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Events of Interest? Then lets us know.
Know of any events in East Midlands with a theme that would be of interest to us.?
Let us know and we would be delighted to detail it here if suitable for our members and visitors.
Please email aeshia@highcrossquarter.com
High Cross Quarter - About Us - Our Events
Coven Events
Understandably, we do not publicise our own events outside of our own circle so to speak. However from time to time on this page we will detail public events that may be of interest to our members and non members
Notified Events
These are events we have been notified about that we feel may be of interest to you. We are in no way responsible for the organisation of these events and you should contacts those listed as respective organisers for further details and prices before traveling.
24 January 2008 (Thursday)
From Aricia to Anet
Lunar Ladies from Classical Italy to Renaissance France
Fleur Shearman
7.15 fro 7.30 start
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Fleur Shearman is co-founder of Order of Minerva in the West (the OMO) with artist Stuart Littlejohn and poet and playwright Phillip Clayton-Gore. This talk was first presented in 2007 at an event organised by the order. The speaker lectures from an inspirational and interdisciplinary perspective at the meeting point between art and history, poetry and myth.
15 January 2008 (Tuesday)
Eastern European Witchcraft
Magic with the Blood Still Dripping
Benjamin Davies
7.15 for 7.30 start
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Following on from this speaker's previous talk at Treadwell's, this evening we will focus on the beliefs and practices of the witchcraft that he experienced and learnt about in a childhood in rural Hungary that comprises Transylvania. This lecture is part travelogue, part memoir, part informal anthropology, and will make available information that is generally unavailable to the English-speaking world. Benjamin Davies now lives in London, holds an M.A. in Migration Studies from the University of Sussex and has worked in emergency immigration rescue efforts.
11 January 2008 (Friday)
Some Secret Place
Ritual Evening
Peter Mahoney and Friends
7.15 for 7.30 start
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
This monthly evening focused on deepening one's personal relationship with the pagan gods. The focus is experiential, concentrating on spiritual devotion and development, with activities including discussion, meditation and participation in ceremony. It is aimed at people seeking an introspective and self-reflexive environment, who have done some reading on witchcraft, Wicca and/or paganism, and who are familiar with at least its general theological tenets. Group size is kept deliberately limited to enhance the personal experience - maximum 17 places per session. Meetings may be attended separately, but advance booking is definitely required, as these nights sell out fast.
10 January 2008 (Thursday)
Occult Archives and their Keepers
The Warburg's Yorke Collection Examined
Chris Josiffe (University of London)
7.15 for 7.30
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Tonight's speaker recently completed a Master's degree in library science on this enigmatic and important collection of manuscripts, books and other work by and about Aleister Crowley, the OTO, the Order of the Golden Dawn and other early 20th century occultists. The collection is at the University of London's Warburg Institute in Bloombsbury, an institution which itself has an enigmatic and extraordinary reputation. Tonight he looks into the way in which the collection is kept, catalogued, protected and made acessible to researchers. Every manuscript and library collection has its history, some stranger than others, and this one - the donation of Gerald Yorke - is no exception. This is a talk for lovers of books, for librarians who appreciate the arcane and for those keen on the history of Crowley manuscripts and publications.
08 January 2008 (Tuesday)
Devilish Dramas
The Theatre of Demonic Possession in Early Modern England
Professor Philip Almond (University of Queensland)
7.15 fro 7.30 start
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Tonight, Professor Almond takes us through the ins and outs of Early Modern belief in, and treatment of, possession by demons. An expert particularly on English material, he will illustrate the main themes involving malevolent spirits, the victims and victimisers, the spectres, sex with the devil and "scratching" the witch.
England was less prone to extreme witch hunts than many places in Europe, but even here witch belief could turn a community into a macabre and dangerous world. Professor Almond's most recent research has been into one of the most horrific English cases, the Witches of Warboys, upon which he has recently released the first in-depth book.
Philip Almond is Professor Emeritus of Religion in the University of Queensland, and is internationally respected for his work on religion and the history of ideas, especially during the English Enlightenment. His latest book is The Witches of Warboys (2007, IB Tauris). His seven previous books include The British Discovery of Buddhism, Heaven and Hell in Enlightenment England, Adam and Eve in Seventeenth Century Thought and Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Modern England.
"Take One Devil's Toenail..."
Fossils as magical and mythical objects
Dr Neale Monks.
When: October 4th. 2007 at 7.15pm for 7.30pm start.
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Event Details:Tonight's lecturer is a palaeontologist and a lecturer on the history of science. Tonight he takes us through the role of fossils in talismans, amulets, charms, curses and other aspects of folk belief. He will reveal the legends of the Devil's toenails and the Scrotum Humanum, swallow-stones and snake-eggs, griffins, St. Cuthbert's beads - and that's just a start.
Common fossils like shells and sharks' teeth became part of folk magic and religious ritual all around the world, from the shaligram stones of Nepal to the fairy loaves of Southern England. Even Christianity was quick to incorporate the magical powers of fossils, connecting them with the acts of the saints.
Because they seemed to offer tangible proof of creatures otherwise known only from legends, fossil bones were likely behind many tales of giants, dragons, and other giant beasts. And we meet some of these myths tonight, in vivid glory. For anyone who has a sense of the weird and wonderful, tonight is a must. Neale Monks is an fossils expert, and is the author of Ammonites.
A Sense of Magic 3
Evenings of Western Mysteries
Len Roberts
Party, Book Launch and short talk
When: September 26th. 2007 at 7.15pm for 7.30pm start.
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Event Details: This the third of three evenings which provide a combination of tuition and experiential exercises in Western mysteries magic. Each session can be attended on its own, and stands alone if desired. The night will be made up of a mixture of information, practical exercises and advice -- using magical texts.
Each evening will be on a different theme. Len Roberts is an Alexandrian initiate whose journey on this path started in London in the early 1970s. He now lives in Sussex and works rather more quietly in smaller contexts. Len has been a practitioner of esoteric magic for 38 years, and he is offering these three evenings in order to give participants a flavour of Western Mysteries and of Alexandrian Wicca.
Evenings may be attended individually.
-- 29th August (Wednesday)
-- 12th September (Wednesday)
-- 26th September (Wednesday)
Steiner the Occultist
Party, Book Launch and short talk
Floris Books, Gary Lachman & Treadwell's
When: Drinks party: 7.00 - 9.30 pm
Short talk on Steiner & the Occult: 7.30-8.00
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Event Details: Join Floris Books and Treadwell's for the party to launch Gary Lachman's latest biography of philosopher/mystic, Rudolf Steiner (1861 - 1925). Stiener was for a time associated with Madame Blavatsky's theosophy movement, developed anthroposophy and originated the now-famed Steiner Schools. Gary's short talk at the launch will focus on Steiner's occultism, about which little is generally known. We invite Treadwell's friends and historically-inclined occultists to join us for a scintillating evening. The book will, of course, be on sale on the night (Floris Books, £9.99).
A Sense of Magic 2
Evenings of Western Mysteries
Len Roberts
When: September 12th. 2007 at 7.15pm for 7.30pm start.
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Event Details: This the second of three evenings which provide a combination of tuition and experiential exercises in Western mysteries magic. Each session can be attended on its own, and stands alone if desired. The night will be made up of a mixture of information, practical exercises and advice -- using magical texts.
Each evening will be on a different theme. Len Roberts is an Alexandrian initiate whose journey on this path started in London in the early 1970s. He now lives in Sussex and works rather more quietly in smaller contexts. Len has been a practitioner of esoteric magic for 38 years, and he is offering these three evenings in order to give participants a flavour of Western Mysteries and of Alexandrian Wicca.
Evenings may be attended individually.
-- 29th August (Wednesday)
-- 12th September (Wednesday)
-- 26th September (Wednesday)
Interview with a Witch: Delianne Forget
Delianne Forget & Christina Oakley Harrington
When: September 6th. 2007 at 7.15pm for 7.30pm start.
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Witch Interview Series
Event Details: In this Parkinson-style interview, we ask a longstanding witch about her life, her spiritual workings, her experiences in magic, her adventures in her tradition (Gardnerian Wicca). These interviews offer a chance to get a glimpse into the lives of today's practitioners, and a chance for those curious about witchcraft traditions to get up close to some of their dimensions.
There will be questions from the audience as well, so if you wondered what it must be like to live in modern London and yet be a practising Wiccan, this is a night to attend. In her 'day job' Delianne is a working West End actress, an opera singer, and a part-time Blue Badge guide. She has had to juggle having a vocation in the theatre with a vocation to Wicca, and this makes her experiences and musings all the more interesting.
The Derby Pagan Picnic In the Park
Well its time again for an old favourite of ours. Elvaston Country Park, frequently used by us for our Samhain Sabbat. Those of us who can get to the annual picnic in the park find it a nice change to see the park in daylight. Morrigan and I (Aeshia) always try to get to this event.
Organised by Chattering Magpie in association with several volunteers too dumb to realise what they were letting themselves in for:
The Derby
PAGAN PICNIC
in the
PARK
Event Details: An independent family friendly event open to Pagans and Pagan friendly individuals,
irrespective of age, gender or Tradition
Event Location: Elvaston Castle Country Park near Derby - On the Castle side of the lake
When: 15th Picnic will be Sunday 2nd September 2007 - Gather at noon
Bring: food and drink to share, Musical instruments (optional). Dress up or wear your robes (optional) But most importantly of all Bring yourself, your friends and a happy heart
for information contact The Chattering Magpie on 0775 472 4213
DISCLAIMER: The organisers of this event do not accept liability for persons attending suffering personal injury, damage to or loss of property. Attendance of this event assumes acceptance of this disclaimer. This event is not associated with any one particular national organisation and is not part of an organised recruitment drive.
This is a free event although the park does charge for parking.
Elvaston Castle is a public park.
A Sense of Magic 1
Evenings of Western Mysteries
Len Roberts
When: August 29th. 2007 at 7.15pm for 7.30pm start.
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Event Details: This the first of three evenings which provide a combination of tuition and experiential exercises in Western mysteries magic. Each session can be attended on its own, and stands alone if desired. The night will be made up of a mixture of information, practical exercises and advice -- using magical texts.
Each evening will be on a different theme. Len Roberts is an Alexandrian initiate whose journey on this path started in London in the early 1970s. He now lives in Sussex and works rather more quietly in smaller contexts. Len has been a practitioner of esoteric magic for 38 years, and he is offering these three evenings in order to give participants a flavour of Western Mysteries and of Alexandrian Wicca.
Evenings may be attended individually.
-- 29th August (Wednesday)
-- 12th September (Wednesday)
-- 26th September (Wednesday)
The Doctor and the Witches: Magical Illness & The Cures of Carrichter
When: 15 August 2007 at 7:00 pm
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Tonight we are introduced to a doctor who specialised in treating people believed to be made ill by evil witchcraft.
Event Details: In early modern Europe, evil-doing practitioners ("Witches") cursed people and caused them ill; and on the strength of this belief, some 50,000 people went to their deaths. Tonight we are introduced to a doctor who specialised in treating people believed to be made ill by evil witchcraft. Bartholomeus Carrichter lived c.1510 - 1567 in Switzerland and dedicated himself to curing the cursed; he even wrote a medico - magical guidebook on the subject, published in 1551. Catherine Rider talks us through the key points and most extraordinary highlights of Carrichter's work, and in so doing opens up the world of witchcraft belief, particularly as it touched upon the world of medicine. Prepare for a host of sixteenth-century spells, anti-spells, cures and curses.
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
New Light on Old Gerald: Wicca, Gardner and the Craft
Wicca's emergence in the 1950s occurred amongst a group of innovative and creative people in the ambit round Gerald Gardner.
Speaker:Len Roberts
When:17 April 2007 at 7:15 pm
Duration: 1hour and 30 mins
Where:Treadwell's
34 Tavistock Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 7PB
0207 240 8906
Event Details:Philip Heselton, independent historian and doctoral researcher, is working on the comprehensive biography of the man and his milieu. He is comind down to Treadwell's from the North of England to share his most recent (still unpublished) findings. His previous publications include Wiccan Roots: Gerald Gardner and the Modern Witchcraft Revival (Capall Bann, 2000) and Gerald Gardner and the Cauldron of Inspiration: An Investigation into the Sources of Gardnerian Witchcraft (Capall Bann, 2003).
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Interview with a Witch: Peter Nash, Alexandrian
When: Jul. 13th. 2007
Where: Covent Garden , London, England
Witch Interview Series - First Interview!
Event Details: In this Parkinson-like interview evening, Christina Oakley Harrington introduces Peter Nash, who has been active in Wicca since his initial period working with Alex Sanders back in the 1980s. In addition to some anecdotes of his days with Sanders, he will be giving personal reflections on the Wiccan tradition, his spiritual values, his understanding of the gods, men in Wicca and some thoughts on magic. This is the first in a series we have entitled "Interviews with Witches".
Event Location: Treadwells , 34 Tavistock Street in Covent Garden , London
Event Time Details: 7.15 for 7.30pm start
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
New Light on Old Gerald: Wicca, Gardner and the Craft
Wicca's emergence in the 1950s occurred amongst a group of innovative and creative people in the ambit round Gerald Gardner.
Speaker:Len Roberts
When:17 April 2007 at 7:15 pm
Duration: 1hour and 30 mins
Where:Treadwell's
34 Tavistock Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 7PB
0207 240 8906
Event Details:Philip Heselton, independent historian and doctoral researcher, is working on the comprehensive biography of the man and his milieu. He is comind down to Treadwell's from the North of England to share his most recent (still unpublished) findings. His previous publications include Wiccan Roots: Gerald Gardner and the Modern Witchcraft Revival (Capall Bann, 2000) and Gerald Gardner and the Cauldron of Inspiration: An Investigation into the Sources of Gardnerian Witchcraft (Capall Bann, 2003).
Directions: see our website, we are 5 minutes from Covent Garden underground station.
Beltaine Spring Fayre
The Leicester Pagan Alliance are celebrating the High Cross Quarter Sabat of Beltane on March 17th 2007. Whilst we believe in a stricter more traditional observance of the sabbats we do wish them the best for their celebrations of this Sabbat on that day in Leicester. We ourselves intend to join them and encourage other neo-pagans to do the same.
Any activity there is in the form of rite and ritual in conjunction of the High Cross Quarter Sabbats should be supported. The power drawn from the old faiths is strengthening all the time in our modern world and is certainly in the ascendancy after many centuries of fashionable faiths dominating.
High Cross Quarter Website Slideshow
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High Cross Quarter Sabbat of Samhain
Click Image for full details of this sabbat
It is a time to invoke rites and ritual to rid ourselves of our negative aspects and weak points ready for the new year.
What's in a name?
Throughout history various faiths have used astronomy to guide their festivals and occasions in faith.
This is certainly so with pagans and wiccan's throughout the ages who have used markers defined by the pagan High Cross and cross quarter days set within the solstices and Equinoxes.
With our coven, here in Leicester, Leicestershire, England this is the same today. We still use the markers set by High Cross and Cross Quarter days to define our calendar which in turn sets the hour and day for ritual.
He is right... witchcraft is not a religion but wicca is.
No Rowling Rhetoric here...
For those of you drawn to Wicca and Witchcraft by hollywoodesque fantasies underpinned by JK Rowling rhetoric I say go read this website here instead as what I am about to tell you will blast the your self adhesive silver stars right off your pointy "made on a damp saturday afternoon" black hat.
Site Development is in Progress
There is to be a lot of content applied to this web resource over the next 24 months. Much of which is still in production.
Please check back often for new content. (See "What's New" section in order to keep abreast of changes as they occur.)
Make this site a regular stop on your internet travels to keep track of all the changes here.
High Cross Quarter Sabbat of Imbolc
Click Image for full details of this sabbat
Imbolc is really also a festival of purification rite, stripping away of the aged and the old in expectation of the fresh and new.
Cross Quarter Sabbat of Eostara
Click Image for full details of this sabbat
Can be correctly spelt either as Oestara or Eostara
The earth heals after winter and begins to blossom. Darkness is banished and subdued by light... until Litha days will be longer than the nights.
Yesteryear in the time of our ancestors Eostara was an occasion of sowing and setting seed.
High Cross Quarter Sabbat of Beltaine
Click Image for full details of this sabbat
Beltaine is really regarded as the most important Sabbat after Samhain. The commencement of Summer. It is a sabbat of fertility, but mostly it is a sabbat of joy and quickening. Named from the Celtic god of flame Bel, the igniter of fires is a regular element of Beltaine sabbats. It's association of flame also makes Beltaine a sabbat of purification and cleansing.
Cross Quarter Sabbat of Cancer
Click Image for full details of this sabbat
Sabbat of transition and change, when the God evolves from youthful warrior to aged sage and wise being. Also a time for of great rejoicing, but also of introspection, and analysis in making sure objectives are still on track and addressing the negative attributes in our lives.
High Cross Quarter Sabbat of Lughnassadh
Click Image for full details of this sabbat
It is also viewed as the time to prepare for God's inevitable demise. The Goddess enters her era as Crone. It is a time of showing gratitude for what we have, and all that we will have, and all that others have sacrificed for us.
Cross Quarter Sabbat of Mabon
Click Image for full details of this sabbat
Mabon was the second harvest, and as such becomes another holiday of thanksgiving.
It is also the day when darkness once more overtakes light, and so it is a day of planning, reflection, and the contemplation of mysteries.
Cross Quarter Sabbat of Yule
Click Image for full details of this sabbat
Yule is primarily a sabbat of life emerging from darkness and is honoured with the exchange of gifts.
The God Birth
Elvaston Castle Country Park
Well its time again for an old favourite of ours. Elvaston Country Park, frequently used by us for our Samhain Sabbat.
Those of us who can get to the annual picnic in the park find it a nice change to see the park in daylight. Morrigan and I (Aeshia) always try to get to this event.
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"Witchcraft in Art"
Major new slide show entitled "Witchcraft in Art" on this website in March 2009.
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