A creative weaving of literary and visual art scattered amongst the ashen names and unknown entries of the four thousand daughters and sons of Scotland persecuted for the crime of witchcraft during the burning times.

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DEDICATION

This creative memorial is dedicated to the ancestors of Scotland who suffered for the crime of witchcraft. The inky act of remembrance is waiting to be brought to life in a limited edition print run, which will serve as the resting place for the names and unknown entries from the Scottish witch trial records. We believe they deserve more than existence as an entry in dry historical academia or trial records. That art, in all its forms, is an emotive memorial. Together, we can empower the voice of the witch through this not-for-profit publication. 

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VISUAL & LITERARY ART MEMORIAL BOOK

With your support, there will be a maximum of 400 books printed into existence. There are no paperback editions planned, so it truly is a limited edition copy. It is nearly 350 pages long (without the Book Midwife names). It contains visual and literary art by Creative Coven 1563, plus images from the Unknown Witch submissions. A project that successfully inspired over 625 portraits, to give a face to every witch without a name in the trial records. You can check out the project video on www.youtube.com/@rowanmorrisonstoryteller

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BOOK CURATOR

The body of work has been collated by Rowan Morrison, artist, author and storyteller, whose witch remembrance work is a creative response to the Witchcraft Act of 1563. It is a fulfilment to a promise made long ago. Rowan has explored stories of the burning times for over 30 years and ritually keened at sites of persecution all over Scotland. She recently curated the exhibition, Voices & Visions of the WITCH at Dunfermline Carnegie, Library and Galleries. It received rave reviews and some of the work is included in the book. 

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CAULDRON OF CONTRIBUTORS 

The creative coven who weave remembrance of the Scottish witch hunts are; Karen Strang, Linda Morrow, Crabbit Carlin, Helen Wright, Katy Bremer, Jane Mather, with support from Samantha Neill, and Laurah Hunter.

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The collective cauldron who gifted images, song, stories and poetry are; Marianne Berghuis, Julia Jeffrey, Marc Potts, Kelly Potts, Dan Goodfellow, Jackie Boniface, Tracey Swift, Tracey Evans, Hazel Ann McLean, Dave Philips, Janine Philips, Anita Inverarity, Kirsty B Buchan, Riikka Palonen, Nikki Rakov, Alison Bunker, Janis Wemyss, Margaret S. Malloch, Yvonne Brewer, Sharon May Hughes, Rena Gertz, Eve Davidson, Linda Kincaid, Kerstin Fricke, Kelly Grettler, Jenny Catalano, Helen Woodsford Dean, Margaret Ferguson Burns, Muriel Mackenzie, Amy B Mereno, Katrina Cook, Sharon Mcleod and Raven Stark.

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A special thank you goes out to Laurna Cron for putting the list of entries into chronological and alphabetical order for me.

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BECOME A BOOK MIDWIFE

We are seeking 'book midwives' to help birth WITCH, The Book of Remembrance, into being. With your backing, this A5 hardback, featuring an illustrated dust cover, head and tail bands, and red ribbon page markers, will be independently published. All book midwives will have their names added to the end of the book.  A poignant thank you for all our supporters. There are also stitched linen bookmarks, art prints and 50 invitations to our book launch event. 

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TIERS AND REWARDS

There are three tiers for backers to choose from. The Book Midwife Tier, Shapeshifter Tier and Coven 1563 Tier. Each enables you to have your names as 'book midwife' printed in the book alongside the almost four thousand entries from the Scottish witch trials records. Help us to birth this book into being. 

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JOURNEY THROUGH THE  BURNING TIMES

The names and unknown entries in the book are presented in chronological order (mostly alphabetical), so you can journey through the burning times year by year, to bear witness to the torturous panics and witch persecution that are the shame of Scotland. The main body of work begins in 1560, with the Scottish Reformation, and ends in 1722, with the execution of Janet Horne, known as the last witch of Scotland.

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STORY THREADS

There are over 60 story threads of women, men and children who suffered religious and secular witch persecution, in a time when the skies above Scotland were lit with flames, fuelled by the flesh of burning women. They vary in length, some of these stories will be know and some are off people who spoke to me during the collation of the names. We hope that as a collective we have raise awareness of the injustice of the witch hunts and honoured the accused.   

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EMOTIVE WEAVING

The emotive art within its pages is interwoven with poetry and prose gifted by a collaborative cauldron of professional and amateur creatives. There are images of sculptures, drawings, multi-media art, paintings and three dimensional poppets. 

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HEALING TIME

Its hallowed pages are a balm for a deep ancestral wound that remains unhealed. The time has come to honour the accused, not for glory, nor riches, but to redress the grave injustice inflicted upon those who suffered for the crime of witchcraft.  

Thank you for considering our project. 

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Love Rowan, Coven 1563 & Auld Horny X