Leanan Sidhe

The Leanan Sidhe
Gaelic translation: leanan meaning the love of my soul or spirit, my inspiration. "Sidhe" of course means faery. Other meanings include faery mistress, faery sweetheart or spirit of life. Pronounced lan-awn shee.

Purpose/abilities: There are two different stories to the Leanan Sidhe - one is very dark, the other a bit lighter. The lighter tale believes she is a muse that bestows the ability to create a work of art, music, or poetry with great depth of feeling. The price of this gift usually is sorrow or heartbreak that is born of obsession. She is an empath who is compelled to inspire love and despair, longing and desire. The other belief is that the Leanan Sidhe gives this gift and feeds off the artist's emotions until they die of depression, and even then continues to feed off them.

Symbols/associations: She is connected with the Celtic crone goddesses who preside over the great cauldron of life, death, and rebirth. She is also thought to be the embodiment of intelligence and creativity, art and magic.

"She is intelligence and creativity, art and magic. In this earthly realm, so embraced with fear of the erotic and the sensual, it is no wonder she who is the embodiment of these very qualities, has been considered dangerous and evil, as many woman have been considered evil who revel in their mystery, power and dark exotic beauty."
~ Aria Nadii, from Gateway of Faerie


Entered in the Celtic Creatures contest, hosted by


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Poser, Paint Shop Pro
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all rights reserved, ©Brandy Thomas




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