The village of Ravenglass in Cumbria is the home of Eveling, King of the Fairies. He lives in the ruins of the Roman settlement of Glanoventa. It's also claimed to be the birthplace of St. Patrick more in my "Folklore of the Lake District" #StPatricksDay #FairytaleTuesday

Here's a #FoxOfTheDay with a difference: 'Greyhound' was a larger fox species that once lived high in the Lake District fells more info in my: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #lakedistrict

Good morning Folklore community 💚 Introducing my new: "Folklore of Scotland: Faerie Folk and Folk Horror" Come on a magical journey in faerie tales and folk horror, introducing almost 200 characters from Scottish folklore more: folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #scotland #booksky

'The Vampyre' by Cumbrian poet John Stagg is the first stand-alone poem about a vampire: The choir then burst the fun'ral dome Where Sigismund was lately laid, And found him, tho' within the tomb, Still warm as life, and undecay'd more in my: 'Folklore of the Lake District' #bookwormsat

Introducing my new: "Folklore of Scotland: Faerie Folk and Folk Horror" Elf and fairie; brownie and goblin; faerie animals; demons of land and sea; vampires; wolf man and werewolf; Beast of Buchan and Gorbals Vampire more: folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #Scotland #booksky

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. Balder dies, and the act is now associated with 13. #friday13th #mythology 🖼 Sam Flegal

"Bards possessed strange and mystic powers of wisdom. It was therefore very dangerous to offend a poet. If anyone refused him a request he would take the lobe of the person’s ear and grind it between his fingers, and the man would die” ~ Lady Wilde #bookologythursday #ireland

'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. bardofcumberland.com/poetry/ #wyrdwednesday art: Iren Horrors

In Cumbrian dialects, thimble-flower is foxglove, tod is fox, bummel is bee in lore, faeries gave a fox, foxglove petals to put on it's toes - the fox's gloves - to raid the hen house without being heard more in my: 'Folklore of the Lake District' #folkloresunday 📷 Alan McFadyen

The Scots Gaelic for red deer is 'fiadh ruadh'. In the Highlands people once called them ‘faerie cattle’ as they believed fairies milked them from my upcoming: "Folklore of Scotland" folklorepress.co.uk #bookwormsat #folklore #Scotland art: Echoes from the Golden Grove by Annie Stegg

Stag is one of the 'three oldest animals in this world' The other two being the Blackbird and the Salmon and they represent Earth, Air, and Water respectively. Bear is often associated with the Fire element. #bookwormsat #druidry 📸 Dave Kitson

#FaerieFriday Ghilli Dhu is a male faerie living in forests, camouflaging himself in leaves and moss. He comes to the aid of lost children. from the upcoming: "Folklore of Scotland: Faerie Folk and Folk Horror" by Stephen G. Rae folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #folkhorror #Scotland

#WorldBookDay and coming soon (ebook out now) "Folklore of Scotland: Faerie Folk and Folk Horror" by Stephen G. Rae Elf and fairie; brownie and goblin; faerie animals; demons of land and sea; vampires; wolf man and werewolf; Beast of Buchan and Gorbals Vampire more: folklorepress.co.uk

#WorldBookDay Dragley Beck, Ulverston gets its name from the dragon, that in local legend, sleeps underneath it. more: "Folklore of the Lake District" by Stephen G. Rae folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #bookologythursday art: Red Dragon by Stephen G. Rae

#WorldBookDay "stars is shining, moon is breet, Boggart won't cum out to-neet!" more: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an Encyclopedia of World Folklore" by Stephen G. Rae folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #bookologythursday art: Boggart by 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'. #fairytaletuesday #fullmoon art: Moon Fairies by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

📢 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

'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 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

📢 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

#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

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 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; 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

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" 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

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

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"

'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

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

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

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.

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

"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

Merlin, driven mad with grief when his men were slaughtered in battle, finds refuge in the Caledonian Forest. His loneliness interrupted by visits from forest creatures and nature spirits, and thereafter gains the gift of prophecy. art: Alan Lee

In Cumbrian dialects, 'leemers' is hazel nut Hazel is the Druid's tree because of it's position at the heart of The Otherworld - nine magic hazel trees hang over the Well of Wisdom, their nuts feeding the Salmon of Wisdom art: Will Worthington

Working at a client's property in south Lakes yesterday and got a shout from the local farmer. Nice young chap, he bought my "Folklore of the Lake District" book and wanted to thank me for the 'nature dialect' section, words he remembers hearing as a kid but had forgotten. Made my day.

The February issue of "Cumbria and Lakeland Walker' magazine is out now It includes my regular article on Cumbrian folklore, and this month I explore the more unusual folk remedies, including rusty nails, slugs and nettles

A blessed Imbolc to all 💚 "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 #Imbolc #Druidry

Mahaha is a goblin-like being found only in the most coldest of areas. It's touch will freeze you to death; if that fails, it will tickle you to death! from: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #goblins #folklore #booksky

From Friday 30 January through to Sunday 1 February, we'll have the Snow Moon visible in the sky. So named because the heaviest snowfall is typical during this month. It's also the last Full Moon of meteorological winter. art: Victo Ngai

In Cumbrian dialects, rabbet is rabbit; borran is rabbit warren in lore rabbit is a clever trickster, eventually outwitting its adversary from: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #nature #booksky 📷 Julian Rad

And a dreadful thing from the cliff did spring. Its wild bark thrill'd around: And a fiendish glow flash'd forth I trow, From the eyes of the Specral Hound ~ Barguest, the spirit of the barn from: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ art: P.E. Travers

In Cumbrian dialects, 'tod' is fox Fox is a spirit guide and trickster, and it carries a magical pearl that brings good fortune to whomever finds it more in my "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #lakedistrict art: Fox Spirits by Stephanie Bayles

The global attack on nature is threatening the UK’s national security, government intelligence chiefs have warned, as the increasingly likely collapse of vitally important natural systems would bring mass migration, food shortages and price rises, and global disorder.