Whispering Woods Faery Course
Lesson Four
Hag Faeries
During the English Renaissance the word “Hag” and “Fairy” were often synonymous with each other. They were often found in folktale related stories of the Crone These Goddesses’ were connected to Death, as well as the season of winter. It was thought that the Hag Faeries were responsible for winter, sickness and of course death. Hag Faeries are also known to be a threat to humans as they kill and devour humans. They will often cook the carcass within a large cauldron. Hag Faeries are usually found between the times of Beltain and Samhain. The term “Hag ridden” referred to a horse that was stolen by a faery or witch and ridden all night, only to be returned at dawn all worn out or Hag ridden.
There are many different Hag Faeries and following are but a few examples of these.
Vargamor: (Wolf Crones) these faeries dwell within the forests of Sweden. They are said to have the power of sorcery and to be closely associated with wolves, thus their name, Wolf crones. The vargamor are known to provide human victims for wolf companions.
Caillage Ny Groagmagh: (Old Woman of Gloominess) She is a hag faery from Manx and is said to control the weather. And similar to the American groundhog, she comes out at Imbolc to check the weather. If the weather is bad it will stay that way for awhile. And if it is good she will keep it that way for awhile.
Yama-Uba: Yama Uba is a notorious mountain hag faery who lives in Japan. She has a head full of snakes which she uses to catch human prey with. The snakes feed it into her mouth which is located on top of her head. Reminds me of my ex mother in law (tongue in cheek).
Gorska Makva: She is a Hag Faery from Bulgaria who prowls through villages at night in an effort to torment children.
Baba Yaga: (Grandmother Bony Shanks) This Russian hag faery was said to live in a magical home which would move from place to place on a set of chicken legs. Baba Yaga is sometimes shown as an antagonist, and sometimes as a source of guidance; there are stories where she helps people with their quests, and stories in which she kidnaps children and threatens to eat them. If someone offended her she would tear their flesh from their body with her bare teeth. It is said that she flies around in a cauldron and that she sweeps away the tracks behind her with a broom made out of silver birch. She is responsible for storms rising.
Gentle Annie – She is a hag faery of the Scottish Lowlands. It is thought that she has control over the storms. She is a cannibal hag with a blue face and iron claws that supposedly were used to dig a cave in the Dane Hills in Leicestershire.
Yuki Onna: Yuki Onna is a Japanese hag faery that lives in the snowstorms. She delights in leading travelers astray so that they perish in the ice and snow.
Gyre-Carlin: Is a Hag Faery who resides in Scotland. When she rides the storms she is known as “Nicnevin”. She is also known to have considerable skills in Spinning.
Cally Berry: She is an Ulster Hag Faery who is in a constant state of war with Finn Mac Cumhal and his followers. She sometimes takes the form of a crane to fly about and predict storms. She is often equated with the Caillech Bheur of Scotland, though in my opinion they are two separate entities.
Gwyllion: (Hag Fairy) these are the mountain faeries of Wales. They often lead wanderers astray in the mountains. It is said that they tend to herds of goats in the mountains and that they also can shape shift into goats. It is said that they detest both humans and storms.
Muireartach: She is a Scottish Hag Faery who will appear as a bluish-grey, old crone with sharp teeth and only one large eye. Or sometimes she will appear as a sea snake. She was also mother to the king of the mythical underwater realm of Luchlan. She is also responsible for creating storms off of the Scottish coast.
Quiz:
1. Vargamor dwell within the forests of _______.
2. Gentle Annie is a Hag Faery of the __________ lowlands.
3. Hag Faeries are usually found between the times of _______ and Samhain.
4. Baba Yaga flies around in a _______.
5. Cally Berry sometimes takes the form of a _____
Witches Of The Craft® 