Dame Joanna Lumley Participates in Spell Ceremony with White Witches on Danube River Journey
According to a report from Yahoo News UK, Dame Joanna Lumley, the 79-year-old actress, recently embarked on a 1,770-mile journey along the River Danube for her new ITV travel series, ‘Joanna Lumley’s Danube’. As part of her travels, she visited Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, taking a detour to the Ukrainian border before reaching her final destination, the Black Sea.
During her stay in Romania, Lumley spent time with a group of white witches, participating in a spell ceremony aimed at "bringing peace and warding off negativity". The ceremony, which involved the use of candles and the elements of earth, air, water, and fire, was said to have been a unique experience for the actress. As Yahoo News UK reports, Lumley was presented with an amulet by the white witches, which she was told would keep her safe on the remainder of her journey.
In an interview with the Daily Express Saturday magazine, Lumley shared her experience of the ceremony, stating: "They work with the elements – earth, air, water, fire – to bring peace and ward off negativity. They were so glamorous. They used masses of candles for their ceremony. The camera boys nearly died from the heat. Then they gave me an amulet to take me safely on the rest of my journey." This was revealed in the original article on Yahoo News UK.
As part of her travels, Lumley also met with former Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst in Austria. Conchita Wurst won the contest in 2014 as Austria’s entrant with the song ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’. Additionally, Lumley witnessed a performance by a troupe of homosexual lederhosen dancers, which she described as "unbelievably touching". The actress praised the group’s kindness and inclusivity, noting that it was a poignant moment given Austria and Germany’s dark history of persecution.
Lumley was quoted in the original Yahoo News UK article as saying: "The lederhosen dancers were so unbelievably touching. It was a group made completely of middle-aged gay men, it was out of this world. They were amazing. Their kindness and inclusivity touched me very much. Thinking back to Austria and Germany’s darkest times, where people were persecuted and sent to camps for being gay, suddenly here they are in the heart of Austria doing this fabulous dancing."
The journey along the River Danube had a profound impact on Lumley, leaving her in awe of the world’s beauty and wonder. As she noted in the interview, "It was a delight to see this magnificent river coming out of the ground at the source, a tiny little trickle, and then travelling her length. It was awesome. I did so much thinking and reflecting on how we neglect geography at our peril. The world is so full of marvels. Everything about this trip was eye-opening. It was terribly touching, very funny and extreme." This sentiment was reported by Yahoo News UK, highlighting Lumley’s experiences and reflections on her journey.
The actress, who is married to composer Stephen Barlow, has documented her journey along the River Danube as part of her ITV travel series, ‘Joanna Lumley’s Danube’. The series showcases her experiences and encounters along the way, including her participation in the spell ceremony with the white witches and her meeting with Conchita Wurst. According to Yahoo News UK, the series provides a unique glimpse into Lumley’s travels and adventures.
