Drawing on her recent research, Suzie will explore Verbeia from the perspective of pagan spirituality and consider how this ancient local goddess can be understood as a living deity today. Arrive at Ilkley Manor House at 10:15am for a hot drink and biscuit. The talk begins at 10:30am, lasts roughly an hour and includes time for questions at the end.

Suzie, will explain how she came to discover Senuna, a little-known Romano-British goddess whose remarkable collection of votive offerings was discovered near the source of the River Cam. She will explore what is actually known about Senuna from the archaeological evidence, before describing how she set out to discover who this almost-forgotten goddess might be today. Suzie will share some of the techniques she has used in her research, combining historical and archaeological investigation with fieldwork, observation of the landscape and personal spiritual practice. She will also describe her experiences and reactions while visiting springs, waterways and other significant locations along the River Cam, and how these encounters have gradually shaped her understanding of Senuna. This is the story not simply of researching an ancient goddess, but of attempting to encounter her again within the living landscape.

In this talk, Suzie will tell the story of how she discovered Senuna, a little-known Romano-British goddess associated with the River Cam, and how the journey of getting to know her eventually gave rise to the English Goddess Project and the Wheel of English Goddesses. Suzie will describe some of the techniques she has used to explore Senuna: researching the archaeological and historical evidence, visiting the landscapes and waterways associated with her, observing the natural world, following unexpected clues and coincidences, and allowing personal spiritual experience to sit alongside more conventional research. From that first encounter with Senuna, the search gradually expanded. What began with one almost-forgotten goddess became an exploration of the goddesses connected with the landscapes, rivers, roads, springs, forests and coastlines of England. The talk will conclude with a whistle-stop journey around the Wheel of English Goddesses, introducing the other goddesses who have emerged throughout the project. The talk will last a little over an hour, with plenty of time afterwards for questions, discussion and the sharing of ideas and experiences.