Posts

What is a Mermaid? A witchy wednesday article.

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  Chap-books of the Eighteenth Century 1882 public domain. Welcome to another Witchy Wednesday, and to follow on from last weeks theme of Folklore characters connected to the sea, rivers, ponds and lakes this weeks is an introduction into the world of Mermaids.  What is, what are Mermaids? Mermaids are legendary aquatic creatures, typically depicted with the upper body of a woman and the tail of a fish, appearing in folklore across the world as symbols of both alluring beauty and dangerous destruction. Often associated with maritime myths, they are believed to act as guardians of the sea, representing a delicate balance between humanity and nature.  The UK has a large collection of Folklore stories connected to water. Being a land surround by sea and dotted with lakes, ponds and winding rivers it's not really surprising. Anywhere associated with water was often viewed with both awe, trepidation, and danger! Deep pools of water were often seen as mysterious and other world...
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The Haunted Palace by Edgar Allan Poe.

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Stories from the sea, rivers and lakes. The Blue Men of the Minch! A Witchy Wednesday article.

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Wood block print of a merman. Domain free image.  Welcome to my series of folk stories from the sea, rivers and lakes.  This weeks Witchy Wednesday is about the sea creatures known as The Blue Men of the Minch.  T he Blue Men of the Minch (or na fir ghorma) are mythical water-dwelling spirits in Scottish folklore that inhabit the Minch, a turbulent strait between the northern Outer Hebrides and mainland Scotland. They are described as human-sized, blue-skinned creatures with grey faces who cause storms and shipwrecks, often challenging ship captains to rhymes to avoid being sunk.  Location They dwell in underwater caves, particularly around the Shiant Isles, which is known for treacherous tides. Appearance & Behavior They have been reported as having blue skin, green or pale white beards, and long, strong arms used for maneuvering through waves and dragging ships down. When the sea is calm, they are said to be sleeping, but when they wake up they create terrible ...
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Happy Anniversary to me!

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  Happy Anniversary to me! I have been officially blogging and having an online presence as 'Witchkraftingwithkat' since 2018. I would firstly like to thank all of you who have supported and encouraged me since the beginning. Some of you have been by my side for years and years some since the beginnings of the internet! Yes I am that old! When I used to have to turn on my computer and let it warm up for 20 mins before I could tap any information online! I had originally set up my 'witchkraftingwithkat' blog with a idea to tour the country to write stories about Folklore but due to bereavement, the darn covid lockdowns and then me becoming ill my blog became more of a place for me to share my interest online whilst recovering. My health is still causing me major issues (meh) so my blog is somewhat sporadic with some weeks being thin on content and others packed! But I am still going and I plan on keep going for another 8 years!!! And hopefully beyond as it brings me much...
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Spring Equinox blessings to you all 🌞🌸🌿🌱💐🌞🌸🌿🌱💐🌞🌸🌿🌱💐

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  Wishing you all a wonderful Spring Equinox.    🌞🌸🌿🌱💐🌞🌸🌿🌱💐🌞🌸🌿🌱💐🌞🌸🌿🌱💐 
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WITCHES & HARES! A Witchy Wednesday article.

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Hares have been historically connected with witchcraft across Europe and Britain. Commonly believed to be witches in disguise, shapeshifters, or witches familiars.  Their ability to "vanish" quickly, along with their wild "mad March" mating rituals, led to folklore suggesting witches transformed into them to escape detection or to cause mischief.   Whilst researching about Witches and hares I came across this lovely tale by Katharine Pyle. Book and images are in the public domain. The Rabbit Witch, and Other Tales by Katharine Pyle. Published in New York : E.P. Dutton and Company ..., c1895. Contents later published under title: Careless Jane and other tales. New York : E.P. Dutton, c1902. Thank you for visiting my blog please join me again next week for another Witchy Wednesday.  Between now and then here are some interesting links for you to visit and read.  Pewter Hare in wall in the Museum of Witchcraft and magic archive. https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk...
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Mysterious Creatures Wood Prints, a Witchy Wednesday article.

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Wood prints of mysterious creatures! The Sea Monk by François Desprez 1562   The World's First Costume Book: François Desprez's Collection of Various Clothing Styles (1562)  These woodcuts by François Desprez come from 1562’s Recueil de la diversité des habits (whose full title translates as “a collection of the various styles of clothing presently worn in the countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the savage isles”), published in Paris and sometimes cited as the world’s first costume book. As Europeans encountered and conquered new worlds during the Age of Exploration, they not only took an interest in novel geography, biological specimens, and exportable resources but also in the customs and dress of unfamiliar peoples. Desprez’s 121 engravings illustrate garbs found the world over, accompanied by anonymous quatrains describing the sartorial behavior of Desprez’s subjects. Taken from Public Domain Review please visit this link for the full detailed article.  h...
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