News

5th March
Today started with friendly visit from the chap at Lewis Masonic, with lots of chats about books and things up his line. Hello and welcome to Treadwell's, Andrew! This morning otherwise has been dedicated to tidying away the last remains of last night's lecture and party with Phil Baker, who was speaking here about Dennis Wheatley and the occult - he was masterful in spite of having his arm in plaster following recent misadventure with a pavement. Rounds of red wine were had with a collection of some of our most scintillating regulars, as well as  treasured occasional guests. in the latter category we have to mention Blair and Jonathan from Adrian Harrington Books, who brought a volume inscribed by Aleister Crowley to Dennis Wheatley, with a letter commencing 'My dear Wheatley'. We all enjoyed poring over it, and bravely managed to avoid spilling red wine on it.

Earlier this week we were visited by Ben Fernee, who spoke on the Horseman's Word, and who kindly came down all the way from the Midlands to present his lecture. There was much talk of Toad Bones, secret passwords, Devil's handshakes, and ... boy gangs and horse piss. From the mysterious to the ridiculous, it was super. We have Ben's book back in stock, Society of the Horseman's Word (£25) and also more copies of Phil Baker's The Devil is a Gentleman: Biography of Dennis Wheatley (£25) so if you missed these lectures you can still read their work.  Lastly, it's a gorgeous but freezing day in Covent Garden, so we have the heaters on and the kettle boiling.

16th February 2010
Today has been a serene day at Treadwell's, punctuated by visits from friends (one bearing chocolate muffins, another whisking C. off to lunch).  Diana Taylor is back from her holiday and is booked up with tarot clients, so the cards have been shuffled several over the afternoon, and she's been regaling is with updates of last night's Tarot House cafe evening. The new arts magazine Popshot has been passed amongst us -- we are now stockists. This will keep us busy till we get the new copies of the Alchemy Journal, wending their way to us from Southeast Asia.  We don't have tickets for, but highly recommend, The Southwark Mysteries - performances in April in Southwark Cathedral -  it has everything from the medieval mystery play tradition, pathos, farce, ghosts, supernatural, prostitution, goddess, devotion,  poetry, paganism, Jesus,  Magdalene and twisted bishops. The five-year anniversary was marked by a reading by the author at Treadwell's; the ten-year anniversary is this incredible series of full performances. John Constable's creation is to be saluted.

Sunday, 7th February
Carl Jung's breathtaking Red Book has arrived, and is on open display in the shop. In the same order of precious books arrived one we've never seen before,  Corbusier and the Occult, one for the architects out there. Also in book news Phil Hine's works are newly reprinted by Original Falcon Press, and are newly arrived from the United States. The new edition of Prime Chaos features a new introductory essay by Hine, entitled 'Critiquing Chaos,' which ought to be required reading for those of the left-hand ilk.

Magical Objects and Manuscripts
Last night Patricia MacCormack's lecture / seminar on occult cinema was vibrantly engaging, with a discussion to rock one's proverbial socks. I just learnt that some institution has counted her as one of the world's five most significant philosophers under aged 35.  The discussion has left ripples that will work their way into a number of people's writings, I suspect.  Moving from the screen to the document, we are happy to announce that Ross MacFarlane of the Wellcome Library (up by Euston in London), is giving a free public talk on Occult Objects at the Wellcome - manuscripts and artefacts. Join us!
 4th February      3pm  - 4 pm
Wellcome Library, 183 Euston Road (opposite Euston Station)

Freya Aswynn lecture now available
The first 20 minutes of  the Treadwell's  interview with Rune Mistress Freya Aswynn  - now on youtube The rest of the lecture will follow shortly. The interview  took place at Treadwells in Sept 2009 and Note: This video has been placed here for the benefit of those who were unable to attend the lecture. Freya Aswyn's opinions are her own, and do not reflect those of Treadwell's.



Freya Aswynn is a key figure in the latest renaissance in rune magic and germanic-inspired mystery practices. She shot to fame with the publication of The Leaves of Yggdrasil and her debut album Fruits of Yggdrasil in the late 1980s, and through the 1990s, living in London, she developed and disseminated her work with a tenacity that took the whole of Britain by storm.

2009 Honour Roll

Before plunging headlong into 2010, I would like to take a moment to look back at 2009. Treadwell’s was home to our lecture series, lots of courses, new tarot events – and provided a space for a number of groups, book launches and projects. Friends of the shop brought so much to its liveliness during the daytime hours, as well: generosity, cake, investment, labour, skills, goodwill -- and fantastic conversations and collaborations. Everyone's contribution has helped Treadwell's be, over the past year, a nexus for thoughtful, creative people sharing their expertise and insights with one another.

To this end... drum roll, maestro! I proudly present the 2009 Treadwell’s Honour Roll.

We appreciate those who have been generous with resources, investment, friendship and time. In North America, Doug T, Sarah Morgan, Lynn Moxham, Kate Moxham, Mary Field,  Whitman Field and Janet Spencer. Close to home, Clive Harper, Peter James, Marysia Kay, Andrew T, Ellie Hughes, Sara M & David B, Richard Ward, Robert Ansell, Diana Taylor, Suzanne Corbie, Ben D and Lily M, Dianne C, Zoe B, Gemma J.  We also must say thanks to Russell Granat and Juliet Morel, number crunchers extraordinaire. Our appreciation, importantly, too, to those of you who have asked to remain anonymous.

2009 Speakers in the Treadwell’s Lecture Series: Jenina Bas on Malay Folk Spirits, Paul Cowlan on Alchemy, Lindsay River on Lesbian Literature, Jenny Alexander on Edward Carpenter, S. Leigh on Golems and Abulafia, Patricia MacCormack on Occult cinema, Michael Staley on Kenneth Grant, Marysia Kay on Greek deities, Mike David with Celtic lore, Marsha Keith Schuchard on Mrs Blake, Edwin Pouncey and Sandy Robertson on r’occult n’ roll, Fleur Shearman on goddesses in art, Prudence Jones on the Triple Goddess, Payam Nabarz on Mithras, Stuart Inman on Surrealism and the occult, Earl Fontainelle on the Corpus Hermeticum, Dr Cyril Edwards (Oxford) on the Nibelungenlied, Dr Esther Saxey (Goldsmiths) on Radclyffe Hall’s spiritual life, Dan Harms on the Necronomicon, Dr Owen Davies (Hertfordshire) on Grimoires, Dr Mark Williams (Cambridge) on Druids in Ireland, David Beth on Fetich Sorcery, Elise Gray (Leicester) on Occultism in decadent literature, Mike David on Edgar Allen Poe, Lily Moss on Folk Magic, Freya Aswynn on her life, Meg Harper on the occult life of George Yeats,  Dr Daniel Schwemer (SOAS) on Pazuzu and Lilith, Robin Cousins on Edward Kelley.

2009 Book Launch Authors included: Sally Nicholls; the Liber Nigri Solis; Scarlet Imprint’s True Grimoire by Jake Stratton Kent, Fulgur’s Legion 49 by Barry Hale, Philip Carr-Gomm and Sir Richard Heygate’s Book of English Magic, Dedalus’ biography of Dennis Wheatley – The Devil is A Gentleman -- by Phil Baker,   Avalonia’s Odin’s Gateway by Katie Gerrard, Fulgur and Treadwell’s journal Abraxas, Accent Press’ Xcite Guide by Aishling Morgan. Small Presses have released publications that have enriched our bookshelves and the lives of our avid readers: Fulgur, Starfire, Three Hands, Xoanon, Waning Moon, Hellfire Club, Society of Esoteric Endeavour, Ouroboros, Scarlet Imprint, Hidden Publishing, Teitan, Ars Obscura, Moondust, Avalonia, Golden Hoard, Capall Bann, Immanion.

 2009’s tutors, course leaders and consultants: Paul Wood on traditional incense, Marian Green on folk witchcraft, Sue Farebrother on Tarot, Caroline Wise on horned goddesses, Diana Taylor on tarot, Suzanne Corbie on tarot and goddesses, Orryelle Defenestrate Bascule on bodywork, Nathalie Beveridge on candle-making, Marcus Katz on thelema, Katie Gerrard on Runes, Thorn Coyle on transformation.  

Those who used our space regularly and bring wonderful vibes: Allison Brice of Aurora Reiki; The Furies; The Druids of the ADUB; Maiya and the gang from the Shakespeare Readers Society; Duncan, Peter and their Friday night gang; Steve Judd; Maria-Teresa & SOL; Claudette and Claudine, Peter Lloyd and Metageum; Elle of Tribe of Avalon, Oephebia, Vivianne and Chris Crowley and the Temple of Levanah.

Thank you all. Treadwell's salutes you.
Christina

From the Bookshop on Chrismas Eve. And Tiny Tim Said...
We are here today, on the 24th,  picking emails too, answering phone messages, and well, drinking spice tea and serving chocolates to customers. You know, it's a lovely. And it's everyone who makes it possible. In the spirit of Tiny Tim, God bless us all, everyone. Thank you for your support, to all our wonderful customers and friends.
Christina and all at Treadwell's.

HOLIDAY HOURS, TREADWELL'S
25, 26, 27 Dec  Closed
Mon 28 Dec   12 - 7pm
Tue 29 Dec    12 - 7pm
Wed 30 Dec   12 - 7pm
Thu 31 Dec  12 - 5 pm
Fri, 1st Jan Closed
Sat 2 Jan  Closed
Sun 3 Jan Closed
Mon 4th Jan open normal hours, 12-7 pm

Tarot Readings are available during our open days in the Christmas period. A traditional way to mark the new year, appointments not always necessary.

Tarot Workshops Announced

We have several tarot workshops coming up in the new year from one off day workshops for all to longer courses for intermediate, advanced and beginners.

• Sat 9th Jan - Revolutions, Reckonings and Resolutions: A Tarot Workshop for the New Year with Diana Taylor. view
• Sat 6th Feb - Tarot Workshop Series: Reversed and Upright Cards in Readings with Suzanne Corbie. view
• 10th February onwards (8 Wednesdays) - Tarot Intermediate Course with Sue Merlyn Farebrother. view
• Sun 11th Apr - Tarot Workshop Series : The Court Cards with Suzanne Corbie. view
• 12th Apr onwards (8 Mondays) - Learning the Tarot: Foundation Course for Beginners with Diana Taylor. view

Magazines and Journals In This Week
Welcome to December! We have just received the new issues of Northern Earth (#120) and Magical Times (#4) magazines. Northern Earth takes a broad based earth mysteries or neo-antiquarian approach, looking at historical and contemporary cultural and geographical environments. Includes news on new megalithic discoveries across the UK and Eire, spinning as a sacred activity in prehistory and paranormal trackways in the Midlands. Magical Times is a Faery and Pagan magazine with articles on mandrakes, the archangel Michael and more.

We also have Pagan Dawn, Kindred Spirit, Goddess Alive, One Eye Grey (a penny dreadful for the 21st century), The Goddess Pages, Alternatives, Minerva Vol 20 #5 (international review of ancient art and archaeology), Chronicles, Merry Meet #38 (independent journal of folklore and paganism), The Alchemy Journal Vol 10 #1 (focusing on the alchemical feminine), Culture & Cosmos Vol 9 #2 (a journal ofthe history of astrology and cultural astronomy) and of course the first issue of our journal of esoteric studies, Abraxas!

Do come in and take a look through our magazine rack.

Marysia

Books Books Books and Stuff
Every day here at Treadwells we are pricing up new merchandise to fill our already groaning shelves. Yesterday we got in a big box of new incenses from small Seattle company Wortcunning, all handmade by Leon Reed. We have planetary incenses, deity incenses (inc. Isis, Osiris, Cernunnos, Brighid, Diana, Pan) and many more. We also have Yule Cards, Yule incense and Yule tree decorations (by Broomstick Natural Magic).

On the books front we have a great selection of rare Buddhist books in at the moment. Our featured book of the week is the Elements Encyclopaedia Collection - three beautiful big hardback books on Spells, Witchcraft and Magical Creatures. A great gift at only £20 each.

And I have a big pile of second hand books to be priced and put out so there's new stock every day. Do come in and take a look.

Marysia