In March 1704 Patrick Morton, a 16-year-old blacksmith in the coastal Fife town of Pittenweem, claimed to have found a witch's spell left at his door - a wooden bucket containing a fire coal and some water. At once he felt ill, or so he said - he could barely stand, had no appetite, became emaciated. In May he started to have fits. Morton accused several local women of tormenting him by witchcraft, setting off a witch-hunt reminiscent of the Middle Ages, dragging innocent women and men into a snare of repression and death, The Weem Witch tells the story of the Pittenweem witches, using contemporary documents to bring a horrifying episode in Scotland's past under the spotligh
While the Weem Witch was going to print, Lenny would take lectures about the pittenweem Witches inside the medieval tower where it all took place. During a tour, 16 people witnessed an apparition, it stood in view and was photographed by one of the party, 8 years later of study, "there are such things" is written documenting poltergeist activity, and written by those who have witnessed the "thing" photographs inside give it credibility with newspaper accounts and TV coverage adds to a strange tale. The tower has stood for 400 years, whatever walks the tower floors, walks alone.
In this earthy, practical and wise volume, Telesco offers sound advice on magick and spirituality as they coincide with everyday life. With the lessons and insights she has gained over the last eighteen years, she explores a variety of issues that are key to every witch's growth, while also demystifying many modern myths about witches.
No Longer Forgotten from History: The Lost Stories of Scotland Revealed. 30 fascinating stories from throughout Scottish history. Meet pirates, heroes, nobles and ordinary people: revealed through their letters, period news stories, and many other sources, combined with the author's personal observation, to fill in the details that have been forgotten by history. Read about the veteran of Bannockburn with a mechanised hand, and the cannibal family that terrorized Dundee. Find out how the people of Inverness changed history with a barrel of whisky, about Jack the Ripper's visit to a Scottish fishing village, and about a disastrous game of curling. Leonard Low explores the dark and mysterious, the tragic and the heroic, and brings the stories to life with his evocative writing. "Leonard Low brings dead history alive." -Dundee Courier
Monsters, lunatics, vampires, werewolves and evil dolls, stones entombing bodies, faces appearing in walls, curses and meetings with the Devil – all this and more are contained within this book of myths and ancient legends. Well-known storytellers Grace Banks and Sheena Blackhall recount a range of intriguing tales from the top to the bottom of Scotland, from ancient times to the present day. Folklore embeds itself in a local community, often to the extent that some people believe all manner of mysteries and take them as fact. Whether they're stories passed around the school playground, through the Internet, or round a flickering campfire, such legends are everywhere. Scottish Urban Myths and Ancient Legends is a quirky and downright spooky ride into the heart of Celtic folklore.
The anthology 'The True Story vs. Myth of Witchcraft' offers a profound exploration into the intricate tapestry of historical truth and folklore surrounding witchcraft. Through a diverse collection of narratives ranging from scholarly essays to personal accounts, the volume traverses the broad spectrum of literary styles, presenting the subject matter from various angles. This carefully curated selection not only uncovers the historical realities of witchcraft accusations and trials but also delves into the mythologized versions of these events, standing out as a testament to the multifaceted nature of human belief and fear across cultures and epochs. The contributors, an illustrious ensemble of authors including Bram Stoker, Charles Mackay, and more, bring a wealth of perspectives to the anthology. Their backgrounds as pioneers of literature, history, and science lend the collection an authoritative voice that is both enlightening and engrossing. Hailing from different centuries and cultural contexts, these authors collectively span a wide array of literary movements, from Romanticism to Realism, offering insights into the evolution of societal attitudes towards witchcraft. This thematic diversity enriches the reader's comprehension of witchcraft's complex legacy. 'The True Story vs. Myth of Witchcraft' is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to dissect the layers of history and folklore that have shaped our understanding of witchcraft. It promises a rich, educational experience, inviting readers to engage with a historical dialogue that is as nuanced as it is fascinating. This anthology not only serves as an academic tool but also as a nexus of narratives that challenge, entertain, and inspire curiosity about the darker corners of humanity's past.
