Folk Practices Archives - Cailleachs Herbarium

Scottish Crannog - Roundhouse in black and white

Birth

The Sacred Circle of Home and Hearth

Our homes were round once – a sacred circle. Imagine. A home with no corners. A roundhouse. Folk say the Romans made houses rectangles and introduced the cross-cutting corners of bureaucracy. The ideal Roman city was a regular grid of streets dividing square building plots or insulae. From here, the Insulae became a public marketplace. The Basilica was located on one side, and on the other, the Council Chamber and Civic Offices. You can’t provide hierarchical order without squares. There’s equality and the ‘chaos’ of equity in circles. The roundhouse, the meeting place of communities. There were very few large

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a river in snow - sacred waters - Cailleachs herbarium

Animism

Sacred Water : Journeys of Transformation and Personal Power in Scottish Folklore

In Scottish cosmology, sacred waters such as our sea and rivers are more than elements; they are animated by their own spirits and present to us gateways to profound wisdom, spiritual insight, and personal power. Water is life and wise rulers go out their way to protect it. This connection is pivotal in folk belief and folk magic and reflects deeper poetic metaphorical narratives about transformation and our ability to change. Seas and Rivers are never the same shape twice, constantly shifting. By examining Scottish and Gaelic tales and traditions, we see how water acts as a catalyst for growth,

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folk charms

The Legacy of the Evil Eye in Scottish Folklore

In the mountainous highlands and rugged borderlands of Scotland, the ancient belief in the evil eye, known as the “uncannie eye” or “ill eye” still lingers, casting a shadow over folklore and daily life. For centuries, Scottish folk have whispered of the malicious power carried by envious glances, capable of withering crops, souring milk, or striking down livestock. Rooted in both Gaelic and non-Gaelic traditions, the evil eye, air-an-cronachadh has been blamed for misfortune, illness, and mysterious deaths, making it a central theme in Scottish folk magic. From rowan charms to self-deprecating blessings, generations have crafted rituals and protections to ward off

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"The Pancake Cook," by Adriaan de Lelie a lady cooking bannocks on fastern's een

Folk Festivals

Fastern’s E’en – Shrove Tuesday in Scotland

Fastern’s E’en or Fasterns Een is a festival in Scotland, held on the Tuesday before Lent, otherwise known as Shrove Tuesday. Fastern E’en comes from Scots. Fastern’s E’en is also known as fastern-, fastren(‘s)-, fasten(‘s)-; fasting’s- (Sc. 1750 W. McFarlane Geneal. Coll. (S.H.S.) II. 138), festern(‘s)- (ne.Sc. 1952), festerns-even (Kcd. 1700 Black Bk. Kcd. (ed. Anderson 1843) 119), festereven (Abd. 1829 A. Cruickshank Poems 34), fosterneen (Cai.7 1950). The form fasten alone is found (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.) and the variant comb. fastern’s night (Sc. 1805 Scott Last Minstrel (1821) IV. vi.). In English Fastern’s E’en is known as Shrove

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Healing well spring in Scotland - Cailelachs Herbarium

Folk Magic

The Scottish Folk Magic of Healing Wells, Springs and Lochs

Scottish healing wells or stroopie wells hold a deep and long history. Stroopie comes from the Gaelic word tobar-shrùbaidh meaning healing well the last word shrùbaidh sounds like stroopie. We know from archaeology and other deposits throwing of gifts and offerings into bodies of water, wells, bogs, lochs, rivers and springs has been going on for a very long time and its still present in some living traditions today. Water is also part of the ideas of Scottish Cosmology and deep reverance in our myths and lore. In Scotland a lot of wells once associated with healing have been associated with

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hazel woods in winter - dair na coille - cailleachs herbarium

Folk Practices

Dàir na Coille – The imbuement of the woods – New Years Day

Dàir na Coile is a fascinating tradition one we have very little written about. Dàir na coille I have come to love though. Its a counterpoint to consumerism – an invitation to pause and links back into the cyclical idea nature and our dead returning on the wind and brining in new life for spring We are in the deep of the dark months of the little sun, of long shadows, storms and misty valleys. Moving into darker times comes with so much hype and pressure today but it wasn’t always like this. This year with endless war coverage and

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Animism

Scottish Cosmology of the Three Realms

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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Kilmoire chapel The historical burial place of the chiefs of the Clan Lachlan not the one on Barra

Folk Festivals

Marysmass – Féill-Moire -Assumption day – Festival

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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People in Kilts urinating up a wall - Cailleachs Herbarium

appropriation

Scottish Cultural Appropriation – Revisited

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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Commodification

Folk Devils and Saints in Scottish folk magic

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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Conservation

Researching your Local Community Heritage

A Folk/Community Heritage hunters beginner’s guide on how to research community heritage As part fo the network you might want to research community heritage and this how to guide will help you make the first steps. You think you might have heard tell of one or encountered one but where do you go to ask to find out more and what can you do? The Woven Land Network Focuses On Holy Wells And Springs, Standing Stones and other Ancient Sites, Monuments And Meeting Places and if you’ve decided to look for significant sites like these in your local area then great! This short

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Folk Practices

Scottish Clootie Wells

There is a strong tradition of taking the waters or drawing the water from a sacred spring or clootie wells at certain times of the year, or for traditional charms and invocations. These waters are used in 40% of the Scottish folk magic charms for which we have a written record, and so are an important and irreplaceable part of our Scottish heritage. Today some springs and wells have dried up, moved location or been intentionally sealed in some way. The principle of ‘do no harm’ can be applied to springs and wells by asking yourself a few questions before you decide

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Conservation

Conserving Community Folk Heritage site Guidelines for Visitors

Scotland is a wonderful place, with history and myth woven into a landscape of cairns, stanes, trees, rivers, hills, springs, and wells. These special places comprise our community folk heritage. We want you to enjoy the amazing access Scotland’s land rights provide to our community folk heritage, but encourage you to tread with awareness and respect for these places. Whether you are a regular visitor, a pilgrim, or a tourist, we invite you to take a few moments to connect with the land around you, learn a little about the history, and enjoy your time whilst you are here. During your visits

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Animism

Conservation Guidelines for Sacred Sites

If you wish for the blessings of a sacred site to go with you when you leave, take not only your own rubbish, but also the rubbish left by others. Dispose of it responsibly. Consider the act of taking litter away as the reciprocal exchange that you make for visiting a site. ASLan This page follows on from our site conservation guidance for visitors. It’s been written to further explain the information in these guidelines for folks who may need more information. We respectfully ask that you minimise your impact on a site when your visit. The “leave no trace” principle means leaving

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Charring the Old wife

Beyond the Yule breads and celebration Plant lore is the verdant heart of Scottish folk holidays and traditions charring the old wife is a unique Scottish tradition. The Yules are no exception, even though at Yuletide the greenery has all but gone, the ground grasped in winter’s frozen embrace. If we look beyond this, nature’s gift and sacrifice is found in the burning heart of Yule – the Yule log of ash or birch. “While Santa keeks doon frae the mantle above,the Yule log crackles oan this Christmas Nicht,waurmin’ hearth an’ hame by burnin’ sae bricht.We coorie thegither, my wife

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dead

Divination by shoulder blade – scapulimancy–Slinneanachd/Slinnairachd

scapulimancy – Slinneanachd – Slinnairachd – divination by shoulder blade in Scottish Folk magic an exploration of the evidence and method.

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Disability

Self-making – Disability in Scottish Folk Magic – Gods in Wheelchairs

I ‘m currently obsessed with the idea of parts of the self in Scottish folklore. Not just our bodies but what our spiritual DNA or what our sprit was once thought to be made of. It’s not just a mind, soul and body we are talking about here. It’s a convoluted and crooked construct with quite a few areas to explore. These conversations seem entirely missing from Scottish folk magic practice forums and debate. Exploring this topic I have allowed my inspiration to take me through the literature trail and reflected on the experience of those who are “othered” through

Scott

Saining A picture showing a Juniper branch from scotland

Folk Practices

Saining not Smudging- Purification, Blessing and Lustration in Scottish Folk Magic Practice

Saining is the Scottish Folk magic act of purification – a way of blessing or removing enchantments that uses smoke or other methods like tar or water or written texts (though Mackenzie writes of it as an amulet to make a warrior invulnerable but also means it can refer to as blessed or sacred) Importantly it’s a cultural relevant practice and is one available for folks who work within the Scottish folk magic diaspora. There has been a lot of conversation around appropriation of certain practices across the world by westerners. A lot of Scottish and European people outside of

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Folk Magic

A Memory of Water – Folk Magic is Community Magic

The below is the introduction for the event Dreaming Bread and Skyrie Stanes on the 11th of November 2018. I thought I’d share it on the website for folk who can’t make the day. I’m also nervous about public speaking tomorrow, so if it all goes tits up you know what I was going to say :) I live near a river. The Jed water. It flows right at the bottom of my garden enclosed on all sides by walls. Before it reaches us, it flows past ancient ruins and forest as old as Scotland. Some of the last

Scott

Isobel Gowdie Album Cover Art by Stonemaiden Art ( used with permission)

Folk Magic

Interview – Isobel Gowdie Concept Album – with Stone Maiden Art and Ex Reverie

My folks have always told me I have more a face for radio than I do TV. I also don’t like associating myself with my writing to any great degree. I’m no brand – I think I’m still scarred by the kickstarter promotion. So, doing a recorded interview is a step toward bravery for me. However, I just couldn’t pass it up for these two amazing, enchanting and quick of wit folk. I had the great pleasure to bend the ear of the enchanting Julia Jeffery from Stonemaiden Art. Also the captivating Gillian Chadwick (from the band Ex Reverie). About their

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Exploring the archives

Category: Folk Practices

Category: Folk Practices

Category: Folk Practices

The Sacred Circle of Home and Hearth

Sacred Water : Journeys of Transformation and Personal Power in Scottish Folklore

The Legacy of the Evil Eye in Scottish Folklore

Fastern’s E’en – Shrove Tuesday in Scotland

The Scottish Folk Magic of Healing Wells, Springs and Lochs

Dàir na Coille – The imbuement of the woods – New Years Day

Scottish Cosmology of the Three Realms

Marysmass – Féill-Moire -Assumption day – Festival

Scottish Cultural Appropriation – Revisited

Folk Devils and Saints in Scottish folk magic

Researching your Local Community Heritage

Scottish Clootie Wells

Conserving Community Folk Heritage site Guidelines for Visitors

Conservation Guidelines for Sacred Sites

Charring the Old wife

Divination by shoulder blade – scapulimancy–Slinneanachd/Slinnairachd

Self-making – Disability in Scottish Folk Magic – Gods in Wheelchairs

Saining not Smudging- Purification, Blessing and Lustration in Scottish Folk Magic Practice

A Memory of Water – Folk Magic is Community Magic

Interview – Isobel Gowdie Concept Album – with Stone Maiden Art and Ex Reverie

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