Clootie Well
 Munlochy Clootie Well by Travelmag.com
A sacred and fascinating tradition among the Scottish, clooties, or strips of cloth, are dipped in natural wells that have supposed healing powers and are then tied to the branches of trees by the one wishing to be healed of an ailment. There are a few clootie wells throughout the country based on their historical reputation for being healing waters.
Once the cloth is dipped in the healing waters, the afflicted would then pray to the spirit of the well. The practice is still very much alive in modern times, with visitors supplicating God, saints, or nature spirits for help with their ailments. Traditions vary in each region. At some wells, the cloth strip is touched to the affected body area before being hung from the tree limbs. As the cloth disintegrates, the body’s wound will be restored. In other places, brightly colored rags are draped from the branches not for healing, but simply as an offering of respect to the spirit of the well. Some variations on the tradition require walking around the healing waters a number of times and then leaving a coin, pin, or stone as an offering. Today, while clooties May be seen hanging from the trees, tree trunks and water banks may be covered in rosaries and crosses. |
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