Helen JR Bruce

Writer     Illustrator     Mythic adventurer   Folklore researcher facebook/heatofthehunt

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY FIFTEEN

FAERIES AND IRON

Many cultures consider horseshoes to be a good luck charm, and numerous houses in Britain can still be seen sporting a horseshoe nailed to the door. The shoe can either be hung points up, to contain the luck, or points down to pour the luck out. An important aspect, however, is that fact that the horseshoe is crafted from iron.

Said to repel ghosts and witches, cold iron is also especially effective against malevolent faeries. In many folktales, it is said to burn the skin of the fae, and sewing pieces of iron into the hem of a child's clothes would deter the faeries from swapping them for a changeling. The idea of the iron horseshoe on the door is to prevent faeries from crossing the threshold, but as an extra precaution a person could also carry an iron knife and make their child's cot from iron.

The power of iron saves Gemma's life in 'Heat of the Hunt'. Having picked up the horseshoe which has fallen off Mike's door, she uses it against Asterra as the faerie Wytch attempts to drown her in the river Dart. In the words of Owain, an iron horseshoe is effective against almost any adversary, when applied directly to the face.

But where does the mythic power of iron originate from? Since the shift from the Bronze to Iron Age, Iron has been viewed as a wonder material in many respects. It was able to cleave a bronze sword clean in two. In later civilization, it was used to fashion lightning rods for Christian churches. When the iron absorbed and redirected the deadly electricity it was seen as a taming of the old gods, especially Thor, by the new religion. If it could stand up to a god, how could a faerie hope to withstand it?

If you are fascinated by this folklore, then you may just enjoy reading Heat of the Hunt Book

Paperback: Heat of the Hunt Book

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY FOURTEEN

MORGANA

In 'Heat of the Hunt' Morgana is a powerful Wytch, who came to the faerie clan in Dartmoor after her own clan were all killed. There is some insinuation that their deaths were to do with her, but nothing is proven. All we know is that she is the last of her clan, and an ancient being skilled in magick.

In Arthurian legend, Morgana (Morgan Le Fay) is portrayed as an evolving and unpredictable character. A powerful enchantress, the earliest tales show her almost exclusively as a benevolent protector and saviour, akin to a goddess. It is she who takes Arthur to be healed in Avalon, Isle of Apples, after he is fatally wounded in the battle of Camlann.

Later mythic variants show her as an apprentice to Merlin, and as a predatory woman who uses her guile and influence to cause trouble for the Knights of the Round Table. She plots to usurp the throne from Arthur and even contributes to his eventual death, although even in these darker portrayals she still reconciles with him and carries him away for healing.

Her character is reminiscent of, and likely influenced by, early sea goddesses as in Old Breton Morgen means 'sea born', which would suit the duality of her personality. She is, in many ways, the archetypal empowered woman: skilled in healing, able to shapeshift and sexually uninhibited, she is 'the woman most feared in the world'.

My portrayal of Morgana uses this deep duality of character, as she both tries to kill and seduce Gabriel, the Huntmaster. She is unmatched in magikal skill, but also equipped with a fiery temper and a righteous belief that other lives are petty losses when set against her goals.

If you enjoyed this article you might just like reading about Morgana in Heat of the Hunt Book.

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY THIRTEEN

WISHT HOUNDS

For our article today, we return to the wild landscape of Dartmoor and the local myths associated with the Wild Hunt. Wistmans Wood, a copse of ancient and stunted oaks, is said to be their abode. On dark nights, most notably around Samhain or Halloween, they ride out with their master, who is referred to as the Dark Huntsman.

The Wisht, or alternatively Wish or Yeth, hounds are described as terrifying black beasts of huge stature, with flaming eyes like red coals. Their master is even more monstrous; dressed head to toe in black and riding on on either a huge black, or skeletal, horse, depending on the account. In folklore, he is described as hunting down mercilessly anything that crosses his path, as well as specifically seeking out and killing unbaptised children.

This is undoubtedly a Christian twist on a much earlier legend, as it serves as a warning against leaving children unbaptised and at the mercy of the Devil. The Dark Huntman himself is often blended with the figure of the Devil, although there are other candidates for the role, including Old Crockern, guardian spirit of the moor.

In 'Heat of the Hunt' Mike the storyteller recounts a local legend about a farmer, walking home drunk from Widdecombe Fair, who encounters the Huntsman. In his addled state, the man confronts the Huntsman and asks for a share of his game. The dark figure obliges, but when the farmer returns home and unwraps the bundle it is neither a bird nor a rabbit. Instead, it is the lifeless body of his own child. Given this, there is no doubt as to why Gemma has little trust for Gabriel, the Huntmaster.

First hand accounts from travellers who have been crossing the moor and come face to face with the pack of hounds and their master often describe being frozen motionless in horror while the fearsome entourage pass. Both the Wisht hounds and the Dark Huntsman remain firmly present in folkloric memory, and it is said that placing a crust of bread under the pillow of a sleeping child will keep them away. This can be seen as a mix of the tradition of leaving offerings to placate the faeries, and the use of consecrated bread in church to symbolise the body of Christ.

If you would like to find out how Gemma contends with the Dark Huntsman, then you can discover in Heat of the Hunt Book!

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY TWELVE

HAWTHORN

Around the dark hollow of Houndain there grows a thick circular hedge of hawthorn. This sacred and secret place, otherwise known as the Hound Grave, is protected from mortal eyes by both faerie glamour and these old, thorny trees.

Mature hawthorn trees can reach a height of 15 metres, but in harsh climates such as Dartmoor the trees often grown gnarled and lower to the ground. Living up to 150 years, the hawthorn has gathered a rich body of folklore. One belief is that hawthorn should never be brought into the house, and if the leaves ever were then illness and death would soon follow.

In the Medieval era it was said that Hawthorn smelt of the Great Plague. Fascinatingly, modern botanists have discovered that the chemical trimethylamine in hawthorn blossom is also the first chemical which forms in decaying animal tissue. So, in this respect, hawthorn does indeed smell of death.

This makes its the ideal tree to surround the magical place where sacrifices must be made to call the hounds of the Wild Hunt up from the earth. Across Britain and Ireland, hawthorn trees are found growing over holy wells or as lone specimens on crossroads and barrows. Their presence in these places, where the veil to the Otherworld is thin, earns them an association with with the fae folk. Often called 'faerie trees' or 'gentle bushes' if following the custom of not naming faeries out of respect, they command great reverence even to this day. As recently as 1982 a car plant in Ireland blamed financial difficulties on the disturbance of a faerie thorn.

As well as this, hawthorn is associated with courtship and fertility, as the small white blossoms are first seen in May when spring has begun and the mind turns again to wooing after the winter. During this month the hawthorn is viewed with great positivity; so much that 'May' was originally simply the name for its flowers. Hawthorn crowns would be worn at weddings and the chemical trimethylamine has also been described as similar to the musky smell of sex!

If you love folklore then you might just enjoy Heat of the Hunt Book.

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY ELEVEN

PANDORA

In 'Heat of the Hunt' Mike the storyteller has a buzzard called Pandora. He flies her out on the moor, and it was on just such a occasion that he caught sight of the beast near Hound Tor.

The name Pandora comes from Greek mythology. She was the first woman, created by Hephaestus at the command of Zeus, and from her line come all of womankind. Her myth is an explanation of how evil came to be in the world, and it describes how she opens a jar (sometimes mistranslated as a box) and releases toil, sickness, diseases and pain. The only thing that remains clinging inside the jar is fragile hope, which is discovered last as some recompense.

In most presentations of Pandora she is shown as a beautiful destroyer and a curse upon mankind, which is in stark contrast to her very earliest appearances in mythology where she is 'the all giving'. An alternative name for her is Anesidora, which translates as 'she who sends up gifts' (from below the earth).

It is no coincidence that Mike chose to name his bird of prey Pandora. He is a character of conflict himself; fascinated by stories but unable to recall his own past. Perhaps, like the jar of myth, his suppressed memories contain a lot of pain, but also the hope which is needed. In 'Lie of the Land' we shall find out!

If you have enjoyed reading this, you might just like Heat of the Hunt Book.

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY TEN

CRY OF THE DART

The river Dart gives Dartmoor its name, and is actually made up of two rivers which join at Dartmeet and then flow on to meet the sea at Dartmouth. The East Dart rises close to Whitehorse Hill and the West Dart rises near Flat Tor. The entire course of the Dart, from moor to sea, is an impressive forty six miles, which makes it Dartmoor's longest river.

There can be no doubt about the great beauty of this river. It receives water from over thirty tributaries, delves through deep gorges and cascades over impressive granite waterfalls. But the current can be fast and the water deep. The enormous catchment area of the moor means that, after heavy rainfall, the Dart can rise suddenly and flood. When in spate, the waters of the Dart are extremely treacherous, both to livestock and any person foolish enough to stray too near or attempt a crossing.

It is perhaps from this that the legend of the 'Cry of the Dart' arises. A local folk rhyme states that:

'Dart, Dart, cruel Dart, every year thou claim'st a heart'

This refers to the belief that each year the river would claim a human sacrifice, and when it was ready to receive this offering it would 'cry' out. Eerily, the river does indeed 'cry'. When a strong wind blows from certain directions it whistles through the river gorges and creates a strange, lilting call. Reminiscent of Otherwordly music, this gave me the idea for how the Cry of the Dart is portrayed in 'Heat of the Hunt'.

In my adaptation of the myth, it is the faerie Wytch Asterra who commands the Cry of the Dart. It is her right and duty to use it once a year to claim a mortal life, as an ancient rite to honour and placate the river. The cry itself manifests as an irresistible, melodious voice speaking of deep, cool waters and rest. The hapless victim goes willingly to the river.

The original legend is likely to have been inspired by the folk memory of various water deities and the tradition of making sacrifices to court their favour. Well known water goddesses include Sabrina and Sulis (Sulis was worshipped as Sulis Minerva at Bath spa) and they were associated with fertility and growth. When we consider how, in pagan belief, the corn king must be sacrificed each summer to ensure the fertility of the land, it is not outlandish to accept that the blessing of fertile animals and crops may have required a sacrifice in return. If accidental deaths in the Dart were followed by a bountiful harvest, a pattern could easily be reinforced by folk superstition.

If you, like me, are fascinated by the myths of Dartmoor then you might like to read Heat of the Hunt Book.

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Image: Helen Bruce

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY NINE

GELERT

As previously mentioned, in 'Heat of the Hunt' the master of the Wild Hunt has nine hounds at his command. Our ninth hound name is Gelert, and his folklore is strikingly similar to that which surrounds Guinefort.

The tale of Gelert is a Welsh myth, and in the story Llywelyn the Great goes out hunting and leaves his infant son in the care of his faithful greyhound. Upon returning, Llywelyn finds the cradle overturned and the dog greets him with a blood smeared mouth. In a rage, the man draws his sword and kills the hound. But as the dog utters his final yelp, Llywelyn hears the cry of a child, and goes on to find his son unharmed under the cradle with the body of a wolf beside him.

Gelert had fought off the wolf to protect the child from harm. Llywelyn is filled with remorse, and even though he buries his loyal hound with great ceremony, the dying cry of the animal haunts him for the rest of his life. Legend says that, from that day, he never smiles again.

A visitor can find Gelert's grave in a town called Beddgelert, which in folk memory is believed to take its name from the mound which marks the burial place of the hound. The grave today is marked with two plaques which tell the tale in both Welsh and English.

If you love folklore then you will enjoy reading Heat of the Hunt Book!

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Image: 'Gelert' by Charles Burton Barber

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY EIGHT GYTRASH For our penultimate hound name we return to Northern England, and to the legend of Gytrash. He is, like Black Shuck and the Barghest, a black dog apparition which haunts lonely country lanes. Alternative spellings include Guytrash and Guytresh, and this legendary beast not only takes the form of a huge black dog, but can also appear as a horse, mule or an evil cow with eyes like burning coals. In its hooved forms the Gytrash is seen as purely malevolent, intent on leading travellers astray and inciting terror in any who encounter it. But in its canine form, the Gytrash is sometimes reported to be benevolent. Much like the other black dog spectres we have discussed, this creature has a dual nature. In some folktales it will accompany travellers while they negotiate dangerous trackways or even guide those who are lost back onto the right path. The Gytrash is mentioned in Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte. The creature turns out to in fact be Rochester's dog, but when she encounters the creature on a lonely lane at night Jane is briefly convinced that the dog is in fact the monstrous hound of folklore. If you love folklore and mystery you might just enjoy Heat of the Hunt Book Paperback: www.facebook.com/heatofthehunt Ebook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heat-Hunt-Helen-JR-Bruce-ebook/dp/B07WK82T62/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2QN8VW7XNTA66&keywords=heat+of+the+hunt&qid=1577308407&s=books&sprefix=heat+of+the%2Caps%2C165&sr=1-1 Image: aminio apps pagans and witches

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY SEVEN SIRIUS Sirius plays an important role in 'Heat of the Hunt'. He is the rogue hound who attacks drinkers in the Plume of Feathers pub, and is fought off with great difficulty by Fen. After this, he undergoes a magikal transformation which means he has a different name and very different appearance by the end of the book. The name Sirius comes from the brightest star in the constellation of Canis Major, meaning the Great Dog. It usually shines with a white blue colour, but it can twinkle in a rainbow of different colours as the bright light it emits moves through the layers of the earth's atmosphere. Sirius moves through the night sky alongside the constellation of Orion the Hunter and in the Northern Hemisphere they appear in the sky from autumn through to spring. It seems no coincidence that they become visible at a similar time of year to Samhain, which is when the Wild Hunt traditionally ride out in their capacity of collecting lost souls and leading them to the Otherworld. Their winter reign in the sky also corresponds to the reign of the Holly King in the pagan wheel of the year, who is interchangeable with Gwyn ap Nudd, the traditional Welsh master of the Wild Hunt. Fascinatingly, much like the spectral black dog apparitions we have previously discussed, Sirius also has a binary nature. It is not in fact a single star, but instead made up of Sirius A and Sirius B. Sirius A is the main bright star, producing its own energy and easily visible without a telescope. Sirius B is its faint white dwarf companion, and it orbits the larger star every 50 years. This dance echoes the slow shift between summer and winter and also the interplay of the apparent world and the Otherworld of spirit, which is less visible, but still ever present and essential. In popular culture JK Rowling has also of course drawn on this folklore to name the animagus Sirius Black, who transforms into a large black dog which is mistaken for the Grim. The Grim is an alternative title for Black Shuck and the barghest, as is Padfoot, which is the nickname which the marauders use for Sirius. If you have enjoyed reading this article then you might just love Heat of the Hunt Book. Paperback: www.facebook.com/heatofthehunt Ebook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heat-Hunt-Helen-JR-Bruce-ebook/dp/B07WK82T62/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2QN8VW7XNTA66&keywords=heat+of+the+hunt&qid=1577308407&s=books&sprefix=heat+of+the%2Caps%2C165&sr=1-1 Image: Ancient Origins. net

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY SIX

FENRIR

The amount of folklore surrounding dogs, wolves and other canines around the world is vast. I wanted to choose the names of the nine hounds which serve the master of the Wild Hunt based on a mix of well known and more obscure folk tales. Fenrir is arguably the best known in the bunch. He features prominently in Norse mythology, and it is foretold that he will devour Odin during Ragnarok, but then be killed by Odin's son Víðarr.

The name Fenrir can be translated from old Norse as 'fen-dweller' which makes it more appropriate for a magikal creature abiding in Dartmoor than one may at first think. Gabriel, the Huntmaster, habitually shortens the name of Fenrir to Fen and keeps this particular hound alongside him, disguised with glamour, as a normal dog.

Fenrir is one of the three children which Loki, God of mischief, had with the giantess Angrboda. The other gods discovered prophecies which foretold that these offspring would cause great trouble in the future, and they hatched a plan to trap them. Fenrir was the only of Loki's children who was kept in Asgard, and each day he grew bigger and bigger. Soon, the gods decided that he must be restrained.

The first fetter they had made to bind him was named Leyding, and although it was very strong the wolf broke it with one kick. The second fetter was named Dromi, and it was twice as strong. But Fenrir had grown in strength since breaking the first fetter, and he broke the second one also. The third fetter was called Glephnir, and it was constructed by dwarves from six mythical ingredients. It resembled soft silken ribbon, and although Fenrir was suspicious of this binding he eventually allowed the gods to place it around his legs. They had convinced him that he would achieve great fame by displaying his immense strength through breaking increasingly strong bindings. But of course, this final fetter was magical, and the stronger the wolf fought the stronger the band grew.

Fenrir fought and struggled, the saliva flowing from his mouth forming the river Van which translates from old Norse as 'hope'. There Fenrir will remain until fulfilling his destiny during Ragnarok.

If you are enjoying my articles on folklore, then you might enjoy reading Heat of the Hunt Book.

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY FIVE

SKRIKER

For our fifth hound name we return to British folklore; specifically Lancashire and Yorkshire. In these counties the local black dog apparition is called Skriker, and, like his relatives Padfoot and the barghest, he is said to haunt dark lanes and crossroads. Such places have always been associated with the strange and supernatural, with crossroads especially being seen as a location where not only physical paths cross, but also where the worlds overlap and the veil between the apparent and Otherworld become thin. Some research also suggests that lanes and trackways reported to be frequented by black dog apparitions follow ancient ley lines or ceremonial paths.

Skriker, or Shrieker, is named for the wailing sound that he makes as he wanders through the night. Unlike many other black dogs, Skriker is is said to roam invisibly, although hearing him is still said to be an omen of death. It may be his awful shrieking that you hear, or it may instead be a persistent padding footfall behind you that sounds like old shoes in soft mud.

The fact that black dogs are often also said to haunt churchyards seems logical when we consider that churches were often built on previously pagan sites situated where ley lines crossed. Aside from the belief that the first person who was buried in a new churchyard would have the duty of protecting it from the Devil, causing a tradition of burying a black dog in the Northern side of the churchyard to take on this task, it would seem reasonable that an apparition would continue to follow its habitual trackway even if buildings were erected across it.

It intrigues me that so many black dog phenomenon are now linked to the Devil, given that in early folk traditions they were so often the protector. I have attempted to capture this duality in 'Heat of the Hunt' by portraying Gabriel's nine hounds as both helpful and terrifying. They can shapeshift, according to the will of the Huntmaster, between appearing as a mortal Labrador and showing themselves as half decayed monsters. A rogue hound, not bound to any master, is what attacks the Plume of Feathers pub and is described as a hellhound. But in contrast, it is Gabriel's favourite, Fen, who acts as a guardian to Gemma.

If you are enjoying reading about the folklore that inspires me, then you might just like to read Heat of the Hunt Book. It can be ordered direct from the author or from your local Waterstones.

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY FOUR

GUINEFORT

In contrast to yesterdays venture into demonology, the name Guinefort actually comes from St. Guinefort, the dog saint of folk Catholicism. In 'Heat of the Hunt' it is the job of Gabriel, as huntmaster, to patrol the borders of his fae clan territory and ensure their existence remains hidden from mortals. In order to do this, in addition to his nine hounds, he is granted certain magikal abilities, which have in the past caused miraculous occurrences to be attributed to him. Guinefort is the name of one of his hounds.

Guinefort was a greyhound belonging to a knight who lived in a grand castle in Lyon, France. One day, the knight went out hunting, and left his young son guarded by his faithful hound. When the knight returned, he found an empty crib, and Guinefort greeted him with bloody jaws. In a grieving rage, the knight killed the dog. It was only after this that the knight moved some blankets aside and found the body of a dead viper and his perfectly unharmed son.

The family, in their sorrow, dropped the body of Guinefort down a well and covered him over with stones, before planting a grove of trees around the site. This folkloric element may have links to the practice, which we have previously considered, of burying dogs at important sites in order to put them under the protection of a canine spirit.

Over time, the well became a site of pilgrimage, and locals visited the shrine to ask Guinefort for help in healing their infants. Women would leave salt and burning candles as offerings in the grove, despite the practice being branded as 'heathen'. Around one hundred years after the shrine was erected a friar, named Stephen of Bourbon, had Guinefort's body dug up and burned, and the trees cut down. But, such reverence and belief was attached to the martyred animal that the cult of the dog saint persisted well into the 1930s, despite the prohibitions of the Catholic church.

If you find folklore fascinating, you might just enjoy reading 'Heat of the Hunt'. It is available to order direct from the author or from your local Waterstones.

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY THREE

VALEFOR

As mentioned in my previous post, the master of the Wild Hunt has nine magikal hounds which accompany him in 'Heat of the Hunt'. Why nine in particular, you may ask. Well, the number nine is also known as the number of magic, being three times three. Three itself is seen as the number of divine completion, and therefore multiplying it by itself creates a number which can be understood to embody spiritual enlightenment and eternity. In this capacity, it seemed the ideal number of immortal, supernatural hounds, whose physical forms are crafted from the bones of a thousand sacrifices.

The name Valefor, unlike the other eight titles of the hounds, does not come from a folk legend particularly concerning a spectral dog. Instead, Valefor (or Malaphar/ Malephar) is a fallen angel who became a Duke of hell and ruled over ten legions of demons. He appears as a many headed lion, a lion with the head of an ass or a lion with the head of a human thief. Although, in the 'Pseudomonarchia Daemonum' (1583 ) the word for 'thief' also has an alternative translation of 'barking' which gives us our hound link.

In the system of the Golden Dawn, Valefor is the Goetic Demon aligned with the sign of Taurus, its ruling planet Venus and also the planet Saturn. Saturn, being the planet most readily linked with the archetypal image of destruction and death, gives Valefor an association with initiation and rebirth through death or sacrifice. All of this makes it a fitting name for one of Gabriel's hounds, given the fact that there is only ever permitted to be one huntmaster and one apprentice within a fae clan at any time. Any additional fae born with the power to raise the hounds are sacrificed back to the pack in a sombre ceremony which is considered a great honour.

If you have enjoyed this article, then you may just enjoy reading 'Heat of the Hunt'.

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY TWO

SHUCK

We learnt the folklore behind the name of one of Gabriel's hounds yesterday, and today we are going to learn more about another one. In 'Heat of the Hunt' the master of the Wild Hunt in Dartmoor has nine hounds in total, so it's lucky that Britain has an absolute wealth of mythology to do with black dogs!

Black Shuck is the ghostly black dog of East Anglia, which includes the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. He is said to lurk in churchyards at night, and also follow lone travellers down dark roads. Those unlucky enough to encounter him usually experience a sense of foreboding and terror, even though his footsteps make no sound behind them. Like the barghest, a sighting of Shuck is said to be a portent of death within a year.

The description of his appearance varies slightly from source to source. In some reports he is the size of a large dog, and in others he is as big as a calf and capable of clearing a hedge in a single bound. In one report he even has just one eye, although in most sightings he is described with two fiery red eyes and fearsome jaws.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about Shuck is the dual nature of the folklore that surrounds him. In the well known tale of the hellhound of Bungay, a huge hound bursts into Holy Trinity church and kills two of the congregation, as well as causing the steeple to collapse. On leaving, the dog also leaves scorch marks on the church door, which can be seen to this day. This tale is echoed in 'Heat of the Hunt' when the Plume of Feathers pub is attacked by the rogue hound and a rather worse for wear visitor makes a comparison to the event at Bungay.

But in other reports, notably in two from Littleport, the ghostly dog apparition is more kindly and follows travellers in order to protect them. Certain roads are said to be haunted by black hounds which died protecting their masters or saving previous passers by from unwholesome fates. These place specific hauntings may be linked to the ancient practice of burying a black dog in the foundations of a new bridge or important building, so that the spirit would act as a guardian of that place.

If you love folklore then you might just enjoy reading Heat of the Hunt Book. It can be ordered direct from the author or through your local Waterstones.

Paperback: www.facebook.com/heatofthehunt

Ebook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heat-Hunt-Helen-JR-Bruce-ebook/dp/B07WK82T62/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UH0FNQDTVTYM&keywords=heat+of+the+hunt&qid=1575451610&s=books&sprefix=heat+of+the+%2Caps%2C224&sr=1-1

Image: Stoke Sentinel

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FOLKLORE CALENDAR DAY ONE

BARGHEST

In 'Heat of the Hunt' Gabriel, the master of the Wild Hunt, has a pack of nine enchanted hounds which do his bidding and help him to protect his faerie clan. Each of them is named and called one by one in the raising ceremony. So, to begin our calendar, I thought I would share the folklore behind each of their names.

The barghest is described as a monstrous, goblin dog in Yorkshire folklore. It has huge teeth and claws and appears only at night. A sighting of the barghest, or barguest, will mean death for the person who gazed upon it, and even a fleeting glimpse of the creature will bring death after a few months.

In another story, coming from Darlington, the local barghest was a shapeshifter who could also take on the form of a headless man, a headless lady, a white cat and a rabbit, as well as a large black dog.

Some tales state that the barghest cannot cross running water and warn that a strike from its paw will leave a wound that will never heal. The baghest, acting as an omen of death, may lay across the doorway of a house where a person is soon to die. Following a notable death, it may also be seen leading a yowling and howling funeral procession with all of the local dogs through town.

Photo: artists impression of barghest, villains fandom .com

If you love folklore, why not order your copy of 'Heat of the Hunt'?

paperback: www.facebook.com/heatofthehunt

Ebook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heat-Hunt-Helen-JR-Bruce-ebook/dp/B07WK82T62/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UH0FNQDTVTYM&keywords=heat+of+the+hunt&qid=1575451610&s=books&sprefix=heat+of+the+%2Caps%2C224&sr=1-1

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I am going to be doing a ‘Folklore Calendar’ from the 1st to the 24th. Each day there will be a new mini article about folklore which has inspired my writing. Of course you can still have chocolate as well...

[heatofthehunt]

‘Heat of the Hunt’ is now available as an ebook on Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07WK82T62?pf_rd_p=330fbd82-d4fe-42e5-9c16-d4b886747c64&pf_rd_r=36WQKHJ9374E26T0JNV0