Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

[Lucan]

Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of the worst year, 1662 in which people were accused of witchcraft in Scotland

http://webdb.ucs.ed.ac.uk/witches/in...tion=home.main

[miolchu]

Re: Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

I am not sure about the counting. I was not even aware of witch trials in Scotland. In the Massachusetts Bay Colony such things occurred in the 1680's, which on the surface, appear to have been based on religious hysteria. With a deeper look, may have been motivated more on social problems and opportunties for financial gain. Not much is ever what it appears.

[Ranald]

Re: Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

Tom, I did a lot of research on the subject of witches,and you will be very surprised at the following.

Here are two links, which show that in 1944….. yes 1944 the last trial and imprisonment in the UK of a ‘witch’.

http://www.helenduncsa.org.uk/helens...elenstory.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottis...s_modern.shtml

There are of course, many other links on the same subject.

Ranald

[Kelly d]

Re: Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

The Maiden Stane — story of a bride tricked by Satan
In the shadow of the Hill of Bennachie in Aberdeenshire there is a Pictish symbol stone known as the Maiden Stane. This stone too has a local legend attached to it. In this case the story seems to be an attempt to explain the abstract symbols on the stone but it is none the less intriguing for that.

A long time ago a young woman lived with her parents on the farm of Drumdorno. She was the most beautiful lass in five parishes and was known throughout the area as the Maiden of Drumdurno. She was wooed by a succession of young men until at last she agreed to marry a local man called Jamie with whom she was much in love.

The day before the wedding the bonnie lass was busy in her mother's kitchen baking bannocks and scones for the following day's festivities. Engrossed in her work and thinking of her love she looked up to see a handsome stranger looking in the kitchen window. The dark and well-dressed man commented that she did her work well, looked good doing it but she was maybe just a trifle slow.

The young lass said that few would agree with him but felt a bit flattered by his attentions. After a few minutes of banter the stranger said he would bet her that he could build a road to the Tap o Bennachie before she could finish her baking. If he succeeded she would have to marry him instead of her Jamie. Laughingly she agreed to the obviously silly bet.

Smiling, the stranger left and the Maiden paid him no more thought, her head being full of her imminent'marriage. She did not know what she had done, in the evening just as she was about to put her last batch of bannocks in the oven she looked out of the kitchen window. To her consternation and terror she saw a road stretching right up to Mither Tap, the very summit of Bennachie.

As she stared the stranger came into view heading for the farm. Mow she could see him as he really was — the Devil himself. She now realised how ominous her situation was and she fled towards Pitroddie woods hoping to find help. There was none.

As she ran the Maiden tried to pray but no doubt due to the closeness of Satan she found she could not form the words. The road ahead was completely deserted. Just as the fiend was about to seize her the prayer she had been unable to utter was answered. She was turned to stone on the spot and the De'il was left with a small piece of stone that had been her shoulder. The devil was thwarted and the Maiden's honour and soul were saved though her life was lost.

A variant of the tale clearly shows the fiend's intent for he was assisted in his roadbuilding by his wife. She is said to have gathered the stones he needed but sadly nothing is said of her reaction to helping him in his attempted seduction. At one point his wife, who was gathering the stones in her apron, let fall a pile of boulders which formed a hill on the far side of Inverurie. At a later date the Ark became stuck on this hill during the Flood, Noah stuck his head out of a window and told the boat to sail by and ever since the spot has been known as the Hill of Selby (Sail by). This would make the Maiden Stane old indeed.

The abstract symbols on the stone are said to be the baking implements which the Maiden was still holding when she fled from her pursuer.

The story ties together the Pictish stone with the much earlier road and fort on Mither Tap. It does seem to have been inspired by the carvings on the stone but says nothing about one of them which it has been suggested is a cauldron. Satan is a peculiarly Christian personality and is here tied up with the much older Celtic idea of the Maiden who is undoubtedly the great Celtic mother goddess in her fertility aspect.

he figure of Satan has been developed from the original angel who was thrown out of heaven for questioning God's authority. This angel had no horns, tail or cloven hoofs and certainly no wee pointed beard. These attributes were grafted on to the Christian devil from the old Celtic god Cernunnos who was the horned Lord of the Animals. This was probably done to help stamp out the old pagan religion and its rituals.

Cernunnos was the Celtic equivalent of Pan and it is likely that it was to him that the witches prayed. Some of the ancient Celtic religion survived in the rituals of witchcraft and identifying the God of the witches with Satan allowed the Church to persecute the old religion in the name of stamping out evil. Thus in the Christian war of good against evil the Kirk encouraged the malicious persecution and ritual slaughter of groups of people who were, at best, the practitioners of an ancient system of knowledge and healing, and, at worst, were merely defenceless women who did not conform to rigid norms.

While the Devil as portrayed in the story of the Maiden Stane seems to be Satan himself it is not definite. He seems to be motivated more by the human weaknesss of lust rather than a satanic need to do evil. For in Scotland the idea of the Prince of Darkness has never been dominant. The names used for him like Auld Nick, Auld Hornie or Clootie suggest a rather more approachable figure than the Christian Satan.

The area around Inverurie is rich in Pictish symbol stones and the remnants of even earlier peoples. Bennachie itself has been a holy place since long before the Christians came. Although the story of the Maiden Stane seems to be much younger than the stone itself the story has perpetuated the name of the stone. The association of the Maiden with all aspects of fertility has long been accepted and is part of a continuity with the past that continues as long as such stories are remembered and told.

The Maiden Stane is at O.S. N J 704 274.

We seen this stone....but the bull did not allow us to get very close.


Sacred Numbers in the Celtic Tradition

It is said that the most sacred number to the Celts is the number 3, and all multiples of three. Here are a few reasons why Three is sacred to the Celts:
Three legs is the minimum number a thing can stand on without conflict.
Three is considered a perfect number.
The Triple Goddess, and Triple God, some Celtic traditions dispute the idea of pantheism, or the belief that "All God/desses are One God/dess", including the triple God/dess, and they take a more polytheistic view (or view that each God/dess are a separate entity) Personally, I'm a polytheist, although certain aspects could be traced to one deity. I guess we'll never know exactly how it was til we figure out how to time travel eh?
Also referring to the Triangle of Manifestaion: The point is downwards and it represents The All, Manifest Creation, the original source of everything, Nature etc, The Triangle then branches out to the God and Goddess, where the two points meet across from each other forming the triangle.
In Neo Pagan Druidry, and many Celtic Traditions, (see ADF site or Isaac Bonewits' site) the #3 also pertains to the druidic elements, realms, or virtues as some call them, which excludes fire as an 'element': Land, Sky, Sea (or earth, air, water). Also the three gates The Well, The Fire, and The Tree.
The Number Nine

The number nine is sacred because it is a triple three. Nine also always comes back to itself no matter how you multiply it. 2X9=18 and 1+8=9, 4X9=36, 6+3=9, see?
Magickal uses of the number 3 to deploy in practice

If you wish to follow the Celtic path, then you could always use multiples of 3 in your practices. Chanting in multiples of three, going around the circle (Widdershins or Deosil) three times, using 3 representations of things on the altar, the number of candles lit on the altar. Things like this create celtic ambience and atmosphere in your practice.
However, something to keep in mind, most Celtic Traditions (excluding Celtic Wicca) believe that casting a circle is not necessary, as sacred places are found, not created; most celebrations are on natural ground. I do not normally cast circles, but however, there is a time and place for certain things, and occaisionally I will feel the need to cast one. Reasons for this may include perhaps someone present has brought disruptive energies with them and it may disrupt the rite (It has happend!), or perhaps the ritual is indoors, and the underlaying energies present are not very savory to one's magickal palate. Generally though, circles are only necessary if you really feel it is necessary. Go with your gut. Otherwise, find the space naturally, or create your own temple in a spot in your home and cleanse the area to make it so.
Celtic Symbols of Three


The Triskele, or Triscale. Also depicted as three armored legs running connected at the thigh, sometimes with a face in the center of the three legs, and also three bent arms. Also written triskelion, called triquêtre in French. It is the Symbol the Druids (and Celtic Tradtions) use for the number 3, the triple Goddess, and the three phases of the moon. Also Earth, Sky, and Sea the three Druidic Virtues, and the three stages of life.

The Trefoil, or three leaf clover, symbol of perpetuity, if green, symbol of Ireland.

[miolchu]

Re: Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

Thank you Ranald for the post and the links. I was apalled by the late date and the charges pressed against the woman. It seems that there was some common sense response to the matter as indicated in the second link: "then prime minister Winston Churchill wrote to the home secretary branding the charge 'obsolete tomfoolery'."

I appreciate your responses to the various threads in the forums. It shows that you are a thoughtful well-studied individual. They could use someone like you in any number of educational institutions.

[Lucan]

Re: Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

No way was Helen Duncan a witch or convicted of being a witch.

The 1735 Witchcraft Act forbids the state from tiring persons of Witchcraft.

She was convicted of not being a witch. She claimed she was (Had Powers).

She was a Falsarii (Public Cheats),


The Venefici (Being Witches) were what most people think of as the classic Scottish witch, a good example would be Janet Horne of Dornoch who turned her daughter into a horse, rode her round the town, then took her off to be shod by the devil. She problay had Altsimers as she was totally unaware of her fate, as the storey goes that on the morning of her death she warmed her hands at “the bonnie fire” as she called it not understanding it was going to kill her.

The other kind of person to be convicted of witchcraft was the Falsarii (Public Cheats),
A good example of a Falsarii would be John Brugh, The Warlock of Fossoway who use the publics belief in the supernatural to extort money. This is what a Falsarii would do. You go to a grave yard and dig up a corps (John Brugh did this to the body of one John Chrystisone) and then cut the “flesch of an corps” and put it above the byre and stable dure headis of your mark. The mark terrified of the curse on their family or livestock will pay the Falsarii to cleans the building. A Falsarii could make a good living abet a very risky one. Not only for the crime of “lifting the dead” but also for the use of “enchanted stanes” to remove the curses and to cure. The use of “enchanted stanes” was wide spread and sanctioned by the Catlic church before the Reformation.

[Ranald]

Re: Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

Thank you for the corrective information, it is a pity that for years now, no action has been taken to present the full and accurate information.

Not being aware of the full facts, I did add the words 'and imprisonment'. On reflection it would have been better to use the word 'with' rather than 'and'.

Very good that you have joined us, and prepared to give us your help and advice.

Perhaps Tom will have a re-think to his message..... lol

Ranald

[Kelly d]

Re: Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

This is one of my favourite stories here at ES.

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/witchayr.htm

[Glesgalass]

Re: Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

I'm pretty sure that I read, heard or was told while visiting an old jail in Scotland, that no witches were burned at the stake in Scotland. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Elda

[Lucan]

Re: Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

Most but not all were strangled to the death by the hand of the hangman, and
thereafter the body to be burnt to ashes ; and ordains all moveable
goods and gear to be escheat and inbrought to his Majesty's use for the causes foresaid

[Kelly d]

Re: Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

Elda,

I actually found this story above years ago but will copy what it said here:

One shudders at the awful realism of such extracts as these from the Town's accounts. 1586 1n expenses sustenit in ye burning of ye witche of Barnweill in candills, her meit and drink pyk (pitch) barrels, colis, rosat (rosin), heddir (heather) treis and uthers necessaris £7 3s 8d." again in 1594 "For coles, cordis, tar-barrellis, and uther graith yat burnit Marioun Greiff, witche £4 4s."

If a witch anticipated the execution of her sentence by a natural death, her body was supposed to be still infected with infernal taints. In 1649 the Magistrates, " with advyse of Mr. William Adair, minister," ordained that the corpse of Janet Smelie, a witch who had died in the Tolbuith, "salbe drawin upoun ane slaid (sledge) to the gallowis foot and brunt in asches." It is with pain and shame that we turn away from these records of superstition and barbarity.

[Glesgalass]

Re: Why is 2012 is the 350 Anniversary of worst year of witchcraft

Yeah but Kelly, I'm 99% sure that no witches were ever burned at the stake in Scotland, in contrast to England.

Elda'