Scottish Witchcraft

September 23, 2019
Meiklejohn-Free’s wholehearted, if unscholarly, debut uses her experience as a lifelong “seer” to create a spiritual approach to life that stresses listening to nature and ancestors, personal gnosis, and choosing one’s own path. While based on the ancestral wisdom of Cailleach (the Gaelic female creator deity), as well as two Scottish mentors (highland “seer” Swein MacDonald and her great-grandmother Winnie), the actual substance of the text is supported by a frustratingly disorganized and eclectic neopagan framework. Meiklejohn-Free leans heavily on her personal story, which is filled with persecution for her “seer” gifts and acknowledgment of her unique power—while being intentionally obscure about whether her lessons are for the similarly gifted, or for all. Scottish Highland elements, such as the idea of “sin eaters” or herbal tinctures that focus on the restorative elements of Scottish plants, are sprinkled throughout, and Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Native American, and Norse god names and concepts are mixed in randomly. Nearly all of Meiklejohn-Free’s ritual exercises are straightforward and focus on connecting with the natural world. While not distinctly Scottish enough for experienced pagans looking for culturally specific elements, this book of miscellany may appeal to those looking for an introduction to pagan practices.