Esa inghean Donnchaidh

LadyEsa

Arms

Introduction

The Honorable Lady Esa currently resides within the Barony of Caer Mear in the Kingdom of Atlantia. She first began playing in the SCA in 2012 in the Barony of Stierbach. Esa is a researcher of women’s health from the ancient world to the middle ages, with special emphasis on menstruation and sexual health. Esa is currently serving as the Women's Studies Deputy to the Society Minister of Arts and Sciences and the Atlantian Persona Development Coordinator.

• Esa uses she/her or they/them pronouns.
• Esa uses a rescue inhaler, which she carries with her. She also has many food restrictions, so it is recommended that you do not attempt to feed the Esa.
• In case of court, Lord Rudiger knows her schedule and where to find her.

Helpful Links

Esa's SCAdian Blog

Esa's Research Website: The Medieval Gynecologist

Esa's SCA resume

Esa on the OP

Esa's Linktree for the latest and greatest!

Persona

Esa's name seems most fitting for a fourteenth century Scottish woman; however, Esa's primary persona recently changed to that of an Iron Age Orcadian woman (circa 5th century CE). As such, she is rightly obsessed with Brochs, chambered tombs, seafaring and seafood, Shetland wool, and puffins. Esa is alternatively known as Venus of Atlantia. The persona of Venus is Roman; inspired by Aphrodite, the ocean, sapphic love, and living deliciously.

Heraldry

Azure, in pale a salmon and a loaf of bread, a bordure embattled argent.

Her heraldry is inspired by the persecution of women as witches in the middle ages; specifically, the food magic that was infamous for rendering men either helplessly in love or impotent. Your mileage may vary. “The desperate mistress was condemned for using magic to incite love. Successes were claimed to have been accomplished by her serving a man bread she had kneaded with her buttocks or a fish she had previously inserted into her vagina.” (From the Buchard of Worms)

Affiliations

• Apprentice to Beatriz Aluares de la Oya
• Households: Free Company of St. Lawrence, Clan Oldcastle, House zum Drache
• Guilds and Groups: Knowne World Courtesans, Atlantian Courtesan Guild, Period Heroes

Offices and Warrants

Current

• Atlantian Persona Development Challenge Coordinator (Nov 2021 - Oct 2022/ for the reign of Cuan and Adelhait of Atlantia)
• Women's Studies Deputy to the Society Minister of Arts and Sciences (June 2020 - Present)

Past

• Deputy Chancellor, Atlantian University (January 2020 – July 2021)
• Minster of Arts and Sciences, Barony of Stierbach (November 2018 – January 2020)
• Minister of Arts and Sciences, Atlantian Courtesans Guild (September 2018 – January 2020)
• Deputy Minister of Arts and Sciences, Barony of Stierbach (June 2017-November 2018)
• Canton of Abhainn Iarthair’s Thrown Weapons Marshal (Jan 2015-Dec 2016, Canton of Abhainn Iarthair)
• Chancellor of the Exchequer for the Canton of Abhainn Iarthair (February 2014-Dec. 2016/ Abhainn Iarthair, Stierbach, Atlantia)
• Thrown Weapons Marshal (September 2014-2016/Stierbach, Atlantia)
• Archery Marshal (November 2013-2016/ Stierbach, Atlantia)

A&S

• Tempore Atlantia (pre-1000 CE) Entry: “Something From Nothing: Developing the Persona of an Orcadian Woman within the Complex Atlantic Roundhouse Tradition of the Late British Iron Age” (May 2022; Spring Crown Tournament)
• Knowne World Arts & Sciences Entry: “Having a Period in Period: An Experimental Archaeological Approach to Medieval Menstruation Management” (July-August 2021; Virtual Pennsic)
• Ask Me Anything: Having a Period in Period (Q&A/ discussion forum on the history of menstruation management, self hosted virtual event, 25 July 2021)
• Special Guest and featured Medieval Menstruation Expert on the Lengberg Livestream "500 Year Old Panties? The Truth Revealed About the Lengberg Underpants" with Lengberg Research Team Rachel Case and Marion McNealy (YouTube, 11 June 2021)
• Italian Underwear A&S Competition Winner (three way tie!) for a recreated sixteenth century Camicia, Highland River Melees (10 May 2021)
• Where's the Midwife: An Interview for Virtual Atlantia (June 2020)
• Arts and Sciences Pennsic Champion, Kingdom of Atlantia, Pennsic 48 (August 2019)
• Open Display, Kingdom Arts and Sciences Festival, Kingdom of Atlantia (2 March 2019)
• Instructor's Deputy for Life Drawing, class taught at Courtesan College by Rudiger der Burgenfaust, Pennsic 47, 2018
• Displayed at Kingdom Arts and Sciences Festival (Kingdom of Atlantia, March 2018).
• Tournament of Love and Beauty’s A&S competition winner (Barony of Ponte Alto, February 2018)
• Displayed at the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Festival (Open Display, 5 March 2016, KASF, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Herbalism and Traditional Medicine Demo at the Wakefield School Demo including visual and tactile aids (herbs and grains, infused oils, etc.), period manuscript reproductions about traditional medicine, and facilitated discussion with Q&A about medieval medicine and “women’s work” in sustaining proper health of one’s family and household through herbal concoctions.   (May 19, 2015 Barony of Stierbach)
• Displayed, 28 March 2015, Defending the Gate, Canton of Sudentoore, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Authored article for the Stierbach Baronial Newsletter, The Bull: The Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm (Jan 2015/Barony of Stierbach)
• Authored article for the Stierbach Baronial Newsletter, The Bull: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure: Herbs for Cold and Flu Season (Dec 2014/Barony of Stierbach)

Classes Taught

• A Guided Tour of Iron Age Orkney (University of Atlantia, Feb 2022)
• Boundaries and Self Care for Volunteers (University of Atlantia, Feb 2022)
• Anatomy and Physiology of Medieval Gynecology E X P A N D E D E D I T I O N (University of Atlantia, Feb 2022)
• Anatomy and Physiology of Medieval Gynecology (Royal University of Trimaris, 10 July 2021)
• Anatomy and Physiology of Medieval Gynecology (Knowne World Sciences Symposium, 12 June 2021)
• A&S Video Documentation: Class and Panel Discussion (University of Atlantia, 12 June 2021)
• Lust and Lechery: Sex Taboos from a Medieval Physician's Perspective (University of Ithra, Kingdom of An Tir, 23 May 2021)
• Lust and Lechery: Sex Taboos from a Medieval Physician's Perspective (Highland River Melees, Kingdom of Atlantia, 8 May 2021)
• Iron Age Orkney: Creating a Regional Specific Celtic Persona (Atlantian University, #105, 12 September 2020, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Herbs for Gynecology and Obstetrics (Atlantian University, #103, 1 February 2020, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Abortion in Medieval Europe (Atlantian University, #101, 15 June 2019, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• But to Foule Lust and Likynge of Lecherye: Menstruation, Family Planning, and Women’s Bodily Autonomy (Atlantian University, #100, 2 February 2019, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Gynecology and Obstetrics in Medieval Europe (Atlantian University, #98, 3 February 2018, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Herbs of Northern Africa (Pennsic University, Pennsic 46 (2017), Known World)
• Be Dynamic! A Hafla Primer (Known World Dance and Music Symposium, 15-18 June 2017, Known World)
• Herbalism in Arabia (Atlantian University, #94, 16 September 2016, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Herb Preservation Methods (Atlantian University, #91, 19 September 2015, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Use What You Have! (Newcomer Track, Atlantian University, #91, 19 September 2015, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• There’s a Tea for That! Hydrosols in Traditional Herbalism (Atlantian University #90, 13 June 2015, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Magick or Medicine? Traditional Herbalism in the Middle Ages (Atlantian University #90, 13 June 2015, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Herbal Infusions for Beginners (Atlantian University #89, 7 February 2015, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Wise Woman as Witch (Peasant’s Revolt, 22-24 August 2014, Shire of Canthanar, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• A Beginner’s Guide to Growing a Medicinal Herb Garden (Peasant’s Revolt, 22-24 August 2014, Shire of Canthanar, Kingdom of Atlantia)
• Herbal Infusions_ Medicinal Teas Vinegars oils (Peasant’s Revolt, 22-24 August 2014, Shire of Canthanar, Kingdom of Atlantia)

Links to project documentation and class handouts can be found on Esa's blog.

Service

Highlight Reel

• Deputy Chancellor, Atlantian University (2020-2021)
• Knowne World A&S, Staff (Pennsic 45-48)
• A&S Coordinator & Competition Sponsor (2017- Present): Various events
• Sexuality and Gender Studies Track Coordinator for Atlantian University (2018-Present)
• Period Heroes (2017-Present): Coordinating heroes and distributing supplies at events throughout the Kingdom and the Knowne World.
• Games Coordinator, Coronation of Queen Adelhait and King Christophe (Atlantia, April 2019)
• Adult Display Coordinator, Kingdom Arts and Sciences Festival (2 March 2019)
• Founder & Coordinator, Pennsic Children’s Fete Disney Entertainers (Pennsic 43-45)
• Autocrat, Holiday Faire X (co-Autocrat with Gunnora Grimm) (Nov 22, 2014/Stierbach, Atlantia).
• Archery Marshalling, including Archery MIC, and target construction for various events (2013-2016)
• Thrown Weapons Marshalling, including Thrown MIC, and target construction for various events (2014-2016)
• Exchequer, Canton of Abhainn Iarthair (February 2014-2016)

A complete list of service can be found on Esa's SCA Resume.