This is a sample chapter from a longer work on some of the women accused of witchcraft in Orkney and their relationship to the landscape. It’s presented in two parts. This is the second instalment of my field notes from the island of Westray.
The first instalment, where I visit the Stone Age Westray Wife and am fairy-led whilst looking for a Viking Age church, among other adventures, is for paid subscribers. You can read it here.
The field notes I have written take months of in depth research and preparation. Paid subscribers make this work possible.
Witchy Waxing (shorter field notes focusing on flora & fauna), Round Ups (what I’m reading, etc.) and Full Circle posts (revisiting older work) remain free to all readers!
This is the wave will break the spell, this is the weed will coil my calf, this is the waters’ warp and weft, this is the song of the healing swell. --Westray poet Lydia Harris, 'A further unsuccessful water cure was attempted at Prestonpans in summer 1777'