London Fortean Society:
Divination Day: Astrology, Tarot, Tomorrow and Us

When the future is uncertain, people often turn to occult and cosmic guidance through methods such as astrology, Tarot cards, phrenology, and other forms of truth-seeking. Join the London Fortean Society for an in-depth exploration of predicting the future through magic and not-quite-science.

Confirmed Talks:

Kelly-Ann Maddox – Using The Tarot

Kelly-Ann Maddox is an award-winning professional Tarot reader, witchcraft mentor, and author. Her approach to the Tarot focuses on enhancing mental well-being, encouraging spiritual evolution, and addressing real-world challenges. In her talk, she will explore the value of Tarot as a tool for navigating life’s obstacles and as a powerful magical instrument. Prepare to be inspired and motivated, with new ideas on how to use your Tarot deck to achieve personal growth.

Jen Cownie – Wild Card: Let the Tarot Tell Your Story

Each Tarot card you draw opens up new possibilities. What will the cards reveal? What lessons and insights might they offer? At its core, Tarot is a storytelling device—a deck of symbols and narratives that can spark conversations, inspire ideas, and reveal new perspectives. Tarot reader Jen Cownie will show you how to use the Tarot to add a touch of magic to your life. Whether you’re learning to read for yourself and others, refreshing your knowledge, or simply curious, Wild Card will demonstrate how the Tarot can enrich your life. Jen’s new book, Wild Card: Let the Tarot Tell Your Story, will be available for purchase on the day.

In 2018, Jen Cownie and Fiona Lensvelt launched their stage show, Litwitchure, and have since appeared at events across the UK, using Tarot as a tool for self-exploration and conversation. Their interviewees have included Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, Nina Stibbe, Emma Jane Unsworth, and many more. Wild Card is their first book.

Bernard Eccles – The Underground River: A History of Astrology

Astrology, like an underground river, flows through human culture, sometimes visible and sometimes not, but never entirely absent. This talk will trace astrology’s development from Mesopotamian skywatchers and the Greek invention of the horoscope, through its Renaissance uses, its decline in the 18th century, its 19th-century revival, the rise of newspaper horoscopes in the 20th century, and its vibrant presence on the internet today. How does astrology continue to endure? What does it offer that other worldviews do not? Bernard Eccles will explore these questions and more.

Bernard Eccles has lectured on astrology for over 25 years. He is a life member of the Astrological Lodge of London and served as its president from 1988 to 1994.

Professor Chris French – Science and Astrology

While Western astrology has remained largely unchanged over the past 2,000 years, science has evolved dramatically in the last 200 years. For astrology believers, this constancy is evidence of their worldview’s eternal truth, contrasting with science’s ever-changing nature. However, this is a key indicator of astrology’s pseudoscientific status, which disregards extensive empirical research that shows astrology consistently fails rigorous testing. Professor Chris French will discuss why astrology is considered a pseudoscience and explore the psychology behind belief in astrology and other forms of divination.

Chris French is Emeritus Professor and Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and a Patron of Humanists UK. He is the author of The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure the Paranormal.

Avril Price – Tarot’s Social History

Avril Price is a Tarot consultant, tutor, mentor and author based at The College of Psychic Studies in South Kensington, London. She reads Tarot from a Psycho-spiritual perspective, which is an observation of the integration between the inner world and the physical one. Her particular interest is in how we can work with the intuitive faculty to navigate a path towards positive life choices and fresh perspectives, leading to a greater understanding of self and the world we inhabit. Avril is renowned for her down to earth approach. She has a passion for building and sustaining community.

In her talk, Avril will take us on a walk through the history of Tarot, how it came to be used in predictive practice and its place in the domestic domain.

Age Recommendation:

16+

Price:

Standard £19 • Living Support £13 • Students £13

Access Information

Due to the age and Grade II listing of the building, there is no lift access to rooms above the ground floor.

All the ground-floor rooms are fully accessible by wheelchair. Main Hall (street access, step-free), Brockway Room (street access, step-free), Bertrand Russell Room (street access, shallow ramp), Hive Cafe (street access, step-free), There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor opposite the Brockway Room.

Other events you may be interested in:

Into the Uncanny

Smoke Hole: Ancient Myths for Modern Times with Martin Shaw