Scottish Spirits Want Tea!
- Salicrow
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
It's been just over a month since I got back from Scotland, and past time for storytelling!
Upon arriving in Scotland, and catching a taxi into town, I casually asked the driver if there were any cafe's in town; as I am a huge lover of coffee. He promptly informed me that Scotland was a tea-drinking country; that had recently been overtaken by cafes, with people walking around with their coffee cups as a sign of prestige, like Americans. As a Scottish man of Indian decent, I recognized his strong feelings about tea, and satisfied myself with the knowledge that I would be able to get espresso on almost every street.
The next day; before meeting up with the group I was co-leading, I visited the Old Calton Burial Ground, after being told that their was amazing accoustics inside one of the mausoleums, (Sacred Singing and Spirits are some of my favorite things). As the trip had not officially begun, I was walkign around with my co-host; death doula/educator, Anne-Marie Keppel, and two of the folks who were part of our pilgrimage. When we found the intact mausoleum of Rob Burn (not Robert Burns), I accidently spilled some of the coffee I was carrying; splashing a bit it on Anne-Marie's raincoat, making an off-handed comment about how 'the spirits must want an offering'. We then went inside and did a bit of vocal toning, as a way of introducing ourselves to the local spirits.
As we were leaving the burial grounds, I was walking behind everyone and suddenly I heard a pop sound and my coffee cup went flying out of my hand splashing all over the rainpants and coats of the people walking in front of me. I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO HEAR THE POP SOUND! Everyone with me noticed this, and we all commented on how the spirits were very active, and that we would certainly have a spirited time in Scotland.
Shortly after the graveyard run, Anne-Marie and I checked into our hotel on Prince Street; that just so happened to abut the burial grounds, to look at the suites and assign rooms. When we had finished I sent a group text with room assignments...immediately after sending it, I noticed that there was an additional text following mine, after a space. The text was one word...TEA!
I immediately sent the group another text saying "I did not write Tea!"
With the added text in mind, I got a clear understanding that our friend from the burial grounds had something to say, but I had no time for lallygagging around with cups of tea, as people were arriving and we needed to get settled in, have a group meeting, and head out for our first outing...The Edinburgh Ghost Bus tour!
Another graveyard, the same message from Spirit...
On the Ghost Bus Tour we learned about haunted Scotland, and other dasterderly deeds that are part of the cities dark history. Along the tour we stopped at St. Cuthbert's Kirkyard (churchyard/graveyard) where we were allowed about 20 minutes to walk about, take photos and listen to our guides stories.
I love graveyards so I took a bunch of photos. Shortly after taking this photo of Anne-Marie and I, I spontaneously shot my arm up and knocked the cup she was carrying out of her hands. When it landed on the ground I looked at her and said 'What's in your cup?' to which she replied "COFFEE!"
This third spill enforced the 'TEA' statement in my mind and I knew we were going to have to rectify the situation or have spilled coffee throughout the trip. So when I got back to our hotel suite I promptly made myself a cup of tea, and promised the spirits next door I would be by in the morning with a fresh cuppa!
The next morning I was up bright and early getting tea ready for the dead next door. I actually made two cups, because the burial grounds was not open yet when I got there the first time...but being the diligent Spirit Speaker I am, I returned after 9am with a second cup of tea in a proper cup, accompanied by a sweet treat!
After this, everyone in our pilgrimage party carried tea bags with them, and we made sure to have fresh tea every morning on our communal altar; in reverence for the spirits of Scotland.
Interestingly enough; due to a mix up with our accomadations, three of us; including myself, spent the last night of our trip back on Prince Street in Edinburgh, with a view that looked directly at the mausoleum of Rob Burn....something I found fitting. Whoever Rob Burn was in life, he was a spirit helper for us on our trip; sharing an important tip on how to honor Scottish Spirits!
So if your heading off to Scotland anytime soon, make sure to carry a teabag in your pocket, and perhaps offer a sip or two to the dead!
spreading love-salicrow
PS- Sacred Luminosity will be announcing our November trip to SEDONA, ARIZONA mid July. Vortexes, Divination, & Manifestation!
Great recap of your visit to Rob Burns.
Here’s the group at his mausoleum