Redcap is a murderous Goblin that lives in ruined castles along the Anglo-Scottish Borders, soaking its hat in the blood of its victims, giving it that distinctive hue. "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #31DaysOfHalloween #booksky

I thought I might do a #31DaysOfHalloween starting tomorrow; tales from my new book: Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an encyclopedia of world folklore" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #goblins #booksky

An excellent crop of walnuts this year. The tree isn't native to the UK, brought by the Romans.

Barguest, the shapeshifting spirit may appear in a number of forms: a human, animal or inanimate object; although it prefers that of a dog more in my: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an encyclopedia of world folklore" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #booksky

#InternationalAstronomyDay For Druids the sky is an open book, where stories of our ancestors are told each night. The stars are home to the gods and the goddesses, and animal spirit guides who were driven into exile.

#InternationalRabbitDay 🐰 in Cumbrian dialects, rabbet is rabbit; borran is rabbit warren in lore it's often represented as a clever trickster, eventually outwitting its adversary "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky 📷 Julian Rad

Did you know that "The Savages" are a race of Goblins from Scottish lore most active around Samhain. More in: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an encyclopedia of world folklore" by Stephen G. Rae Link: folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #goblins #booksky

The October edition of Cumbria and Lakeland Walker is out now It includes my regular folklore article; and given it's the month of Halloween, our vampire lore #vampires #folklore #lakedistrict

Today is the #AutumnEquilux when the day and the night are of equal length; and from this point on, the nights will become longer.

In Cumbrian dialects, 'yakkeren' is acorn carry 3 acorns for good luck, especially if embarking on a perilous journey more in my: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #trees #folklore #lakedistrict

Dragley Beck, the birthplace of Sir John Barrow, one of the founders of the Royal Geographical Society. It gets it's name from the dragon that sleeps underneath it From: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #BookologyThursday #LakeDistrict art: William Stout

It's a 'labyrinth' inspired #wyrdwednesday today. Has anyone visited Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye? 📷 Jack Anstey

I had a trip in September sunshine up the Cumbrian coast yesterday to Michael Moon's Bookshop, Whitehaven and The New Bookshop, Cockermouth. Everyone I spoke to was both welcoming and enthusiastic about my new book Do visit Your local bookstore today 💚

After the Summer Solstice; the sun’s power begins to wane and the days grow shorter. The sun embarks upon its journey back to the Winter Solstice First, the #AutumnEquinox, the balance of day and night before the darkness overtakes the light art: "Green Man, Winter" by Stephen G. Rae

#Mabon Blessings 💚 May the warmth of the sun, nurture you; The cool waters, cleanse you; Nature's bounty, replenish you; The song of the trees, comfort you; The knowledge of the bees, guide you ~ Druid Blessing by Stephen G. Rae #autumnequinox #druidry

Out now, in print and ebook: > Folklore of the Lake District > Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an encyclopedia of world folklore > bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky

The Autumn Equinox approaches The Queen of Wind and Darkness, the Cailleach; she is the Veiled One who belongs to the hidden worlds, and personifies the cutting winds and the harshness of our northern winters art: Naomi Cornock

In Cumbrian dialects, 'merl' is blackbird In Basque lore, 'white merle' is a faerie-bird whose singing can restore sight to the blind

floating leaf carries away my dreams from my "often I stop and look back", now available as an #ebook bardofcumberland.com/poetry/ #haiku #poetry #bookwormsat

In Cumbrian dialects, 'chitty' is cat and 'kittlin' is kitten in superstition, a stray kitten coming into your house is good luck more in my "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #caturday #folklore #lakedistrict 📷 Philippe Hugonnard

In Cumbrian dialects, moosas and mause is mouse in superstition, do not undertake a journey after seeing a mouse as the trip will not be successful more in my "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art: Anna Seed

Belle Sheephead: a girl finds her pet lamb killed by a fox, and she drinks it’s blood. By the next full moon she is transformed into a Were-sheep! from: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #bookologythursday #lakedistrict 📷 Black Sheep film

In Cumbrian dialects, 'mowdiwarp' is mole mole is associated with the Underworld and it digging near your home is considered a bad omen more in my "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art: Fern Forest Fables

#WitchWednesday 🧙‍♀️ Long Meg and her Daughters stone circle. In lore; Meg was a witch turned to stone by a local wizard. However, Meg was a Formorian like the 'divine hag', the Cailleach "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art: Eran Fowler

My Botany professor would be unimpressed that my identification skills are now sadly lacking. Anyone know what this 30cm tall beauty is? @bsbibotany.bsky.social @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social 📍Bardsea

In Cumbrian dialects, tod and reynard is fox In common with the otter, fox is said to carry a magical pearl that brings good luck to whomever finds it More in my "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art : Maryana Kniazevych

In Cumbrian dialects, 'watter-moose' is water vole The water vole, famously known as 'Ratty' in Kenneth Grahame's classic 'The Wind in the Willows' More in my "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art: Ratty by Chris Dunn

In Cumbrian dialects, 'whutherit' is stoat seeing a stoat when setting out on journey is considered bad luck; but you can avert this by greeting the stoat as one would a friend more in my "Folklore of the Lake District" #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky 🖼 Eddie Grottle the Stoat Thug by Tyrie Art

In Cumbrian dialects, 'wiggen-tree' is rowan. Plant a rowan in your garden to ward-off evil influence "with a rowan tree well fenced about, we're safe from every evil" from: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art: C M Barker

In Cumbrian dialects, 'urchin' is hedgehog in a creation myth the entire world was just a giant lake, until a hedgehog brought sand in its spines to create land more in my: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #hedgehogs #folklore #booksky art: Amy Brown

Gremlin, the a troublesome goblin discovered at the beginning of the 20th C. causing malfunctions in aircraft. Made famous by Roald Dahl in his 'The Gremlins', 1943 More in my: 'Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin' bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #RoaldDahlDay #booksky

In Cumbrian dialects, 'broc' is badger. Badger is held in high esteem, 'brocan' means 'wise man'. In folklore, badgers protect against witchcraft. More in my: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #badgers #folklore #booksky art: Lily Seika Jones

Muki, the 'pale goblin' from South American folklore, lives in caves within the Andes, but originated in an Underworld realm More in: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an encyclopedia of world folklore" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #BookologyThursday #booksky art by me

In Cumbrian dialects, 'yar' is hare Hare is a symbol of femininity and rebirth; a messenger, moving by moonlight between this world and The Otherworld More in: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #BookologyThursday #LakeDistrict 📷 Simon Litten

Out now, in print and #ebook 💚 "Folklore of the Lake District" by Stephen G. Rae Come on a magical journey in folklore through the Lake District and its surrounding counties bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky

"The way is shut. It was made by those who are Dead, and the Dead keep it, until the time comes. The way is shut." #WyrdWednesday #LOTR #film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2003 Dir. Peter Jackson

"Cernunnos the Horned God" by Stephen G. Rae Chieftain of the forest spirits; Guardian of wild animals; the Tree Shepherd; Master of the House, underneath; He comforts souls, on their journey to The Otherworld. #cernunnos #mythology #poetry art: Cernunnos by Emile Corsair

The #HarvestMoon will appear with a reddish hue as it undergoes a total lunar eclipse, the #BloodMoon Other names include Corn Moon, Autumn Moon, and Falling Leaves Moon The Royal Observatory says the best time to see it in the UK is 7.33pm this evening 📷 unknown

Delighted that my "Folklore of the Lake District" made it onto the list of August bestsellers at @samreadbookseller.bsky.social If you are in the Lakes, do call for a browse; and also, it's #BuyABookDay Link: samreadbooks.co.uk #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky

There's a stunning spectacle on Sunday evening when a total lunar eclipse will turn the #fullmoon red As it passes through Earth's shadow, it will take on a deep red hue, creating a striking #BloodMoon For many ancient civilisations this moon came with evil intent

Scots folklorist, F. Marion McNeill believed that faeries were a folk memory from our Neolithic ancestors - that they had a malevolent nature, moved at night, stole babies to rear as their own, and were skilled in magic. #faeriefriday #folklore #scotland art: Yuliya Litvinova

Out now in print and #ebook "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an encyclopedia of world folklore" by Stephen G. Rae 200+ characters from world folklore; illustrated throughout, inc. a Rogues Gallery bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #goblins #booksky

Millom Castle was home to a Hob-thross who worked hard all night. The servant girls only had to say "I wish Hob would do that" and it would be done by morning More in: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #bookologythursday #booksky

Near Beetham you’ll find the Fairy Steps. Carved into limestone rock, local tradition says that if you can negotiate them without touching the sides, fairies will grant you a wish! more in: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #bookologythursday #booksky

In Cumbrian dialects, 'black-kites' is bramble in lore, the first crop of juicy autumn fruit belongs to the faeries and mice 🐭 more Nature Lore in my "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #nature #lakedistrict art: Arthur Rackham

Cumbria’s hobgoblins brought to life in new folklore encyclopedia; a new book by Stephen G. Rae #goblins #folklore #booklovers

"Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to a mind when it has once seized on it like a lichen on a rock" Mary Shelley, author of the Gothic masterpiece Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus #botd 1797 #FrankensteinDay #BookWormSat

Available from tomorrow, 30th August : "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an encyclopedia of world folklore" by Stephen G. Rae 200 characters from world folklore, illustrated throughout, and a Rogues Gallery of goblin art folklorepress.co.uk #goblins #folklore #booksky

In Cumbrian dialects, 'urchin' is hedgehog in European lore it's a hard-working animal that collects apples and mushrooms in it's spines more nature lore and dialect in my: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #hedgehogs #folklore #lakedistrict

My "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin" is out on 30th, so I'm having a #GoblinWeek "stars is shining, moon is breet, Boggart won't cum out to-neet!" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #bookologythursday #booksky