Creatures in the Mist

Sound Bite

Folklore around the world reflects mankind's abiding interest in other-worldly creatures including vampires, werewolves, giants, fairies, and spirit beings. This easy-reading compendium will have a broad appeal among the general public, delighting everyone who is fascinated with tales of fairies, mystical beings from various cultures, and the legends and fairytales that feed our imagination. 20+ illustrations.

About the Book

Varner brings together a medley of stories, myths, and folklore, sharing a fascination and respect for humankind's early and contemporary cultures and wondering at similarities across the board. Here, he focuses on "Little People" and giants, animals and were-creatures, and the odd, helpful or threatening ways imputed to our earthly companions including dogs and cats, bats and spiders, and the stories people have told each other about them since time immemorial. Illustrations, footnotes, bibliography, index.

Introduction

Little People, Fairies, Giants, Mermaids, Werewolves and Wild Men. Do we simply regard them all as products of the universal unconscious mind—a mind that stretches between cultures, times and geographic location? On the other hand, do we assign a possibility that they may be based on reality, or at least a reality that co-exists within our own sense of reality?

This question is not a new one by any means. Douglas Hyde, President of the Gaelic League at the turn of the 20th century wrote, "the problem we have to deal with is a startling one—Are these beings of the spirit world real beings, having a veritable existence of their own, or are they only the creation of the imagination of "informants", and the tradition of bygone centuries?—Is not the Mermaid to be found in Greece, and is not the Lorelei as Germanic as the Kelpy is Caledonian. If we grant that all these are creatures of primitive folk-belief, then how they come to be so ceases to be a Celtic problem, it becomes a world problem.

What we do know is that accounts of "Little People," Fairies, Wild Men and giants are common among Native American people as they are among the people of Europe, Africa and Asia. Many of their stories and descriptions are, for the most part, identical. Why is this? I am afraid that I do not have an answer to this question (only guesses) and can only provide more related folklore, theories and suppositions for consideration. I hope that by the end of this study you will be able to decide for yourself. The scope of this work is the folklore and mythology of Native American and the other indigenous people of the world.

Part One is concerned primarily with the mystical creatures that are spoken of and written about for thousands of years in most every corner of the world.

Part Two is about the spirit beings appearing in animal and insect form that have accompanied spiritual belief and traditions around the world. These spirit beings are universally recognized for many similar reasons.

We will compare their accounts with similar tales from other times and places, and explore the commonality of these legends. This book is admittedly one of a broad study. I have brought together many tales of a mythic and folkloric nature to illustrate how universal our beliefs truly are — not how different one culture is from the next, but how similar they are.

Even though Victorian writers are no longer in favor these days, the Victorians were the best at collecting and relating folktales from many different cultures, so they cannot be left out. These references are based upon first hand knowledge of many indigenous people that no longer exist either physically or culturally. A book which deals with worldwide phenomena and oral histories must be approached in a way that allows a global comparison. Those who discount everything said by Victorian scholars such as Sir James Frazer because he made some assumptions that were later found to be incorrect do the rest of us a major disservice.

A huge amount of knowledge would be lost without these works. The subjects for this book were chosen because they are recognized the world over. Fairies and Wild Men, mermaids and giants have been important in many cultures throughout time. The twelve animal/insect spirits in Part Two were chosen for the same reason. By showing the similarities as well as the differences of these stories, we show the common mythic root that we all have.

We also see that the importance of these subjects remains with all of us even today. This book has been written with a broad readership in mind. It is written for individuals who are curious about history and ancient traditions and how these traditions are linked to the rest of humankind, regardless of geography or time. It is also written so that many of these ancient customs and traditions, superstitions and beliefs may be remembered, at least in book form. Anytime we lose facts, folklore, or other details of our history, we also lose much more that links all people together in our common experiences. Finally, this book has been written to create questions and to challenge readers to conduct further exploratory research on their own so that other possibilities and realities may be experienced.

Table content

INTRODUCTION PART ONE: LITTLE PEOPLE AND GIANTS, WILD MEN, MERMAIDS AND CHAPTER 1. AN OVERVIEW OF THE Ã??'LITTLE PEOPLEÃ??' IN NATIVE AMERICA CHAPTER 2. MERMAIDS & WATER BEINGS Water Spirits The Water Horse Monsters of the Seas CHAPTER 3. THE FOREST FOLK CHAPTER 4. GIANTS CHAPTER 5. COMPARATIVE FAIRY MYTHOLOGY AND FOLKLORE Descriptions and Characteristics of the Fairies Where They Live Children & Childbirth Fairies & Illness Fairies & Adult Humans Fairies and Crops Fairies and the Color Green The Nature of Fairies CHAPTER 6. FAIRIES AND GIANTS: A WORLD OF REALITY OR WORLD OF MYTH? Fairies Giants Yeti, Sasquatch and Yowie Ã??' What Do They Have in Common? CHAPTER 7. WILD MEN CHAPTER 8. HORNED BEINGS CHAPTER 9. SPIRITS OF THE OTHERWORLD Ã??' GHOSTS AND VAMPIRES! The Vampire in Legend and Lore CHAPTER 10. WEREWOLVES Ã??' NOT JUST IN TRANSYLVANIA CHAPTER 11. HARPIES AND OTHER CREATURES OF STORMS AND WIND PART TWO: SPIRIT BEINGS OF THE ANIMAL & INSECT KIND INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 12. THE SNAKE The Horned Snake CHAPTER 13. THE TURTLE AND THE TORTOISE CHAPTER 14. THE TOAD AND THE FROG CHAPTER 15. THE EAGLE AND THE RAVEN CHAPTER 16. THE OWL CHAPTER 17. THE DOG Dog Symbolism Black Dogs Ghost Dogs Dog-Men CHAPTER 18. THE CAT CHAPTER 19. THE BEAR CHAPTER 20. THE HARE AND THE RABBIT CHAPTER 21. THE BAT CHAPTER 22. THE SPIDER CHAPTER 23. THE BEE AFTERWORD APPENDIX A: THE FAIRY APPENDIX B: THE WILD MEN BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

Information

Unveiling the Mystical Beings of Mythology: In Creatures In The Mist, Gary R. Varner leads us deep into the fascinating world of folklore and mythology, exploring the diverse beings that have populated human legends across the globe over the centuries. Through a comparative study of myths, Varner examines the similarities and differences in the stories of little people, wild men, and spirit beings that have been passed down through generations. The book uncovers how these figures reflect the fears, hopes, and values of the cultures that created them, offering a glimpse into the ancient beliefs that shaped the world.

The Little People: One of the central topics of the book is the phenomenon of “little people” – mystical, often mischievous, and elusive beings found in myths from Europe to the Americas. Varner investigates these figures, from the Irish leprechauns and the Native American “Pukwudgies” to the elves of Norse mythology, exploring the roles they play in their respective cultures, often as guardians of nature, keepers of secrets, or tricksters.

The Wild Men: The “wild men” or “wild creatures” represent a different type of mythological entity: beings who live outside human society, often depicted as savage or primal. From the Sasquatch in North America to the Yeti in the Himalayas, Varner explores the universal nature of the wild man myth, examining how they are portrayed across different cultures. Are they remnants of humanity’s primal past, or do they symbolize the untamed forces of nature? Varner draws on stories from cultures as diverse as the Ainu in Japan, the aboriginal peoples of Australia, and European legends of forest-dwelling giants.

Spirit Beings and Their Symbolism: Varner also investigates the role of spirit beings, often supernatural entities that interact with the human world in various ways. These spirits, including ancestral ghosts, nature spirits, and deities, play key roles in shaping the worldview of the cultures they belong to. From the Native American spirit guides to the ancient Greek gods and the Chinese ancestors, spirit beings act as mediators between the material and spiritual worlds. Varner reveals the interconnectedness of humanity and the divine, offering insights into the ways in which mythologies express the universal human quest for meaning and transcendence.

A Comparative Study Across Cultures: What sets Creatures In The Mist apart is its cross-cultural analysis. Varner does not simply recount mythological stories, but rather examines the common themes and archetypes that unite them. Whether it’s the smallness and elusiveness of little people, the primal nature of wild men, or the transcendent qualities of spirit beings, the book provides a rich and diverse view of how different cultures have used mythology to understand the unknown.

Connecting Myth to Reality: The book also explores how these mythical beings have influenced modern culture, from popular folklore to crypto-zoology. Varner discusses the blurred lines between myth and reality, and reflects on the ongoing fascination with creatures like Bigfoot and the Yeti, and how these figures continue to captivate the collective imagination today.

A Rich Tapestry of Myth and Legend: Creatures In The Mist offers a comprehensive look at the fantastical beings that populate the world’s mythologies. Through detailed research and engaging narrative, Gary R. Varner brings to life the diversity and depth of folklore. This is a delightful read for anyone interested in comparative mythology, folklore, and the universal themes that have shaped human storytelling across time and space.