More Mystical Creatures

by Erika
(USA)

Ever heard of Grigs, Emovers, Male Beansidhes / Banshees or Maras? Found the names, and I have a vague idea about them, but I want to know more! Anything you can tell me?

Ophelia Fey says -- I hesitated at first to answer this question about more mystical creatures because there is always so much confusion about creatures handed down in human folklore. And these are some of them.

First of all, all of the mystical creatures you've named are of human origin. We do not know any of these names in Faerie. They are not our words, labels or categories. I believe they all come from your old Celtic traditions. Some may be loosely based on certain fae folk. But the tales told about them are not based in what we know to be true in Faerie. So I will not be of much help in identifying human words.

I can say, though, that for many centuries the idea of the Irish banshee has been around. There are indeed fae who may somewhat resemble these. Although they are not necessarily ugly. Unless seen by a human, who see us through your own filter. Not as we really are. The fae that may resemble your banshee do grieve the passing of a loved one, and do send out a heart-wrenching cry. It would sound horrendous I am sure to human ears. To us it is a known sound. They have sometimes been mistakenly referred to by your race as fallen angels. They are not. In your tales the banshee or bean shidh are female. In our realm they are also male.

As for the Grig, there is a lively dwarf type creature in Faerie that would resemble this. They are small, very smart and cunning and live in the northern regions. They happen to be very good at caring for animals. And they like to laugh a lot, although they may look like they are scowling.

Mara is associated with your word Nightmare. Or dream, in other words. There are all kinds of outlandish stories about this fae, and most not true. They do sometimes visit in dreams, but do not necessarily bring nightmares. They will bring out what is already in the person's mind and subconscious. They are only one type of fae that visit in dreams, and not the most common by any means.

Regarding the Emovers -- that I am not familiar with at all.

I hope this has been of some help.

Ophelia Fey, fairy