Doon Hill - A Portal Onto The Fairy World

*Per leggere questo articolo in Italiano clicca qui.*

At the Summer Solstice, it is impossible not to mention the paranormal: since the sun is at its peak, during its long journey in the sky, even magic reaches its full power under its golden rays. Throughout Europe there are legends related to the solstice and how natural laws were overturned on this particular day.

As often happens on the occasion of these particular astronomical events, the veil between the worlds becomes thinner and thus communication with the supernatural is favored.

Not only are there particularly suitable periods of the year, but also places of power where other dimensions are more accessible. One of these is Doon Hill, a small corner of peace and lush greenery at the foot of the Scottish Highlands. Although small and probably known only by the most accustomed fans of British folklore, it is the scene of a truly fascinating story about the fair folk.

It happens to be the place where the remains of Reverend Robert Kirk rest, author of "The Secret Commonwealth" and whose fate is still a mystery shrouded in the mists of this magical land.

Kirk was the minister of Aberfoyle, where he remained until his death: he achieved moderate success as the author of the first complete Gaelic translation of the Bible, but his true fame was reached postmortem thanks to the book The Secret Commonwealth - a collection of folklore and legends written between 1691-1692, but published only in 1815.

Kirk, despite his Christian faith, was the holder of what is called "second sight" - which may seem an oxymoron, accustomed as we are to today's conception of Christianity. But we must remember that many Christian customs are imbued with paganism and vice versa, intertwined over the centuries - especially when it comes to rural places, instilled with pre-Christian customs. It was therefore not uncommon to hear of "second sight" in the Scottish Highlands, it was almost routine and prestigious status.

Wandering through the local countryside, gathering evidence of encounters with the fairy folk, he used to frequent nearby Doon Hill - a hill surrounded by woods, not far from his parish. There he said he often encountered ethereal creatures "somewhat of the nature of condensed cloud and best seen in twilight", - who illustrated the habits and customs of their people. They dressed and talked like humans, danced, celebrated, sang but with substantial differences: for example, they fed on the lifeblood (foison) and managed to pass through tiny holes and cracks in the walls. Their homes, where they lived in a society with a well-defined hierarchy, were located underground and often visited this dimension during the nights of Samhain and Beltane - when the veil between worlds was thinnest. There were also differences in what we can call "moral": the fairies were neither good nor bad, sometimes they made themselves useful to others by giving advice on how to fix tools or warning of imminent dangers, sometimes instead they kidnapped young mothers to breastfeed their children, they seduced humans and / or stole their infants - think of the famous changelings for example.

They had nothing to do with the sweetened version that we imagine today: according to legends, they are thin and shiny beings - similar to the Elves described by Tolkien, which have roots in Norse mythology.

The Norse and the Anglo Saxons, indeed, called them alfar (elves). 

In Ireland they were known as sidhe, while in Scotland as sith - meant as inhabitants of the Sitheans, mounds considered portals to the other world, while in Wales they were called ellyllon (shining beings). Today's connotation of fairies derives from the French fée and then Englishised into fairy.

Those who met them, during their crepuscular celebrations, were overwhelmed by an irrepressible desire to dance and follow the procession - often ending up in their world and then being unable to return. Only the purest of heart and most gifted in the arts were able to receive gifts and return to this dimension.

Returning to our Robert Kirk, one day he was mysteriously found dead at the top of the hill. The reason for his death is still a mystery now ... it may have been an illness, maybe he fell into the wrath of the fairy people for having revealed their secrets, some say that the body was simply a simulacrum and the real Robert Kirk was transported to the kingdom of fairies.

Whatever the truth, his body (real or not) is buried at Aberfoyle Cemetery, while Doon Hill can be visited via a peaceful and relaxing path - lined with trees covered with ribbons, prayers, flowers and offerings. Pulsating memory of a folklore that was and still lives in the hearts of those who visit the hill, perhaps hoping to meet some supernatural being.

Whatever you do for the solstice, be careful.

The veil becomes thin, and with it the visits on this plane more frequent.

♃Ludna

Edinburgh - A City full of Ghosts

When we think of a thrilling story, a leaden sky, stone walls blackened over the centuries and wild moors naturally come to mind. It would seem that ghost stories and Scotland go hand in hand, not surprisingly it is one of the most haunted places in Europe: certainly thanks to the impervious nature of the Highlands, the harsh climate and dramatic scenery, but in popular legends and folklore there is often a fund of truth.

In particular, today we will discuss one of the aspects of its gloomy capital: Edinburgh. Visited every year by thousands of tourists, the city is famous for its marvellous medieval architecture that makes it a real historical gem, guarded from above by Castlerock; but also for its history full of coups, wars, betrayals and murders. 

The very morphology of the territory has defined its origin: forged by the fire of a volcanic land and by the primordial ice, the city is born where the elements meet - thus creating the characteristic hilly landscape, making it the perfect stronghold.

Contested between Celts and Romans first, Scottish clans and by the English then, Edinburgh was enclosed by solid walls, giving it its fortified appearance: as the population grew, space decreased; and, as its people could not leave the safety of the fortress, the buildings began to erect themselves vertically. This spasmodic search for space soon transformed the city landscape into a dense labyrinth of narrow and dark streets, compressed between wonky multi-storey buildings that reached the height of 14 floors.

Once the secular war with the English ended, the citizens of Edinburgh finally decided it was safe enough to move outside the city walls: the wealthier families, fed up with claustrophobic atmosphere that impregnated the town, began to build their new homes in what is now called "New Town": the exact opposite of the historic centre “Old Town”, by name e by nature. Spacious houses with large windows, wide streets lined with tree-lined avenues... Everything aimed to be bright, airy and orderly - letting the old part of the city decay and inhabited by the poorest families.

Bridges were built, in order to connect one part to another of Edinburgh without having to go through the labyrinth of twisted, smelly streets. The South bridge, in particular, was an architectural marvel for the time: commercial buildings, towering over the city landscape, were built above the structure of stone arches.

As we have already seen above, Edinburgh was a densely populated city but with a scarcity of building land so the new bridge became a great opportunity to optimise spaces; other buildings were built close to the structure - thus obscuring the arches and closing it completely on both sides. This secluded area soon became used as warehouses and workshops; until their complete decline due to continuous water infiltrations… And it is at that point that, in the silent darkness, this hidden zone of ​​the city took on a completely different turn.

Sheltered from sunlight, the underground chambers were once again populated: Irish migrants and rural people found refuge in this labyrinth; looking for a better life and the mercy of unscrupulous loan sharks who rent tiny bunks to entire families - without access to nor daylight or running water.

Not only the poor and desperate people benefited from a clandestine shelter far from prying eyes: illegal taverns, smugglers, mercenaries and even body snatchers took advantage of the favour of darkness. Thefts, rapes and murders were the order of the day for the unfortunates who resided in the vaults.

Unfortunately, there are not many findings, except for the few objects found here and there in the various rooms: being mostly illegal activities, clearly many traces were lost.
But some remains have remained, echoes of lost memories: broken toys, horseshoes, buttons, shards of mugs and bottles…

Other testimonies, however, can be found in the subtle planes; presences that still haunt this dungeon and that can be felt by the most attentive visitors.

The maze of rooms and corridors turns out to be one of the most haunted places in the world - thanks to its history of violence, death and suffering.

Closed to the general public for security reasons and its preservation, it can be visited on one of the many tours that can be booked in town. More than a few unfortunate tourists had to deal with these ghostly encounters, from the mere perception of soft whispers and presences to actual full appearances.

Mr Boots

One of the most well-known presence in vaults, he is a restless spirit characterized by a very negative energy. It is suspected to have murdered a woman and hidden the corpse inside his home in one of the vaults, now he attacks the unsuspecting passers who happen to be unfortunately near the place of the crime. The nickname derives from the characteristic sound of heavy steps, which accompany his apparitions. Those who have had the misfortune to see him describe him as a tall, shaggy man wearing a pair of high black boots.

The Aristocrat

Often spotted in fancy regency clothes and tuba near an old clandestine tavern, he grins while he watches the passers, leaning against the wall. He is supposed to be one of the customers; despite its reputation as a dangerous place, the vaults  were often frequented by artists and wealthy people in search of inspiration or adventures. He is a fairly sinister presence, but he is not known to interact with visitors in a hostile manner.

The Cobbler

The spirit of a merchant who worked in vaults probably as a shoe maker; unlike the first two spirits, he is a positive presence. He is normally spotted with a work apron, while smiling to visitors.

The Child

Another positive presence is that of a child, whose name is unfortunately not known (like many of the souls who have passed by this sinister place). Described as a 6-year-old blond boy wearing an elegant blue suit, he is famous for taking visitors by the hand and pulling their clothes.

These are the most known and reported by numerous tourists, but we are sure that there are many others still wandering in this dark maze forgotten by time. Probably waiting to be found and heard.

♃Ludna

Clicca qui per leggere questo post in Italiano

The Highgate Cemetery: Myths, Magic and Legends - Part II

(Click Here to read the Part I)

PARANORMAL PHENOMENA IN HIGHGATE

Like all places of power on earth, even the Highgate cemetery was built on a Ley Line, one of these energy lines in fact passes exactly from the center of the cemetery, dividing it in half, reaching an area known for have been a Roman camp in ancient times.

In the fourteenth century Swains Lane already existed, and it was a road used primarily to lead animals to the Smithsfields market, mainly pigs (hence the name of the road itself). By the time it became the epicenter of a cholera outbreak, as a result people preferred to avoid this area unless it was absolutely necessary to go there; it soon became an infamous alley, populated by brigands and cutthroats. The bad reputation of this road lasted until modern times.

Swains Lane

In the period between 1960 and 1975 the cemetery was in a state of total abandonment, vandalism was the order of the day and the so-called "graverobbers" devastated many ancient tombs with the sole intent of stealing objects and precious metals contained in the coffins, leaving the bodies contained in them in the open air.

All this contributed to increase the mystery aura that hovered over the district of Highgate, there were numerous reports of strange events about this place near the cemetery: many people claimed to have seen ethereal figures floating above the tombs, others reported having encountered walking corpses, however, the most frequently recorded paranormal phenomenon was that of the "man in black”.

There are several interviews given to the press by the inhabitants who, once they entered the cemetery near Swains Lane, then came across this male figure, very tall and obscure, who observed them from a distance with bright eyes, and then disappeared.

One of the witnesses released this statement:

“As the light began to fail he decided to leave, but somehow, he became hopelessly lost. Not being a superstitious person or even believing in ghosts, he walked calmly around looking for the gate when he suddenly became aware of the presence of something behind him. Swinging around, less than six feet away, he saw a tall dark spectre hovering just above the ground. He found himself transfixed to the spot, completely unable to move; drained of energy by some powerful “hypnotic force” that in a matter of seconds rendered him unconscious to any sense of time or being able to recognize his surroundings. So great was the intensity of this force, that he remained like this for several minutes (or what seemed like several minutes) before the spectre abruptly vanished and he slowly regained his normal faculties.”

So numerous were reports of this entity that a group of people, members of The British Psychic and Occult Society, decided to investigate.

They discovered that two Ley Lines cross in the western part of the cemetery.

Rest of a Ritual in Highgate Cemetery

According to the theory, when two energy lines cross over a burial site they can influence the residual energies of the dead; this would explain the sightings in the places adjacent to the cemetery.

Moreover, one of the Ley Lines seems to coincide with an underground stream, which would act as an energy catalyst and would favor the emergence of these entities.

Precisely for these reasons, as well as the fact that entering Highgate at night was relatively simple at the time, the cemetery was chosen as a place of ceremony by some necromancers and their rites, who settled there for many years, they continued to attend the cemetery even after the "Friends of the Cemetery of Highgate" began the reclamation and renovation works. It is believed that the increase in paranormal manifestations is also linked to the practice of this type of ritual.

THE WITCH OF HIGHGATE

In the fifteenth century, Margery Jourdemayne resided in Highgate, also known as "The Witch of Ey", She was a wise woman and a great connoisseur of the magical arts, She was famous throughout the district for her extraordinary skills of divination and her skillful abilities to create love filters and fertility potions. Her services were in great demand, especially at the levels of the upper bourgeoisie and even of the clergy, but this elitist acquaintances were the cause of his own downfall.

Eleanor Cobham, daughter of Sir Reginald Cobham, became the maid of Jacqueline, Countess of Hainault in the 1920s, who found refuge in England after having repudiated her husband, the duke of Brabant.

Henry V, the King of England, died in 1422, leaving the young Henry VI to succeed him. The younger brother of Henry V, John, Duke of Bedford, ruled in France while the other brother, Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, was named protector of England during the regency of the little Henry VI.

Jacqueline was a very powerful woman, She had inherited the land of Hainault from her refused husband and she had possessions in Holland; this attracted the attention of Humphrey, who decided to marry her in 1423.

The couple moved to Calais with the servants, but soon her husband, worried about his English possessions, decided to return to England, leaving his wife in France and returning with the maid, Eleanor.

Eleanor, who was very beautiful and ambitious, did not miss the chance and seduced Humphrey, becoming his mistress and later his wife in 1428.

In 1436, Humphrey raised the noble title of Eleanor and made her the Duchess of Gloucester. Meanwhile, Brother John died, as a result Humphrey became the next in the line of succession to become King of England, since Henry VI was still very young and childless; in this way Eleanor was also one step away from becoming Queen.

The Conjuration from Henry VI, John Opie, (1792)

Despite the firm opposition of the entire council in making Humphrey King, Eleanor's ambition grew.

In the medieval courts, the nobles used to rely on expert magicians and astrologers, who consulted for the future to be predicted, and Eleanor was not far behind.

Although she was no longer young and already had two illegitimate children from her current husband, she wanted to have another one, legitimate one, to strengthen her position. She then turned to Margery Jourdemayne for a fertility potion; it is said that the two ladies already knew each other, as Eleanor would have asked the services of the Witch of Ey to obtain Humphrey's love.

Also, to get some clues about his ascent to the throne, she asked two famous local astrologers, Roger Bolingbroke and Thomas Southwell, to make a prediction about the future of the King. They predicted that the King would have suffered from a chronic illness throughout his life. 

This news reached the ears of the King himself who, uneasy, asked his astrologers to refute this prediction, which they promptly did. In this way, the previous prediction appeared not much a way to interpret the future, but as a kind of curse on the King.

Boilingbroke and Southwell were then accused of heresy and practice of necromancy and sentenced to death, during the interrogation they gave the name of Eleanor, in this way she too was arrested with the same accusations. Eleanor, during the trial, only admitted that she had accepted a fertility potion from Margery, who was promptly arrested and accused of witchcraft. In Margery's house were found fetishes in wax, partially burned in the fireplace, which theoretically would serve as a ritual to make Eleanor conceive a child, but it was instead considered further evidence of a targeted attack on the King.

The fact that the duchess herself admitted to having resorted to the "dark arts" was a more unique and rare case and contributed to decreeing her fall.

Margery, condemned to death by the Archbishop of Canterbury, was burned at the stake in Smithfields market square (yes, just the same place that was reached through Swains Lane), Southwell was imprisoned in the Tower of London and, to escape his terrible destiny of suffering, took the poison and died in the cell, while Bolingbroke was hanged and quartered.

‘The Penance of Eleanor’ by Edwin Austin Abbey (1900)

Eleanor was more fortunate, despite the opposition of her husband was forced to divorce him, they would never see each other again, and she was sentenced to "life imprisonment", a condition that, however, thanks to her husband who tried to protect her, she never suffered and was instead imprisoned in a court. Three days after the sentence, she was ordered to make a public apology for her sins: she was forced three times to walk through the streets of London carrying a candle, which she would then light in the main cathedrals of the city. She was then first transferred to Cheshire, then to Kenilworth Castle, then to the Isle of Man and finally to Wales, where she died in 1452.

"There was a Beldame called the wytch of Ey,

Old mother Madge her neyghbours did hir name

Which wrought wonders in countryes by heresaye

Both feendes and fayries her charmyng would obay

And dead corpsis from grave she could uprere

Suche an inchauntresse, as that tyme had no peere."

♄Unornya

Per leggere questo articolo in Italiano clicca qui.

Sources:

http://hidden-highgate.org/

The Highgate Cemetery: Myths, Magic and Legends - Part I

The Highgate cemetery is a burial site located in the north side of London, England, in the Highgate district. It was registered in the Register of Parks and Gardens (National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens) as a monument of first instance.

The Cemetery is divided into two parts, the East and West, and there are about 170,000 people buried in about 53,000 graves.

It is a place known both for its legends related to the world of the paranormal, and for being in fact a real nature reserve.

The burial sites in the city centre of London began to be overcrowded and, due to the exponential increase of the population, the council could no longer cope with the enormous demand, thus becoming potentially an outbreak of diseases. They decided to decentralise the burial sites, building seven large monumental cemeteries outside the historic centre, called "Magnificent Seven", the Highgate cemetery is one of these.

The typical Victorian gothic style of the tombstones, mausoleums and crypts contained in this cemetery, and the thick and rich vegetation typical of this territory contribute to give it a dark atmosphere and an enchanting appearance for the lovers of the genre, it really seems to be in a fairy place.

Over the years, the cemetery became, in addition to a burial place, a sort of monumental garden, where people loved to walk in their free time, maybe on Sunday, after the church. They set even a tearoom on a terrace! It goes without saying that families of the Victorian aristocracy competed to win a plot of land to bury their beloved ones in this fashionable place. We can still find the tombs of famous people like Karl Marx, Douglas Adams and the family of Charles Dickens.

To further strengthen the dark charm and the gloomy beauty of this enchanted corner of London, there are some mysterious facts related to this place.

THE LOVER OF ROSSETTI

In 1862 the poet and painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti buried his muse and lover Elizabeth Siddal right in Highgate Cemetery.

Elizabeth posed as a model of many Pre-Raphaelithes artists such as John Everett Millais, later becoming the official model of Rossetti, as well as her lover. Despite being a tenacious and strong woman, her health was however frail. While she was laying in a bathtub to make Millais' Ophelia, the cold caused her a very strong bronchitis which further damaged her health.

Hier life, moreover, was tormented by the relationship with Rossetti himself, since the painter's family did not approve of their relationship and he, for this reason, continued to postpone the wedding.

Once married, in 1860, she gave birth to a son who was born dead. She fell into a heavy depression from which she never recovered. The husband found her dead in her bed, after she had taken too much laudanum, a medicine she took to treat depression.

John Everett Millais, Ophelia.

Suicide at the time was immoral and, above all, illegal so it would have sparked a huge scandal on Rossetti's family, which is why the artist burned the farewell letter she wrote before committing suicide, to cover it all up. The doctor wrote on the report that it was "accidental death" and Rossetti could bury her in consecrated ground.

Elizabeth Siddal

Together with Siddal, the artist buried the only copy of the book of poems dedicated to his muse; he laid the manuscript between her long red hair and made her tumble.

Seven years later, the artist, destroyed by alcoholism and his addictions to drugs, became obsessed with that book and wanted to publish it, so much that he obtained the permission to unearth his beloved one. 

They decided to do the excavation during the night not to arouse scandal, but when they opened the tomb they remained stunned: the body of Elizabeth had remained practically unchanged, despite years had passed, and her red hair had grown a lot.

Rossetti recovered the manuscript, which he published shortly after along with his other works, but due to some erotic content, the work wasn’t well received by the critics.

The case, however, didn’t remain in the dark and the news spread throughout London, people began to tell strange stories on the cemetery of Highgate, claiming that there was something supernatural hidden.

(Click Here to read the Part II) 

♄Unornya

Per leggere questo articolo in Italiano clicca qui.