Cultivate Magic

Weird Wessex 2026 is a gathering for everyone fascinated by the mysterious, the magical and uncanny, the overlooked stories woven into places and lives. This year’s theme is “A Wessex State of Mind,” how certain landscapes, legends, histories and experiences shape the way we see the world.

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Our Programme:

• 'Finding the Goddess in the Wessex Landscape' Caroline Wise will introduce the  ancient female deities of Wiltshire, Berkshire and Somerset, like Epona who arrived with the Legions, and tracing those who were here before, following  Caroline's discoveries in the ancient astrological sign of Virgo linking white horses on land and in the stars above

• Michelle Eve host of 'Mystical Times' podcast will be speaking about  sightings of Black Dogs- mythical beasts or something more? Sharing stories of the mysterious anomalous animals roaming the British countryside of Weird Wessex - tell us your own spooky encounter tale!

• 'Bastards, Baby-Farmers and the Near-Death of a Rural Idyll'  John Terry tells how the dark side of industrialisation in Berkshire led to psychic disruption, an armed siege, horrible consequences for families - and a new hope

•  "A Very British Witchcraft Drama: Witchcraft & Weirdness in 1950s-60s Surrey'  Melissa Seims, historian and author tells the sorry tale of two Surrey men, one  claiming that his strange carved wooden effigy was over 2000 years old, an ancient effigy of Atho - the Horned God of Witchcraft. The other man ran a herbal beauty balms business. How did their friendship end up in trespass, covert surveillance, newspaper exposes and ultimately a High Court Case in London? Melissa tells us the bonkers and extremely  weird story of the Coven of Atho at a time when British Witchcraft was very much on the rise…

• 'From Warminster to Westminster', Dr. Sue Terry will be delving into the British UFO phenomenon in its Wessex heartland in the  1960s -1980s, uncovering relationships between lights in the sky, weird encounters and ancient sites in Wiltshire, mysterious 'Men in Black' and the House of Lords. 60 years of UFOs later, what's changed, what do we know now and what's next?

• ' Wessex Witches'  Vikki Bramshaw, historian and Chair of  the New Forest Folklore Society, will be discussing historical local witchcraft cases, who the witches were, what they did, introducing the folk magic practices and traditions of Weird Wessex. 

• Tracey Lindon Paranormal investigator, EVP analyst, Clairaudient will be sharing stories from her investigations at haunted houses, ancient sites, an Oxford castle, and a historic Midlands hotel. Tracey explores the mysterious voices and unexplained sounds she has encountered, inviting you to consider whether they were genuine spirit communications or something else entirely.Tracey will also provide practical guidance on how to conduct your own paranormal investigation safely and responsibly, helping you develop your observational skills and understand the evidence behind unexplained phenomena.

• A screening of  'World War Witches',  a new dramatised documentary from Carrie Kirkpatrick, an independent filmmaker and producer,  telling the amazing true story of how a secret society of witches took on the Nazis in World War Two to help Churchill and the Allies win the war through a Magical Battle of Britain over the skies of Southern England - and in the Otherworld.

• Q&A  'Fireside Chat' : a chance to  join  the conversation with our speakers, ask questions, or tell us about your weird , unexplained or uncanny experiences,  share your story that evokes the spirit of Weird Wessex - everyone's invited!

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      Note: final running order to be confirmed 

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