The Dee Day Do Mix!

It is the Dee Day Do! Celebrate Doctor John Dee with this new mix from the Wyrd Kalendar. With tracks from Damon Albarn, Roy Orbison, Pink Floyd, Arcade Fire, Elbow, Nick Drake, The White Stripes, Matt Berry, Black Sabbath, The Doors, David Bowie, Moon Wiring Club, Gavin Friday, The Velvet Underground, PM Dawn, The Cult, The Ruby Suns, Ivor Cutler, Rufus Wainwright, Scroobius Pip Versus Dan le Sac, The Dee Felicio Trio, X, Doris Day, Tir na nOg, Frank Zappa, Dolly Dolly, Soundhog, The Mortlake Bookclub and Mick Smiley. This mix also include extracts from Derek Jarman's "Jubilee", the Wyrd Kalendar and an interview with Peter Jimerson of the Fork Horror Revival.

Dee Day Do - The Dee Gallery by Andy Paciorek

The next event of the Dee Day Do is a look at the art of Andy Paciorek...

The sketches from "Presences" are those of faces he "saw hypnagogically on the edge of sleep at a time he had been reading The Book of Enoch and which he subsequentally associated with the Grigori - The Watchers ~ angels that Kelley and Dee communicated with."

Also included in this collection is a portrait of Dee from The Mirror Obsidian book project and a picture of Necromancers from the Strange Lands book.

Dee Day Do Doc!

I hope you had a Dee-licious lunch! Now before you have a slice of Soul cake and a cup of Dee settle down with this Channel Four Documentary - "Masters of Darkness - John Dee"  Let's watch it together! Tell us what you think below!

Dee Day Do! Make your Cut out and Keep Scrying Mirror!

It's the Dee Day Do!
Now before we break for a Dee-licious lunch it's time for some collective colouring! Wyrd Kalendar have made a special Scrying Mirror kit just for you! Get your best black crayons out!  

Tickets for the next corporeal Folk Horror Festival in Whitby are available to purchase here...

It's Dee Day!

It's Dee Day!
It's time for the Dee Day Do!

To launch this special day Phil Breach has written a poem just for Doctor Dee.

The Dee Day Do

Phil Breach

I met him down in Mortlake when the Sun stood still.

It's the Dee Day Do Day!

The Dee Day Do!

And we sang a Song of Summer on the Primrose Hill.

It's the Dee Day Do Day!

The Dee Day Do!

O how the morn was chill!

O he had such a skill!

But I swear that we did no ill.

It's the Dee Day Do Day!

The Dee Day Do!

In Enochian he canted at the Solstice sky.

It's the Dee Day Do Day!

The Dee Day Do!

And I heard the voice of angels as they made reply.

It's the Dee Day Do Day!

The Dee Day Do!

O let me testify!

O how the flames leapt high!

I saw the mighty angels fly.

It's the Dee Day Do Day!

The Dee Day Do!

We sang that Song of Summer with the Wingéd Choir.

It's the Dee Day Do Day!

The Dee Day Do!

And he told me of the founding of a great empire.

It's the Dee Day Do Day!

The Dee Day Do!

O it was his great desire!

O how he did inspire!

That morn at the Solstice fire.

It's the Dee Day Do Day!

You can listen to it here read by the Kalendar Host...

The Dee Day Do Online Festival - Saturday May 25th

Wyrd Kalendar and  Folk Horror Revival are joining forces to bring you a mini online festival in honour of the great Doctor John Dee. It was on this day that Doctor Dee royal astrologer to Queen Elizabeth I was able to look into the future using his scrying mirror.

Celebrate this event by joining in our special Dee Day Do!

Marvel at  Dr Dee's actual mirror at the British Museum in Jim Peters' special presentation!
Dance, jig and sway to the Wyrd Kalendar Dee Day do mix!
Watch A Dr Dee Documentary with fellow Dee fans!
Make your own Scrying mirror!

You can keep up with all of these events as they happen right here on the Wyrd Kalendar blog or on the Folk Horror Revival Facebook group.

While you wait catch up with all things Dee right here...

Dee Day is coming...

The Wyrd Kalendar Album - May Artist - Beautify Junkyards

Last year we prepared for the publication of the book Wyrd Kalendar...

This year we are making ready an album of  the same name...

This new album will contain 13 tracks - 12 of which will be related to the stories from the book and the month of the year. The album will be released by the very groovy Mega Dodo (who released Songs from the Black Meadow in 2016). All profits from the album will go to charity.

The artists have been given a month each, a copy of the linked story and Andy Paciorek's picture to give them a starting point and away they go!

We are very proud to reveal that the artist for May is the incredible Beautify Junkyards who have created a track based on the month of May and the story "May Pole". Beautify Junkyards create very haunting beautiful songs as you can see from their first album released in 2013. It was their fantastic cover of Nick Drake's "From the Morning" from this album that first brought them to my attention.

More information about the album and our other monthly artists will be released throughout 2018...

While you wait for the Wyrd Kalendar to arrive do check out the wonderful sounds of The Beast Shouted Love... You can buy all of their albums here. Ensure that you do!

May - A Mix for Auntie May

To celebrate the month of May and its various heady festivities enjoy the May mix that contains extracts from "May Pole" the May poem for Wyrd Kalendar and explore some of our May discoveries here...

It's May. It's May! The Lusty Month of May!

Join us on the Kalendar Heath as we revel and dance. Caper around the maypole with Sweet Young Auntie May (the subject of this month's reading from the Wyrd Kalendar (out in October).

We are joined in our May time celebration by Magnet, The Hare and the Moon, Steeleye Span, Led Zeppelin, Nick Drake, Children of Alice, Fairport Convention, Dead Can Dance, Mediaeval Babes, Molly Drake, Magpie Lane, David Cain, Air, The Divine Comedy, Blue Oyster Cult, Belle and Sebastian, Arcade Fire, Bee Gees, Vanessa Redgrave, Canterbury Fair and Killing Joke.

"May Pole" is read by Freya Lambert.

Swansongs - A Special Wyrd Kalendar Mix

To celebrate the Folk Horror Revival Swansongs at the Black Swan in York on May 12th the Kalendar Host has produced a special walk upon the heath that explores the work of the artists at that concert - Sharron Kraus, Sarah Dean and Hawthonn. As well as this you will hear extracts of swan related poetry and tales and music from Passengers, Thom Yorke, The Ken Moule Assembly, REM and Saint Saens.

For tickets to this extra special event visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/swansongs-tickets-44059576379

You can find out more about the event here: https://folkhorrorrevival.com/2018/03/11/swansongs/

WYRD NEWSFLASH - Four new mixes for the Wyrd Year - Spectral Fields

We at Wyrd Kalendar are very proud to announce a new mix project that will be taking place this year...

As well as the remaining seasonal mixes for Summer, Autumn and Winter  you can now look forward to wandering the Spectral Fields with the Kalendar Host this year.

The new Spectral Fields mixes explore Stephen Prince's "A Year in the Country" a fantastic wander through the edgelands touching on all things folk horror, hauntological and pastoral in a strange landscape that borders that of the Kalendar Heath... Each mix will explore 13 chapters from the book capturing sounds, extracts, music and strangeness from this brilliant new tome...

The first mix will be broadcast in May.

Join us...

Spring is here...

Join the Kalendar Host in a haunting hike upon the Kalendar Heath this spring. Peppered with the sounds of spring, music on the theme of spring and extracts from three spring based tales from Wyrd Kalendar (available to buy here). You will also be given the opportunity to pause in your trek as special guests from the Folk Horror Revival, Howard Ingham and Darren Charles discuss a vital spring film and album for your edification and delight.

 The Spring mix includes tunes by The Polyphonic Spree, Emil Richards, Donna Summer, St. Etienne, Aaron Copland, Children of Alice, Donovan, Massive Attack, Gao Liang, Ella Fitzgerald, Morcheeba, David Cain, Paul Weller, Pentangle, Scott Walker, The Producers, Jimmy LaValle, The Kinks, Two Door Cinema Club, The Hobbits, Sidney Torch and his Orchestra, Tom Waits, The Coffinshakers, The Lemon Drops, Igor Stravinsky, REM, Anne Ziegler & Webster Booth.

Spring is coming...

Countdown to Publication of Wyrd Kalendar - May

As we prepare for the publication of Wyrd Kalendar later this month enjoy the May mix that contains extracts from "May Pole" and explore some of our May discoveries here...

The June Bug is near...

The new June mix will be out on June 1st. This time with readings from the Wyrd Kalendar June story by Jim Peters...

Catch the May mix here as you enjoy the sunshine!

https://www.mixcloud.com/Wyrd_Kalendar/wyrd-kalendar-may/

Hold onto your Crystal Balls! It's Dee Day!

Apart from listening to the May mix on Wyrd Kalendar which is Doctor Dee's first choice for celebrating his life and work you could also...

Explore a crystal ball

Draw a sigil

Swap a wife with a criminal

Listen to Damon Albarn's wonderful DR Dee Concept album

Put all of the Mortlake Booklub's ouvre on a loop for the rest of the month

Invite the angels to sing to you

You can explore the other Dee Day entries here including Doctor Dee's favourite (he informed me by Scry) "What would Dee Do?"

Tell us how you spend your Dee Day do!

Plan your Dee Day Do!

It's time to plan your Dee Day Do!

Firstly send out your invitations.

We have made a cut out and keep invite for you to cut out and keep.

Display a poster.

Here is one for you to print and display in your window, on your door or outside your hovel.

There follows a list of things you will need to get ready:

1. Your playlist - ensure that you have suitable tracks such as "Scrying" by Roy Orbison,"Scrying in the Rain" by A-ha or "Scry baby scry" by The Beatles. If you don't have time to make a playlist you could purchase "Now that's what I call Dee" which contains all the tracks you'll need...

2. Alchemy Cake - it is traditional to bake an Alchemy Crumble on Dee Day. For the recipe explore The Lost Book of Magickal Recipes by Dr Dee (there is an updated edition annotated by Fanny Craddock available online).

3. Put up Black Scrying bunting. (This is available from Morrisons) Be aware that scrying bunting is very effective and you may see spirits in every little triangular bunt.

4. Hang Crystal Balls on your hawthorn tree. The Dee Tree (as it is known) is a newly chopped hawthorn, brought into the centre of a house, adorned in little crystal balls. 

For more details on what to do at your Dee Day Do you can facetime John Dee via Scry.

What Would Dee Do? Dee Day - May 25th

As Dee Day approaches ordinary folk up and down the land and across the globe are beset with problems.

Most of these problems are small and merely cause irritation, some are large and can cause lack of sleep and anxiety and there are a few problems that seem insurmountable.

When any of these problems brew and begin to cause discomfort, ask yourself:

"What would Dee do?"

Doctor John Dee was the Royal Astrologer to Queen Elizabeth the First. 

As well as this he was also an accomplished mathematician, geographer and magician.

Who would be better placed to tackle the myriad issues that affect us every day than a magical genius who lived in the 16th century?

There follows a few examples of how thinking like Dee will solve even some of the most complex crises.

Loss of a pen 

Dee Solution 1: Mathematical

Estimate the most probable place you last left it. Take into account the size of the area you are searching a, the amount of times you have lost a pen b, the size of the pen c, the amount of areas you are likely to search d... use this equation to find the pen x: a+b/cxd=x

Dee Solution 2: Geographical

Map out the area you are searching. Divide it into grids. Search each grid (cross off each grid once you have searched it) until you find your pen!

Dee Solution 3: Astrological

Work out when the pen was first created and use that date to assign it a birth sign. Consult your astrological charts and books. Based on your research you should be able to discover the temperament of your pen and easily ascertain from this information where it might be hiding.

Dee Solution 4: Magical

Using your scrying mirror seek out and call upon the spirits of the netherworld who will be able to find the pen for you in an instant for the cost of a small piece of your soul. It is inadvisable to use this method too often.

Finding a potential Wife or Husband

Dee Solution 1: Mathematical

Firstly you need to decide how many wives or husbands you would like. Once you have worked this out you will need to factor this figure into future calculations. Firstly on a scale of 1-10 how desperately lonely are you? (Note this figure as a). What area will you be searching? Decide on the area and enter the radius of the area as b. Calculate using an electoral roll how many eligible spinsters or bachelors there are in the area (note this number as c).  How likable are you on a scale of 1-27? (Note this number as d.) How many times have you been turned down by a prospective partner? (Note this number as e.) How long would you like to be married? (Calculate this figure in days and note this number as f.) Use the equation below to discover the value of x. 

a/b ×c/d÷e+f=x

Count down the electoral roll until you find the name that has the value of x and that person will be the perfect match. (ie. if x=1 then the first person on the list will be your partner for life!)

Dee Solution 2: Geographical

Map out the area you are searching. Divide it into grids.  Search each grid (cross off each grid once you have searched it) until you find your potential wife or husband! Once found they should be moved to the grid that contains your home, though you should stop at the grid containing a church or registry office first (in the interests of decorum).

Dee Solution 3: Astrological

Using the books of astrological art discover the planet you were born under before researching further to discover who you will be most compatible with. Armed with this knowledge approach anybody you can and ask which planet they were born under. The first that matches the planet you are looking for is the one to reel in! 

Dee Solution 4: Magical

Using your scrying mirror seek out and call upon the spirits of the netherworld who will be able to create a husband or wife for you in an instant for the cost of a large piece of your soul. It is inadvisable to use this method too often. It is important to note that your husband and or wife may be occasionally incorporeal, could be a demon in disguise or could attempt to eat you and members of your family.

Stopping a major land war

Dee Solution 1: Mathematical

How many soldiers do you have? Note the answer as a.

How many soldiers does your opposing force have? Note this number as b.

Compare the two numbers.

If a is higher than b then you will win.

If b is higher than a then get more soldiers until a is higher than b.

Remember when a is higher than b - victory is assured.

Dee Solution 2: Geographical

Map out the area you are fighting in. Divide it into grids. Go into each area of the grid and kill every enemy soldier within that area. Cross off each grid once you have completed it. When you have crossed off every grid you have won the war!

Dee Solution 3: Astrological

Find out the birth dates of every member of the army that is opposing you. Using your books of astrological art calculate their likes and dislikes. Buy the things that they most dislike and wrap them individually in beautiful paper and ribbons. Arrange with the local postal service for the things that they dislike to be sent to each member of the opposing force. The initial excitement at receiving the beautiful gift, followed by the crushing anxiety at what lies within, will place every soldier at a psychological disadvantage. That will be the time to attack.

Dee Solution 4: Magical

Using your scrying mirror seek out and call upon the spirits of the netherworld who will be able to win the war for you in an instant for the cost of your soul as well as the souls of your children and children's children. It is inadvisable to use this method too often. It is important to note that your army may be occasionally incorporeal, are likely to be enormous befanged demons, bewinged dragons or bewigged otters. They may not follow the standard rules of conflict and so may eat you and your comrades in arms, drag you all to hell for eternal torment or lead you in an inappropriately upbeat and jolly dance around a fire.

What will you do on Dee Day?

Why not do what Dee would do?

Dee Day is Coming... How will you celebrate?

Queen Elizabeth I's royal astrologer, geographer and mathematician was also a magician.

May 25th 1581 would have been a day like any other. He would sit and stare into the crystal ball on his desk and hope for a glimpse of the future, the past or some other world.

And every day the crystal ball would sit cold and unyielding.

But on this day...

On May 25th, 1581...

Something stirred.

The clear glass filled with fog and mist... from within this miasma of smoke and cloud spirits began to appear.

And Dee saw into the future.

What will you see on May 25th?

How will you celebrate Dee Day?

Tell us in comments below or on the Folk Horror Revival page...

You don't need to drown Old Men anymore! Not with the Argei Straw Doll!

On May 15th at the rites of Argei 6 Vestal Virgins walked a route to a bridge on the Tiber.

They would stop along the way at 27 shrines.

At each of the shrines they would pick up a straw man.

Once they got to the bridge they would cast these straw men into the river.

It is thought that these straw men replaced old men who were sacrificed to Saturn (who, among other things, was the God of Old Age and so naturally would want to have old people sacrificed to him).