Brahan Seer Stone in Craig Wood, near to Avoch on the Black Isle, Scotland. It is inscribed in both English and Scottish Gaelic with the words “The shadow over Culloden will rise and the sun will shine brighter“. Copyright wiki
The supernatural stories and myths of Scotland from the depths of time, are well known by some and ranges from Kelpies, Fairies, Selkies, ghosts and even vampires. Throughout Scotland, especially in bygone times the belief in the second sight, or more correctly known as the two sights, was rife, and many localities would know of a Spey Wife. Their skill set, which was paid for, included the telling of fortunes, reading runes, tarot cards and tea leaves, deciphering signs generated by natural occurrences and in some cases act as healers. These were different from Seers, who were known for their visions of future events, some considered scarily accurate.
The belief in the ‘sight’ was predominant in the highlands, but it did occur in the central belt in the lowlands of Scotland as well. Dr Samuel Johnston in his writings supported this statement in 1775 by saying that belief in it remained strong in the Highlands but was dying out amongst lowland Scots.
According to the author George Sinclair in his book ‘ Satan’ s Invisible World Discovered’, published in 1685 other than the ability of second sight, he describes the seeming supernatural attack on Sir George Maxwell of Pollock in Glasgow. This led to a young girl accusing 6 people of witchcraft, leading to the Pollock witch trials and the death of these condemned to death in 1676. The victims were 5 women and one male, although the youngest, only 14 survived as she was jailed. Interestingly, after the trial, the accuser Janet Douglas, simply disappeared, however Sir George Maxwell had died.
Sinclair went on to suggest that he had been informed that there were folks in the Highlands, both men and women who could prophesise death by seeing them in the ‘waters’. But he was not alone, as Martin in his book (1703) looking at how to improve trade, produced a map and described in detail an account of their situation, extent, soils, produce, harbours etc also mentioned that in the area the ‘Seers’ were folks who had visions of the future ‘as a singular faculty of the Second Sight’.
Reports continued, and in an article on Second Sight in the Scotsman in 2016, one normal occurrence for seeing the future was the use of a well scraped mutton bone, used well into the 19th century with reports on the Isle of Lewis.
But interests and evaluation continue, in a book published by Elsa Richardson in 2017, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, she again looks at Second Sight in the 19th century. She describes it as ‘a form of prophetic vision associated with the folklore of the highlands and islands. She looks at the relationship of the Second Sight and its relationship going forwards to mesmerism, modern spiritualism and anthropology, romance literature, and folklorism and finally physical research and Celtic mysticism by tracing it migration of this supposed ‘Scottish Tradition’ through popular culture. She examines the role of Second Sight in forming Celtic identity and its transference into nationhood and identity.
A map of the Caledonian Canal, predicted by the Brahan Seer
However, three very famous Scottish Seers, and one less so are considered reputable by some: The Brahan Seer, the Lady of Lawers and Thomas the Rhymer. We will take each in turn.
The Brahan Seer: Kenneth Mackenzie (Coinneach Odhar), often considered the Scottish Nostradamus, who like Nostradamus has visions quoted to this day. He was born on the Island of Lewis around the early to mid 1600’s, allegedly receiving the ‘sight’ from his mother. According to legend ended up working as a labourer on the Brahan estate for the Earls of Seaforth near Loch Ussie in Ross shire. It is said he had his visions by looking through a hole in a small stone. Whatever the process, here are some of his prophecies:
- The Battle of Culloden: On his visit to the site, he was said to utter ‘Oh, Dromossie, (the area of moor on which the battle was held) they bleak moor shall ever after many generations have passed away, be stained with the best blood of the Highlands. Glad am I that I will not see the day for it will be a fearful time. heads will be cut off by the score and no mercy or quarter given on either side.
- The Highland Clearances: He predicted the reforms put in place by the Duke of Sutherland forcing people off their lands. His words allegedly were: “That the day will come when there will be a road through the hills of Ross-shire from sea to sea, and a bridge upon every stream. That the people will degenerate as their country improves. That the clans will become so effeminate as to flee from their native country before an army of sheep.”
- Channel Tunnel: Kenneth also prophesised that ‘when men could walk dry shod from England to France’, Scotland would once more have a Parliament. The Channel Tunnel was opened in 1994 and the first since 1707, the opening of the Scottish Parliament since 1999.
- The onset of Railways in Scotland: He predicted 200 years before their occurrence that ‘great black, bridleless horses” would “belch fire and steam” across the Highlands”.
- The Caledonian Canal: It is reported that Kenneth describes the joining of the lochs of the great glen. This was the outcome of the construction of the 60-mile Caledonian Canal in 1822.
- Aberdeen’s Oil boom: One of his predictions is recorded as being ‘black rain will bring riches to Aberdeen.
The Lady of Lawers: Again, around the 1600’s the Lady of Lawers it is said was called Mary Campbell. She was reputedly the daughter of Sir James Campbell, 4th of Lawers lived on a farm outside the village of Lawers which last 750 years on the banks of Loch Tay in Perthshire. The ruins of the village are situated roughly at the midpoint between Killin, to the west end of the Loch, and Kenmore to the east.
Her prophecies, originally stated in Scots Gaelic and according to the ‘old village of Lawers include:
- Regarding the local Kirk: During its building in 1699, she claimed that the ridging stones, which arrived by boat would never sit on the church. these stones were blown into the loch during a storm.
- The old village kirk: When an ash tree was planted by the church, she stated that ‘when it reaches the height of the gable, the church will split asunder’. In 1833, when the tree was indeed the height of the gable, a thunderstorm destroyed the church.
- The Ash tree pt 2: This tree had several of her prophecies linked to it including ‘whoever shall cut it down will come to an evil end’. Eventually in the later part of the 19th century a tenant of nearby Milton Farm removed part of the tree, helped by a neighbour who soon after lost his sanity and was placed in an asylum. The farm tenant, John Campbell, was killed by one of his bulls.
- The Railway: ‘Fire-coaches yet to be seen crossing the Drumochter Pass’, almost 200 years before the introduction of steam trains along the Highland Railway.
- Onset of Flax milling: ‘A mill will be on every streamlet’ came to pass (even locally), as the Old Village developed from a fishing village to include areas for flax milling.
- The onset of Steamships: ‘A ship driven by smoke will sink in Loch Tay with great loss of life’ has still to be realised. It is fascinating to ponder that this was a prediction made long before the advent of the steam ship.
Further it is said that ‘The Lady’ remains as a ghostly presence within the Old Village ruins.
Where the ones above were from the Scottish Highlands, this next one is from the Scottish Borders
Thomas the Rhymer: Thomas lived earlier and was born Thomas Learmont of Ercildoune, in the village now called Earlston in Lauderdale in 1220 to 1228. He was a Scottish laird who had a reputation as having supernatural powers and the ability of the ‘Second Sight’. Interestingly, outside the village itself sits the ruins of’ Rhymers Tower’, allegedly built by Thomas himself.
From Undiscovered Scotland it is said that Thomas the Rhymer’s reputation for making many accurate prophesies includes:
- The death of Alexander III: in a fall from a horse Alexander fell to his death, in 1286 en route Kinghorn castle in Fife. This prediction was apparently made to the Earl of March in Dunbar Castle the day before the accident happened.
- The Clan Haig: He stated, ” Tyde what may, whate’er betyde, Haig will be Haig O Bemersyde“. This referred to the clan of Haigs (Petrus De Haga) who owned the nearby estate and mansion of Bemersyde in the 13th century and still do to this day.
- The Battle of Bannockburn: “The burn o’ breid shall be dunged wi’ deid men” – The ‘burn o’breid‘ refers to the burn of Bannock; bannock being an old Scottish word for a loaf. The “Battle of Bannockburn” in 1314 saw the burn filled, or dunged, with dead bodies, as the English soldiers were cut down while fleeing the battlefield.
- The Defeat of King James IV at Flodden in 1513.
- The Union of the Crowns in 1603
- William Wallace. It is documented that Thomas met William Wallace and predicted he would be victorious in ousting the English from Scotland and would eventually lead Scotland to freedom; “Forsoothe ere he decease, shall mony in the field make end. From Scotland he shall forth the Southern send. And Scotland thrice he shall bring to peace. So good of hand again shall ne’er be kenned.”
One of the interesting prophecies was a prediction that came to fruition in 1803: “The hare shall kittle on my Hearthstane, and there never shall be a Laird Learmont again”. In 1830 the huge red stone fireplace, complete with lintels and corbels, was still entire, and could be seen in the ruins of the tower. Locals rushed to see with their own eyes, the fulfilment of yet another of Thomas’s predictions.
Mist of Time over Scottish waters
However, this is not a thing of the past and outwith the four mentioed here, other predictions have stood the test of time.
The Highland Seer: the 1970’s Swein MacDonald became known as the ‘Highland Seer’. Born in Elgin, Morayshire, it is said that ‘With a glass of whisky in hand and incense burning in his darkened crofthouse in Kincardine, Ardgay, he offered psychic readings and foresaw major historic events for over 25 years’. Swein MacDonald, we are advised remains a notable figure in the history of psychic phenomena. He is remembered for his impressive predictions and the controversies that surrounded his work. Although he passed away in 2003 at the age of 71, his legacy as a Highland seer continues to spark debates about the nature of second sight and the limits of human perception.
Some of Swein’s predictions that captivated the public include:
- The marriage of Prince Charles and Diana and their subsequent separation.
- The birth of Prince William within a year of their marriage.
- The poll tax riots. (Introduced by the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher as a community tax on Scotland in 1989 and England and Wales in 1990, very unpopular, resulted in serious riots. Repealed in 1991)
- The closure of the Invergordon (in Ross and Cromerty) aluminium smelter in the early 1980s, resulting in significant job losses.
- The Braer tanker disaster off Shetland, which he reportedly foresaw three months in advance.
- The Falklands War in 1982.
- The assassination of Lord Mountbatten in the west of Ireland three years before it occurred.
All four ‘Seers’ left a legacy that is mysterious in its content if the records are to be believed. With this in mind, Scotland in some quarters still retains a belief in the ‘old ways’ which has obviously remained both part of our very rich culture and our history.
Whatever one believes, through time there has been some strange occurrances that are difficult to explain, and whether one accepts them as facts or fantasy they are an intriguing part of the romance that is the beauty of Scotland.
Promptus et Fidelis
