Mabon is Not Just for Witches
Glaistig the Scottish Gray Lady
I
discovered Glaistig at a now-defunct site called Monsterpedia, The picture is from that site so it might be a misuse of copyright. But they started it!
According to one legend the glaistig was once a mortal noblewoman, to whom a fairy nature had been given or who was cursed with the goat's legs and immortality, and since has been known as The Green (or Gray) Lady.
In most stories, the creature is described as a beautiful woman with dusky or gray skin and long blonde hair. Her lower half is that of a goat, usually disguised by a long, flowing green robe or dress.
In the diverse and changing traditions of the Highlands, the Glaistig was seen as both benevolent and malevolent towards humans. In one aspect she even takes the role of the Banshee, wailing at the death of important people.
The glaistig may take the form of a beautiful woman, especially one already known to the male victim; after offering sexual favors like a camp follower, she leaves her male victim with his throat cut, every drop of blood sucked from him. Other such tales have her casting stones in the path of travelers or throwing them off course.
In some variant stories the glaistig may be seen as benevolent, fond of children and a protector of old people. Libations of milk were poured for her, especially on selected stones; this veneration may be linked with older fertility customs. The glaistig has been described in some folklore as watching over children while their mothers milked the cows and fathers watched over the herds.
The glaistig frequented the lonely lochs and rivers in the Highlands of Scotland, such as Ardnacaillich, Donolly Castle, Loch Fyne, Crathes Castle and in Wales at Caerphilly.
Excerpt
Rune, Kat’s
brother, is searching for his sister while Cailleach is searching for
both Rune and Kat by sending one or more of her minions to find them.
Glaistig’s job is to find Rune, determine whether or not he’s a
vampire, and to bring the boy to the goddess.
As the sun eased down to hide behind a
mountain range to the west, a movement to his left caught his
attention. It looked like a tendril of smoke rising from the swamp.
Since it was unlikely anything could burn in the bog, he watched the
gray mist with interest. He notched up his vampire vision to watch.
The smoky mist grew opaque then solid. A figure formed, but as if a
statue made of granite, it was solid gray. Watching closely, Rune
waited to see what this might be. He had studied all types of magical
beings and couldn’t recall one like this.
The smoke woman, for he now recognized
the shape as female, wafted toward him on the air. When it stopped a
few feet away from him, it slowly gathered color from the moors.
Heather green, water blue, dried grass yellow. The colors mixed and
swirled and finally settled on the figure, giving her the approximate
colors of a woman with blonde hair, a pale, gray face, and dazzling
blue eyes staring at him in silence. She wore a long dress and cape,
both the color of morning mist.
Rune ventured a greeting. “Hello?”
The woman didn’t speak, but she moved again, this time circling
him. Rune turned to keep her in his sight.
“I am
Glaistig.” Her voice was as soft as the smoke from which she
formed.
Without his
vampire hearing, Rune wouldn’t have been able to hear the whisper.
“Ahem. I’m Rune. Nice to meet you.” Rune wondered whether to
offer his hand to shake and decided not to risk it. He’d heard some
magical beings poisoned those who touched them.
The pale woman
looked him up and down and then nodded slightly. “You are vampyr?”
“Um. Is that a
problem?”
“Not at all. I
am also.”
“Oh. I should
have guessed. Night. Smoke. Oh! I remember who you are!” Rune
snapped his fingers. “Glaistig, the Gray Lady. But you’re not a
true vampire, are you?”
“It depends
upon my mood and how a person treats me. If I meet a man on the road,
and he tries to grab me, I dance away and let him follow. I lure him
to my lair. Then, I take his blood. But if a man tips his hat and
wishes me a good evening, I leave him with a smile.”
“That’s a
relief. My name is Rune, and I’m here looking for my si—” Rune
stopped and considered that if Glaistig was a vampire and thought he
was too, he shouldn’t mention he had a witch sister. “Uh, a
female friend. Have you seen a girl with black hair?”
“I have not,
but Cailleach may be able to help you.” Something darker than the
blackest shadow lumbered out of the night. Glaistig glanced at the
giant coming up behind her. “It’s all right, Bodach. This man is
a vampire.”
The giant halted
by her side and glared down at Rune, who swallowed hard and craned
his neck to look up at the ugly face on top of the nine-foot tall
body. The giant sniffed. “As you say, Glaistig. We take him to
Cailleach?”
“Yes, we do.”
Turning to Rune, the Gray Lady beckoned with her index finger. “Come,
Rune. We shall visit the goddess.”
“Well, that’s
okay. I’ll just look over there,” Rune replied, pointing in the
opposite direction of where Glaistig appeared to be headed.
Bodach took two
long strides and grabbed Rune’s arm before he could react.
“Uh, since you
put it that way.” He pulled his arm away from the giant and
followed Glaistig.
The Gray Lady
smiled at him. “I’m so happy you agree. Bodach is Cailleach’s
very faithful servant. I doubt he would take no for an answer.”
Rune nodded glumly. It looked like he
was stuck for now. Still, it might be a good thing. This Cailleach
might be able to help find Kat. But why would being a vampire all of
a sudden be a good thing? He could sense that if he had not been a
vampire, Bodach the giant, would now be crushing his skull between
his two gigantic hands. And who was this goddess Cailleach? The name
didn’t ring any bells.
Rune followed
Glaistig, with Bodach close on his heels. Over the thumps of Bodach’s
heavy footsteps, he heard the skittering sound of a small animal in
the grass as they walked away.
* * *
SCOTCH BROOM: Book 3 of The Witches of Galdorheim
A magical trip to Stonehenge lands a witch in the Otherworld where an ancient goddess is up to no good.
Kindle and Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JKR8XRG
Audiobook at Amazon or get it free on Audible when you take the free trial.
Get the entire series including the prequel short story, "Spellslinger," and the follow-up "Blood Ties Tested." in a single volume: The Compleat and True History of the Witches of Galdorheim.
Smashwords All Formats: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/491001
Kat expects to have a great time on her graduation trip to Stonehenge. However, from the moment she leaves the witches’ arctic island, Galdorheim, she gets in nothing but trouble. Her younger half-brother tries to horn in on her trip, she gets lost in the magical Otherworld realm, is led astray by a supposed friend, then she has to confront a Scottish goddess who’s fallen on hard times.
While dodging the goddess’ minions and trying to find her way out of the Otherworld, Kat soon learns she shouldn’t underestimate the old has-been for one second; the crone still has a few tricks that can drain a witch’s magic in a flash. To make matters worse, Kat's brother secretly followed her into the Otherworld. Now he’s in danger too. Kat has to go one on one with the goddess to save herself and her brother.
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