I’m usually dashing here, there and everywhere, rarely taking a moment to breathe…but on the odd occasion that I spot a robin outside, I come to a sudden standstill and squeal to whoever else is in the house, ‘there’s a robin in the garden, quick, come look!’ I’ll stay rooted to the spot, face and… Continue reading The Darkest Days – Robin Redbreast
When I first started researching into the dark traditions surrounding Yule, I came across a few sentences (I can't remember where exactly...) about a Norwegian tradition that peaked my interest. The tradition is that, on Christmas Eve, folk across the land hide their brooms so lurking witches won't steal them for their night ride. However,… Continue reading The Darkest Days – Hiding The Brooms (Or Not…)
Krampus has long intrigued me, but it's only this year that I've started to delve deep into the lore surrounding him. This post is, I imagine, going to be the first of several that will look at and celebrate the folkloric devil. 'The Krampus springs from a deep-rooted European understanding of Christmas as a time… Continue reading The Darkest Days – Krampus
I got to thinking about mermaids the other day when I was reading into sea glass – something for which I’ve developed quite the obsession – and I discovered that, in sailors folklore, sea glass is said to be mermaid’s tears. The tears are supposedly shed as a result of Neptune’s jealous wrath when a… Continue reading Dark Art Of Mermaids & Other Sea Folk
It's just this moment dawned on me that I can share podcasts as part of my ongoing Sound Of The Day routine! And today, I have such a treat for you, SUCH A TREAT! The podcast is called The Blue Hour and its hosted by a writer and YouTuber called Anna Bridgland AKA Equinox. The… Continue reading Sound Of The Day : The Blue Hour
In recent days, I've been seeing the name Jenny Greenteeth pop up in comments on my favourite place on the Internet - the Folk Horror Revival group on Facebook. Why I haven't taken the time to look into Jenny before I don't know. The other day, I thought to myself: 'Eh, she won't be that… Continue reading Art Of Jenny Greenteeth
The other day when I was talking on Facebook about my obsession with the Wendigo, a friend from Baffin Island mentioned to me the Inuit myth of Qalupalik. (Since I learned how to pronounce Qalupalik I haven't been able to stop saying it to myself! It's such a wonderful word to say aloud.) The Qalupalik… Continue reading Art Of The Qalupalik
There is a little part of me that believes trolls exist in Scandinavia. The same part that believes there is a Loch Ness Monster in Scotland and legions of Sasquatch in North America and elsewhere in the world. I've watched countless documentaries about all three cryptids...(The Bigfoot Files has to be one of the best)… Continue reading Sighting Of A Norwegian Mountain Troll
While winter is my favourite season, autumn is a very close second. When I was a child, and it was time for September to swing around, life would shift into another dimension and I would wake up every day feeling thrilled for what lay ahead. As I mentioned in my previous post, I went to… Continue reading Wyrd Words & Effigies Guide To Autumn Part II : Quotes, Folklore & Superstitions
This week I'm forging ahead with multiple book projects, including my dark guide to the North, and I'm putting together a playlist to accompany me on my creative journey. The first sound on my list is the multi-talented Faroese musician Eivør Pálsdóttir, and her deeply atmospheric track Trøllabundi.
Celebrating the strange and the shadowy, the damned and unseen 