Fabulous Folklore with Icy

In this very first interview-based episode of Fabulous Folklore, I chat to astrologer and folk witch Amaya Rourke! We talk about Hellenistic astrology and its connection to mythology, the importance of folklore and how/why it binds us, and Amaya relates the somewhat horrifying tale of Fairy Tell True. Amaya is an animist, folk witch, astrological magician, and folk herbalist, who is fascinated bot...

Who is the Grey Man of Bellister, whose appearance heralds tragedy? Does he still wander the lonely roads around the Northumberland ruins? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post:  https://www.icysedgwick.com/grey-man-bellister/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-f...

Hazel trees appear as magical trees in both myth and legend. Learn how they were used for divination, magic, and protection from disaster in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post:  https://www.icysedgwick.com/hazel-trees-folklore/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ Becom...

Ash trees have links with the Nordic world and the folklore of Ireland and Britain. But why are they so magical and what are their links with healing? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post:  https://www.icysedgwick.com/ash-trees-folklore/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwi...

From witchcraft to Christian theology, much willow folklore surrounds this tree. Let's take a look at some of these superstitions and traditions in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: http://www.icysedgwick.com/willow-folklore/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ Becom...

The oak tree is pretty synonymous with the British landscape, from the National Trust logo to the Major Oak that sheltered Robin Hood. Elsewhere, it's been an oracle, offered protection from lightning, and been the hiding place of royalty. So let's take a look at some of these superstitions and traditions in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos, and references on the b...

Moving house is surely one of the most stressful things you can do and a whole host of superstitions have sprung up to dictate everything from which day you move, to what you take into the new house first, and how to ensure good luck once you're there. So let's take a look at some of these superstitions and traditions in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and referen...

Weddings are often a 'stand out' event in many people's lives, whether as guests or members of the bridal party. It's hardly surprising that such an important day has accrued so much wedding folklore to ensure the marriage goes well. From the cake to the bouquet, the dress to the date itself, most elements of a wedding have helpful sayings, prohibitions, or dedicated rituals attached. Find out mor...

At the start of August, I asked people what brought them to folklore, or stimulated their original interest in it. I was amazed at the response, so having collated the answers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, I put together this episode exploring the six main pathways people followed to find folklore! Find out what they are in this special interim episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the ima...

Children's folklore refers to the study of lore passed between children. It differs from folklore about children since it's driven by the games, rhymes, and traditions that children share away from adults. Find out more about childrens' games, legends, rhymes and fortune-telling in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysed...

A lot of birth folklore is about protecting the baby and mother. Some of it tries to predict or influence the future life of the baby.  Find out more about pregnancy and birth folklore in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/birth-folklore/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https:/...

Lammas is celebrated on 1 August to celebrate the first harvests. But how ancient is the festival, and how do people celebrate it now?  Find out more about Lammas lore in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/lammas-lore/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com...

Marianne Stokes was a late Victorian artist who was important to the movement to revive tempera painting. She also illustrated fairy tales, as well as creating a valuable visual record of traditional Slavic dress in the early 20th century. Find out how she balanced images of folk life with fairy tales in her work in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references o...

Artist Edward Burne-Jones was obsessed with King Arthur until the day he died. Find out which other fairy tales and myths he featured in his work in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/Edward-Burne-Jones/ Watch the video version on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/kMKQ0FoIaZU Meet Fortuna, Goddess of Luck, Abu...

Victorian artist Evelyn De Morgan presented a new perspective of many mythological women in her work. Find out which figures she re-represented in her own way in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! 2:27 - Bio 5:41 - 'The Angel of Death' 8:08 - 'Clytie' 10:35 - 'Flora' 12:18 - 'Eos' 14:19 - 'Helen of Troy' 17:52 - 'The Love Potion' Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: http...

Victorian artist John William Waterhouse used many myths and legends to inspire his work. Greek goddess Circe, the Lady of Shalott, Pandora, and Odysseus all appear in his paintings, often more than once. Let's explore the link between folklore and art in his work in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! YouTube version: https://youtu.be/sWzul5nKuWE Find the images, videos and references on th...

One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy... We've all heard some variation on this counting rhyme involving magpies. It's actually a form of divination, predicting the future using the number of birds you see. But how did magpies go from being a death omen to a symbol of general bad luck? And what variations on the rhyme are there? Find out more in this week's episode of Fabul...

British big cats are not true cryptids since some sightings are of genuine big cats. But what of the others? Are they mere urban legend or actually real? Find out more about the 'alien big cat' phenomenon in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/british-big-cats/ Get your free guide to home protection the folk...

From clocks to calendars, the folklore of time deals with omens and portents of doom. Find out more about these temporal superstitions here. Find out more about some unusual place names in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-time/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: http...

Place names can be a treasure trove of information. They also attract folklore, so how do you sort the origin from the myth?  Find out more about some unusual place names in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-place-names/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www....

An altar to Antenociticus stands in Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne. He doesn't appear elsewhere in the Empire. So who was he and why did he have his own temple? Find out more about this potentially Celtic god adopted by the Romans in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/antenociticus/ Get your free guide to hom...

Jupiter was the chief of the Roman gods, but also the representative of the Roman state. Find out more about this famous thunder god in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/jupiter-optimus-maximus/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ Drop you...

Mars is the Roman god of war. But it turns out there's more to him than swinging a sword around! Learn about this versatile god in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/mars-god-of-war/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ Grab your tickets for...

The Temple of Mithras lies under a London office block. But who discovered it and what was it for?  Learn about this mysterious god—and this fascinating archaeological find—in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/temple-of-mithras/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icys...

The Great North Museum is stuffed with altars dedicated to Roman gods - but what was the fascination with Neptune and Oceanus? Learn about these two Roman gods—and their connection to Newcastle upon Tyne—in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/roman-gods-newcastle/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore...