Samhain Events

Here are just some of the Samhain events to be found around the UK in the coming days. Don't forget to look up local Moots for meetings and events. Information on these can generally be found via a Google search, Facebook pages, The Pagan Federation etc. 

Check out the Helpful Links page of this website for more information on Pagan and Witchcraft organisations. 

Bristol
Bridge Farm - 31st October
1900-2200hrs
Samhain Fire Ritual & Ecstatic Dance

Glastonbury
Chalice Well - 31st October
1600-1800hrs
Floating candles for the Ancestors in the Vesica Pool 

Keswick
Whinlatter Forest - 1st November
1900hrs
Fire & Cacao Ceremony

London
Natural History Museum - 31st October 
1845-2230hrs
Halloween Party

Luton
The Barn, Woodside - 5th November
0900-1300hrs
Samhain Celebration Ceremony

Middlesbrough
Dorman's Club - 30th October 
1700-2100hrs 
Wolf & Witch Night Market 

Papworth Everard
The Wild Edges - 29th October
1930-2100hrs
Sacred Samhain Gathering

Suffolk
Woodbridge Community Hall - 4th November
1030-1600hrs
Samhain Market

Have a wonderful Samhain, however you may celebrate. 

The Woodland Trust’s 2022 Tree of the Year

On Friday I learned from @thewitchesstone that this tree - the yew from Waverley Abbey in Farnham, Surrey - has won The Woodland Trust’s #treeoftheyear 2022. @woodlandtrust

I’m particularly happy about this because it’s a tree that has featured heavily in my lifetime. I’m originally from this part of Surrey, and this tree, thought to be more than 750 years old, has watched over many happy picnics and family days out. I have even featured on the Goths Up Trees website in February 2012 cradled in the branches of this beauty - as seen in the photo below. @gothsuptrees

This tree won with an impressive 16% of the vote, and I’m not surprised; this tree seems to be known by many people near and far. The Waverley Abbey tree will now go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year 2023 contest.

Have you ever visited this tree?

Many people don’t realise that one of the scenes from zombie film 28 Days Later, where the fugitives enjoy a brief countryside idyll down in the southwest before heading up the M1 to Manchester, was filmed here. 

Photo submitted to Goths Up Trees by Neil Geddes Ward.

Fabulous Folklore: The Wicker Man

Usually around this time of year we’re gearing up for our annual trip down to Hampshire (my birthplace) for the Beltane celebration at Buster Ancient Farm, where a Wicker Man is burned to celebrate the first stirrings of summer. Each year they have a different Wicker Man; the one shown here was to reflect the one in the 1973 film The Wicker Man, and I had a great time climbing up the ladder and getting in it!

Wicker Men are giant effigies supposedly used by the Druids to perform a human sacrifice, to pay homage to the gods in some way.

In Book VI of his Commentary on the Gallic War, Gaius Julius Caesar writes of the sacrificial rituals of the Gauls. The main evidence for this practice is just one sentence:

"The nation of all the Gauls is extremely devoted to superstitious rites; and on that account they who are troubled with unusually severe diseases and they who are engaged in battles and dangers, either sacrifice men as victims, or vow that they will sacrifice them, and employ the Druids as the performers of those sacrifices; because they think that unless the life of a man be offered for the life of a man, the mind of the immortal gods cannot be rendered propitious, and they have sacrifices of that kind ordained for national purposes. Others have figures of vast size, the limbs of which formed of osiers they fill with living men, which being set on fire, the men perish enveloped in the flames.”

Modern archaeological research has yielded evidence that human sacrifice was practised among the Iron Age tribes of Europe, but scholars are not sure whether to believe Caesar’s claims, as these deaths predate the Roman era.

Historians are not sure if Caesar was reporting an established tradition, what he’d heard from others (for example Posidonius of Rhodes), or if he was simply telling a story he had embellished, for self-promotion or as propaganda.

They also can’t be certain if these practices, if they did exist, were used for human sacrifice in Iron Age Britain, as there’s no evidence for it, despite the popular myth.

Have you ever been to a pagan celebration or an event with a Wicker Man?

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Pumpkins
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Hag Stones

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Phallus Worship

Media Appearance: Join Me at Gather The Witches

The last time I introduced myself was back in March for @witch.with.me’s “That Witch” week, so as there are lots of new followers (welcome!) I thought it was time I said hello.

I’m a holistic therapist, pagan model, writer, and fire spinner from the South of England, living on a cemetery. I’m a traditional witch, but I’m interested in all aspects of witchcraft. But forget labels, I’m really just Wren.

Next weekend I’ll be appearing at Gather the Witches, where we’ll be celebrating Samhain. There’s free Main Stage entertainment, and an All Access Pass will give you further access to witchy performers and presenters. It’s going to be awesome and I’d love you to join us! Go to www.witchwithme.com for more information and tickets.

Now you know all about me, I’d love to know where you’re from, and a random fact about yourself! Then go to the comments to find witchy friends around the world.

Media Appearance: Cate Loves Podcast - Witchcraft & Holistic Health

I‘m absolutely thrilled to appear on the Cate Loves Podcast, which is all about holistic health and lifestyle, and explores practical tips and ideas for you to try.

In the latest episode, Cate asks me about witchcraft and my holistic health practices.

Cate is a yoga teacher, Ayurvedic practitioner, and zero waste educator who offers one-to-one holistic health sessions. She is also an excellent cook, and you can find many wonderful ideas for an attainable - and tasty! - healthy lifestyle over on her page. @cate.loves.holistic.health

Cate is a good friend of mine from back home, which is evident in us having a good old chinwag! If you have an interest in holistic health be sure to check out the Cate Loves Podcast, available from wherever you get your podcasts, and show Cate some love over on her page.

Thanks ever so much for featuring me Cate!

Samhain: Gather the Witches - Online Event

Covid might be a thing but Samhain is not cancelled! Join me and a host of other witchy presenters at this fabulous online event curated and hosted by Witch With Me - www.witchwithme.com

I shall be inviting you into my cemetery home and cooking up a Samhain storm! Join me at Gather the Witches to find out more!

The price of the ticket not only gives you access to all the presentations during the event and forever afterwards, but you’ll also have access to live Q&A sessions with the presenters throughout the weekend, plus access to a live tarot parlour.

This event is being held in support of The Temple of Witchcraft (@temple_of_witchcraft), so by joining us for a weekend of Samhain celebrations you’ll not only be having a great time, but you’ll also be doing your bit for the witchcraft community.

Go to the Witch With Me website for tickets.

See you at Samhain, Witches!