Captivating account of London's occult history from the Elizabethan age to modern day secret and less secret societies. From transportation to dining to cultural and theatrical events to off the beaten track hipster venues, Valery was so on the mark in every event she planned. To the East is the alleged burial spot of John Dee – mathematician, alchemist, astrologer and an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I – as well as a cocktail bar where you can find shrunken heads and the squat where Throbbing Gristle’s offshoot Pyschick TV had their headquarters. Out of the ashes came a vision of a New Jerusalem, masterminded by the Freemason and architect, Christopher Wren, who drew on the occult traditions of the Cabala, and the tree of life in particular, in addition to the sacred geometry of the Old Testament.

This marks the first episode of our brand-new series dedicated to the exploration of Magical Talismans and Amulets. There’s stories from Spring-Heeled Jack to Highgate Vampire, small biographies of famous London residents from Helena Blavatsky to Aleister Crowley, from John Dee to William Blake, what do Ley lines have to do with Hawksmoor churches, ancient legends about the founding of Trinovantum (New Troy), which 1000 years later became Caer Lud, Caerlundein, Londinium and finally the London we have learned to know.

I’ve had many lunches and relaxing walks at the Bunhill Fields burial grounds where William and Catherine Blake were laid to rest. Behind the official façade promoted by the heritage industry lies a city of esoteric traditions, obscure institutions, and forgotten locations.

However, there is an extensive bibliography at the end of the book for readers who want to properly delve into the occult history of London. Downstairs is the cheaper books section downstairs where you can acquire an absolute treasure for as little as 50p. To accomplish this prank, Valery purchased/hired props, which included faux Chinese pottery, wood ashes, and several professional West End actors to persuade the group that they had aided and abetted in the destruction of an ancient Chinese urn and desecration of its (faux) human remains. Lord Nelson had his daughter christened at the church and Charles Dickens lived but a short distance away.

It also sells ointments, candles, sculptures and all the requisite accessories for rituals and spells. Not surprisingly, her arrival in London in 1887 created quite a stir and she promptly initiated W B Yeats, one of the foremost literary figures of the 20th century, as well as Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, and even Thomas Edison.

The legend of the Highgate vampire has its roots in tales of creatures that roamed the north London district of Dracula author, Bram Stoker. Together with her network of professional vendors, Valery created a day filled with cultural, gastronomical, and theatrical events which will long be remembered and cherished. She found us a great place last minute for afternoon tea that was amazing and even helped up with other sites and restaurants for our trip to Paris later that week.It hosts objects and tells stories from the most fascinating performers and magicians, and is a treat for magic geeks and kids. Her pace was perfect and she was very knowledgeable about the history of Christmas traditions in England! In 1960 the French poet and occultist, Jean Cocteau, an alleged Grand Master of the Priory of Sion, visited the Church of Notre Dame de France in Leicester Square.

This book describes these practitioners of the occult, alongside the myths and legends through which the city has always been perceived. while Crowley's life and some of his achievements are described, some information is wrong and misleading. Behind the official façade promoted by the heritage industry, lies a city of esoteric traditions, obscure institutions, and forgotten locations. The role of the occult within London's literary history is also outlined, while a gazetteer maps the sites of London's most resonant occult locations.Dug around the time of Celts and Druids, occupied by Saxons and medieval witches, used as an air raid shelter during the Second World War, Chislehurst Caves have a long and spooky history. Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. On his way from London to Windsor, where he would be buried, the King’s funeral procession rested overnight at Syon Abbey in West London. Thanks to the wonders of technology, an image of the serpent in the form of the winding Thames has been broadcast daily to millions of viewers across the globe for nearly three decades, courtesy of the television programme, Eastenders, whose opening credits feature the unique landscape from the air. This book is a good overview of some characters and sites associated with London's magical history - a good starting point if you just want to know a bit and are unfamiliar with anything to do with the subject.