The Dryads
From Greek mythology come the Dryads – female nymphs or tree spirits. Like all nymphs, Dryads lead supernaturally long lives and are tied to a particular tree or locale. Hamadryads are specifically linked to one tree only, and when that tree dies they do too. The word Dryad comes from the Greek drys, meaning oak, so Dryads were originally oak tree nymphs but the name has now come to mean any tree nymph. The Dryads will punish any who harm their beloved trees, but from time to time they would also marry a mortal. Many Dryads also began their lives as mortals but became Dryads at the will of one of the Greek Gods or Goddesses (often to escape the amorous attentions of another God!).
Art by Debra of Garden Beguiled
Filed under Faerylore | Comment (1)Holey Stones
Long thought to be objects of power, holey stones (also known as hag stones) are essential for the dedicated faerie seeker. They are pebbles and stones through which a hole has been naturally bored, usually by the actions of a stream or river or the sea. It is said if you look through the hole you will be able to see faeries (this is the same idea that inspired the ‘Seeing Stone’ in the Spiderwick Chronicles). Holy stones are most effective when found, not bought – so next time you visit the coast or a riverbank take the time to look for one.
Filed under Faerylore | Comments (3)At the Crossroads
Crossroads have always regarded as special places, with many superstitions and legends associated with them. Often suicides and murderers were buried or hung in gibbets at lonely crossroads so their restless ghosts would be confused and not know which direction to take, thus preventing them from coming back to harm the living. In Iceland, people believe that the elves move house on New Year’s Eve. Mortals may intercept them at crossroads, in the hope the elves will bribe them with food and treasure to let them pass.
Best Wishes from all at Fae Nation as we stand on the threshold of 2007.
Filed under Faerylore, General | Comment (0)The Mermaid of Zennor
In the tiny village of Zennor, West Cornwall, there once lived a chorister named Matthew Trewhella who was renowned for his sweet singing. A beautiful woman often attended the church where he sang, and Matthew found himself falling in love with this mysterious stranger. One day, desperate to discover her identity he stole after her as she walked along the cliff tops. Matthew was never seen again, although people claimed his singing could be heard drifting in from the sea on calm nights.
Some years later a ship dropped anchor off Pendower Cove, near Zennor. To the Captain’s surprise a mermaid surfaced and requested the anchor be pulled up as it was resting against the door to her underwater home, and she was anxious to return to her husband Matthew Trewhella and their children.
When the Captain repeated this story back in Zennor a figure of a mermaid was carved on the end of a pew (some say the same pew the lady sat on as she watched Matthew sing) – as a warning to other sweet-voiced choristers about mysterious sea-maidens.
The Cornish Piskies
Cornwall’s wild landscape is home to many Faerie Folk, but the Piskies are by far the most infamous. Piskies (or as they are known elsewhere – Pixies) are solitary creatures who seem to take an equal delight in mischief making and helping farmers with their chores.
The expression ‘Pisky-led’ described how travellers returning home late at night (often after patronising the local inn) would unwittingly be led astray by Pisky lights. Most likely the unlucky wayfarer would find himself lost on the moors or stumbled into a bog, but on occasion the Piskies would take pity on the poor souls and guide them home safely.
Joan the Wad was a queen of the Piskies who achieved World-wide fame when her image was cast into lucky brass amulets, which sold in their hundreds of thousands in the early 20th century. Even today the visitor to Cornwall will find lucky Cornish Piskie charms everywhere they look, sitting cross-legged and pointy-hatted, on toadstools – and for the full-on Cornish experience – even on a pasty!
