A bad witch's blog

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

2026-09-02T08:00:00.000+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 – 29 November; The Coming of Age Exhibition - including displays on witches and crones. Venue: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. Open daily 10am-6pm. Free. https://wellcomecollection.org/

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

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

Now - 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/

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

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; 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 (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/

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; 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; 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; 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/

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; 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: 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: 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

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/

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 - 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: 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 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

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; 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; 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 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

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

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.

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

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.)

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.

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/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/

Pagan Eye: One of the Few Apples of This Year's Harvest

2026-08-14T08:00:00.000+01:00

The drought has not been kind to my apple tree. This is a photo of one of the very few fruits it's produced this year. I left it for the birds, which probably need it more than I do. Most years I love to pick apples as part of my own harvest, but this year I'm thinking more about how I can help the wildlife in my garden. I'm also putting out water every day to help my fellow creatures survive. My garden is their home too.

Other previous related posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/04/pagan-eye-apple-blossom.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/09/pagan-eye-fallen-apples.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/08/harvest-time-thanking-apple-tree.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/07/folklore-st-swithuns-day-rain-apple.html

Books: Happy Birthday to Poppets & Magical Dolls!

2026-08-13T08:00:00.000+01:00

This month I'm celebrating the eighth birthday of my book Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls. It's well on the way to becoming a Moon Books best-seller. At the moment, it only needs to sell another 48 copies to reach the milestone figure of 5,000 copies sold. I'm hopeful it will do that very soon. A big thanks to everyone who has bought a copy, left a review, and told me they've enjoyed reading it. Here's the description from the back cover:

Poppets are dolls used for sympathetic magic, and are designed in the likeness of individuals in order to represent them in spells to help, heal or harm. Pagan Portals – Poppets and Magical Dolls explores the history of poppets and offers a practical guide to making and using them in modern witchcraft. It also covers seasonal dolls, from Brigid dolls, used in celebrations for the first stirrings of spring, to fairy dolls enjoyed in tree-dressing at Yuletide.

Where to Find my Books

Here are some of the places you can find Poppets and Magical Dolls and my other books:

My publisher is Moon Books, an imprint of Collective Ink. You can see Poppets and Magical Dolls on the website via this link: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-poppets-magical-dolls
Treadwell's bookshop in London stocks of all my titles. You can pop in to 33 Store Street, London or order online.
The College of Psychic Studies usually has copies at 16 Queensberry Place, South Kensington, London SW7 2EB.
Paperbacks can be ordered from Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookshops.
Ebooks and paperbacks can be also be viewed on Amazon

(Note: I earn commission from some links.)

Poppet Talks and Workshops

On Tuesday 1 September I'll 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 £4, pay at the event. You can find out more about the moot here.

On Sunday 22 November I'm running a workshop showing how to make poppets at Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. It starts at 1pm and tickets £25 per person, including all materials. You can find out more at https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Other Previous Related Posts

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/02/happy-birthday-to-2-of-my-pagan-portals.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/04/books-my-gothic-novel-erosion-is-one.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/04/video-launch-of-erosion-my-gothic-novel.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/04/my-gothic-novel-erosion-is-published.html

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

2026-08-12T08:00:00.000+01:00

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

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

or email: rainbowawakening1@gmail.com

Wednesday 12 August (and other dates); Viktor Wynd Museum Guided Tour and a Devil's Botany Absinthe. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6pm. Tickets from £12. Price includes a cocktail with Devil’s Botany. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday 14 August (and other dates); Drum Birthing Workshop with Lynn Gosney. Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain, Minster, Kent. Starts 8.45am. Tickets £225/£250. https://www.facebook.com/shamaniccentrecaercorhrain

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

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

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

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

Saturday 15 August; Mantra, Sound and Consciousness workshop with Ann Mathie. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 1pm. Tickets: £95. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday 16 August; Heart and Soul Gathering. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Monday 17 August; Developing Intuition and Awareness 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 17 August; Bibi's Circle Song and Drum Circle. 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 17 August; Comic Books as Modern Mythology 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 17 August; Aleister Crowley's Abbey of Thelema with Gary Parsons. 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 17 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 18 August; Wellbeing evening. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: 5pm. Adult tickets:

£15. https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visit/whats-on/

Tuesday 18 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 18 August (tbc but usually fortnightly); Writing Group. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH. Time: 6pm. Tickets free. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Tuesday 18 August; The Folklore and Origins of Caribbean Carnivaln with Professor Emily Zobel Marshall via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Tuesday 18 August; Summer Magic: Nidra, Reiki and Sound Bath. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion, Place Park, The Mansion, Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £40. https://www.beckenhamplace.org/whatson/

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 or Sunday 23 August (date tbc); 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: 11am, Tickets £45 https://www.wiccamooninherservice.co.uk/ 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; 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.

Author Interview: Irish Writer Geraldine Moorkens Byrne

2026-08-10T08:00:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

Q: What’s it about?

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

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

Q: Why is it your favourite?

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

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

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

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

Q: What other books have you written?

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

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

Q: What are you working on now?

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

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

Q: What else do you do?

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

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

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

(Please note, I earn commission from some links)

Previous related posts

International Cat Day Wisdom: Appreciate your Family

2026-08-07T09:58:31.918+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

You can view the Cat Wisdom Oracle on Amazon

(Please note, I earn commission from some links)

Authors On Their Writing: Greek Priestess Elyse Welles

2026-08-06T08:00:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

Q: What’s it about?

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

Q: Why is it your favourite?

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

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

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

Q: What are you working on now?

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

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

Where to find out more

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

Previous related posts

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

2026-08-05T08:00:00.000+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 (highlighted in bold) plus in-person talks and workshops in or near London, and some festivals further afield.

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

or email: rainbowawakening1@gmail.com

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

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

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

Wednesday 5 August (every Wednesday); Feeling Sound. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £18. https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 5 August; An Exploration of Tarot and Comic Books with B.Earl. Talk online via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £6.59. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 6 – 10 August; Out To Grass - Malvern: The Great Heathen Gathering - Friggsmoot. Venue: Woodend Farm/Bromyard Rd, Malvern WR13 5JW. Adult tickets £140/£125/£45. https://www.asatruuk.org/

Thursday 6 August (every Thursday); Midweek Meditation with the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 3pm. Tickets: free for members/£7.50 non members. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Thursday 6 August; Sussex Coils and Loops with Paul Holman. Talk and signing, Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

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

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

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

Friday 7 August (every Friday); Live Chat hosted by Rachel Patterson, author of Gods and Goddesses of England and the Kitchen Witch series of books. Online event. Time: 9am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/RachelPattersonbooks/

Friday 7 August (1st and 3rd Friday each month); Pagan Portal Podcast by Moon Books. Time: noon (or listen to recording later). Free event. https://open.spotify.com/show/11N4kNj65tTz9NFUcZTMa7?

Friday 7 August; Know: Where the Status Quo Ends and You Come to Life with Amy Vasterling. Talk and signing, Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Friday 7 August; Lions Gate Ritual. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets £25. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/events-and-workshops/lions-gate-ritual/? or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

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

Friday 7 August (and other dates); Magic, Mystics and Martyrs Walking Tour with Maria Beadell of Herstorical Tours. Meet: Fish St Hill, London EC3R 8AH. Time: 8pm. Tickets: £19. https://www.herstoricaltours.co.uk/book

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

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

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

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

Saturday 8 August; Hindu Gods Tarot with Iulia Filipovscaia. Talk and signing, Venue: Watkins Bookshop, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: noon. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday 9 August ; Psychedelic Plant Medicines and Faerie Realms with Zina Brown. Talk online via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets ·from £6.59. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

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

Monday 10 August (every other Monday); MHA The Wilderness forest bathing walk (all mobilities welcome). Meet MHA The Wilderness, 17 Shirley Church Road, Croydon CR9 5AL. Time: 11am. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/parkbathe-34393467709

Monday 10 August; Horror Movies and Psychology with Katie Evans. Venue: Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets from £16.14, includes a cocktail. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-last-tuesday-society-viktor-wynd-museum-33776720489

Monday 10 August; Theosophy. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London, NW1 6XT. Time: 7pm. Tickets free https://www.meetup.com/rudolf-steiner-spiritual-science/events/

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

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

Monday 10 August (tbc but usually every Monday); Tea With a Druid. Free online event by the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Time 8pm. https://druidry.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/druidry

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

Tuesday 11 August (and other dates); Yoga for Mind, Breath and Body. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion, Place Park, The Mansion, Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 6.15pm. Tickets: £12. https://www.beckenhamplace.org/whatson/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For activities after these dates please visit my events page.

Green London: Nature Suffering in the Drought

2026-08-04T08:00:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

London's 'Green' Places Pictured

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

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

Other Previous Related Posts

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

My Witchy Events: Cloud & Tree Scrying + Poppets

2026-08-03T08:00:00.000+01:00

Here are details of the witchy events I'm involved with from now until the end of September. I'll be at the Awakened Spirit festival in August where I'll be teaching cloud and tree scrying, then in September I'll be at Romford Pagan Moot to talk about poppets and magical dolls.

August

Cloud and Tree Scrying at the Awakened Spirit Festival
This lovely community based festival runs from Friday 14 to 16 August, offering workshops and live music. I'll be running a cloud and tree scrying session on Saturday afternoon. The venue is Crossland Riverside, Box End, Bedford, MK43 8RN. Weekend tickets including camping are £150, day tickets are £60. https://awakenedspirit.co.uk/

September

About me

A Card for the World: 4 of Bows in the Wildwood Tarot

2026-07-31T08:00:00.000+01:00

For Lammas Eve I drew a card for the world from the Wildwood Tarot and revealed the Four of Bows. It shows joyous figures dancing around a blazing fire. The bows are unstrung, there's food and drink aplenty, and it's a time for parties and celebrations, not conflict or work.

These days it's rare I find such happy cards when I do a reading for the world, but it is appropriate. We are at the feast of the first fruits of the harvest, and at the start of the summer holidays for many. Let yourself enjoy life's pleasures.

For pagans that could well mean going to an actual festival or ritual outdoors, putting aside cares and worries, and maybe even dancing around a bonfire (if allowed for saftey reasons, of course!). Personally, I will be at the Awakened Spirit Festival from Friday 14 to 16 August, and this card has made me look forward to it even more than I was already.

If you can't get away yourself, at least allow yourself time to do things purely for fun. Go out with friends or visit them, sit in a park or garden and enjoy late summer, hold a party - big or small - and invite those you want to celebrate with.

As a genuine prediction, I believe the next few weeks could well hold things that can be celebrated. I'm not saying all the world's problems will be solved. They certainly won't be. But it's important to recognise success, achievement and bounty - especially when life is otherwise difficult.

The Four of Bows in the Wildwood Tarot corresponds to the Four of Wands in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, and can also indicate weddings, anniverseries and birthdays. If you are involved in any of those kinds of events, this is a very good card to see.

You can view The Wildwood Tarot on Amazon.

(Please note I earn commission from some links)

Lammas Rites & Pagan Events Near London & Online

2026-07-29T08:00:00.000+01:00

Lammas is on August 1 and is a festival to celebrate the start of the harvest in the Pagan Wheel of the Year. Here are details of some of the magical events in and near London over that time and the week ahead, as well as a few further afield and some online talks and rituals.

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

Now – Friday 31 July; Celtic Lughnasa Celebration: The Games! Family days out. Event organised by Celtic Harmony Camp. Venue: Brickendon Lane, Brickendon SG13 8NY. Times from 10am. Tickets £16.96. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celtic-lughnasa-celebration-the-games-tickets-1993344076793?

or email: rainbowawakening1@gmail.com

Wednesday 29 July; Bloomsbury Folklore Club – Merfolk. Via London Dreamtime. Venue: Gower Street Waterstones event space, 82 Gower Street, Lower Ground Floor, London WC1E 6EQ. Doors at 6.30pm.Tickets £10. https://connectionwithwonder.com/events/

Wednesday 29 July; Members-Only Summer's Night at The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 6.30pm. Tickets: free. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

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

Wednesday 29 July; Full Moon Walk in Richmond Park with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Meet at Richmond Park Gate, Star and Garter Hill, Richmond TW10 5HU. Time: 7pm. Free. More info: https://mani.org.uk/ or visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803

Wednesday 29 July (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 29 July; Spirit of Creativity with Zara Waldeback. Creative writing session online via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets ·from £6.59. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 30 July - 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/

Thursday 30 July (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 30 July; Sian Sibely on Black Paths and Green Cathedrals. 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 30 July; Death Rituals. Talk and Soirée with Dr Sarah Hiepler-Basty. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Thursday 30 July; PF London Lammas 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

Thursday 30 July; Full Moon Celebration with South East London Pagans. Venue: One Tree Hill, Honor Oak, South London. Time: 7.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Thursday 30 July (last Thursday every month); Celebrating Lammas and Lughnasad at Hertford Pagan Moot. Venue: The White Horse Pub, 33 Castle Street, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HH) (45 mins from central London). Time: 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/104788436218047

Friday 31 July (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 31 July; Women's Circle - Harvest, Gratitude and Renewal, with ReNurture. Venue: Northumberland Road, Harrow HA2 7RB. Time 7pm. Tickets tbc. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-circle-harvest-gratitude-renewal-tickets-1994204018903?

Friday 31 July; Harvest Healing: A Lammas Ceremony and Guided Shamanic Journey by Priest of Indigo Earth Joseph Atiase. Venue: Hackney Marshes, 146 Lea Bridge Road, London E5 9RB. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets by donation. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/35528479563?

Friday 31 July (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

Saturday 1 August; Walking in the Footsteps of your Year, at this Lammas Solar Festival. Walk with Jeremy Rye. Meet under the Tower of London sign, Tower of London, London EC3N 4AE. Time 10am. Tickets: £26.64. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/31055883021?

Saturday 1 August; Equine Healing and Communication classs with Elizabeth Whiter. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 10am. Tickets: £135. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 1 August; Essex Witches and Pagan Lammas Festival by by Earth Spirit Events. Venue: Galleywood Heritage Centre, CM2 8TR. Time: 10:30am – 4pm. Entry £3. https://www.facebook.com/events/1098254762270990/?

Saturday 1 August; Family: Folk Craft Morning to celebrate Lammas, also known as Lughnasa. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: 11am-1pm. Tickets:

£15-£20. https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visit/whats-on/

Saturday 1 August; Ancestral and Past-Life Influences class with Julia Shepherd. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 1 August; Lammas Mini Outdoor Retreat with Cacao and Fire Ceremony and Gong Bath. Venue: Private Location near Wandsworth Town/Clapham Junction. Times from 11.45am. Tickets from £64.63. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lammas-mini-outdoor-retreat-with-cacao-fire-ceremony-gong-bath-tickets-1993928329308?

Saturday 1 August (tbc but usually Saturday closest to the festival); Lammas at Coldrum Stones with Kent Gorsed. Venue: Coldrum Long Barrow, West Maling, Kent. Time: noon. Free. https://www.facebook.com/kentgorsedd/

Saturday 1 August; Blessing Your Home With Solar Magic. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9. Time: 12.30pm. Tickets £25. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/events-and-workshops/blessing-your-home-with-solar-magic-workshop-25-00/ or https://www.facebook.com/wiccamoonuk/

Saturday 1 August (Saturday closest to the festival); Lammas 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 1 August (Saturday closest to the festival); Woodland Lammas Harvest 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: 4pm. Tickets £6.13. More info: https://mani.org.uk/ or visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mani-woodland-witch-34325436803

Saturday 1 August; Lammas Day Yoga, Cacao and Sound Healing Ceremony with Little Pause Retreats. Venue Light Centre Monument, Idol Lane, London EC3R 8DU. Time: 5.30pm. Tickets £22.38. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lammas-day-yoga-cacao-and-sound-healing-ceremony-tickets-1991716356237?

Saturday 1 August; Folklore Feast of Gold with the Kitchen Witch for Lughnasa. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: 6.30pm-8pm. Tickets:

£50. https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visit/whats-on/

Saturday 1 August (date tbc but usually first Saturday each month); Gong Bath. Venue: Upminster Sanctuary Pea Lane, Upminster, RM142XH. Time: 7pm. Tickets: tbc. https://upminstersanctuary.com/

Saturday 1 August; Concrete Atlantis presents: A Lammas Night Gathering with Gilroy Mere live. Venue: The Horse Hospital, Colonnade, London WC1N 1JD. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £11.55. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/concrete-atlantis-present-a-lammas-night-gathering-with-gilroy-mere-live-tickets-1991469794765?

Sunday 2 August (closest Sunday to the festival); Pagan Federation Online Lammas Festival. Starts 10am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/paganfederation/events

Sunday 2 August; Introduction to Shadow Integration with Charlie Morley. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time 11am. Tickets: £130. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 2 August; Orpington Alternative Market. Venue: The Priory, Church Hill, Orpington. Time: 11am. Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1335736923852705/

Sunday 2 August;; Tree Walk with David Hamblin via North West Kent Pagans Moot. Organised by NWK Pagans for members of the group. Meet outside the coach house cafe, Beckenham Place Park. Time: 11.30am. https://www.facebook.com/groups/445487428816887

Sunday 2 August (closest Sunday to the festival); Druidic Ritual to celebrate Lammas 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 2 August (closest Sunday to the festival); Lammas 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 2 August; The Bard’s Garden: Folk Songs of Herbs and Healing. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: 1pm. Tickets:

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

Sunday 2 August (tbc but usually the closest Sunday to the festival); Anderida Gorsedd Lammas 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 2 August; Tarot Psychogeography class with Bel Senlle, via the College of Psychic Studies. Online event. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 2 August; Lammas Festival. Venue: Flopsy Wood, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8LS. 2pm. Readings £20. https://www.facebook.com/HertsEvents

Sunday 2 August (closest Sunday to the festival); Lammas 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 2 August (first Sunday each month); Gratitude and Abundance - 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 2 August; The History of Mermaids, Sea Spirits and Women via Seed talks. Online event. Time: 10pm. Tickets from $19.95. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/seed-talks-online-1262239?

Monday 3 August; Family Activities: Witch’s Knots and Braiding Spells. Venue: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. Time: 2pm. Tickets:

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

Monday 3 August; The British Cemetery with Dr Roger Bowdler. 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 3 August; Radio Sorcery with Dr Matteo Polato. 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 3 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 4 August (fortnightly); Writing Group. Venue: Swedenborg House, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH. Time: 6pm. Tickets free. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Tuesday 4 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 4 August; Overcoming Magical Self-Sabotage. Start of 2-Part Workshop with Mark Vincent via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £50. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

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

Tuesday 4 August; Academy of Witchcraft (Advanced) Online Introduction Evening via Wicca Moon. Free Event. Time: 9pm https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/shop/events-and-workshops/academy-of-witchcraft-advanced-introduction-evening-free-event/

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

Friday 7 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?

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

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

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

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

Sunday 9 August; 8/8 Goddesses of Land, Sea and Sky workshop with Frances Billinghurst. Online event. Time: 10.30am. Tickets: £90. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

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

Sunday 9 August (tbc); 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

For activities after these dates please visit my events page.

Moon Books Podcast: Celebrating Lughnasadh

2026-07-28T08:00:00.000+01:00

This weekend I'll be celebrating Lammas, or the first fruits of the harvest. I'll probably pick blackberries from my garden and make a crumble or maybe berry flapjacks. Yum. Otherwise known as Lughnasadh, Lammas is the first harvest festival in the Modern Pagan Wheel of the Year, and takes place at the start of August.

On a recent Moon Books podcast, Rachel Patterson chatted with Jessica Howard, Katie Ness, and me - Lucya Starza - about how we work with the magic of the season.

We discuss baking bread, making corn dollies, river offerings, foraging, journaling, working with deities, and simple seasonal spells, as well as a few personal stories. We also talk about how changes in the seasons and climate can affect traditional celebrations, why gratitude matters more than obligation, and how it's fine if your practice is different from others.

Even for non-Pagans, this can be a time to pause, notice what has grown, be grateful for what you have, and get ready for the slow shift toward autumn. This conversation offers some practical ideas, as well as fun and laughter.

Authors On Their Writing: Feminist Witch Susan Harper

2026-07-27T08:00:00.000+01:00

I've chatted to witch, cultural anthropologist, and author Susan Harper about her work, continuing my interview series Authors on Their Own Writing:

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

A: That's a tough one! But it's probably Feminist Witchcraft, from Moon Books. I write for both popular audiences and academic audiences, so if I get to choose my favourite academic work alongside Feminist Witchcraft, it's the book I recently published with my writing partner, Doing Ethnography.

Q: What’s Feminist Witchcraft about?

A: The book is meant to be an introduction to feminism-centered witchcraft as I practice it, and as it has grown from the Women's Spirituality of the 1970s and 1980s. It's a short little book, since it's in the Pagan Portals series, and is meant to give readers a taste of what feminist witchcraft can look like and how they can begin to build a practice.

Q: Why is it your favourite?

A: It's the book I wish I had had in my 20s. I had dreamed about writing a book about witchcraft for three decades, so to see it come to life was quite something. It's also my favourite because it's my attempt to be a good ancestor -- many of the writers who founded feminist witchcraft and whose work shaped me have turned out to hold trans-exclusionary ideologies and to act in ways that are harmful to Black, Brown, and Indigenous women, and this broke my heart because I believe that these attitudes are antithetical to the feminist project. I have met many folks who are skeptical of feminist witchcraft spaces because of the reputation they have due to these public figures. My philosophy has always been that the best way to navigate having ancestors who were not great is to endeavor to be better ancestors for the next generation. Feminist Witchcraft is my way of doing that, by offering a vision of feminist witchcraft that rejects these narrow views and offers a path to empowerment for anyone who wants to walk it.

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

A: I've been practicing witchcraft in various forms since the mid-1990s, and I am also a scholar of Contemporary Paganism. My doctoral dissertation was entitled Navigating Gender Identity and Social Identity in an American NeoPagan Community and examined the ways in which Pagans in Texas found their paths and built community. I still write for an academic audience about Paganism and a variety of other topics, including pop culture, social science methods, reproductive justice, and queer identity and issues. I've been reading tarot for my entire adult life and that is another area in which I do research and offer workshops. I work in higher education at a large public university in the US Midwest. I'm involved with increasing college access through two large scholarship programs principally. When I'm not working or writing, I love to garden, offer workshops on tarot and witchcraft both online and in my local community, crocheting, spending time with my wife and my three cats, and spending time on the beautiful prairies where I live.

I've written quite a few things, including essays in three Moon Books anthologies -- Naming the Goddess, The Goddess in America, and Seven Ages of the Goddess. My favourite among those is probably the piece I wrote for The Goddess in America, "The Goddess and the Feminist." It holds the seeds of what became Feminist Witchcraft. I've published two scholarly articles on Pagan topics -- "All Cool Women Should Be Bisexual": Female Bisexual Identity in an American NeoPagan Community (Journal of Bisexuality, 2010) which also appears in an an edited volume, Sexuality, Religion, and the Sacred; and "In the Service of All LIfe: Towards a Contemporary Pagan Ethics of Abortion" (Gender and Religion, 2022). My writing partner and I published Doing Ethnography, a guide to doing ethnographic research (the signature method of anthropology and sociology) last year (Guilford, 2025). We also published a chapter in an anthology, Monstrous Mothers (Demeter Press, 2023) -- our chapter is called "Science Put Babies in My Belly: Motherhood and Monstrosity in Orphan Black."

Q: What are you working on now?

I'm working on three major things right now. The first, with my writing partner, is a chapter for an edited volume on the Witch in Popular Culture titled They Can't Burn Us All. Our contribution is titled "The Revolution Will Not Be Instagrammed: Witchcraft, Wellness, and Commodification in the 21st Century" and looks at the way in which witchcraft is repositioned as self-care or wellness and as something you can purchase. My two larger projects are a volume for Moon Books' Practical History of Pagan Britain series about the 19th century occult movement -- I joking call it the Weird Victorian Guys book, and it's just fascinating really digging into the history and focusing on Britain since I typically work in the US. The second is an outgrowth of the article I referenced above about Pagan ethics of abortion -- Bloomsbury asked me to turn that article into a book length monograph, which was a bit heady! It focuses on US Pagans and their ethics about abortion, something that there's not a lot of other writing about.

You can find out more about Susan Harper here:

Her website: www.susanharper.com
Her Moon Books author page: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/authors/susan-harper
You can also view Pagan Portals - Feminist Witchcraft 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/2023/10/authors-on-their-writing-bard-of-ely.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/11/authors-on-their-own-writing-daniela.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/09/authors-on-their-own-writing-rachel.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/09/authors-on-their-own-writing-laura-perry.html