Introduction – Celtic cosmology To understand why Scottish folk practice includes a focus on nature – earth, sky and waters spirts and its animated world we need to understand the roots of this island and its associated cosmology. This post explores Scottish cosmology and “Celtic” and Gaelic cosmology ideas and hypothesis in an attempt to unpick some of the more modern elemental systems found in Scottish folk magic. Scotland is a small part of a larger nation and has been influenced by many different cultures- some though war and raids some through colonisation and settling and then the march of…
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Marysmass, Mary’s mass, Féil-Moire (Mary’s day) the Big St Marys Feast or the Assumption day happens on the 15th of August. Personally, I think it’s a great example of the syncretic nature of Scottish Folk practices and pre reformation kirk activities. The festival itself dates to the medieval period and apparently even back to the 7th century. In the publication Ancient Church Dedications in Scotland, James Mackinaly, 1910, mentions “certain festivals instituted from time-to-time formed landmarks in the growth of the Virgin’s cultus. Among these maybe mentioned the Feast of the Purification or Candlemas (2nd February also related to Brid and Imbolc),…
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I’ve been chatting about wormeries and worm farms on social media for a few days and folks have been asking how to make a wormery or a worm farm and what the benefits are. I’ve had a wormery or worm farm for over 5 years and they are great for fellow nature enthusiasts who care about permaculture and sustainability! If you’re passionate about sustainable living and gardening, then you’re in for a treat. We’re going to explore the world of wormeries and why they’re so fundamental to have. Plus, I’ll guide you through a step-by-step process to build your very…
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I have written a lot about my views on Scottish spirituality and folk belief before, but I’ve never really spelled out the position – why of things. I’ve explored Scottish cultural appropriation and appreciation through a story you can find here and I’ve touched on Scottish cultural appropriation a wee bit here but having been sitting with these ideas and thoughts for as long as I’ve been writing about it, I feel now is a time to be bit more prescriptive about my feelings around this and where I find myself positioned in these discussions. I no longer want to…
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Folk devils and saints in Scottish folk magic occur time and time again. Folk devils are tied to stories in our land and demonise our past folk traditions. Saintly spirits (along with folk devils) are called up for healing, cursing, childbirth, protection, and everyday life. Other stories tell how we could call upon them to place ourselves into the devil’s care as a form of initiation. Folk devils and saints are the agents in a lot of operative folk magic. Scottish Folk Magic Practitioners embrace them as part of a syncretic approach to folk magic quite rightly as sometimes this…
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Dreaming Bread and Skyrie Stanes was the Taibhsear Collective’s first event. It took place in November 2018 at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, and focused on exploring Scottish folk magic and traditions. It also tied in with the launch of the Taibhsear Collective’s recorded album of Scottish folk tales and songs, Tales of the Taibhsear. This event was a day long celebration of Scottish folk magic, lore, legends, and community traditions. It took place on Old Halloween, and brought together academics, storytellers, artists, and specialists from diverse fields including folklore, animism, the fairy faith, herbalism, and traditional crafts. They shared…