Fabulous Folklore: The Major Oak

The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, is one of our oldest trees.

It stands near the village of Edwinstowe and has been present during the age of the Vikings, the Battle of Hastings and over 50 monarchs, which is just incredible.

It is propped up by girders and planks, which sparked an interesting conversation between me and my friend: should this incredible tree be supported in this way, or should we let nature take its course?

What do you think?

Have you been to see the Major Oak? Maybe you have made friends with another very old tree? I’d love to hear your tree stories!

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Wing Maze
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Yew
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Rats Castle
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Broadbean

Fabulous Folklore: Doniert Stone -The King’s Cross

This stone, located in St. Cleer, Cornwall, is the decorated granite base for a Celtic cross that dates to the late 9th Century AD. It is thought to have been built to commemorate Doniert, the last (known) recorded king of Cornwall. 

The back of the stone is intricately decorated with four carved knots, each made up of two interlacing oval rings. Intertwining decoration is found on either side of the stone. On the side is a Latin inscription “Doniert rogavit pro anima” which means “Doniert has begged prayers for his soul.”

It is believed that King Doniert is actually King Dungarth, the King of Dumnonia. Dumnonia was the kingdom named after the Dumnonii, a British Celtic tribe living in the south west at the time of the Roman invasion.

It sits next to The Other Half Stone. When complete, the Doniert Stone and the Other Half Stone would have been impressive stone crosses. They are located at a crossroads for a number of important trackways that divide the downland. 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Cornish Piskies 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Gravestone Symbolism

Identifying Witches in the 1600s

In the 1600s, identifying witches was seen as vital work. Europe was considered to be under satanic threat, and so various “witchfinders” were employed to root out the individuals who threatened the souls of every day people.

Witchfinders would operate in two ways; either in an official capacity, or in an unofficial capacity, with neighbours and community members stepping up to expose the evil they feared.

Whilst there were lots of tests to help identify a witch (coming in another post), there were certain factors that would make it more likely that someone would be accused of being a witch:

• Widowed 
• Very old
• Living with a cat or other pet 
• Being new to a community 
• Not attending church, or going rarely 
• In a property dispute 
• Having an “odd” appearance, or physical/facial deformities 
• Going out after dark
• Having immoral, promiscuous or questionable behaviour 
• Being outspoken or talking too much 
• Talking to oneself
• Being strong willed or quarrelsome 
• History of uttering curses against others

When a person was accused of Witchcraft, witnesses were called, an examination of the accused was carried out, and sometimes a confession would be gleaned - sometimes via torture. Whilst women were the “weaker sex” and therefore more prone to being manipulated by the Devil, lots of men were accused at this time. In some countries, men were in a slight majority, and most accusers of witches in England were actually women.

It’s important to note that even at this time of intense fear not all accusations were believed, and many cases fell through. Most judges and jury men were sceptical about the existence of magic, and people were often suspicious of people claiming to be victims of Witchcraft.

Professor Alice Roberts - A Chance Meeting!

I’ve been meaning to share this picture since last September!

It was my lovely friend’s birthday, and the night before our dear friend Terry’s funeral (the Archdruid of Avebury, and Keeper of the Stones). We we went to my local hillfort for a walk and bumped into Professor Alice Roberts @prof_alice_roberts

For those that don’t know, or don’t live in the U.K., Professor Roberts is a biological anthropologist and TV presenter. She had just finished filming Digging for Britain at the hillfort when we arrived there.

Professor Roberts has done loads of fantastic programmes including King Arthur’s Britain: The Truth Unearthed, looking at archaeological discoveries giving insight on the political situation in Britain in the Early Middle Ages; and Stonehenge: The Lost Circle Revealed, which looks at the bluestones of Stonehenge and Waun Mawn.

We were definitely not expecting this chance meeting. What started out as a birthday celebration, and a quick walk in the middle of nowhere to clear our heads before a big emotional day, turned into this marvellous encounter.

Thank you Professor Roberts for talking to us and agreeing to a photograph!

Personal Magick: What My Craft Means To Me

I was asked yesterday what my craft means to me. Quite simply, it is who I am, the way I live, and how I express myself. It is not lost on me how lucky I am to be living in a time where I can be myself.

The Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1597 saw 400 people on trial; about 200 were executed. There were to be more Scottish witch hunts during 1628-1631, 1649-1650, and 1661-1662.

Between 1644 and 1646 English ‘witch finder’ Matthew Hopkins was responsible for the execution of 300 alleged witches. The Salem Witch Trials (starting 1st March 1692) saw more than 200 men and women accused. Nineteen were hanged, one pressed to death, and at least four more died in the unbearable conditions of the jail, before being thrown into shallow graves.

I leave the names of the Salem Witch Trial victims here, and ask you to spare a thought for these poor people:

Bridget Bishop - Rebecca Nurse - Sarah Good - Susannah Martin - Elizabeth Howe - Sarah Wildes - George Burroughs - Martha Carrier - John Willard - George Jacobs Snr. - John Proctor - Martha Corey - Mary Eastey - Ann Pudeator - Alice Parker - Mary Parker - Wilmott Red - Margaret Scott - Samuel Wardwell - Giles Corey - Lydia Dustin - Ann Foster - Sarah Osborne - Roger Toothaker.

NEXT - Personal Magick: Stone