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The confessions of Isobel Gowdie in the seventeenth century are widely recognised as the most extraordinary on record in Britain. Among historians, the confessions are celebrated for providing a unique insight into the way fairy beliefs and witch beliefs interacted in the early modern mind; more controversially, they are also cited as evidence for the existence of shamanistic visionary traditions, of pre-Christian origin, in Scotland in this period. On a popular level the confessions of Isobel Gowdie have, above any other British witch-trial records, influenced the formation of the ritual traditions of Wicca.
http://www.sussex-academic.co.uk/sa/titles/history/wilbygowdie.htm
Has anyone read any transcripts of her confessions - which I believe are extant? I'd be interested to hear what these do have in common, if anything, with other witchcraft traditions.

I will have to look into this further but from what I could find so far... http://www.answers.com/topic/isobel-gowdie .... this is a basic look into her life... as is yours... this one has a little variation on what yours says!!! but the basic facts are the same! I'll be posting more as I find it!

I have seen supposed spells such as shall go into a hare,
With sorrow and sych and meickle care;
And I shall go in the Devil's name,
Ay while I come home again.
(sych: such; meickle: great)

To change back, she would say:

Hare, hare, God send thee care.
I am in a hare's likeness now,
But I shall be in a woman's likeness even now.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

gives you breif back ground as well

i havent read anything about it

Then don't post in my thread :-)

sabrina...if you have nothing to say to contribute to the thread...please do not post anything then.....that is a quick way of getting a supspension from writing in the thread for a while *smile*

Having googled a whole heap of pages using different terms all i could find at most was this - The Auldearn witches trial records are not complete but it is assumed that the most of the thirteen witches named by Gowdie joined her in the gallows. Others that were also tried were Katherine Sowter and Janet Breadheid.

c/o - http://www.witches.net/scottishwitchcraft.htm

I will read the whole link you posted when I get back from work…… as for fairies there is a truth behind them .
A race called the Tuatha who came on dark clouds and landed on the mountains of connaught in west Ireland they brought darkness for three days and three nights. You can read about them in the book of invasions found in the 12 century, also the book of dun cow talks of them very tall people who brought items with them that shaped Ireland and Britain history …. As time went on they were reduced in size by the monks writing about them till we believe them to be little people with no power or fanciful magic. The truth is much more believable then little people.

I have never heard of this before today I myself am interested in knowing the full history of witchcraft how far back it goes in history as well as my families history I want to find who I am and so I believe the only way for me to do so is to learn from others... I feel incomplete....

Very interesting subject. As old beliefs become the spawn of Satan, to lead new people to the christian religion. Thou I have problems taking to heart their confessions. Most were not "tea time chats" but under the hand and "art" of the confessors (torture). Looking into the history of German witches shows the true terror or being named a "witch". As always my heart goes out to those unfortunates.

i remember hearing something on this matter some time ago but i don't remember the specifics, but it did seem like a fascinating subject. i'm going to go brush up on it.

i never knew much on the scots and their practices but in general i always figured they were more like the ancient druids with their pesent practices which i am sure served for a good purpose i would be interested in learning more.

I have never heard of this woman but after reading the threads and the more info sites all I can say is she

( Sorry all pressed wrong button) All I can say is she was one hell of a woman and she believed in what she believed in

The Count beat me to it but i believe that Scottish witchcraft is druidism.. I think that traditions were past down generation to generation.

Scottish, Celtic and Druidism.... probably all got something in common

The modern current of Scots witchcraft can found in Picta-Wica. From the Picts, the ancestors of the modern Scots, there is a modern reconstructivist form of Wicca that is trying to preserve that tradition. Even though, Raymond Buckland follows Saxon-Wicca, he does write a lot about Picta-Wica.

Other sources of transcripts can be found at:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/index.htm. I recommend the Witches' Hammer or Malleus Maleficuram. It was the Church's official book on how to identify and place witches on trial. It is filled with cases.

There is also a book called Daemonology from Scotland. All of these ancient books are available for free.

V--V

i believe that there all types of witchcraft but never seen or heard of this thanks for the info,!

didnt know this wow

Looks a good read for sure, I do believe the minds of old were wired a different way for sure.
They didn’t live in a dream world, how could one when life was so hard to survive any way.
I do believe they gave dreams as much respect as normal wake, both worlds merged nicely


the rest is negative from the church and no need to go on about that "burning" question on why lol

I haven't read on that. But I will have to look into this.