Witches in Scottish folklore—now we’re talking about a tradition steeped in power, mystery, and no small amount of fear. The very word “witch” in Scotland conjures up images of wild, windswept moors, ancient rituals, and secret gatherings under the full moon. Witches in Scottish mythology were not just the old women stirring cauldrons we see in pop culture; they were healers, seers, and figures both revered and feared by their communities. And as history shows us, they were often the targets of suspicion and persecution, leading to some of the darkest chapters in Scottish history.

In the folklore, witches were deeply connected to nature, wielding its elements for both good and ill. They were often seen as having a bond with the earth, able to heal or harm through their knowledge of herbs, spells, and ancient practices passed down through generations. Some witches were known as cunning folk—those who used their abilities to help others, guiding people through illness or personal crises with remedies and spiritual insight. Others, however, were seen as dangerous, capable of curses and dark magic that could wreak havoc on crops, livestock, or even the fate of a family.

Of course, this balance of power—between healer and harbinger of doom—made witches a source of both respect and fear. And that fear reached its peak during the witch hunts of the 16th and 17th centuries, when thousands of women (and some men) were accused of witchcraft and faced brutal trials. The North Berwick Witch Trials of 1590 are among the most infamous, where accusations of weather manipulation (blamed for a storm that nearly drowned King James VI) led to the torture and execution of many innocent people. This was a time when the line between myth and reality blurred, and superstition, politics, and fear combined in deadly ways.

The witches of Scottish folklore were also said to have deep connections to the fae and the devil himself. Legends tell of witches flying on broomsticks or even shape-shifting into animals like hares, traversing the land with supernatural speed to attend their infamous gatherings, or “Sabbaths,” in remote and sacred places. These meetings were said to be filled with wild dancing, spells, and communion with dark forces—though how much of this was real and how much was exaggerated by terrified townspeople is up for debate.

But witches were far from the evil caricatures history often paints them to be. Many were wise women, midwives, and practitioners of ancient, earth-based wisdom that didn’t fit into the rigid frameworks of religion or society. Their knowledge of the natural world was invaluable, and their role in Scottish folklore speaks to a time when magic and mysticism were woven into everyday life.

Even today, the legacy of witches in Scotland is palpable. The ruins of places like the Witches’ Stone in Forres and the memorials to those lost in the witch trials stand as a haunting reminder of the power of myth and the dangers of fear. Yet, the image of the Scottish witch endures, not just as a figure of darkness, but as a symbol of resistance, power, and the untamed forces of nature. So, whether you see witches as wild women of the moors or as victims of injustice, their presence in Scottish folklore is as alive as the wind through the heather.