Category: Events

Tuesday 23rd October – gather 6.45 for 7pm Vigil at the gates in Redcross Way, London SE1

The 173rd Vigil (held on the 23rd of every month since June 2004) to remember the outcast, dead and alive, to renew the shrine and to reclaim the secret history as revealed by The Goose to John Crow.

This being our portal to Halloween / Samhain, we’ll be observing some of the rituals for the dead traditionally associated with The Halloween of Crossbones.

You’re welcome to bring your own mementos or ribbons with the names of your lost loved ones to tie to the gates, and/or a poem, song or short personal testimony to share.

FREE. Donations welcome.

Saturday 8th September 12 noon to 11pm

John Constable aka John Crow performs ‘I Am The Wind’, opening for a set by the legendary Martin Carthy, the man who taught Bob Dylan about English folk-songs. There’s also a walk with comedian Arthur Smith, a performance by Circulus and much more – and it’s all FREE! More details here

Sunday 23rd September 7pm

The 172nd consecutive Vigil, which has been held at the gates in Redcross Way on the 23rd of every single month since June 2004. Gather from 6.45pm to begin on the stroke of 7.

We come here to remember the outcast, dead and alive, to renew the shrine and to reclaim the secret history of Crossbones, as revealed by The Goose to John Crow in ‘The Southwark Mysteries’ and re-imagined by every Friend of Crossbones who comes to open the pathways.

These magical works underpin our creation of the Crossbones shrine and the Garden of Remembrance, and our campaign to protect Crossbones as a place of historical, cultural AND spiritual significance – as sacred ground to be protected in the face of the coming redevelopment of the adjoining ‘Landmark Court’ site.

John Crow conducts the rituals and performs his songs and poems from ‘The Southwark Mysteries’ – with words of wisdom from Jules, dedications to Goddess, creative acts of beauty to awaken all our senses and ‘moments in Eternity’ in which we stand in the heart of the city, in silence and in shining emptiness to light the pathways, allowing the sounds of the night to appear and vanish without trace.

This month also marks the Autumn Equinox, when day and night are in balance – an opportunity for us also to re-balance our lives, to let go of what we have lost or no longer need and to invite in the new.

Bring a ribbon, memento or totem to tie to the gates, and a poem, song or brief testimony to share with the spirits of Crossbones. Expect the unexpected!

‘you never know what you might find / you say that Southwark / is only a place / I say She’s a State of Mind.’

Goose, may your Spirit fly free.

Photo (c) Another Eden Images

Sunday 23rd September 12 noon to 6pm

A workshop hosted by Jacqueline Durban and Jennifer Cooper

Through creativity, movement, ritual, and laughter, we will dive into an exploration of what it is to walk a Goddess Path, holding the Divine Feminine as our mirror and guide, seeking Her beneath the skin of the everyday where She has remained hidden in plain sight over two thousand years.

Working in the Crossbones Graveyard Memorial Garden to the Outcast Dead, we will discover The Goose; the Spirit of a medieval prostitute with Her own Secret History (as imparted to John Crow, the shamanic double of John Constable), and discover in Her company a doorway offering the way into deep healing and profound transformation through “sacred profanity”, Open Pathways, and Shining Emptiness.

Working together; listening to the Sacred Feminine within, to the holy and hallowed ground that we walk on, its nature and its heartbeat, we will create a communal poem which we will then present at the monthly Crossbones Vigil for the Outcast, dead and living.

Donations requested, from £30 downwards. Pay what you can afford. All welcome.

After the workshop there will be an opportunity and invitation to attend the monthly Vigil for the Outcast, Dead and Living at the gates of the Crossbones shrine.

Thursday 23rd August 2018

Gather from 6.45 to join the 171st consecutive Vigil, held at the gates in Redcross Way at 7pm on the 23rd of every single month since June 2004.

We come here to remember the outcast, dead and alive, to renew the shrine and to reclaim the secret history of Crossbones, as revealed by The Goose to John Crow and reimagined by every Friend of Crossbones who comes to open the pathways.These magical works underpin our creation of the Crossbones shrine and the Garden of Remembrance, which we’re still campaigning to protect and enhance in the face of the coming redevelopment of the adjoining ‘Landmark Court’ site.

For this month’s Vigil, Jennifer will be doing the honours. Please come support her, bringing a ribbon, memento or magical totem to tie to the gates, and/or a poem, song or short personal testimony to share when we offer our creativity to the spirits of Crossbones.

Expect the unexpected! At the last Vigil, on 23rd July, we had parents reading moving poems for their children who’d died tragically, a mystical Brazilian song sung to the memory of a friend who’d recently taken his own life, tales of The Magdalene, the singing of Isis (Dylan/Levy), everyone being scented by a musky, green scent by John Foley our Crossbones street perfumier, the free distribution of 23 copies of BURNING ISSUE magazine – and much more. Come amaze yourself!

Goose, may your Spirit fly free.

Saturday 7th July
entrance at the golden gates on Union Street, London SE1 1SD. Please arrive by 1:45 for a 2pm start. Ends at 5pm
Entry by donation – suggested minimum £5 waged/£3 unwaged.

Come and find out about the amazing history of Crossbones, join in a talk about female anatomy, see the herbs at Crossbones and learn to use them for common ailments.
Let’s celebrate ourselves! A unique workshop for women, non-binary and trans folk, and for anyone to whom the topic is of interest. Bring a cup, a mat to sit on, and snacks to share if you can. Please dress for the weather – if it’s sunny bring a hat and suncream to protect yourself! We will work in a small group – limited places available! RSVP as soon as possible on 07963765747