The Dandelion Daily

Autumn gatherings drew mixed reactions from participants across the country. Nature lovers on Hampstead Heath enjoyed exploring woods under ultraviolet light at Fungi After Dark: Biofluorescent Fungi & a Spooky UV Woodland Walk on Halloween, praising the knowledgeable guides, though some felt a smaller group or extra torches would help everyone see. In Barnsbury, singers at the Vocal Playground: Collaborative Vocal Improv day relished the chance to make music together in an absorbing, well-run workshop.

Other events faced practical hurdles. Attendees at Church Stretton’s Samhain Autumn Alignment Day Retreat, based at The Haybarn, appreciated the morning yoga but were frustrated by poor catering arrangements, commercial stalls, and a lack of outside activities. Meanwhile, at IMMERSION : SAMHAIN - A Live Sound & Movement Journey & Installation Experience in Brighton’s Church of Saint Michael, dancers loved the visual art and music sets, yet called for better food and fewer trip hazards from lighting cables.

Community members in Buckfastleigh can share a meal at the Moor Imagination Centre's November Community Meal. The family-friendly evening centres around seventy baked jacket potatoes provided by the centre alongside baked beans and salad, with guests invited to bring along their own toppings to share with the room.

In London, women looking to refresh their wardrobes can head to a private home in the E14 area for the Women's Clothes Swap & Social Evening. Guests bring clean, good-quality clothes and accessories to trade while sharing food and drinks, with any leftover garments donated to charity. Meanwhile, the Bristol Men's Fire gathers men of all ages and backgrounds around the hearth of an earthen roundhouse near Greenbank Cemetery, offering a space to talk and support each other through the challenges of everyday life.

Several gatherings are catching the eye of locals seeking music and reflection over the coming weeks.

In Bristol, Samhain Portal: Ecstatic Dance, Ancestor Ritual & Live Sound Bath takes over The Mount Without on Upper Church Lane. Designed for families and people of all ages, the sober event invites attendees to bring photos or mementos to an ancestor altar, before taking part in shared songs, an ecstatic dance session and a live sound bath.

Music lovers in London can head to Bar A Bar on Stoke Newington Road for ALEX AKAL - SOUNDS OF TRIBE - Tribal EDM with Live Music + World Jam Session. Welcoming solo visitors, groups and musicians alike, the evening features live electronic tribal sets with traditional instruments, followed by an open jam session where anyone can join in with their own instruments or dance.

For those at home, Headless Way: Online Q&A with Richard Lang offers a free internet session exploring the practice of the Headless Way.