2028.

Robin's website can be found here: www.phoenixawenrising.com

You can also reach Robin on social media via Facebook at facebook.com/robincorak or on Instagram at instagram.com/robincorak/

Links to books:

Persphone: Pagan Portals - Persephone from Moon Books
Demeter: Pagan Portals - Demeter from Moon Books
Dream Magick: Dream Magick | Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
Medusa Rising: Medusa Rising | Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
Silver Wheel: Silver Wheel: A Devotional Anthology Honor of Arianrhod | Barnes & Noble®

(Please note: I earn commission from some links)

Autumn Equinox Events in & Near London & Online

2026-09-16T08:24:30.179+01:00

The Autumn Equinox, when the day and night are in balance is often celebrated on September 21 in the Pagan Wheel of the Year, although in 2026 it falls on September 23rd astronomically. Whichever date you prefer, there are celebrations from now until the end of the month. Here's a listing of pagan and witchy events in or near London, because that's where I live, but I also a few festivals further afield and plenty of things online (bolded) that you can enjoy anywhere.

Now - 25 October; Richard Dadd - Beyond Bedlam exhibition. Venue: Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD Time: 10-6pm every day. Tickets £15. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/

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

or email: rainbowawakening1@gmail.com`

Saturday 12 - 16 September. Open House Days. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH. Time: during opening hours. Tickets free. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Wednesday 16 September; Ganesh Chaturthi Festival. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: from 11am. Free, just pop in any time during opening hours. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Wednesday 16 September; Academy of Witchcraft Advanced Course. Start of a Year of Study. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: Contact the shop for details. Total cost of the course is £700, or monthly payments of £65 https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Wednesday 16 September; 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 16 September (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 16 September; Work with the Ancient Neters of Egypt. Start of 6-session course with Pixie P Carney. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £200. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 16 September; The Aura: Energy, Intuition and Spirit. Start of 2-session course with Sarah-Jane Jay. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 16 September (tbc but usually 3rd Wednesday each month); The More Mead Moot. Venue: The Hope pub, Carshalton, Surrey. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/Pagan-FutureFests-352385661439366/

Wednesday 16 September; Sister Wounds HERstory Part 1 with Bibi's Circle . Venue: Outdoors if the weather is good, otherwise indoors at Rons Coffee House, Holdrons Arcade 135a, Rye Lane London SE15 4ST. Time: 7pm. Tickets £9.92. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bibis-circle-56277271483

Wednesday 16 September; Astrological Sound Bath with Nicole Bettencourt Coelho. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £30 per person. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Wednesday 16 September; Mushrooms and the Occult Imagination. Talk by Julian Vayne via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 16 September; Vampire Epidemics from Mesopotamia to the New World with John Blair. 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 17 September; Old Ways, New Sounds: Folklore, Hauntology and Identity in British Music

By ResearchWorks - Guildhall School of Music and Drama. One-day conference. Venue: Lecture Recital Room, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Silk Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DT. Starts 9.30am. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/7588084359?

Thursday 17 September (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 17 September; The Magical Influence of Roman Egypt. In-Person Talk by Jules McArthur . Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Thursdays 17 September; Your Soul’s Journey: Past and Future Lives. Start of 2-session course with Kim Chestney. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 17 September; PF London Autum Equinox Open Ritual via Pagan Federation London. Venue: Pirate Castle, Gilbey's Wharf Oval Road NW1 7EA London, UK Time: 7.15pm. Entry £8 for PF members, £10 for non-members (cash only). https://www.facebook.com/groups/pflondon

Friday 18 September (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 18 September (tbc but 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 18 September; The Alchymical Garden of Michael Foy with Sean Jefferson. 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 18 September (and other dates); Thoth Tarot study group. Free online event. Time: 7pm. https://www.meetup.com/astrotarotkitchen/events/

Friday 18 September; Autumn Equinox Womens Circle Venue: 105 Northumberland Road,

Harrow HA2 7RB. Time 7pm. Tickets: £27.80. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/65070727793?

Friday 18 September (recurring event); Welcome Women's Circle. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House | 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7pm - 9pm. Tickets: optional donation of £5 - £15. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Friday 18 September; An Evening of Tarot Insights with Avril Price. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 18 September (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 19 September Arcadia Festival: Arcadia Full Bloom. Family friendly event. Venue: Stanley Arts, 12 South Norwood Hill, London SE25 6AB. Time 10:30am till 5:30pm. Tickets £20. https://stanleyarts.org/event/arcadia-festival-arcadia-full-bloom/?

Saturday 19 September; Hedge Witches Herbal Kitchen. Venue: Atlantis Spiritual Centre, Crews Hill,

Enfield EN2 9DG. Time 11am. Tickets: £27.80. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/110820030781?

Saturday 19 September; Magical Mediumship workshop with Tony Stockwell. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 19 September; Autumn Equinox Day Retreat with Cacao and Fire Ceremony plus Gong Bath.nVenue: Private Location near Wandsworth Town/Clapham Junction. Time: 11,45am. Tickets from £48.43. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/7885666957?

Saturday 19 September; Sacred Sweat Lodge Ceremony Celebrating Autumn Equinox. Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain Kent. Run by Lynn Gosney. Time: noon start Tickets £30 min donation, email lynn.gosney@hotmail.com for info and to book. https://www.facebook.com/shamaniccentrecaercorhrain/

Saturday 19 September (Saturday closest to the festival); Autumn Equinox at Coldrum Stones with Kent Gorsed. Venue: Coldrum Long Barrow, West Maling, Kent. Time: noon. Free. https://www.facebook.com/kentgorsedd/

Saturday 19 September; The Second Harvest - An Autumn Equinox Gathering. Venue: Cultivate Colindale, Quakers Course, Edgware NW9 5YT. Time: noon start Tickets free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/45400815533?

Saturday 19 September; Shamanic Drumming. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. Time noon. Tickets £20. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Saturday 19 September;; Practical Magic Tea Party. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: from noon. Tickets £30. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Saturday 19 September;; The Second Harvest - An Autumn Equinox Gathering by Wayward as Part of London Design Festival. Venue: Cultivate Colindale, Quakers Course, Edgware NW9 5YT. Time: from noon. Tickets free. https://www.waywardplants.org/events

Saturday 19 September; Connecting the Trees - A Call to Arms. Ritual with South East London Pagans. Venue: Brockwell Park, South London. Time: 12.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/998302583233584/?

Saturday 19 September (Saturday closest to the festival); Autumn Equinox free and open Gorsed of Caer Abiri ritual at Avebury stone circle in Wiltshire. Meet at the Red Lion pub from noon for druidic ceremony at 1.30pm. Offering of bread, mead, or Bardic performance always welcomed. Free event, just turn up. https://www.facebook.com/groups/49080749624/

Saturday 19 September; "Rough Magic" fireside story telling for adults for the Autumn Equinox. Venue: Lesnes Abbey Lodge, Abbey, New Rd, London SE2 0AX. Tickets £13.70. Time: 6.30pm. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/10715162746?

Sunday 20 September (closest Sunday to the festival); Pagan Federation Online Autumn Equinox Festival. Starts 10am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/paganfederation/events

Sunday 20 September; TKT Autumn Equinox Nature Connections Walk. Meet at Parliament Hill Bandstand, Hampstead Heath, London NW5 1QR. Time 10:30. Tickets free. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tkt-autumn-equinox-nature-connections-walk-tickets-2000602273254?

Sunday 20 September; The Violet Light workshop with Joan Osbornel. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 20 September; Systemic Constellations and Yoga Nidra with Gráinne McAnallen and Andrea Langlois. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 20 September; Celebrate Autumn Equinox. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. Time: noon. Tickets £20. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Sunday 20 September (closest Sunday to the festival); Druidic Ritual to celebrate the Autumn Equinox on Primrose Hill with the Loose Association of Druids. Gather in the Hawthorne Grove at Primrose Hill, London, NW1 8YH, at 12.30pm to prepare the site for the ritual at 1pm. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm. Bring a small contribution of food and drink to share. https://www.facebook.com/LooseAssociationOfDruidsOfPrimroseHill

Sunday 20 September; NW Kent Pagans Equinox Ritual. Venue: Coldrum Long Barrow, West Maling, Kent. Time: 1pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/1110371714996877/?

Sunday 20 September (date tbc but usually 3rd Sunday each month); Dawn of the Oak Pagan moot. Venue: Walham Green - JD Wetherspoon, 472 Fulham Rd., London SW6 1BY. Time: 2pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dawnoftheoak/

Sunday 20 September (usually closest Sunday to the festival); Autumn Equinox ritual for members of the Woodspirits group. Venue: Highgate, London. Time: 2pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/4032235040150960

Sunday 20 September; 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 20 September (closest Sunday to the festival); Anderida Gorsedd Autumn Equinox open ritual. Venue: Long Man of Wilmington, Wilmington, near Eastbourne, East Sussex. Meet near the car park between 1.30pm and 2pm, walk up to the chalk hill figure at 2pm. Afterwards, the Giants Rest pub. https://www.facebook.com/groups/227609495203/

Sunday 20 September (closest Sunday to the festival); Autumn Equinox Festival. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. Time noon. Entry £20. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Sunday 20 September; Southwark Hysteries with Maria Beadell of Herstorical Tours. Meet: Green Dragon Court, London SE1 . Time: 3pm. Tickets: £22.50. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/book

Sunday 20 September; Envisioning a Better World - guided meditation outdoors. Venue: Plot 9, Restell Close, London, community. Venue: Plot 9, Restell Close, 143 Maze Hill, London, SE3 7UB. Time: , 3pm – 5pm. https://dandelion.events/o/the-envisioning-community/events?

Sunday 20 September; Equinox Ritual 2026 with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Queens woods cafe', 42 Muswell Hill Rd, London N10 3JP, to be led into woods to the ritual spot. Time: 5pm. Tickets £8.30. More info: https://mani.org.uk/ or visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803

Sunday 20 September (closest Sunday to the festival); Autumn Equinox Wheel of the Year: Pagan Ceremony. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Sunday 20 September; Divining the Past, Present, and Future: Oracles Series 2. Start of 4 part series with Marguerite Johnson. Talk online via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £24.96. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Sunday 20 September; Astrology in Renaissance with Michelle Pfeffer. 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 21 September; Remote Viewing in Action. Start of 6-session course with Ann Théato. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 8am. Tickets: £200. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 21 September; Bibi's Circle Autunm Equinox. Venue: Outdoors if the weather is good, otherwise indoors at Rons Coffee House, Holdrons Arcade 135a, Rye Lane London SE15 4ST. Time: 6pm. Tickets free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bibis-circle-56277271483

Monday 21 September; Autumn Equinox Sound Bath. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visit/whats-on/

Monday 21 September (recurring event); Welcome Men's Circle. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: optional donation of £5 - £15. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Monday 21 September; Introduction to Horary Astrology: Aspects, Dignities and Debilities with Jadranka Coic via the Astrological Lodge of London. Online event. Starts 6.45pm. Tickets £6/£9. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Monday 21 September; RIntuition, Decision-Making and Business class with Aude Firmin. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 21 September; 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 21 September; The History of Witch Hunts in Europe with Diane Purkiss via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets £17 - £26.50. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Monday 21 September; Develop the Intuitive Mind: Foundation. Start of 6-session course with Maria Antoniou. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £200. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 21 September; The Healing Power of Colour. Start of 5-session course with Mark Wentworth. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £180. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 21 September; Tarot Foundation. Start of 10-session course with Avril Price. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £280. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 21 September; The Medium's Journey. Start of 10-session course with Gary Wright. Hybrid event via The College of Psychic Studies. In-person Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7.15pm. Tickets: £290. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 21 September; Space and Aura-Cleansing for Spirit Work. Start of 6-session course with Tia Price. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £165. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 21 September; Autism and Past-Life Memory: What We're Learning with James Matlock. Online presentation hosted by the Society for Psychical Research via Zoom. Time: 8pm. Tickets: Free for members/£5 non members. https://www.spr.ac.uk/

Monday 21 September; Freyja: Norse Goddess of Sexuality with Olof Ormika Lindqvist . 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 21 September (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 22 September; Learn Morris Dancing. Venue: Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, London, NW1 7AY. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets £10.50 per class, £77 for a term. https://www.efdss.org/

Tuesday 22 September; The Templars' Lost Sacred Feminine. Online talk by Helena B. Scott via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 22 Septembert; Sláine: The Horned God with professional storyteller Jason Buck. Venue: Canal Cafe Theatre, Delamere Terrace, Little Venice, London W2 6NG, UK

020 7289 6054. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £18.50. https://canalcafetheatre.com/our-shows/slaine/?

Tuesday 22 September (and other dates); Trippy Tuesdays: Surreal Still Life Drink and Draw with Devil’s Botany. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £26.20, includes a cocktail. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Tuesday 22 September; Equinox Special Enfield Town Circle Moot. Venue: Crown and Horsehoes, Horseshoe Lane, Enfield, EN2 6PZ. Time: 7.30pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/EnfieldTownCircle/

Wednesday 23 September; Unlock and Manifest Your Abundance. Online class by Abiola Abrams via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 23 September (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 23 September (and other dates); Gong Bath. Venue: Akasa, Hackney Wick, London E9. Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £23.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sunita-kaur-34415293427

Thursday 24 September; 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 24 September (tbc but usually last Thursday every month); 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

Saturday 26 September; A Journey to Lemuria with Gemma Petherbridge. Online via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 26 September; 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

Saturday 26 September (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

Saturday 26 September (usually 4th Friday or Saturday of the month); Online event via the Folklore Library and Archive. Time: 8pm. Tickets: £tbc. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-folklore-library-archive-68703440013?

Sunday 27 September; 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 27 September; Deep Listening with Blanc Sceol. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 1pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 27 September; Live Music and Meditation. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

For activities after these dates please visit my events page.

Crafting Dilemma: Was I Wrong to Rip Up a Book?

2026-09-15T08:00:00.000+01:00

I so enjoyed making a junk journal last month that I signed up for an online course to learn more about collaging with scrap paper. The photo at the top shows one I made. The course was with Catherine Rains. It consisted of 5 video classes over 10 days showing how to turn scraps of paper into material suitable for a work of art, then how to put them together into pictures.

The paper includes things you might have around the house like magazines, tissue paper, and regular white paper, but also old books. I admit to having a twinge of conscience over using that last thing as part of the project. Going through my shelves I found a very tatty book of psalms and common prayers from my school days. It was decades old and falling apart, I have no personal attachment to it as I've never been a member of the Church of England and I'm now Pagan.

But, despite all that and the fact that the book isn't rare and no charity shop would want it, it still felt sacrilegious to destroy any book, let alone one connected to any spiritial path. I got over my qualms and tore out pages, painted them, ripped them up, and glued patches as part of the collage.

What do you think? Should I have tried to find a different book? Is it wrong to destroy any book just for the sake of art?

Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.

Other previous related posts

https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/07/upcycling-crafts-pretty-paper-hand-fan.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/03/upcycling-crafts-paper-flowers-from.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/04/craft-slow-stitch-scraps-and-scents-egg.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/01/rounding-year-time-to-start-new-journal.html

Pagan Eye: Launch of Magick at Word on the Water

2026-09-14T08:00:00.000+01:00

Here's a photo of Dr Thomas Waters at the launch of his new book Magick: Decoding the Visual Culture of Spells, Illusions and Psychic Powers. The event took place last week at the lovely bookshop on a boat, Word on the Water, moored at Regent's Canal Towpath, London N1C 4LW.

The photo was kindly sent to me by Cathy O'Sullivan, who works at publisher Thames and Hudson. I'd hoped to be at the launch myself, but when I got to my local station I discovered all trains into the city were cancelled due to animals on the track - something a little unusual in London. I'm nevertheless hoping to read a copy of Magick sometimes soon and post a review.

The book is available via publisher Thames and Hudson's website

You can also view Magick on Amazon.

(Please note I earn commission from some links)

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

Other previous related posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/10/review-cursed-britain-history-of.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/08/pagan-eye-one-of-few-apples-of-this.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/06/pagan-eye-river-god-father-thames-in.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/05/pagan-eye-austin-osman-spare-exhibition.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/04/pagan-eye-witch-at-coming-of-age.html

Author Interview: Kim Gardner & the Autumn Goddess

2026-09-11T08:00:00.000+01:00

I've chatted to High Priestess Kim Gardner, continuing my interview series Authors on Their Own Writing. Kim talks about her new book, Carpo, and her personal journey of healing trauma through working with the goddess of autumn, ripening, and empowerment:

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

A: Without hesitation, it’s my work on Carpo.

Every writer has pieces they are proud of intellectually, frameworks that are airtight, arguments that are sharp, prose that does its job. But Carpo is different. It’s the work where I stopped writing from behind a professional shield and put my actual heartbeat onto the page. It wasn't built from detached analysis. It was pulled straight out of lived survival, meaning it asked far more of me than anything else I've ever put into print.

Q: What’s it about?

A: On the surface, the book traces the mythic footprint of Carpo, one of the ancient Greek Horae who presided over autumn, the harvest, and the quiet ripening of the earth. In mythology, autumn isn’t merely about abundance, it is the season of descent, of turning inward, of shedding what cannot survive the coming winter.

Beneath that archetypal frame, however, the book is a deeply intimate chronicle of walking through the terrain of Complex PTSD and ADHD.

Trauma fragments our relationship with time and safety. Neurodivergence often makes a rigid world feel like a constant friction burn. For years, living at that intersection felt like carrying an invisible storm. Carpo became my way of making sense of that storm. The book explores what happens when we stop treating our wounds and neurodivergent brains as deficits to outrun, and instead approach them through the lens of ripening, recognizing that true healing isn't linear, that gathering our fragmented pieces takes its own season, and that genuine self-reclamation only happens when we learn to sit with our hardest truths without turning away.

Q: Why is it your favourite?

A: Because there was nowhere left to hide, and that terrifying exposure became my greatest source of freedom.

In my professional life, competence is often measured by control, poise, and having the answers. Writing Carpo demanded the exact opposite. It forced me to strip away every polished layer of defense and speak candidly about dissociation, emotional dysregulation, hypervigilance, and the profound exhaustion of masking just to get through a day.

It is my favourite because it turned private grief and internal chaos into tangible medicine. When you take the experiences that made you feel most isolated and broken, lay them bare, and discover they resonate as a roadmap for someone else’s healing, the pain transforms. It gave purpose to every dark corridor I had to walk through.

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

A: My life and craft exist at a crossroads where organizational discipline meets deep, unvarnished human truth.

Professionally, I’ve spent over two decades in human resources and strategic leadership, stepping into complex, high stakes environments to untangle organisational knots. My work focuses on building cultures rooted in psychological safety, operational clarity, and accountability. I help leaders bridge the painful divides between field reality and executive intention. Much of my writing in that space explores the hidden drag on human potential: the silent friction, unaddressed conflict, and organizational latency that stall execution.

Yet the older I get, the clearer it becomes that we never leave our humanity at the office door. I recently published a book exploring precisely this dynamic: the quiet, pervasive ways our unexamined life experiences, developmental wounds, and survival strategies follow us straight into boardrooms, project sites, and team dynamics. We often disguise our trauma responses as perfectionism, hyper-independence, or conflict avoidance, wondering why our work environments burn us out. My writing aims to give people the language to see those mirrors clearly, bridging the gap between internal self-awareness and how we actually lead and collaborate in the real world.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: I’m currently writing the natural continuation of this seasonal journey: a book centered on Thallo, the goddess of spring, blossoming, and Carpo’s mythic sister.

If Carpo represents the autumn work, the descent into the soil, facing the shadows, gathering the harvest, and learning how to endure the pruning, Thallo is about what happens when life insists on returning. It explores the vulnerability of breaking through the frozen ground, navigating the tender uncertainty of renewal, and stepping boldly into bloom after trauma. It’s an exploration of emergent potential. It is about what it takes to stop merely surviving the winter, and instead learn how to inhabit your full, vibrant expansion.

Carpo is published by Moon Books in the Pagan Portals series, and you can find the details here. It's due to reach shops in November but can be pre-ordered now.

You can also view Carpo on Amazon.

(Please note: I earn commission from some links)

Book Review: Dragons of The Deep, Origins & Lore

2026-09-10T08:00:00.000+01:00

Dragons are the most iconic of fantastic creatures, found in mythology and folktales all over the world. A new book, Dragons of The Deep, takes a dive into these stories. It examines the ways in which these giant reptiles have symbolised everything from danger to protection, from harm to healing, and of course magic and power.

Author Dave Stone explores various theories about why dragons are so ubiquitous in legends and lore, despite never having existed except in human imagination and mysticism.

Here's the synopsis from publisher Moon Books' website:

"Dragons of The Deep investigates dragon myths and legends from Ireland, Scotland and across the globe, seeking to untangle their mythological threads. Seeding folkloric tales and ancient myths with a wealth of information, this book details various dragon cults, revealing that serpent and dragon worship were indistinguishable but follow similar tropes wherever they're found, proposing that the dragon is, perhaps, most iconically linked to the worship of water and, in turn with ancient animist worldviews. Dragons of The Deep addresses the reasons the dragon motif, as a uniting motif, speaks to us - not only as people borne by different tribal movements but also as a common humanity - exploring its relevance in today’s fast-paced, changing world."

This is a well researched and thought-provoking book about ancient mysteries and the wisdom. Dave Stone ends by pointing out that nowadays the dragon has become a symbol of the Earth and the environment. We can tap into that power to bring about magical change.

About the Author

Dave Stone runs a small craft business carving stone and has researched the historical and mythological subject matter from which he takes inspiration. You can find him on Instagram @stonemadcrafts. He also self-published a books titled Celtic Gods and Goddesses and Faeries of the Celtic Realms.

You can view Dragons of The Deep on Amazon.

(Please note: I earn commission from some links)

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

2026-09-09T08:00:00.000+01:00

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) plus in-person talks and workshops in or near London, and some festivals further afield.

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 - 25 October; Richard Dadd - Beyond Bedlam exhibition. Venue: Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD Time: 10-6pm every day. Tickets £15. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/

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 – 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/

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

or email: rainbowawakening1@gmail.com

Wednesday 9 September (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: 45-min tours from 3pm until 9pm. 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

Wednesday 9 September; An Illustrated Guide to Ibn Arabi with Dr Eric Winkel. 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

Wednesday 9 September; The Occult Temple of Agape - Exhibition Private View. (Exhibition itself runs until 8 November)/Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6pm. Tickets free but reserve a place. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Wednesday 9 September (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 9 September (2nd Wednesday each month); Raising Power. Training group workshop by the Wytchery. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store St, London WC1E 7BS, UK. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.meetup.com/the-wytchery/

Wednesday 9 September; Autumn Witchcraft Practices. Workshop with Levannah Morganvia Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 9 September; The Female History of Fairy Tales with Dr Joanna Gilar via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Wednesday 9 September (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: 7pm. Tickets from £36.17. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/7885666957?

Wednesday 9 September (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 9 September; Vampires Before Dracula 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 10 September (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 10 September; How to Become A Medium: Intermediate. Start of 10-session course with Jeremy Turner-Welch. Online via The College of Psychic Studies. Times: 5pm or 7.15pm. Tickets: £290. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 10 September; Connect to the Power of Sekhmet. Workshop with Pixie P Carney. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 10 September; The Wisdom of The Fool. Talk by Julian Vayne. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 10 September; Monsters, Outcasts and the Medieval World. Talk with Dr Amy Jeffs via Seed Talks. Hybrid event. In-person venue: The Guild Church of St Katharine Cree

86 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 3BP Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-in-london-1252979?

Thursday 10 September; Learn to Read the Akashic Records. Start of 5-session course with Gemma Petherbridge. Online via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £180. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 10 September; Ghosts of the British Museum. Online talk via Watkins Bookshop. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 10 September; launch of the book Magick: Decoding the visual culture of spells, illusions and psychic powers. Venue: Word on the Water bookshop, Regent's Canal Towpath, London N1C 4LW. Time: 6pm. Tickets free but you must reserve a place. rsvp@thameshudson.co.uk

Thursday 10 September (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 10 September (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

Thursday 10 September; Mystical Experiences in Role-Playing Games. Lecture and Soirée with Dr Anna Milon. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 10 September; 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 10 September; Mummies, Magic, and the Macabre with Dr Jay Sullivan. 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 10 September; Fortune Telling Across the Ages. 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 or https://connectionwithwonder.com/events/

Friday 11 September (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 11 September: Wellness Festival with Wicca Moon. Venue: East London Cemetery and Crematorium, 230a Grange Road, London, E13. Time: from 11am Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Friday 11 - Saturday 12 September: Tarot Readings with Titania Fae. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: from 11am Cost £50 https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Friday 11 - Sunday 13 September; Oneness Jams Community Campout: Strong End Gathering. . Venue: Berkeley farm, Berkeley Farm, Lambourne End, Manor Rd, Essex RM4 1NH , a few miles outside London. Tickets: £60. https://www.aho.community/

Friday 11 September; An Evening of Mediumship with TJ Higgs. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 11 September; Temperance: Thames new Moon Ritual with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Bankside Beach by Millennium Bridge, 52 Hopton Street, London SE1 9JH. 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.

Saturday 12 September: The 40th Year Anniversary of The International Thelemic Symposium. Venue: Old Fire Station, 51-53 George Street, Oxford, OX1. Starts 9am. Tickets Tickets £15-£50. https://www.visible-college.org/tickets/international-thelemic-symposium

Saturday 12 September: Art for Wellbeing. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House | 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 10am. Tickets: £15. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Saturday 12 - 16 September. Open House Days with tours and guided walks. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH. Time: during opening hours. Tickets free. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Saturday 12 - 13 September; Fairies and Folklore: painting with watercolours and ink. Weekend art making course at the Royal Academy. Venue: Clore Learning Centre, Burlington Gardens, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD Time: 10.30am - 5.30pm. Tickets £480. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/

Saturday 12 September; Forest Bathing in Betts Park. Meet at Park Entrance in Anerley Road, London SE20 8TQ. Time: 11am. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/parkbathe-34393467709

Saturday 12 September; Are You Psychic? Develop Your Intuition with TJ Higgs. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 12 September; Healing Group: Be Bold, with Lucy Aumonier. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 11am. Tickets: £35. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 12 September; Folk Tales Nature Poetry Workshop at Horniman Gardens. Venue: Horniman Nature Trail, London Road, London SE23 3PQ. Time: 11am. Tickets: free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/121333176236?

Saturday 12 September; Beyond Nine Mother Witch: Reiki Healing Session. Venue: Refettorio Felix at St Cuthbert's Centre, 51 Philbeach Gardens, London SW5 9EB. Time: 1pm. Tickets free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/113072850901?

Saturday 12 September; Psychic Workshop. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. Time noon. Tickets £20. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Saturday 12 September: Mary Magdalene: Reclaiming the Divine Feminine. A talk and book launch with Danielle van Dijk. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House | 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 2.30pm. Tickets: £10. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Saturday 12 September: Charm Making and Folklore with Titania Fae. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 3pm Cost £45 https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Saturday 12 September; Beyond Nine Mother Witch: Panel Discussion. Venue: Refettorio Felix at St Cuthbert's Centre, 51 Philbeach Gardens, London SW5 9EB. Time: 5pm. Tickets free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/113072850901?

Saturday 12 September; Crystals for Highly Sensitive People with Nicholas Pearson. Online class via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 12 September; Women's Voice and Drum Connection Workshop . Venue: Forest Hill, South East London, Time: 2–6pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/38061527643?

Saturday 12 September; Astrology’s Zodiac Archetypes with Carmen Turner-Schott. Online class via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 13 September; Centenary Celebration at Open House. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 10am-4pm. Free entry. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Sunday 13 September; Are You a Medium? Connect with Spirit with TJ Higgs. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 13 September (then 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 13 September; Talk on The Black Madonna 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 13 September (usually second Sunday of the month); 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 13 September; 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 13 September; Are you a lizard person? with Joseph P Laycock. 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 14 September (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 14 September; Aleister Crowley's Abbey of Thelema with Gary Parsons. Venue: The Last Tuesday Society / Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets ·from £6.14. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/33776720489?

Monday 14 September; Introduction to Horary Astrology: Finding the Significators with Jadranka Coic via the Astrological Lodge of London. Online event. Starts 6.45pm. Tickets £6/£9. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Monday 14 September; The Medium's Path for Beginners. Start of 6-session course with TJ Higgs. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £200. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 14 September; 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 14 September (recurring event); Welcome Men's Circle. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: optional donation of £5 - £15. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Monday 14 September; New Moon and Autumn Equinox: Moon Circle and Workshop (Manifesting Monday). Venue: Millers Way Project, Miller's Way, London W6 7NH. Time: 7pm. Tickets From £17.50. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/95867879283?

Monday 14 September; How certain is certain enough? Talk by Adam Kucharski at Greenwich Skeptics. Venue: The Plume of Feathers, 19 Park Vista, Greenwich, SE10 9LZ. Time: 7.30pm. Ssuggested donation: £4. https://greenwichskeptics.org/

Monday 14 September; When Holiness Takes Strange Shapes with Sergei Zotov. 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 14 September (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 15 September (fortnightly); Writing Group. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH. Time: 6pm. Tickets free. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Tuesday 15 September (every Tuesday); 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 15 September; The I Ching for Guidance in Daily Life. Start of 6-session course with Dr Lisa Langer. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £200. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 15 September; Marseille Tarot for Beginners. Start of 6-session course with Bel Senlle. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £165. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 15 September; Develop the Intuitive Mind: Beginner. Start of 6-session course with Maria Antoniou. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £200. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 15 September; The Passion of the Flax, Continued, The Folklore Society Presidential Address 2026 by Professor David Hopkin. Talk via the Folklore Society. Online tickets are free. Time: 7pm. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-folklore-society-32190494089

Tuesday 15 Septembert; 7 Essential Flowers For Witches. Online Class with Hannah Sanders via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Tuesday 15 Septembert; Magic For Overcoming Creative Blocks .Start of 2-Part Workshop with Mark Vincent rs via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £60. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Tuesday 15 September (date tbc but usually on a Tuesday); Cosy Candlelit Gong Bath by Claire The Soul Nurturer. Venue: Secret Soul Sanctuary, Sydenham Hill, London SE23 3PH. Time: 7.45pm. Tickets: £21.84. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/claire-the-soul-nurturer-35479207053

Thursday 17 September; Old Ways, New Sounds: Folklore, Hauntology and Identity in British Music

Friday 18 September (and other dates); Thoth Tarot study group. Free online event. Time: 7pm. https://www.meetup.com/astrotarotkitchen/events/

Saturday 19 September; Hedge Witches Herbal Kitchen. Venue: Atlantis Spiritual Centre, Crews Hill,

Enfield EN2 9DG. Time 11am. Tickets: £27.80. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/110820030781?

Saturday 19 September; Shamanic Drumming. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. Time noon. Tickets £20. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Saturday 19 September; Practical Magic Tea Party. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: from nooon. Tickets £30. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Sunday 20 September (closest Sunday to the festival); Pagan Federation Online Autumn Equinox Festival. Starts 10am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/paganfederation/events

Sunday 20 September; Celebrate Autumn Equinox. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. Time: noon. Tickets £20. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Sunday 20 September (tbc but usually closest Sunday to the festival); Equinox 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 20 September; 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 20 September (closest Sunday to the festival); Autumn Equinox Festival. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. Time noon. Entry £20. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Sunday 20 September; Southwark Hysteries with Maria Beadell of Herstorical Tours. Meet: Green Dragon Court, London SE1 . Time: 3pm. Tickets: £22.50. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/book

For activities after these dates please visit my events page.

Rounding the Year: A Linden Tree in Early September

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This linden tree was looking spectular in early autumn sunlight as I walked through my local park yesterday. The leaves are starting to turn golden and the branches are full of the small green fruit it bears at this time of year. Other names for it are small-leaved lime or pry tree in south east England.

As well as being great food for caterpillars, moths, bees and other insects, the linden is a symbol of fertility, especially in parts of Eastern Europe. In Switzerland it was associated with liberty and freedom as well as victory. The heart-shaped leaves are perfect to use in spells for love.

In springtime, herbalists sometimes brew the flowers into tea to help with insomnia. Apparently linden seeds can be used to make a substitute for chocolate. I've not tried either of these personally, and you should always check with someone qualified before consuming random plants you see growing.

For me, this is another sign of change in nature showing the turning of the seasons. That in itself seems full of magic and worth stopping to enjoy and photograph. The picture at the top shows the leaves and fruit, while the one below looks up into the branches.

Share your Pictures

Since my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year came out I've been inviting people to share seasonal pictures, art, crafts, words and other creativity. I'd love to encourage readers to record what's happening in nature in various ways including photographs, as well as other seasonal journalling, musings, drawing, painting and crafting.

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

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

Where to find Rounding the Wheel of the Year

My book offers more ways to acknowledge and celebrate the seasons in ritual, 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.)

Folklore: Abbots Bromley Horn Dance & Wakes Week

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The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is one of the most intriguing annual autumn customs that still continues today. Or, more precisely, happens every year on Wakes Monday — the day following the first Sunday after 4 September. This year, 2026, it will be on Monday 7 September.

People gather early in the morning in the Staffordshire village to collect sets of reindeer antlers from the church. Dancers don them, then spend the day in a musical procession through the surrounding parish. They stop at pubs and landmarks before returning to the village in the evening. These days there are also craft stalls, exhibitions and places to get food and drink. I wrote about the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance in my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year:

"Here’s the scene: six deer-men wearing reindeer antlers, a fool, a hobby horse, a bowman and Maid Marian dance around an English village to the sound of a melodeon, while people cheer them on with ale from local pubs. The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance takes place on the Monday after Wakes Sunday, closest to September 4, in the Staffordshire village of that name. This annual custom might have its origins in ancient pagan rites to ensure a good hunt. No one knows. Records show it was performed at least as far back as the Barthelmy Fair in August 1226. It’s probably older. Carbon-dating showed the current antlers are from the 11th century, but might have replaced older ones. Whatever the truth, it’s a fascinating event."

The picture at the top shows the players in the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance of 1899, from Sir Benjamin Stone's Pictures - Festivals, Ceremonies and Customs, published by Cassell and Co. London in 1906.

The celebration takes place during Wakes Week, which was originally a series of religious feast days and late night vigils or "wakes" - from the Old English word "waecan". In the 19th century it became a time when manufacturing industries shut for a week to give their employees an annual holiday.

If you want to read more about seasonal customs, have a look at my book Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year, viewable on Amazon. It's published by Moon Books.

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

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

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Now - 25 October; Richard Dadd - Beyond Bedlam exhibition. Venue: Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD Time: 10-6pm every day. Tickets £15. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/

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

or email: rainbowawakening1@gmail.com

Wednesday 2 September; Allan Johnson leads a discussion of 'Piranesi', Susanna Clarke’s novel of labyrinths 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 2 September; The Queer History of Magic, Myth and Legends with Sacha Coward via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Wednesday 2 September; An Evening of Fairy Tales and Folklore with Dr Sharon Blackie via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets £13.50 - £32. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Wednesday 2 September (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 2 September (and other dates); Gong Bath. Venue: Akasa, Hackney Wick, London E9. Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £23.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sunita-kaur-34415293427

Wednesday 2 September (first Wednesday of the month); Drumming and Meditation online with Taz Thornton. Time: 7pm. Free https://www.facebook.com/TazThorntonOfficial

Thursday 3 September (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 3 September; Alchemical Traditions with Aaron Cheak. 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 3 September; Britain's Accused Witches. Launch and Soirée with Marion Gibson. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 3 September; Energy Tools of the Future. Talk by Gemma Petherbridg. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 3 September; The Folklore of Solstices, Seasons and Sacred Sites. Talk by Seren Hawley-Plows via Seed Talks. Hybrid event. Venue: Hackney Bridge Block C, East Bay Lane, #Units 1-28 London E15 2SJ. Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-in-london-1252979?

Thursday 3 September; Aleister Crowley and Frieda Harris's Thoth Tarot. Part of a series by

Keith Broad, Kingfisher Coven. Venue: Lost Souls Pizza Camden, 245 Eversholt Street, London NW1 1BA. Time: 7pm. Tickets £6.13. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/88810783003?_

Friday 4 September (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 4 September; Art Tour to Wallace Collection: Muses, Lovers and Goddesses in Art. Venue: The Wallace Collection, Manchester Square,

London W1U 3BN. Time 11am. Tickets: £10. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/121514186500?

Friday 4 September (tbc but 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 4 September; My Pregnancy Yoga Journal with Tara Lee and Clare Daniell. 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 4 September; Magick in Seven Objects with Dr Thomas Waters. Talk presented by London Fortean Society. Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL. Time: 6.45pm. Tickets £15/£10. http://forteanlondon.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/LondonForteanSociety/ or https://www.conwayhall.org.uk

Friday 4 September (recurring event); Welcome Women's Circle. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House | 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7pm - 9pm. Tickets: optional donation of £5 - £15. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Friday 4 September; Vidar – The Silent Spirit of The North. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House | 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £15. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Friday 4 September (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 4 September (and other dates); Thoth Tarot study group. Free online event. Time: 7pm. https://www.meetup.com/astrotarotkitchen/events/

Friday 4 September; Queer folk horror storytelling with Ed Jollyboat, talk via the Folklore Centre. Venue: Wholefood Cafe, 65 Halifax Rd, Todmorden OL14 5BB, Time: 7pm. Tickets tbc https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/

Saturday 5 September; Bexley Eco and Wellness Festival. Venue: Lesnes Abbey, London. Time 11am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/915890844786784?

Saturday 5 September; Painting Consciousness class with Qian Qian. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 10am. Tickets: £47.50. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 5 September; Trance Mediumship: Going Deeper. Workshop with Sarah Tyler-Walters. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 5 September; Feng Shui and Heart Home Energy. Workshop with Vicky Sweetlove. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 5 September: Lilith Shadow Work Workshop. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 11am Cost £60 https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Saturday 5 September: 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

Saturday 5 September; Poppet-Inspired Brooch Workshop. Venue: Learning Pavilion, Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA. Time: 2pm - 4.30pm. Tickets: £40. https://museumofthehome.org.uk/whats-on/poppet-inspired-brooch-workshop/

Saturday 5 September; In Search of Mami Wata: a celebration of African Water deities By

Black History Walks. Venue: Fulham Palace, Bishop's Avenue, London SW6 6EA. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £8. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/2849465606?

Saturday 5 September (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 6 September; Wisdom and Wyrd Psychic Market. Venue: Chislehurst Caves, Imperial Place, Chislehurst, NW Kent. Time: 11am. Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1335736923852705/

Sunday 6 September; The Connected Medium. Workshop with Jeremy Turner-Welch. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 6 September; The Magic of Balance with Isis with Liesl Duffy. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: noon. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 6 September; Fruity Walks: Folklore. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visit/whats-on/

Sunday 6 September; Wild Edibles: Foraging, History and Folklore. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: 2pm. Adult tickets:

£20-25. https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visit/whats-on/

Sunday 6 September; How to Read Tarot Cards via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £17. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Sunday 6 September (first Sunday each month); Grounding and Stability - 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/?

Sunday 6 September; Omens and Superstitions from the Ancient World with Dr Julia Phillips. 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 7 September (and other dates); Ascending with Angels, led by David Goddard. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 6.30 pm. Tickets £40. https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Monday 7 September; Possessions, ghost weddings and demonic spirits: Talk and tasting with Wet Ink. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets from £26.20, includes a cocktail. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Monday 7 September; 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 7 September; Introduction to Horary Astrology: Is the Chart Valid. Talk by Jadranka Coic via the Astrological Lodge of London. Online event. Starts 6.45pm. Tickets £6/£9. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

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

Monday 7 September; Nature’s Omens: The Roman Art of Augury with Graham Banwell. Online event. Time: 7pm Tickets £10. https://www.field-studies-council.org/courses-and-experiences/static-courses/biodiversity-shorts-online-webinars/?

Monday 7 September (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 8 September; The Lost Goddesses of Britain with Kim Willis. Free online webinar. Time: 6pm. https://advaya.life/learn/webinars/the-lost-goddesses-of-britain?

Tuesday 8 September (every Tuesday); 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 8 September (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 £16. Price includes a cocktail with Devil’s Botany. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Tuesday 8 September; Develop Intuition and Psychic Awareness. Start of 6-session course with Daniel Pitt. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets: £165. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 8 September; Beginner Tarot (Major Cards). Start of 4-Part Course with Delphine de la Mar. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £150 per person. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Tuesday 8 September; Dreamcraft: Visionary Creativity talk by Tree Carr. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 8 September; Chaos Magic in Practice. Start of 4-Part Course

Julian Vayne. via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £100. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Tuesday 8 September; Storytelling in the Fens, with Tabitha Stanmore. Talk via the Folklore Society online. Time: 7pm. Tickets £6. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-folklore-society-32190494089

Tuesday 8 September; THE NINE! Start of monthly 3-part webinar series devoted to the Nine Maidens of Lyfjaberg with Imelda Almqvist. Online event. Time: 8pm. Tickets for the series: £92. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/surbitonshamaniccircle/2341175?

Tuesday 8 September; Magic Mushrooms with Robert Dickins. 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 9 September (2nd Wed each month); Raising Power. Training group workshop by the Wytchery. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store St, London WC1E 7BS, UK. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.meetup.com/the-wytchery/

Thursday 10 September; The Wisdom of The Fool. Talk by Julian Vayne. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 10 September; Monsters, Outcasts and the Medieval World. Talk with Dr Amy Jeffs via Seed Talks. Hybrid event. In-person venue: The Guild Church of St Katharine Cree

86 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 3BP Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-in-london-1252979?

Wednesday 9 September (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/

Thursday 10 September; Ghosts of the British Museum. Online talk via Watkins Bookshop. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 10 September (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 10 September (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

Thursday 10 September; 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/

Friday 11 September: Wellness Festival with Wicca Moon. Venue: East London Cemetery and Crematorium, 230a Grange Road, London, E13. Time: from 11am Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Friday 11 September: Wicca Training Circles (1 /9) with WoodlandWitches. Meet at Wimbledon Commons outside Windmill Tea rooms, Windmill Road, London SW19 5NR. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets £11.55. More info: https://mani.org.uk/ or visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803

Saturday 12 - 13 September; Fairies and Folklore: painting with watercolours and ink. Weekend art making course at the Royal Academy. Venue: Clore Learning Centre, Burlington Gardens

Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD Time: 10.30am - 5.30pm. Tickets £480. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/

Saturday 12 September; Forest Bathing in Betts Park. Meet at Park Entrance in Anerley Road, London SE20 8TQ. Time: 11am. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/parkbathe-34393467709

Saturday 12 September; Healing Group: Be Bold, with Lucy Aumonier. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 11am. Tickets: £35. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 12 September: Charm Making and Folklore with Titania Fae. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 3pm Cost £45 https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Sunday 13 Sept (then 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 13 September; 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

For activities after these dates please visit my events page.

Authors On Their Writing: Primis Nati on Satanism

2026-09-01T08:00:00.000+01:00

Continuing my interview series Authors On Their Own Writing, I chatted to Primis Nati about her new book, which is on her experience of Satanism as a spiritual path.

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

A: I'm most proud of my latest book, The Satanic Self. The subtitle is A Guide to Metaphysical Empowerment.

Q: What’s it about?

A: At its heart, The Satanic Self is about self-empowerment, but it also presents Satanism as a genuine spiritual path rather than simply an atheistic social movement or, on the other extreme, a belief in Satan as a literal external deity.

I describe it as something of a third way. The spiritual dimension is real, but divinity is not something outside of us to which we submit. The divine is encountered through the Self. Ultimately, the distinction between the inner Self and the divine begins to disappear.

The book also explores Satanism as a continuation of older pagan and esoteric traditions. Christianity absorbed and demonized many aspects of the pagan world, and over time those older gods, symbols, instincts, and ideas became folded into the Christian image of Satan. So part of the book is about recovering what lies beneath that image.

Q: Why is it your favourite?

A: Because it is probably the clearest expression of my own spiritual path.

It brings together ideas I had been exploring for most of my life and turns them into something I believe can offer genuine empowerment to other people. It's an esoteric path, and I don't expect everyone to understand it or agree with it. In some ways, it is deliberately written for the relatively small number of people who recognize something of themselves in it.

For those people, though, I think it can be transformative. It says that the object of the spiritual journey is not submission, self-erasure, or escape from the Self, but the discovery, cultivation, and ultimately the assertion of the Self.

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

A: I've been on some form of spiritual journey for most of my life. I began as a Christian, later practiced Buddhism, explored paganism and esotericism, and over time began developing the ideas that eventually became The Satanic Self.

I've also written a book dealing much more directly with society and political philosophy. Some of those ideas appear briefly in The Satanic Self, particularly where individual sovereignty and social structures intersect, but the other work develops them much further.

One of the things my spiritual journey taught me is that realization and worldly existence do not have to be enemies. There is an old Zen saying: "After enlightenment, wash the dishes." I think that's true. But it would be equally true to say, "After enlightenment, conquer the world."

Those are both choices.

Spiritual realization does not require retreat from life. It can just as easily become the foundation from which someone acts, creates, achieves, builds, loves, and succeeds.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: I'm currently working on a continuation of The Satanic Self that is much more personal.

It traces the spiritual journey that eventually produced the philosophy in the first book, beginning particularly with my youth and my years within Christianity. I want to explore why I left, what I discovered through Buddhism and paganism, and how each of those stages contributed to the development of The Satanic Self.

It's partly memoir, partly spiritual criticism, and partly a roadmap for people who may find themselves asking some of the same questions I did.

Primis Nati's website is thesatanicself.com

You can view The Satanic Self on Amazon.

(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

My Witchy Events: Poppets, Scrying & Candles

2026-08-31T08:00:00.000+01:00

Here are details of the witchy events I'm involved with from now until the end of October. Tomorrow, Tuesday September 1st, I'll be at Romford Pagan Moot to talk about poppets and magical dolls, then in October I'm teaching an online divination course and an in-person candle magic workshop.

September

Poppets and Magical Dolls at Romford Moot
On Tuesday 1 September I will be talking about Poppets and Magical Dolls at Romford Moot. This monthly Pagan gathering meets at The Golden Lion, 2 High Street, Romford. it starts at 7.30pm. Entry is just £4, pay at the event. You can find out more about the moot here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064489640955

October

Scrying Online via the College of Psychic Studies
On Wednesday 7 and 14 October; 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, with discount for members. Find out more here: https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/workshops/psychic-training/scrying-with-crystals-mirrors-more/?

Candle Magic in London
On Sunday 18 October I'm teaching a candle magic workshop based on my book Pagan Portals - Candle Magic. The venue is Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. It starts at 1pm and tickets are £25 per person. To find out more and reserve a place visit: https://www.treadwells-london.com/.

About me

I'm Lucya Starza and as well as writing A Bad Witch's Blog I'm the author of books in the Pagan Portals series on Candle Magic, Guided Visualisations, Poppets and Magical Dolls, Scrying, and Rounding the Wheel of the Year. My Gothic novel Erosion is also published by Moon Books.

You can buy my books at Treadwell's Bookshop, via Amazon, at the College of Psychic Studies in London and at other bookshops as well as at my author page at publisher Moon Books. Please note I earn commission from advertisers for some links.

Art: Richard Dadd: Beyond Bedlam at the RA

2026-08-29T08:25:33.660+01:00

I went to see Richard Dadd exhibition that's currently on at the Royal Academy of Arts. The Victorian artist is best known for his fairy scenes drawn from Shakespearean subjects, but he also depicted pagan subjects and believed ancient mythology was still relevant.

Recognised early for his skill at rendering detail, Dadd was invited in 1842 on an ambitious tour across the Eastern Mediterranean that would shape the course of his life and work. The experience had a profound influence on his artistic imagination, but the itinerary was rushed and Dadd began experiencing delusions. On his return to England, he killed his father, believing his true father to be the Egyptian God Osiris, and fled to France where he was apprehended. He spent the remaining four decades of his life in hospitals – first at Clermont north of Paris, then at Bethlem in Lambeth and finally at Broadmoor in Berkshire. During this time, he continued to work from memory, imagination and earlier sketches.

What I found particularly interesting was that Dadd could be said to have held pagan beliefs beyond his delusions about his father. For example, one of the pictures in the exhibition, Esculapius Discovered by Shepherds on the Mountain (pictured), was done as a nativity scene, but instead of showing the birth of Jesus, shows that of the Greek God of medicine Aesculapius, which was also attended by shepherds according to legends. Information next to the painting reads:

"Dadd was convinced that nothing of importance had changed since the times of the great ancient civilisations, the remains of which he had encountered on his travels. He saw all human history as cycling back to these founding cultures."

In his early life, after studying at the Royal Academy, Dadd made his name by exhibiting his fairy paintings, which reveal his mastery of elaborate detail and evocation of the uncanny. He continued to work while at Bethlem and Broadmoor Hospitals. At Bethlem, he returned to the Shakespearean fairy subjects of his youth, and produced some of his most celebrated works, including Contradiction. Oberon and Titania, 1854-58, and The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke, 1855-64.

Richard Dadd: Beyond Bedlam is on until 25 October at the Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD Tickets are £15. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/

Photos: Richard Dadd, Contradiction. Oberon and Titania, 1854-58. Oil on canvas, 61 x 75.5 cm. Private Collection. Photo © David Parmiter; Richard Dadd, Esculapius Discovered by Shepherds on the Mountain (1851); Richard Dadd, The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke, 1855-64. Oil on canvas, 54 x 39.4 cm. Tate: Presented by Siegfried Sassoon in memory of his friend and fellow officer Julian Dadd, a great-nephew of the artist, and of his two brothers who gave their lives in the First World War 1963. Photo: Tate

Craft: A Bound Scrap Journal of Pictures & Poetry

2026-08-28T08:00:00.000+01:00

I made this tiny scrapbook from scratch and in it I handwrote poems and collaged pictures. Crafting something completely by hand was such a relaxing change from sitting at a computer. I did it because it was recommended as a mindful art project, but I loved it so much I'll be making more.

To start with I watched several videos on how to make a "junk journal". That's the search term to find tutorials, although I prefer the word "scrapbook" because that's what I've always called them in the past.

There are lots of videos on YouTube and they're easy to follow, so I won't go into too many details here, but first you bind a little book out of scraps of paper that might otherwise go in the recycling. You need firm card for the cover and thinner paper for inside pages. Things you can use include:

Used envelopes
Paper bags
Brown packaging paper
Clean boxes that contained food
Old writing paper, especially if it has that yellow, aged look
Pages from out-of-date magazines, calenders and booklets
Even pages from old books if they are really no use for anyone to read any more (yeah, I know, even that seems wrong)

Cut the cover card to the size you want, then cut or tear the thinner paper to fit inside that. Fold the cover in half, then fold the pages in half and stack them inside the cover.

Clip the edges to hold them firm then stitch the journal along the fold from the centre to the spine using string or thick embroidery thread. You need a thick needle, which you push right through the very centre of the folded line, then push through near the top of the fold, bring the needle right down to near the bottom of the fold, then back again through the first hole, in the middle, then tie it tight.

That's basically book binding for beginners, although you can trim your pages more if you like.

What to put inside

Once you have your scrapbook, you can start to fill it with whatever you like. Many people use their's for collages of pictures, but I wanted a physical copy of the poems I've shared on my blog over the years. You can see some pages from it in the photos on this post.

For the collages I mainly upcycled old witchy diaries and calendars that I've been keeping because the artwork was too lovely to throw away. This felt like a lovely way to make more use of them. I also snipped pictures from magazines, event flyers, and greeting cards. I just tore or cut out images I liked, arranged them on a page, then glued them in place.

Make your own spellbook

I enjoyed this project so much that I'll definitely do it again. I also thought that a journal bound by hand from scrap paper would be lovely to use as a personal book of shadows or grimoire of spells. It was always traditional to write these by hand, but making the book itself by hand feels even more perfect as a craft for the wise.

You could also enchant it for wish magic using this spell: https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/06/spells-enchanting-book-for-wish-magic.html

Other previous related posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/07/upcycling-crafts-pretty-paper-hand-fan.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/03/upcycling-crafts-paper-flowers-from.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/04/craft-slow-stitch-scraps-and-scents-egg.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/01/rounding-year-time-to-start-new-journal.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/08/janes-book-of-shadows-edie-librarian.html

Book Review: Of Toads & Hares - Witches & Wisewomen

2026-08-27T08:00:00.000+01:00

I was very lucky to see an early copy of Of Toads and Hares: The Witches and Wisewomen of England, published by The History Press. It's a superb collection of English folktales concerning witches, meticulously researched by Ben Stimpson as part of his ‘Wise Ones Series’ of books.

Of Toads and Hares follows on from Of Doves and Ravens which focused on Wales. The book is an enchanting read, which can be dipped into for pleasure or study. I thoroughly recommended it to anyone interested in folklore and historic depictions of women and witchcraft.

Witches, according to a plethora of folktales, were shape-changers. An old and probably ugly woman with magical powers would take the form of a hare, cat or sometimes a toad to spy on neighbours. A man hunted or otherwise injured the animal, and the witch’s powers were outed when she was seen to have an identical wound. Her fate was determined by the same man or an angry mob because, of course, witches were usually depicted as malefic. They stole or curdled the milk, played tricks on people, sometimes caused illness or even death.

These were scary tales to entertain and thrill, and this collection accurately represents that – warts and all. Yet Of Toads and Hares also offers some positive accounts of wise women from the past. All of these stories can still entertain today and I really enjoyed discovering some rare examples from all over the country. I hope at least some modern readers would, perhaps, also wish they could tap into the old magic and shape-change into a hare.

You can view Of Hares and Toads on Amazon. It is officially released on September 10, 2026, but can be pre-ordered.

Please note I earn commission from some links

Previous related posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/10/pagan-eye-welsh-folk-magic-launch-soiree.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/03/magical-mad-march-hares.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/08/author-interview-irish-writer-geraldine.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/07/review-hecate-goddess-of-magick.html

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

2026-08-26T08:00:00.000+01:00

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 (bolded) you can do anywhere.

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

or email: rainbowawakening1@gmail.com

Wednesday 26 August; Astrology, the Four Elements and You workshop with Debra Silverman. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 26 August; Unseen - The Town Answers Back. Part 2 of 3 via Alexandrian Witchcraft x Bexhill Museum. Live online viewing of Alex Sanders exhibition with walkthrough by Julian Porter. (Note: part 1 can still be watched as a recording). Time: 4pm. Tickets: £7.50. https://www.alexandrianwitchcraft.com/unseen

Wednesday 26 August; Crooked Confessions with Ian C Edwards. Online event via Watkins Bookshop. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Wednesday 26 August; Bloomsbury Folklore Club – Fairies. 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 26 August (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 26 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 26 August; Sylvia Plath, Taylor Swift, and the Power of the Witch Imagery with Dr Dorka Tamás via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £13 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Thursday 27 August; Saturn: The Greatest Teacher workshop with Debra Silverman. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 27 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 27 August; Death - You Gotta Love It with Tony Christi. 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 27 August; Full Moon Celebration with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Terrace Gardens Holyhock Cafe, Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 6UX. Time: 7pm. Tickets £6.13. More info: https://mani.org.uk/ or visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803

Thursday 27 August; 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

Thursday 27 August; Magical Protection in Homes. Lecture and Soirée with Archaeologist Wayne Perkins. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 27 August (last Thursday every month); 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 27 August; The Wicked Women Whom the Devil Feared with Tommy Kuusela,. 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

Friday 28 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 28 August; Travel with the Sacred Drum with Heather McDonald. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 6.30pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 28 August; 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.

Friday 28 August; Kin-Inanna Open Ritual: The Festival of Inanna-Ishtar. This is a public, open ritual, and all are welcome. Venue: Location: The Pirate Castle, Camden, London. Time: Doors at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets: £10 via Eventbrite or on the day in cash. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kin-inanna-open-ritual-the-festival-of-inanna-ishtar-tickets-1992721235859?

Friday 28 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: 7pm. Tickets from £36.17. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/7885666957?

Saturday 29 August; Coffee Morning with readings, healing and crafts. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. Time 10am. Tickets free entry but charges for readings. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Saturday 29 August; Connecting the Trees - A Call to Arms with South East London Pagans. Venue: Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY. Time: 1.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Saturday 29 August; Hedgewitch Oracle and Fairytale Oracle with Kate Forsyth. Talk and signing, Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 2pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Sunday 30 August; 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 30 August; 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 30 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: 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 30 August; Museum of Folklore and Magic Virtual Open Day / Diwrnod Agored Ar-lein yr Amgueddfa. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets free (Donations welcome.) https://ko-fi.com/s/e696ae8d57?

Sunday 30 August; Live Music and Meditation. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Monday 31 August; The Mystic Wizard of Oz with John Bucher. Talk online via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 6pm. Tickets ·from £6.59. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Monday 31 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

Tuesday 1 September; The British Folklore of Stone Circles. Talk by Dr Jon Norman Mason via Seed Talks. Hybrid event. Venue: 21Soho, 3-5 Sutton Row, London W1D 4NR. Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £13. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-in-london-1252979?

Tuesday 1 September; Inside The Mind of Possession and Exorcism with David Luke via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Tuesday 1 September (every Tuesday); 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 1 September; Sasha Graham's Ghost Stories and Tarot. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 7pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 1 September; Beginner Tarot (Minor Cards). Start of 4-Part Course with Adrien Mastrosimone. via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £150. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Tuesday 1 September (first Tuesday each month); I will be talking about Poppets and Magical Dolls 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

Wednesday 2 September (montlhly); Allan Johnson leads a discussion of 'Piranesi', Susanna Clarke’s novel of labyrinths 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 2 September (and other dates); Gong Bath. Venue: Akasa, Hackney Wick, London E9. Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £23.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sunita-kaur-34415293427

Wednesday 2 September (first Wednesday of the month); Drumming and Meditation online with Taz Thornton. Time: 7pm. Free https://www.facebook.com/TazThorntonOfficial

Thursday 3 September; Energy Tools of the Future. Talk by Gemma Petherbridg. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 3 September; Aleister Crowley and Frieda Harris's Thoth Tarot. Part of a series by

Keith Broad, Kingfisher Coven. Venue: Lost Souls Pizza Camden, 245 Eversholt Street, London NW1 1BA. Time: 7pm. Tickets £6.13. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/88810783003?_

Friday 4 September; Vidar – The Silent Spirit of The North. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House | 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £15. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Friday 4 September (and other dates); Thoth Tarot study group. Free online event. Time: 7pm. https://www.meetup.com/astrotarotkitchen/events/

Saturday 5 September; Bexley Eco and Wellness Festival. Venue: Lesnes Abbey, London. Time 11am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/915890844786784?

Saturday 5 September; Painting Consciousness class with Qian Qian. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 10am. Tickets: £47.50. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 5 September: Lilith Shadow Work Workshop. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY. Time: 11am Cost £60 https://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Saturday 5 September: 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

Saturday 5 September (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 6 September; Wisdom and Wyrd Psychic Market. Venue: Chislehurst Caves, Imperial Place, Chislehurst, NW Kent. Time: 11am. Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1335736923852705/

Sunday 6 September; The Magic of Balance with Isis with Liesl Duffy. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: noon. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 6 September; Wild Edibles: Foraging, History and Folklore. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: 2pm. Adult tickets:

£20-25. https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visit/whats-on/

Sunday 6 September; How to Read Tarot Cards via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £17. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

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

For details of events after Sunday 3 September 2023, 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 any questions or to check ticket availability. Where a practitioner is offering information about magical protection, this is *not* medical advice. If you know an event you want included, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com

Rounding the Year: Beech Nuts & Tree Wisdom

2026-08-25T08:00:00.000+01:00

Walking down my street on the way to the shops yesterday, I realised I was treading on a prickly carpet of beech nuts among fallen leaves. I stopped to take photos - the canopy of the tree looking magnificent and what was on the ground. A few I picked up and took home to put on my seasonal altar.

I was surprised there were so many on the pavement as it's still August, but then I noticed the tree's owner had plainly pruned some of the smaller lower branches, shedding their bounty. Although beech nuts are edible by humans, they're very bitter. Leave plenty for squirrels and other wildlife as they are a valuable source of native food.

Forked beech twigs are among the natural woods used as rods by dowsers. In English folklore, the beech is considered a mother or queen tree, paired with the oak, which is king of the woods. Historically, slivers of beech bark were used to write on. Anglo-Saxons called the tree 'boc', a word which later became 'book'. Magically, beeches are associated with written wisdom. Small slivers of birch are good for written spells still, but don't take any without permission of both the tree and the owner of the land.

Share your Pictures

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

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

Where to find Rounding the Wheel of the Year

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

Other previous Related Posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/06/while-walking-down-my-street-this-week.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/04/rounding-year-helping-birds-in-nesting.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/02/rounding-year-daffodils-narcissus.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/03/springtime-camellias.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/01/rounding-year-flower-of-love-hope-or.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/03/rounding-year-too-soon-for-silver-birch.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/03/rounding-year-damson-blossom-green-buds.html

Folklore & Customs: London's Historic Bartholomew Fair

2026-08-24T08:00:00.000+01:00

In the past, Londoners would today have been eagerly setting out to enjoy the delights of Bartholomew Fair. This was for centuries the highlight of August, and although it was named after a martyred saint, it was not a pious religious festival. In fact it got closed down in 1855 because the drunkeness and debauchery that went on there shocked prudish Victorians.

That wasn't how it started. It was originally a simple cloth fair. The charter was granted by King Henry I in 1133 and it took place on St Bartholomew's Day, 24 August, at London's West Smithfield. Over the centuries the cloth-selling aspect gave way to general entertanment. This included funfairs, sideshows, prize-fights, music, wire-walkers, acrobats, clowns and puppet shows as well as plenty of eating, drinking and flirting. You could queue up to see exhibits including wild animals, rare objects and, sadly, humans under the name of "freak shows". Yeah, I'm sure the poor animals suffered and that last thing's far more icky than the debauchery, isn't it?

But, perhaps more than anything, Bartholomew Fair was somewhere to take your lover - or to find a lover if you didn't already have one. One of the souvenirs you might have bought them was a Bartholomew Baby. This was a wooden doll that became a traditional gift for a sweetheart and also a slang term for someone who got drunk.

The fair became a hugely popular and famous part of London's cycle of annual customs. It featured in literature, including a play of that name by Ben Jonson. Samuel Pepys wrote about the fair in his diary and in Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders, the heroine meets a well-dressed man there. I learnt that there's an online audio drama called The Carnival Of Horrors, by The Wireless Theatre Company, set at Bartholomew Fair of 1845. It's part of a series on Springheeled Jack. Today would be the perfect time to listen to it.

The picture shows Bartholomew Fair by Thomas Rowlandson (1756–1827) and Augustus Charles Pugin (1762–1832)

More Folklore and Customs
I've been blogging each month about folklore and customs old and new. Here are links to some of my earlier posts:

https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/05/folklore-customs-bromleys-broom-day.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/07/folklore-st-swithuns-day-rain-apple.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/06/customs-summerween-festival-or-fakelore.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/04/folklore-customs-dandelions-on-st.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/06/midsummer-lore-street-parties-and-st.html

Pagan Eye: Rain on my Window - A Welcome Sight

2026-08-21T08:00:00.000+01:00

Living in England, where we normally get lots of rain, this picture would in the past have been a dreary sight. However, after a summer of drought it was delightful to see huge raindrops on my window. Even the grey storm clouds felt welcome.

I photographed what I saw as I looked up from my work and realised the much-wanted rain had arrived. It might not be the prettiest of pictures I've ever posted on my blog, but we have all been reminded of the importance of water for our existence.

Other previous related posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/08/pagan-eye-one-of-few-apples-of-this.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/08/exhibition-thirst-our-vital-connection.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/06/pagan-eye-river-god-father-thames-in.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/07/pagan-eye-sacred-spring-on-sussex-beach.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/07/witch-room-tales-instrument-to-call.html

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

2026-08-19T08:00:00.000+01:00

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/?

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

or email: rainbowawakening1@gmail.com

Tuesday 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/)

Wednesday 19 August; Harvest Family Day with Seasonal Crafting and Garden Activities. Venue: Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA. Times: 10am and 1pm. Tickets: free. https://museumofthehome.org.uk/whats-on/harvest-family-day/

Wednesday 19 August (tbc but usually 3rd Wednesday each month); The More Mead Moot. Venue: The Hope pub, Carshalton, Surrey. Time: 7pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/Pagan-FutureFests-352385661439366/

Wednesday 19 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 19 August; Astrological Sound Bath with Nicole Bettencourt Coelho. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £30 per person. https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Wednesday 19 August; The Automatic Parsemage Technique with Chantal Powell with Tyrone Cusack. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 20 August; Connecting to The Ancestors with Philip Permutt. Venue: Unit 1, The Verulam Estate, 224, London Road, Saint Albans. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £69. https://www.facebook.com/events/1061611986398736?

Thursday 20 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 20 August; An Evening with Lovecraft, reading by Professor Dave. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 20 August (and other dates); Gong Bath. Venue: Akasa, Hackney Wick, London E9. Time: 7pm. Tickets: from £23.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sunita-kaur-34415293427

Thursday 20 August; Women's Circle - Feminine Rage, Raging Goddesses. Event by Bibi’s Circle. Venue: East Dulwich Community Centre, 46-50 Darrell Road, London SE22 9NL Time: 7pm. Tickets: £16.96 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/56277271483?

Thursday 20 August; Madeline Montalban, 'Magus' of St Giles. Online Lecture with Julia Phillips via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 20 August; Desire, Decay, and the Victorian Imagination 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 20 August (and other dates); Drum Circle. Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain, Minster, Kent. Starts 8pm. Donations welcome. https://www.facebook.com/shamaniccentrecaercorhrain

Friday 21 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 21 August; Self-Healing with the Gong workshop with Joe Summerfield. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am-4pm. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 21 August (tbc but 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 21 August; The Curse on Bally na Bride with Sally and James North. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Friday 21 August; Sooxanne Rolfe - Wilde Volk, talk via the Folklore Centre. Venue: Wholefood Cafe, 65 Halifax Rd, Todmorden OL14 5BB, Time: 6pm. Tickets £5. https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/

Friday 21 August; Cacao - Venus and Luxmi Rite for Heart-Opening, Love and Abundance with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Queen's Wood Road, London, N6 5UU, to be led into woods to the ritual spot. Time: 7pm. Tickets £11.55. More info: https://mani.org.uk/ or visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803

Saturday 22 August; The Nature of Wellbeing at Stoneford Community Garden. Venue: Stoneford Community Garden, 3 Leys Avenue, Dagenham RM10 9YR. Time 10am. Tickets: £0 - £11.55. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-nature-of-wellbeing-at-stoneford-community-garden-tickets-1995688958397?

Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August; Dowsing: Sacred Space and Earth Energy. Two-day class with Vicky Sweetlove. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am-5pm. Tickets: £265. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 22 August; Temple of the Moon and Stars Sekhmet Devotional - 1 day workshop via Wicca Moon. Venue: Eltham Spiritualist Church, 64A Well Hall Road, London, SE9. Time: noon-5pm, Tickets £45 https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Saturday 22 August; Shamanic Drumming. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. noon. Tickets £20. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Saturday 22 August; Tarot as a Visual Language class with Bel Senlle. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 1pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 22 August; Ealdspell: an Exhibition of Modern Folklore By Seb Bradshaw. Venue: Unit 0, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, London SE15 3SN. Time: 1pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ealdspell-an-exhibition-of-modern-folklore-tickets-1996208317815?

Saturday 22 August; Southwark Hysteries with Maria Beadell of Herstorical Tours. Meet: Green Dragon Court, London SE1 . Time: 3pm. Tickets: £22.50. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/book

Saturday 22 August; Charm Necklace and Bracelet Workshop By I Love A Good Jewel. Venue: Tipi Coffee Co, 117 George Lane, London E18 1AN. Time: 6pm. Tickets From £49.46. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/charm-necklace-and-bracelet-workshop-tickets-1993921006405?

Saturday 22 August; (usually 4th Friday or Saturday of the month); Shakespeare and Folktale: Magic, Monsters and the Stories We Still Tell with Dr Koel Chatterjee. 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 23 August; Sound Bath and Shamanic Cacao Ceremony in the Forest (Loughton). Venue: Epping Forest, Loughton IG10 4AF. Time: 10am. Tickets: £33.22. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sound-bath-shamanic-cacao-ceremony-in-the-forest-loughton-tickets-1992639314831?

Sunday 23 August; A Time for Truth with Joan Osborne. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 23 August; Mythic London Walking Tour with with Caroline Wise, organised through Treadwells. Meet outside St Mary Le Strand Church, Strand, London WC2R 1ES. Time: 11.20am. Tickets: £35. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Sunday 23 August; How to Navigate Grief workshop with Tree Carr. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 23 August; Crossbones Vigil to Honour the Outcast Dead of Crossbones Graveyard, Southwark. Location: Redcross Way, London, SE1 1TA. Time: 6.45pm for 7pm. Free, just turn up You can also view the vigil online. http://crossbones.org.uk

Sunday 23 August; Dreamscapes at Dusk. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Monday 24 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 24 August; Your Relationship with the Spirit World workshop with Daniel Pitt. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 1pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Monday 24 August; K-Pop Demon Hunters: Women, Spirits, and Korea’s Occult Traditions talk by Melanie Hyo-In Han. 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 24 August; Dreams - A Multidimensional Experience. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House | 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7pm. Tickets: optional donation. https://rsh.anth.org.uk/whats-on/

Monday 24 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 24 August; Modern Witchcraft. Online class with Rebecca Beattie author of Planetary Magic via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Monday 24 August; Full Moon Gongh 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 24 August (4th Monday each month); Ponderings Upon Walking with Ghosts by Bec Lambert. Talk at Nova Stella pagan moot. Hybrid event. In-person venue: The Angel, City Road, London EC1Y 18D. Time: 7.30pm. Entry £5/£6.13. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1472510443017948 or https://www.eventbrite.com/o/120712003251?

Monday 24 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

Tuesday 25 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/

Tuesday 25 August; The Magic of Mushrooms talk with Tia Price. Online event via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 25 August; 7 Essential Herbs For Witches. Online Class with Hannah Sanders via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £15. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Tuesday 25 August (and other dates); Trippy Tuesdays: Surreal Still Life Drink and Draw with Devil’s Botany. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £26.20, includes a cocktail. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Tuesday 25 August; The History of Witchcraft and Women: Magic, rituals and the patriarchy with Dr Julia Phillips via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £11.50. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Tuesday 25 August (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

Tuesday 25 August (and other dates); Cosy Candlelit Gong Bath by Claire The Soul Nurturer. Venue: Secret Soul Sanctuary, Sydenham Hill, London SE23 3PH. Time: 7.45pm. Tickets: £21.84. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/claire-the-soul-nurturer-35479207053

Tuesday 25 August; The Hidden Road To Self-Help. Talk by Ross MacFarlane 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/

Wednesday 26 August; Crooked Confessions with Ian C Edwards. Online event via Watkins Bookshop. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 27 August; Full Moon Celebration with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Wimbledon Commons outside Windmill Tea rooms, Windmill Road, London SW19 5NR. Time: 7pm. Tickets £6.13. More info: https://mani.org.uk/ or visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803

Thursday 27 August; 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

Sunday 30 August; 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 30 August; 2026 Museum Virtual Open Day / Diwrnod Agored Ar-lein yr Amgueddfa. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets free (Donations welcome.) https://ko-fi.com/s/e696ae8d57?

For activities after these dates please visit my events page.

My Photos from the Awakened Spirit Festival

2026-08-17T08:00:00.000+01:00

What could be better on a sunny day in August than to spend time out in nature, surrounded by trees and water with blue sky above, and also listen to music, do shopping and maybe take part in a magical workshop? That's what I did at the Awakened Spirit Festival the weekend just gone.

I was there to run a cloud scrying workshop on Saturday afternoon. You can see some lovely cloud shapes in one of the photos on this post. The market stall in another picture is Bits, Bobs and Jelly Tots. I bought a couple of dowsing pendulums there, which I will be trying out and blogging about another day.

Below can also see Anya Lilly performing beautiful songs, which I sat and listened too while enjoying cold drinks and icecream.

Awakened Spirit is a lovel community-based festival with workshops and live music. It takes place each year at Crossland Riverside, Box End, Bedford, MK43 8RN. This was the first time I've been, but I hope to go again. You can find out more here: https://awakenedspirit.co.uk/