Tourhouskie,Torhouse Stone Circle, Wigton Scotland,Bladnoch,Bronze age

Magic and tradition from the Borders and South-West Scotland

Still practicing customs identified as Iron-age in origin, the border regions of southern Scotland have maintained much of their fairy-faith, local deities and hidden magical traditions.

Ever present yet unseen, the culture permeates the land and reaches beyond the seas with its bold philosophies, quaint idiosyncrasies and quiet mystical practices.

Whether you call these regions home or you are part of the great diaspora, we hope you will join us in this evolving website as we indulge in the magical heritage of the area and share some intriguing Old Faith practices.

News and Events

Momentomori grave stone monument, Anwoth Old Kirk, Dumfries and Galloway,skull, crossbones, hourglass,crypt,cemetary,wicker man

Water, Water, and more Water

We have been taking a step back while we recover from flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene, but don't let that stop you from contacting us. We are always happy to help true seekers on their path if we can.

New Podcast

We had a lot of fun chatting with Paul Bestall on the Mysteries & Monsters podcast about Unquiet Voices. Check out episode 311

Unquiet Voices:
The Magical Art of Laying Ghosts

by Nonie Douglas, Rob Douglas

Navigate the realms of the unseen with this practical resource for magicians, Pagans, and spiritual workers of all kinds. Drawing on thirty years of research and experience, authors Nonie and Rob Douglas combine classical necromancy and modern investigative methods to help you confidently identify spirits of the dead, know when they are present, and diagnose their effects. [Read More]

Articles

Border Reivers - An Iron-age Relic

The Yellow Days of Belton - May Day in Galloway

The Secret Diaspora - Scottish Immigration of Esoteric Traditions

Winged Souls and Stone Skulls - Grave Effigies of Scotland

Reins, Rapture and Rigantona: Exploring the Gift of Awen

Healing Soul Loss

A Druid Reflects on a Living Tradition

The Threefold Soul Unveiled

The Incarnating Soul : A Border Perspective

The Art of Sin Eating

Reivers and Religion

Death on the Border

Share this with someone who needs to find their strength.

#boudicca #celticwarrior #celticheroes #motivationalquotes #basictraining#overcomeobstacles #pagan #heathen #ancestorveneration #innerstrengthquotes

All hallow’s is without doubt the most celebrated annual event in our family. Rob’s mother recalled it being a community event in rural Scotland, where children dressed in guises to conceal their identity and were expected to perform for their neighbours in order to receive a treat. Apart from games and entertainment, it is an important time to show hospitality to the honored dead with supper, song, merriment and of course conversation. It is during these special times that methods of spirit communication and divination are taught to the next generation and events are foretold, as it is considered to be the beginning of the new year from ancient days.
#allhallowseve#halloweenuk #samhain#folkwitchcraft #folklore#scottishfolklore #scottish#witchlife #oldways #divination#divinationwitch#celticfestival#ancestorworship #ceilidh #trickortreat

It was a pleasure to talk with @paulbestall about the fascinating subject of revenant spirits on The Mysteries & Monsters Podcast. The interview was a lot of fun and we hope that you enjoy it!
You can listen on your favorite pod spot or www.youtube.com/@MysteriesMonsters
#llewellyn #paranormalinvestigation #spookypodcast #ghosthunters #supernatural #necromancy #spiritactivity #haunting #halloweenghost

There are few agencies that compare to a natural disaster to put life into perspective and reset old habits.
#hurricanehelene #appalachianstrong #ashevillenc#wncmountains #grateful #disasterrecovery

Samhain is my favorite time of year. When Rob and I wrote Unquiet Voices, we wanted to provide a complete field guide to responsibly navigate the realm between life and death, based on our own Scottish folk magic and our research in Medieval necromancy. It has been great to receive so much positive feedback from people who have already read the book. We hope you find it interesting and useful!
#folkmagic #scottishfolkmagic #necromancy#halloween#samhainiscoming #allhallows#ghosts#restlessspirits #occultbooks#paganwitch

One of the important early lessons I learned from being around Rob's Scottish family was the very natural approach to the spirit world which plays and integral part of our daily lives, whether we choose to pay attention to it or not.
#halloweenspirits#ancestorveneration#scottishfolklore #talkingtospirits#necromancy #witchesofinstagram🔮🌙 #occultbooks#llewellynbooks

The universe is filled with a multitude of diverse entities.
It is not surprising we might occasionally cross paths with spirits other than humans.
Learn how to distinguish between them based on centuries of accumulated knowledge and observation in our newly released book 'Unquiet Voices: the Magical Art of Laying Ghosts.
www.llewelyn.com
#paranormalbooks#occultbooksa#supernatural#witchesofinsta

Learning how to predict conditions that are conducive to spirit manifestation is a game changer for anyone wanting to understand more about the spirit world.
Restless spirits who remain this side of the veil must seek environments that sustain their phasmic form and avoid those that threaten it, such as heavy rain.
For practical insights check out our book ‘Unquiet Voices – the Magical Art of Laying Ghosts’, published by @Llewellynbooks
#folkwitch #necromancy #witchesofinstagram🔮🌙 #ghosthunting #paranormalactivity #supernatural #hauntedhouses #halloween

Ashevillians! Join us @ashevilleravenandcrone on Saturday, August 10th from 11 am as we introduce the topic of laying ghosts and investigative necromancy. Following we will be available to meet and greet, answer questions and book signing.
#ashevilleevents #asheville #ashevilleauthor #llewellynbooks #occultbooks #booklaunch #paganwitch #paranormalbooks #deathdoula #metaphysicalbooks

I'm excited to announce our new book, 'Unquiet Voices' will be available in paperback in the UK as from 8th August. Don't miss out!

#newreleasebooks #llewellynbooks #occultbooks #spirits #necromancy#paranormalinvestigation #paranormalbooks#ghosts #ukbooks#scottishbooks #unquietvoices #esotericbooks #blackwellbooks

Among many magic and spirit workers is a growing awareness of the footprint
our mode of life is making on the unseen worlds. Those initiatory practices charged with maintaining the borderland between life and death are dwindling in numbers, and meanwhile its mistreatment is ever growing. The same disregard shown in history for the natural environment is repeating itself in the subtle realm of spirits.
There is an urgency for our and future generations to become educated in
the responsible use of magic, to preserve the balance of subtle forces and facilitate our fellow humans in their voyage beyond the veil. For any individual who has ever wanted to make a real difference in the world, this is the most imminent and powerful cause that a magician can undertake.
(Quoted from our book Unquiet Voices - the Magical Art of Laying Ghosts, available on Amazon and Llewellyn books)
#paranormalinvestigation #spirits#magic #necromancy#magicbooks #newreleases #llewellynbooks #unquietvoices

So much is happening! Today the audiobook of our new book, 'Unquiet Voices, the Magical Art of Laying Ghosts' is available. If you are interested in hearing a 30 min sample you can find one on Audibles.com .
Polly Lee's rendition is so engaging, it even made me want to listen to more! A PDF download comes with the audiobook where you will find charts and tables for easy reference. These are an essential part of the teachings so I recommend you look at them to get a fuller understanding. If you enjoy the book or you would like to hear more from us in the future please consider leaving a positive review. As first-time authors, this helps us immensely and makes it easier for others to find. Happy listening!
#audiobook#audible#ghostbooks #supernatural#llewellynbooks#unquietvoices#occultbooks#necromancy

Release day for Unquiet Voices is finally here! If you preordered a copy, you should be receiving it soon. We hope you like it!
The final product looks great, thanks to the amazing team at @llewellynbooks. I'm really pleased with the overall look and feel of the book and the way the illustrations and diagrams turned out. #llewellyn #llewellynbooks#witchbooks #occultbooks #paranormalinvestigation #necromancy #paganisn#scottishpagan #esotericknowledge #folkmagic #museumnetwork #ghosthunters
#unquietvoices

Have you ever wondered why some places are more prone to spirit apparitions than others? Classical Necromancy defines the subtle states of spirit matter that help us understand factors in the magical environment that favor spirit manifestation. This is an essential skill when communicating with the dead and resolving hauntings. It also equips us with a deeper, more nuanced approach to magical practice.

We discuss this topic in detail in our book ‘Unquiet Voices, the Magical Art of Laying Ghosts’, including how to diagnose the effects of topography, atmosphere and materials, as well asintroducing techniques that can mitigate, enhance or transform conditions conducive to the manifestation of spirits. By special request, we will be giving a workshop at Mystic South in Atlanta - ‘Where Spirits Linger.’ Join us if you can! https://mysticsouth2024.sched.com/event/1d7My/where-spirits-linger
#ghosts #hauntings #paranormalinvestigation #spirits #necromancy #witchesofinsta #mysticsouth#atlantaevents #occultphilosophy#paganwitch #paganism

This father’s day I was especially mindful of the thunder deity known to us regionally as Daron or Taran.
Of all the Indo-European deities, the god of thunder is arguably the most easily recognized and widespread - from the Vedic 'Indra', Slavic 'Perun', Greek 'Zeus', Nordic 'Thor' and Celtic 'Taranis' to name just a few.
The name 'Daron' is also Welsh, which is not uncommon for parts of the border regions in the south-west. ‘A father to the people’ is one of his many epitaphs, as well as ‘champion of the people’ and ‘bringer of fortune’.
(This deity carving is from the Corstopitum digs in Northumberland.)
#fathersday#scotland#mythology#celticgods#taranis#thunderer#thorloveandthunder#welsh#northumberland

Less than 4 weeks until this book hits the shelves! This is the first book Rob and I have written together. It is a unique approach which draws together Medieval necromancy, modern paranormal investigation and our own Scottish family traditions of laying ghosts to make a complete system to help you identify spirits and understand how and where they manifest, plus methods to resolve a haunting. You can preorder from @llewellynbooks or wherever you buy your magical titles.
Check out 'Unquiet Voices the Magical Art of Laying Ghosts' by Rob and Nonie Douglas - ebook, audiobook or paperback.
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#Llewellyn#llewellynbooks#witchesofinsta#paganbooks #necromancy #paranormalinvestigation #unquietvoices#ghosts#scottishmagic

There is a lot of talk going on lately about fairy magic. It is important not to oversimplify this topic or rely too heavily on superstition and folklore.
In the old faith, we do not use magic to coerce fairies. Nor do we try to wage war using charms against them. They work with us because they are our kin. We recognize we are of the same source, born of the same ancestral gods. Although there is a difference in our power, it comes from the world we are manifest in and not from our essential nature which is the same. Like us, they are warriors, poets and healers.
#folklore#witches#pagan#scottishpagan#fairymagic#fairymagick#sidhe#scotland#fairfolk#dumfriesandgalloway #celticpagan

I believe the reason so many pagan traditions have continued to thrive for centuries in rural Britain alongside Christianity is because people who were raised in the old faith are henotheistic, in the sense that they do not have any problems with the idea that many gods may exist outside their own practice.
Rob's grandfather taught him about the old gods (auld yins) from an early age. I think many people in Britain are raised with similar ideas, although they usually go unspoken.
In esoteric traditions, the term ‘God’ can refer to the idea of a supreme universal intelligence to which all gods and nature adhere, and so maintain a thin veneer of Christianity. Others consider the Christian deity as one of many gods that equally coexist, or they have a more syncretic approach and merge them together. We will be talking about some of these traditions in our workshop 'Living Faiths: Secret Legacies of Esoteric Britain'. Join us in Atlanta if you can! https://mysticsouth2024.sched.com/event/1d7S9/living-faiths-secret-legacies-of-esoteric-britain�(This lovely 16th C. etching by Hans Sebald Beham is from the collection of British Army Colonel George Ambrose Cardew (1865- 1941).�#henotheism #pagan #paganwitch #celtic #celticpagan #polytheism #druidlife#pagan #folklore#scottishfolklore#occultism #greenman #beham #mysticsouth

Results of the 2022 Scottish census was just released in May 2024, indicating there are over 19K individuals in Scotland identifying as Pagan. This newly added category ranks comparably to other major non-Christian religions like Hinduism and Buddhism. Non-Christian religions make up less than 4% of responses, with 39% identifying as Christian and a further 57% stating either no religion or not participating.
The full results can be viewed at:
www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/2022-results/scotland-s-census-2022-ethnic-group-national-identity-language-and-religion/
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#pagan #paganwitch#scottish#scottishpagan #druid #ukwitch #scottishcensus2022#paganfederation #unquietvoices #polytheism #celtic

When a spirit becomes visible, there are several universal stages of manifestation that occur simultaneously. These can include orbs, a mist, shadowy forms and transparent apparitions. These stages of manifestation do not indicate the type of spirit, however there are other phenomenon that will.
To learn more about how spirits visibly manifest you can read an excerpt from our book 'Unquiet Voices' on the Llewellyn website - Stages of Spirit Manifestation (llewellyn.com)
www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/3186
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#Ghosts#Hauntngs#Paranormal#supernaural#shadowpeople#unquietvoices#paranormalactivity#ghosthunting #paranormalinvestigations#ghostphotography #spiritworld #llewellynbooks

In the days between death and burial, a vigil is kept by the family to ensure the safe transition of the soul into its new disincarnate form. Depicted as a coracle, this vessel will carry the soul until the next phase of its journey. It can sometimes be witnessed with the naked eye as an orb of light. In the Gallovidian Scots dialect we call this a ‘spunky’ (related to the Welsh ‘sbonci’ meaning ball-like). In Scots Gaelic it is described by the "coich-anama", and in Latin, the "numen"
Image thanks to davislieknins.com
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#unquievoices#souljourney #orbs #scottishfolklore#soul#dumfriesandgalloway #druid#funeralcustom#death#deathdoula

Not only is peony a beautiful flower, but the roots have also been used as an ingredient in incense to repel revenant spirits since at least medieval times.
In Unquiet Voices we recommend several botanical preparations keep in a field kit when laying ghosts.
To make incense for travel, mix peony root (Paeonia officinalis) with pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) and chicory (Cichorium intybus). Bind the dry ingredients together with beeswax, softened with rosemary or pennyroyal oil and roll into pellets.
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#Unquietvoices#paranormal#ghosts#magick#occult#peony#incenses#witchesofinsta#llewellynbooks#ceremonialmagick#magicalherbs

The Reiving culture on the Anglo-Scottish borders is a fascinating aspect of Celtic tribal culture replete with cattle raids, swords, ancient laws and ancestral customs which survived into relatively modern times. I hope you enjoy this updated article! Visit www.arcaneborders.com
Image: Reiver monument, Galashiels, Selkikshire, by T.J. Clapperton, 1927

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#borderreivers #scottishculture #scottishhistory #folklore #celtic #celticpagan #indoeuropean #warhorses #selkirk #riders #lammas #ironage

No matter where I am, I always feel a sense that I am never truly alone even in the most remote locations. When my family moved from southwest Scotland, they brought this sense of home with them. Now, wherever we go in the world, there are hauntings, ancestors and other spirits to remind us the invisible realms are part of our existence.
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#ghost #ancestors #scotland #dumfriesandgalloway #paranormalactivity #hauntings #pagan #spirits #unquietvoices

The goddess of dawn and renewal is held in high esteem in the old faith of our religion. She is a steeded warrior whose rosy glow pushes back the darkness and makes way for the sun. Dawn reminds us that each day is a new beginning. We call her Madrine, but she has many other local names and is known across Europe as Aurora, Eos, Ausrine and Eostre ~
For more information about May Day traditions from Southwest Scotland and the Isle of Man see the article called ‘Yellow Days of Belton’ on our website.
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#beltaine #beltane #mayday #galloway #pagan #paganwitch #polytheism #druid #scotland #folklore #witchesofinstagram🔮🌙 #manx#druid #heathenry #dumfriesandgalloway

Too often we think of Celtic culture as national – Scots, Irish, Cornish, Welsh or Breton. The truth is that culture is regional, it varies from one district to another. The festival of Belton is a local expression of May Day from Galloway where Rob grew up. In this article he draws on his understanding of local tradition and research from neighboring Manx practices to share old ways of celebrating Belton, and our beliefs regarding a regional goddess of dawn and renewal. Check out www.arcaneborders.com
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#mayday #beltane #beltaine #scottishfolklore#manx #dumfriesandgalloway #celticpagan #druid #witchesofinsta #mythology #celticmythology #polytheism #wicca #folklore#gael #gaelicgames

The colour blue plays an important role in ancestral magic of the Scottish Borders. Being the color of woad dye, it was famously used by our ancestors and has become a symbol of their courage and ceremony. It is also the hue associated with the face of our ancient ancestral mother of our people, who is depicted as the Carline Queen, Caledonia, Beira, Cailleach Bheura and other names.
In our family, when winding skeins of dyed blue wool or twine, a single ball (called a clue, cloo or clew) was set aside and dedicated for specific magical use.
One practice of divination involves throwing a blue clue over the wall of the village churchyard while retaining hold of one end. Slowly pull the string towards you until you feel tension. In this position you may start your communication with the ancestral dead or the Carline herself. If you feel a tug, you can accept this as an indication of assent to your queries.
Robert Burns (1759-1796) writes of a similar method in the poem 'Halloween'. The character, Merran, sneaks out on All Hallow's night to perform a divination by throwing a blue clue over crossbeams.
“And slips out by hersel’;
She thro’ the yard the nearest taks,
An’ for the kiln she goes then,
An’ darklins graipit for the bauks,
An’ in the blue-clue throws then,
Right fear’t that night.”
For more magic from the borders check out our website arcaneborders.com
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#robertburns #scottishfolklore #halloween #divination #scotland#dumfriesandgalloway#witchesofinstagram#scottishpagans#woolart#folkmagic#folkmagick#naturalmagic#ancestorveneration

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