Scott Richardson-Read

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 …

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 …

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 …

Skelling, Skeklers and Guising: Exploring Liminality was the Taibhsear Collective’s 2nd event. It took place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh in November 2019. This event was all about celebrating Scottish folk magic and community traditions exploring and relating to themes of liminality, Samhuinn, (Halloween), costuming, guising, and winter’s start. This two day event was dedicated to exploring the themes of autumn, Samhuinn, and liminality, and celebrating Scottish folk magic and community traditions. Saturday evening was filled with performances from storytellers from the UK and Europe, followed by live music from Burd Ellen, Lizabett Russo, and Heir of the Cursed. Sunday …

The Taibhsear Collective hosted the last in their trilogy of explorations into Winter customs. Together we explored the rich tapestry and weave of Winter’s Last online over the 23rd and 24th January 2021 through presentations and  a 4 week long programme of workshops.  We immersed ourselves in the chill of winter, exploring the home and hearth, domestic protection, Gillean Chullaig, winter traditions, and the spirits we have come to associate with the long-time darkening cold of Scotland. All contents of the event was filmed and is currently hosted. This is for folk who may not be able to attend in person or …

The Taibhsear Collective came together in 2018 to make Tales of the Taibhsear, an album of stories and songs based on Scottish witch trial records and the 18th century collecting work of James MacKenzie. The Collective was formed of musician Debbie Armour of Burd Ellen, storyteller Amanda Edmiston of Botanica Fabula, and author and researcher Scott Richardson-Read of The Cailleach’s Herbarium, who are all passionate about Scottish folk magic and community traditions. When their Kickstarter campaign for Tales of the Taibhsear raised more than three times its target, the extra funds were used to organise their first event exploring magic …