Already missing the Starz Outlander series? Is your DVR stuck on an endless marathon of Season 1 while we wait for Season 2 to begin? Well, let's have some fun.
Page produced by Dorianne Panich
New additions to the fandom:
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Diana Gabaldon gives you lessons!
And a stand alone of her Novella "Virgins"
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To laugh the Droughtlander away
Check out KarenJean And Summer's funny memes on their pages
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For the show lovers. The Making Of: Outlander
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Watch Graham McTavish on AMC's Preacher as the Saint of killers
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Bear McCreary's season 2 cd of Outlander
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Fan rewatch, just join in with hashtag...
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These beautiful pieces were done by the talented Britta Fahl on twitter.. There is so much more to see on her link
Britta Fahl
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Starz Original Series,
Outlander Community
http://www.outlandercommunity.com
Here's where you can find all the information that Starz puts out on the season two Premiere starting april 9th at 9pm eastern, with fan participation. From Tweets on Twitter to Facebook posts, the Portrait gallery of the cast in Terry Dresbach's magnificent French couture, and video Trailers of the upcoming season. With everything Starz has planned for the press junkets the cast will do, including interviews that have taken place so far, the season looks amazing and no OUTLANDER fan can resist taking a peek.
Of course Season one is always included and is remaining material on the website.
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(We have our Outlander featured art throughout our droughtlander page for visual effect)
Art
Dutch Beastie has a beautiful story to tell:
Well, what can I say. Loved to draw in my childhood and teens but as life took over, this past time became obsolete.
During the show Beauty & the Beast (CW network) I became involved in making flyers for trends with the online tool Pixlr. I purchased Photoshop as I believed that would enhance my skill and be a better artist. So I am self taught.
I love to photograph and you can find my experiments in the ‘photography’ folder.
Enjoy my portfolio and if you have a request.. follow me on Twitter: @DutchBeastie
xxx
The Dutch Art
https://thedutchart.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/ah-yes-history-and-french-etiquette/
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| Dutch Beastie has beautiful art work. Such a talented lady. Link to purchase http://www.redbubble.com/people/dutchbeastie |
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| Thank You to Dutch for the wonderful Original banner for our Homepage. Just perfect in every way. |
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For the love of Whisky! Our own administrator Nancy M. Guillory, has a blog for women that will inspire you to find out all ye can about the differences. http://whiskyisms.com
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| Forasteras Vera Adxer To see more of this beautiful art go to: https://m.facebook.com/Outlander-Art-Love-667350266697447/timeline?ref=page |
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TRADING CARDS Looking for something that might bring your significant other into the hobby? 2015 Cryptozoic Outlander Season 1 trading cards adapt the buzz-worthy cable show and its original mix of historical drama, passion and science fiction.
By Ryan Cracknell | Hobby Editor
Stay tuned for more details on 2015 Cryptozoic Outlander Season 1 trading cards as they're released.
Estimated Release Date: 11/30
Looking for something that might bring your significant other into the hobby? 2015 Cryptozoic Outlander Season 1 trading cards adapt the buzz-worthy cable show and its original mix of historical drama, passion and science fiction.
Boxes promise one autograph.
Based on the series of novels by Diana Gabaldon, the first season of Outlander centers on Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), a World War II nurse, who ends up traveling back in time to the 18th Century Scotland. Married in the show’s present, Claire quickly finds herself falling in love with another man all the while being accused of being a spy, a witch and other nefarious things nobody wants to be accused of being now let alone in the mid 1700s.
The 2015 Cryptozoic Outlander Season 1 base set covers the first 16 episodes. Images come from the show as opposed to promotional artwork. The size of the set hasn’t been announced as of yet.
Inserts are led by Autographs, which land one per 24-pack box. Signers will be confirmed as Cryptozoic receives the autographs back.
Wardrobe cards with swatches of show-worn costumes are also part of the release.
Additional inserts include Character Bios and Quotes.
A custom binder is also available that comes with an exclusive card.
http://www.beckett.com/news/2015/09/2015-cryptozoic-outlander-season-1-trading-cards-info/
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COOKLANDER : TO THE STOVE
Proceeds go to Diana Gabaldon Sam Heughan and Caitriona Blafe's CHARITIES
cooklander.comhttp://www.cooklander.com/store/p1/1_cookbook_%28U.S._shipping_only%29.html
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| Debra McGill chairs Cooklander Group on Facebook and twitter |
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The entire season one is available now... best Droughtlander tool, ever!
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More than a decade ago, #1 New York Times bestselling author Diana Gabaldon delighted her legions of fans with THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, an indispensable guide to all the OUTLANDER books at the time. But that edition was just a taste of things to come. Since that publication, there have been four more OUTLANDER novels, multiple spinoffs, and one smash-hit STARZ original (TV) series. Now Gabaldon serves up THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, VOLUME TWO, an all-new guide to the latest books and the strange, sprawling world that Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser call home.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Outlandish-Companion-Volume-Two/dp/0385344449
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Caitriona and Sam tell you how to survive droughtlander
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Books
Check out the other books, Novellas and OUTLANDER extras by DIANA GABALDON |
| THE EXILE GRAPHIC NOVEL BY DIANA GABALDON http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/chronology-of-the-outlander-series/ |
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The Official Outlander Coloring Book
Do you like to color? Adult coloring books are popular now, used by some as aids for meditation as well as entertainment. On October 27, 2015, THE OFFCIAL OUTLANDER COLORING BOOK will be released.
An Adult Coloring Book
The OUTLANDER COLORING BOOK is an "adult coloring book" with beautiful artwork depicting characters and situations from my first book,OUTLANDER, as interpreted by several talented artists.
It is geared toward adults, but does not contain any R-rated images.
The book’s forty-five all-new images are entirely original, and are not based on the Starz Outlander TV series. (The interpretations of Claire, Jamie and other characters do NOT look like the actors.)
Each image is printed on a separate page for coloring; there is no two-sided printing. This is for those who like to detach and give a coloring page as a gift, or to frame it.
(Here is my further discussion about what the coloring book is… and isn’t.)
Is It A New Story?
The OUTLANDER COLORING BOOK is not a storybook at all; it does not contain any new story lines from or new background material about the OUTLANDER series of novels. Neither is it a graphic novel like THE EXILE.
So it’s not going to tell you anything you don’t already know about the story. (If that’s what you want, allow me to suggest the various novellas that I’ve written, which fill in all sorts of interesting lacunae…)
Publisher’s Description
THE WORLD OF OUTLANDER AWAITS
From the lush green of the Scottish Highlands to the military red of a British soldier’s coat or the vibrant hues of a tartan kilt, the colorful world of Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser is now yours to explore. Featuring gorgeous natural landscapes, detailed drawings of Claire’s medicinal herbs, depictions of the books’ most beloved scenes and characters, and intricately rendered clothing, weapons, and armor straight out of eighteenth-century Scotland, these exquisite black-and-white images—from renowned illustrators Juan Alarcón, Yvonne Gilbert, Craig Phillips, Jon Proctor, Tomislav Tomić, and Rebecca Zomchek—are designed to dazzle and inspire. Fans of the series, as well as lovers of history and art, can party like it's 1743!
Show:
More Art
Kath Powell My Outlander Art Kath Powell art gallery and at https://m.facebook.com/Kath-Powells-Art-930617977003561/
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| Rosie Day |
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| Stephen Walters Grant O'Rourke |
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| Alisa Rantanen Illustrations http://www.alisarantanen.com/ Sam Heughan |
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| Alisa Rantanen Illustrations http://www.alisarantanen.com/ Duncan Lacroix as Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser, Graham McTavish as Dougal MacKenzie |
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| Alisa Rantanen Illustrations http://www.alisarantanen.com/ Lotte Verbeek as Geillis |
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| Alisa Rantanen Illustrations http://www.alisarantanen.com/ Caitriona Balfe |
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Missing Sam and his GÃ idhlig tongue??? This should make you feel better...
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Music
https://play.google.com/music/m/Tqn4rwrpiay33raue2tsy4z7uei?t=Comin_Thro_The_Rye_-_Bear_McCreary
Congratulations to Bear for the Emmy Nomination!
Outlander
2014-2015Highly-anticipated adaptation of best-selling literary phenomenon.
Post Title
Date
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Articles
Sex, Romance and What a Girl Wants...Outlander,' The Wedding Episode And TV's Sexual RevolutionShow of hands...how many times have YOU watched this episode? Loved this review of The Wedding when it was published. Definitely worth another read, especially during Droughtlander! Enjoy the clip below with cast commentary, then click on the link for the full article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/29/outlander-wedding_n_5896284.html
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PUZZLES:
If you like puzzles, Kath Powell has some beautiful Outlander art and you can put the puzzles together on your computer. There are different levels of difficulty for those of us who can't think before the coffee hits the brain cells and then want something more challenging. These aren't the only puzzles out there, but some of the nicest in this blogger's opinion. It's also on the list of recommended links.
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OUTLANDER POSTMORTEM
How Graham got to his emotional OUTBURST
TRAVEL - OUTLANDER STYLE!
Interview with Cats & Kilts – Connecting with Outlander Fanmily in ScotlandOutlanderHomepage Originals, by D. Elisabeth Aymett
(Pictured - Sterling Castle)
Cat, aka Cats and Kilts, lives in Texas and is a long time Outlander fan recently returned from her first trip to Scotland. We here at Outlander Homepage sat down with her to get a firsthand report of her Scotland adventure.
When did you decide to go to Scotland?
April of this year, so I had just a couple of months for planning.
What made you decide to go?
I’ve been reading Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books since 1991, since the beginning, and always loved and enjoyed them. I always thought I should go, but just never did. Then the Starz show came out, and I have to say the visual impact of story made me think I just have to get there!
I’d planned to go with a group of friends, but that didn’t work out. So I decided to go on my own. I found a tour group, then planned to stay extra days after the tour was over. So I decided, OK – I’m doing this, just going to go! I’m so happy I did, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Ever. I know that’s a pretty sweeping statement, but I really mean it.
What was it like connecting with fellow fans there?
Can I just say that was one of the best parts of the trip, being able to talk Outlander with people who are just as passionate about it as I am. When you meet a fellow fan it feels like you’re talking to an old friend, not a stranger. Outlander has become more than just a set of books and more than the show. It’s truly something that’s greater than the sum of its parts now. The story has a life of its own and inspires so many people to create, from knitting, to memes, to writing their own stories and for me it inspired me to do musical reviews of each episode.
You can get a glimpse of what goes on in Cat’s head during any given episode here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXPPHHqKwX0&index=1&list=PLNcVOEcmItLy8Zntaxk1qSrD9t_0BITDl
Outlander fans are like a family now, we each recognize the love of that story in the other and it’s an instant connection. I’m “fangirling” for the first time in my life because of the Starz show. It just took my love of Outlander to a whole new level. I’ve watched and loved other shows in my life, but nothing like this.
Please tell us about your trip.
This trip was about meeting Scotland for me, just getting a feel for the country, being a fan girl and doing the Outlander thing.
So I did book a tour. There are several tours Outlander related now. I chose Clans & Castles. http://www.clansandcastles.com/outlander.htm It is a tour which started before the Starz show made Outlander even more popular. The tour was wonderful. Scotland is breathtakingly beautiful. We had a great group of people. It was a small group of only 6, so it was more intimate in a way and our group got to know each other a bit and really had fun together.
We got to go to some of places talked about in the book. The tour was full of interesting history, and we took in lots of scenery. This tour is concentrated on the Highlands and the Isle of Skye. (Pictured above)
The owner and operator, Alistair Cunningham was wonderful and so informative. He cares about his customers and really made it a fabulous experience. I highly recommend him.
We worked in a few of the shooting sites for the show but this tour is more about Scotland than about Outlander. For me, it was the perfect balance of learning about Scotland and history of the country and seeing things about the show. I certainly gained an understanding of everything that came before the Outlander story. Alistair was great about telling the stories of the previous Jacobite risings, the ’15 and everything leading up to Culloden. His tour is so well planned and I enjoyed it very much.
Did you see Culloden Moor and Culloden House?
We saw the outside of Culloden house. The day I visited Culloden Moor, it was a rainy, misty morning, which for me was just the perfect atmosphere. Somehow, bright cheery sunshine just wouldn’t have felt right. I have to say, it was much more emotional that I thought it would be. You can really feel the weight of the history there and what happened. We went to the new Culloden center, which has two distinct sides - Jacobite side/English side and they do a good job of giving both sides of the story. Of course, my sympathies lie with the Jacobites and our Highland heroes.
Here in America, we only have a couple of hundred years of history. In Scotland, you’re looking at history of over 2,000 years and it’s really awe inspiring..
How was the food?
The owner and operator, Alistair Cunningham was wonderful and so informative. He cares about his customers and really made it a fabulous experience. I highly recommend him.
We worked in a few of the shooting sites for the show but this tour is more about Scotland than about Outlander. For me, it was the perfect balance of learning about Scotland and history of the country and seeing things about the show. I certainly gained an understanding of everything that came before the Outlander story. Alistair was great about telling the stories of the previous Jacobite risings, the ’15 and everything leading up to Culloden. His tour is so well planned and I enjoyed it very much.
Did you see Culloden Moor and Culloden House?
We saw the outside of Culloden house. The day I visited Culloden Moor, it was a rainy, misty morning, which for me was just the perfect atmosphere. Somehow, bright cheery sunshine just wouldn’t have felt right. I have to say, it was much more emotional that I thought it would be. You can really feel the weight of the history there and what happened. We went to the new Culloden center, which has two distinct sides - Jacobite side/English side and they do a good job of giving both sides of the story. Of course, my sympathies lie with the Jacobites and our Highland heroes.
Here in America, we only have a couple of hundred years of history. In Scotland, you’re looking at history of over 2,000 years and it’s really awe inspiring..
How was the food?
The food was just good wholesome food. I enjoyed it. And yes, I did try the haggis! The secret to enjoying haggis is Whisky Cream Sauce. Actually, the secret to enjoying just about anything is a good Whisky Cream Sauce – it just takes the food to a whole new level and makes anything great! (Note to self – gotta try that Whisky Cream Sauce thing!)
Did you learn a bit about the whisky?
Yes I did. The Pubs were great! Most of the places we stayed had a pub or were right next to one. We enjoyed flights of whisky for tasting and invented our own rating system. I really enjoyed getting a dram – just to try out. The thing to know about Scotland is that just about everything closes at 5 p.m., except the pubs, so they’re really the place to be in the evening.
What were your favorite whiskys?
My top three: Scapa (which we understand is Ron D. Moore’s favorite, although I didn’t know that at the time), Dalmore and Talisker. The Talisker is smoky but not so much peat. Not a Laphroaig girl, I’m not a fan of the peaty taste. I admit I don’t know much about whisky, but know what I liked. The Dalmore had that lovely whisky smell, but didn’t burn. Smooth, which is what I liked.
How were the people?
When I went over, I thought the things I would enjoy most would be the scenery, history and Outlander related things. Although those are all wonderful, my favorite part of the trip was meeting the people, just all the Scottish people I met. I’m from the South and we have what we call Southern hospitality. Well, I think it came over with the Highlanders and the Scottish people in general and I really have to wonder how pervasive that influence was in settling the South in America. The Scottish people are so warm and welcoming and just lovely.
One day, in my second week when I was on my own, I was taking the train down to England to meet up in person with a fellow Outlander fan there. I was a bit lost trying to find the station so I asked this young lady who was obviously a native about where to go. She told me in detail about where the stairs down to the station were and then walked on, clearly with somewhere to be. I was sort of dawdling down the street, admiring the architecture and gawking about like the tourist I was. This lovely young woman came back to me to point out the stairs so I wouldn’t miss them. I just thought that was so sweet. And it’s emblematic of the Scottish people and how nice they are.
During my second week, I met a good number people in person that I’d met on Twitter. This was like meeting friends I’d never seen before, but I knew them. We did some touring together. One lady was an Outlander fan, but has a Scottish background. Hers was a different perspective and it was interesting to talk Outlander with her. The Outlander fan I visited in England was also wonderful. We did nothing all day except talk about the books and the show and I thoroughly enjoyed my day with her as well.
What’s interesting is that very few people who live in Scotland knew about the Starz show. Here are these people in Glasgow and the stars are right there in their town but they don’t know about Outlander! I felt it was my duty to tell them about the wonderful show. Now, these folks are not so much taken aback as, well, sort of amused at my passion for the show and the books. They thought it was sweet that I was so enthusiastic that I would come all the way to their country to see the places in the books. I think I convinced a few of them to read and watch.
How did you enjoy hearing the Scottish brogue?
It was wonderful. We think of Scotland, or I did, as having one sound, but it’s like America. There are different accents in different parts of the country. Only a couple of times did I have to ask people to repeat what they said because I couldn’t understand at first. In Glasgow they talk fast and the brogue is quite thick! I found it fascinating to listen to the different sounds of the language in different parts of the country.
I did have one brush with fame. When I was walking to the stairs in our hotel one evening, I looked over at a table and made eye contact with a gentleman there. Then I realized it was Adhamh O’Broin! I’d thought about what I might do if I saw someone from the show while I was in Scotland and was determined not to intrude on their privacy. Well, when I saw Adhamh, all my good intentions went out the window. I walked over and asked if I could just say one word, “Outlander!” He smiled and rose to shake my hand. He was so gracious and kind and thanked me for my praise of the show. Obviously, it was quite a thrill for me.
What did you do after the week long tour with Clans & Castles?
One of the nicest things I did was take a one day tour with Mary’s Meanders. http://www.marysmeanders.co.uk/
That tour is specifically for Outlander filming sites in around Fife. We visited Linlithgow Palace which was used to film the infamous Wentworth scenes. We also visited Abodour Castle which was the monastery in the final episode.
I saw Falkland and the fountain in the street where Jamie’s Ghost is looking up at Claire’s window.
Then went over to Dysart which is the harbor where they filmed Jamie and Claire arriving in France for season 2.
That tour is specifically for Outlander filming sites in around Fife. We visited Linlithgow Palace which was used to film the infamous Wentworth scenes. We also visited Abodour Castle which was the monastery in the final episode.
I saw Falkland and the fountain in the street where Jamie’s Ghost is looking up at Claire’s window.
Then went over to Dysart which is the harbor where they filmed Jamie and Claire arriving in France for season 2.
One of my favorite parts was visiting the Highland village where Claire learned about waulking wool. I really liked the connection with the women in that scene. The woman there took one look at me and said, "You must be an Outlander fan." She proceeded to give me the tour.
Are you of Scottish heritage?
Are you of Scottish heritage?
Yes. The name we know is McQuistion. Which is my family surname. My relatives go back to Ireland from Scotland. Genealogists here in the US have done some work on it but we’re still searching for the first Scot of that name who made that jump from Scotland to Ireland. The McQuistions were a small family under the protection of clan Donald of the Isles. They were part of the “Ulster Scots.” Like so many who migrated at about that time, after the ’45. Instead of going to America, they went to Ireland.
Do you want to go back?
I’m now planning to go back for a serious genealogy search. During this trip, I couldn’t find one person who’d heard of my family name. That was a bit disappointing and I realize it’s going to be difficult to run down. Perhaps I’ll have to make many, many trips to Scotland! I have to say, the only reason I’m not living there now is the difficulty with the Wi-Fi there. Otherwise, I might’ve emailed my resignation to my job and just stayed on!
See more pics of Cat's trip to Scotland here: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B8QnBJvDWqb4fjRIX183LUJ5YzZueUVvR3hVUWZFdTRiY2NiMnJSeVlTZlpiUVZoc3FvZ1k&usp=sharing_eid
Cats and Kilts rescues cats, enjoys music, has a wicked sense of humor and obviously enjoys Outlander as much as the rest of us. Thanks for sharing your trip with us, Cat!
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Link for Outlander Herbal on our front page
THE OUTLANDER ADVISOR
Interview – Claire MacKay, The HerbalistBy, One of the Three Wee Lasses of OHP
Taken in the gardens of Claire & Geillis at Culross Palace, Fife.
Let’s be honest here. How many of us have fantasized about being Claire Fraser, an herbal healer in the Highlands of Scotland? Well, OHP was delighted to sit down with Claire (okay, her last name is MacKay, but we won’t quibble…) the real life herbalist, who was a consultant for Outlander, Season One. Anyone interested in attending a workshop with Claire? Plan on attending Tartan Week in NYC in April 2016! Claire also wrote a segment on Jacobite Herbal Medicine for the new Outlandish Companion coming out later this month on the 27th.
OHP: When were you contacted about working on Outlander?
Claire: In 2013, before Outlander started filming, I was working as the manager of an herbal medicine practice in the Highlands, along with my husband. We were on an estate which was overlooked by an 18th century building, living a very quiet life (does any of this start seeming eerily familiar???). At the time, I was researching traditional Highland herbal medicine and focusing on how they would’ve used the plants back then. I kept thinking “how on earth did they know what these plants were used for?”
OHP: Good question! (And can we say here, talk about right place, right time?)
Claire: I was quite immersed in my research when I got a call from production asking me if I’d heard of Outlander and might I be interested in meeting with Ron. Well, I didn’t know who Ron D. Moore was, so when I got off the phone, I looked him up on the internet and then I thought “oh my!”
OHP: I bet!
Claire: I’d been studying 18th century highland herbal medicine when I was contacted by the show. When I started reading the book, the first thing I noticed was that the main character is named Claire and that she’s going back in time and studying herbs and I thought, “is this the Truman Show?”
It seemed like it was my life written in the book; that made it extra special for me from the very beginning. So I went to meet Ron, thinking I’d meet with his assistant or someone first. But when I walked into the room, it was really him!
OHP: Ron seems to be extraordinarily invested in getting the details right for this series.
Claire: Yes, he is. We talked a bit about the script and then he asked me if I’d be interested in consulting on the series. Of course, I said yes!
I kept reading the series of books and later spoke to Diana. I mean, as I read on, I realized the level of research she did. As a researcher myself, I noted that she has references to plants and uses that are not common knowledge among herbalists! I was really curious about her sources and her interest, so I contacted her. When I introduced myself, she said she couldn’t believe they were going to this level of detail and authenticity.
OHP: So, that leads into my next question of how authentic and accurate did you find the herbal references to be in the book/TV series?
Claire: With one or two exceptions, very accurate. For example, there’s a mention in the book about Davy Beaton using Pennyroyal to treat an injured finger. While that wouldn’t necessarily be the first choice, Pennyroyal is a member of the mint family and has volatile oils which act as an antiseptic
OHP: Well, apparently, Davy Beaton wasn’t that great a healer, so maybe that accounts for that strange choice? (laughing again)
Claire: Yes. Maybe Diana was being cunning when she had him using a plant that wasn’t the best. The way she uses the plants in her books, I think, is quite original. I think she was an herbalist in a past life!
OHP: Well, we know Diana is a scientist and used to doing extensive research.
Claire: She is extremely well-researched. I have a great admiration of her from a research point of view. She’s been an inspiration. She’s recently asked me to do a short history of the use of Highland herbs, which is going to be coming out in the new Outlandish Companion on October of 27th. That also happens to be a full moon! (And, close to Samhain….hmmm, time to take a trip to Craig Na Dun?). I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Diana does like her moon references in the Outlander series.
OHP: Yes, she does. So that’s accurate as well? The harvesting references?
Claire: Yes, it is. When Claire talks to Roger at Fraser’s Ridge in one of the later books about when to harvest the plants, flowers and seeds, that’s all true about the different types of predators and why some plants are better harvested at night and some during day and certain cycles of the moon. So the chemicals are secreted at different times to be most effective and that’s when the chemical values are highest.
I teach in my workshops that some of the things that must seem like superstition from the 18th century, when you look at them now with scientific perspective, we can see that there is logic and truth to it. What they said back then would’ve branded them as heretics.
OHP: So that leads me to my next question. Healers, or Wise Women, in the 18thcentury were often targets for accusations of witchcraft, as we saw in Claire’s and Gellis’ case. How did you feel about the episodes of By the Pricking of My Thumbs and the The Devil’s Mark?
Claire: (Laughing) Well, as an herbalist now, I’m so glad that I wasn’t around in the 18th century! I would definitely have been burned for a witch, no question. So, of course, I have a tremendous empathy for the people, especially women, who were caught up in that horrendous situation. I’ve read a lot of the history and oftentimes, people used the accusation of witchcraft just to get back at a neighbor who had annoyed them, for example. It was more than a wee bit wicked. The healers certainly didn’t deserve to die because of it.
The Wise Women, the healers, sort of flew under the radar then, so to speak. Medicine was just beginning to be more academically inclined, but women weren’t really allowed to University. Medicine was taught in Latin, and, of course, the wee wifeys and Wise Women of the Highlands weren’t taught Latin. So men appropriated the study of medicine and started to cut women out of the healing arts.
OHP: So, two centuries later, how different do you feel things are in the attitude of “recognized” medicine towards the effectiveness of herbal or alternative medicine?
Claire: I feel the struggle has always been there between orthodox medicine and herbalism. Whether you’re looking at it from the religious point of view in persecuting healers as witches or from the medical point of view, the herbalist has had to struggle to justify her traditional practice by using scientific evidence to support her healing methods.
Not many people know this, but herbal medicine was banned between 1941 and 1958 in the UK. But the same government that banned herbal medicine, with the exception of “qualified” doctors, also requested that women go into the hills and harvest things like rosehips and yarrow to be used for the soldiers during WWII. There was a high incidence of scurvy, so they harvested the rosehips to prevent it.
OHP: What a contradiction!
Claire: Yes! I think it comes down to power, control and money. I realize concerns of safety are there between orthodox medicine and herbalism, and practices which seem questionable to the masses. However, I think now we’re open to discussions of the knowledge. During the burning times, people would not have been able to share this knowledge of cures and herbal medicine without risking their lives.
Now there’s more of an element of science in determining why the herbal cures are effective. I think we’re coming back full cycle. I tend to think of modern medicine as the sort of rebellious teenage child of herbalism. Before there were “pharmaceuticals”, there was herbalism. Doctors used herbs to treat patients. Then came modern pharmaceuticals, but it’s really not separate from herbal medicine.
OHP: That’s a great analogy. So, my fellow bloggers asked me to make sure I asked you about the infamous scene in Wentworth where Black Jack Randall uses lavender to …(I didn’t even get to finish this question).
Claire: (groaning) Oh, that breaks my heart! That was just a wicked, wicked thing to do. That scent, lavender, is so recognizable. It’s hard not to love it and most people do.
OHP: Would it have aided healing or would it just have soothed?
Claire: Oh, lavender is an absolute healer, but I don’t know why Black Jack would’ve used that. I think we have to ask Diana. Perhaps he was trying to sort of trick Jamie’s senses. Essential oils access the deepest part of the brain, the limbic system. You know a certain smell can trigger memories, even taking you back to childhood. So I don’t know if it was manipulation of Jamie’s senses or what. But I find that to be the cruelest thing because it’s such a healing plant and later it causes real trouble for Jamie. I find it to be the most heartbreaking use of lavender imaginable.
Lavender is actually a sedative. It has a unique way of calming the senses. It can aid sleep, reduce pain because it’s an anti-inflammatory and even has antiseptic qualities. I use it in so many of my remedies. Some people find it too relaxing. It’s quite amazing actually.
OHP: So it really is that powerful?
Claire: Yes and I feel it’s such a tragedy for poor Jamie!
OHP: We were also curious about the Lily of the Valley. Did the Monks actually bring that from Germany and does it look that similar to wood garlic?
Claire: Yes and yes. Lily of the Valley is easy to confuse
There are also a number of archeological sites where they’ve been able to identify that monks were there from the non-native plants that were found. One of those would have been the thorn apple Claire used to treat Ned Gowan’s asthma. Did you notice that when he inhaled from his little pipe he had that sort of satisfied smile? Well, thorn apple is also a narcotic, in a recreational way.
OHP: Ohhhh! (Caution, before some of you go out and start cultivating, read on…)
Claire: I don’t know if many people know that, but if you take too much, it’s toxic. There was a time when people were smoking gypsum weed and dying of it, but it is a very effective medicine. That, too, was brought to the UK by the monks.
OHP: So when you worked as a consultant on Outlander, did you work with Cait and Lotte or more with the writing staff?
Claire: I didn’t work with Lotte, but I did have the pleasure of working with Cait. She’s a lovely person. We discussed the use of potions and applications of plants and how to think about the plants used in the script. That was a lovely part of the job. Other than that it was mostly going through the script and making suggestions for accuracy.
OHP: We hear it’s a really fun set and wonderful working environment they have there. Any funny stories you can share?
Claire: Well, one of the drivers, Davie, and this was before they’d cast Cait, walked up to the car where I was sitting and asked me something. He introduced himself as Davie and I asked him if he was one of the actors. He said no, just a driver and asked who I was. I answered that I was Claire, the Herbalist. He said, “Oh, you’re Claire! Well done!” Then he walked away and it was only a few minutes later that I realized he thought I’d been cast as Claire on the show.
OHP: It is quite the coincidence about your name, your being an herbalist and being from the Highlands, just like Claire Fraser. In addition to the presentations during Tartan week, you run some demonstrations and tours in Scotland. Please tell us about that.
Claire: Yes, we’re running tours and workshops at some of the Outlander sets, notably the gardens around Culross Palace, where filming of the scenes of Claire working in the garden outside Leoch took place. I’m also working with Historic Scotland doing some living history workshops dealing with herbal medicine during the Jacobite period. Some of those take place at Doune Castle, which was used for the exteriors of Leoch. There are also some Outlander Herbal workshops where you can come and make your own ointments and learn about the plants used in the books. I’m also working on a residential workshop for May of 2016 for Outlander Herbal which will focus on remedies used in the book series. Still working on the details of that.
OHP: Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us, Claire!
Claire MacKay studied herbal medicine at the The Scottish School of Herbal Medicine and graduated from Napier College in Edinburgh. For more information on Claire and the work she does, visit her website http://www.highlandherbs.co.uk/
nice
ReplyDeleteHi! Droughtlander is PAINFUL. I put together a list of TV shows that are sort of like Outlander (but not as good, right?) that some of you may enjoy. http://mediamedusa.com/like-outlander-try-romantic-tv-shows/
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