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Chris Wood writes…
I attended an inter-faith kite-flying event in Eaton Park on 8th July, organised by Linda Albin of the Progressive Jewish community in support of the Green Olive Collective and in solidarity with ordinary Palestinians subject to the depredations of settlers on the occupied West Bank. It commemorates the attacks on Palestinian farmers cut-off from their land and deprived of an income by the destruction of their olive trees, standing in solidarity in particular with the people of the village of Burin, in the Nablus District, which has held a kite festival every July since 2008.
Some 25 people from a wide range of backgrounds attended, most flying a diverse range of kites - some with more success than others! Linda (below left) spoke of her time as a news reporter during the Second Intifada, twenty years ago. This was sobering enough, but then came a moving presentation from Fiona Haworth, Associate Priest at St Peter Mancroft Anglican church in Norwich (below right). She had just returned from four weeks in the West Bank, including time spent helping on a (Christian run) olive farm. International (very hard) working visitors are a real benefit to Palestinian farmers in terms of assisting with the work of the farm, not least with watering the replanted olive trees, but also as a protective presence, deterring settler attacks. I have usually seen her in clerical uniform; but on this occasion Fiona was without her dog collar and really spoke from the heart of her experience there. Her shirt bore the word 'Sumud', which is the Palestinian expression for 'steadfastness as everyday resistance'.
As an animist Pagan, I feel very strongly we should stand in support of indigenous peoples who are being deprived of their lands, livelihoods, resources and, indeed, very lives, especially when our country is complicit. In some ways Paganism has tended to follow the philosophy of the separation of politics and religion, although in others, such as campaigns against road building and for climate action, Pagans have been at the forefront of activism, I'm pleased to say. Indeed, when discussing the issue of how political we can be, Linda said to me that, as a Jew, she felt that this is not a political issue, but a moral obligation to see justice done. I think we have much in common!
Chris Wood writes…
The We Are Witch project, founded and co-ordinated by Ruth Dillon, is a collaborative arts project, honouring the women judicially murdered for alleged Witchcraft in East Anglia and represents a commitment to on-going remembrance of the witch persecution's legacy for women (and for men). There's more at https://wearewitch.net/.
A key part of the project is the We Are Witch quilt, with panels commemorating 29 of the women killed between 1583 and 1808. Each panel has been made by a different woman, including (below left and right) Elizabeth Bradwell of Great Yarmouth, executed in 1645, made by Val Thomas, and Mary Oliver of Norwich (and Salem), executed in 1659, made by Norfolk Folklore Society's Siofra Connor.
The Solstice Honouring was an amazing and moving evening event organised by Ruth Dillon in conjunction with the Norfolk Folklore Society, with ritual co-ordination by Sue Buck of Soulcraft. It included discussion, music, a ritual of remembrance and an amazing immersive visual and sound experience by Charlotte Arculus, Haley Craw and E.M. Arson. It was the first public display of the quilt following completion.
People are being asked to send a message to these wronged women at times of calm and happiness:
I send back in time to you the freedom and beauty of this place and present moment. In your darkest hour come here, each one of you, come here in your darkest hour. Reside here, it is expansive and lovely, and you are safe and welcome.
There seemed to be another presence there that evening in addition to the women called upon - another wronged woman, with a Norfolk connection. During the interval, while the stage was being set up for the immersive performance, I was amazed to look up and see what in a mundane sense was the shadow of musician Haley (who was wearing a pheasant feather in her hair), stood between the projector and the back of the quilt. The image spoke to me of Pocahontas.
Debz Thompson writes…
Back in the distant past, February 18th to be exact, a volunteer embroiderer was asked to come forward to undertake a task. The task was to create an embroydered panel for an inter-faith "human rights" quilt. The idea is a representative from each faith completes a panel for each of the human rights articles.
Finally it has been finished and has now headed off to join its quilt friends, where it will be put together into the final large piece.
My piece didn’t end up how I initially visualised it, however it grew organically without constraints.
Here is my description and a picture of my final panel.
Article 9
Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (incorporated by the UK Human Rights Act 1998) protects the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. It covers the right to change religion/belief, and to manifest beliefs through worship, teaching, practice, and observance, either alone or in community with others."
My panel, on behalf of the Pagan community, depicts a human head, full of knowledge, imagined like a library full of books with bookshelves, ever changing and filling. Our conscious thoughts, ideas, manifestations, beliefs etc. come from here, our own minds; they are individual to each of us. We can choose, as individuals, to liberate them, represented by the books transforming into butterflies flying freely from the head into the wider world, or let them to stay on the shelves as our internal thoughts until we feel we can give them freedom. The books becoming butterflies represent transformation, like caterpillars changing into butterflies, so our thoughts, ideas and beliefs also metamorphose into things we reveal to the world, discuss with others and display. The vines represent the wider community, world etc., and like wild vines are free to grow and go where they choose; only we can choose to tame and prune them as, if left to their own nature, they will grow and spread freely. I visualise them winding and growing with our own and others' free thoughts, opinions and ideologies settling on them unhampered for all to see, listen to or think about, in order that each person can then construct their own unconstrained thoughts with autonomy.
Chris Wood writes…
In the Eastern Daily Press of 16th May 2026, there was an inter-faith article putting the case for recognition of community cohesion and kindness between people of diverse backgrounds, deliberately timed to appear on the day of and to counter the views of a right-wing demo in London. Admittedly the piece is rather buried on page 49 of the print edition and doesn't really explain what the "1,000 Acts of Hope" are that it asks to be added to "Orange Hearts" around the county, but the initiative is a very important demonstration that we can be nice to one another, whatever our ethnic or religious/faith background, and work together for our wider community. As such I, as an Organiser of Norwich Pagan Moot, am pleased to have co-signed the piece as one of 40 Norfolk "faith leaders" (not a term I'm comfortable with, but we can work on the language...).
We are very sad to announce the death of Neville Young. Nev was a stalwart Moot member for many years and ran an earlier version of the Moot web-site for over a decade, as well as being its librarian. Whether sharing his extremely well-conceived, serious thoughts or jesting at a social event, Nev was great to be around. He is survived by his partner, Lorna Smart, and our thoughts are with her. She has set up a memorial page at the East of England Co-op Funeral Services web-site, where you can leave memories of Nev and make donations to Norwich Samaritans.
Image from the 11th July Inter-Faith Climate Event at St Peter Mancroft Church, © Charlotte Gray Photography: @charlottegrayphoto.
As a result of the Inter-Faith Climate Event on 11th July, we have been contacted by Kamran Shezad, Director of the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES) – the founding Director of which was Fazlun Khalid (second from left in the picture), who lives in Norwich and has spent his life working on international sustainability matters
IFEES is working with WWF on "a faith mapping exercise designed to identify faith-inspired individuals, groups and organisations working on nature and climate issues in Norfolk. The aim is to better understand who is active (or wants to be) in this space and to explore opportunities for future collaboration with them." Kamran writes, "I’d love to include your group’s efforts in this mapping. Whether you’re part of a full-time organisation or engaged in voluntary work, large or small, your work matters. If you’re happy for me to add you to my report, please could you send me the following information: your name, your role, organisation name, faith tradition, website (if applicable), a brief description of any environmental or climate work you’ve done or are currently involved in and any social media links that showcase your work.":
I responded by asking Kamran about the boundaries of this project, as it seemed a bit broad. Certainly, within the Pagan community, there are people who retail greener products, garden in a sustainable fashion (as individuals, with neighbours or for a living), work with wildlife and greenspace groups, choose carefully what they buy and boycott the worst offenders, lead walks and do talks to raise awareness of local environmental heritage, promote folklore as a means of relocalisation in a globalised world, campaign for government to actually do something, take opportunities to talk to each other about the issues and, most importantly, seek to reconnect to the land in communion and ritual. The Moot tries to ensure its events are accessible by non-car means of transport and encourages that choice in publicity. All of these can be considered work or ‘just’ what one does. There is also of course the question of what actually helps and what doesn’t (e.g. covering prime agricultural land with solar panels or the promotion of electric cars (with their environmental downsides as well) while doing nothing effective to reduce car use and encouraging it with on-going road expansion and building low-density housing in place where the car is the only option). Then there is the issue of whether one’s actions are inspired by one’s faith (or religion or spiritual path) or whether the faith simply comes from the same motivations as the actions?
Kamran responded as follows. "I’ve suggested to WWF that we keep the scope of the mapping project intentionally broad so that communities can define it for themselves. That way, it can reflect the diversity of approaches, from personal lifestyle choices and community engagement, through to education, advocacy and spiritually inspired practices. Ultimately, it’s really up to you and your community to decide what feels most relevant and representative. The aim is to capture the breadth of contributions rather than impose boundaries, so whether the focus is practical action, awareness-raising, campaigning, spiritual connection or all of the above, it can be included. If helpful, I can also make note of any nuances … for example, where actions are faith-inspired versus driven by broader ethical or environmental motivations, so that the map can reflect that diversity too. Please feel free to define the scope in the way that feels authentic to your community."
So, I propose expanding on my paragraph describing what goes on amongst the Pagan community, but would welcome input from others! Equally, if you feel something you are doing or are involved in warrants its own, separate mention (and are willing to be identified as a Pagan in that context), let me know and I can put you in touch with Kamran directly.
My e-mail is thecatscradle@btinternet.com, tel. 01603 667314.
The Ickeny, with prodder, Szara Froud, and Val Thomas, speaking, at Hidden Charms 5 on 12th April 2025. Picture: Alice Kerridge-Crick.
Val Thomas and Chris Wood had a presentation at the fifth Hidden Charms conference on 12th April 2025, at St Fagan's National Museum of History near Cardiff. This biennial conference covers apotropaic marks, concealed objects and other methods of magical building protection, and related topics. The presentation was entitled, The Multi-tasking ‘Oss, and considered the luck-bringing and protective aspects of (hobby) ‘osses across the UK, how they both terrify and protect their communities, their increasing popularity and the appearance of new ‘osses - like the Ickeny! As a teaser, the handout from a recent Moot talk by Chris on 'osses and other guising beats can be downloaded here! He is also reprising it on-line on 4th May (see the events page).
At the July Coffee Moot we had a visitor: Nicola Archer, who works for the Jigsaw Education Group (www.jigsaweducationgroup.com). She is its Regional Adviser for RE in the East of England and wanted to talk to Pagans with a view to producing material for use in school RE lessons to aid understanding of Paganism amongst the many religions and belief systems that exist. There were good conversations around the table (and in the pub afterwards) and several people gave Nicola their e-mail addresses so that she could contact them for further insights and understanding of Pagan beliefs and experiences - all for eventual consumption by young people, of course! We also agreed that the request for contacts would go on-line so that other people can contact her if they like. Her e-mail address is Nicola.Archer@jigsaweducationgroup.com and the questions she is asking people are as follows.
Nicola writes, "Your input will be so valuable in helping children understand, respect and become more knowledgeable about this worldview."
Val Thomas spoke at the Grimes Graves "Beneath the Surface" Flint Festival on 15th June, as a result of the English Heritage organisers reading her book, Of Chalk and Flint! Her topic was "Magical Connections in Ancient Norfolk Landscapes" and she joined other well-known presenters in a two-day programme of talks, performances and craft workshops, organised jointly by English Heritage and the Stone Club, celebrating the reopening of Grimes Graves as a visitor attraction.
At the end of the day, Val led a blessing of the site! This was made all the more special by English Heritage providing mead for a libation, poured by flint-expert David Smith from one of the fantastic glasses he has made from fused flint!
Grimes Graves is a Neolithic flint mine in Thetford Forest. The name comes from the idea that the pits visible on the surface were dug by Grímr (i.e. Odin) - but Thor was definitely making His presence felt on the Saturday!
Chris Wood writes…
Moot regular Cat Woodward has her debut volume of poetry out this month!
"Strange Shape is a love letter to Norwich, haunted by the spectral hellhound Black Shuck across the fens and fields of history, following the rivers towards the waves of the rising tides returning to claim the land. Imaginative, lyrical and full of dark magic, Strange Shape takes an East Anglian city and shifts it into unexpected forms."
Strange Shape can be purchased direct from the publisher, Story Machine and at a multi-author launch event at Anteros Arts Foundation (Fye Bridge Street) on Tuesday 9th April, 7 p.m. (no need to book).
Val Thomas writes…
I am delighted to announce that my new book, 'Hallowtide: A Dark Devotional', is now available to purchase in standard hardback and paperback editions from the wonderful Troy Books!
The book explores the sacred days between Hallowe’en and Martinmas, a moment of the year which offers a deep well of dark magic.
As the leaves yellow and fall, and pavements and forest tracks are covered in fairy gold, much that is strange and disturbing, yet exquisitely beautiful, emerges from the swirling mists. In the darkness, surrounded by the scent of decay, we feel keenly our own mortality and the presence of those who have died recently or long ago: family members, distant ancestors, friends and beloved animal companions. By indulging our emotions at this time, we embrace life with greater intensity.
The book casts its spell through personal memories and reflections on joy and loss, woven together with a little of the history and folklore of these holy days. It includes spells, recipes and pathworkings.
There are also nine Dark Devotions, powerful, tried-and-tested rituals which can be adapted to suit the tastes of the various streams of witchcraft and magical practice. They are perfect for the dark times but most are suitable for working throughout the year.
Beautifully illustrated by Alice Kerridge-Crick, this book will make you laugh, cry, reflect on life and loss and embrace the melancholy of the season while always acknowledging that renewal, growth and blossoming will return.
Chris Wood writes…
Today, the Norfolk and Waveney Inter-faith Environment Forum issued a statement about COP 28, with Anglican, Baha'i, Buddhist, Islamic, Jewish, Pagan and Quaker signatories.
We, the undersigned, members of different faith groups within Norfolk, state the following in the light of the on-going discussions of the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On the 23rd November 2003, António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General said
"Countries must commit to triple renewables capacity, double energy efficiency and bring clean power to all, by 2030. And they must also commit to phasing out fossil fuels, with a clear time frame aligned to the 1.5-degree limit."
As a Norfolk Inter-Faith Coalition on Creation Care, we call upon our global representatives to make just and righteous decisions at the COP28 climate conference by:
To achieve peace on earth, we must also achieve peace with the earth, and with each other.
Val Thomas writes…
I am delighted to announce that my new book, 'Hallowtide: A Dark Devotional', is now available to pre-order from the wonderful Troy Books. Standard hardback and paperback editions will follow!
The book explores the sacred days between Hallowe’en and Martinmas, a moment of the year which offers a deep well of dark magic.
As the leaves yellow and fall, and pavements and forest tracks are covered in fairy gold, much that is strange and disturbing, yet exquisitely beautiful, emerges from the swirling mists. In the darkness, surrounded by the scent of decay, we feel keenly our own mortality and the presence of those who have died recently or long ago: family members, distant ancestors, friends and beloved animal companions. By indulging our emotions at this time, we embrace life with greater intensity.
The book casts its spell through personal memories and reflections on joy and loss, woven together with a little of the history and folklore of these holy days. It includes spells, recipes and pathworkings.
There are also nine Dark Devotions, powerful, tried-and-tested rituals which can be adapted to suit the tastes of the various streams of witchcraft and magical practice. They are perfect for the dark times but most are suitable for working throughout the year.
Beautifully illustrated by Alice Kerridge-Crick, this book will make you laugh, cry, reflect on life and loss and embrace the melancholy of the season while always acknowledging that renewal, growth and blossoming will return.
Chris Wood writes…
We have a new King. Pagans have varied opinions on the monarchy, from republicans to those who believe in the monarch as the representative of Sovereignty and see Charles III as a new Arthur. Personally, I'm in the middle, neither accepting the divine status of modern royalty nor being convinced that a republic is any better (as we don’t as yet seem to have produced a properly functioning parliamentary democracy). The Coronation ceremony on 6th May was full of magic and history – all with perfectly Christian rationale - and the processions were expertly choreographed. I was disappointed that the helicopter fly-past wasn’t accompanied by Ride of the Valkyries, but I’m sure I heard a couple of comments from Thor in quieter moments of the ceremony!
However, hopes that the new King will be a ‘defender of faith’, instead of ‘the faith’ were dashed, as he agreed to maintain the status and privileges of the Anglican Church, although he did pledge to be a blessing to people of all faiths. So, alongside his Green credentials, Charles may help restrain the dead hand of secularism. Perhaps.
However, media-fuelled speculation about Charles having some Pagan thoughts, provoked particularly by the nature-filled decoration on the Coronation invitation and its ‘Green Man’ foliate head, was also shown to be unfounded. Non-Christian faiths were represented formally - Jews, Muslims, Bahá’ís, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Zoroastrians - but Pagans were conspicuous by their absence; there wasn't even a Druid.
Here in Norwich, things may be a bit more positive. One likes to welcome the hand of friendship when it is offered in good faith. As reported below, I am involved in the Norfolk and Waveney Inter-Faith Environment Forum, set up by the Anglican Bishop of Norwich (prompted by Muslims). And I was invited as a faith representative to the Coronation celebration service at Norwich Cathedral on 7th May. It was presided over by the Bishop of Norwich, who had assisted Queen Camilla the previous day, and included a quote from the King read by a Buddhist and a passage from the Old Testament chanted in Hebrew by a Jew. At the end, faith representatives were given a hazel sapling, and the Bishop drew attention to Julian of Norwich, whose commemoration day was the 8th, whose visions have meaning beyond Christianity and with whom hazelnuts have particular resonance.
These days, fewer people identify as Christian, but there is still an established Church. Sometimes one gets the feeling that said Church might like to play a role as a kind of hub for faiths, linking them to civic society in an inclusive fashion – although that might not work for either its evangelical or its conservative wings. Apart from anything else, the Church is in charge of a great number of sanctified places around the country that are centres for local communities and focal points for spiritual power in the land. It may need a new role in a society where there are many faiths and spirituality is seen as a threat by secularism. We will see what happens, but I for one will tend the hazel tree gift, accept the genuine hand of friendship (but, of course, beware co-option), and continue working with the gods and spirits of the land – and if others want to compare notes, even if discreetly, then that is all well and good!
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Val Thomas' new book, Bounded in a Nutshell: Lockdown, Magic and Infinite Space, is now available for purchase in both hardcover and paperback from Troy Books! It takes the reader on a journey through the recent pandemic as seen by a magical practitioner: a potent expression of the power of magic, community and hope. Buy a signed copy from Val at an inperson talk or workshop! |
Chris Wood writes…
I have just returned from a breakfast meeting at the (Anglican) Bishop’s House… It was the first gathering of a ‘Multi-Faith Forum on the Care for Creation’ for Norfolk and Waveney, hosted by Bishop Graham Usher (Diocese of Norwich) and inspired by the work of the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences. Invitations went out to a variety of faith and inter-faith groups and nine people joined the Bishop and his staff around the table this morning. Not everyone could make half-past eight on a Tuesday, but Anglicans, Hindus, Muslims, Pagans, Quakers and Unitarians were represented. It was quite satisfying to see the ‘P’ word on my name card at such a gathering!
As an initial meeting, there was quite a lot of icebreaking discussion, but we found a heartening amount of common ground between our different traditions in terms of a recognition of human responsibility to the environment and nature – although our ways of expressing it were diverse. In particular, Hindu and Muslim representatives talked of long-standing aversion to waste and of nature being as family (Hindu) and being full of signs (Muslim). The Pagan perspectives I was able to bring seemed to be valued, going by the nodding of heads around the table.
We all recognised that none of us is perfect, of course, and all of us have a long way to go both in terms of carrying our communities with us through the changes the climate crisis alone makes necessary and in terms of implementing environment-friendly practices. For instance, the Christian ‘Eco Churches’ initiative may have found that many of its buildings are nearly carbon neutral, as they have no electricity, heating or running water(!), but how their congregations travel to them hasn’t been factored into the equation. We do what we can from where we find ourselves. Unitarians and Quakers have problems retrofitting their listed buildings, but run recycling schemes, help refugees (many here as a result of the impacts of climate change already) and support campaigns for change.
What can the forum do? Well, we can talk and that can lead to useful initiatives that bring faith communities together. We can share ideas and, maybe, have some influence in civil society. The voices of people and organisations with a faith or spiritual perspective are many, but our very diversity means that we can be atomised and swept under the carpet, while secular society carries on with business as usual (despite the grandstanding of COP27). It is right that no one religion should be tied to the machinations of government, and that having no faith is a valid choice, but the heart of most faiths’ perspectives on sustainability – even if expressed variously – is exactly what is missing from our Western (and increasingly global) economic and political model. If our varied traditions can stand together on the key environmental issues, and the humanitarian crises that derive from them, if we can agree on the language, then perhaps such unity in our diversity can repair some of the collective soul-loss in human society, undo some of the damage to Mother Earth and help steer us away from the brink of ecological collapse.
(The image is of a dahlia flower, fresh-picked from the Bishop’s garden, which each participant was given on departure.)
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Val Thomas writes… We are very sad to announce the death of Michael Clarke. He has been a stalwart of Norwich Moot since the 1990s, attending most of the events and making an important contribution to the Pagan/magical community. He was also a key figure in the Silver Dawn Moot in Great Yarmouth and later in the Stone Circle Moot. Many of you will know him from the fabulous, entertaining talks he has given over the years on a vast range of topics as he was an extremely knowledgeable man. He was a great ritualist and operative magician and many people in this group have worked magically with him. He was also a good and loyal friend to many of us and he will be sorely missed. We extend our condolences to his family and to those here who will feel his loss keenly. This is upsetting news and the organisers would like you to know that we are here if you feel you need someone to talk to. Just give us a call or send us a message if you would like to chat. |
