Living in cremation grounds, eating from a skull-bowl, possession by wild gods and offerings of blood to ferocious goddesses- these are all features of the Atimarga – the traditions of ascetic Saivism which were the direct precursors to the Tantric Traditions. In this lecture, Phil Hine explores the doctrines and practices of these early ascetic paths, their place in the wider culture, and their appearances in Indian literature. He shows how the wild, cremation-ground practices fed into the Tantric path – the mantramarga, and how these ascetic practitioners established themselves as power-brokers and gurus to kings. Prepare yourselves for flying sorceresses, ash-smeared madmen, ferocious goddesses and drunken skull-bearers! Phil Hine is an independent researcher and author. Whilst he is best-known for his three books on Chaos Magic, he is also a practitioner of a hybridised approach to Tantra with over thirty years experience, and also has a background in Wicca and Ceremonial Magic. His latest work can be found at http://enfolding.org and you can follow him on twitter at: @PhilH86835657

This talk outlines the current theories and interpretations regarding concealed objects such as mummified cats, concealed shoes, concealed clothing (spiritual middens), horse skulls, curses, bent coins and taper burns made onto house timbers. Wayne Perkins is an archaeologist with over twenty years of experience. He is currently researching medieval graffiti, ritual protection marks and ritual practices in the medieval buildings of the south-east of England.

Tantra is thousands of years old, and is all about sex, right? Not so! In this lecture Phil Hine debunks the popular misconceptions which have arisen about the origins of Tantra. He explores the meaning of the term “tantra” and how it has been defined by scholars, New Agers and from within the tradition itself. He explains how ideas about Tantra were shaped during the colonial period, and how the subject is approached by contemporary scholars. Finally, he introduces us to the development of the Saiva religion, out of which the Tantric path eventually emerges. Phil Hine is an independent researcher and author. Whilst he is best-known for his three books on Chaos Magic, he is also a practitioner of a hybridised approach to Tantra with over thirty years experience, and also has a background in Wicca and Ceremonial Magic. His latest work can be found at http://enfolding.org and you can follow him on twitter at: @PhilH86835657

Elsa ‘Schiap’ Schiaparelli (1890 - 1973), Surrealist designer, was a collaborator of Salvador Dalí, Leonor Fini and Jean Cocteau, a rival of Coco Chanel, and pioneer of everything ‘Shocking Pink.' In the summer of 1938 Schiaparelli’s unveiled her Zodiac Collection: jackets emblazoned with planets, dresses with stars, and capes with suns. Fascinated by astronomy since childhood, she drew inspiration from Euclid’s Elements, the solar system and the constellation Ursa Major, which was her personal talisman. This illustrated lecture will specifically revolve around Elsa Schiaparelli’s Zodiac Collection, but will also look at her love of astronomy, her scientific approach to couture, and the collection’s effect on contemporary fashion. We look, finally, upon the way in which heavenly bodies informed other women artists associated with the Surrealist movement. Sabina Stent is an independent scholar who researches, writes and lectures on the subject. Her PhD thesis was “Women Surrealists: Sexuality, Fetish, Femininity and Female Surrealism”

Dan Harms, editor of The Book of Oberon (with James Clark and Joseph Peterson), takes us on a journey through the roles of Fairies in the history of English magic. Do away with what you thought Fairies were all about and learn about their complicated politics, abilities and desires. Dan Harms is a librarian and writer from upstate New York. He is known as the co-author of The Necronomicon Files, The Book of Oberon, and Of Angels, Demons, and Spirits, and editor of The Long-Lost Friend. He maintains an irregular blog at http://danharms.wordpress.com.

Paul Cowlan leads us through the dense meanings behind alchemical images through the ages. These fascinating illustrations can be explored to gain insights into the alchemist's understanding of the spiritual and physical world. Paul Cowlan has been a practitioner of spiritual alchemy for over thirty years. He writes, lectures and gives experiential workshops on it. He is a regular Treadwells tutor, who we are always pleased to host when in the UK on visits from his home in Germany.

In this short lecture Mark Smith explores one of the reasons why spellcasting can fail: Lust of Result. He discusses what it is, where it comes from, how to know if you have it and what to do about it. Mark Smith is a professional musician, therapist and Chaos Magician of many years.

London occultist Madeline Montalban (1910-1982) was famed for her monthly articles on tarot and astrology in Prediction magazine. To the occult world, though, she is known as head of the ‘Order of the Morning Star,' a remarkable group whose magical basis lay in original magical texts, which Montalban had syncretised into a workable system. Members met in her London flat in St Giles. Julia Phillips is the acknowledged expert on this remarkable woman occultist, her work and her legacy. Phillips herself is an occult practitioner of forty years' standing; she writes, lectures and teaches.

Rebecca Beattie explains the role of the 7 classical planets in the evolution of western magical systems and how their correspondences are still used by modern practitioners. Rebecca Beattie is a long-standing practitioner of Western magical methods; she is a Wiccan priestess and a friendly, engaged tutor. In her research life, she is a doctoral researcher working on the modernist writer Mary Webb. Also a published author, her book Nature Mystics is available at Treadwell's.