Fabulous Folklore: The Knockers of Cornwall

Beneath the sacred lands of Cornwall and Devon are said to be small, gnome-like creatures called Knockers. They are said to wear mining outfits, stand at roughly 2ft tall, and commit all kinds of mischief - namely stealing miners’ food.

It is said that miners’ wives would mark their husbands’ pasties with their initials, not just for identification, but for the Knockers to be able to credit the miner for giving them food. For those who don’t know what a pasty is, it’s a savoury, shortcrust, semi-circular pie traditionally filled with beef, potato and vegetables and associated mainly with the West Country. They are available all over the U.K. and come with a variety of fillings.

The Knockers got their name from the rapping and knocking noises heard by the miners. The Knockers were not viewed as negative - it was believed that they led the miners towards areas that were rich with minerals. It was also believed that the presence of Knockers meant safety; so staying on the good side of the Knockers was imperative. The miners would do this in a number of ways, including making the offering of their last bit of pasty to the Knockers by casting it into the mine.

I suspect the Doozers in the TV series Fraggle Rock were inspired by the legend of Knockers as St Anthony Lighthouse in Cornwall was the setting. My late Father-in-Law also called the house he built in Cornwall “Fraggle Rock” so as a family we have a particular love for this show and all things related.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Cornish Piskies

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Elves

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Hurlers on Bodmin Moor

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Tomte

Fabulous Folklore: Rats Castle

It was a wet and wild October night. Tom Tinker was struggling to make his way across the muddy fields to his Leicester home when he realised he needed to take shelter. There were no farms around. The only place nearby was Rats Castle - a sinister building with a spooky reputation. Tom didn’t know what it was haunted by, but with torrential rain lashing down, he didn’t have time to worry.

He found Rats Castle and made his way in. His first task was to make a fire, well away from the chimneys and windows leaking rain. He unpacked his day sack, and set about making a cup of tea. Quite absorbed in the process, he didn’t notice the creature until it spoke.

“Eh up” it said, in true Midlands fashion.

It was the ugliest creature he had ever seen. Tall, covered in thick dark hair with horns and a tail, a huge nose and sharp, yellow teeth; Tom immediately recognised it as a bogeyman.

“Aren’t you frightened?” asked the beast.

“Not really” said Tom, handing him a cup of tea. The bogeyman drank the piping hot tea too quickly, causing a searing pain in his throat. He crumpled the tin mug and threw it at Tom, who immediately deflected the mug with a pair of pincers. The mug ricocheted into the mouth of the bogeyman, knocking out several teeth. The creature howled in pain and ran out the door.

Just as Tom caught his breath another appeared. Twice the size and with two heads! 

“Aren’t you frightened?” asked the beast.

“Not really” said Tom, offering him a cup of tea from one of his other mugs. In true bogeyman fashion he guzzled down the drink, launched the tin at Tom who immediately batted the thing back; slamming it into one face before it ricocheted off into the other, knocking out several pointy teeth from each head. The double-headed beast howled and ran off.

Before Tom could wonder what would happen next, a large hairy hand appeared down the chimney breast, feeling its way around the hearth. Without hesitation, he struck the hand with his hammer, causing a loud howl. The hand disappeared.

Gathering his things up, Tom understood that he needed to get out of there as quickly as possible.

Two large hands suddenly lifted the roof off the tower, and three ugly heads on one set of shoulders peered down.

“Eh up!” said the bogeyman. “Aren’t you frightened?”

“Not really” said Tom “But I’ve run out of tea, so I’m just popping home to get some more, and then we can all have a nice cuppa together!”

Tom scurried out of the door, tripping over a large tail which he quickly nailed to the floor so that the bogeyman couldn’t follow. He ran all the way home and vowed never again to return to Rats Castle.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Black Anna
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: A Personal Spooky Story
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Tulip Piskies

Fabulous Folklore: The Edith Weston Poltergeist

Several miles from here is a village called Edith Weston. It has a population of about 1100 people, and is named after Edith of Wessex, Queen of Edward the Confessor.

In December 1896, huge flocks of people gathered from afar to witness the haunting of a house; then inhabited by a Mr and Mrs Gray. Extremely loud and repetitive knocking was heard at the doors and windows, and this continued for a full week before Christmas. Hundreds of people witnessed these knocks, including Mr Braithwaite of Edith Weston Hall, who owned the property.

At it’s loudest, the entire village could hear the knocking. Police, clergy and a whole host of other official people came to solve the mysterious problem, but upon investigation, the noise would shift from room to room.

Rumours and theories were spread by the worried villagers. A fifteen year old serving girl was blamed for the mysterious thumping; but when that continued in her absence, it was then blamed on the Devil, who had been invited into the house by her.

Mrs Gray became sick with the stress and worry; and Mr Braithwaite considered demolishing the property. Thankfully the noises stopped at Christmas, but no logical explanation was ever found. An investigator from London blamed the girl. Allegedly, she called “Here I am, come on you” when entering the kitchen; the noises continuing in there long after she left.

A lot of time has passed and it’s now not clear which building housed the Edith Weston Poltergeist, but stories are still told about it to this day.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Black Annis

Fabulous Folklore: Witch Balls

This is a recreation of a room in the home of a Moorland woman, circa 1850. It can be found in the York Castle Museum, along with an excerpt from her diary.

The passage from her diary reads:

“Life on the moors is hard work. Me, John and three little ones are all in one room with the rest of our cottage needed for the livestock. I suppose I can’t complain, we’ve got everything we need which is more than some can say. Our bed is good and solid. It’s been in my family for years, and we were lucky that it was passed down to me, skiing with some other bits of furniture. I’ve brought a few ornaments and some pictures. They’re nothing fancy but I think they brighten up the place.

It can be lonely here, but having the witch ball at the window to ward off any evil makes me feel better. I must remember to check how much peat we have left. If we don’t keep the fire lit we won’t have any hot food or water which doesn’t bear thinking about. My John says that half the country’s population now live in cities and our way of life probably won’t exist for much longer. I wonder if he’s right.”

Notice the witch ball in the window?

Traditionally, but not always, they were blue or green in colour and made from glass, but some were made from other materials. They were hung in cottage windows in England during the 17th and 18th century to ward off witches, spells and evil spirits.

There were several theories behind them. Some thought that the witch balls diverted the evil eye, others believed that the bright colours would entice evil energies which were then trapped inside. Others thought that the balls prevented witches from entering the room because witches did not have a reflection or could not bear seeing their own.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Witches' Homes

Simple Magick: Spirits of the Home

Have you ever thought about the spirits of your home? The building may have its own personality and spirit, and there may be several different spirits that reside inside. Generally speaking, the spirit of a home protects the home and those that reside in it.

We have six stone heads mounted on the exterior of our home that I refer to as our “House Guardians.” One in particular, one we call Copernicus, is concerned with looking after the building when we are not there. Whenever we leave the house I petition Copernicus to look after the building; from his position he can see who is coming and going. He’s been here since the house was built in 1860. It feels natural to ask him to carry out this important task, and he seems happy to do it.

The spirit of our home is very happy that we live here. When we talked about moving, funny things started to happen, but that died down as soon as we changed our plans.

Offerings are a beautiful way to acknowledge and honour your household spirit(s). Anything can be used as an offering, but food is common in many cultures across the world. A simple way to incorporate food as an offering is to simply leave a portion of your meal for the spirits on an altar or dedicated spot.

Tell me about the spirit of your home and any household spirits. Do you have a good relationship with them? Do you leave them an offering? Who looks after your house when you’re not there?

NEXT - Simple Magick: 9 Uses For Graveyard Dirt
NEXT - Simple Magick: Our House Guardians
NEXT - There's No Place Like Home
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Witches' Homes 

Simple Magick: 9 Uses for Grave & Graveyard Dirt

Grave dirt, or graveyard dirt, is sometimes used in Witchcraft. It is considered that there is a strong magickal connection between a deceased person and the dirt from their grave. It can be used in spells relating to family matters, love, healing and grief; or it may be that dirt from the burial of a wicked person may be used in malevolent magick. Either way, graveyard dirt is used by many witches.

Amongst other things, grave dirt is used for:

• Samhain rituals
• Protection spells
• Communicating with spirits
• Altar item during mourning
• Banishing
• Habit-breaking spells
• Curses
• Ancestor Connection and veneration
• Summoning spirits

Taking and using grave dirt is a highly contentious issue. Many people find it disrespectful to take land from those who are trying to rest; however a work-around could be not taking it from specific graves. The dirt I have gathered is the dirt removed from grave digging - not all of it goes back, and is left in a pile; but it still holds the energy of this land, which for hundreds of years has been used for funerary purposes.

Gathering dirt from the grave of someone you know is usually preferable, and feels much more acceptable than taking from the grave of someone you don’t know; but this, like many other aspects of Witchcraft, is a matter of personal ethics; and not one I should lecture you on.

The character of the person who is buried in the grave may be crucial to your work; it might even be that they would have enjoyed being part of your workings. I suspect my grandmother would have taken a very keen interest in some of my spells!

Of course, it is always thoughtful and fair to leave a gift for the dead in exchange for what you have taken. Flowers, a libation, small coins, pretty stones or some other small offering is appropriate.

Do you use Graveyard Dirt in your practice? What do you think about it?

NEXT - Simple Magick: More Ways To Connect With The Land
NEXT - Simple Magick: Is It A Sign? 
NEXT - Spell: Graveminding Ritual
NEXT - Pagan Holidays: 65 Samhain Magickal Correspondences 

Fabulous Folklore: Elves

In the depths of the English countryside we stumbled across this little red door emblazoned with the inscription “elfs” (elves?) on it. We don’t know why it was there, nor did we find any other little doors. I’d love to know the story behind it.

Elves are the humanoid creatures that we commonly refer to as their French name, “fairy.”

I think my favourite common elf/faerie folklore story is that of the foxglove. Some versions state that the name actually means “folks’ glove” - gloves that the little folk would wear.

Other stories maintain that the mottled spots are tiny faerie handprints, where the foxgloves have been gifted to foxes by faeries. This is so that the foxes can put them on their paws, and sneak into the hen house without being heard. 

I’ve seen quite a few fairy stories online recently, and heard a few from friends - some of them extremely creepy.

I’d love to know if you’ve experienced a personal encounter with the Fae? Do you have a story to tell?

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Cornish Piskies

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Fairy Rings 

Simple Magick: More Ways to Connect with the Land

I’ve done a few posts recently about connecting with the land and how to utilise a connection you’ve made with the land in your magickal practice. We spoke about visiting a place often, observing what goes on there, saying thanks, and generally building on the connection, like you would a relationship with a person. I thought I would give you some more ideas for forging a connection:

Learn Names

Learn the names of local people, the people who lived in your house, any family living in that area. County museums are brilliant for finding out about the past.

Native Plants

Learn native plants - learn how to spot them, how to use them and what their folk names are.

Forage 

After learning local native plants start to use them. Create teas, jams, syrups and medicines.

Crafts

Research local crafts, whether that be seasonal decorations, gifts, or even charms and spells.

Customs and Traditions 

Learn about local customs and traditions, high days and holidays, and how they were celebrated. Weave them into your calendar.

Folklore

Research local folklore stories, myths and legends. These will help you form an understanding of local people; what they once thought, felt, feared, behaved, believed.

Gather 

Enjoy the land. Hold seasonal gatherings outside and invite friends and family. Get people to bring a seasonal dish for a potluck meal. Give thanks.

What other activities could you do to connect to a place?

NEXT - Simple Magick: Repeating Spell Work
NEXT - Simple Magick: How To Utilise A Connection With The Land
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Land & People 

Fabulous Folklore: The Witch’s Familiar

In the medieval period, familiars were believed to be supernatural entities that appeared as animals; or in humanoid or human form. They assisted cunning folk in their magick.

Whether they were “good” or “bad” depended on who they served, and of course this depended on the perception of others.

Familiar spirits who attended cunning folk and healers were seen as benevolent. They were thought of as benign and kindly faeries who would protect the cunning man or woman in their healing work.

Familiar spirits that assisted “witches” were known to be malevolent. They could be a bird, toad, cat or an amalgamation of several creatures. They could be seen as imps, demons or even the devil himself. It was believed they were given to the witch by another witch or by the devil; and their job was to aid the witch in their malevolent deeds. They could be servants, messengers or spies, and they had magickal abilities of their own. Familiars were fed by the witch, usually suckled by a teat.

In my county, and the Cambridgeshire Fens where my mum lives, there was a strong belief in Witchcraft, with the locals believing strongly that all witches had familiars. They were given names such as Pyewacket, Elimanzer, Tibb, Vinegar Tom and Grizzel Greedigut.

The French poet Charles Baudelaire, who was known to be a “cat fancier” believed in familiar spirits and said:

𝐂'𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥'𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐮; 𝐈𝐥 𝐣𝐮𝐠𝐞, 𝐢𝐥 𝐩𝐫é𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 

𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞; 𝐩𝐞𝐮𝐭-ê𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐢𝐥 𝐟é𝐞, 𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐢𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐮?

𝐀 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐇𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬, 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞; 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐲, 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐝?

Today, some magickal practitioners believe in familiar spirits.

Do you? Do you work with one?

Fabulous Folklore: Haunted Houses

You guys often ask me to ask me to share pictures of the inside of our home - here is a snapshot of part of my bedroom. The walls are a delicate lavender colour, which I adore, but it’s really cold in this part of the house, so I don’t hang out here as often as I’d like.

We are often asked if our house is haunted, and I understand this as we do live on cemetery grounds. Our bedroom is only one of two parts of the house where I believe I have sensed a spirit; and both those occasions were when we first moved in. People are often surprised ~ and disappointed ~ when I say our home is not particularly haunted. If you think about it, a cemetery is where people are laid to rest, and so it’s actually a very peaceful place. The house feels very calm and serene, and it is no different at night.

I have lived in a house with a negative spirit, which we coped with, but it did make me wonder what we might be letting ourselves in for when we bought this house. I reasoned that the people who lived here before had been here years, so it would probably be ok. And it was.

Have you ever lived in a haunted house, or had an experience in one? I would love to hear your spooky stories!

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Crooked House 

Simple Magick: How to Utilise a Special Connection with the Land

Further to my post “How to Connect to the Land or a Special Place” here are my suggestions for using the connection you have built with the land or a special place:

Spells and Workings 

You can use the land (provided its suitable) as an actual place in which to carry out your magick. But you can also use this connection from afar. You can recall the feelings you get, and create a mental picture of this place in your mind’s eye. For example, if you are creating a spell for safety, and you feel safe there, you can conjure those feelings and images for your working.

Meditation 

You can visit a special place on your meditative journeys. Maybe you feel relaxed in this special place, and so you meditate on it to enter a deep state of peace. Maybe your special place is at a distance, and this is one way to regularly visit, and to connect in.

Grounding Yourself 

Visiting your special place is a great way to ground yourself. Take your shoes and socks off and walk the Earth. You can also call upon the feeling of safety and security you feel at this special place to ground you, when you’re feeling stressed or scared.

Invoking the Elements When Casting a Circle 

You can use experiences of your special place(s) when casting a Circle. Recall how the wind feels stood atop a hillfort, “see” the image of water at a nearby lake, feel the warmth of a hot and sunny place. All are experiences you can use in your magick.

Using Items Found at Your Special Place 

You can forage items such as fallen leaves, acorns, berries, herbs etc. to use in your magick. This further establishes the connection you have. Don’t forget to ask permission, and to give thanks.

NEXT - Simple Magick: Spellcasting Ethics
NEXT - Simple Magick: The Witch's Stang
NEXT - Snowdrop Magick: 8 Correspondences For Strength & Hope

Fabulous Folklore: My Personal Story About Talking Trees

I thought I’d share a story I told back in 2020. It’s a very personal story about a tree.

It’s not the tree whose shadow is featured in the picture, but a beautiful Oak I met on a sacred site many moons ago. I say “met” because this is where it gets interesting. The tree spoke to me.

Before I go any further, I’d like to point out that I know this story will sound far-fetched to some, and that by omitting certain details detracts from its credibility; but I must recall the story in the way that feels right.

I was visiting a hill fort at a particularly difficult time in my life, but I was making the most of the beautiful day I had been gifted. The Sun was shining, the birds were singing, and despite things being tricky, I was otherwise enjoying life.

My then-partner wandered off to look at something, and I made my way over to the most beautiful of Oaks. I wanted to stand beneath it, touch its bark, and connect in with it; this majestic being.

I cuddled the tree with my arms, and said hello. In my mind I told the tree how beautiful it was, and I was relaying some one-sided chatter before asking the tree what I should about my current situation. I never expected an answer. It was at once the voice in my mind, but also the voice of something ~ someone ~ else, too.

I decided my imagination was playing tricks on me, but I was aware that there was no way I could think and talk inside my mind at the same time. I did what I think anyone else would do, and I asked their name, which the tree told me. Please do not ask me to repeat the name, because I have promised to keep it a secret.

We conversed a little longer, but not wanting to be greedy or “push my luck” I thanked the tree for its insight, and ended the conversation. I stayed a little longer under the tree, happy but stunned, before moving on. An experience I will never forget, but one I no longer find extraordinary - several plants have revealed information about themselves since.

When I got home I was shocked to discover that I could not find anything under that name on Google.

Has anything unexpected like that ever happened to you? Tell me your witchy stories.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Fairy Rings

Fabulous Folklore: Nine Ladies Stone Circle

This is the Nine Ladies Stone Circle, situated on the magical Stanton Moor, and despite the name, there are actually ten stones, the tenth having been found in 1977, now laying flat.

The Nine Ladies is part of a tradition of stone circle building that took place during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age period, between 3300 and 900 BCE, with the construction of Nine Ladies falling into the Early Bronze Age.

The precise purpose of the Nine Ladies is unknown, but it is believed that the circle was used for ceremonies and rituals regarding life and death, and this site is certainly held dear by modern pagans, with many gathering at the stones on the Solstice. Experts are also unsure if the single monolith laying 40m southwest of the circle, the King Stone, is connected to the Nine Ladies, or whether their proximity to each other is purely incidental. There is no evidence to suggest that they are connected in any way.

According to legend, a fiddler - now the King Stone - played music for nine dancing ladies on Midsummer’s Night, with everyone being turned to stone as punishment for sinning on the Sabbath. Some stories say he was actually a flautist.

Other stories speak of an unidentified man dressed in black standing outside the stone circle after dark, watching nine witches dancing to the sounds of the Devil playing the fiddle, who were later turned to stone. Apparently, the man in black is actually the Devil himself watching his own handiwork.

Other legends say that when the Moon is full the stones themselves move around in a ritual dance.

There is a tendency in British folklore to name stones as women; there is the similarly named Nine Maidens stone circle near Penzance, and the Nine Maidens stone row on Bodmin.

Have you ever visited the Nine Ladies? I found the energy there beautiful and serene - what do you think? Is this on your list of places to visit?

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Stanton Tower 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Stonehenge

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Hurlers on Bodmin Moor

Fabulous Folklore: The Edith Weston Poltergeist

Several miles from here is a village called Edith Weston. It has a population of about 1100 people, and is named after Edith of Wessex, Queen of Edward the Confessor.

In December 1896, huge flocks of people gathered from afar to witness the haunting of a house; then inhabited by a Mr and Mrs Gray. Extremely loud and repetitive knocking was heard at the doors and windows, and this continued for a full week before Christmas. Hundreds of people witnessed these knocks, including Mr Braithwaite of Edith Weston Hall, who owned the property.

At it’s loudest, the entire village could hear the knocking. Police, clergy and a whole host of other official people came to solve the mysterious problem, but upon investigation, the noise would shift from room to room.

Rumours and theories were spread by the worried villagers. A fifteen year old serving girl was blamed for the mysterious thumping; but when that continued in her absence, it was then blamed on the Devil, who had been invited into the house by her.

Mrs Gray became sick with the stress and worry; and Mr Braithwaite considered demolishing the property. Thankfully the noises stopped at Christmas, but no logical explanation was ever found. An investigator from London blamed the girl. Allegedly, she called “Here I am, come on you” when entering the kitchen; the noises continuing in there long after she left.

So much time has passed that it’s not clear which building housed the Edith Weston Poltergeist, but stories are still told about it to this day. 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Witches of Belvoir
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Pumpkins

Fabulous Folklore: The Red Lion Pub

Trigger Warning - Murder

The Red Lion Pub, Avebury

This 400 year old pub is the only one in the world to be situated within a prehistoric stone circle, and quite possibly the only pub to have a well inside it, too! In my humble opinion, it is one of the most fascinating pubs in the UK, and also one of my favourites, having spent a lot of time here with friends.

Originally a farmhouse dating back to the 1600s, it later becoming a coaching inn in 1802, and is said to be extremely haunted. I have heard this first hand from several people over the years, one of which has vowed never to stay there ~ or to even set foot in Avebury ~ ever again.

In the part of the pub that you can see in the picture there is an ancient well. It now has a glass top, and is utilised as a table, but it has a dark story behind it.

There are said to be several ghosts haunting the pub, but the most famous one is Florrie.

Florrie lived in the building in the 17th century during the English Civil War. Her husband was a soldier, and he returned from the war unannounced to find Florrie in the arms of a lover. He shot the lover dead, and killed Florrie, throwing her body down the well, sealing it with a boulder. Florrie’s ghost haunts the pub, emerging and disappearing from the well, appearing in the ladies toilet, throwing salt and pepper mills, and generally causing a stir whenever bearded men are around.

It doesn’t seem as if you can stay there overnight now, but it is well worth a trip for a drink if you’re visiting to see the stones.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Waverley Abbey

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Ring Stone at Avebury

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Silbury Hill

NEXT - Farewell: Rest In Peace Terry Dobney, Archdruid of Avebury

Fabulous Folklore: Werewolves, Werewolfery & The Werewolf Witch Trials

The word werewolf comes from the Old English word werwulf, a compound of wer "man" and wulf "wolf". The werewolf, or lycanthrope, is a human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf (or wolf-like creature) after being placed under a curse, or attacked by another werewolf.

The belief in werewolves is said to have developed parallel to the belief in witches around the Late Middle Ages, and was widespread throughout much of Europe.

The hunt for ~ and persecution of ~ werewolves is integral to the witch hunt phenomenon. Accusations of lycanthropy were unusual, but did appear during witchcraft trials. Werewolf trials started in Switzerland, and spread to Germany, France, Austria and the Balkans. Between 1527 and 1725, there were at least 18 trials that involved people being accused of lycanthropy as a part of their alleged witchcraft. Some trials did not involve witchcraft, and instead were focused on general wolf-related crimes; for example wolf riding or wolf charming.

The first werewolf trial happened in 1521 but was not related to witchcraft. It was the trial of two serial killers who having been tortured by the Church confessed to being werewolves. In 1692, a man named Thiess claimed to be a “good” werewolf. He openly admitted ~ without torture ~ to being a werewolf, and said they were the Hounds of God who helped combat witches and demons.

It is believed that many of the accused were actually suffering from a rare mental illness called “clinical lycanthropy”, in which the sufferer believes they are able to turn into a feral animal.

During the time witch and werewolf trials took place, things were pretty shaky (the Protestant Reformation was sweeping through the land) and the Church used the interrogations of “witches” and “werewolves” to bolster their power and influence.

Image is a photo of a piece of art found at The Museum of Witchcraft & Magic, Boscastle. 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Witch Balls

Turning the Wheel ~ Samhain is Coming…

It’s a strange time. There is a palpable change to the energy of the world. Our thoughts are turning inward, becoming more reflective. We are ending the old year and getting ready to start anew.

The Full Moon in Aries brought with it vivid dreams and nightmares, as is always the way for me. My dreams have now shifted into dreams of my ancestors, the list of those walking before me growing ever longer. I am connecting with them in my dreams - my grandparents clear as day, the night before last. Their voices, their mannerisms, their smiles; so easy to recall. Easier than when I try now.

It’s not just spending time with loved ones passed over, it’s messages, insights, small moments of knowing.

The air feels heavy, expectant.

I feel compelled to tidy, to clean, to organise. To prepare for winter, so that I may rest. So that I can concentrate on nothing else but staying warm in this freezing house. I feel compelled to let go of the things that no longer serve me, and to spend some time thinking about the changes I need to make.

How are you doing in the run up to Samhain?

NEXT - Customs & Traditions: Samhain 

NEXT - Samhain: 4 Types of Ancestor 

NEXT - Samhain: A Celebration Supper

Fabulous Folklore: Witches' Homes

I was thinking about fairy tales and folklore, and the relationship between witches and their houses.

In Hansel & Gretel the witch’s house is made of gingerbread and candy, designed to lure in small children. In Rapunzel, Dame Gothel has a house with a walled garden that blooms all year long. Baba Yaga has a cottage in the middle of a dark forest that stands on giant chicken legs; and in Mother Trudy, Frau Trude appears as the Devil through her cottage window. At the beginning of Snow White & The Seven Dwarves the Evil Queen sits sewing at an open window when she pricks her finger with her needle. Much is made of her Magic Mirror.

In many of these stories the house plays as big a part as the witch. It’s as if these houses are alive, and have their own consciousness. Often the witch and the house are very much entwined.

I don’t think this is all that far from reality... I see my house as having its own personality and character, and perhaps its own spirit. There are days when I feel held, and in tune with the (spirit of our) house, as if I am a part of its story. But there are also days when I’m just a visitor.

I also have Copernicus, my stone “House Guardian” mounted on the back of the house who watches over it, and keeps us safe. Whenever we leave the house I petition Copernicus to look after our home, and when we return I thank him. Over time I have decided that the spirit of the house, and Copernicus the House Guardian, are not the same spirit. I’m still working it out, though.

What is your relationship with your house? Does it feel like a sentient being to you? Does it have its own personality? 

What about modern houses? Do they have a spirit, or consciousness?

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Witches' Flight

NEXT - Simple Magick: Our House Guardians

NEXT - Spirits Of The Home

Simple Magick: Experiencing the Land Wights

I’ve spoken before about land wights, the unique spirits that reside in natural things such as mineral, animal, herb, rock, plant, and stone. Collectively they form the genius loci, the spirit of a place.

Land wights are definitely the spirits that communicate with me most, and something which has developed as I have got older. I felt an instant connection to this place when I moved here ~ a later DNA test would reveal to me that many of my ancestors actually came from this area ~ and the longer I have spent time treading the land, the more information the land wights have passed to me.

It begun as information about the landscape, and moved on to the identification of plants. My plant knowledge has always been quite good, but it has sped up since I moved here. I feel like the land ~ the spirits residing within the land ~ are slowly revealing themselves to me, furthering my knowledge. They will say “I am an X” and when I go home and research, I find they are right.

It’s not just the identification of plants, it’s also their personalities. I get a certain feeling when I approach, spend time with, think about, or use a plant. These are distinct feelings or emotions that I simply have no human words for. They are very specific, and differ hugely from plant to plant. I suppose you could say it is their “essence”.

There is clearly more work to be done with this. There are hundreds of plants yet to be identified, and personalities to understand; and that’s before we get into the realm of using them magickally. What’s interesting is that as someone who has terrible cognitive issues ~ especially a terrible memory ~ one thing I CAN remember is the names of all these friends.

Have you ever felt instantly connected to a place? Did it reveal its secrets to you? Have you experienced what I am?

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NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Foxgloves

Fabulous Folklore: Robin Redbreast

There are many animals associated with this time of year, but most notably the Robin, who is often pictured perched upon a Yule Log.

Whilst many see the Robin as a symbol of good luck, fortune, and abundance, there is some dark folklore surrounding them, and they are closely associated with death.

Many believe a visit from a Robin is actually a visit from a relative in spirit. They’re seen as messengers for the spirit world, and there are many stories about their comforting presence following the death of a loved one. After my Grandmother died a Robin appeared every time my Mum entered her house. Some say that if a Robin pecks the windows or enters a house it signifies the coming death of a loved one. It is no surprise, then, that it is seen as bad luck to kill or injure one.

The old English ballad “Babes in the Wood” tells of the Wren and the Robin working together to cover the unburied bodies of two children who were abandoned and died:

And when they were dead 

The robins so red

     Brought strawberry leaves

And over them spread;

And all the day long,

The green branches among,

     They'd prettily whistle

And this was their song-

“Poor babes in the wood!

Sweet babes in the wood!

     Oh the sad fate of 

The babes in the wood!”

Christian stories suggest that the Robin was originally brown, his chest stained red by the blood of Jesus who was dying on the cross.

The Victorians were a fan of these little birds, and they would appear on Christmas cards, delivering letters like tiny postmen. The Royal Mail’s colour is red as it is linked to royalty, and thus the Victorians nicknamed their posties “Robins”.

We met this little chap last week who is fed by hand, so very friendly.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Wren's Day