Ashrays

Ashrays

I have made some research on these beings but have not had much success at finding anything that details them to any extent, so a good part of this post has been filled-in with my own thoughts.

Ashrays have their origins attributed to Scottish mythology. They can be male or female and are completely translucent water creatures. Ashrays are also known as Asrais, or water-lovers, and are often mistaken for sea ghosts. My thought here is since there is such an abundance of beings we call “shape shifters” mentioned in most mythologies that the possibility of these beings being shape shifters cannot be ruled out.

Next time you look into clear waters, try looking for Ashrays, though only during the night. Ashrays are apparently nocturnal creatures. If you manage to capture one, keep the Ashray away from sunlight unless all you want is a puddle of water. It will shift back to its element and as an elemental it can transform itself to any of the elements around it; or shape shift to an elemental reality parallel to ours, only invisible to our perception. That part I will put aside for now and save for a later topic.

Ashrays, both male and female, appear to be about twenty years old in human time, but like many other elementals such as fairies and elves, are much more ancient then their appearance.

They have been lauded for good deeds and blamed for bad, but not enough is known about them to judge their overall intent or temperament where people are concerned. Of course, there is both good and bad, darkness and light, in them. For as long as we are in the temporal state, we follow the laws of dualities, just as any other being or creature would in the temporal state. The temporal state is malleable and depending on what is in your heart, it can be influenced for good or bad by your own choice. I imagine the law of duality would also apply for any of these beings or any other being as well, as long as they are in the temporal state of being.

So we have established that Ashrays are known as the Water Lovers, or another name, Asrais; that these creatures can be either sex, male or female, and can appear to you in a form of your own conception. I have come to the understanding that most, if not all, of these beings have the capability of telepathy and appear to you as what you conceive them to be; they are completely nocturnal and can not live on the land for long; you will find most times under water.

Some of the greatest stories, I believe, are myths and legends. It is amazing what entrancing magic draws you in, and although most are either not aware or if they are aware they will not believe that these beings are real, let alone acknowledge them, except for maybe as legends and myths like one reads in books in a library. So even for the nonbeliever it still has the ability to capture mind.

I think one reason is that myths and legends are set in our world, and some have not been proven wrong. It gives us that wonderfully creepy feeling that there is so much we don’t know about the world of the unseen.

I love studying mythology! It absolutely fascinates me and provides excellent fodder for my writing. I am familiar with many legendary creatures, but I have also found just how much of an incredible number of these creatures I did not know about until I started this blog. But when I came across this a day or two ago it was totally new to me – Ashrays.

Thank you, dear friends and followers, for letting me share this with you. I would greatly love to hear your thoughts on this. Thank you!

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The Fary Princess and The Dragon King

The Fary Princess and The Dragon King

One day the young fairy princess, Sabrena, decided to venture out

eager to explore the nearby forest that lay

around the fairy city of Soglemia, where she lived.

The youthful fairy got lost and darkness began to fall.

An owl in a nearby tree hooted loudly

And Sabrena nearly fainted dead away.

Lost and afraid she sat upon a log and pondered.

Which was the way she had come?, she asked herself.

She wandered about, walked, and rested.

But at the end of each day she was as lost as on the first

One day as she sat by crystal blue lake,

its waters sparkling in the early morning sunlight,

Something in the distance flashed!

In an instant she was on her feet,

and began her trek towards the distant light.

She followed it with hope in her heart.

“Yonder sparkle surely is where I must go,”

Sabrena thought as she unfolded her wings.

She had never used her wings for great distances afore

But today it was important that she did.

So went the lost fairy princess of Soglemia,

A young princess whose wings had not yet fully matured.

The kingdom of Soglemia would greatly miss her

And that might even lead to its mourning and decline.

She flew and flew to where she could fly not any more,

and she landed in the thick forest and sat upon soft grass.

She did not know when or how long she had slept,

but when she awoke dawn was approaching.

She looked about at her surroundings

and saw a path going leading into the forest.

Starting from grassy knoll on which she had lain,

she began to follow the direction of the path.

Suddenly, without warning, she came out of the woods.

She heard it before she saw it, a heavy beating sound,

like that of someone beating a very large rug.

She turned in the direction of the sound and saw it.

A dragon with spread wings glided down to the ground

and landed on its large clawed feet ,

shredding dirt and stones like a plowshare.

It stopped and folded its large leathery wings,

and stood and gazed down at her with fiery red eyes.

Its scales gleamed, even in the dim light of the wood.

A bright red tongue flickered out and back.

Sabrena was too stunned to move!

She stood, frozen, and stared at the beast,

with distant thoughts at the back of her mind,

Like, “When will he eat me?”

Then to her amazement she watched the dragon waver,

like a snake in a charmer's basket.

Fading in and out of reality, the form changed

from that of a dragon to a human shape.

When the wavering stopped she watched, transfixed,

as the shape became a man whose back was turned to her.

As the man turned slowly, the more she saw,

and a tingling went up her spine.

It was the young knight of the kingdom adjoining hers!

She had seen him before and even had a few meetings with him

But she would never have guessed that she had been dating

the famous Ramad, the Dragon King!

She melted into his arms as he carried her away...

The large wing reappeared as King Ramad returned to Soglemia

With his fairy princess, Sabrena, in his arms.

Writen by Cynthia ©

Water Sprites

Water Sprites

Groac’h



Also known as: Water Ogresses, Water Witches, Water Trolls, Drowning Faeries, River-Women, Fuath, Fuathan, Bean Fionn, Cuachag, Cailleach Uisge (Water-Hags).
The Groac’h are malevolent female spirits that inhabit ponds and, more commonly, rivers. These entities are an exceptional threat to human life and especially to children - indeed one of these fiends, Peg Powler (who inhabits the River Tees in County Durham and Cleveland in England), is said to place eye-catching trinkets on the riverbanks in order to lure children closer to the edge. As they wandered within her reach, she would then grasp their ankles and drag them under the surface of the water. (The River Skerne, a tributary of the Tees in Darlington, also harboured a Groac’h by the name of Nanny Powler.) Similar modus operandi and appetites are shared by other Groac’h - Jenny (or Ginny) Greenteeth, for instance, would frequent stagnant ponds as well as the different rivers running through the English counties of Cumbria, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and Shropshire. In order to further assist and conceal her heinous activities, she would make good use of the thick blanket of algae and pond-weeds that tend to gather on still or slow running water.
Whilst individual Groac’h may be malevolent Water-Faeries or the embittered ghosts of drowned women, some are considered to be degenerated River Goddesses.


The Muilerteach



Also known as: Muileratach, Muireartach, The Sea-Hag, Mother Carey, Old Woman of the Seas, The Cailleach Uisge.
The Muilerteach is the Goddess of the Sea, and is actually the sea itself personified. Sometimes calm and beguiling, at other times tempestuous and cruel, she was once extremely feared and revered by Scottish mariners and fishermen. Even today some might return their first catch of the day to the waters in order to keep the ‘Old Woman’ placated (as their Welsh counterparts once gave the same tribute to the mysterious spirit known as Bucca). Awareness of the Muilerteach went far beyond the sacrifice of a few fish however, as it was always feared that she would demand a more valued tribute. So profound was the terror inspired in the sea-trawling men, that many would not assist drowning men lest the Muilerteach decide to claim more lives in return.


Water Ogres



Also known as: Necors, Nykers, Water Wolves, Fuath, Fifel, Afanc, Nekkers, Nikkisen, River-Men, Water Trolls, Orc-Thyrs.
There seem to be several different breeds of Water Ogre, some of which are entirely habitual to water and others who are amphibious and may also trek the land in search of victims. Nicky, Nicky Nye of the River Usk in Gwent, Wales (and possibly also encountered in Somerset, England) has also been rumoured to either snatch victims from small boats or to cause strong undercurrents in order to upturn the vessels.
The spring tide of the English River Trent was once widely known as the Aegir, especially in the region of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, where it is potentially very dangerous. As such the Aegir was considered to be an Old God degenerated into a Water Ogre. Bitter at its fall from grace and in the absence of dutifully paid sacrifice, the Aegir is said to greedily claim at least three human lives each year. Other Water Ogres may likewise be dimly recalled or corrupted folk-memories of erstwhile Water Gods such as Mourie, Manawyddan, Manaan Mac Lir, Neptune and Teron.


Water Elven



Also known as: Gwragedd Annwn, Gwagedd Annwfr, Gwraig, Ladies of the Lake, Lake Maidens, Water Maidens, Water Faeries, Be-Find, Morgans, Morgens.
It is considered that the Welsh Otherworld of Annwn (sometimes known as Annwfn or Annwvyn) can be reached beneath the surface of certain lakes. Here, in their submerged towns and villages, dwell the Gwragedd Annwn, stunning golden-haired Faerie maidens. They are not restricted to this watery abode, however, and there are several tales that tell of love affairs and marriages between these Water Elven and mortal men. Indeed they are said to make superb wives and mothers but certain conditions will be placed upon such a union. If the human husband breaks any of these instructions for whatever reason, be it through anger or arrogance, jest or mishap, then his Faerie bride will disappear never to return to his side. Though Water Elven are often regarded in purely feminine terms (and indeed the Ladies of the Lake from Arthurian tradition very likely belong to their kind), there are males of the species - though they are far less frequently encountered. The Gwragedd Annwn may be seen walking upon the surface, floating beneath the water or otherwise sailing in small golden boats.


Asrai



Also known as: Ashrays, Scarille, Dancers on the Mist.
The Asrai are a Fay species confined to water. During the day they remain in the depths, but they may be sighted below the surface on moonlit nights. They seem to be exclusively female, and exhibit a strange beauty. Some human men have been so filled with longing at the sight of an Asrai, it has been said that they have attempted to capture the being. However if caught, or even if exposed to sunlight, the Asrai will melt away into a pool of colour-reflective water. The Asrai may also sometimes be seen as they flit and dance upon the surface of the water as vague nocturnal maidens comprised of mist. The touch of an Asrai may be cold enough to burn or wither human skin. The Asrai have a delicate, almost translucent beauty, and may be witnessed as mist dancing above the surface of the water. Though individuals may be several hundred years old, they retain the appearance of young ladies. Their skin is pale and sometimes has a silvery sheen. They are generally naked, or clothed in ethereal robes. Their size generally seems to be of slight human proportions, but they can also be tiny. They seem unable to speak human languages. The Asrai are most prevalent in rivers and pools in Shropshire and Cheshire, England, and may also be encountered in Scotland.


Swan Maidens



Not all swans may be what they first seem - some may shed their feathery coats at night and reveal themselves to be beautiful female Fays. If these coats are stolen, then the maidens will become trapped in humanoid form. If the thief is a human male, he may then take the maiden as a (possibly unwilling) bride. Should this occur, it raises the possibility that when the man least expects it a whole flight of swans will come to liberate their sister and her swanskin. Despite their usual serene demeanour, swans should not be underestimated, for should they become displeased they can prove themselves to be considerably powerful and aggressive creatures. Therefore any brigand and boor meddling in the life of a Swan Maiden could very likely come to sorely regret his actions. Other Swan Maidens though may be trapped in avian form as a result of a curse bestowed upon them. In Celtic myth it was customary for someone to embark upon and complete a series of heroic tasks on behalf of the Swan Maidens (and occasionally Swan Men), in order that their human form may again be resumed. The Celtic Goddess / Saint Bridget was also worshipped in some localities as being a Swan-Goddess.


Water Horses



Water Horses can vary in temperament from shy, to mischievous, to downright nasty. Like the Scottish Kelpie, many will suddenly appear at bank-sides and encourage or force weary travellers onto their backs. Then they will suddenly charge at alarming pace into the nearby body of water and dump the startled human there. Normally an embarrassing soaking is the worst that will befall the hapless human, though some Water Horses will also drown their victims. The Irish Aughisky in particular will do this in order to feed upon their victims. The Welsh Ceffyl Dwr tend to buck the trend, and will often jump onto the backs of the weary human travellers themselves. Some Water Horses are also thought able to assume humanoid forms, usually either as small hairy men or as youths who initially seem very handsome, but on closer inspection have weed-encrusted hair, a musty smell about them and hooves instead of feet. The Manx Water Horses known as Glashans have gained a reputation for attempting to abduct or molest women. Sometimes Glashans would adopt the form of dapple foals or lambs or a more humanoid appearance and on occasions would assist farmers with manual labour in exchange for food. There are many differing local names for the Water Horses, and these creatures can vary somewhat in their habits and appearance depending on specific breed and location.


Selkies



Also known as: Selchies, Roane, Seal People, Seal Folk, Sea Faeries, Haaf-Fish, Finn-folk.
Whilst wearing their sleek fur coats the Selkies are indistinguishable from seals, yet at times they will shed these skins and appear as strangely beautiful humanoid creatures. Several love affairs between humans and Selkies have been rumoured; at least one of these relationships occurred as a result of a human man finding and hiding a shed seal skin, for deprived of this hide a Selkie cannot return to the sea. Upon the eventual retrieval of the enchanted garment this Selkie returned beneath the waves. Other Selkie / human romances, however, appear to have been built on genuine and mutual affection. At times the Selkie may adapt to a terrestrial life, but at others the mortal lover may have opted instead for life below the brine. These trysts could involve either a mortal woman falling for a Selkie male, or a male human and a Selkie maiden. Crossbreed offspring were sometimes born out of such unions. Whilst these mixed-race children that were delivered into our world do not seem to have inherited their Selkie parent’s acute amphibious ability, they are often regarded as having a deep respect, sympathy and understanding of the sea. In addition they may also be of an unusual though attractive appearance and may also exhibit some supernatural abilities such as healing or Second Sight (clairvoyance).


Sea-Trows



Also known as: Sea Lions, Sea Kelpies, Blue Men, Haaf-Fish, Whistling Seals.
Despite their given names, these marine entities are possibly more closely related to the Selkies than to the Kelpies and land Trows. Some Sea Trows are said at times to appear to assume the form of strange horse-like creatures or seals, but it is uncertain whether their metamorphosis involves the Selkie practice of the shedding and redressing of an outer layer. Sea Trows however are more notorious in their humanoid form, as they are feared to stir up tempests in order to cause great mischief. However if they were challenged to a game of riddles, they would not be able to resist participating in such mind-play. Should the human mariner manage to outwit the Sea Trow in the art of conundrums, then on this occasion the entity would leave the vessel without causing further damage or harm. Following the advent of Christianity, many folk considered that the Sea Trows were Fallen Angels - the banished usurpers who following the Biblical war in Heaven plummeted, not into the bowels of Hell or to the earth, but instead directly into the seas. In Orcadian lore, a mythical isle known as Heather-Bleather (said to lie close to the Orkneys) was thought to be the domain of Sea-Trows and Selkies.


Mermaids



Perhaps the most celebrated of aquatic entities are the Merpeople, especially the females known as Mermaids or sometimes as Sirens (males are known as Tritons or Mermen). These creatures have been reported in virtually every sea across the globe, and the waters surrounding Britain and Ireland are certainly no exception. At times the Mermaids may appear stunningly beautiful as they recline on coastal reefs, combing their long tresses. So exquisite are their visage and sometimes also their song, that they could inspire sailors into such yearning distraction that their ships could often be caused to disastrously run aground on rocks; indeed, some seafarers considered that the merest sighting of a Mermaid was a grim portent of doom. Other Mermaids would take a much deeper interest in human males and would lure beguiled men beneath the waves. Frequently the enamoured mortal would drown, either due to the Mermaid not appreciating fundamental differences between species or as a deliberate sequence of cause and effect. The fatalities would perhaps be engineered simply for sadistic, morbid humour or, in the case of the Seirenes of the Channel Islands, as a means of obtaining a source of food. Other Mermaids however display a more genuine attraction and kinder interest towards mankind. There are several differing sub-species of Mer-people to be found in Celtic waters.


Merrows



Also known as: Mara-Warra, Moruadh, Murrughach, Sea-Cows, Walrus-People, Muardachas.
The Merrows are a distinct breed of Irish Sea / Atlantic Merpeople whose genders also differentiate greatly. Whilst the males are friendly enough characters, in appearance they are generally considered to be gruesome. This opinion often seems to be held by their comparatively gorgeous females, as they have been known to fall in love with human males instead.
The name Muardacha is sometimes used as an alternative to Merrow, however it has also been specifically used to refer to other weird marine creatures having a fishes’ tail and the upper parts of cattle, goats or horses, rather than that of a human. Whilst it has been suggested that some alleged encounters with Muardachas (and other Merpeople species also) may have been mistaken sightings of natural creatures, such as dolphins or other marine mammals, the hybridisation of piscine and animal parts is perhaps also reminiscent of the ancient Fomorii.

I had no Idea there were this many different water sprites. Thanks to my sis Wendy, she got me going on this

What are you the reader's thoughts on these beings?

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http://www.batcow.co.uk/strangelands/water.htm

Lady of the Lake

Lady of the Lake

Nimue, The Lady of the Lake, shown holding the infatuated Merlin trapped and reading from a book of spells, in "The Beguiling of Merlin" by Edward Burne-Jones.

The Lady of the Lake is the name of several related characters who play integral parts in the Arthurian legend. These characters' roles include giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, taking the dying king to Avalon after the Battle of Camlann, enchanting Merlin, and raising Lancelot after the death of his father. Different writers and copyists give her name variously as Nimue, Viviane, Elaine, Niniane, Nyneve, and

The Lady of the Lake's origins are probably ancient and pagan, like Morgan le Fay's, and she and Morgan may have ultimately derived from the same tradition. The first mention of Avalon, a magical island with which the Lady and Morgan are frequently associated, is in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae; Geoffrey says Arthur's sword Caliburn was forged there, and says Arthur was taken to the isle after his battle with Mordred to have his wounds healed.

Chrétien de Troyes mentions in his romance Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart that Lancelot had been raised by a water fay who gave him a magic-resisting ring. Lancelot's life with the Lady of the Lake is detailed in the German Lanzelet by Ulrich von Zatzikhoven and the Prose Lancelot Proper, which was later expanded into the Lancelot-Grail Cycle. There, the Lady of the Lake fosters the infant Lancelot after his father Ban has been killed fighting against his enemy Claudas. It has been suggested that these three works are derived from a lost tradition of Lancelot, which is perhaps best preserved in Ulrich's version.

The character has some similarities to the sea nymph Thetis of Greek mythology. Like the Lady of the Lake, Thetis is an aquatic spirit who raises the greatest warrior of her time (in this case, her son Achilles). Thetis' husband is Peleus, while the Lady of the Lake takes the knight Pelleas as her lover in some versions. Thetis uses magic to make her son invulnerable to harm and later gives him a shield and armor forged by the god Hephaestus, while the Arthurian character gives Lancelot a ring that protects him from all magic and delivers Excalibur to King Arthur. The Greek theme may have influenced or originated the tradition; the epic poem Iliad which features Thetis was popular both with the Romans, who occupied and colonized Great Britain and Brittany, and with the medieval scholars who wrote down the Celtic myths and oral traditions. The Lady of the Lake's guise as a water fay also makes her somewhat similar to Melusine.

In Medieval Literature

The Lancelot-Grail Cycle provides a backstory for the Lady of the Lake, "Viviane", in the Prose Merlin section, which takes place before the Lancelot Proper, though it was written later. There, Viviane learns her magic from Merlin, who becomes enamored of her. She refuses to give him her love until he has taught her all his secrets, but when he does, she uses her power to trap him either in the trunk of a tree or beneath a stone, depending on the version. Because he could see the future, he knew this would happen, but was powerless to avoid it.

The Post-Vulgate Cycle omits the entire account of Lancelot's early adventures found in the Lancelot-Grail, and splits the Lady of the Lake's character in two. The first of these gives Arthur his sword Excalibur after he breaks his first one, but she demands he repay the favor at the time of her choosing. Some time later, she shows up at court and demands Arthur put the knight Sir Balin to death, explaining her family has had an ongoing blood feud with his. Instead, Balin chops off her head, and is banished from court. The Post-Vulgate's second Lady of the Lake is called "Ninianne", and her story is nearly identical to the one in the Lancelot-Grail. Sir Thomas Malory also uses both Ladies of the Lake in his Le Morte d'Arthur; he leaves the first one unnamed and calls the second one Nimue. The character appears in many other episodes of Malory's work.

Later Uses

The Walter Scott Poem and its Musical Settings

Walter Scott wrote an influential poem, The Lady of the Lake, in 1810, drawing on the romance of the legend, but transplanting it to Loch Katrine in the Trossachs of Scotland. In La Donna del Lago, Scott's material furnished subject matter for an opera by Gioacchino Rossini, which debuted in Naples in 1819. It was the first of a fashion for operas with Scottish settings and based on Scott's works, of which Gaetano Donizetti Lucia di Lammermoor is the most familiar. The three "Ellen songs" from Scott's poem were set to music by Franz Schubert (D. 837 - D. 839 – "Ellens Gesang I",[1] "Ellens Gesang II",[2] and "Ellens Gesang III]"[3]), although Schubert's music to Ellen's Third Song has become far more famous in its later adaptation, known as "Ave Maria".

Other Appearances and Popular References

Alfred Tennyson adapted several stories of the Lady of the Lake for his poetic cycle Idylls of the King. He splits her into two characters; Vivien is a deceitful villain who ensnares Merlin, while the Lady of the Lake is a benevolent figure who raises Lancelot and gives Arthur his sword. Nimue appears in T. H. White's The Once and Future King as Merlin's love interest. True to the legend she traps Merlin in a cave, but Merlin does not convey it as negative, and even refers to it as a vacation.

The character plays a major role in The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. In Bradley's works, both the Lady of the Lake and the Merlin are offices. The Lady of the Lake is the title of the ruling priestess of Avalon, and the Merlin is a Druid who has pledged his life to the protection of Britain. In The Mists of Avalon, Viviane is the Lady of the Lake as the story opens, and is later succeeded by the priestess Niniane. Niniane is in turn succeeded by Morgaine Le Fey, while the Merlin is seduced by Nimue. In this version, Nimue is a sympathetic and tragic young priestess who falls in love with the Merlin but is duty bound to seduce and lure him to his death, and who then commits suicide herself.

Mystery novelist Raymond Chandler wrote The Lady in the Lake in 1943, which revolves around a set of mysterious deaths in the San Bernadino Mountains. Here, the symbolic Arthur, questing for the Grail of truth and adhering to his own chivalric code, is Chandler's hero Philip Marlowe. As in the original tales, Marlowe's lady in the lake is not what she first seems, and has a devastating effect on her lover.

The murder victim Margaret Hogg, whose body was found in a lake in England's Wasdale Valley in 1984, became known as "the Wasdale Lady in the Lake". Similarly, an unidentified murder victim thought to have been killed by the Cleveland Torso Murderer in the 1930s is referred to as the "Lady of the Lake".

Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski introduced Nimue to his Witcher saga in The Swallow's Tower (1997), and focused on her in Lady of the Lake (1999). The 1998 made-for-television movie Merlin features a character named Nimue, played by Isabella Rossellini, who meets and falls in love with the young Merlin. This character is distinct from the Lady of the Lake, played by Miranda Richardson.

In Spamalot, a musical theatre adaptation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the Lady of the Lake takes the role of the female lead. She is a stereotypical diva, as evidenced by her solo in act two, "Diva's Lament (Whatever Happened to My Part?)". She also is very eager to get Arthur to marry her, going so far as to have a dress that converts into a wedding gown in a single motion. This Lady of the Lake's real name was revealed to be Guinevere at the end of the show. The actress who portrayed her, Sara Ramirez, won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical in 2005 for her role as the Lady of the Lake.

In Robert Graves's novel 1949 Seven Days in New Crete, also known as Watch the North Wind Rise, depicting a future world where the present monotheistic religions are discarded and the Triple Goddess once again rules supreme, "Nimue" is the name of the Goddess's "Maiden" manifestation.

The Lady is the patron deity of the nation of the Arthurian-based Bretonnia in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. T. A. Barron's Lost Years of Merlin series and Great Tree of Avalon series feature Nimue and the Lady of the Lake, respectively, as two separate characters. She also appears in Stephen R. Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle, as Charis, A Faery from the lost land of Atlantis, When she arrives in Britain after the devastation of her homeland, she marries Taliesin, Chief Bard of Britain, and is mother of Merlin. Under the name Ellie Harrison, the Lady is the protagonist and narrator of Meg Cabot's Avalon High young adult novel.

Claimed Locations of the Lake

A number of locations in Great Britain are traditionally associated with the Lady of the Lake's abode. They include Dozmary Pool, Llyn Llydaw, Llyn Ogwen, Loe Pool, Pomparles Bridge, Loch Arthur, and Berth Pool




http://mythology.wikia.com/wiki/Lady_of_the_Lake

Sprites/Dryads Sprites/Nymphs:

Sprites/Dryads
Sprites/Nymphs:

Elemental spirits that inhabit various places in nature are called sprites or nymphs, names that are used interchangeably. Generally invisibal to mortals, the particular kinds of nymphs were associated with the various providances of nature amid the elements.

The most heavily noted source of reference is found in the Greek mythological teachings. They were often found in the company of Pan and a search on his lore will also aid your research.

A web search on any of these names will bring you a wealth of information: Dryads, Nayads, Nereids, Oceanids, Oreads will get you started if you are interested in an extensive amount of information; as will "Bullfinche's Mythology" as a resource reference book.

I have some notes on them to share here but did not note the sources since it was intended for my own personal reference only and I did not anticipate having to share it. Since there is an extensive amount of information available here's a sample of what you can expect to encounter on the Dryads (who are the woodland tree nymphs).

Dryad females are very pretty, but not stunningly beautiful, they are very slight in build, appearing child-like sometimes even when they are very old. They cease to show physical age at the equivalent of 20 human years. They favor greens and other forest colors in their clothing.

Dryads are very much like humans in that their disposition varies from being to being. Most are very open to other fae, although they are somewhat reclusive and seldom leave the safety of the colony. They are friendly and caring beings who never go out of their way to hurt anyone. They normally avoid the mortal realm except for the occasional curious child, and the occasional trickster who will travel there to play tricks on them. They are also very trusting and innocent in most cases, although they sometimes become jaded towards certain things after that innocence leads them to bad experiences.

Indefinite in lifespans, they are very long lived, but also tend to not keep track of the years after they leave 'childhood', which can vary from person to person. Dryads normally live in colonies, although some are solitary. Each being has it's own tree which it shares an extended understanding with, families share a tree, until the child is old enough to choose one of her own.

Dryad trees are extremely noticeable, particularly in the winter, it seems that their owner's immortality wears off on them so they do not die off naturally as most trees do. If a Dryad is killed her tree will die, if a Dryad's tree is chopped down the Dryad will perish.There is a colony of Dryads in the tamer area of the Wildewood… However, wherever there are large wooded areas it is likely that there are Dryads.

The Dryads pay allegiance to the Seelie Court (see Celtic folklore for this), and obey the rules thereof, however they do have an overall Queen of their own, and an appointed representative of her deals with any problems that should crop up in individual colonies.

There are so few Dryad males that it is easier to say there are none, as they are born perhaps one a century. When the situation arises that there are males in the colony, and some Dryads do bond with males of other species, the gender roles are equal. A Dryad family is usually a mother and children, since often a male will take advantage of the Dryad's racial trait of trust and waltz out without a trace.

A Dryad will choose her own mate, and if she marries it will be for love. However, because there are so few male dryads the marriages are usually inter-species and rare because the Dryads seldom leave their colonies. However, many men take advantage of the Dryad's trustful nature and leave the scene as soon as the first child is born.

Dryads love children, no matter what occurred to bring them into the world, in fact many times they will find themselves happier with the child and no husband than they would have had the male stayed around. The bond between mother and child is incredibly strong.

Nayads: The Naiades (Naiads) (Nayads) were nymphs of bodies of fresh water and were one of the three main classes of water nymphs - the others being the Nereides (nymphs of the Mediterranean Sea) and the Oceanides (nymphs of the oceans). The Naiades presided over rivers, streams, brooks, springs, fountains, lakes, ponds, wells, and marshes. They were divided into various subclasses: Crinaeae (fountains), Pegaeae (springs), Eleionomae (marshes), Potameides (rivers), and Limnades or Limnatides (lakes). Roman sources even assigned custody of the rivers of Hades to Naiades classified as Nymphae Infernae Paludis or the Avernales.

The Naiad was intimately connected to her body of water and her very existence seems to have depended on it. If a stream dried up, its Naiad expired. The waters over which Naiades presided were thought to be endowed with inspirational, medicinal, or prophetic powers. Thus the Naiades were frequently worshipped by the ancient Greeks in association with divinities of healing, fertility and growth.

The genealogy of the Naiades varies according to geographic region and literary source. Naiades were either daughters of Zeus, daughters of various river gods, or simply part of the vast family of the Titan Oceanus.

Like all the nymphs, the Naiades were in many ways female sex symbols of the ancient world and played the part of both the seduced and the seducer. Zeus in particular seems to have enjoyed the favors of countless Naiades and the other gods do not seem to have lagged far behind.

The tale of the Naiad, Arethusa, and her pursuit by the river god, Alpheus, is a classic example of a lustful deity infatuated by a Naiad. The Naiades fell in love with and actively pursued mortals as well. Classical literature abounds with the stories of their love affairs with gods and men and with the tales of their resulting children.

Naiads, along with the other nymphs are extremely beautiful, and therefore usually very vain, playful, and often shy. They are often seen playing in the waves having a good time. All Naiads are connected to their body of water and if that water gets poluted it effects them.

It was thought that their water was prophetic and so were they as a result. Often they would fall in love with a mortal man or vs./vs.; seducing men but sometimes the men could seduce them, as did the god Zeus.

The Nereids were nymphs of the Mediterranian Sea, and comprised of the 50 daughters of nereus (the sea god) and Doris. They are most often portrayed as helpful and friendly, often to sailors in storms but they can be vengeful creatures that destroy their enemies by creating storms at sea. They enjoy riding on the backs of dolphins.

The Oceanids are like the Nereids, and usually shy as well as helpful; they can be vengeful. Crimaeae are the nymphs of fountains; Limnades or Limnatides the nymphs of lakes; Pagaeae are the nymphs of springs; the Potameides the nymphs of rivers; and the Eleionomae the nymphs of marshes.

Dryades/Adryades/Hamadryades: Ladies of the Trees/Ladies of the Oak.
Oreiades/Orodemniades: Ladies of the Mountains
Meliades/Epimelides/Hamameliades: Ladies of the Fruit Trees/Protectors of the fruit trees.
Daphnaie/Kissiai: Ladies of the Laurel/Ladies of the Ivy
Alseides/Auloniades/Napaia/Hyleoroi: Ladies of the Grove/Ladies of the Glen/Ladies of the Vale/Dell Watchers of the Wood.

Dryades/Oreiades: Ladies of oaks and pines, poplar and ash, apple and laurel. At their birth trees sprung up from the earth, trees to which their lives were closely tied. While the tree still lived so did the nymph but when it died she died with it. There were several classes of Dryades, each associated with a particular type of tree.

The Meliai: Ash trees. They sprang up from Gaia (Mother Earth) when she was impregnated by the blood of the castrated Ouranos. The men of the Silver Age married these nymphs (in the time before women were were created) and mankind descended from there.

The Oreiades are the Ladies of the oaks and pines. Their offspring, the five Daktyloi and five Hekaterides with subsequent generations falling from the Oreiades and their brothers the Satyres/Satyroi. The forests of ancient Greece were found mainly in the mountains, and it was therefore natural for the Dryades to be though of as mountain dwellers.

http://spiritlodge.yuku.com/topic/1564/SpritesDryads#.U1aMnfldXFB

☾ ❀`Ⓞ✦*'' ☆*¸.❀☆ ¸Happy Earth Day☾ ❀`Ⓞ✦*'' ☆*¸.❀☆ ¸

Happy earth day to everyone! let's plant a seed today to celebrate! 

much love and hugs to all,

The Fairy Lady

Fairies origin and culture

Fairies origin and culture

We don't know when the belief in fairies or faie started. There are legends from indigenous peoples whose traditions have survived for thousands of years. Over the years these legends have changed.

Each culture has a different take on fairies and a different belief system. One theory states that fairies are former gods and spirits of wise pagans such as the Druids. There is a belief that fairies are the descendants of the small, dark Neolithic people who retreated to remote areas away from other people. This was popular in Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall and Scandinavia. One Wiccan belief is in a hierarchy. At the top level are the gods/goddesses, next are angels, fairies, and then humans.

There is the idea that fairies are jealous of the angels and they are either pranksters or mischief makers because they did not become angels, or they were before and that is why they are not angels now.

A lot of fairy tradition and legend has been changed due to religious battles and control. Many goddesses were pulled into the early Christian religion and recreated as saints as a way to pull in more followers. As with people becoming saints there are stories of druids or healers who have become known as fairies over the course of time. Some of these were women who changed into fairies as a reward for their lives of good deeds.

Some believe that fairies are the spirits of the dead. Some cultures believe fairies to be spirits of the world around us, the spirits of the trees, water, fire, wind, animals, etc. Many people make elemental connections which they believe to be a connection with the fairy realm.

As shown in art, fairies have taken on many different forms throughout history. Some fairies are believed to be shape shifters, using glamour or other magic to change their form. Interpreted through art we have seen fairies as human in form, if not size. They range in size from tiny beings that we cannot see to slightly larger so we can see them, to almost full-sized humans, as in a fairy godmother.

Fairies have taken on animal resemblance, as they are part of the animal world, or spiritual representatives of the animal realm.

Through the elements they take on natural forms that we take for granted. There are those who see them in trees, water, rocks, flowers, fire, ice, and other basic elements.

They can also appear as mermaids or fairies of the of the sea.

Some believe that fairies do not have souls. Whether they live hundreds of years or only days, when they die it is thought they simply cease to exist. They are no longer there and nothing of them remains.

There are many different fairy forms. Many have been noted above. All are based on a cultural belief. Here are some other kinds of fairies:

Sidhe or Sith - This is the fairy originating in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland. The fairies are portrayed as beautiful and noble, either as tall as humans or even more statuesque and resembling humans. They are believed to the of the fallen angel or diminished deity genre, unable to return to heaven. The sidhe live in subterranean palaces of gold and crystal. They are endowed with gifts of the Celtic Otherworld, of joy, beauty, youth and music abilities.

Daoine Sidhe - The people of the Mother Goddess Dana of Ireland is the most famous fairy court. They are credited with building the megaliths of Ireland which are seen as gateways to the world of the faie. They are famous for their music.

Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court - In Scotland the Seelie or Blessed Court represent air spirits who would ride the winds and oversee mortal affairs, offering help when needed. They also live in underground palaces of gold and crystal. The Unseelie Court are the unblessed dead or those who were cast out of the Seelie Court. They are often blamed for disasters in the mortal world, often kidnapping less desirable humans to increase their numbers.

Trooping Fairies - This is usually the name given to tribes of fairy beings in the Celtic lands who fall under their own rule. During fairy festivals they come together with other tribes to celebrate. In non-Celtic lands they are any fairies who live in groups, often associated with fairy rings, green hillsides, woodland, meadows and fairy paths. They are described as elf-like and having trickster's behavior.

Pixies are the most famous of the trooping fairies. They are no larger than the human hand, but are shape-shifters and can increase or decrease their size. They have pointed noses, pointed ears, translucent wings, and large heads. They were tricksters and would often cause humans to get lost or lead them around in circles. They also had midwifery skills and herbal knowledge, and were famed for their work in gold, silver and bronze. Whereever the pixies go they leave a trail of dust and sparkles.

Dwarfs – Dwarfs dwell in mountains in Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia. They are legendary for their mining and metalwork skills. They could be turned to stone by any contact with sunlight, so they only came out at night. They worked underground to avoid exposure to the sun. The elven kings and queens of Viking and Germanic tradition possessed magical and prophetic ability. They are made up of light and dark (good and not-so-good) elves.

Solitary Fairies - Some fairies live alone. They may be avoiding human contact or they may have been banished from the fairy court.

Household Fairies - Household fairies are attached to a certain family, not the dwelling. They are usually solitary fairies who guard the children, pets and hearth. They can also help with household chores.

Brownies - Brownies are the most famous of the household fairies in Scotland and England. While they prefer to work outdoors they will complete tasks unfinished by mortals. They are good at building with wood, baking bread, and repairing broken tools. They also bring good fortune when they adopt a home.

From my own research

Cynthia