One good thing about moving into the dark half of the year is that it brings with it the opportunity for some night walking. On our own we may feel apprehensive about venturing out after dark, but with the power of collective presence we can overcome this and take back the night for some seasonal celebration.
As per Walkspace tradition, we shall be observing the beginning of night walking season with a walk around the Stirchley Skull this Halloween. We created the Stirchley Skull three years ago by overlaying a skull image onto a map of the neighbourhood and then walking its outline. We've continued to walk the skull every year since but this time we're going to add a little twist…
Up to now we've always walked the skull clockwise but this year we're going to see what happens if we reverse the direction and go "widdershins" or against the way. To walk widdershins means to walk in a direction contrary to the course of the sun (as it appears from the Northern Hemisphere). In British folklore it's considered bad luck to walk widdershins around a church. In the fairytale Childe Rowland, a young girl does so and is transported to Elfland where she is held captive by the Elf King. It remains to be seen what happens when you do the same around a neighbourhood skull.
The possibility of moving between worlds is increased on Halloween, it being the time of year when the veil between the physical world and that of spirits is at its thinnest. As such we shall be keeping an eye out for otherworldly apparitions and messages from the beyond.
If people have any of their own traditions, objects or costumes* that they'd like to bring to the walk then we encourage you to do so. In the past we've had jar lanterns, crow costumes, soul cakes and an anatomical skull model thrown into the mix. Whether Pagan, Christian or none of the above, this time of year means lots of different things to different people and we embrace this multiplicity. To quote Weird Walk, "if the magic feels real, then it is".
Join us on Tuesday 31st October at 7:30pm outside Stirchley Library on Bournville Lane. This is a gentle circular route lasting no more than 90 minutes. The terrain will mostly be pavement and roads, with a bit of grass and a gravelly track. Prepare for muddy conditions and the first gales of winter. The walk will go ahead whatever the weather. No need to book, just turn up.
*while costumes are welcome, they are by no means obligatory