Craft: Making Divining Rods from Twigs & Using Them

Divining or dowsing rods are a traditional tool used by witches and cunning folk to find water, lost items, and even buried treasure. There are many kinds, but the easiest type are simply made from local twigs. 

All you need to do is go for a walk in a wood, park or your garden after there's been a storm and pick up a suitable fallen branch with a Y-shaped fork. Trim it down to a suitable length so you can use the two branching parts of the Y as handles and the single stem as the pointer. About 30-45cm is probably about right, but you can leave it longer or cut it shorter if you prefer. 

You can use wood from any tree, but hazel and willow are customary. The ones in my photo aren't either of them. One is silver birch from my garden, one is horse-chestnut from my nearest park. I picked up the third in the park too, but I'm not entirely sure what tree it fell from. Some dowsers say that "green" freshly cut twigs are best, but please don't go pruning branches from any tree without permission of whoever owns the land, and from the tree itself.

The best way to find out what kind of wood works best for you is simply to make a selection and try them all out. Here's how to do it.

How to dowse with wooden rods

Hold the handle part of the rod with your palms facing upwards and your thumbs towards you. It feels a bit strange at first, but it is the traditional way. I believe the reason is that resting the handles in the V-shaped gap between your thumb and index finger allows the rod to pivot easily at the slightest movement. 

• Take a deep breath and clear your mind, then focus on what it is you are trying to find. You can close your eyes if it is safe to do so for a moment or so, then open them again. 
• Holding your rod, walk slowly over the ground you are exploring. 
• Allow your intuition to direct you.
• Keep your attention on your hands and any sensation you are feeling
• The rods should feel as though they want to dip when you are approaching the target of your search. Let them.
• Approach the same area from another angle and note if and when you get a similar response. That should indicate the place to look more closely.

An easy way to both test your rods and learn to feel how dowsing works is to put a bowl of water visibly on the ground first. Once you've got the hang of how dowsing works with a visible bowl, have someone set out closed boxes, some of which are empty but a few with bowls of water in them. Walk around them to train yourself in finding hidden things. 

Some people seem to be able to dowse naturally, but for most people it can take a lot of time and practice to develop the skill. My dad was a keen dowser, and very good at it. He taught me when I was a child, but I spent many frustrating hours learning to be sensitive enough to make divining tools work for me. Be patient.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/10/divination-dowsing-rods-that-found.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/09/excerpt-pendulum-power-from-book.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/10/extract-foot-dowsing-from-following.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/04/spells-and-divining-to-find-lost-things.html

Earth Day Craft: Turn a Bottle into a Bird Feeder

 

 

Today is Earth Day, and the focus this year is on trying to reduce single-use plastic. Obviously it's best to avoid buying plastic things in the first place, but most of us still sometimes do. The video at the top shows how to turn a plastic bottle into a bird feeder, created by the Natural History Museum. I'm going to have a go at crafting one myself today from the empty squash bottle you can see in the photo on right.

Here are instructions in writing:

Materials neded

• Plastic bottle (with cap)
• A stick (or two)
• A pin
• Scissors
• String

Making the bird feeder

• Clean the bottle and unscrew the cap off.
• Punch several small holes in the bottle's bottom with the pin.
• Punch two level pin-holes on opposite sides of the bottle, near the base, then widen these slightly with scissors.
• Push a stick through the holes, leaving enough poking out for birds to perch on. 
• Cut small holes a little way above the perches for the birds to reach the seed. 
• If the bottle is big enough you can make another set of perches and holes at right angles to the first.
• Punch two pin-holes on opposite sides of the bottle's neck and thread string through these to hang it from.
• Fill the bottle with a bird food and screw the cap back on.
• Hang the feeder outdoors in a sheltered place.

If you can't find a new use for any plastic bottles, please recycle them when you've finished with them.

EDIT: The picture at the  bottom, next to this, shows the bottle bird-feeder I made on Earth Day after writing the original post.

Here are some links to previous Earth Day posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/04/craft-twig-tree-with-upcycled-plastic.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/04/spells-earth-dragon-drumming-chant-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/earth-day-clean-ups-media-magic-what.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/earth-day-our-roots-reach-by-imelda.html

Rounding the Year: Time to Get Out & Smell the Lilac

The beautiful photo of lilac in bloom at the top of this post was taken by my witchy friend Jane Mortimer. She sent it to me with the message: "Just thought I'd send you a snap I took of the lilac blossom in my back garden before it goes over. It smells absolutely divine, and each time I go out there I just have to bury my nose in it. I wish I could bottle the lovely scent.  The dried flowers don't smell anything like as good as when they're fresh, so I just have to accept that lilac blossom is one of the fleeting pleasures of April!"

I replied: "Just the other day I was walking through my local park and stopped to enjoy the scent of lilac growing there!" 

You can see it on the right in the photo I took, but I think smelling spring flowers can be even more lovely than seeing them. In fact, lilac scent is said to help raise the spirits and alleviate depression. I can well believe it. Artificial perfume just doesn't compete. 

Lilac in folklore and mythology

In Greek mythology, lilac is associated with sound too, as the branches can be hollowed out and turned into pan-pipes, as used by the god of nature: Pan.

You can use lilac flowers in love spells, both to attract a new love and revive an old one. However, in parts of Eastern Europe, lilac is commonly picked to adorn rooms in times of mourning and at funerals,  perhaps because they symbolise remembering loved ones who have passed on.

What's in bloom in your area? Is it early or on time this year? 

Share your seasonal photos!

I recently started prompts to share seasonal pictures, art, crafts, words and other creativity. I'll continue this over the months ahead. I'd love to encourage readers to record what's happening in nature in various ways including photographs, journalling, drawing or 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 or X (formerly Twitter) with the tag #RoundingtheYear

Where to find my book

My book offers more ways to acknowledge the Wheel of the Year and celebrate the seasons in ritual, magic, folklore and nature. You can find it at esoteric bookshops and via my publisher Moon Books: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-rounding-wheel-year

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/03/rounding-year-new-leaf-buds-at-spring.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/02/rounding-year-camelia-forsythia-blossom.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/07/spells-making-peace-dust-from-foraged.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/09/the-triple-tree-seeing-and-hearing.html

The Occult in Exhibition: The Cult of Beauty

If you haven't seen The Cult of Beauty at London's Wellcome Collection, I recommend popping in and having a look before it closes. I was surprised at how many objects are related to magic, spirituality and world religions. 

The photo at the top, which I took when I was there, shows the sculptures 'Esquiline Venus' and 'Idolino' from 500 BCE. They are typically what many think of as ideal male and female bodies. Behind them you can glimpse another marble statue: ‘Sleeping Hermaphroditus’, which apparently combines ideas of the beauty of Venus with that of Dionysus/Bacchus. 

In another part of the exhibition you can find a print of Krishna. According to the Wellcome's description this, "challenges Christian associations of beauty with morals such as chastity," while "The Virgin of Guadalupe is a symbol of multicultural and multi-ethnic identities, especially in areas where different religions and cultural traditions meet."

I was also delighted to get another chance to see the alchemical Ripley Scroll (pictured right). This painted document shows a way of supposedly creating the philosopher's stone. A copy of the scroll can also be handled upstairs in the reading room.

The Cult of Beauty shows more than 200 items, including historical objects, art, films and new commissions, encouraging visitors to think about the influence of morality, status, health, age, race and gender on how ideas about beauty have developed, and to question what we might think about that.

The exhibition runs until 28 April at the Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. Entry is free. You can find out more here: https://wellcomecollection.org/

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/03/charmed-photos-wellcome-collections.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/01/event-wild-ones-at-wellcome-collection.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/09/pagan-eye-goddess-aphrodite-at-feminine.html

Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks

Here's a list of events for pagans, witches and those with similar interests. There are online things you can do anywhere plus in-person talks and workshops in or near London, and some conferences and festivals further afield. 

Now - 22 June; Making More Mischief: Folk Costume in Britain. Folklore exhibition. Venue:  LCF East Bank, 105 Carpenters Rd, Stratford,  London E20 2AR. Time: 10am - 5pm. Free entry. https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/london-college-of-fashion/cultural-programme/making-more-mischief

Now - 2 June; Rediscovering Gems - Exhibition of gems depicting deities, mythology and more. Venue: British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Free entry. https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/rediscovering-gems

Now - 28 April Cult of Beauty exhibition. Venue: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. Entry is free.  https://wellcomecollection.org/

Every Wednesday and Friday (except bank holidays): Pop-In Days at the College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am - 4pm. Free, just pop in. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

Wednesday, 17 April (every Wednesday); Live Chat hosted by Rachel Patterson, author of the Gods and Goddesses of England and the Kitchen Witch series of books. Time: 9am. Free. https://www.facebook.com/RachelPattersonbooks/ 

Wednesday 17 April; How to Train a Happy Mind. Online workshop with Scott Snibbe via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 17 April; Meeting Your Spirit Guides, Helpers and Gatekeepers. Start of 8 week online workshop with Hernan Cotroneo via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £220. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday 17 April; Can our deceased loved ones really communicate with us? Online talk by  Evelyn Elsaesser hosted by the Scientific and Medical Network. Time: 7pm. Tickets:  £11.99/£9.99. https://scientificandmedical.net/events

Wednesday 17 April; Learn Marseille Tarot (Minor Cards) – Online Course. Start of 4-session course with Adrien Mastrosimone via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start. Tickets: £120. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 17 April; Monthly Gathering with Sacred Earth Activism online event. Time: 7pm. Free but donations welcome. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sacred-earth-activism-32557618093

Wednesday 17 April;  A Witch’s Tools - Dowsing Tools. Class with Hannah Sanders via Treadwells Online. Time: 7pm start, delayed viewing available. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Wednesday 17 April; Talks introducing the Gnostic Mysteries. Venue: Mama Biashara African shop, W12 shopping centre, Shepherd's Bush, London W128PP (opposite Lidl). Time: 7pm. Free of Charge london@gnosticsociety.co.uk  or https://www.facebook.com/events/3783491941862144/3783494778528527

Wednesday 17 April (every Wednesday); Sacred Sound Healing with Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Wednesday, 17 April (every Wednesday); Feeling Sound Bath. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Wednesday 17 April; 'Your Crystal Plan' Book Launch With Gemma Petherbridge. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm Tickets: £38. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Wednesday 17 April (tbc but usually 3rd Wednesday each month);  The More Mead Moot. Venue: The Hope pub, Carshalton, Surrey. Time: 7.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/Pagan-FutureFests-352385661439366/

Wednesday 17 April (3rd Wednesday each month); Witches of Zoom CoA Gathering. Free online event. Time: 7.30pm.  https://www.facebook.com/ZoomWitches 

Wednesday 17 April and 24 April; Tibetan Sound Bowl Meditation - online meditation class with Spiritual Tiik. Time: 8.30pm. Tickets from £11.11. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/spiritual-tiik-29294295627

Wednesday 17 April; Bedtime Stories: Spring Tides and Salty Tales with Giles Abbott on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 9pm. Tickets · from £6.72. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday 18 April; 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, 18 April; Healing and Medicine. Talk by Paul Dieppe. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, London, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ, UK. Time: 5pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 18 April; Womb Healing Ceremony. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Thursday 18 April; Ghosts of the British Museum. Book Launch and Soirée with Noah Angell; Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £10/£18.  https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Thursday 18 April; A Healing with the Spirit Doctor Team, with Susan Gash via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: Free. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Thursday 18 April (every Thursday); Talk on a paranormal subject for ASSAP members. Time: 7pm. Free event, with Zoom link details emailed out to members. To join ASSAP, for £5 per year, visit https://assap.ac.uk/

Thursday 18 April; Aries Season Sound Bath. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion, Place Park, The Mansion Beckenham Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £20. https://www.beckenhamplace.org/whatson/

Thursday 18 April (usually every Thursday); Crimson Circles. Livestream by Halo Quin, author of Crimson Craft. Time: 8pm. Tickets: various options including Patreon membership. https://www.facebook.com/groups/crimsoncoven

Friday 19 - Sunday 21 April; Develop as a Medium: A 3-Day Intensive withb Jeremy Turner-Welch. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 10am. Tickets: £345. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 19 April (1st and 3rd Friday each month); The Pagan Portal Podcast by Moon Books. Time: noon (or listen to recording later). Free event. https://open.spotify.com/show/11N4kNj65tTz9NFUcZTMa7?

Friday, 19 - Sun, 21 April; Greenoaks Gathering. Family friendly Pagan festival. Venue: Mad Hatters Campsite, Second Drove, Adelaide Ely CB7 4UD. Starts noon. Tickets: £0 – £90. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/greenoaks-gathering-tickets-635866382467?

Friday 19 April (and other dates); 2-4-1 London Witches and History Walking Tour. Meet at Southwark View Point, Minerva Square, London SE1 9DF. Time: 4pm and 6pm. Tickets: £14. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2-4-1-london-witches-history-walking-tour-tickets-852453670877?

Friday 19  April; Inner Forests: A Life-Force Café Workshop. Online event. Time:  6pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.starlight-temple.com/event-details/inner-forests-a-life-force-cafe-workshop

Friday 19  April; Monthly Astrology Circle. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £40.79. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Saturday 20 April; Return to the Wild, Grandfather Hike - Ceremony in Nature organised by Aho Studio. In-person event. Venue: Ceremony begins at Berkeley Farm, Manor Rd, Lambourne End in Hainault on the central line. Time: 10am. Tickets: £180. www.aho.community 

Saturday 20 April; Karmic Astrology. Day of online talks on astrology via the Astrological Lodge of London. Starts 10am. Tickets £20/£25/£15. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Saturday 20  - Sunday 21 April; Wicca Introduced – London. Training course by Witchfest Events and Children of Artemis. Venue: Treadwell’s Books, 33 Store St, Fitzrovia, London WC1E 7BS. Time 10.30am - 6.30pm. Tickets £52. https://witchfest.net/events/wicca-intro-london/

Saturday, 20 April; Ukrainian Pysanky Easter Egg Painting. One-Day Course with Hanna Ward. Venue: Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, London SE1 9DA. Time: 11am. Tickets: £60. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ukrainian-pysanky-easter-egg-painting-one-day-course-tickets-758926779427?

Saturday 20 April; Online chat with Spiritual Creatives. Time: 11am. Tickets: Free. https://www.meetup.com/spiritualcreatives/

Saturday 20 April; Wild Witchcraft. Online workshop with Rachel Patterson, author of Witchcraft... Into the Wilds, via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 20 April; 9D Breathwork. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 3pm and other times. Tickets: £57. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Saturday 20 April; Queer Spirit Full Moon Breath Ceremony. Venue: Wheatsheaf Hall, Wheatsheaf Lane, off South Lambeth Road SW8 2UP. Time: 5.30pm. Tickets: £33. https://www.breathceremony.com/service-page/queer-spirit-full-moon-breath-ceremony-1?

Saturday 20 - Sunday 21 April; The Tree of Qliphoth Explored. Online workshop with Marco Visconti. Time: 9pm. Tickets £60. https://www.facebook.com/events/417282220945806

Sunday 21 April (and other dates); Community Herbal Healing: Reconnect with nature through local exploration. Venue: The Lodge Space, 120a Lower Road London SE16 2UB. Time: 10am. Tickets:   £16.96. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-herbal-healing-reconnect-with-nature-through-local-exploration-tickets-671394106847?

Sunday 21 April; Writing and rewriting fairytales. Online class with Helen Cox via City Lit. Time: 10.30am. Tickets: £69. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/

Sunday 21 April; Sweat Lodge organised by Aho Studio. In-person event. Venue: Berkeley Farm, Manor Rd, Lambourne End. Time: 11am. Tickets: £90. www.aho.community 

Sunday 21 April (and other times and dates); Soul Restore Sound Healing. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 11am. Tickets: £35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Sunday 21 April; Scrying Workshop with  me, Lucya Starza, in-person, based on my book Pagan Portals Scrying. Venue: The Last Tuesday Society / Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London, E8 4RP. Time: noon. Tickets: £31.94, includes a glass of Devil's Botany Absinthe. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scrying-workshop-with-lucya-starza-live-tickets-692559011647?

Sunday 21 April;  Dawn of the Oak. Pagan moot. Venue: The Sir John Oldcastle, Farringdon Road/Greville Street, London EC1M 3JF. Time: 3pm. https://www.meetup.com/the-kith-of-the-tree-and-the-well/events/

Sunday 21 April; Earth Day Sound and Light Bath. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 3pm . Tickets: £11.55. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Sunday 21 April; Women's Circle in Brockley. Venue: 179 Brockley Road, London SE4 2RS. Time: evening. Tickets: £35/£40. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/theresa-royle-18442369190

Sunday 21 April; Live Music and Meditation. Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Free, but donations welcome. https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk

Sunday 21 April; Online Monthly Full Moon Meditation. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7.15pm . Tickets: £20. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Sunday 21 April; The Splendor Solis and Nicholas Flamel. Talk by Prof Evans Lansing Smith on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 9pm. Tickets · from £6.72. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Monday 22 April; Kundalini Yoga. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 6.30pm . Tickets: £15. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Monday 22 April; Lilith and Lucifer. Online class in a series on Gods with Dr Rebecca Beattie, author of Nature Mystics, Wheel of the Year and Planetary Magic, via Treadwells Online, delayed viewing available. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £10. https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Monday 22 April; Moon Space Online Full Moon Coven with She's Lost Control. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £15.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Monday 22 April; Scorpio Full Moon Ritual. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Monday 22 and 23 April; Introduction to Crystals pt 1. Venue: Crystal Wicca, 4a Station Buildings, Station Approach, Hayes BR2 7EN. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. https://crystalwicca.co.uk/shop-events-1

Monday 22 April; Rooting to Raving - Moon Ritual by Intimate Animals and Ugly Duck. Venue: Ugly Duck, 49 Tanner Street, London SE1 3PL. Time: 7pm. Tickets from £10 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/intimate-animals-ugly-duck-48346099203

Monday 22 April (4th Monday each month); Talk by King Arthur at Nova Stella. Venue: The Angel, City Road, London EC1Y 18D. Time: 7pm start of social for 8pm talk.  Entry £4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1472510443017948

Monday 22 April;  Psi and the Orpheus Model. Online talk by Dr Thomas Rabeyron via the Society for Psychical Research. Time 8pm. Tickets £5 for non-members. https://www.spr.ac.uk/

Monday 22 April (every Monday); Tea With a Druid. Free online event by the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Time 8pm. https://druidry.org/

Monday 22 April; Cats in Mythology and Culture. Talk by Lena Heide-Brennand on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 9pm. Tickets · from £6.72. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Tuesday 23 April (every Tuesday); Ceremonial Yoga. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 12.15pm Tickets: £12. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Tuesday 23 April; Beastly Beasts: Hybrids in Folklore and Fantasy. Online talk by Dr Juliette Wood via the Folklore Society Online. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £6. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-folklore-society-32190494089

Tuesday 23 April; Full Moon Peace Fires. Online event or light a candle wherever you are and wish for peace and healling throughout the world. Free.  http://peacefires.org/

Tuesday 23 April - 28 May; The occult on screen. Evening class with Gillian McIver via City Lit. Venue: Keeley Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 4BA, Time: 6pm. Tickets: £149/£97. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/

Tuesday 23 April; Yoga for Mind, Breath and Body. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion, Place Park, The Mansion Beckenham Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 6.15pm. Tickets: £12. https://www.beckenhamplace.org/whatson/

Tuesday 23 April; 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   http://crossbones.org.uk

Tuesday 23 April;  Fortnightly Men's Circle. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £11.55. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Tuesday 23 April; Tarot for Love - To Attract the Ideal Partner. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30.  https://sheslostcontrol.co.uk/collections/all-events

Tuesday 23 April; An Evening of Psychic Mediumship Using Numbers with Gerrie March. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £24. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 23 April; Lunar Crystals: Full Moon in Scorpio. Online workshop with Gemma Petherbridge, via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Tuesday 23 April; Full Moon Celebration with South East London Pagans Moot. Venue: One Tree Hill, London SE23. Time: 7.30pm. Free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7046502195365834

Tuesday 23 April; The Faes’ Anatomy. Talk by John Kruse on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £6.72. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Wednesday, 24 April; A Brand New You: Activate More Happiness, Success and Money Using Your Intuition. Workshop with Gary Quinn. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £115. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Wednesday, 24 April; The Western Magical Tradition. Hybrid talk by Professor Ronald Hutton, author of Queens of the Wild, via Gresham College. In-person venue Gresham College, Barnard's Inn Hall, Holborn, London EC1N 2HH. Time: 6pm. Free to register for online viewing. https://www.gresham.ac.uk/

Wednesday, 24 April; Full Moon Gong Bath - Sound Meditation in the Mansion. Venue: Beckenham Place Mansion (Old Dining Room), Place Park, The Mansion, Beckenham BR3 1SY. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £30. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/theresa-royle-18442369190

Wednesday, 24 April;  Psychic Night organised by In the Meantime. Venue: Old Mill Road, Plumstead, SE London. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20 per reading. https://www.facebook.com/events/966930048278575/

Wednesday, 24 April; Full Moon Sound Bath. Venue: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-mandrake-17825575648

Wednesday, 24 April; Full Moon Sound Bath and Cacao. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £45. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Wednesday, 24 April (tbc but usually last Wednesday every month); Talk about Paganism at Hertford Pagan Moot. Venue: The White Horse, 33 Castle Street, Hertford. Time: 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/groups/104788436218047

Wednesday, 24 April; Midweek Meditation. Venue: Crystal Wicca, 4a Station Buildings, Station Approach, Hayes BR2 7EN. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets: £22. https://crystalwicca.co.uk/shop-events-1

Wednesday, 24 April; Dark Fairy Tales by Viktor Wynd on Zoom via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 9pm. Tickets · from £6.72. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Thursday, 25 April; Theosophy - In-person study group. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, London · NW1 6XT. Time: 10.30am. Tickets £3 https://www.meetup.com/rudolf-steiner-spiritual-science/events/

Thursday, 25 April; Paths on the Tree of Wisdom: A course in 21st Century Kabbalah. Talk and book signing by Mike Bais. Venue: Watkins Bookshop, London, 19-21 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ, UK. Time: 5.30pm. Free but reserve a place https://www.watkinsbooks.com/events

Thursday 25 April; Wheels Within Wheels: Chakras and Western Esotericism. Book Launch and party with Phil Hine; Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Cost: £10/£17.  https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Thursday 25 April; Online Monthly Psychic Development Circle via Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Thursday 25 April; PF London Beltane Open Ritual with Ritual in the Tower (Luna Iter) via Pagan Federation London. Venue: Pirate Castle, Gilbey's Wharf Oval Road NW1 7EA London, UK Time: 7.20pm. Entry £8 for PF members, £10 for non-members (cash only). https://www.facebook.com/PaganFederationLondon

Thursday, 25 April; Full Pink Moon Community Fire Gathering with  Secret Soul Sanctuary. Venue: Sydenham Hill, London, SE23 3PH. Time: 7.30pm Tickets on pay what you can basis. https://www.facebook.com/events/720676166722672/?

Thursday 25 April; Mystery Symposium: Ted Serios: The Mind's Eye. Zoom talk by Emily Hauver via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 8pm. Tickets · from £6.72. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-viktor-wynd-museum-amp-the-last-tuesday-society-12203346619

Friday 26 April - 24 May (preview at 6pm on Thursday, 25 April);  Exhibition - Pariah Genius: John Deakin, The Psychobiography of a Photographer.  Venue: Swedenborg House, 20-21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH.   Open Mondays-Saturdays 10am-5pm. Tickets free but reserve a place https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Friday 26 April - 12 July;  History: British Folklore. Start of Beginners evening course with tutor

Gary Slator. Online event with WEA. Time: 11.30am - 1.30p0m. Course code

Q00014176. Tickets:  Free to £81.40 https://www.wea.org.uk/courses/humanities-science/history/26-april-history-british-folklore-beginners

Friday 26 April; I'm doing an online launch event for my Gothic novel Erosion. You are welcome to drop in and say hello. Time: 3pm and the recording will be available to watch later. Free online event. https://www.facebook.com/events/426303556406630/?

Friday 26 April; The Night Watchman: Amazonian Guayusa Dream Tea Ceremony. Workshop with Itzhak Beery. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Friday 26 April; Sacred Sound Healing. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £38.62. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Friday 26 April; Online worlshop: Open Up to Reclaim Your Wild Soul, via Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary. Time: 7.15pm. Tickets: £22. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Saturday 27 April; Day of talks and workshops on the theme From the Mouths of Babes: Children and Psychical Experiences Hybrid event hosted by the Society for Psychical Research.  In person venue: Society for Psychical Research HQ, 1 Vernon Mews, London W14 0RL. Time 9.45am. Full day tickets £20/£25 https://www.spr.ac.uk/

Saturday 27 April;  Suffolk Earth Spirit Pagan and Alternative Beltane Fayre. Venue: Woodbridge Community Centre, Shell Waitrose Woodbridge, Woodbridge, IP12. Time: 10.30am. Tickets £2 at the door  in advance at www.earthspiritevents.co.uk

Saturday 27 April;  The Birdman: The Path of the Andean Healer. Workshop with Itzhak Beery. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £230. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 27 April; Hearing Spirit: Clairaudience. Online workshop with Hernan Cotroneo via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 11am. Tickets: £105. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 27 April; Working with Runes Nordic Magic. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 11am. Tickets: £27.80. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Saturday 27 April; Senses of  Spring Sensory Guided Walk at Dulwich Woods , South London. Time: 11am. Tickets: free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/london-wildlife-trust-7357843879

Saturday 27 April; Magical uses of British Herbs workshop. Venue: Chislehurst Caves, 14 Imperial Place, Chislehurst, BR7 5QX. Time: 11am. Tickets: £45. https://www.facebook.com/events/944584363714807/?

Saturday 27 April; Sacred Sweat Lodge for Beltane. Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain Kent. Run by Lynn Gosney. Time: 11.30am. Tickets tbc, email lynn.gosney@hotmail.com for info and to book. https://www.facebook.com/shamaniccentrecaercorhrain/

Saturday 27 April; Protection and Cleansing Magic- In-person Class me, Lucya Starza. Venue: Treadwell's Bookshop, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm. Cost: £22 per person.  https://www.treadwells-london.com/ or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Saturday 27 April; Beltane Celebration. Venue: Shamanic Centre Caer Corhrain Kent. Run by Lynn Gosney. Time: 1.15pm. Tickets tbc, email lynn.gosney@hotmail.com for info and to book. https://www.facebook.com/events/255631663896600/

Saturday 27 April; Walking in the footsteps of your year, at this Beltaine Solar Festival. Sacred walk. Starts at: London Stone (TBC prior to the walk), 111 Cannon Street London EC4N 5AR. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/jeremy-rye-31055883021

Saturday 27 April;  Taking Nature's Hand on a Sacred Guided Walk with Jeremy Rye. Starting Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £75. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 27 April;  Coming of the Sun workshop. Venue: Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London, SE9 6SH. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £40. https://www.wiccamoonuk.com/product-category/events-and-workshops/

Saturday 27 April; Herbs and Biodiversity Talk. Venue: Hackney Herbal Garden, Trowbridge Rd, London E9 5LD. Time: 2.30pm. Tickets: free https://www.hackneyherbal.com/events

Saturday 27 April; Cosmic Crystal Cacao Ceremony - Journey To Sacred Lands With Galactic Light. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 4pm. Tickets: £40. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Sunday 28 April;  Violet Rainbow Rising. Workshop with Joan Osborne Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 11am. Tickets: £115. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 28 April; North West Kent Pagans Moot. Organised by NWK Pagans for members of the group. Venue: Chislehurst Caves. Time: 11.30am. https://www.facebook.com/groups/445487428816887

Sunday 28 April;  The Art of Using and Interpreting Oracle Cards. Online class with Geoffrey Beitz Via The College of Psychic Studies. Time: 1pm. Tickets: £80. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 28 April; Anderida Gorsedd Beltane 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 28 April;  Beltane Celebration Women's Circle. Venue: Queen's Wood, Queen's Wood Road, London N6 6UU. Time: 2pm. Tickets: £31.05. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/here-comes-with-meg-and-jade-63051934473

Sunday 28 April; Gong Bath - Sound Meditation in Brockley. Venue: Andosteo, 179 Brockley Road, London SE4 2RS. Time: 6pm. Tickets: £25. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/theresa-royle-18442369190

Sunday 28 April; Journey Into The Wild - Power Animal Retrieval and Embodiment. Venue: Fire and Alchemy Spiritual Sanctuary, 52 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP. Time: 630pm. Tickets: £35. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fire-alchemy-58665271283

Sunday 28 April; Bedtime Stories: These Woods More Free by Madeleine Grantham via The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities and Last Tuesday Society. Time: 9pm. Tickets · from £6.72. 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 any of these events except my own scrying workshop and book launch. Contact organisers directly if you have questions or to check ticket availability. Where a practitioner is offering information about magical healing, this is *not* medical advice. If you're running an event you want included, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com I earn commission from advertisers for some links, this helps support my blog at no extra cost to readers.