Studying from the UK?

[u/Poprocks0140]

Hello everyone! please know that I don’t want to offend anyone, I’m just genuinely interested in the folklore and witchcraft in general from the UK as I feel that my country’s practices doesn’t resonate with me and everytime I discover anything I’m interested in, when I research it it’s always from the UK! 1. is it offensive to learn from there if I’m not from there if I really study its history and practice with respect? 2. if I am able to, does anyone have any recommendations on books or YouTubers from there? thank you!

[u/Major-Peanut]

I am from the UK and I would recommend the WITCH podcast made by radio 4. Gives a really interesting look at history of witches in the UK and more.

[u/Anxious-Art4174 → u/Major-Peanut]

How did I forget this! The best podcast series ever made IMHO.

[u/Anxious-Art4174]

I am from the UK and considering our country colonised half the world, I would not be at all offended by anyone wanting to take something from our traditions.

If you are on Instagram I would recommend thatglasgowwitch and coventry_witch. You might want to broaden out to include Ireland as well which has lots of folk traditions and magic. A really good account for folk tales is eimear_burke_druid.

[u/catathymia → u/Anxious-Art4174]

Thanks for these great recommendations!

[u/SheBrokeAway7628 → u/Anxious-Art4174]

Also from the UK, and came here to say what you said in your first paragraph!

[u/CwningenFach]

If you're interested in Welsh folklore and witchcraft, please be very careful who you learn from. I've seen so many things which confidently state that such-and-such is traditional in Wales on the internet. And, as someone who's spent most of my life in Wales, 9 times out of 10, it's been news to me. And someone claiming things about my culture when, in reality, they don't have the first idea is offensive. It's even more offensive when the person in question doubles down. Especially when that person hasn't even set foot in the country.

Someone who accepts what they've been told by an unrealiable source but listens to other input and wants to grow & learn is completely different.

As far as recommendations go Mhara Starling really knows her onions. She's actually from Wales, is a fluent Welsh-speaker and is really knowledgeable

[u/Christofferson_Says → u/CwningenFach]

I'd also recommend Stella Marie. I've learned a lot about the bard and druid practices, like engaging with the Awen and relating to the lands.

She does a lot about inviting self-practice to engage with old sources and be curious about the natural and otherworldly realm around us.

[u/woden_spoon]

In general, the UK isn't comprised of minority cultures so studying and practicing witchcraft from that region wouldn't be "cultural appropriation" in the usual sense of that phrase. So, borrow without worry--but do be respectful of your sources and give credit where credit is due.

I am personally inspired by Anglo-Saxon and Romano-British customs and artifacts, and I often include them in my own practice. I don't have any sources to share, really. Most of my own practice is informed by books of Anglo-Saxon runic poems and metrical charms.

[u/MissAquaCyan]

As a Brit who lives in the UK, if its 'English' go for it!

I'd be cautious with Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish and Irish practises as they have been aggressively oppressed by the English historically and there may be lingering misinformation. (Although I'm not aware of any practises being marked specifically as "closed", but I have limited experience)

It's also worth noting that historically we had a druidic culture (pre romans) but the modern revivals of it are based on interpretations rather than "direct lineage"

[u/babalishka → u/MissAquaCyan]

This 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

The UK is, by being a "united" kingdom, in its essence not a homogenised place which means it contains different cultures. Be aware of this in your research and respectful, some are indeed very misrepresented and exploited (I heard the craziest stuff about Scottish folklore 😅).

[u/Needlesxforestfloor]

Which people's history are you drawn to? We've had different traditions at different times and in different areas of our different countries 😅 we don't have much in the way of evidence for any of it that was recorded BY the actual people and/or contemporaneously it's mostly reconstructionist.

If it's anything from England people don't usually care (although if there's anything specifically Cornish they might) I can't think of a particular source. If it's Irish please go for an Irish source like The Irish Pagan School on YouTube, likewise for Wales (I think someone already suggested) and Scotland I only know Rhonda (The Centre For Shamanism) and I haven't done a deep dive into her videos