Spirits of the Trees

[image error]The answer to last week’s Paranormal Poll was, indeed, the DRYAD.  These tree spirits have been sung, chanted and hugged by myriad cultures since the dawn of time ~ they have a decidedly evergreen awareness.  Dryads are believed to be individualistic entities that inhabit a single tree for the life of the tree, unlike some other elementals ~ like naiads and sylphs ~ that cluster and swirl together.

When they have been perceived, tree spirits are described as being tall, angular of face, brown or dusky of countenance, leggy of limb.  They are subtle, stoic, patient and ponderous like, well, like a tree.

I have a little book called THE REAL WORLD OF FAIRIES by Dora Van Gelder.  In chapter seven, she elaborates on the social life of dryads:  At night these beings seem to have more free time and opportunity for social life.  They all come out of their barks, and if the person upon whom they have bestowed their affection is staying in a house and the tree is not too far away, the tree spirits may come out and go in search of him.  I think one reason why most people feel afraid at night in a forest is because all these beings seem to have emerged from their trees, so that one feels surrounded by unseen presences.

She goes on to write that trees may have an aversion to certain humans.  Regarding this, my sister Verona firmly believes that the big old oak in her backyard dislikes her immensely, and throws acorns or drops branches on her at every opportunity (but leaves the rest of the family alone).  She knows better than to chop it down though…because then the dryad would go a wandering….  I feel a story coming on.

Do you have any tree spirit stories?

Best Wishes,
Kellyann Zuzulo
www.kfzuzulo.com
DISSOLVE, part of Spells, Slots & Sirens: Stories of the Aracana Royale
coming this summer from Sapphire Blue Publishing.