The Craft of Scottish Witches

I have decided to treat myself and attend this lecture.  It has been such a long time since I been to Treadwells, and, well, the subject of Scottish Witches is of particular interest to me.

Ebay Bans: spells; curses; hexing; conjuring; magic; magic potions; and more

This from Ebay's 2012 Fall Seller Update:

The following items are also being added to the prohibited items list: advice; spells; curses; hexing; conjuring; magic; prayers; blessing services; magic potions; healing sessions; ...

And the following categories are to be removed:

Discontinued categories:

• Metaphysical: Psychic, Paranormal; Readings
• Metaphysical: Psychic, Paranormal; Spells, Potions
• Metaphysical: Tarot Readings

I'm a little ambivalent about this.  It's not as though this is a direct attack on pagans or witches, as prayers are also included; however, it does seem to be targeting a certain set of beliefs and, rather interestingly, I could not find miracles listed among the banned items.

This ban may go some way to stopping the charlatans, but I am one of those people that feel if someone wants to spend $5,000 on a magic candle to cure their ills, then let them so do, because, generally, I am not very keen on the nanny state.   Technically speaking, a seller can still list a ring believed to have been owned by the Grand Magus, Quezacotl Doom Sayer, imbibed with his personal magic, because what they are really selling is the cheap, silver plated ring not the magic attached thereto.  So, these bans and removals Ebay is instigating may not be terribly effective at stopping fools from parting with their money.

Ebay is a business and, as such, reserves the right to refuse anyone from trading with them.  Still, the specific categories being removed, and the items being targeted - although intangibles - are related to a particular sector of society, which gives it a hint of a smell of - what's the right word here? - discrimination against occultists.

Ah well.  Does it really matter to me?  No.  This update will have no affect on me, nor my dealings with various auction/trading sites.   Real occultists are likely to remain unaffected, because, as occultists, everything is generally hidden and not displayed for sale, and the unscrupulous will always find a way to take advantage of the unwary.

Caveat Emptor!

The Lollipop Shoes

 

Author: Joanne Harris
Narrator: Juliet Stevenson
ISBN: 9781405683678

Why did I read it? It was available in audio, and I adored Chocolat by the same author, Joanne Harris, a dose of magical realism, romance and embracing life. 

What's it about? Vianne has escaped to anonymity of the city of Paris with her two daughters, Anouk and Rosette, and is seeking a normal, ordinary life. She's taken on her mother's name Yan, she has stopped creating her own confections with the result her shop is failing, and her landlord is in pursuit of her when the glamorous, exciting Zozie de l'Alba enters their lives with the winds of change flirting around her. Annie (Anouk) instantly likes and admires Zozie for her pride in being unique, different, and as both Yan and Annie come to rely on Zosie, the wind, their pasts and (long held) secrets continue their relentless pursuit. 

What did I like? First, the narration by Juliet Stevenson. It is clear she was a great actress, and when voicing the male characters, I actually thought a male actor had been employed. Ms Steveson's performance of this story was superb and I will actively seek out other books she has chosen to narrate. The story is told through three characters: Vianne, Anouk and Zozie. Ms Steveson made it easy for me to determine to whom a particular chapter related in just the first few words; her characterisation of each individual voice so skillfully personified. I just cannot praise, or thank Juliet Stevenson enough for narrating The Lollipop Shoes, in unabridged format at that. 

I adored the inclusion of folk and fairy tales throughout the story. Each was a morality tale, as was the whole book (see below for more on this aspect), and each raised the suspicions of this reader. As an adult, I still have my childhood compendium of fairytales and I read them in times when I need to feel comforted, so to find an adult book along the same lines is refreshing. These folk and fairy tales are the clues to the secrets in this book, so pay attention.  

The Lollipop Shoes is darker than Chocolat, more like those old-fashioned Grimm fairy tales (before sanitisation) highlighting the gruesome fate that awaits the unwary child who ignores their parent's warnings, and which have a hard lesson to impart wrapped up in a cloak of alluring magic. The magic in this story was much more overt and fairytale-like than the subtle magical realism employed in the first book. I probably enjoyed this because of my penchant for those tales I read as a child, though I can see where it might not be to everyone's liking who enjoyed the more subtle, more believable (?) magic in Chocolat. 

The Lollipop Shoes is more of a mystery book, with a dire sense of danger to it, rather than the quaint tale of the battle between different outlooks, beliefs and morals of the earlier book, though these do play a significant part in the story. 

The characterisation of the three narrating voices - Vianne, Anouk and Zozi - had depth, and the tension between them was palpable. Shining light on a situation/scene from the point of view of different characters enhanced the feeling of something not being right. In fact, the tension and danger was palpable because of the insights into the thought processes of three, rather than the usual one, or two characters. As the ending approached, the tension tightened and I found myself on edge, and having to listen all through the night and into morning until the climax; I could not stop listening so desperate was I to learn the fates of these three, desperate women.  

The Lollipop Shoes is also a coming-of-age tale and explores themes of finding one's place in the world-at-large, bullying, the growing pains experienced by parents and children as time passes, and the tension this causes between the two. There is also a window on how a parent might balance protecting their children against preparing them for adulthood, and the unique challenges encountered with children that are outside (what society might consider) the norm. 

Finally, the food; so enticing; so delicious. Joanne Harris knows how to awaken the senses with her descriptions, and I could smell, see and almost touch every culinary creation within the book. With Juliet Stevenson delivering the lines with such sumptuousness, the kind that raises real cravings within me, without resorting to that overt food porn voice employed by those Marks and Spencer's commercials that are meant to entice the whole of the UK, I am ever so grateful that I didn't have a scrap of chocolate in the house when reading this book, or unhealthy food of any type, as temptation was invoked with every word.  

What didn't I like? One aspect of morality explored in the book was particularly distasteful: the ethics explored in the employment of magic. It felt like the ongoing animosity between (non-initiate, non-lineaged) Wicca and other magicians/witches. The so-called laws of magic frequently voiced by the former were applied to Vianne in this book and it truly began to grate, almost to the point of shredding my last nerve, especially when it alluded to the neopagan point of view being the "good", in opposition with the traditional outlook being the "evil", despite Vianne following the old ways in the book.   Even the resolution, when it came, left a bitter taste in my mouth, and not a pleasant one like that provided by chocolate.    This was more than a disappointment. 

Yan (Vianne) was very whiny in this book and the repetitive nature of her complaints did begin to wear, though I know this is often how those of that state of mind behave, not realising they are sounding like a broken record. In a similar vein, I am not sure if Joanne Harris believes her readers to be a little dim, or possessing poor memories, but there was quite a bit of repetition in the book and not just because the same scenes were being voiced by different characters. There was more than one instance when I thought: "Aren't these the exact words she used before and the same story? Has my iPod backtracked without me knowing?" 

There was an issue with the audio version in that the volume was a little too low and, though perfectly appropriate for this style of story, it meant I had to turn up the volume on my player and this led to some unusual background noises: static; someone receiving an email on Outlook (we all know that pinging sound, don't we?); and some other, not quite discernible, but nevertheless potentially distracting sounds.  

Would I recommend it? Yes, oh yes. I shall definitely be listening again. It's a strong story that draws you in and you listen in wonder, all the while hoping that when the battle comes, your chosen heroine will be triumphant and the villain punished. Just remember, real life is more a Grimm fairytale, than Disney-like "dreams come true" tale.  

Rating: 4/5.

Gaelic Battle Charms

Here is Alexander Carmichael describing the genre of protective charm or seun in Carmina Gadelica ii, 26:

‘Sian’ or ‘seun is occult agency, supernatural power used to ward away injury, and to protect invisibly. Belief in the charm was common, and examples of its efficacy are frequently told.

Go read the Carmichael Watson Project blog on this very intriguing topic.

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

Author: Susanna Clarke
ASIN: B002SQ6U0I

Why did I read it? Because it had wonderful reviews. I enjoy magical, historical and fantasy fiction and, it has been lauded extensively. In the end, I did not read it, but listened to it, unabridged.

My Opinion? Let me preface this review by saying: I am a fan of Austen; I am a fan of Dickens; and I am a fan of Tolkien.

I am not a fan of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.

I purchased two copies of this book, one on my way to Australia, which I promptly handed to my grandmother before a single page was read, the second on my return for my own use. I ended up purchasing an audio copy which was over 32 hours long.

Several times I stopped listening because I found it boring, despite the wonderful efforts of Mr. Prebble in voice characterisation. After a while, I knew which character was speaking simply by their voice. Mr. Prebble was also very adept at handling the footnotes in that I always knew when they had ended and he had returned to the main story. Mr. Prebble really tried to breathe life into this book. Alas, he was unsuccessful.

I probably took 15 hours before I discerned any sort of plot. Though it is said that in an Austen book, "nothing ever happens", it's not exactly true, whereas in the case of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, I'm afraid that it's not until section 2 of the book (around the 15 hour mark on the audio) before matters progress and some semblance of a plot emerges.

For my own part, I could have done without knowing anything of Mr. Strange's actions in the Napoleonic Wars; I have no idea what they added to the plot other than for the purposes of ridiculing the perceptions of historical characters and, indeed, Mr. Strange himself. I felt some characters were shoehorned into the story even though they did not particularly add anything. The Graysteels being one instance: Apart from receiving Mrs Strange upon her return from Faery - Mr. Segundus might have been a viable alternative - I have no idea why they were created. Mr. Norrell’s servants whom Childermass directs to assist the two magicians at the last, but then desert, were another. Did I really need to know anything about them? Surely Lascelles would have fled if left on his own anyway?

Like others, I admire Susanna Clarke's ability to recreate the Regency era in a style entirely new, wherein magic "is simply an arcane branch of learning, like medicine or physics, and its practitioners as essentially applied scientists". I can also appreciate the attempt to write a pastiche of authors such as Austen and Dickens and to imbibe it with ironic humour; for me, though, it failed in its delivery.

Would I recommend it? I know I am in the minority, the awards bestowed upon Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell are many, and the majority of readers can but sing its praises, but I just cannot recommend this book to anyone. I shall be disposing of my hard copy imminently.

Rating: 2/5.

Magical Realms Stamp Issue

The Royal Mail postal service in the UK has issued a new series of stamps featuring characters from myth and fiction with a magical bent.  Nanny Ogg and Rincewind from the Discworld novels of Terry Pratchett, Aslan and The White Witch from "The Chronicles of Narnia", Dumbledore and Voldemort from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, and Merlin and Morgan Le Fey from Arthurian legend.

Tradition/Judgement

The title is a reference to two Greenwood Tarot cards that have drawn today.   The first was from my real-life deck, the second from the online draw; both are more than relevant.   A chance chat with a relative in Ireland has shown some light on something I had (almost) forgotten.   Now, I am intrigued and am planning a trip there for this year; something I had not planned to do for several years.

I have previously mentioned on this blog how I have only known about my maternal family history for a short time.  Now, this morning, a light has been shone on my paternal line from a source from which I generally keep myself distant (family/personal issues).   I have been made aware that certain things have also been passed down my paternal line, though very much out-of-sight.  An offer has been made and I feel ... no!  I know that I cannot refuse.  I am more than surprised and, if I am honest, nervous.

I am vaguely aware that this will mean change and a significant change at that.  When it comes to personal matters, I have always been wary of change, fearful even, but this one seems necessary though once on the other side I am generally adaptable.  This, though, is something I have wanted but pushed to the back of mind (that old wariness again) and now, it appears it has arrived.

So, the Tradition card relates to my family and its history and the Judgement card relates to the following:

"The only thing in life that is assured is that if you wait long enough, it will change. How you survive that change and who you are after change is down to you. The major element in this process is judgement of yourself and others. This may relate to an assessment regarding a personal matter or situation, and could be linked to the process of forgiving. It may also relate to a group or social decision.


In the process of judgement, both as an individual and on the universal level, honesty is the key. Be honest, be forgiving, be patient, but most of all, be assured change is at hand.


Remember, the universe has a long memory. Nothing is ever forgotten.


...


Your approach to the issues in this card affects your future, decides the nature or even the possibility of your rebirth.


The entrance to a passage grave beckons you; this is a place to lay your past to rest, a still safe sanctified space in which the parts of your life can be reconstituted after the trauma of Death. (see Rebirth, eight of cups).


You are sensitive, and require someone to stand watch for you; either the highest part of oneself, an ancestral guardian... "*

I think the above is able to convey what I am unable put into words here.  I do these online draws for fun when I am bored and they have no bearing whatsoever but, in this one instance, it is a strange coincidence. 

It's only three hours in and already it's proving a fateful and enlightening day.












* From The Greenwood Tarot.

Dream Work

For months now the passenger side window is my car has not been working and I have been meaning to get it fixed, but other things have taken priority.   I get a chance to test it regularly, oft time because I forget it's broken.

Last night I had a dream that I was driving in my car and the window was down and I couldn't get it up again, and the wind was whistling through the car.   So, as I was driving this evening I tried the button again, not remembering it doesn't work and it went down.  Then I remembered it had been broken for months and my thoughts turned to the dream I had last night and I wondered about the connection.   I've been having crazy dreams the last week: not bad dreams or nightmares, just bizarre scenarios that aren't connected to anything in particular like the puppy and new kitten talking to each other about day to day happenings around the farm.  So why was last night's dream so prophetic?  Was it prophetic or was my subconscious doing the "work" I should have been doing myself?  It is a dark/new moon energy this week and I find gale-like winds such as have been whipping their way across the countryside powerful ~ I work best with storms and crazy energy ~ so perhaps a part of me (that part that sleeps most of the time) took advantage.

Either way it's a crazy situation: a long electrical/mechanical failure rights itself and I have a dream about it the night before I find it's fixed.

Review: The Secret of Roan Inish

Just before, during and since my trip to Scotland the Selkie myth has been brought to my attention on several occasions. There was a book, mention of them by various people and while searching for a film to watch, having viewed "Ondine", I stumbled across "The Secret of Roan Inish" on Amazon.

I perused the description of the movie at Amazon, a single line that offered little in the way of what to expect. One Australian reviewer, Brian Barratt, revealed the whole movie without offering a spoiler alert, though he did proffer further information on the myths and legends associated with selkies and seals. Despite knowing the complete storyline, I ordered the DVD; it was going cheap.

Arriving home from work in the early hours of the morning, with nothing on the box, I began to watch the movie. I must say the beginning was a little confusing, but I soon caught on. The movie isn't fast paced and is probably aimed at children, nonetheless I enjoyed it. Even though I knew "the secret", I was still entranced by the tale and found myself becoming anxious as to how the story would resolve; I was glued to the screen.

The story centres on a girl called Fiona, who is sent to her grandparents' house in Donnegal to escape the city in which her father now lives. The proximity of her grandparents' house to the island of her family's origin, Roan Inish, causes the girl to ponder the fate of her infant brother, Jimmy, now mourned by his family. With the help of her sympathetic cousin, Eamon and some more distant, dark relatives, Fiona uncovers the truth about her island origins; and the truth is stranger than myth.

A fantastical, magical tale which slowly unwinds.

I recommend this DVD/film to anyone interested in selkies and celtic tales of wonder.

Rating: 4/5.

Defences Against the Witches' Craft

Title: Defences Against the Witches' Craft: Anti-cursing Charms from English Folk Magick, Traditional Witchcraft and the Grimoire Traditions
Author: John Canard
ISBN: 9781905297184

No preaching, just practical ways of preventing and combatting curses and hexes. I only had one small quibble on a historical matter, but other than that a superb book that every witch should own.

Defences Against the Witches' Craft is a slim book packed full of useful information on charms, amulets and other ways of dealing with malefic magical forces; taken from history, but still used in modern times.  The author, John Canard, provides methods of preventing and combatting curses and hexes using a wide variety of English practices including herbs, poppets, special stones and other traditional tools.  The source of information is provided in all cases, most of which is very much rooted in England, but is supplemented by similar practices from other cultures, and a small bibliography is provided for the reader who wishes to explore further the historical uses of the various items mentioned in the book.  For the most part, it is assumed the reader has a working knowledge of magic, with step-by-step instructions provided only for a few methods.

The book is well written, in a friendly manner, and refrains from preaching on ethical matters.  I recommend this book and I am considering it as a birthday present for more than just one of my witchy friends.

Rating: 4½/5.

Valhalla Rising

Watched "Valhalla Rising" last night. The director refers to his movie as Viking Sci-Fi in the "Making of ..." extra. The characters don't go into outer space, so much as inner space and it's a numinous but brutal film. I found it hard to comprehend at first and I had no idea where I was being led but the journey is intense.

Mads Mikkelsen, the Danish actor (King Arthur, Clash of the Titans), plays the central character, who is mute, referred to as "One Eye", but is listed as Harald in the credits.  Scottish actors fulfill the roles of the Vikings.

The one-eyed slave is kept by a pagan clan because he is a champion in fighting tournaments. After a vision[?], the enslaved warrior finds a way to escape his captors.  After an encounter with Christians seeking Jerusalem and its riches, the journey to the promised land/Valhalla/Hel begins.

The cinematography is darkly atmospheric and the director allows the uncompromising weather of the Highlands of Scotland to add to the intensity of the characters and storyline.  The beauty of the landscape however does little to counter the violence encountered in various scenes.

Valhalla Rising is definitely a film that requires more thought than it might at first appear.  I shall definitely be viewing it again.

"Witchy Living" Podcast

I have recently been searching various podcasts to find things that might hold my interest on the commute to and from work (which can be anything from 45 minutes to 2 hours).   I have listened to some very good podcasts, that have almost professional production values, and I've heard some awful ones where the quality was poor and it wasn't worth the hassle of downloading and listening if only to save getting a headache.

One of the more interesting of podcasts I found was "Witchy Living" on Blog Talk Radio.   Although the hostess, Cairelle, seems to struggle with sound quality, the topics are interesting and it's well worth the odd bit of interference.   Combining hoodoo and witchcraft practices, the show has looked at the lighter (funnier) side of magic so far.   That said, the topic of hexes has arisen, so this blog does not shy away from ethical issues surrounding magical work.   When "Witchy Living" is going out live, there is a chat discussion at the fan website held concurrently, and it is possible to telephone the hostess and interact direct.   Despite these distractions for Cairelle, she does produce a podcast worth listening to.

I will continue to subscribe and I hope others give this unique blogging podcast a chance.

What I Believe ... continued

Further to my post of 18 February 2009, "What I Believe", I have considered other people's ideas and am now able to add to my list:
I believe in:

1. the pre-Christian gods of the British Isles;
2. genius loci, i.e. spirits of place and/or landscape;
3. animism, i.e. spirits in plants, animals and some objects scientist might deign inanimate;
   ancestor worship;
4. an energy, or force that permeates everything, though I am unsure as to its source (it could be the gods, or perhaps they are a part of it, like us);
5. the effectiveness of magic and/or witchcraft, i.e. the ability of humans to source and utilise that energy and/or force;
6. the ability to craft magic is unconnected with religious beliefs;
7. crafting magic is a gift, in the blood, not a skill anyone can harness;
8. the connectiveness of all, not unlike the heathen Web of Wyrd;
9. the gods are separate from us, external, not something we project;
10. (most of) the gods/goddesses are separate individuals and not aspects of just one;
11. the gods are superior to us in some ways, mostly their ability to wield power/magic/energy;
12. the gods are fallible, just like us;
13. there are planes of existence other than this one, and they touch at certain points, even interact, with ours;
14. it is possible to know the non-human denizens of the Otherworlds, such as the Sidhe and other beings, and that we can communicate with them.

I am sure I will add to this list as time goes on and I read the offerings from other pagans.

Groups

I have seen a few discussions recently on group work and how most of the people I know through the internet do not work in groups.

I am not sure this is altogether true, though. I mean, we may not all meet up (in the physical world) to work together for a common aim, but how often do you see those messages asking for support or healing and people responding that they are acting upon the request? Is that not a form of group working, i.e. the group operating in the virtual and magical realms only?

I do participate in groups, but only online where a sharing of information takes place. I have only ever worked with one person magically, but we worked separately as it were to achieve the same end. I just wouldn't trust anyone else; its not in my nature to trust anyone that way.

When it comes to spirituality, I have participated in group (ritual and informal), but I still prefer the sharing of information through internet groups. That said, a chance encounter with a well-know pagan witch did give me assurance I could be more open about my experiences with others, something of which you are never sure when most contact is via the internet.

I am still very wary of group working and I will probably always work alone, but I wonder ... am I truly working alone if I am interacting with others through the medium of the web?

To whom do we turn in our darkest hours?

I saw this question (I've paraphrased) posted recently in response to a post on what constitutes a playgan, and felt somewhat smug that the term didn't seem to apply to me.

"If you were in an accident and your life was in the balance as you lay in a pool of blood. No sign of an ambulance; your prospects fading with every second.

You raise your head to the stars, and with what energy you can muster, say a little prayer". To whom do you address yourself?"

The responses were of interst to me, as I have been witness to self-proclaimed pagans offer prayers to the Christian god when in dire straits, not even anything life threatening, when I would have expected them to turn to the pagan gods or local spirits or, if witches, to resolve the matter themselves, even with a little help from friends proficient in witchery. Its what I do.

I have been in a few bad situations in the last few years, and one that could threaten my life just over a month ago. I turned to my gods first and also roped in some witchy friends and resolution followed within three days ~ three days seems to be emerging as a pattern. Even minor situations where my dignity is in danger, I will turn to the local land spirit and ask for assistance rather than pray to some distant god, (not of my faith) who seems overwhelmed with requests from millions of pleading followers on a daily basis and unable to help more than a select few. I have always been granted assistance, with a little bargaining, and have been happy to pay my dues at the earliest convenience.

Once upon a time, I might have appealed to the Christian god, but I don't believe I ever expected anything to happen. I certainly can't ever remember any kind of happy resolution resulting from my requests. How much more comforting it is to be able to place my faith in the hands of my friends and my (pagan) gods, as I do now. I guess that why I was smug when I read the scenario above: playgans will never feel that comfort because they don't have that kind of assurance.

Isn't it also disrespectful to the gods themselves: professing to honour one and then turning to another when times are tough? I'm not sure the any of gods would approve either and, if feeling mischevous, might be inclined to cause more problems for playgans.

I might also question the magical abilities of anyone that resorted to prayers to a god outside their tradition in order to resolve their issues. I admit to being next to useless at physical self-healing, so I rely on my friends in those situations, however if its a friend or family member of mine, I can usually resolve the matter myself without the need to appeal to any outside force. So I wonder why those who claim to have any magical ability would resort to Christain prayer - if indeed they are witches.

Is it possible I am too smug, and too quick to judge others? After all, the (pagan) gods can be fickle and have been known to refuse to help their followers. I've read instances where Odin did this in times of war, leaving his people to the hands of their enemies. So, if Odin were to desert his followers during battle, and those followers were aware of the Christian god, would they too have switched allegiance in desperation? Would they behave any differently from today's playgans? I wonder ...

Songs of Witchcraft & Magic

Well, what can I say about this particular CD? I love it. I truly do. I play it over and over and I've just had to replace my original copy (purchased at the Beltane Bash in London 2007) because it was worn. The added advantage of replacing the disc is that the replacement can also be used in my car CD player; the previous copy could not.

Various artists have contributed to this album, compiled by the Museum of Witchcraft and produced by Wild Goose Records, and each track is unique though all could be termed "folk music". Please don't let this put you off. Every song is fascinating and is accompanied by two pages of text giving the lyrics, details of the origin of the song, and reasons for inclusion on the album. In fact, the little booklet is fascinating on its own.

I do have my favourites, of course. Young Orphy gets me singing along in the car, or out in the woods, which has afford me a few odd looks from fellow walkers. The song that currently holds my fascination is The Brown Girl. There is something about the vibrato in the voice of the songstress that is like listening to a stringed instrument. The song itself is almost a lament and the emotion of the vibrato, a cappella, lends itself beautifully to the tale. The Two Magicians is a bit bawdy, but lots of fun and I imagine a group of people singing the chorus whilst waving their beers in the air.

I imagine I will need to replace the CD, and booklet (the original was ruined accidentally in my handbag when a water bottle imploded) again, but it doesn't matter. One day, my iPod will work and this album will be the first to be uploaded. In the meantime, I am hoping a second CD of "Songs of Witchcraft and Magic" will be forthcoming.

The CD is available from Wild Goose Records, The Occult Art Company online, and various shops, including Wicca Moon in London.