Dr Icy Sedgwick
@icysedgwick.bsky.social
Host of the Fabulous Folklore podcast/blog. Researcher & writer for hire. Gothic author. Crafter. PhD in haunted house films.
Pinned
For the new followers, I'm a Geordie folklorist with a love for ghosts, cemeteries, and plant lore, host of the Fabulous Folklore podcast, avid crafter, former ghost hunter, lecturer in film and design, and holder of a PhD in haunted house films. Apparently I also hate free time.
I'm pretty sure it's ridiculously hard to take a decent photo of the moon.
In the Roman calendar, the full moon, or the Ides of the month, were sacred to Jupiter.
In the Roman calendar, the full moon, or the Ides of the month, were sacred to Jupiter.
January 3, 2026 at 7:45 PM
I'm pretty sure it's ridiculously hard to take a decent photo of the moon.
In the Roman calendar, the full moon, or the Ides of the month, were sacred to Jupiter.
In the Roman calendar, the full moon, or the Ides of the month, were sacred to Jupiter.
Let's explore a spot of bibliomancy for a New Year's Day divination! youtube.com/shorts/UOEfe...
A spot of New Year's Day bibliomancy for the year ahead! #folklore
YouTube video by Icy Sedgwick
youtube.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Let's explore a spot of bibliomancy for a New Year's Day divination! youtube.com/shorts/UOEfe...
New Year fast approaches, so I've dug out my podcast episode about New Year traditions, divinations, and rituals! pod.co/fabulous-fol...
December 31, 2025 at 6:04 PM
New Year fast approaches, so I've dug out my podcast episode about New Year traditions, divinations, and rituals! pod.co/fabulous-fol...
An image a day for December 2025 no. 31. First footing gear.
I've got an article on first-footing, but this is what I use when first-footing.
Whisky for good cheer, coal for warmth, a silver coin for money, and the mince pies to ensure enough to eat all year!
www.icysedgwick.com/first-footing/
I've got an article on first-footing, but this is what I use when first-footing.
Whisky for good cheer, coal for warmth, a silver coin for money, and the mince pies to ensure enough to eat all year!
www.icysedgwick.com/first-footing/
December 31, 2025 at 1:22 PM
An image a day for December 2025 no. 31. First footing gear.
I've got an article on first-footing, but this is what I use when first-footing.
Whisky for good cheer, coal for warmth, a silver coin for money, and the mince pies to ensure enough to eat all year!
www.icysedgwick.com/first-footing/
I've got an article on first-footing, but this is what I use when first-footing.
Whisky for good cheer, coal for warmth, a silver coin for money, and the mince pies to ensure enough to eat all year!
www.icysedgwick.com/first-footing/
Reposted by Dr Icy Sedgwick
A cold and frosty morning to end this year
December 31, 2025 at 9:14 AM
A cold and frosty morning to end this year
Reposted by Dr Icy Sedgwick
👻NEW EPISODE👻
Following on where the Christmas special left off, I bring you one final dose of How Haunted? for the year.
90 minutes of listeners' ghost stories and more special polterguests as I'm joined by @icysedgwick.bsky.social, @stephlay.bsky.social and @hauntedupnorth.bsky.social
Following on where the Christmas special left off, I bring you one final dose of How Haunted? for the year.
90 minutes of listeners' ghost stories and more special polterguests as I'm joined by @icysedgwick.bsky.social, @stephlay.bsky.social and @hauntedupnorth.bsky.social
December 31, 2025 at 9:01 AM
👻NEW EPISODE👻
Following on where the Christmas special left off, I bring you one final dose of How Haunted? for the year.
90 minutes of listeners' ghost stories and more special polterguests as I'm joined by @icysedgwick.bsky.social, @stephlay.bsky.social and @hauntedupnorth.bsky.social
Following on where the Christmas special left off, I bring you one final dose of How Haunted? for the year.
90 minutes of listeners' ghost stories and more special polterguests as I'm joined by @icysedgwick.bsky.social, @stephlay.bsky.social and @hauntedupnorth.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Icy Sedgwick
Following on from this brief thread on Ella Mary Leather and Herefordshire folklore generated by a recent podcast by the wonderful @icysedgwick.bsky.social I thought I'd even things up across the county border with a post about Charlotte Burne's work in #Shropshire
December 30, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Following on from this brief thread on Ella Mary Leather and Herefordshire folklore generated by a recent podcast by the wonderful @icysedgwick.bsky.social I thought I'd even things up across the county border with a post about Charlotte Burne's work in #Shropshire
An image a day for December 2025 no. 30. Clematis.
Clematis montana is more eye-catching in late spring in full bloom, but even its winter leaves have an ornamental charm.
The plant comes from the Himalayas, China, and Tibet. 'Clematis' is Greek and comes from 'klema', meaning 'vine shoot'.
Clematis montana is more eye-catching in late spring in full bloom, but even its winter leaves have an ornamental charm.
The plant comes from the Himalayas, China, and Tibet. 'Clematis' is Greek and comes from 'klema', meaning 'vine shoot'.
December 30, 2025 at 3:07 PM
An image a day for December 2025 no. 30. Clematis.
Clematis montana is more eye-catching in late spring in full bloom, but even its winter leaves have an ornamental charm.
The plant comes from the Himalayas, China, and Tibet. 'Clematis' is Greek and comes from 'klema', meaning 'vine shoot'.
Clematis montana is more eye-catching in late spring in full bloom, but even its winter leaves have an ornamental charm.
The plant comes from the Himalayas, China, and Tibet. 'Clematis' is Greek and comes from 'klema', meaning 'vine shoot'.
An image a day for December 2025 no. 29. Fungus.
Fungi were originally considered plants, but were identified as part of the Fungi Kingdom in the mid-20th century.
According to Kew Gardens, fungi shared a common ancestor with humans around 1.3 billion years ago!
Fungi were originally considered plants, but were identified as part of the Fungi Kingdom in the mid-20th century.
According to Kew Gardens, fungi shared a common ancestor with humans around 1.3 billion years ago!
December 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
An image a day for December 2025 no. 29. Fungus.
Fungi were originally considered plants, but were identified as part of the Fungi Kingdom in the mid-20th century.
According to Kew Gardens, fungi shared a common ancestor with humans around 1.3 billion years ago!
Fungi were originally considered plants, but were identified as part of the Fungi Kingdom in the mid-20th century.
According to Kew Gardens, fungi shared a common ancestor with humans around 1.3 billion years ago!
Reposted by Dr Icy Sedgwick
Part two is coming on New Year's Eve.
More ghost stories from listeners, and you'll hear me talking to some very special poltetguests as we hear scary experiences from @stephlay.bsky.social, @icysedgwick.bsky.social and Victoria from the @hauntedupnorth.bsky.social podcast 👻
More ghost stories from listeners, and you'll hear me talking to some very special poltetguests as we hear scary experiences from @stephlay.bsky.social, @icysedgwick.bsky.social and Victoria from the @hauntedupnorth.bsky.social podcast 👻
The two-part How Haunted? festive specials are coming
Listeners' real life ghost stories and guests @stephlay.bsky.social, @threeravenspod.bsky.social, @eerieedinburgh.bsky.social, @fionadodwell.bsky.social, @icysedgwick.bsky.social, @knockonceforyes.com, @hauntedupnorth.bsky.social and Haunted UK
Listeners' real life ghost stories and guests @stephlay.bsky.social, @threeravenspod.bsky.social, @eerieedinburgh.bsky.social, @fionadodwell.bsky.social, @icysedgwick.bsky.social, @knockonceforyes.com, @hauntedupnorth.bsky.social and Haunted UK
December 29, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Part two is coming on New Year's Eve.
More ghost stories from listeners, and you'll hear me talking to some very special poltetguests as we hear scary experiences from @stephlay.bsky.social, @icysedgwick.bsky.social and Victoria from the @hauntedupnorth.bsky.social podcast 👻
More ghost stories from listeners, and you'll hear me talking to some very special poltetguests as we hear scary experiences from @stephlay.bsky.social, @icysedgwick.bsky.social and Victoria from the @hauntedupnorth.bsky.social podcast 👻
Reposted by Dr Icy Sedgwick
english degree: good luck getting a job, buddy! AI can replace you
coding degree: good luck getting a job, buddy! AI can replace you
film degree: your deep knowledge of behind the scenes stories from Who Framed Roger Rabbit will delight and entertain coworkers in any field for decades to come
coding degree: good luck getting a job, buddy! AI can replace you
film degree: your deep knowledge of behind the scenes stories from Who Framed Roger Rabbit will delight and entertain coworkers in any field for decades to come
December 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
english degree: good luck getting a job, buddy! AI can replace you
coding degree: good luck getting a job, buddy! AI can replace you
film degree: your deep knowledge of behind the scenes stories from Who Framed Roger Rabbit will delight and entertain coworkers in any field for decades to come
coding degree: good luck getting a job, buddy! AI can replace you
film degree: your deep knowledge of behind the scenes stories from Who Framed Roger Rabbit will delight and entertain coworkers in any field for decades to come
So I made this for my best mate for Christmas! He now has it so I can show it off here. Who doesn't want a squishy fly agaric? #crochet
December 28, 2025 at 6:41 PM
So I made this for my best mate for Christmas! He now has it so I can show it off here. Who doesn't want a squishy fly agaric? #crochet
An image a day for December 2025 no. 28. Ash keys.
According to Margaret Baker, a failed crop of ‘keys’ (ash seeds) predicts a death in the Royal Family. Allegedly, no ash trees bore keys in 1648, the year before Charles I’s execution.
According to Margaret Baker, a failed crop of ‘keys’ (ash seeds) predicts a death in the Royal Family. Allegedly, no ash trees bore keys in 1648, the year before Charles I’s execution.
December 28, 2025 at 4:17 PM
An image a day for December 2025 no. 28. Ash keys.
According to Margaret Baker, a failed crop of ‘keys’ (ash seeds) predicts a death in the Royal Family. Allegedly, no ash trees bore keys in 1648, the year before Charles I’s execution.
According to Margaret Baker, a failed crop of ‘keys’ (ash seeds) predicts a death in the Royal Family. Allegedly, no ash trees bore keys in 1648, the year before Charles I’s execution.
How I'm walking out of 2025
December 28, 2025 at 1:42 PM
How I'm walking out of 2025
Quote this with what you have accomplished in 2025, no matter how small.
* Had another book come out, Ghostlore
* Submitted two books to the publishers, due out in early 2026
* Signed another contract!
* Finally did an event at Treadwell's
* Had another book come out, Ghostlore
* Submitted two books to the publishers, due out in early 2026
* Signed another contract!
* Finally did an event at Treadwell's
Quote this with what you have accomplished in 2025 no matter how small
- got a new book contract
- started teaching my own courses for Continuing Ed at Liverpool uni
- won 'teacher of the year' at the Regency academe
- got small research funding
- wrote a collection chapter on new research
- got a new book contract
- started teaching my own courses for Continuing Ed at Liverpool uni
- won 'teacher of the year' at the Regency academe
- got small research funding
- wrote a collection chapter on new research
Quote this with what you have accomplished in 2025 no matter how small
- got snr management to come down and speak to my team mid-implosion and engage with us. Things now on the up
- applied to the HWA (just sent off my royalties evidence)
- Published fiction
- New mini podcast series out
- got snr management to come down and speak to my team mid-implosion and engage with us. Things now on the up
- applied to the HWA (just sent off my royalties evidence)
- Published fiction
- New mini podcast series out
December 28, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Quote this with what you have accomplished in 2025, no matter how small.
* Had another book come out, Ghostlore
* Submitted two books to the publishers, due out in early 2026
* Signed another contract!
* Finally did an event at Treadwell's
* Had another book come out, Ghostlore
* Submitted two books to the publishers, due out in early 2026
* Signed another contract!
* Finally did an event at Treadwell's
Reposted by Dr Icy Sedgwick
It's that time of year again!
I've surveyed the Romancing the Book Group members and we've come up with our top '5-star reads'
Get some bookish inspiration here!
romancingthegothic.com/2025/12/28/r...
I've surveyed the Romancing the Book Group members and we've come up with our top '5-star reads'
Get some bookish inspiration here!
romancingthegothic.com/2025/12/28/r...
Romancing the Gothic Five-Star Reads
Every year, the Romancing the Gothic book group votes on the books it has read this last year to give you our top recommendations! I tried for a top 5 but we had 6 books tied in third place so̷…
romancingthegothic.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:38 AM
It's that time of year again!
I've surveyed the Romancing the Book Group members and we've come up with our top '5-star reads'
Get some bookish inspiration here!
romancingthegothic.com/2025/12/28/r...
I've surveyed the Romancing the Book Group members and we've come up with our top '5-star reads'
Get some bookish inspiration here!
romancingthegothic.com/2025/12/28/r...
An image a day for December 2025 no. 27. Ivy appears in New Year’s Eve divinations. Family members wrote their name on an ivy leaf before dropping it into a bowl of water. The next morning, the family inspected the leaves. If anyone’s name had turned into a coffin shape, death was coming for them.
December 27, 2025 at 4:06 PM
An image a day for December 2025 no. 27. Ivy appears in New Year’s Eve divinations. Family members wrote their name on an ivy leaf before dropping it into a bowl of water. The next morning, the family inspected the leaves. If anyone’s name had turned into a coffin shape, death was coming for them.
In the final instalment in this series of Festive Folklore episodes, I'm joined by Eerie Essex to chat about nut-related stock market predictions, ways to bring good luck into your new year, the Mari Lwyd, and our own New Year traditions and practices. youtu.be/eYoO2GVN9gY
New Year Folklore and Traditions with Eerie Essex
YouTube video by Icy Sedgwick
youtu.be
December 27, 2025 at 12:54 PM
In the final instalment in this series of Festive Folklore episodes, I'm joined by Eerie Essex to chat about nut-related stock market predictions, ways to bring good luck into your new year, the Mari Lwyd, and our own New Year traditions and practices. youtu.be/eYoO2GVN9gY
An image a day for December 2025 no. 26. I shared the so-called Christmas rose yesterday, but here's an actual rose at Christmas!
If you’re cutting a rose, be careful no petals fall from the flower, otherwise, you’ll have bad luck.
If you’re cutting a rose, be careful no petals fall from the flower, otherwise, you’ll have bad luck.
December 26, 2025 at 10:17 AM
An image a day for December 2025 no. 26. I shared the so-called Christmas rose yesterday, but here's an actual rose at Christmas!
If you’re cutting a rose, be careful no petals fall from the flower, otherwise, you’ll have bad luck.
If you’re cutting a rose, be careful no petals fall from the flower, otherwise, you’ll have bad luck.
An image a day for December 2025 no. 25. The Christmas rose! Only it's actually a hellebore. According to Simon Eade, a single black hellebore was found growing in an English abbey in the 1500s. People believed the hellebore bloomed around January 6, the original Christmas Day.
December 25, 2025 at 10:46 AM
An image a day for December 2025 no. 25. The Christmas rose! Only it's actually a hellebore. According to Simon Eade, a single black hellebore was found growing in an English abbey in the 1500s. People believed the hellebore bloomed around January 6, the original Christmas Day.
Watching the classic Whistle And I'll Come to You, AKA "Put That Thing Back Where It Came From (Or So Help Me)".
December 24, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Watching the classic Whistle And I'll Come to You, AKA "Put That Thing Back Where It Came From (Or So Help Me)".
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, found himself in later life invited to a Christmas party in an unfinished skyscraper where he fought thieves and found himself able to empathise with TV dinners.
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die a hero, lived long enough to see himself become the villain.
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die.
While celebrating his new found life, was promptly run over by a reindeer 🙃
While celebrating his new found life, was promptly run over by a reindeer 🙃
December 24, 2025 at 12:15 PM
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, found himself in later life invited to a Christmas party in an unfinished skyscraper where he fought thieves and found himself able to empathise with TV dinners.
Reposted by Dr Icy Sedgwick
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, eventually became a Queen! Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the Dawn! Treacherous as the Seas! Stronger than the foundations of the Earth!
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, eventually found himself on a planet called Third Earth, where he had a long-running quarrel with a group of anthropomorphic cats
December 24, 2025 at 10:51 AM
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, eventually became a Queen! Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the Dawn! Treacherous as the Seas! Stronger than the foundations of the Earth!
Reposted by Dr Icy Sedgwick
Your annual reminder that if you want someone to chat or have a laugh with over the Christmas period there will be lots of folk on the #JoinIn and #DuvetKnowItsChristmas threads. 🎄
December 22, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Your annual reminder that if you want someone to chat or have a laugh with over the Christmas period there will be lots of folk on the #JoinIn and #DuvetKnowItsChristmas threads. 🎄