ROWAN MORRISON
STORY SPINNER & WORD WEAVER
THE WITCHES O' PITTENWEEM
I have always been passionate about social justice, and giving voice to the voiceless. To those who were accused of witchcraft and condemned to death for a crime that they did not commit. This story is my way of remembering the accused witches of Scotland. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
TWO SWANS ON THE LOCH
This is a traditional folktale that was translated from Gaelic to English by a wonderful storyteller called George W Macpherson from the Isle of Skye. It has long been a favourite of mine and was the first story I told on stage at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh.
The Forget Me Not Curse
I was inspired to write this story by a thought of how remembering something you want to forget can be a curse and used my knowledge of shamanism and folk magic to breathe life into it. I called it after a lovely little blue flower but it is a darker tale of a witch who cursed a lover for breaking her heart.
THE DREAM MAKERS
Another of my favourites from Skye. A magical island that is alive with folktale and lore. This story is part of the ancient landscape of the Cuchullins and is almost as dramatic as they are. If you ever wondered where dreams come from, this one is for you!
THE OLD ONES
An original story that I wrote about the Cailleach, Bodach (the first Scottish ancestors) and a strange woman called Morag o' the deer who tells stories to the dead, heals sick trees and sings like a bird to give her feathered friends a rest. I hope you like it!
THE STORM WITCH
Scotland is a country that is rich in sea lore and stories of witches that could command the winds and the seas. But these weren't just stories, for in mid century Scotland, women were been accused of creating storms and were condemned to death. This is my version of a traditional tale from the Isle of Lewis.
STORYTELLING FEEDBACK
"Rowan Morrison doesn't just tell a story. She becomes the story and she weaves her listeners into the magic of that." (Ursula Aerts)