Waking the Witch is a well-researched and entertaining history of witches, from ancient times to the present day. Author Pam Grossman hosts the podcast The Witch Wave, and in this mix of scholarship and memoir she examines the enduring connections between female power and patriarchal persecution.
Grossman also explores the myth and martyr, sister and scary monster, feminine and feminist, interpreting what it means to both practice magic, and to be accused of practicing magic in less tolerant societies. She also highlights how the word craft is used for “both making art and doing magic . . . . Artists use the power of imagination to create pieces that shift consciousness, thereby changing both the maker and the viewer,” as do potent spells [188]. She suggests that creative people have sprinkled their own individual magic in the world all throughout history.
This book is beautifully written and accessible to a wide audience on many different levels. Very informative, witty, and enjoyable!
There are few place in England older, or more shrouded in mystery, than Stonehenge. The famous stones in Wiltshire have aroused much speculation throughout the centuries – that they were built by alien gods – conjured up by Merlin – designed by the Druids for ritual sacrifices – or were part of a mystical system of Ley Lines. This magic circle still draws thousands of tourists every year from all parts of the globe. It is a place of natural energy and stunning design.
(Photo: Public Domain)
But there is another place of wonder in the North of Britain, far more ancient and equally fascinating, called Pendle Hill. Almost the size of a mountain, it rises 1,829′ above sea level in the Pennine Range, separating the ancient seats of Lancaster (Lancashire) and York (Yorkshire).
(Photo: Kit Perriman)
The hill is a place of stark, feral beautiful, often mysteriously shrouded in mist. A Bronze Age burial site has been discovered on the summit, and it is said that the Druids once lived close by. For as long as men and women worshipped the rising sun there have been celebrations on this thirsty earth, a soil demanding human blood. There are rumors of wicker-man sacrifices – fertility rites to bring in the spring – priestesses who could raise storms and conquer invading enemies. Even the great Julius Caesar admitting to fearing these weird conjurers.
Although little of Pendle’s history is certain before the Norman Conquest, the land was then given to the De Laceys and they established two “royal” hunting grounds, one in the Forest of Pendle and the other in the Forest of Trawden. Throughout the Middle Ages this area was a center for sheep farming and wool production, and despite Henry VIII’s Reformation the people clung to their old beliefs – probably a little Celtic paganism mixed with Catholic ritual and a hefty dose of superstition.
It is still an awesome place today. From the top of the cairn you can often see as far as the sea. The air tingles with a hidden current, like the pulse of an ancient heartbeat. This peculiar energy cannot be explained but it has been interpreted in two important, yet widely opposing ways. In 1652 George Fox climbed to the top of Pendle Hill and had a vision of many souls coming to Christ. This compelled him to start the Quaker Movement and dedicate his life to the service of God.
A few years earlier, however, this same land was thought to be riddled with witches and demons, which triggered the Lancashire Witch Trials of 1612 and 1634.
If you are ever in Lancashire, it is well worth a visit!
Hotpot was traditionally cooked in a cauldron on an open fire. Nowadays it’s made in a non-stick pan on the stove.
(Photo: Public Domain)
Ingredients:
Large can of best Stewing Steak
5lbs potatoes
1lb carrots
2 large onions
2 cups beef stock
2oz butter or margarine
Salt
Black pepper
Method:
1. Peel all the vegetables. Fry the chopped carrots and onions together in the melted butter or margarine until soft.
2. Add the Stewing Steak. Stir well.
3. Cut the potatoes into 1-2″ cubes and add to the pot. Stir well.
4. Cover over the top of the potatoes with beef stock (adding more water if necessary).
5. Bring to the boil. Reduce to a low heat. Simmer for 1-2 hours until the mixture is reduced and all of the vegetables are fully cooked. Stir frequently.
Serve with red cabbage, pickled onions, mushy peas, or crusty bread.
I got a coin in your palm,
I can make it disappear.
I got a card up my sleeve,
Name it, and I’ll pull it out your ear.
I got a rabbit in the hat,
If you wanna come and see.
This is what will be.
This is what will be.
I got shackles on my wrists,
Soon I’ll slip and I’ll be gone.
Chain me in a box in the river,
And I rise up in the sun.
Trust none of what you hear,
And less of what you see.
This is what will be.
This is what will be.
(Photo: Public Domain)
I’ll cut you in half, I got a shiny saw blade, All I need’s a volunteer,
I’ll cut you in half,
While you’re smiling ear to ear.
And the freedom that you sought,
Drifting like a ghost amongst the trees.
This is what will be.
This is what will be.
Now there’s a fire down below,
But it’s coming up here.
So leave everything you know,
Carry only what you fear.
On the road the sun is sinking low,
Bodies hanging in the trees.
This is what will be.
This is what will be.
Kit’s Crit: HEIR TO A PROPHECY (Mercedes Rochelle)
Any one fascinated by Shakespeare’s Macbeth will love the question behind Mercedes Rochelle’s debut book: How do the sons of Banquo come to rule Scotland? The three weird sisters tell Macbeth’s companion that “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” – a promise that sets in motion the deadly events of the famous play.
Heir To A Prophecy (Hampshire: Top Hat Books, 2014) follows a fragmented trail through Scottish history – tracing the line from Banquo’s son Fleance to King James Ist of England – with a similar mix of fact, fiction, and supernatural interference as found in the original tale. We know that Banquo is murdered on Macbeth’s orders, but that his son Fleance escapes. In Rochelle’s version he goes into exile in Wales at the court of Gruffydd ap Llewelyn, where he woos and impregnates the king’s daughter, Nesta.
Nesta bears an illegitimate son called Walter, who enlists in Harold Goodwineson’s service and ends up fighting at Dunsinane and Hastings. Along the way he befriends Prince Malcolm, King Duncan’s heir to the Scottish throne. Years later, Walter settles in Malcolm’s court and is rewarded for his services, becoming the first Steward of Scotland. This legitimizes his position, and prepares the way for future descendants of the royal house of Stuart.
Rochelle’s portrayal of the three witches is particularly interesting. They appear at various points in her story to advance their original prophecy, but rather than being the weird old hags of Shakespeare’s era they are associated with the Norns of Scandinavian mythology – fates who control mankind’s destiny. But aside from this nod to the bard, Rochell wisely does not attempt to imitate one of the great literary masterpieces with a sophisticated, high-brow response. Instead she writes a plain, rollicking tale that should have broad appeal for those readers who like a fast-paced romp through history.
This novel is nicely edited and presented. The setting, however, is too broad a time-period to examine and explore the various situations in any great depth. Heir[s] To A Prophecy could well have been a whole series, with each book focusing on one central character – Fleance, Walter, and so on!
