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Folk in the Pub: Modern Fairy Sightings with Jo Hickey-Hall

Folklorist, Jo Hickey-Hall is co author of new book, Magical Folk: British and Irish Fairies 500AD to the present. She set up research project, Modern Fairy Sightings two years ago and has an interest in fairy encounters that people continue to report.

This talk will discuss people’s sightings and look at how we’ve arrived at the Disney-fied idea of fairy. We’ll also examine the taboo of reporting such experiences and why Jo feels the research is important.

Where: The Old Bookshop
When: Monday 9th April – 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Exchange: It’s free, so indulge yourself with excellent ale

**The Old Bookshop is Bristol’s most loved, family run bar and kitchen. Winner of Best Bar 2017 at Bristol Life Awards. Winner of Best Sunday Roast 2017 at Foozie awards. We provide fine drinks, an ever evolving kitchen, and the best live entertainment.**

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Upcoming Folk in the Pub Events:
Monday 26th March: Death and Music with Gideon Thomas

NB: this event is not suitable for children.

Folk in the Pub: Modern Druidry with Adrian Rooke

Open to all and free, 'Folk in the Pub' introduces speakers on a variety of subjects. Talks are 20-30 mins, then we open up to questions and discussion. Grab yourself a decent pint from The Old Bookshop and learn about: 

Modern Druidry with Adrian Rooke

Adrian is a well-known and much loved local druid, often found leading seasonal rituals at Stanton Drew stone circle.  He is a Pagan Celebrant and has been a member of the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD) for 18 years.  He'll talk about:

- what Druidry means in the modern age
- beliefs of druids
- what led him to became a druid
- local druidic activities in Bristol 

Where: The Old Bookshop
When: Monday 12th March - 6.30pm - 8.00pm
Exchange: It's free, so indulge yourself with excellent ale

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Upcoming Events:

Monday 26th February: Local Seasonal Herbalism with Helen Maria
Monday 26th March: Death & Music with Folklorist Gideon Thomas
Monday 9th April: Modern Fairy Sightings with Jo Hickey-Hall


If you'd like to talk on a folky-wyrdy-curious subject, direct your messenger raven to scarlettofthefae@gmail.com

Folk in the Pub: Herbalism ~ Spring Tonics and Local Superfoods

Open to all and free, 'Folk in the Pub' introduces speakers on a variety of subjects. Talks are 20-30 mins, then we open up to questions and discussion. Grab yourself a decent pint from The Old Bookshop and learn about: 

Spring Tonics and Local Superfoods

Helen Gray of Malago Medicinals a qualified medical herbalist from Bristol, tells us:

- where to forage locally grown herbs and superfoods
- herbals applications for ailments
- why considered weeds such as nettle, dock and cleavers are experiencing a renaissance
- why herbs that grow where we live have a special medicine for us 


**The Old Bookshop is Bristol's most loved, family run bar and kitchen. Winner of Best Bar 2017 at Bristol Life Awards. Winner of Best Sunday Roast 2017 at Foozie awards. We provide fine drinks, an ever evolving kitchen, and the best live entertainment.**

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Upcoming Folk in the Pub Events:
Monday 12th March: Druid, Adrian Rooke on Modern Druidism
Monday 26th March: Death & Music with Folklorist Gideon Thomas
Monday 9th April: Modern Fairy Sightings with Jo Hickey-Hall


If you'd like to talk on a folky-wyrdy-curious subject, direct your messenger raven to scarlettofthefae@gmail.com

 Image: Cleavers growing wild

Nordic Nights and Northern Lights: Viking Women

An Exploration of Viking Women with Storyteller, Ana Adnan.

During the long dark winter Nordic nights, the people we call “the Vikings” perfected the art of fireside storytelling, creating long sagas and elaborate mythology. These stories have seen a recent resurgence in literature and on-screen.

In this workshop, we take a closer look at the female figures to explore the wisdom and inspiration the goddesses, matriarchs, shield maidens, shamanic journeyers and other strong female portrayals may offer us today.

We conclude with a ritual which we’ll create together, using the ancient wisdom of the Runes.


Facilitator, Ana Adnan is a storyteller and timeless weaver of magic, who has been facilitating workshops and creating rituals since 1990.

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Cost: sliding scale of affordability £50 – £75
Timings: 09:30 – 18:30
Date: Saturday 24th February 2018
Location: Bedminster Quaker Hall, Wedmore Vale, BS3 5HX.
Deposit secures your place: £20
Contact: scarlettofthefae@gmail.com

Spaces are limited so please book early. 

Image: Dorothy Hardy (fl. 1891-1925), ‘The Dises’, from “Myths of the Norsemen from the Eddas and Sagas” by Hélène Adeline Guerber, 1909.

Weekend Workshop Bristol: Body Mirror System of Healing

Body Mirror System visits Bristol for the first time this November 4-5 for a HEALING WEEKEND workshop.

The class is hosted at The Southville Centre, Bedminster, Bristol.  The class starts both days at 9.30am and ends around 8.30pm on Saturday and around 7.30pm on Sunday. Registration starts on Saturday morning at 8.30am.

The Body Mirror System of healing developed by Martin Brofman, is a synthesis of Western psychology and Eastern philosophies based on the chakras (energy centers found in the Hindu traditions). Because each of these chakras can be associated with certain parts of the consciousness as well as certain parts of the body, they allow us to read the body as a map of the consciousness within. Thus, tensions in the body are seen to reflect tensions in the consciousness, and the chakras can be used as a vehicle to understand the Body Mind Interface and its implications for healing.

For more information: www.fondation-brofman.org

During the class, you will exchange 5 healings with other participants, using various techniques you have been taught, and at the completion of the class, you will be able to:

1. Understand and experience yourself as a Being of energy.

2. Feel and direct energy, and see energy (auras, chakras, thought forms.)

3. Understand the relationship between your body and your consciousness.

4. Understand how symptoms in the body reflect tensions in the consciousness.

5. Read the body as a map of consciousness, understanding the inner causes to outer symptoms.

6. Understand the chakras and their associations with specific parts of the consciousness and specific parts of the body.

7. Use various tools designed for healing (White Light, colours, thought forms.)

8. See the results of putting these techniques and tools to use.

If you live in Bristol and would like to host a participant from abroad for the weekend, please contact Jo.

ADVANCE BOOKING is ESSENTIAL

Tuition for the class is €300 or £245.

If you are repeating the weekend class of the Body Mirror System of Healing for the second or third time, or if you have already attended one Intensive Level 1, you will pay half price £122.50.

If you have attended at least 3 weekend classes (or one Intensive Level 1 plus one week end class) in the Body Mirror System, you can attend this class for free.

If you would like to enrol for this class, you will need to pay a deposit of £100.

For further information and payment details please contact:

Jo Hickey-Hall at ScarlettoftheFae@gmail.com

We are all healers.

Love heals.

Anything can be healed.

Spellcasting and Invoking with Marian Green

As part of the Practical Witchcraft series, Marian Green, best-selling author of, ‘A Witch Alone’ returns with a structured workshop exploring the creation of spells through poetry, meditation and invoking your chosen deity.

Marian will lead you through each step of creating a successful spell to take away and use. We’ll be discussing:

⭐️ success with spells and why spells go wrong
⭐️ use of words and poetry
⭐️ choosing and connecting with your deity
⭐️ invocation for effective spellcasting
⭐️ what to expect before, during and after the spell

There will be plenty time to ask Marian’s advice on any aspect of magic and ritual. All are welcome to share their ideas.

No previous experience needed but come with an open mind and a respect for others’ beliefs.

Contact: scarlettofthefae@gmail.com to reserve your space.

Spaces limited. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

Cost: £55
Time: 9.30 – 5pm
Location: Bedminster Quaker Hall, Bristol.

Thanks to Tin Can Forest for the image.

East Devon Forest Garden ‘Innermost Creativity’ Retreat

Retreat to the peace and wild of Devon of the East Devon Forest Garden “The Garden of Complete Being” for a weekend to replenish, reconnect to our deepest roots of stillness, nature and creativity.

This weekend, we’ll create a healing space together that will help each and every one of us to take a next step in their life: letting go of the past, experiencing transformation and healing, strengthening your relationship with your essence and truest way of life, all held and supported by the nature around us.

Mindfulness meditations with nature and creative art in interactions with the land.

Take a journey with kind supportive community, meditation, foraging, creative art deep play interacting with materials from the beautiful three acre garden. Camping and food included.

Facilitator: Naomi West is an accredited Mindfulness Based Psychotherapist with a long background in meditation, psychotherapy (trained Karuna Institute), the arts and creative therapies and has been running retreats internationally since 2012.  More information at www.artsinmindfulness.com

October 6-8 2017.  Arrivals from 5pm Friday to start at 7pm. End on Sunday 3pm. Location: Kentisbeare, Devon.

Cost: sliding scale £150-£200 according to incomes.  2 concessionary places available by application.

Limited to 15 participants

Booking by transfer of £70 deposit to Jo Hickey-Hall by 30th September 2017 at contact: scarlettofthefae@gmail.com

Healing, Dowsing and Meditation with Scarlett of the Fae

I have enjoyed giving healings for over 20 years.
 
Learn how to heal yourself and others with these simple skills that anyone can learn. Here’s what I’ll be teaching:
 
MEDITATION
– simple meditations to cleanse yourself and connect to earth and the ‘All’.
 
ENERGY HEALING
– how to experience ourselves as ‘beings of energy’
– how to feel sensations of energy within ourselves
– directing that energy to other people for healing
– practising the use of sensory and visual communications during healing
– giving people feedback about what we sense
 
DISTANT HEALING
– how to give healing when the person is not physically present
 
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BODY = ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES
– symptoms in parts of the body can tell us something very specific about tensions in our lives. We will learn about these connections
– the body’s metaphors – what is your body telling you? A simple guide.
 
DOWSING
– how to dowse with a pendulum
– identifying your ‘yes’ and ‘no’
– using dowsing for our own health – choosing remedies, vitamins etc
 
DOWSING TO HEAL OTHERS
– using the pendulum to pick up areas in the body which may need healing
 
 
We will be giving and receiving healings during the day so you will leave feeling great and having met some like-minded others.
 
What a fantastic way to spend a Saturday!
 
Come and be delighted by your healing capabilities!
 
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No previous experience needed. All levels welcome.
Spaces are limited. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
 
Contact: scarlettofthefae@gmail.com to reserve your space.
 
Cost: £25-40 sliding scale of affordability.
Times: 10am – 5pm
Location: Bedminster Quaker Hall
 
Booking is essential. Spaces are limited.

Marian Green’s Wild Autumn Walk on the Malago

Join author, Marian Green as we walk to the source of the ancient Malago river at Dundry Hill identifying trees, wild herbs and flowers en route.
THE MALAGO
The Malago river is much older than Bristol. When Bristol was little more than a marshy river crossing, Bedminster was an important town and had been since the Iron Age.East/West Street is the site of a Roman settlement. While Tesco in West St was being built, deposits dating from late Iron Age and “significant assemblage of Roman finds” were found on the site.The Malago was fast-flowing in previous centuries, providing fresh water and mill pools. These are thought to have been used for pagan water blessings and later Christian baptisms. The ancient British or Welsh word for baptism, ‘beydd’, may have given Bedminster it’s name and ‘melis’ (mill), ‘agos’ (place) could explain the origin of the name Malago.

Today it is a green corridor that runs throughout different areas of the city, from Dundry to the New Avon Cut. Much of the river today is culverted to underground tunnels. Sadly, in recent years rubbish is regularly dumped into the accessible areas of the river. However, it still remains a wildlife haven in many areas. If you feel you would like to join me in collecting litter along the way, please bring a suitable bag!

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THE WALK
We will meet at 12pm at Morrison’s car park in Peterson Avenue, Hartcliffe BS13 0BE. You can reach this via the no 75 bus from the harbourside which passes through Bedminster.

Please bear in mind, although the walk up to the spring source is only about 30 mins it is uphill and a little steep in places. We will be stopping to look at trees, flowers and wild herbs along the way so the route will take more like 45 mins – 1 hour. There will also be an opportunity for foraging herbs, berries and perhaps even nuts! So bring containers if you wish to do so.

Please wear suitable clothing for the weather including long trousers and long sleeves and footwear with decent grip for walking back down afterwards. We will also be walking through some tall overgrowth in places.

At the top of Dundry Hill there’s a spectacular view of the city and we’ll stop for a picnic for about 30-45 mins.

Please bring a picnic, plenty of water and something to sit on.

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Cost: £5
Times: 12pm to 3pm
Contact: scarlettofthefae@gmail.com to reserve your space.

Spaces limited. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

*Thanks to Bristol ‘Know your Place’ and Anton Bantock’s research for the BAFHS.