An untidy collection of thoughts, old stories, curious discoveries and questions that refuse to leave me alone.
Welcome to the written heart of the Herbarium. This is where I gather my research, essays, field notes and reflections on Scotland’s folk traditions, animism, history and the curious business of being human.
Some pieces begin with a passage found in an old book, others with a conversation, a walk through the woods or an idea that has been rattling about in my head for far too long. From there, things have a habit of wandering into folklore, politics, psychology, ecology and the everyday lives of ordinary people. I make no apologies for that. Our traditions have never existed apart from the worlds in which people lived, worked, struggled and loved.
You will find careful research here, but also opinion, uncertainty and the occasional soapbox. I am interested in asking questions as much as finding answers, and I would rather change my mind than cling to a comfortable certainty.
So have a wander, follow whatever catches your attention, and feel free to disagree with me along the way.
A good story ought to leave us with something to think about. A good question might change how we see the world.
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
The ancestral scottish diet is not all haggis, neeps and tatties! Scotland is famous for its food. However, it’s famous for its food for the wrong reasons. Scotland is renowned for
Ah, the joy of another birthday. This one is a significant milestone. It comes with thoughts on mortality, “time is running out”, the brain says, “there is plenty more time”
This post about the fairy faith been a long time in the coming. I can only apologise for that, I have been busy researching for a new book that explores
Water is life. Water is sacred. The travesties that are happening around ours and others countries right now are many. We have fracking underway in England. We have the Dakota
Well, the first Scottish Radical Herbal Gathering is almost upon us and I’m very excited to be delivering a talk with them this year on scottish folk magic with a
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
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
It’s the time of year when we are around family and we celebrate the holidays and the winter moves in. As the winter comes fast and hard we huddle with our nearest
