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Magickal Scotland: The Witches’ Well

Magickal Scotland: The Witches’ Well

Last updated on: August 25, 2024 at 10:46 am by Lilith Dorsey

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Magickal Scotland: The Witches’ Well 2024-08-25T10:46:47-05:00 Lilith Dorsey

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Edinburgh Scotland is a unique city with a magick all its own. Castles, underground vaults, ghosts, and a long history this city does not disappoint. One of the most interesting highlights is the Witches’ Well near Edinburgh castle. Witches have a difficult history. We must do all we can to never forget that, lest it happen again. The castle is located on the Esplanade and rises high above the city. Just to the right as you approach you will see the Witches’ Well.

According to the Edinburgh Castle site ” Persecution of witches can be dated back to at least the 10th century, and continued throughout the medieval period until well after the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s….Over two years [in the 1590s], at least 60 women and men were brought from North Berwick to Edinburgh Castle and brutally tortured. They usually confessed to consorting with the Devil, and many were duly hanged or burned on the open ground now occupied by the Esplanade.”

The plaque at the Witches’ Well sight is less of a monument to the persecution of an ancient religion, and more typical tourist sign. But nevertheless and ever the more it is what it is, and is certainly worth a visit if you’re able.

This is only one of many sacred sites in Scotland that hold their own magick and mystery. Arguably the most famous Witch in Scotland was Isobel Gowdie. She has been the subject of many novels, and even a classical piece of music which you can listen to here:

This magickal piece composed by James MacMillan. Unfortunately there are very few known facts about Gowdie and many of the other Magickal humans who lost their lives for practicing these traditions. You can read more about her and the infamous trial at the Spooky Scotland website. While you are at the Witches’ Well you may wish to say some words of honoring for Isobel Gowdie, and all the other Witches who came before. Their struggle and their memory is still with us today. You may also wish to leave a small biodegradable offering of water, fruit, or perhaps flowers like thistle (the national flower of Scotland.) After all what is remembered lives.

Thank you for reading this post, and if possible please leave us a like, comment or a share to help us continue to bring this content!

About Lilith Dorsey

Lilith Dorsey M.A., hails from many magickal traditions, including Afro-Caribbean, Celtic, and Indigenous American spirituality. Their traditional education focused on Plant Science, Anthropology, and Film at the University of R.I, New York University, and the University of London, and their magickal training includes numerous initiations in Santeria also known as Lucumi, Haitian Vodoun, and New Orleans Voodoo. Lilith Dorsey is also a Voodoo Priestess and in that capacity has been doing successful magick since 1991 for patrons, is editor/publisher of Oshun-African Magickal Quarterly, filmmaker of the experimental documentary Bodies of Water :Voodoo Identity and Tranceformation,’ and choreographer/performer for jazz legend Dr. John’s “Night Tripper” Voodoo Show. They have long been committed to providing accurate and respectful information about the African Traditional Religions and are proud to be a published Black author of such titles as Voodoo and African Traditional Religion, 55 Ways to Connect to Goddess, The African-American Ritual Cookbook, Love Magic, the bestselling Orishas, Goddesses and Voodoo Queens and the award winning Water Magic. Keep a lookout for the newly released Tarot Every Witch Way now available where books are sold. You can read more about the author here.

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