Harvest Moon – Remember Her: Isobel Gowdie | Scottish Witch Hunts Memorial Workshop
The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox, and it’s large, golden presence prompts us to reflect on the Summer just gone, and what we have gathered for the coming Winter months. My Summer has been intense and full of adventures, as I spent 3 months in Southern Sweden on a sabbatical preparing for the very first Pockets of Love exhibition.
I had lots of adventures, including going Tango dancing for the first time in years! I loved it, and I’m so grateful to have been taken to this open air event which meant I could attend as there were no LEDs. I’m very grateful to the folk from Afors Djembe Jam who adopted me and helped me have a wonderful summer, especially Lenart, Asa, Jan and Anja.
Online Memorial Event
Monday 26th October at 7pm
Book your tickets here
As the Summer draws to an end, the Autumn brings with it the fruits of the harvest to take with us as we begin our annual journey into the dark months. I’m moving next week, and I’m very grateful that my new nest has an open fire, that me and my cat Hecate can curl up in front of, during those long Winter evenings.
The next full moon falls the day after the clocks go back on Monday 26th October, and it will be the first long evening in the darkness. I’d love to invite you to share it with me at an online gathering to commemorate Isobel Gowdie, one of the most well known accused women of the Scottish Witch Hunts.
Isobel’s voice has echoed through the centuries due to the detailed confessions she made to her accusers. She told them about covens and fairy queens. She described, in vivid detail, how she could transform herself into a hare by reciting this spell:
“I shall go into a hare, with sorrow and sigh and meikle care.”
In this 90-minute online memorial gathering we’ll remember Isobel Gowdie, and the thousands of women like her.
Before the session, you will receive this hand-drawn diorama, inspired by Isobel’s own words, to colour in and assemble during our time together.
Together, we will:
– Light a candle – to honour her and the thousands of women who were accused during the Scottish Witch Hunts
– Hear Isobel’s hare spell read aloud – the words she spoke 363 years ago
– Colour and assemble the diorama – while Tara reads from Isobel’s own confessions
– Write a name on the gravestone at the heart of the scene – The name of a woman accused of Witchcraft who has been forgotten in history
You don’t need any skills or prior knowledge to attend. You will need a printer, some colouring pens or pencils, and the desire to honour and commemorate Isobel Gowdie and all those accused of Witchcraft.
Gathering Together…
Yesterday, I was talking about the workshop with my assistant, Rebecca, and she was really excited to be a part of it. She helps me with social media content, but she also really enjoys colouring and is looking forward to getting her pack and taking some photos of her progress making up the memorial. Look out for her posts on my Facebook and Instagram, and please like and share!
Rebecca reflected that it’s a wonderfully accessible project that anyone can join in with, and that the workshop itself is a lovely way to come together with like minded people to honour the accused Witches of the Scottish Witch Hunts.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
- A printer and 3 sheets of A4 card or thick paper
- Scissors and double-sided sticky tape (or glue)
- Coloured pens, pencils, paint, or whatever feels right to you
- A candle in a holder, if you have one
- Somewhere quiet to sit for 90 minutes
Will the gathering be recorded?
The gathering itself will not be recorded, as it is intended to be a quiet moment in time. However, there is a pre-recorded tutorial that you will have access to afterwards, so if you find that you can’t make the live workshop, you will still have a guided session to help you colour and make your paper memorial.
