Wrapping up the trying year that was 2025, endeavouring to remember what was good amidst the many tragedies and horrors of the year is definitely a challenge. Negotiating many losses, including the practical one of employment, which in its peculiarly American context means also health care [as Lady Catherine would doubtless find reasonable] and yet…
Tag: publications
Daft Days & Discipline
In these daft days between the Yule and Hogmanay celebrations it’s easy to lose track of time, as Fergusson suggests. He also claims this is the time to enjoy ourselves in all the usual ways: Let mirth abound, let social cheerInvest the dawning of the year;Let blithesome innocence appearTo crown our joy;Nor envy wi sarcastic…
Free Xmas Ghost Stories
Here it is Xmas eve and I have gifts for you: two free ebooks. The first one is the trilogy of ghost stories written in past Xmases for Fox Spirit Books, carrying on the tradition of spooky Victorian tales told on the holiday. This free download is courtesy of me and Fox Spirit — though you can…
The Umpteenth Dog Redux
Prompted by the Hudson Valley Writers Guild to assess my ‘Year in Review’ I made a video. While I had a number of things published this year, looking back over blog posts (which is how I keep track of these things) I re-read my angry February post The Umpteenth Dog and decided it needed more…
Medievalism in Excalibur
Guess what? It’s time to replace that worn old copy of your favourite Arthurian film! ARROW VIDEO is just about to release a brand new deluxe edition of EXCALIBUR! Always good news to hear that a film you love is getting the royal treatment, but I’m particularly chuffed because I have an essay in the…
Featured at TABI
Over at the TABI blog I’m featured in a series they’re calling ‘My Tarot Journey’ — all about how you got into tarot and where it’s taken you so far. You don’t have to join to read this one! Of course I’m going to encourage you to do so anyway because it’s a real bargain…
Sound & Vision: Cunning Folk Magazine
The new issue of Cunning Folk Magazine is out and includes a piece by me on medieval magic and sound as well as a wide range of fascinating work by other folks that will doubtless charm and inspire you. As usual: we are really in a golden age of beautiful little magazines that bring together…
TABI Midwinter Conference
I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be talking about my translation The Art of Drawing Cards and The Tarot at the TABI Midwinter Conference 24-5 January. I’m just one of a dozen speakers that weekend so what a great opportunity for TABI members. What’s TABI? The Tarot Association of British and International members. While it…
Occulture
How to describe the phantasmagoria of experiences that was Occulture? It may take a couple posts. Long story short: I’m really glad I went. I was very happy with the responses to my talk and met lots of people who were excited to talk all things Leonora Carrington. And yes, the good news is my…
Irreverent Tarot 14: The Painted Caravan
This episode offers a flip through the rare mid-20th century tarot guide, The Painted Caravan by Basil Ivan Rákóczi (1908-1979). Although born in England, he was inspired by his mother Charlotte May Dobby’s Irish heritage and his father Ivan’s Hungarian history, including claiming his parents were married according to ‘Gypsy’ traditions. However, he grew up…