Stephen G. Rae

Moon Fairies are Faerie Folk who inhabit blackthorn and protect the tree from human interference. Never cut blackthorn, or these faeries will burn down your house. Blackthorn is the 'mother of the woods'. art: Moon Fairies by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

Moon Fairies are Faerie Folk who inhabit blackthorn and protect the tree from human interference. Never cut blackthorn, or these faeries will burn down your house. Blackthorn is the 'mother of the woods'.

#fairytaletuesday #fullmoon
art: Moon Fairies by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

"Folklore of Scotland" by Stephen G. Rae Elf and fairie; brownie and goblin kin; faerie animals; demons or land and sea; giants, ogre and hairy folk; wolf man and werewolf; from the Beast of Buchan to the Gorbals Vampire

📢 coming soon :-

"Folklore of Scotland"
by Stephen G. Rae

Elf and fairie; brownie and goblin kin; faerie animals; demons or land and sea; giants, ogre and hairy folk; wolf man and werewolf; from the Beast of Buchan to the Gorbals Vampire
folklorepress.co.uk

#folklore #scotland #books

Our upcoming Full Moon is generally referred to as the Worm Moon because earthworms and grubs tend to emerge from their winter dormancy at this time of year, marking spring. My favourite is its other name of Eagle Moon. 📷 Will Shieh

Our upcoming Full Moon is generally referred to as the Worm Moon because earthworms and grubs tend to emerge from their winter dormancy at this time of year, marking spring.

My favourite is its other name of Eagle Moon.

📷 Will Shieh

'Druid Peace Prayer' by anonymous Deep within the still centre of my being, may I find peace. Silently within the quiet of the Grove, may I share peace. Gently within the greater circle of humankind, may I radiate peace.

'Druid Peace Prayer' by anonymous

Deep within the still centre of my being, may I find peace.
Silently within the quiet of the Grove, may I share peace.
Gently within the greater circle of humankind, may I radiate peace.

📷 Matt Savage

Now emerging from its winter hibernation, the legendary Tizzie-Whizie: part hedgehog, part squirrel with the wings of a bee. Often seen at dusk flying over Windermere at high speed. more in: "Folklore of the Lake District" by Stephen G. Rae

Now emerging from its winter hibernation, the legendary Tizzie-Whizie: part hedgehog, part squirrel with the wings of a bee. Often seen at dusk flying over Windermere at high speed.

more in my: "Folklore of the Lake District"

#folklore #lakedistrict #booksky

A rare planetary alignment.

Tonight, this phenomenon will see Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune align.

Some of the planets will be visible with the naked eye, but Uranus and Neptune will only be seen with binocular or telescope.

Adam Bell, the 'Robin Hood of the North' 🏹 Lived in Inglewood Forest, was a famous archer, and was arrested for stealing game with companions William of Cloudsley and Clym of the Clough more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #bookwormsat art: Richard Dadd

Adam Bell, the 'Robin Hood of the North' 🏹

Lived in Inglewood Forest, was a famous archer, and was arrested for stealing game with companions William of Cloudsley and Clym of the Clough

more: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/

#folklore #bookwormsat
art: Richard Dadd

Thank you

"Folklore of Scotland" by Stephen G. Rae Elf and fairie; brownie and goblin kin; faerie animals; demons or land and sea; giants, ogre and hairy folk; wolf man and werewolf; from the Beast of Buchan to the Gorbals Vampire

📢 coming soon :-

"Folklore of Scotland"
by Stephen G. Rae

Elf and fairie; brownie and goblin kin; faerie animals; demons or land and sea; giants, ogre and hairy folk; wolf man and werewolf; from the Beast of Buchan to the Gorbals Vampire
folklorepress.co.uk

#folklore #scotland #booksky

in Scots Gaelic lore, faeries were regarded as either fallen angels, non-human nature spirits, or spirits of the dead. They live in 'faerie mounds' awaiting reincarnation. from the upcoming: 'Folklore of Scotland' by Stephen G. Rae art: Yuliya Litvinova

#FaerieFriday in Scots Gaelic lore, faeries were regarded as either fallen angels, non-human nature spirits, or spirits of the dead. They live in 'faerie mounds' awaiting reincarnation.

from my upcoming: 'Folklore of Scotland'
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/

art: Yuliya Litvinova

It was 2025 😊 2026 is my "Folklore of Scotland"

Grindylow is a River Hag/ Water Wraith and similar to Jenny Greenteeth and Nelly Longarms. Any passersby are taken into the water to drown and eat! more in my: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/

Grindylow is a River Hag/ Water Wraith and similar to Jenny Greenteeth and Nelly Longarms. Any passersby are taken into the water to drown and eat!

more in my: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/

#bookologythursday #lakedistrict

In Cumbrian dialects, 'broc' is badger Badger is held in high esteem and 'brocan' means wise man. In lore, badgers protect against witchcraft and other evil entities

In Cumbrian dialects, 'broc' is badger

Badger is held in high esteem and 'brocan' means wise man. In lore, badgers protect against witchcraft and other evil entities

more: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/

#badgers #folklore #booksky
art: Lily Seika Jones

walking in Torridon my only companion distant barking dog ~ Haiku by Stephen G. Rae In Scots Gealic lore, 'cu sìth' is the faerie dog; the size of a Highland Cow with a shaggy green coat. It will let out three barks, only three, as an ill omen

walking in Torridon
my only companion
distant barking dog

~ Haiku; 1998

in Scots Gealic lore, 'cu sìth' is the faerie dog; the size of a Highland Cow with a shaggy green coat. It will let out three barks, only three, as an ill omen

bardofcumberland.com/poetry/

#bookwormsat #poetry

Pine marten; art byRobert E Fuller

I was talking to a local farmer who is doing his bit for red squirrels. There are less 'greys' around and he is sure he saw a pine marten one evening. Good news for the South Cumbria Pine Marten Recovery Project.

In Cumbrian dialects, 'sweet-mart' is pine marten.

art: Robert E Fuller

The "White Dobbie of Furness" is the tale of a wandering spirit and his companion a white hare, it the spirit of his murdered friend. more in my: "Folklore of the Lake District"

The "White Dobbie of Furness" is the tale of a wandering spirit and his companion a white hare, it the spirit of his murdered friend.

more in my: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/

#bookologythursday #folklore
📷 Land of Lore Films

"He's so hungry, he's so thin If he'd come we'd let him in" Gunna is a Highland's Brownie living outdoors and caring for livestock and read more in: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin: An Encyclopedia of World Folklore" by Stephen G. Rae

"He's so hungry, he's so thin
If he'd come we'd let him in"

~ Gunna is a Highland's Brownie living outdoors and caring for livestock

and read more in: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin: An Encyclopedia of World Folklore" by Stephen G. Rae

I've been fascinated by the golden dragon, especially since watching The Witcher. So I thought I'd add one to my current collection of mythological animals. art: Golden Dragon by Stephen G. Rae

I've been fascinated by the golden dragon, especially since watching The Witcher. So I thought I'd add one to my ongoing collection of mythological animals.

art: Golden Dragon by Stephen G. Rae

I've stopped erecting boxes of this type, as it was too easy for grey squirrels to predate on the eggs and chicks. The birds own naturally camouflaged nests were always the most successful.

Local bookshops are the best! So supportive towards local writers like myself.

Trauco is the 'seducer of the woods' a fruit-eating goblin from South American folklore

St. Valentine's Day goblins?!?

Trauco is the 'seducer of the woods' a fruit-eating goblin from South American folklore, able to seduce humans by his gaze or breath

and read more in my: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin: An Encyclopedia of World Folklore"

Tree Beard by Stephen G. Rae

'Oak, Man' by Stephen G. Rae

twig, leaf, acorn;
chlorophyll flows
root, branch

twig, leaf, acorn;
hardened skin
cracked, misshapen

twig, leaf, acorn;
cellulose heart
oak, man

art: 'Tree Beard' by Stephen G. Rae

Woodland Unicorn by Stephen G. Rae

The unicorn was first used on the Scottish royal coat of arms by William I in the 12th century; a symbol of purity, innocence, masculinity and power

Then there's the curious folk tale of the Isle of Skye unicorn. More of that in my upcoming "Folklore of Scotland"
folklorepress.co.uk

art by me

Balder Odin's son killed with a mistletoe-tipped arrow

Friday the 13th

12 gods are having dinner in Valhalla. Uninvited, Loki shows up as the 13th guest. He persuades Hoor, the blind son of Odin, to shoot Balder (another son) with a mistletoe-tipped arrow and Balder dies. This act is now associated with the unlucky '13'.

art: Sam Flegal

Sending my best wishes from deepest Cumbria

Thank you 😊

Sleeping Dragon; an illustration by Stephen G. Rae

Sleeping under Blencathra, a red dragon guarding the final resting place of King Arthur and his most loyal knights

from my: "Folklore of the Lake District"

art by me

John Ruskin, art critic and reformer, was born on this day 1819. His communitarian Guild of St George created a museum of art and other treasures in Sheffield. He bought Brantwood, a house by Coniston in the Lake District.

art: Jaco Putker

In Druidry, Owl is a bird of magic; prophecy; wisdom.

Owl is a symbol of the divine feminine; of the moon; and light in the darkess of night.

art: Jaco Putker

art: 'The Last March of the Ents' by Allen Michael Geneta

"The world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air" ~ Tolkien; Treebeard

art: 'The Last March of the Ents' by Allen Michael Geneta