Category Archives: The Lore

“Myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into the human cultural manifestation”
-Joseph Campbell

In the shadowed corners of the world, where the trees grow tall and the wind carries whispers of the past, there is a place where myths walk and legends live. This is The Lore, a space where the stories of the earth are told, and the voices of the unseen are heard.

Here, in the forest’s depths and the mountain’s heights, the old tales linger. They are the stories of gods and mortals, of heroes and tricksters, of love and loss and transformation. They are the threads that tell the story of human experience, connecting us to the earth, to each other, and to the mysteries of the universe.

In this section, we will wander the paths of folklore and myth, uncovering the secrets of the past and the wisdom of the ancients. We will explore the tales of the selkie, the raven, and more, each one a mirror reflection our own journeys and struggles.

So, light a candle, open your heart and step into the forest. The stories are waiting to be told, and the myths are waiting to be lived.

Through the Shadows: A Myth of Love and Longing

“What on earth can you do on this earth but catch at whatever comes near you, with both your fingers, until your fingers are broken?”- Tennessee Williams

The Tale

In the ancient forests of Thrace, there lived a musician named Orpheus, whose songs were so beautiful they could charm the trees, the rivers, and even the gods. He fell deeply in love with Eurydice, a nymph of the woods, and she loved him back. They married quickly, under the watchful eyes of the forest spirits.

But their happiness was short-lived. One day, while wandering through a forest, Eurydice was bitten by a venomous snake and died. Heartbroken, Orpheus could not bear to live without her. Armed with only his lyre, he descended into the Underworld to plead with Hades, the god of the dead, for her return.

Orpheus’ music was so moving that he swayed death itself to let Eurydice return to the land of the living on one condition: Orpheus must not look back at her until they had both reached the surface.

Orpheus led Eurydice through the dark tunnels of the Underworld, his heart pounding with hope. But as they neared the surface, doubt set in. Was she really following him? Could Orpheus trust the gods? Unable to resist, Orpheus turned to look Eurydice- and in that moment, she vanished, lost to him forever.

The Lesson

The tale of Orpheus and Eurydice is a story of love’s power and its limits. It reminds us that even the strongest bonds can be fragile, and that trust and faith are as important as passion. It also speaks to the thin veil between life and death, and the delicate nature of that balance.

A Ritual for Remembering Lost Love

To honour the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, meditate on it with this simple ritual.

  1. Gather your tools: A candle, a piece of music (or an instrument, if you play one), and a quiet space.
  2. Set your intention: Light the candle and take a moment to reflect on a lost love, or a person you wish to honour.
  3. Play or listed to music: Choose something that speaks to your heart. As you listen, visualise the thread that binds you to the one you have lost.
  4. Speak their name: Whisper the name of the person you are honouring and remind yourself that those you love never truly leave you.
  5. Give thanks: Extinguish the candle and thank the spirits for their presence and guidance.

Reflections on Myth

I think of Orpheus as I wander the woods. His story is one of love so fierce it defies death, yet so fragile it can be shattered by a single moment of doubt. I wonder if I would have the courage to descend into the unknown for the one I love. Would I trust the path ahead, even when I cannot see what lies behind me?

There is a part of me that understands Orpheus’ longing, his desperation. The forest whispers of loss and reunion, of threads that bind us even when they seem to fray. I feel those threads now, tugging at my heart, pulling me towards something I cannot yet name.

The forest holds many stories, but the greatest of them is the story of love. As I walk these paths, I feel the echoes of Orpheus’ song, a reminder that love is both a journey and a destination.

Folkloric Archetypes: The Weaver

“The world is woven in a loom of dreams/ And every thread is a life.” – William Butler Yeats

The Weaver’s Loom

In the heart of the forest, where the trees are tall and the shadows deep, there is a place where time stands still. Here, the Weaver sits at their loom, their hands moving deftly over the threads. Each thread is a life, a story, a destiny. Some are bright and strong, others frayed and fragile. Together, they form a tapestry- a tapestry of existence, woven with the patterns of love, loss, and transformation.

The Weaver is a figure of mystery, their face hidden beneath a hood, their voice a whisper on the wind. They are neither good nor evil, but a force of balance, a reminder that every thread has its place in the grand design. To encounter the Weaver is to glimpse the patterns of fate, to see the connections that bind us all.

The Weaver in Folklore

The Weaver appears in many forms across cultures and tales. In Greek mythology, they are the Moirai, the three sisters who spin, measure, and cut the threads of life. In Norse legends, they are the Norns, who weave the tapestry of destiny at the roots of Yggdrasil, the world tree. In Slavic folklore, they are the Rozhanitsy, the goddesses of fate who shape the lives of mortals.

But the Weaver is not just a figure of the past. They are a symbol, a metaphor, a mirror. They remind us that our lives are interconnected, that every choice we make ripples through the tapestry of existence. They challenge us to see the patterns, to understand the threads, and to take hold of our own destiny.

The Weaver’s Message

When the Weaver appears in a tale, it is often a moment of reckoning- a time to reflect on the choices we have made, the paths we have taken, the threads that we have woven. They remind us that fate is not fixed, that the tapestry is always shifting, always growing.

The Weaver’s message is one of empowerment. They ask us to see the beauty in the patterns, even when they are tangled or torn. They ask us to trust in the journey, even when the path is unclear. And they as us to remember that we are, all of us, weavers, shaping our own stories with every step we take.

A Ritual of Reflection

To honour this archetype and how it manifests in our own lives, try this simple ritual.

  1. Gather your tools: You will need a candle, a piece of thread or yarn, and a quiet space.
  2. Light the candle: As you light the candle, set an intention- a wish, thought, or prayer. Let the flame be a simple of your inner light.
  3. Hold the thread: Take the thread in your hands and reflect on the patterns of your life. Which threads are strong? Which are frayed? What patterns do you see?
  4. Weave your intention: Tie the thread into a knot, symbolising your intention to shape your own destiny.
  5. Give thanks: Thank the Weaver for their wisdom and guidance, and let the candle burn down safely.

The Weaver is not just an archetype in a story- it is a mirror, a guide and a reminder. It is a call to see patterns in our lives, to understand the threads that bind us, and to take hold of our own destiny.