It was yet another wild, wet and windy evening as storm Kathleen is on its way. Cassandra, Lorna and I began setting up at the village hall.
Cassandra kindly volunteered for wine and chocolate truffle duty
Lorna from The Healing Star is good at making her stall inviting.
Then people began to arrive…
I find that speaking about my time as Apprentice of the Old Craft comes easily, as there are so many aspects to this work, it is a subject that could continue for hours.
Many think about the magical aspect of Wisewomen work, however you are also tested, physically, mentally and emotionally. This is where power of the mind is developed, an essential strength needed to overcome the tests and obstacles that an apprentice and new member of a community is subjected to.
I am fortunate however to have genuine friends in my life, particularly Cassandra and others who have been there for me. I now have a strong, supportive group within the Cornwall community after sixteen years of living here.
Thank you to all who attended my book events over the past two years and special thanks to Lorna at the Healing Star Penzance, for providing the books. Both books are now in stock at her shop for anyone who wishes to buy a copy.
The twelfth of March was an auspicious day as the second part of my life journey was released in book form. It takes a huge amount of time, effort, focus and discipline from an author to complete a book. The publishing companies also work hard to produce them. When the day of completion eventually arrives it feels rather surreal!
It was wonderful to have Blake and Wycke Malliway from Crossed Crow Books attend the launch while they were visiting the UK from Chicago.
Their excitable energy and infectious smiles lift the spirits of those around them. It is truly a pleasure to be in their company.
Lorna who owns the Healing Star in Penzance has been a constant support. She attended the event and set up a stall to provide books along with some of her magical items.
A delightful group of people arrived at the Wooton Inn to support me despite the typical Cornish weather on yet another wet and windy day.
One person who I have a special connection with is Vicki, the first person to invite me to a psychic development circle twenty-eight years ago when I attended my first workshop at a spiritualist church in Kent.
It was the my first time at a spiritualist church. She is mentioned in my first book and I was delighted to discover she had moved to Cornwall.
Others who attended this event have since become good friends and I appreciate their genuine support.
Speaking about my journey and the books I have published flows easily, as I do not see it as a formal talk, it feels more like an informal ‘chat’, encouraging the group to ask questions and make comments whenever they wish.
Cassandra sat nearby and said I did splendidly and she is proud of me. I am grateful for her constant support throughout the last fifteen years.
After a wonderful afternoon, Blake and Wycke wined and dined Cassandra and I at the Tintagel Brewery Bistro. The evening that followed was full of fun and intriguing conversation.
So there you have it, both books are now published. What an exciting journey it has been!
Today Cassandra and I were invited by Alice Howard to attend a concert performed by children from four primary schools in Redruth.
Attending school concerts was once a regular occurrence for me when my children were of school age. I attended ALL their school concerts and performances as I was extremely proud of their talents.
The children of Pennoweth Primary School had visited the Kresen Kernow Women and Health Exhibition. Inspired by our Wisewomen display, they composed a song entitled We Are The Witches.
There were other songs composed by three other schools about District Nurses, a woman who walked from Cornwall to London to complain about her husband’s pension and another woman who arrived in Cornwall as a Jewish evacuee and separated from her family. All of the songs were deep and meaningful, giving the young children insight into the historical accounts of courageous women.
My recording of the song we were invited to hear is at the following link:
The way the song was performed showed that the children had connected with the subject on a deeper level, as the rapping was reminiscent of chanting and incantation. As the children were leaving, I was suddenly surrounded by a group of them (while Cassandra was visiting the bathroom), asking the usual questions like: Can you turn me into a frog? Do you have a black cat? Do you curse people? Etc. One little girl asked me what my favourite potion is that I enjoy making. Its got to be the honeymoon drink that we prepare for couples at their Handfastings, because there is always surplus liquid and it is delicious!
It was a pleasure to attend this concert and it is also part of our community work.
Thank you Kresen Kernow and the local schools for a delightfully entertaining afternoon.
It’s been a week since the opening of our new exhibition ‘She Cares: Women and Health’ in Cornwall. Have you been to see it yet?
Part of our exhibition explores witches and wise-women. Before modern medicine, healthcare was usually provided by wise-women as part of an ancient, spiritual culture.
They continued to help people and animals until the 20th century, when the number of wise-women and witches practicing in Cornwall began to decrease.
We have two modern-day witches featured in our exhibition – Cassandra and Laetitia Latham-Jones, who are village wise-women and witches in St Buryan.
Here they are photographed performing spellwork at the full moon, Lamorna Cove.
by John Isaac
I also constructed a charm and wrote an article about how to go about creating one, that is also on display.
Cassandra and I visited Kresen Kernow on the 12th August 2023
The last Mazey weekend in Penzance I had attended was 2018.
My Wisewoman business has grown considerably and I regularly teach two-day Reiki courses that often clash with the Golowan festival weekend.
It was not a difficult decision for me to choose to work for a substantial financial sum over the past few years as we are all coping with the rising cost of living.
This year however I had a day free from work and was able to attend Quay Fair Day. This event is smaller without the huge crowds of Mazey Eve and Mazey Day which I prefer. We also had glorious weather this year and I enjoyed drumming with the Golowan Band and Raffidy Dumitz who have been so welcoming to Cassandra and I.
It was touching to hear from members of the community that I had been missed at the festival when Cassandra explained I had work to do.
Quay Fair is my favourite event of the weekend with fun, laughter and an abundance of unique characters plus a variety of local talent.
After a stormy night of gale force winds and rain, today was a little calmer with showers, blustery winds and the occasional appearance of the sun.
It was a pleasure to escape the stormy weather and enter the back room of the Healing Star in Penzance, where ambient music, incense and a happy smile from Lorna welcomed us.
Lorna had creatively displayed my book as the photograph from my publicist Francesca had inspired her.
I didn’t expect many people in this stormy weather, but those who did arrive were a lovely group and we had some fascinating conversations.
My talk about the book was more informal this time, as we conversed about psychic development, religion, Wicca and Folk Craft.
It was interesting to meet a lady who had lived in Kent about ten miles from the place I was born. We reminisced about the area and how much it has changed since our childhood
At the end of the afternoon, Lorna, Fiona, Cassandra and I updated one another on our lives. Our lovely friend Pam, former owner of the Healing Star was also present, we felt her spirit presence throughout the afternoon.
A huge thank you to Lorna for hosting the event and also to Cassandra for her ongoing support and supplying the photographs.
It had been a wet day on the 16th March 2023 and although the rain had moved on, a damp mist had settled over the village that evening. The St Buryan Inn looked warm and inviting with a glowing log stove.
Many of the local residents were in the public bar when we arrived, some of them had planned to attend the event and arrived early.
Sarah and Steve gave us the use of their restaurant room and Lorna from the Healing Star in Penzance brought along her stock of my books and some merchandise from her shop.
Although the event began at 7.30 it took time for people to arrive and settle down with a drink before we could begin. The talk began at 8pm.
I don’t have a strict format for giving a talk, I begin by explaining my reasons for writing the book and let it flow.
My journey has been a fascinating one and my audience listened intently to my experiences and asked questions that raised further interesting subjects.
After speaking for an hour it was time to sign the books that were purchased.
All who were there also enjoyed browsing Lorna’s stall.
So there you have it…. another successful evening.
A huge thank you to Sarah and Steve at theSt Buryan Inn, to Lorna at theHealing Star and a special thank you to Cassandra for her support and providing these photographs.
Thank you also to all the special people who attended and supported this event.
Most of all thank you to my publishers Blake and Wycke at Crossed Crow Books for making this possible.
The next Book Signing will be at the Healing Star in Penzance on Friday the 31st of March 2023 at 2pm.
On the cold, crisp Saturday afternoon of February 25th, we collected Lorna Borrell and the contents for her stall from the Healing Star in Penzance. We then travelled the length of Cornwall to Boscastle for my first Book Signing.
The journey to Boscastle is a pleasurable one, particularly the latter part, being welcomed by the majestic sight of the cliffs, before descending deeper into the valley and crossing the threshold to the ‘other world’.
Image – West Country Views.
I decided to do host a Book Signing event at both ends of Cornwall so they were more accessible for those who plan to attend. I chose venues with a bar so that attendees can relax in a comfortable setting with their favourite tipple.
Lorna and I had hired out the fabulous Tower Room in the Wellington Hotel for the evening. We dined in the restaurant and had a warming scrumptious meal with a glass of Merlot, before preparing the room.
The Tower Room is a beautiful space. Laura set up her stall and Cassandra positioned her video camera and my camera for still images.
When speaking about my book, I worked spontaneously with no written outline or notes to hand. My personal spiritual journey is one that I know well and the words flowed freely with a smooth transition from one subject to another.
I suggested that members of the audience ask questions they had during the talk. Waiting until the end means that some may forget their original questions as many aspects of the Craft were mentioned.
Questions from listeners are also helpful as there are some aspects that may need more explanation to gain a better understanding of experiences in the book. I was also able to speak about other experiences that were not included in the book to give more examples.
The time had come for attendees to have their books signed and time to browse Lorna’s stall.
After a productive evening we returned to the bar for further conversation and a well-earned drink.
A huge thank you to Lorna of the Healing Star and Cassandra Latham-Jones for their assistance.
Thank you also to those who attended. Your support will be remembered.
My next event will be in West Cornwall at the St Buryan Inn on Thursday 16th of March at 7.30pm.
The full moon of 28th March 2021, marked 10 years since my initiation into the Old Craft by Cassandra Latham Jones.
Image – John Isaac
For me, tuition in the Old Ways was more intensive than it is within a group setting or regular visits, as I have lived with my teacher for many years now. We were rarely apart, meaning there was constant tuition and discussion. The last ten years may have brought challenges and hard lessons, however was accompanied by many wonderful moments that made it worthwhile.
To mark this special anniversary, Cassandra decided it was time for my final initiation, which was equivalent to a third degree within the Wiccan path.
On February’s full moon phase, I visited Men an Tol, where once again, I was watched by a bright full Moon. I performed a ritual of passing significant items through the holed stone a designated number of times to energise them while Cassandra observed. I then paused and stood beneath the moon’s rays, feeling her energy and expressing my devotion.
From that moment on, Cassandra instructed me to record my dreams and sent me on four Quests to locations of my choice within the following month.
I collected an item from each location and on the final Quest, I realized that each one related to the elements, water, air, earth and fire. Cassandra stated that the directions I chose were also significant.
The requirement of a ‘fast’ for a period of time was undertaken abstaining from stimulants, plus a long term unconscious habit that I would find challenging to control. Interestingly, this habit now no longer exists!
During the weekend of my initiation, Cassandra instructed me to create a magical item related to all the locations I visited. There is a specific ritual connected to its creation that I followed on a designated planetary hour. I combined a blend of corresponding oils and herbs, placing them in a muslin bath pouch for my ritual bath. I cleansed and blessed all items that would be utilised for the ceremony.
On the evening of the initiation, we ventured out at 8pm to visit Boscawen-un stone circle where the first part of my initiation rite would take place, just as it had ten years previously. The difference on this occasion was the invisibility of the Moon shrouded in dark clouds on a dry evening, accompanied by a stiff breeze. This came as no surprise me as it would be a ‘darker’ ceremony, therefore the absence of moonlight had great significance. I attempted to wear a hat that evening but the breeze repeatedly removed it, therefore it was not required.
Cassandra and I used our bull roarers to call the spirits of place, she then instructed me to repeat a statement at each stone until I completed the circle. Cassandra stood by the Elder tree to observe and I slowly made my way around the circle laying my hands upon each stone, repeating the words, then moving on in the darkness, making my way over the tussocks and uneven ground. When I completed the circle, I turned to walk towards the King stone at the centre and in the darkness it seemed to transform into a tall hooded figure. I tentatively approached it and it was only when I neared it, that it reverted back to its original form. I rested my forehead against it, connecting with the energies of the site. After a while, I laid upon the incline of the King stone feeling the breeze rush over my body as it pressed my back against the granite.
On our return to the cottage, Cassandra prepared the hearth and surrounding area, while I had my ritual bath in candlelight. I reclined in the water and contemplated the impressions I received at the stone circle and the step I was about to take.
I then put on my robe and awaited Cassandra’s call.
The initiation ritual was a wonderful experience and the initiatory words had such potency and meaning. Although my familiar Clutterbuck had entered the spirit world only 5 weeks before this, I still felt his presence as he never failed to join us for celebrations in the physical world. I knew that he would not miss this occasion.
When the initiation ritual was over, Cassandra hugged me and stated that her job was now done. We celebrated with good old Cornish mead. Never before had she taught anyone this intensively and for this length of time.
We have worked well together over the years and will continue to do so.
I express my gratitude to Cassandra for being such a caring, understanding and patient tutor. She has taught me invaluable skills and assisted me in developing a deep connection not only with Cornwall but also with the place and community of my birth.
Whatever the future holds and wherever life takes me, her teachings will remain and are a strong aspect of who I am.
Feedback from Cassandra Latham Jones: “Congratulations Laetitia! A worthy, hard working and fully fledged Wisewoman. You have remarkable psychic abilities – that definitely is your forte”.
2020 has many special dates and anniversaries, however the Covid Virus prevented celebrations and events going ahead as planned. August 8th marks our Cornish Guise team Boekka’s 10th birthday. The last 10 years have been such an adventure.
The following photographs of Boekka are from the days when our ‘Oss Penkevyll briefly performed as Penglaz the Penzance ‘Oss.
Mazey Eve 2009
Devon and Cornwall Pagan Conference 2010
Cassandra and I were in the developmental stages of creating a Guise team known as Penglaz Guise, to travel to other parts of Cornwall and the U.K., However at this time. we did not realize that Penglaz was not permitted to perform outside of Penzance. In recent time this seems to have changed.
2011
When Penglaz Guise and our ‘Oss were dismissed from Penzance this set us free to re-name our ‘Oss and perform anywhere we desired. It took a while to change our image. The following photograph was at Penkevyll’s naming ceremony on 6th March 2011.
Boekka then made it’s debut with Penkevyll at Spring Equinox 2011 in Crean St Buryan. The Teazers were working on choreographed dances with a band that consisted of a hurdy-gurdy and drummers.
Creating and organizing a Guise team is hard work arranging practices, and events. A few more members joined after the Equinox and this inspired my son who had Morris danced since a small boy, to teach a team alongside Boekka’s Guise team. Some of the community did not agree with the Morris inclusion as they considered it an English tradition rather than Cornish.
In 2011 we attended various events shown in the following photographs.
Cornwall Pride 2011
It also seemed to be a year for media work! We appeared with Sue Perkins on the television program All Roads Lead Home and also Paul Merton’s Caravanning Adventures.
Rochester Sweeps Festival was our first weekend away and Kent is a 340 mile journey. Penkevyll caused quite a stir as it seemed that no one in Kent was familiar with a skull ‘Oss.
2012
In 2012 the Morris side connected to Boekka had 12 members. More dances and events were introduced and as we were then without a musician, the teams performed with percussion only while I taught myself to play a melodeon. We also hired a minibus and travelled to Scotland in March to perform at the Scottish Pagan Conference.
Boekka performed at the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic’s Charm Day event in Boscastle.
We also performed at Godolphin Fair
In Marazion on a hot summer day.
I learnt the tunes for Boekka that were composed by my son as well as other popular folk tunes.
My son also played percussion on occasions for Teazer dances choreographed by me.
Teignmouth Folk Festival
Pasty Day Redruth
2013
By 2013 some members left for various reasons and new ones joined. Due to a lack of regular commitment in 2012, we were unable to reach the high standard of performance we desired with a limited number of good dancers. My son then taught new members the Morris dances. A local man who was a Cotswold Morris dancer joined us and rode Penkevyll on occasions.
Bodmin Riding Heritage Day
North Inn Pendeen
Lands End
May morning on Chapel Carn Brea
2014
In 2014 it was difficult to get new recruits as many performers were more interested in Cornish pursuits. My son tried to maintain a high standard of performance that most members found difficult to cope with. We continued howevere with the few dancers we had along with the Cornish Teazer and ‘Oss side of Boekka that remained strong throughout.
Teignmouth Folk Festival
Wreckers Day of Dance
Lands End
Bodmin Riding Heritage Day
Marazion
Lands End
Chapel Carn Brea
St Pirans Day
St Pirans Day – we usually team up with the Whippletree band in the processions
Many think about the magical aspect of Wisewomen work, however you are also tested, physically, mentally and emotionally. This is where power of the mind is developed, an essential strength needed to overcome the tests and obstacles that an apprentice and new member of a community is subjected to. 
by John Isaac
laetitialathamjones.co.uk 