Book Review: Scottish Witchcraft by Barbara Meiklejohn-Free

Growing up, I found myself drawn to magic, spirits, and “the old ways” (whatever that really meant). When I was a young teen and broke away from Christianity because it didn’t feel like a good fit for me, naturally, I sifted around the New Age section aimlessly. Searching for something that would give me that magic feeling I was searching for when it comes to spiritual connection and also something that made me feel connected to my distant ancestors. If that sounds like you and you have Celtic roots somewhere, then you may find yourself drawn toward Scottish Witchcraft by Barbara Meiklejohn-Free.

There are a lot of things to love and be fascinated by related to Celtic magic and culture - the fae, weather witchery, knot magic, spirits roaming the misty Highlands. This book provides that spark of magical feeling and makes it real. Told largely through the lense of Meiklejohn-Free’s personal spiritual journey, there are many gold nuggets throughout. In this review, I’ll discuss what works really well in this book and give you a heads up on some limitations.

Strengths
1. Engaging personal voice
Meiklejohn-Free writes with candidness about her journey and growing up in Scotland, becoming a Highland Seer, working with mentors, and traveling the world. That voice makes you feel connected to the author, like you’re chatting with a friend about their life. I personally think this a huge strength of the book. Many books on witchcraft can lean toward dry and impersonal. Not this one.
2. Connection to nature & place
The book does strong work at evoking the Scottish landscape: the elements, ancestral connections, faery realms, and herbal lore. If you’re wanting to root your practice in “land” and “place,” this is a plus of the book.
3. Practical rituals & spells
The book isn’t just theory or folklore: Meiklejohn-Free offers step-by-step exercises, spells, and tools you can try (for divination, ancestor work, and nature connection). This is good for someone wanting a practical dimension, not just reading. What I found most interesting about her ritual perspective is the emphasis on approaching spaces with absolute respect and she teaches you how to do that as well. This is a huge bonus because many books don’t cover this topic and traipsing rudely into spaces that aren’t yours is the quickest way to piss off a spirit.
4. Accessible for beginners
If you’re newer to witchcraft this book provides a relatively gentle entry point. It’s less academic and more experiential. It feels very accessible.

Limitations
1. Expectations vs. content mismatch
I expected a deep dive into historical Scottish witchcraft and folk magic traditions. While it does include some history, as a history buff, I could’ve used more. That being said, I don’t think there was an attempt to mis-market or mislead but mainly my own misaligned expectations. The book is more personal journey and eclectic witchcraft mixed with a delightful Scottish flavor. Again, loved the personal aspect but dang I was craving some meaty historical information.
2. Eclecticism & cultural blending
The author draws on many traditions (Celtic, Norse, Native American, etc) alongside her Highland roots. This can be enriching but also raises questions of cultural specificity and appropriation for some practitioners. I’m not an expert across those traditions above so just be aware of them and research via sources from those cultural practices on how to incorporate anything presented outside the Scottish field. We want to culturally appreciate not culturally appropriate.
3. Depth of tradition
For advanced practitioners looking for deep, rigorous source work, this might feel lightweight. I think this harkens back to point #1. I crave heavy cultural and historical context when studying the craft and if you’re like me in that way, keep in mind that it’s not scholarly dense. I do find a ton of value in following her personal journey though.

My Verdict

If I were giving a star rating out of five, I’d give it 3.5 stars. Here’s the breakdown:
• ✅ Strength: It’s warm, engaging, readable. Good for beginner witches who like story alongside practical.
• ⚠️ Weakness: If you’re after traditional Scottish lore in depth, you may feel under-served.
• 🎯 Best fit: Witchy readers who are drawn to Scottish landscape and intuitive practice.
• 🚫 Not the best fit: Scholars, heritage practitioners, those wanting fully sourced annals of Scottish folk magic.

Bottom line: I enjoyed it and keep it on my personal shelf to reference for rituals. Also, bonus for her description of her connection with The Cailleach!

To get this book, you can find it in my shop here -> https://bookshop.org/lists/books-reviewed-by-tas

Affiliate notice: Purchases through my shop on Bookshop.org are fulfilled by them and The Alchemist’s Salon receives a percentage of the sale.