Thread by @radicalhoneybee

More on my visit to Crossbones Graveyard, an inconsecrated medieval burial ground in Southwark, mostly for paupers & sex workers. You can read about its history & why I love it so here instagram.com/p/B4Lg-J0HDxZ/…

Here, I am setting off. I found Fox-and-Cubs on my way. A goid sign.

Going to Crossbones means passing close to Borough Market, which was particularly vibrant on the edge of Hallowmas. I love the buzz of Borough Market but it is a bit overwhelming at times. Often I just look at the lovely veg & then run away!

#SmallBeauties

Here's the entrance to Redcross Way, where the gates of the Crossbones shrine is found. I love this new swan mural under the railway bridge!

This is London's 'other side'. Southwark Cathedral was once called St Mary Overie, or St Mary Over 'Ere ~ 'over the river' if you're posh.

Here we are meeting at the Crossbones gates where a shrine has been created for the Outcast Dead who are buried here. Julia/Sacred Familiar was just about to return to Australia after a pilgrimage to Scotland & Cornwall. She always ends at #Crossbones. It's an anchor for so many.

Here we are entering the graveyard's garden of remembrance. @lucyctalbot gave us a preview of her now sold out tour to discover 'What Lies Beneath Crossbones Graveyard'. I've been going there for almost two decades & she told me loads I didn't know! Good luck tomorrow, Lucy!

My favourite finding of my visit was this gorgeous pink yarrow growing between the cracks in the Crossbones garden; beautiful, heart-opening, marking this place as holy ground. And rebelling against the confines of the flowerbed as all good Goose girls should!

#SmallBeauties

I was moved to meet the Crossbones Mizuko jizo statues, made by a local stone carver & floating beautifully in an ivy sea. They are the protectors of children lost prenatally to miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion. This is their memorial, a place to grieve & remember.

Crossbones has a wonderful new mobile bench, created by local artist/woodworker, Arthur de Mowbray. He is a lovely man & an amazing artist. I loved the new bench, which echoes the shape & beauty of the goose wing entranceway. There are so many ways to honour this place.

There are many memorials & offerings to our own beloved dead on the gates. Here is my friend Gary who died this summer tied there by his mum, Jennifer. Lovely to see his smiling face.

#Crossbones #BelovedDead

Here we are at Redcross Mary's shrine where Jennifer is lighting a candle & making prayers for open pathways.

#Crossbones

Thank you to Lucy for the photo of Jennifer.

Julia brought a new antlered spirit doll, who she placed at the shrine of those lost to suicide. May she watch over them with wild wisdom & offer them a hand to hold in the dark.

#Crossbones

There are so many sparks of the sacred, of all religions & none, in the Crossbones garden. It is a blessing to all ragged hearts.

And Crossbones offers precious space to nature too; to wildflowers & dragonflies, wrens & honeybees.

Here is Borage, aka. Beebread. I love how the tall towers of The City are pale in comparison. Crossbones Graveyard, sticking it to to the man since the 1500s!

#SmallBeauties

And here is mistletoe growing on the small Crossbones crab apple tree. I think that the berries it grew from were rubbed into the tree many years ago after a Twelfth Night celebration on Bankside. There is such magic in that.

#SmallBeauties

And here are Evening Primrose, Common Toadflax, & Clover. Perfect beauties in our beautiful ragged garden.

#SmallBeauties

Blissful & blessed in the place that has shaped my life in all manner of ways for almost two decades.

If you would like to you can read more about the unexpected thread that Crossbones has led me to follow here: instagram.com/p/B4nAykknarB/…

We left Crossbones Graveyard & made our way south to beautiful, vibrant Brixton. You would be most welcome to accompany me on this part of my journey too. Here we are in Electric Avenue.

My friend from West Wales used to hate London, then she went to Brixton & fell in love!

And look there are urban foxes with giant cherries on the shop roofs!

#SmallBeauties #Brixton #FoxLove

We went to the wonderful 'spiritual supplies' shop, Powerful Hand, in Brixton market. It's always packed! You can find all manner of things there; saints' candles, Black Cat room spray, St Michael triple fast action spiritual bath & floor wash. I love it!

#LoveBrixton

And then we all went for a delicious pizza before I had to head for home. Julia was leaving for Australia the next day.

What a precious time of renewing friendship. Crossbones brings so many diverse people together, just like Brixton!

Thank you for coming along with me x

Before I end, may I just mention how much I love St Pancras station. To begin, here is the Fortnum and Mason's shop. I think of it as an art gallery or museum; these little iced biscuits were £30! But it's such a beautiful shop & they sell honey from bees on the station roof!

But I love upstairs at St Pancras the most. It feels like the 1930s! This enormous statue is stunning but I like one of the smaller 3D tableaux round the base of it best; this fierce & resolute bag lady with her faithful companion. He has been worn to gold by being stroked.

It's so romantic up there too! Here is the St Pancras champagne bar. One day I will sit there and sip champagne, possibly weilding a cigarette holder & wearing bright red lipstick! The Eurostar made me feel a bit wistful though. Down with Brexit!

And here I am having a cuddle up to John Betjeman, who campaigned to save the station from demolition when it was under threat. He has a pleasingly round belly & a fine shopping bag. I love him & often say hello at the end of a long London day.

Thank you for coming along.