Trigg Morris Men come to Boscastle

On the 8th JULY 2010 Trigg Morris will be in BOSCASTLE at THE NAPOLEON INN at 8pm then on the BRIDGE at 9pm. The MUSIC & SINGING SESSION will follow at THE COBWEB.

They look forward to seeing both old and new friends and supporters.

New Book Donations

Two authors have recently donated their latest books to the museum library. Emma Wilby’s book ‘The Visions of Isobel Gowdie’ includes a full transcript of the Scottish witch Isobel Gowdie’s famous, but often misunderstood, confession. It also contains a wealth of other material such as examples of fairy lore in trial records. Like Emma’s previous book, ‘Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits’, it is a fascinating and insightful study, and explores the connections between early modern magic and shamanic traditions.

After reading about Joyce’s book, Mary Sharratt, who lives near Pendle, has sent us her novel ‘Daughters of the Witching Hill’, which tells the story of the Pendle case from the point of view of two of the suspects, Elizabeth Southerns and her granddaughter Alizon Device. It is a moving account, which conveys the toughness and resourcefulness of cunning folk, and contains some wonderfully evocative and convincing descriptions of magic. Mary has also posted an atmospheric documentary filmed at Pendle on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBQMzRkeTiI&feature=related

Thank you, Emma and Mary!

T shirts Summer Sale Online

Fans of the Museum of Witchcraft T shirt can now get a reduced rate online for V necks - normally £12.00 down to £10.00 & there is free postage on all T shirts for the summer too.

Order through The Occult Art Company

Busy Painting

Graham took advantage of a fine weekend to do a bit of retouching to the outer door. Here he is, brush in hand, preparing the surface for his upcoming artistic skills.

Wicked Enchantments Launch bash

Here are a few photos of Joyce's book launch last Saturday. We had around 45 people attending - a glass of wine on arrival followed by a 30 minute talk by Joyce & her glamorous assistant Kerriann in the upstairs gallery, then onto The Wellington Hotel for a bevvie & a meal. Quite a number of her books were sold to the adoring public so we can't wait to hear what they think. Thanks to Harbour Lights cafe across the car park for lending us their chairs. Deborah, the membership secretary for Friends, came down to help out in the booth on the day. We'll soonn be selling some of her fabulous amber & jet necklaces in the shop along with her herbal bath products. We aslo have some interesting publishing ideas of our own - we'll keep you posted when things are happening.

Thanks to Beltane Bash Attendees

Just want to say a big thank you to Dee Pearce (who was responsible for coordinating the fundraiser for Friends of the Museum) & all those who attended last weekend's Beltane Bash in London. Fifty pounds was raised thanks to the generosity of the attendees. This will go towards the upkeep of the archives in the museum. Hoorah!!!:))

Countdown to Wicked Enchantments Cornwall Launch

Joyce is getting very excited about her Museum book launch on Saturday night - remember she'll be signing books throughout the day & giving a talk at the museum at 630pm followed by an informal gathering & witchy menu Saturday night at The Welly Hotel in the upper gallery.

Generous donor gives books to Library

Attached is a photo of the books donated to us by 'a generous donor from the west coast of the U.S.' Thank you for your generous donation!

Meet Pendle’s black magic woman - Lifestyle - lep.co.uk

Meet Pendle’s black magic woman - Lifestyle - lep.co.uk

Altar Box For Sale

We have been asked to notify people of the sale of a beautiful 'portable' altar that is for sale. The measurements are:

Wide 37 inches (94 cm) x high 19 inches (48 cm) x deep 19 inches (48 cm)

I have attached two photos of the altar. One is closed and the other is open and shows all the storage space

that was used for everything needed at an open ritual. There is a photo of it being used in the museum. The altar has been in constant use by the House of the Old Ways since it was first purchased in the 1980s.

The guide price is £150 but the owners are open to offers as they are interested in it going to a good home.

It is no light weight and the buyer would have to collect it form the Glastonbury area. Please email houseoftheoldways@talktalk.net for details if you are interested.

Sian Thomas' Poem as Promised

Spirit Bottle

Here is a body,

a container

of the correct proportions,

a little long perhaps,

a little thin.

Here are sinews,

muscles, bones,

coils and strings

of red and white;

hard, turned sticks

and ivory dowels;

the threads of veins.

Here is a centre,

a lump of a heart

to jig, to flex,

for the rhythm

in the dancing.

Here are lungs,

to squeeze,

to wheeze,

airbags, a throat

for the singing.

Here everything moves,

quivers, pulses,

trills, resounds.

Here’s a home for a spirit,

fill it, fill it.

CCTV

A most unpleasant experience greeted Hannah & Graham as they opened the museum on Friday - someone had placed a rather 'well-thumbed' (so to speak) pornographic magazine through the letter box. Graham will be going through the CCTV footage to see if he can discover the culprit & he is considering reinstating the web cam. The police have been informed as we do with any untoward activity like this and they have been very supportive and are keeping an eye out on their patrols. It occurred between 8 and 9 am Friday morning. There are some very strange people out there!

Cauldron Magazine

The latest edition of Mike Howard's fabulous Cauldron magazine has an article on Cecil Williamson & The Museum of Witchcraft written by our very own Graham King. There is also a glowing review of The Occult Reliquary which is the book published by Three Hands Press relating to The Richel-Eldermans Collection.  The Cauldron is always a fascinating read & this edition is even more so - or is it that I'm biased.

Joyce's Lancaster Book Launch

April 17 was a busy day for all at the museum as we had Scarlett Imprint's launch of Dartura in the museum itself & Joyce Froome, our historian, had her very own book launch up in Pendle. Joyce's book 'Wicked Enchantments' focuses on The Pendle Witches and the magic used in their era.
Here is a photo of Joyce with Jacqui Leviston. Jacqui was one of the people behind the Lancashire Witch Project,which organised a touring exhibition about the Pendle Witches.When the exhibition was over they kindly donated some of their displays to The Museum of Witchcraft.They also arranged for a plaque commemorating the witches to be put up in Lancaster's Golden Lion Hotel.
We're planning a book launch for Joyce in the museum - probably 29th May. We'll let you know when the date is finalised. 'Wicked Enchantments' will shortly be available form the museum or online at The Occult Art Company.

Poet in Residence

For the last week we've the lovely Sian Thomas as 'poet in residence' for the Museum of Witchcraft. Sian, who has also been poet in residence at Tunbridge Wells Museum, hails from East Sussex and has quite a body of work behind her. She has been published in Agenda and The Telegraph & won the Chapter One competition last year. She chose our museum because "it's so amazing and is such an inspiration". She has been sitting up near the goddess display chatting with gusts and getting inspiration for future poems. You can read more about Sian & some of her work on her blog http://www.wealdwife.blogspot.com/ . When asked what display inspired her most she found it hard to pin down but said she felt most moved by a small bird wrapped lovingly in a blanket which was found in the beams above someone's bed. I'm hoping to post one of Sian's poems here in the near future.

Farewell Iain Steele

It was with great sadness we recently learnt of the passing to spirit of Iain Steele, a man well know in witch circles especially in Wales. Iain was a true gentleman and was recently involved in promoting the art of the pagan world with his Ludlow Conference for the Society of Pagan Arts. We have lit a candle in our shrine for him. He will be sadly missed. Merry meet & merry part & merry meet again.

A Reply to Anna

Anna posted a comment with a query about Brownie Pate

here is Graham's reply

Hi Anna

Yes our Brownie is your Brownie!
Sadly she passed away in 2006 - Graham attended the funeral.
We have quite a lot of her 'witchy' note books etc in the archive.
Here is a photo of her in the museum library.

Magical Sign

Steve Patterson has carved a fabulous sign for the new Christian Magic display. Here he is looking suitably serious holding the sign. Steve is well known for his one off carvings, copper & bone athames, dark scrying mirrors & tarot boxes. His work is available at the museum and we will soon be making pieces available on The Occult Art Company website.

Wicked Enchantments Launch

Hoorah ! Joyce Froome's book 'Wicked Enchantments' is to be launched ,at the Pendle Heritage Centre, Pendle Lancashire next Saturday April 17th from 2:00 till 4:00PM. There will be tea and cake! & Joyce will be doing a short talk - "without my glamorous assistant, alas!!" She'll also be taking along some magical objects (wand, scrying mirror etc.). There are more details on the publishers' website http://www.pendlewitchesbook.co.uk/. The book will soon be available through the museum and The Occult Art Company online.

Handsome Folk Attend to Robes

Craig & Spencer did a fab job attending to some of our ritual robes before opening this week - with a bit of hoovering thrown in.