Water: lore, spirits, myths, etc.

[Agaliha]

I'm slightly pissed. I had this whole thread ready to post when the ad on the side ruined everything. Not cool. :2G: Here we go again.

Okay so I got interested in various water spirits; figures with my water obsession. I thought it might make an interesting topic to discuss and share. Water is an essential part of life on earth and it's interesting to see how it's worked into stories and beliefs.

Here's some info I came across when reading up about my ancestral side (Russian). The Rusalki. I find them facinating. Thought I'd share...they're little know.



In Slavic mythology, a rusalka (plural:rusalki) was a female ghost, water nymph, succubus or mermaid-like demon that dwelled in a waterway.
According to most traditions, the rusalki were fish-women, who lived at the bottom of rivers. In the middle of the night, they would walk out to the bank and dance in meadows. If they saw handsome men, they would fascinate them with songs and dancing, mesmerise them, then lead the person away to the river floor, to live with them. The stories about rusalki have parallels with the Germanic Nix and the Irish banshee.

In most versions, the rusalka is an unquiet dead being, associated with the "unclean force". According to Zelenin, people who die violently and before their time, such as young women who commit suicide because they have been jilted by their lovers, or unmarried women who are pregnant out of wedlock, must live out their designated time on earth as a spirit.

The ghostly version is the soul of a young woman who had died in or near a river or a lake and came to haunt that waterway. This undead rusalka is not invariably malevolent, and will be allowed to die in peace if her death is avenged.

Rusalki can also come from unbaptized children, often those who were born out of wedlock and drowned by their mothers for that reason. Baby rusalki supposedly wander the forest begging to be baptized so that they can have peace. They are not necessarily innocent, however, and can attack a human foolish enough to approach them.

While her primary dwelling place was the body of water in which she died, the rusalka could come out of the water at night, climb a tree, and sit there singing songs, sit on a dock and comb her hair, or join other rusalki in circle dances (Russian: хороводы, Polish: korowody) in the field.

Though in some versions of the myth, the eyes shine like green fire, others describe them as extremely pale, with no visible pupils, such as in the famous Ivan Bilibin drawing. Her hair is sometimes depicted as green, and often perpetually wet. According to some legends, should the rusalka's hair dry out, she will die.

Rusalki like to seduce men. They can do so by enticing men with their singing and then drowning them. Men seduced by the rusalka could die in her arms, and in some versions hearing her laugh could also cause death.
From: Rusalka - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGknBxdFlFkuoAJklXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2Mzl0bXAxBGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANERlg1X zMw/SIG=11oa4gj7t/EXP=1163576817/**http%3a//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusalka)



The Rusalka of traditional beliefs is a strong and enticing female entity who inhabits the waters, forests, and fields. The Rusalki are thought to be the spirits of women who have died untimely or unjust deaths (such as brides who died on their wedding nights, or young mothers who perished in childbirth). They are spinners who regulate human, animal, and agricultural fertility, as well as the cycles of the seasons and weather. The legends vary by region and context. In Bulgaria, the Rusalki are shape-shifting, sometimes vengeful protectors of the natural world. In the folk arts, Rusalki are depicted as beautiful, siren-like women (half-woman and half-bird or half-fish) with wild, unbound hair (a striking contrast to “proper” Slavic maidens with meticulous plaits and married or widowed women who traditional conceal their hair). Legends often tell of the Rusalki luring unsuspecting passers-by into the water with their cries, laughter, or magical songs. In Slavic peasant culture, the Rusalka is feared, appeased, and celebrated, through song, dance, storytelling, and ritual during the spring festival Rusal’naia Nedelia (Rusalaka week).
From: CWF - Ellen Sebastian Chang (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkl0IdllF90EA81BXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3M3NrMmRsBGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMTQEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDREZYN V8zMA--/SIG=12pbpv0e4/EXP=1163577224/**http%3a//www.creativeworkfund.org/pages/bios/ellen_sebastian_chang.html)



The rusalki are Slavic water spirits, the female counterpart of the vodyanik, and are thought to be the spirits of dead human females. The rusalki of the north are evil, luring men to their deaths with siren songs, drowning them in a watery embrace. The rusalki of the south are generally more gentle beings. Though they also have been known to lure men with sweet songs. They at least prove to be affectionate lovers, so their victims die happy.
In some areas the rusalka is thought to be the damned soul of a beautiful but wicked girl. In others, especially in Bulgaria where they are known as samovily, the rusalka is the spirit of an unbaptized baby girl. Other legends say they are the spirits of brides who died on their wedding night.
From: Melissa's Mythological Creature Feature - Rusalki (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkl0IdllF90EA_1BXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3djg3NWc1BGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMTcEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDREZYN V8zMA--/SIG=12rmtbfki/EXP=1163577224/**http%3a//www.voicenet.com/~mwoods/mysteries/myth/creatures/rusalki.html)



Rusalka
plural Rusalki, in Slavic mythology, lake-dwelling soul of a child who died unbaptized or of a virgin who was drowned (whether accidentally or purposely). Slavs of different areas have assigned different personalities to the rusalki. Around the Danube River, where they are called vile (singular vila), rusalki are beautiful, charming girls, dressed always in light robes of mist, singing sweet, bewitching songs to the passersby. The rusalki of northern Russia are ugly, unkempt, wicked, invariably naked, and always eager to ambush humans. All rusalki love to entice men—the vile to enchant them and the northern rusalki to torture them.
During rusalki week, at the beginning of the summer, the nymphs are supposed to emerge from the water and climb into weeping willow and birch trees until night, when they dance in rings in the moonlight. Any person joining them must dance until he dies. After that week, grass grows thicker where they trod.
From: Rusalka (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkjCPdllFNx8BaZVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3dGNhODZrBGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMzEEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDREZYN V8zMA--/SIG=121tsukpq/EXP=1163577359/**http%3a//www.rkp-montreal.org/en/01rusalka.html)



The word "rusalka" is generally translated as "mermaid". It is also known as the undine.
In Slavic mythology Rusalka was a female ghost, water nymph or succubus-like demon who lived in a lake. Her eyes shone like a green fire. Men who were seduced by her died in her arms, and in some versions her laugh can also cause death (compare with the Irish banshee). She corresponds to the Scandinavian and German Nix.
The ghostly version of the succubus is the soul of a young woman who died in or near a lake (many of these rusalki were murdered by lovers), and came to haunt that lake; this undead rusalka is not particularly malevolent, and will be allowed to die in peace if her death is avenged.
The rusalka was the main character in Antonín Dvořák's opera Rusalka.
In Polish mythology, Rusalki are the spirits that live in the waters from Fall to Spring; in some traditions they reside in the waters from Summer to Fall. In other tales, they become the Sky Women when they return from the waters. They are called Queen of Fairies and it is said only witches dared to swim with the Rusalki. The belief that the thunder and lightning of spring time was brought by the Sky Women mating with the thunder gods; so Spring festivals included celebrating the return of the Rusalki from the waters by placing wreaths on the waters, circle dances, and fire festivals. They brought moisture to field and forest.
From: Rousalka - Megaten Wiki (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkjCPdllFNx8BhZVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3OG9qZ21rBGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMzgEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDREZYN V8zMA--/SIG=12iu00rko/EXP=1163577359/**http%3a//www.popanime.net/megami/wiki/index.php%3ftitle=Rousalka)



Rusalka, the spirit of a child who died unbaptized or of a virgin who drowned. Rusalki live in lakes and have long, wavy green hair. Some have fish tails like mermaids, and some can turn into fish. They manifest either as beautiful girls, dressed in robes of mist, who sing sweet songs to bewitch passersby, or as ugly and wicked women who attack humans, especially men. During Rusalki week, around Midsummer, they emerge from the water and climb into weeping willow and birch trees until night, when they dance in rings in the moonlight. Any person who dances with them must do so until he dies. After that week, the grass grows thicker wherever they walk. In the 19th century, the Rusalki were connected with the cult of the dead.
From: Moist Mother Earth: Slavic Myth and Religion (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkkcrd1lFoHoAXD1XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3NWtsZmtqBGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMTEEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDREZYN V8zMA--/SIG=11qnk7sqo/EXP=1163577515/**http%3a//www.winterscapes.com/slavic.htm)



Rusalka Female water Spirit. These souls of unbabtized babies or drowned maidens became beautiful pale girls with long flowing hair. They wear white or are sometimes naked, usually with poppies in their hair. They lived in the waters during the winter, but moved to the forests and fields during Rusal'naia week (hence the name) where they could often be seen perched in trees. A danger to humans, the Rusalki may lead cattle astray, steal children, fall upon people from the treetops and tickle them to death or kidnap young lads to take as lovers. They love to come out in the moonlight to sing and dance the khorovod (circle dance). If they find someone bathing near where they dance, often, they will drown them. Tying ribbons to trees in which they were known to perch is one way to appease them. Linens and scarves, as well as eggs were also left as offerings. Before these nature spirits were associated with the souls of the "unclean" dead, it is believed they were the spirits who brought moisture to forest and field.
From: Meet The Slavic Goddess (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkjtrd1lFBd8AN3JXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3Y2cyNmwwBGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMzYEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDREZYN V8zMA--/SIG=1258b4g9o/EXP=1163577579/**http%3a//www.rac-usa.org/wau/meetslavicgoddess.html)



• Rusalka (sing.) >roo-SAHW-kah< [Rus]
- also >roo-SAL-ka<
Rusalki (pl.)
Russalki (pl.)
- wilderness spirit(s)
- female
- benevolent / malevolent
- rivers & riverbanks
- water
- trees
- weeping willow / birch
- drowned maiden / woman
- a child who died unnamed
- girls who died young
- appears as beautiful maidens
- clothed in white
- naked with long flowing hair
- have long wavy green hair
- appears as a woman with long hair
- lure young men & travellers to a watery grave
- drown bathers
- sing & dance the khorovod (circle dance) in the moonlight
- pull intruders into their ring & dance them to death
- ruled over by Vodnik
- wife to Vodianoi
see Vodianikha - infer
- offerings of ribbons tied to trees linens scarves eggs
aka Rusal[s]ka
aka Rusal[s]ki [Pol]
- ruled over by Wodnik
aka Rusalky [Rus]
aka Rusallias [Srb]
aka Rusalkai
From: Rusalka (http://www.stonedragonpress.com/wicca_201/spirit_search/definitions/rusalka.html)


Other:

A detailed article, too long to post here. Must read for anyone interested in them though: The Rusalki: Slavic Nature Nymphs (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGknBxdFlFkuoAMklXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2MGM0NWxmBGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDNARzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANERlg1X zMw/SIG=121p0ou6r/EXP=1163576817/**http%3a//www.mythicarts.com/writing/Rusalki.htm)
Rusalka (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkjz_dllF0LsAaZZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2aWNrczNxBGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDOARzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANERlg1X zMw/SIG=12fbdmehk/EXP=1163577471/**http%3a//clover.slavic.pitt.edu/~tales/images/rusalki1.html) -- an artist sketch.I like them, even though they're darker.
Plus when I read this: Rusalka, the spirit of a child who died unbaptized or of a virgin who drowned. I can't help but think of myself and my near downing. And the water and Slavic link.
I don't know, something about them...

So feel free to discuss about the Rusalki or anything else watery.
I know there are other water spirits out there. So far only Greek ones are coming to me right now though :2G:

[dragoncrone]

There is also opera about Rusalka, the best-known work is by Dvorak. It's musically pleasing, but the plot is right out of Andersen's 'Little Mermaid.' (I heard it on NPR several years back)
Dargomijsky's opera is more faithful to the Slavic myths and is still popular, however it is seldom performed outside Russia.:headphone

[Windsmith]

C.J. Cherryh wrote a trilogy about a rusalka: Rusalka, Chernevog, and Yvgenie. Pretty good books and a good use of the mythology.

[Agaliha]

Interesting. I found some info about an opera, but didn't look into it more.
As for the books, I'll have to see if the library has them. I find the Rusalki interesting...so I hope!
ETA: The library does. Yay.
:reading:

Anyway... the articles mentioned the Germanic Nixie.
I don't really know about her (or them? Is it one or many?). Hm. I'll have to see.

There's the nymphs. Mermaids. Sirens. Undines. Oceanids. Nereids. Naiads. Melusine.
Uhhh.... :huh:

[dragoncrone]

C.J. Cherryh wrote a trilogy about a rusalka: Rusalka, Chernevog, and Yvgenie. Pretty good books and a good use of the mythology.

I'll concur on the mythology part, but personally I found Cherryh's writing style kind of annoying. It's been years since I read the first book and was never motivated to read any of the others.

[Agaliha]

I'll concur on the mythology part, but personally I found Cherryh's writing style kind of annoying. It's been years since I read the first book and was never motivated to read any of the others.

:2G: I'll have to see for myself. Sometimes though if it's a topic I'm interested in I'll suck it up and read the book(s).
For example: There are only a few books about Queen Zenobia (one of my fav. women in history) so I have to deal with what's there. I have a book by Beatrice Small centering around her. Historical romance. Heh. She seemed to do her research though. I have yet to read it. I did find out that there was a newer book (triliolgy) coming out that's more historical fiction. Yay.
Anyway. Blabbering. :2G:

[Agaliha]

Ha. I found it!
Article: If It Dries Out, It's No Good: Women, Hair and Rusalki Beliefs (http://web.archive.org/web/20051213085326/http://www.virginia.edu/slavic/seefa/RUSALKA.HTM)
I had to go though the internet archives to see it :2G:

[dragoncrone]

Picked up a book on folklore of Iceland yesterday and found several tales involving seals which are people underneath their sealskin coats - interesting, corrresponds with the Selkie legends of Scotland & Ireland.

Then last night read in the paper how a woman was swimming in the ocean and a big old sea lion proceeded to buffet her about and nip at her. Maybe a long lost relative? :yayah:

[Agaliha]

Oh...Selkies, I forgot! Thanks for mentioning them. They're pretty interesting. :) I could find some links later.
:reading:

[_Banbha_]

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e189/EtainOcean/folklore/selkie/selkie3.jpg


"Should such a mortal woman wish to make contact with a selkie man, there was a specific rite that she had to follow. At the high tide, the woman should make her way to the shore where she had to shed seven tears into the sea."


Hmm...selkie men...you don't hear much about them in popular culture...:2G:



Selkies are able to transform to human form by shedding their seal skins and can revert to seal form by putting their selkie skin back on. Stories concerning selkies are generally romantic tragedies. Sometimes the human will not know that their lover is a selkie, and wakes to find them gone. Other times the human will hide the selkie's skin, thus preventing them from returning to seal form. A selkie can only make contact with one particular human for a short amount of time before they must return to the sea. They are not able to make contact with that human again for seven years, unless the human is to steal their selkie's skin and hide it or burn it.[citation needed] The Grey Selkie of Suleskerry is a ballad typical of the former, while The Secret of Roan Inish is a movie telling the latter tale.

Male selkies are very handsome in their human form, and have great seduction powers over human women. They typically seek those who are dissatisfied with their romantic life. This includes married women waiting for their fishermen husbands. If a woman wishes to make contact with a selkie male, she has to go to a beach and shed seven tears into the sea.

If a man steals a female selkie's skin, she is in his power, to an extent, and she is forced to become his wife. Female selkies are said to make excellent wives, but because their true home is the sea, they will often be seen gazing longingly to the ocean. If her skin is found she will immediately return to her home - sometimes, her selkie husband - in the sea.

Sometimes, a selkie maiden is taken as a wife by a human man and she has several children by him. In these stories, it is one of her children who discovers her sealskin (often unwitting of its significance) and she soon returns to the sea. The selkie woman avoids seeing her human husband again but is sometimes shown visiting her children and playing with them in the waves.

Seal changelings similar to the selkie exist in the folklore of many cultures. A corresponding creature existed in Swedish legend, and the Chinook Indians of North America have a similar tale of a boy who changes into a seal (see the children's story The Boy Who Lived With The Seals by Rafe Martin).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkie


A Home for Selkies (http://echoes.devin.com/selkie/selkie.html): Wonderful link page. :)

Selkies, Sirens and others... (http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/mermaids/2.html): from Mermaids on the Web...more links & good stuff (quote up top from here)

[Nitefalle]

I saw The Story of Roan Inis - I quite enjoyed it. I have always been fascinated by the Waters and the ocean. I once had a water altar in my bedroom, when I was a teenager, and one night awoke to find an undine staring me in the face - he blinked at me and then disappeared. Quite the oddest experience, very memorable, lol. Anyone else have stories?

[Agaliha]

I saw The Story of Roan Inis - I quite enjoyed it. I have always been fascinated by the Waters and the ocean. I once had a water altar in my bedroom, when I was a teenager, and one night awoke to find an undine staring me in the face - he blinked at me and then disappeared. Quite the oddest experience, very memorable, lol. Anyone else have stories?

Ah another person with a water obsession/facination. :)
A Undine. Wow. Sounds interesting!

Some into for anyone else who wants info:

Ondine (mythology) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ondine_%28mythology%29) or Undine, a water nymph from German mythology
The Undine Myth (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geuu03HmVFEsIAiTJXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3OG1mbzVtBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANGNjY2X zExNg--/SIG=129hnq5f7/EXP=1164341175/**http%3a//www.beautiful-mermaid-art.com/undine-myth.html)
PSYC339 - The Mermaid Myth - Culture and Folklore (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geuqdPHmVFjPkAr9VXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4M2tsMHJuBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMTgEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDRjY2N l8xMTY-/SIG=12hm76idi/EXP=1164341199/**http%3a//www.wellesley.edu/Psychology/Cheek/Narrative/myth.html)
Water Spirit Legends (http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/water.html)
Ondine (http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/goddess-Ondine.htm)I never had an exeperience like that, Nitefalle, but I have had water exeriences. When I was about six my parents won a trip to an Oregon resort. We spent some into near the pools and Jucuzzi. My parents were paying attention to my baby brother and I got out of the big pool (very shallow end, I couldn't swim) and stood staring at the Jucuzzi. An older man was in it and had the bubbles on. I was facinated. Transfixed at the water. And when he got up I felt this power, this urge to jump. So I did. I ran and jumped right in. I almost died...would have in my father didn't step into the thing and pull me out by the hair. Ever since then when I am around large bodies of water I feel this urge--like a silent voice-- to jump in. I ended up developing a fear of water (the man that left the Jucuzzi was a child psychologist and said it could happen) and not swimming. I really wish I could though. I love the water...it calls me. That's one of my experiences. When I learned about the Rusalka that experience reminded me of them...
_inabox_

[_Banbha_]

I saw The Story of Roan Inis - I quite enjoyed it. I have always been fascinated by the Waters and the ocean. I once had a water altar in my bedroom, when I was a teenager, and one night awoke to find an undine staring me in the face - he blinked at me and then disappeared. Quite the oddest experience, very memorable, lol. Anyone else have stories?

I loved Roan Inish, one of my all time favorite movies.

I always lived close to water, usually on a beach, and have seen many strange things in and around the water. :2G: I used to have Manatees in my backyard when in Florida. They're old school, lonely sailor-type Mermaids. :lol:


Ah another person with a water obsession/facination. :)
A Undine. Wow. Sounds interesting!

I never had an exeperience like that, Nitefalle, but I have had water exeriences. When I was about six my parents won a trip to an Oregon resort. We spent some into near the pools and Jucuzzi. My parents were paying attention to my baby brother and I got out of the big pool (very shallow end, I couldn't swim) and stood staring at the Jucuzzi. An older man was in it and had the bubbles on. I was facinated. Transfixed at the water. And when he got up I felt this power, this urge to jump. So I did. I ran and jumped right in. I almost died...would have in my father didn't step into the thing and pull me out by the hair. Ever since then when I am around large bodies of water I feel this urge--like a silent voice-- to jump in. I ended up developing a fear of water (the man that left the Jucuzzi was a child psychologist and said it could happen) and not swimming. I really wish I could though. I love the water...it calls me. That's one of my experiences. When I learned about the Rusalka that experience reminded me of them...
_inabox_

My earliest memory: I was less than two years old and toddeled straight into the deep end of my Aunts pool. I remember sliding down the side of the pool to the bottom and then looking up and staring with fascination the pattern of the sun on the rippling water. I didn't panic and was there for a bit; because my father had to sprint across her yard, jump the fence to dive in pluck me out. I've never felt fear in the water, though I did learn to respect it later on.

Maybe I was too young to be frightened and I was already used to the ocean, I'm guessing. But, I became frightened immediately afterward of everyones reaction...all the "OMG's" and general ways people react when toddelers have an adventure (the words toddler and adventure should never go together, :lol: ). I remember loving that feeling under the water looking up at the sun. :)

[Agaliha]

My earliest memory: I was less than two years old and toddeled straight into the deep end of my Aunts pool. I remember sliding down the side of the pool to the bottom and then looking up and staring with fascination the pattern of the sun on the rippling water. I didn't panic and was there for a bit; because my father had to sprint across her yard, jump the fence to dive in pluck me out. I've never felt fear in the water, though I did learn to respect it later on.
Maybe I was too young to be frightened and I was already used to the ocean, I'm guessing. But, I became frightened immediately afterward of everyones reaction...all the "OMG's" and general ways people react when toddelers have an adventure (the words toddler and adventure should never go together, :lol: ). I remember loving that feeling under the water looking up at the sun. :)

Wow. That could have turned deadly quick! Glad it didn't!
Sounds like a much nicer experience than mine. I wonder if hearing that child psychologist (so weird that he was the one who unknowning involved) say I would probably develop a fear planted the seed in my head. :2G: Were we lived there was a community wadding pool and I would send time in here, but pools and the smell of chlorine there freaked me out. The suffocation and not being able to breath was a fear I've had all along, it's possible I just linked the water with that as I almost drowned.
Perhaps you're a mermaid in disguise ;)

[_Banbha_]

Wow. That could have turned deadly quick! Glad it didn't!
Sounds like a much nicer experience than mine. I wonder if hearing that child psychologist (so weird that he was the one who unknowning involved) say I would probably develop a fear planted the seed in my head. :2G: Were we lived there was a community wadding pool and I would send time in here, but pools and the smell of chlorine there freaked me out. The suffocation and not being able to breath was a fear I've had all along, it's possible I just linked the water with that as I almost drowned.
Perhaps you're a mermaid in disguise ;)

That's been suggested before. :2G:

For me it was a nice experience, odd but true. I think if I'd jumped into a boiling hot cauldron with water shooting all over the place, it might have been different. And that Pyschologist did not help by possibly planting that seed. _inabox_

[OrionNeb87]

Another water lover here :) I've been meaning to check out some water lore since water, in various forms, is a frequent subject of my dreams. I'll add some links as I find them.