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I apologise for being somewhat quiet on the posts here, I’ve got a backlog of talks from the South Wales Occult Con to finish writing up, and notes on the Glastonbury Occult Con last month to join that too!

Behind the scenes I’m prepping the new bardic course (Cauldron of Awen) and one for the Crimson Coven that I’ve been promising since last year, “Rope for Ritual and Magic” (are you on the mailing list for that one?) and enjoying the growing community at The Enchanted Academy.

But honestly the big thing that has tangled up my brain involves dressing up and being rather silly this Saturday, 8th March 2025. The Goblin Masquerade.

I’m brushing off my Goblin Circus top hat tonight… 10 years after this weird storytelling show was launched into the world and this has grown from just me in a cheap top hat and red blazer from the charity shop, through walkabouts at markets, attempts at writing a comic, acquiring Maurice the Gryphon, joining the steampunk scene… through to becoming this amazing community event.

Halo peeking over a hedge with top hat covered in colourful cloths and a red dragon puppet peeking too.

I remember exactly when I first dreamed of the Goblin Circus. I’d been chatting to Dr Geoff about creativity over his Steampunk Tea Museum at the Thought Bubble Comic Convention. We finished the conversation, and as I wandered away pondering what *my* tea museum would be inspiration struck.

I quickly made a note on my phone – “Not a *fairy* story… a *goblin CIRCUS*” – and thus the Goblin Circus entered the world. A tiny spark amidst worlds of creativity in word and image and silliness and seriousness, in November 2014.

The following February we warmed up for Damh the Bard and the duo, Blanche Rowen & Mike Gulston (who were all wonderfully supportive!)

10 years later we’re hosting the fourth Goblin Masquerade, a whole event of music and dance and monsters and dressing up and stalls and steampunk and tea and sandwiches and even more!

I couldn’t do this ridiculous event without my friends who pitch in as volunteers and performers, or who support us by having a stall at the market. Certainly couldn’t do it without my fella, who wrangles all the sound mixing for the day! (alongside getting the kit there, setting up, packing down, and cleaning up after… plus helping me brainstorm, flyer the town, and generally being supportive of me and the goblins…)

I don’t know where the goblins will lead me next, but I know that it’ll be fun.

See you in Borth on Saturday?

A flyer in cream and red, for "the fourth annual goblin masquerade"

Creatively blocked? Come find your inspiration in the Cauldron of Awen, and community in The Enchanted Academy

Decorative banner - Cauldron of Awen, a course and bardic initiation at TEA with Halo Quin

NEW COURSE – STARTING 1ST APRIL 2025

The Cauldron of Awen is a three month adventure in storytelling, creativity, and inspiration with the witch-goddess of initiation: Ceridwen… and Taliesin, the legendary Bard of Wales.

Dive into the Cauldron’s brew and emerge inspired, with a toolkit of magical skills to enchant your audience and never fear the blank page again!

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