Getting ready for @helenerwin.bsky.social talk at @culturalfutureshub.bsky.social Spatial with @deedeechainey.bsky.social Setting up the gallery.

Immerse yourself in Swedish folklore and discover the forest spirit Rå in this virtual exhibition from @helenerwin.bsky.social, @folklorethursday.bsky.social and @culturalfutureshub.bsky.social. Visit online now, for free: www.spatial.io/s/DeeDeeChai... #FolkloreThursday

1/2 On Thursday April 16 I'll be talking about this alluring lady with @folklorethursday.bsky.social If you are joining us it might be interesting to read my book first. See second post for link. But first, something to entice you 😁 #SwedishFolklore @deedeechainey.bsky.social

Very pleased to be hosting another fantastic deep dive into Swedish folklore with the brilliant @helenerwin.bsky.social next #FolkloreThursday! There are now just 4 tickets left for April's event!

Looking forward to welcoming @helenerwin.bsky.social and @willowwinsham.bsky.social to @culturalfutureshub.bsky.social next month for our LIVE online #FolkloreThursday forest folklore event! Do grab your free ticket now before they run out! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/guardians-...

In the Victorian language of flowers magnolia symbolises fortitude, a love of nature, and magnificence. In folk magic, it is said to guard true love and fidelity. A branch placed near or beneath the bed was believed to keep both partners faithful to one another. #FolkloreThursday

"March Winds." Bexhill Chronicle 8.3.1902. A warning about spring weather, but don't be mislead this is just an advert for Forde's Bile Beans! #FolkloreThursday #Spring #March #1900s

Celebrating the Spring Equinox today 20th March when the length of day and night is the same at 12 hours, and the sun is exactly over the equator. So spring officially begins with more sunshine, flowers and bees (hopefully!). A medieval view of this.

During Easter in Finland, children will dress up as Easter witches, and go door to door, carrying willow twigs decorated with colourful feathers and crepe paper. In return for treats, these "witches" will give a twig to each house as a blessing to drive away evil spirits. #FolkloreThursday

"The cuckoo comes in April, sings his song in May, changes his tune in the middle of June, and in July he flies away" The Cuckoo Rhyme #FolkloreThursday

Many cultures lit fires at the equinox to encourage the sun’s growing strength. Flame mirrored light, reinforcing the return of warmth. #FolkloreThursday Art: Jen Holga

Once, an alchemist tried to be reborn in new flesh. Alas, his servant had problems with following his instructions. #folklorethursday https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Alchemist_and_the_Young_Lindwurm

The theme for this week’s hosted #FolkloreThursday is the folklore of Spring, rebirth and renewal in celebration of the #SpringEquinox! Our hosts will share your posts to the hashtag at these times GMT: 9am-1pm 3.30-4.30pm 6.30-7.30pm (Image: Larisa Koshkina)

Don't forget to get your free ticket for 'Guardians of the Forest: Spirits, Deities and Creatures of the Woods', an online talk with @helenerwin.bsky.social and #FolkloreThursday about forest spirit folklore this April! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/guardians-...

Wow! The #FolkloreThursday hashtag day FAQs were first posted on the website TEN YEARS (and two weeks) ago! How time flies! We've just updated them: folklorethursday.com/faq/

@helenerwin.bsky.social Hi, Helen! Thank you so much for the talk today, it was amazing! Näcken's story reminded me of a Brazilian folklore creature called Boto-cor-de-rosa (pink river dolphin).

1 week until Massaged to Death by Mermaids online with @folkloretodmorden.bsky.social Here’s Anna Hopkinson’s artwork of The Ice Queen & the Mer-King, my definining Asexual Fairy Tale. It’s in the talk!! 🧜🏿 #folklore #asexuality #LGBTQIA #mermaids

Thank you so much to all of the fantastic #FolkloreThursday hosts for a brilliant day yesterday, and to @helenerwin.bsky.social and @willowwinsham.bsky.social for the amazing live event too! 💜

'... I call to the dwellers along the shore With a voice of gramarye evermore. And if one for love of me Gives to my call an ear, I will woo him and hold him dear, And teach him the way of the sea...' ~From 'The Sea Spirit' by L.M. Montgomery 🎨 Howard Pyle #BookologyThursday #FolkloreThursday

#FolkloreThursday Lüschersee is a small Swiss Alpine lake which is said to be bottomless. In its depths lives the Butatsch Cun Ilgs, a monster described as looking like an enormous cow's stomach covered with hundreds of hypnotic eyes, which can also shoot fire. abookofcreatures.com/2015/09/23/b...

Thank you so much to everyone who came along to the #FolkloreThursday x @theforemotherscafe.bsky.social x @culturalfutureshub.bsky.social LIVE online event today! And huge thank you to @helenerwin.bsky.social for such a fascinating deep-dive into historical accounts of Näcken!

An enchantress awaits on the coastline of Java. She may appear as a mermaid, or she may appear as a beautiful Goddess, but regardless of her form, she harbors a grudge against men, and has been known to lure the unsuspecting to a watery grave… #FolkloreThursday mythcrafts.com/2017/05/03/t...

Every year the stones given by StFillan to the Old Mill at Killin are washed in the falls on the river Dochart and rebedded in river wrack, shaped like body parts they are said to have the power to heal, you can find out more on my website www.botanicafabula.co.uk/heritage-arc... #folklorethursday

Every year, the spirit of a lake near Dornberg demanded a sacrifice on St. John's Day. #folklorethursday https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_St._John%27s_Day_Sacrifice

""Undine Discovering Herself To The Knight Huldbrand." - By F. Wyburd." The Illustrated London News 15.10.1859. #FolkloreThursday #Undine #Art #1850s

Hello #FolkloreThursday and thank you to @botanicafabula.bsky.social for hosting the last hour of watery folklore- this is @mythcrafts.bsky.social here for the next hour fishing for your tasty folklore tidbits! Img: Siren statuette from The Met

Scottish water-sprite Shellycoat is covered in shells that clatter as it moves. Often more mischievous than deadly, it once fooled two travellers into thinking it was drowning; as they followed the river to help, they heard the Shellycoat laugh and burst into applause...! #FolkloreThursday 🎨Alan Lee

Kappa are reptilian yokai from Japanese folklore that dwell in rivers and lakes. While they can sometimes be friendly (especially if given an offering of cucumber, their favorite food), there are also tales of them drowning and even eating humans who enter their aquatic homes. #FolkloreThursday

Scary indeed. And somewhat similar to how Näcken turns into a horse that takes riders and then never stops running.

The Scottish kelpie appears as a beautiful horse near rivers, luring riders before plunging into dark water. Trust is always tested near the shore. #FolkloreThursday Art: Catherine Herold

For Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire #FolkloreThursday -ers! I'm thrilled to be giving my talk ‘Unfamiliar Familiars – The Unusual Companions of the Witch’ at the UK Ghost Story Festival in Derby next Friday. It would be great to see some "familiar" faces! www.derbyquad.co.uk/events/unfam...

One for the #FolkloreThursday crowd!

The Irish alp-luachra - Joint Eater - preys on weary travellers sleeping beside streams or rivers. This newt-like fairy spirit slips down the throat and settles in the stomach, eating any food that enters while the unsuspecting host slowly wastes away. #FolkloreThursday (Image: John Horner)

Sirens did not start out as sexy fish ladies. #FolkloreThursday mythcrafts.com/2018/11/13/w...

What a great start! @willowwinsham.bsky.social handing over to @botanicafabula.bsky.social now for more fabulous folklore of water Spirits and Shape-Shifters: Creatures of Lakes, Rivers, and Seas! #FolkloreThursday 🎨The Spirit of the Water Lily by John La Farge

Looking forward to welcoming @helenerwin.bsky.social and @willowwinsham.bsky.social to @culturalfutureshub.bsky.social today for our LIVE #FolkloreThursday water folklore event — now SOLD OUT! If you missed out this time, do join us for forest folklore in April! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/guardians-...

In Orcadian lore, we find Nuckalavee. It may look like a horseman rising from the sea but look closer and see a skinless horse-like beast, dripping flesh, fins on its legs, and a human torso fused to its back. Its poisonous breath spreading disease... #FolkloreThursday 🎨James Torrance

Good morning #FolkloreThursday! @willowwinsham.bsky.social here for the next hour of folklore of Water Spirits and Shape-Shifters: Creatures of Lakes, Rivers, and Seas! 🎨The Spirit of the Pool, George William Russell

The ceffyl dŵr is a Welsh fairy horse that inhabits mountain pools and waterfalls. In south Wales, it is often benevolent. However, in north Wales, this horse likes to get someone to ride it, fly into the air, and then become mist, so that the rider falls to their death. #FolkloreThursday

A star looked down upon the earth and longed to gladden human hearts. Seeing a lake that mirrored the night sky, it slipped from the heavens into the dark water. By dawn it had become a radiant white water lily, its golden heart shining— a silent beacon of hope. #FolkloreThursday

“To Bacharach am Rheine lives a sorceress She was so beautiful and fine And tore a lot of hearts” (Brentano) Malicious Rhine maiden Lorelei is a Kunstmärchen invention from the Romantic period around 1800. 🎨 Moritz Ulffers (1866) #folklorethursday #bookologythursday

How serendipitous that #FolkloreThursday is highlighting Water Sprits! Today’s mer-pic is Muirgen the Mermaid Saint of Lough Neath, Northern Ireland (aka LíBan) and her otter. Illustration by Anna Hopkinson for Legends from Lindisfarne. Details of my Merfolk and LGBTQIA+ Rep online talk below:

Read about Muirgen the Mermaid Saint in Legends from Lindisfarne #FolkloreThursday www.elizabethhopkinson.uk/legends-from...

During our photoshoot for my book cover for #TheLureOfWaterAndWood something very fitting, and entirely by accident, happened. Can you spot it? #Näcken #FolkloreThursday @folklorethursday.bsky.social Photo: Ben Erwin. Model info by request.

2/2 Painting, public domain. Artist unknown

I didn't know of this one until I just found it today! Here Näcken is playing a harp while the Sea God Ägir's nine daughters float around him. @folklorethursday.bsky.social #FolkloreThursday Painting: Näcken och Ägirs döttrar, by Nils Nils Blommér 1850. Sveriges Nationalmuseum

Wyrdlings! The platform that was once twitter faces the Wyrd’s final curtain this week and so we give you: “Downfalls, Demises & It's All Over" as this week’s #WyrdWednesday topic. And while the Mothers of Wyrd quit * that * place, we'll still be here on Bluesky & over on Instagram every week!

Looking forward to tomorrow's #FolkloreThursday x @theforemotherscafe.bsky.social x @culturalfutureshub.bsky.social Näcken folklore event tomorrow! Tickets are now sold out, so do join us in April if you missed out this time! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/guardians-...

It is LIVE @helenerwin.bsky.social novelist and founder of The Foremothers Cafe is doing a talk about of her books next week which includes a gallery with historical and modern art about her Swedish mythological characters. Gallery is LIVE now.

The Gallery with Näcken and my work is LIVE! Exciting announcement indeed. Go see it #FolkoreThursday -ers, and see you next week!