Icy Sedgwick's Blog, page 27

Free Flash Fiction – ‘Pipers Piping’

A piper sits in the square, huddled on the corner of a monument to a forgotten City Father. Passersby see his threadbare stockings through the holes in his battered boots, and they shake their well-coiffed heads. Pipers are not welcome among them, it seems. They tut at his moth-eaten tunic and mutter among themselves about […]

The post Free Flash Fiction – ‘Pipers Piping’ appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.

Exploring Strange Tales Of Civil War Ghosts In England

When you look at reports of English phantoms, tales of Civil War ghosts are some of the most common. Haunting battlefields, pubs, castles, and former military sites prove popular locations. In Newcastle, we even have stories of a ‘spinning’ Cavalier. The ghost rises to the ceiling inside Sallyport Tower, revolving as he goes. Some believe […]

The post Exploring Strange Tales Of Civil War Ghosts In England appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.

These 5 UK Castles Feature A Green Lady Ghost

We’ve all heard of castles and stately homes having a White Lady, or a Grey Lady. I’ve already written about the Grey Lady of the Newcastle Assembly Rooms. Based on that fact, I’d made the point on Twitter that spectral ladies often appear as pink, white, or grey. Lots of people told me they’d also […]

The post These 5 UK Castles Feature A Green Lady Ghost appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.

Hawthorn Folklore: Fairies and the May Day tree

Hawthorn is a common sight around the UK. With it comes a slew of folklore and superstitions! Its name comes from Anglo-Saxon word ‘hagedorn’, which means ‘hedge thorn’. This refers to its use as a boundary plant. Farmers used hawthorn in their hedges to protect their crops or cattle from witches (Woolf 2015). Some believed […]

The post Hawthorn Folklore: Fairies and the May Day tree appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.

Elder Trees: Medicine, Protection, and Witches

Elder trees are a common sight in the UK. Their frothy white flowers dip from hedgerows. Then the sprays of dark berries lend themselves to elderberry cordial or wine. But there’s a stranger side to the elder tree. Beloved for its ability to protect one from witches, they’re also believed to be witches in disguise. […]

The post Elder Trees: Medicine, Protection, and Witches appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.

3 reasons you might have writer’s block (and what to do about it)

Some writers don’t believe in writer’s block. Writers like Lee Child will liken writing to plumbing. If a plumber can’t turn up to a job and say “Oh I don’t feel like plumbing today” then apparently writers can’t do that either. Bit of a weird comparison. Others are afflicted with writer’s block on a regular basis. […]

The post 3 reasons you might have writer’s block (and what to do about it) appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.

Churches, Death and Resurrection: The Yew in Folklore

Yew (Taxus baccata) is a very poisonous tree, appearing in both English legend and folklore. Source of the wood for our famous longbows, it also stands guard over churchyards and sacred sites. The trees also grow to ancient ages, with some even believed to be as old as 2,500 years. True, it’s difficult to ‘date’ […]

The post Churches, Death and Resurrection: The Yew in Folklore appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.

How to use rowan to protect your house (and livestock)

Rowan trees have long been associated with witchcraft and magic. Its wood acted as an antidote against fairies, the Evil Eye, and even disease. It even bore the name of the “wayfarer’s tree” since it stopped people from getting lost on a journey. Patricia Monaghan notes the tree is often found near ancient monuments, stone […]

The post How to use rowan to protect your house (and livestock) appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.

Pay a visit to the Dead House!

The name ‘dead house’ conjures up all kinds of ideas, doesn’t it? Is it a house occupied by the dead? Is it a rotten house that no one lives in anymore? Some beliefs posit the idea that the spirit can’t move on until the body is finally at peace. Others explore the notion that the […]

The post Pay a visit to the Dead House! appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.

Meet Charon: the legendary ferryman of Greek myth!

Charon, the ancient ferryman of Greek myth, is one of those figures that pops up even where other deities get ignored or forgotten. Sometimes people simply call him ‘the ferryman’ and he loses his name, but we all know who we’re referring to. But who was Charon, and what is the folklore surrounding him? Hit […]

The post Meet Charon: the legendary ferryman of Greek myth! appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.