There's Something in the River
Beware of River Fairies
I’ve always found water fairies to be the most frightening and malevolent of the fae. There’s a whole class of fairies known as “drowners” whose entire purpose seems to be to drag unsuspecting humans, mainly children, into the depths, never to be seen again. Famous examples include Jenny Greenteeth, Peg Powler and various fairy beasts like the nixie or the kelpie.
But not all water fairies are dangerous. Some, like shellycoats, the Brag, Asrais or Gwragedd Annwn may lure victims into the water as a joke or perhaps inadvertently because of their mesmerizing beauty. The Brag, for example, appears as a horse or a donkey, lures a human onto its back and then bucks the victim into the water and runs away laughing. It’s an annoying prank, but preferable to the fate that awaits someone who mounts a kelpie.
Crossing Flowing Water
One of the more curious superstitions in fairy lore is the belief that fairies cannot cross running water. This has led to many a clever protagonist in fairy tales narrowly escaping boggarts, nuckelavee, or even the bloodthirsty each uisge by simply leaping over a stream.
It’s curious, though, why a creature like the each uisge—which is at home in lakes and the sea—should be so troubled by rivers. In some fairy stories, to get into the fairy world one must cross a body of water. I was inspired by this idea when I wrote my fairy novel, The Ghosts of Nothing. In the story, the protagonist must cross a river and then a lake to enter the fairy world. I think this is the key to understanding why fairies cannot cross flowing water. For them and even for us under the right circumstances, flowing water is a gateway. It allows us to enter worlds we normally cannot access, and for fairies, beings of magic and symbolism, this gateway is always open. Let me know your theories as to why fairies can’t cross flowing water in the comments.
This month’s video features seven stories of fairy encounters that happened on or near a flowing river.
By the rushy-fring'd bank, Where grows the willow and the osier dank, My sliding chariot stays, Thick set with agate, and the azurn sheen Of turkis blue, and emerald green, That in the channel strays Whilst from off the waters fleet Thus I set my printless feet O'er the cowslip's velvet head, That bends not as I tread. Gentle swain, at thy request I am here! ~ John Milton
🍄 Featured Artist
Every month in this space I feature an artist - a writer, musician, poet, illustrator or any kind of artist with a connection to the channel.
This month’s artist is Andi Combo-Floyd and her ghostly mystery novel Steele Secrets. And for a limited time, she is offering the whole book for free! So, if you’re interested, make sure to check it out here.
Until next time,
Your Scary Fairy Godmother