Magic And Witchcraft In Scotland

by Joyce Miller

A fascinating examination into the belief and practice of magic by ordinary people in Scotland in the medieval and early modern period. The book explains not only what was done but, crucially, also why, with sections on healing rituals, use of wells, stones and talismans, and festivals. Harmful magic is then described, how this overlapped with folk belief, the diabolic pact and elite thought, and the horrors of witchcraft prosecutions in the 16th and 17th centuries. Also included is a section on sacred sites, museums, and other places of interest which can be visited, and there are many illustrations, a map, and a full index.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, History, Magic, Scotland

163 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2004

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am about half way through this book and so far I have found it very interesting (especially as I am Scottish) but brief, probably because its not a very thick book. It has an excellent map which shows historical/mystical sites here in scotland and also information that corresponds to these sites. Chapters include magic and its uses, info on magical spirits & healers, festivals and rituals of the "auld" religion, shrines and wells and amulets, talismans & stones. Lastly if you are expecting to find information on the practice of the auld religion, this isnt the book for you. Its basically an overview of some factors to do with the ancient religion, but it is a good bloody read so far! )O(

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a short history of "Magic" in Scotland, and are interested in various landmarks which relate to the subject, this is a good little book to begin with. The author gives a brief overview of the uses of magic, the various healers, spirits, festivals and rituals, amulets and talismans, and stones (including the standing ones) included in the Scottish heritage. She provides a good guide with directions to various landmarks, shrines, wells, and places where witches met their demise. Overall it was an interesting read, a nice overview of Scotland's rich Pagan past, and a nice place to start exploring the subject.

[Allyson Shaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most valueable part of this book is the map and list of sacred sites at the back. There are a few insights in the other sections on talismans in particular. Perhaps this book is more for someone new to this history. I found the relentless listing in paragraphs made the subject matter feel increasingly arbitrary and dull. Another merit I suppose is in that it avoids the sensational and ghoulish treatment this subject matter often receives.

[Lindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I picked it up from the library on a lark.