Pub psychic nights in Britain, attended predominantly by working-class women, serve as spaces for spirit communication led by a medium or psychic. Based on 16 interviews and four participant observations, these events help attendees deal with grief and loss, extending beyond entertainment. They offer opportunities to address existential questions and seek comfort outside traditional religious institutions. The nights blur boundaries between ordinary and extraordinary, transforming historically male-dominated pub spaces into local hubs of female-led spirituality. This research deepens understanding of contemporary spiritual practices and their significance for marginalized communities.
Meditation serves multiple roles in the lives of contemporary Buddhist monastics in Britain, especially for women. Drawing on ethnographic data from six Buddhist groups and lineages, the chapter examines the history, function, and value of meditation practices among ordained women. It compares approaches across traditions and challenges the assumption that meditation is primarily individualistic, instead emphasizing its communal role among monastic women in Britain.