DECLARATION OF REMEMBRANCE

We the people of Scotland, declare that the 4th of June, the historic date of the Witchcraft Act of 1563, to be a...National Day of Remembrance for Scotland’s Accused Witches. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, that we do this but to redress the grave injustice inflicted upon the daughters and sons of Scotland who suffered for the crime of witchcraft during the burning times.

WITCHES MEMORIAL GROVE

This grove is a living breathing memorial to the 4,000 accused witches of Scotland. It was funded by the Creative Coven and people who attended our event held for Scotland's first-ever National Day of Remembrance, and by sales of the art prints on the page. The images were kindly donated by artists, who are members of the online Creative Coven Scotland group. Thank you to Tracey Swift, Dan Goodfellow, Julia Jeffrey, David Seed, and Tracey Owens. We will be ever grateful to Scott-Richardson Reid, Lindsey Gibb, Joss Cameron, Amy Dudley and Helen Wright for being part of the event that helped to make this possible.

The powerful poem below was submitted to our Unknown Witch Project. It encapsulates the incarceration, torture and burning of bodies that happened in Scotland during those dark times.

THE BURNING YEARS by Alison Bunker Will they drag you from your home? From your hungry kith and kin, then, throw in in a cell for what they claim's 'demonic sin'? To stay well in times of plague or to forge a lover's charm, will they take you to the stake when you have done no harm? When you brought the babe to life or you stayed the night o' death then laid them out for burial having soothed their last pained breath. When you stood against the charge in your stinking jail alone riven through with terror, rare and crying for your home. Trusting honesty and grateful souls to save you from the flames. (but your welfare is of no concern for all they want are names) Will they stop all sleep for days, till your reason's all but gone When confession's all they crave, still, the torment carries on.... Yes! They stripped you to the skin and revelled in your pain and clenched their teeth and fists as the long needles went in. Will they delight in your demise then, look the other way as you look into your eyes cry your innocence and pray? Will they gloat in cruel sin as they cut you, well and deep? Then go home when tired of play to their families, for sleep. Will they feel rightfully purged as the kindling catches well? As the flames rise up your skirts and your limbs begin to swell. Will they feel they served their Lord? Yes, they served their 'Lord' and well.

FOLLOW THE CREATIVE COVEN ON: www.facebook.com/groups/creativecovenscotland https://twitter.com/coven1563 https://www.instagram.com/coven1563 www.rowanmorrison.co.uk Email: creativecovenscotland@outlook.com

Love and gratitude from the Creative Coven, Rowan Morrison, Karen Strang, Linda Morrow, Samantha Neill, Katy Bremner and Jane Mather. Wonderful women who have all woven a powerful plaid of remembrance for Scotland's accused witches.