so what is all this about witches not actually being burnt, then?

[FillyjonkTheQuarkSlayer]

just out of curiosity?

[lionhearted]

Oh, The Witch in History (Diane Purkiss) tackles this myth ...

[Woodelf]

Just found this post and humbly ask to join in! Am witch too - not in the most formal of ways although belonged to a coven for quite some time am more of a free-ranger in spirit.

Nice to find you all

[Fillyjonk]

hmmm. dunno. its a religious festival imo and they shouldn't charge for it. That really feels wrong.

[expatinscotland]

Yeah, Filly, the council charges now and maintains a no alcohol policy. Fair enough, the thing had deteriorated into an excuse to wreck stuff whilst drinking and trash the place. I don't think many in that crowd even knew or cared what Beltane was about.

I won free tickets last year and it was already, but the spirit wasn't the same, so now go elsewhere to celebrate.

[SaintGeorge]

Definition of bible : A book or collection of writings constituting the sacred text of a religion.


Yep, I think we can have that one. Just don't go spelling it with a capital B or those Christians will come and tie us all to stakes

[fullmoonfiend]

That was my 'bible' for many years (can I say that without causing offence

[SaintGeorge]

Yes

[fullmoonfiend]

Was it Rae Beth wrote Hedgewitch?

[Fillyjonk]

Waaaaht? I never paid for Calton Hill! Not in 4 years! Haven't been there since 2001 though.

Maybe cos i was dancing naked?

I really didn't think there was much choice in the matter. There must have been 100 of us at least.

Are they seriously charging now? That feels very wrong. I think they used to ask for donations but charging? Can't get my head round that.

[expatinscotland]

No, you have to pay for Calton Hill, not Arthur's Seat. I didn't dance naked, though. For one, it'd be offensive. Also, it was cold.

I did drink lots of mead, tho :o.

[edam]

Funnily enough I had a pagan wedding because dh is very anti-organised religion. Churches make him come out in hives - his mother's parents converted to JW so he gets his allergy to religion from her. I would have been happy with the dear old CofE but was interested in paganism at the time - just feels right, especially given we were having the wedding in the Peak District, somewhere where you can really feel the power of nature.

[edam]

Thank you St G, Gardnerian and Alexandrian is what I meant. Just seems to run contrary to what paganism is all about IMO. More like a twisted version of the Rotary Club or the Masons! Typical bloody men, have to have daft dressing up and stuff to make them feel important.

[FlameBoo]

Sounds like me StG - when I was first reading everything I felt like it was sort of what I felt, but it wasn't at the same time, and was too organised. I have never been able to see how what a person believes and feels can be put into something as rigid as religion.

Your wedding sounds great Edam - the kind of thing that I wanted, but marrying a lapsed catholic boy, it really wasn't gonna happen . We had a really relaxed spiritualist service in the end - it seemed somewhere in between the two beliefs (always want to say that it seemed a happy medium, but it just looks like a bad pun!!! )

[TheThreeFillyjonks]

even at paying. I want it to be known that I did not pay, I am much too cool for that.

[TheThreeFillyjonks]

I didn't pay {shock]

Although there was a busload of camera flashing tourists watching the procession from - oh crap whats it called, that church off the Royal Mile just down from the Mound? My friend was there to see her girlfriend in the glasgow women's samba band, they nearly pushed her off the steps, such was their eagerness to see the natives at play.

Did dance naked though. Well you have to really, don't you?

[SaintGeorge]

I hate formalised Wicca. To me it is revivalist witchcraft and too much about power and corruption (apologies to any Gardenerian and Alexandrians out there).

It is far too personal for that. You don’t need priests and priestesses to tell you what to do or to proclaim a higher position of power than you.


Your wedding sounds wonderful edam

[edam]

I had a pagan wedding, now I come to think about it (how could I forget that?!). Lovely priestess called Annie Wildwood. Went out the night before with my mum and climbed up a mountain in the Peak District to get some water from a special spring, and some earth from Mam Tor. All our guests formed a big circle and we turned to each direction for a blessing. Ah, it was lovely. Would be too embarrassed to get up to anything like that now, but I'm glad we did it.

[edam]

I went to the Pagan Federation annual shindig years ago, out of curiosity. Terry Pratchett was the guest speaker, which I thought showed a nice sense of humour on the part of the Federation, given that he takes the mick out of wicca. I like Marian Green and hedge witchcraft but think those people involved in what do you me call it with high priests and priestesses are a bit OTT.

[expatinscotland]

ah, filly! the pagan secret. :o no self-respecting pagan would pay to go to the Beltane celebration on Calton Hill. Yes, Arthur's seat is the place for Beltane.

DH was home in the evening for it this year, so I went w/a pal to Arthur's Seat to meet w/some like-minded folks.

Hoping next year, when DD1 is closer to 4, she can come along.

[TheThreeFillyjonks]

that sounded more rude than intended

[TheThreeFillyjonks]

are you in edinburgh expat?

do you manage to get to sahwain/beltane etc?

I remember dancing on arthur's seat as a student...

[expatinscotland]

yet another reason i gave up on organised religion.

[DominiConnor]

I really would love to see the research that said that Christians burned "only a few" Witches.

I'd be entertained more so if the institution responsible didn't have "St."in the name....

[SaintGeorge]

I honestly thought people knew that I am (was) Snugs. I didn't make it a big secret or anything.

Didn't come out and shout about either though I suppose.

[WideWebWitch]

Oh, so you're snugs? I remember old threads abotu witches too, v interesting.