The Sight
Second site, or more correctly
the Two Sights,* plays a very large part in Scottish beliefs. It was strongly
believed that certain people had the ability to see into the Otherworld,
the dead, and/or the future. Not only people but dogs and horses were believed
capable of such powers to an even greater extent than human seers ---especially
when it came to seeing the dead. There were many specific beliefs about
visions seen by seers. Martin Martin* recorded that in the Western Isles
if a vision was seen in the morning the event it showed would happen in
a few hours; if at noon sometime during the same day; if in the evening
then sometime that night. A shroud seen about a person foretold death and
the height of the shroud indicated when. One of the most famous Scottish
seers was Kenneth MacKenzie, the Brahan Seer who was born on the Isle of
Lewis in the 17th century. He had a blue or white stone which his mother
gave him, having herself seen graves open up, release their occupants who
later returned and the graves closed...except for one. She placed her staff
in the grave when the occupant returned, a princess from Norway whose travels
had been longer....the spirit told the woman where to find the stone and
to give it to her son who gained the Sight from it.* He became very famous
in his day as a seer and many of his predictions have proven true. These
include the building of the Caledoinian Canal, the Highland Clearances,
and the breakdown of the Clan system.
The Sight was not something that
was really considered desirable....especially as it often was about death..and
Ross notes that seers tended to be a melancholy lot.* Most accepted their
"gift" although apparently on the Island of Coll it was believed one could
rid themselves of it by giving alms and praying.
Witchcraft
According to Scottish folk custom*,
there were distinctly two types of Witchcraft --black and white. "Charmers"
and "healers" were examples of the white or positive sort and as much believed
in even during times of persecution (which were especially bad in Scotland)
as were the malevolent sort so well "documented" by the Witch Hunters.
According to Anne Ross such beliefs were never much talked about...even
the Charmers were somewhat "Outside" ----and such powers were considered
a bit frightening even when used only for good. However, such folk were
also sought after for cures, protections (especially from the other sort),
and, according to Ross, the best beer in the area (for malt apparently
comes under a Witch's power, either to destroy someone else's by a malevolent
one or to work best by a Charmer). (this of course, has little to
do with Witches today...for few of us would ever attribute the name "Witch"
to one who uses malevolent powers. However, we also have to be ever aware
that some Occultists do use such power so that we, like our Charmer predecessors
might be able to counteract it when needed. For naivety is seldom an adequate
defense.)
Death
Anne Ross notes "Death has always
been one of the main preoccupations of the Celts..."(pg. 107) (perhaps
the reason there are a growing number of Gothic Celtic Pagans?). She goes
on to note the importance of ancestor honoring, gravesites, and funerals
in the cultures. And that such things were not really seen as solely gloomy
events...wakes were times of partying, of celebration, as well as a time
to try to prevent the spirit of the person from wandering or interfering
negatively with the affairs of the living. There would be games played,
riddles told, and the laments enjoyed as well as bringing sadness. |