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SCOTTISH WITCHCRAFT (PART II)


SCOTTISH WITCHCRAFT II. It's curious how easy people make rules, and it is also curious how most of those rules are not based on anything real. A rumor, a misunderstood word, a misguided act, an indiscreet look, going out into the woods at night...any of those things can set off a whirlwind of uncontrolled events. And it was many of these things that started the persecution of women and men accused of witchcraft. Some physical traits were also cause for suspicion. Having red hair was one of those criteria, as that hair color was associated with the devil. Having skin marks or birth defects, or having a third nipple. It was said that a woman who had a third nipple breastfed her "familiar spirit" (power animals that accompanied her) or worse, she breastfed the devil. Mental illnesses were confused with demonic possessions. People's imagination knew no bounds, anyone could be accused, even members of the nobility. People who lived alone in the forest and who had a connection to nature and a great knowledge of herbal medicine were also suspected. It was enough that an envious neighbor saw an intelligent, single, independent woman, to whom people turned for help. Then she could start spreading a rumor that the woman practiced witchcraft, went to nocturnal covens, vomited all kinds of objects without suffering, in her wake crops died and animals became sick. Any of these crazy ideas were enough to accuse someone of witchcraft. People let the idea of the witch in Scottish folklore get mixed up with the figure of the wise woman. And that was the modern idea of the witch, the idea was used to accuse, torture and execute thousands of women and men. Women and men who in other times were the wise people of the community, they were respected and honored. So to find out more about them we'll have to go back much further in time...To be continued.


 
 
 

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