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Cailleachs Herbarium
Exploring Scottish Folk Practices and Traditions
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Lùnastal – The First Sorrow – (Part 1)
Lunastal. This time of year has always been special to me, which we try to align to the new moon or full depending. It marks the beginning of the “folk Autumn” season or second half of summer in the Celtic…
Straw craft , Wheat Weaving, Corn Dollies and Kern Idols
It’s nearing that time of year again. The wheat, rye and barley are almost ripe and the Raspberries and Bilberries are coming out in force. Poppies dot red the yellowing seas of grain. It’s nearing Lunastal and folks are readying to take in…
Foraging in July in the Scottish Lothians
“A shower of rain in July, when the Corn begins to fill, is worth a plough of Oxen, and all belongs there till.” Am Mios crochadh nan con – The month of hanging dogs, also known as Am mios buidhe…
Scottish Gaelic Divination Prayer \ Charm – The firth
Those following along on social media will know I have been discussing divination for a while and researching the below bit of Audio exploring authentic Scottish Prayers or charms to use as part of my divination practices. I happened across…
An Fheill Sheathan, Midsummer, Johnsmass, summer solstice
Midsummer, the summer solstice, St Johns mass (the birth of St. John the Baptist), An Fheill Sheathan – all these names recall a festival that is at counterpoint to Yul or Jul. Like the Winter solstice feast the summer solstice,…
Folk magic, witchcraft, whats the difference ?
I get asked “what is a Folk Practitioner or what is folk magic?” on many occasions. I also get asked “what is the difference between what you do and what a witch does?”, “Is it witchcraft?”, “Are you religious?”, “Do…
Foraging in May in Scottish Lothians
“May, May the merry month of May“. I’m no Julie Andrews but this is the time of year when we begin to feel that summer, Samhradh, has truly begun. Bealtaine proper also fell into May for us this year, with both the…
Samhradh Samhradh – Là Bealltainn – May Day
Its the first of May, Happy Bealltainn! One of the best days of the year in my humble opinion...its coming indicates its time to go out searching for wildcrafted herbs and fresh young shoots of plants. So what are your plans for today? Why not start it off by listening to this amazing traditional song by The Gloaming calling in the Summer (Samhradh means summer in Irish gaelic). I have provided a the lyrics and a translation after the video.
Lá Bealltainn – The Gaelic End of Winter Festival
Là Bealltainn, the summer hinge the swinging open of the door to Samhradh, summer. The liminal time, the otherworld now just a heart beat away. Yet in true Scottish irony it comes in with the “Gab of May“. These first days of…
Foraging in April in the Scottish Lothians
When April weeps, then May will chirp and sing, for April showers make May flowers to spring. Ah April, an Giblean, also known as May of the silly one, Céitein na h-òinsich. òinsich could mean silly one and cuckoo. It’s traditionally…
La na Cailleach – Spring Equinox – Fools, Cuckoos, the Lady and the Devil
When the light of the sun of this day shines into the inner chamber of Sliabh na Calli (The Cailleach’s mound). By solar reckoning, the year is exactly half. Half day, half night. At one exact moment, the world balanced…
Foraging in March in the Scottish Lothians
The cuckoo comes in the middle of March and sings in the middle of April and passes away at Lunasa tide when the corn begins to fill March, Màrt, is upon us, the time of earrach geamhraidh, or winter-spring continues…
Foraging in February in the Scottish Lothians
February, Faoilleach, the wolf ravage. Imbolc and La Fheill Bride. The month of two halves. The beginning, a full on winter experience. By the end becoming a little easier going with clear signs of summer on its way. The weather though…
Spring Cleaning – Herbal House Cleaning Recipes
Spring cleaning the house cleaning is always a chore, I’m not sure that anyone enjoys it. One thing we need to do though is to keep the house clean especially after it has been closed up all winter. The point…
Spring Cleaning – Herbal Teas and Folk Practitioners Cleaning formulations
It’s still cold outside. The second part of winter is here. It’s still great to be indoors. Especially, after all, those storms and ice still hanging about on roads and ponds. Staying warm in bed is always my favourite option. Drinking…
From Dead to Deity – How did the Celtic dead become gods?
I’m sitting on a train. It’s like a liminal space, I’m not moving but rushing forward at the same time. Travelling through the amazing Scottish landscape, it’s always a joy. Even though a brown, white and green dusk coloured blur beyond the window. The sound…
La Féill Bríd – Imbolc – Snakes, Fire and Lustration in midwinter.
Summer is coming, everyone is rushing around, readying for spring activity. Brid is coming. Must be busy. I find it exhausting at this time of year and in this climate to be thinking this is the start of action. I…
Hangovers and Hogmanay Regrets – Herbal Hangover cures
The fear creeping up on you when your still in bed... the taste of a small animal that has crawled into your mouth used it as a toilet and the subsequently died there without any last rites or a word from their relatives. Open one eye, light cracks from between the curtains instantly hurt... headache pounding, stomach churning and perhaps even a little room spin to go with it all? Any feelings of regret are creeping over your imagination, did I really do that? did I really drink that much? did I really tell them THAT story ?… then the hint of whiskey comes back to mind and the queasy feeling gets worse … Yeah is definitely a Hogmanay Hangover … best close your eyes and pretend it never happened …
Jül/Jol – Yule – Breads and celebration
It is the midwinter solstice tonight (well officially the morning of the 22nd) the shortest day and longest night. It’s nice to think that the nights are getting longer once more but I miss the darkness of early evenings and…
The good, the dead, and the fairy faith – Animism and ancestors in Scottish folklore.
Winter time is always a time for me to ponder on those who have passed. Their missing faces from the celebration table hit pretty hard at this time of year. I don’t mean to be maudlin but it’s a reality…