IT was perfect weather and the crowds were out for Boscastle’s Museum of Witchcraft and Magic’s Midsummer celebration on June 23.

In the days leading up to the event, the area in front of the museum was transformed by Victoria Musson with the help of assistant Jonathan.

The ‘Elemental Guardians’ were put in place on the bridge and all sorts of works of art were festooned in the harbour.

The two eight foot tall straw sculptures were erected and people began to personalise them — pinning on words and things of significance and inserting small offerings into the specially constructed holes in their bellies.

Then on the Saturday, the day started with River Moor Coven, a local group, dancing outside the museum.

After that, Victoria Musson led the crowd in a blessing of the waters — at least two rivers converge in Boscastle and where they join the sea is where the blessing took place. She spoke about the Goddess and the power and importance of water. A wreath was floated into the water as an offering. Many people queued up afterwards to receive a blessing with water.

People were able to enjoy the sunshine, visit the museum, and have some refreshments during a break. Then, as the sun began to go down, the atmosphere changed.

The God and Goddess sculptures were moved into the harbour area. Fires were lit around them and fire dancers then communed with the elements in the beautiful amphitheatre that is Boscastle Harbour. The God and Goddess were set alight. The spectators looked on as the God’s fire raged, the Goddess took longer to burn. By the time the sun set, they were no more.

The museum team hopes to do something similar again next year, around June 22.