Tag Archives: Adventures

The South Wales Occult Conference 2024

04 Monday Nov 2024

Posted by in Events, Magic, Reflections

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This weekend I had the pleasure of speaking at the South Wales Occult Conference again, organised by Sian Sibley and the Dragonoak Coven.

In 2022 I spoke on the Fair Folk, but this time I teamed up with Sef Salem to speak together on initiation in relation to our joint project – the practical training program and modern magical order: Star Club – and take the whole conference to the underworld. But I’ll tell you about that later.

Given my academic background it probably isn’t surprising that I like conferences, but you don’t have to be academic to be inspired by such a fascinating range of speakers and topics.

Poster with speaker line up: Life's Slow Fatal Dance - A Conference on Death, Dying and Working with the Underworld. The 2024 Welsh Occult conference is on the 2nd Of November 2024 in Cardiff. Speakers at the Conference Dr Al Cummins - Sorcerer and Necromancy practitioner. Sorita D'Este - Devotee of Hekate, Author, Publisher Dr Robert Plimer - Author and Dr of Classics Ben Stimpson- Author and expert in ancestor workings Brett HollyHead - Author and Witch Dr Frances Clynes - Lecturer Trinity St Davids Mark Norman - Folklorist - Specialising in Churchyard folklore and burial rituals. Sef Salem & Dr Halo Quin - Ritualist and Conference organisers. Sarah Janes - Author and expert on Dream Incubation for divination and development. ​ Dr Linda Severs -Expert on Otherworldism in the Anglo Saxon times. Online Recorded Videos ​ Ness Bosch - Working with the Bones of Our Ancestors Sian Sibley - Plant work with the Underworld.

As you can see from the line up, the theme was “Death, Dying, & The Underworld” and the talks themselves were full of inspiring ideas, interesting questions, and fascinating information.

One thing I love about these events is hearing about people’s research and practice and being inspired to look at things differently. A new perspective or chance quote can open beautiful doors to whole worlds of magical possibilities.

(I took notes on most of the talks and intend to share reflections inspired by each of them in the next couple of weeks!)

But the biggest reason to go… Is to connect with people who are as excited about magic as I am. Shared conversation, listening to people who aren’t in the public eye but have just as much wisdom to share, and remembering that we might be wyrd but we’re not alone.

Some of the attendees, loved having our Star Club crew there!

Thank you to Siany and everyone involved for such a lovely day, for the fantastic blend of paths, and for the community which is woven like a web, anchored in these events and the friendships made at them.

This weekend is Worldwide Witchcamp, which I’m part of the organising team for… More community! This time online, Reclaiming, and in many languages… Registration closes in 15 hours! http://www.worldwidewitchcamp.com

What are your favourite magical events and places to find inspiration and community?

Reflections on the Talks – index

Jung and Astrology – Frances Clynes

Plants of the Underworld – Sian Sibley

Creating Katabasis in the Star Club Initiation – Sef Salem & Halo Quin

Egyptian Fetishes – Dr Robert A Plimer

Immortality – Sorita D’Este

Button with text: TEA - The Enchanted Academy - with Halo (on an orange, gold, & red patchwork background)

The Enchanted Academy

A home for real magic, real community, open now!

Come and deepen your practice with experiential classes, discussion prompts, oracle and healing swaps, and courses available to embody your magic.

Find out more here or click to join now:

I choose Magic ~ Enter TEA here

The end of a chapter

19 Saturday Feb 2022

Posted by in Creative Process, Following Delight, Magic, Philosophy, Reflections, Storytelling

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And that’s it. This month, on Imbolc eve, I finished my PhD corrections and submitted the final FINAL version. This week I got confirmation that it has been accepted!

I’m officially Dr Halo!

The thesis! Yes, I have a theme… “The power of storytelling to re-enchant the world” fits it quite nicely, don’t you think?

I celebrated with a trip to the bookshop, hot chocolate with friends, dinner for one and a movie… Then cuddles from my fella the following night, of course!

I started by letting my brain decompress and dealing with those bits of life that now need dealing with, like clearing out some old books to make space for the new ones! And contemplating where I go from here… With a foxy companion for Imbolc reminding me that spring is emerging from the dark, just like me. 🥰

If you’re on my mailing list you’ll know that I’ve got a whole bunch of monthly discussion based classes that I’m offering through Patreon, or which you can sign up for individually if you’d rather, starting with an online elements of magic workshop next month, on 16th March at 7pm GMT. (And in April I’ll be kicking off a ten week course working with them too…)

Find out more here
Uncover your inner witch - magical workshops in 2023 with Halo Quin - background image of lit candle on a beach at night.

And the Goblin Masquerade is coming together! Last autumn I was chatting with fellow changeling poet Kate Garrett, and somehow got the inspiration to host a goblin market followed by a Masked fairy ball this spring. Everything is coming together and we have music, talks, dancing, and even the steampunk debut of an Ominous Folk of Hopeless Maine show. It’s going to be a lovely day of community and play, and I’m considering it my party for escaping studenthood with a Doctorate at last!

Flier for the Goblin Masquerade in Borth, Ceredigion, Wales, 12th March, from 1pm. Free afternoon market, evening ball £6. Click for more details.

I’ve also been researching ADHD and neurodivergences… There’s so little support for adults with ADHD and we can do amazing things with the right help! So I’m writing occasional thoughts on that over here… On the newsletter “Living with Squirrels” not sure where it’ll go but you’re welcome to sign up if you like.

Living with Squirrels

So I guess I do know where I’m going next… To play with the goblins and re-enchant the world!

PS: If you want to get workshops, extra posts, advance access to material, and more things as and when the goblins inspire me… And support my adventures so I can keep building the academy into something sustainable you can sign up to my Patreon here:

Patreonise me! 😉

Equinox Blessings!

21 Sunday Mar 2021

Posted by in Enchanted, Herbology, Reflections, Witchcraft 101

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Happy Equinox!

As spring is here I’m thinking about the allotment I’ll be working on this summer, and that reminded me of my indoor plants and of course the thought train then got all metaphorical…

ID: Roses, back-lit in a window, next to a barely recovering mint plant.

People tell me that indoor roses are fussy and mint is impossible to kill… But roses were the first plant I managed to keep alive for more than a season, and this is the first potted mint plant that has recovered from meeting me… And trust me, I’ve tried many times!

Perhaps those of us that are “fussy”, “difficult”, “sensitive”, or “too much” are simply in the wrong environment… And the apparently hardy ones are mostly just getting more of what *they* need? I’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating…

Plants are tenacious, and so are we. But we all need different things. Look for your magic, your relationship with the world, your rhythm and home, in the places that make sense to you. Don’t treat yourself like mint if you’re a rose, or rose if you’re a mint.

But remember, either way, to breathe, rest, bathe in the growing sunlight, and drink your water!

I’m learning to do better with mint, at least. And I’ll be repotting both (separately!) soon.

(Oh, and there’s a meditation up for my Patreons for the Equinox – Spring or Autumn – use whenever you need a moment of calm before a change.)

Cult of Busy

24 Wednesday Aug 2016

Posted by in Creative Process, Dancing, Enchanted, Following Delight

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I’m a fully-paid-up, signed-in-blood member of the Cult of Busy and I love it! This time of year is wall-to-wall events, performances, classes and inspiration.

Dancing from one thing to another!

Dancing from one thing to another!

Let me show you what I mean… These are the events I’ve been at this summer:

  • Dancing at Ceithofest, Lampeter Food Fest, Cardigan Belly Dance Festival, Brynog Arms, A Hawai’ian birthday party and the Steampunk Extraordinarium
  • Herbal Foraging Day in Longwood
  • Crafty classes most Wednesdays in July/August
  • Goblin Circus at Ceithofest, the Steampunk Extraordinarium, a friend’s daughter’s birthday party, a Wellbeing Day in Porthcawl, & Wyrd and Wonderful Fest
  • Plus a trip to Druid camp, my 31st Birthday (and thus an Unbirthday party) and our second wedding anniversary, a visit from Mother, socialising, working the day job… and AT LEAST a day’s worth of preparation for each and EVERY event or class!!!

Shall we take a day off Maurice?

Shall we take a day off Maurice? Nah, I agree, rest is for the sleepy and I’m not tired at all… What do you mean I haven’t stopped yawning today?!

Busy summer, right? I’m flagging now though, and finally learning to make space

without resenting my limitations.

This week I’d booked off work to go adventuring. Whether touring living rooms with the Goblin Circus or visiting Edinburgh Festival or whatever, I knew I wanted to be out enjoying the last of the summer season. As August began and I looked at the weeks ahead however, I did something important. I checked in with myself.

Halo Quin, with pixie ears and knitted wings, signing a copy of her book by candlelight.

I love writing! I should do more of it.

And myself reminded me that I also needed to rest and wanted to write.

Writing, whether for the thesis or creatively always takes a chunk of time for me. All the excitement and inspiration from my travels needs a little space to catch up and brew.

I was then invited to another event for this period. I realised my other plans had fallen through or not materialised and I could finally get to this event I’d wanted to go to for ages, and be both useful and inspired… and I declined. For once, I’m not regretting it. I’m not feeling like I’m missing out, I feel, instead, like I have space to create.

And yes, I’m still a true believer in the Cult of Busy (“Better busy than bored!” is a favourite saying of mine!) I love the thrill, the excitement, the stimulation… but perhaps, just for a week, I’ll sit on my garden steps with my blossoming roses and be a heretic as well.

Now, who’s for a cuppa?

There are still THIS many things I want to do!!!

There are still THIS many things I want to do!!! But one step at a time.