Myth and Magic in Romance

Flossie here - wishing you Happy May! The month of May frolics onto the green stage, dressed in purples and pinks—and all the colors of spring. She is nothing if not decked out! Her fragrance uplifts the spirits. When I open my back door, hypnotic jasmine permeates the air. Out front, the sweet scent of phlox takes me back to childhood. With May comes the full intensity of spring.

Greeks and Romans celebrated May as a time of spring and rebirth in honor of Maia, a mountain nymph remembered today as one of the Pleiades. Her father was Atlas, who carried the earth on his shoulders. Her son with Zeus was fleet-footed Hermes, known to the Romans as Mercury. May was also of high importance to the ancient Celts and northern Europeans. On the Wheel of the Year, May 1st marked the halfway point between spring equinox and summer solstice. Heralding back to the Celts as a pastoral people whose survival depended on cattle, April 30 (Walpurgis Night) and May 1st (Beltane) were celebrated with bonfires and other rituals to protect the herds.

Such old stories as these are what drive my need to populate my fantasy romances with goddesses, ghosts, guardians, nymphs, fairies, angels, demons, and other magical beings. I don't necessarily use the exact name or attributes of a mythological being. Oftentimes I tweak and switch things around. The connections can be loose, fun, and modern. In the Wytchfae world all pantheons thrive in dimensions parallel to earth. Humans with fae blood and other sensitives can often communicate with otherworldly inhabitants and even travel to magical realms and forgotten times.

I want to share with you a few of the ways the Wytchfae Series delves into mythology. These short descriptions are not meant to sound as spiffy as blurbs. They are meant to give an idea of the various mythologies and beings that fired me up during the writing of the stories.

Wytchfae Runes - The hero, a Viking ghost, and heroine, a Wytchfae (fae blood, witch training) travel back to the Viking age and the Underworld to undo a curse. They play hardball with Helle (based on the Norse goddess, Hel) and a sorceress, Skada (based on the giantess Skadi).

Guardian of the Deep – A succubus and undersea guardian, Samael, (name has angelic ties) go on the run from Lilith (based on a Sumerian demon).

Mind Your Goddess – Epona (based on the Celtic goddess) loves dark guardian Eshigel (name linked to Sumerian myth). The hero encounters a dangerous, lovesick Lamia (Greek myth - half woman, half snake).

Time Singer – A Wytchfae travels back to ancient Ireland, falls for a warrior, and encounters numerous fae, including a cat sith (woman/cat shifter). Most of the characters are based on Irish legends and myths of the Firbolg people and the Tuatha Dé Danann (the original fairies), including King Nuada (the first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann).

Lord of Fire – An otherworldly guardian banished to the earth realm (name Gabriel has angelic ties) gets all shook up by a Wytchfae and fights a reptilian demon (Sumerian) who has transported the heroine to medieval times.

Demoness Dreams – We are back to Norse mythology with this one. Goddess of the Underworld, Helle, sends an assassin to deal with the potentially lethal heroine. Another rendezvous is with the sorceress Skada. Along the way we meet some entertainingly fierce ice demons.

Soul Weaver (to be published) – The heroine, Resa, little sis of the Three Fates (Greek mythology) and the hero, Rhade, a Sumerian war god, fall in love while fighting off ancient warriors who have regressed into ghouls.

Silver’s Angel (to be published) -  This is the love story of a cat sith/shifter (Celtic mythology) and a rock star (American mythology LOL).

Suggestions for May: Go outside. Get some sunshine. Plant your garden if you haven’t already. Water and nurture it. Smell the flowers! Oh, and also—find time to relax and read the books you enjoy. We Pen Dames are doing our best to write the stories we hope you’ll love. We have another cool contest coming up, too. Stay tuned for that.

Heart, Humor, & Happily Ever After!

Flossie Benton Rogers

Signs of Spring Fever

 

Are the neighborhood songbirds trilling more sweetly? Do bright colors have more appeal? Do you have an urge to go on walks or sunshiny drives? If the answer is yes, you likely have spring fever! 

Spring fever has a mental component. Our plots and plans increase. Our mood is rash and raring to go. It also has a physical component, based on eons of cyclical history. In the old days, after long winter months of dried meats and root vegetables, our forebears craved fresh green edibles. The digestion needed a jump start, and blood needed purifying. As part of changing seasons, folks contrived remedies known as spring tonics. I remember my grandmother sipping the vitamin-laden “pot likker” from a simmering pot of collard greens. It was “good for what ails you.” She got the remedy from her mother, Kesiah, the lady on the left in the picture.

COLLARD GREENS & POT LIKKER 

INGREDIENTS

2 TBSP Oil

A Mess (Pound) of Collard, Mustard, or Turnip Greens

3 Cups Chicken Stock or Water

1-2 Ham Hocks or 8 Slices of Bacon

1 TSP Salt

Pinch of Black Pepper

Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes

1 Chopped Onion

2 Cloves of Garlic

DIRECTIONS

Place oil in a large pot. Add the onion and cook until soft, around 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 50-60 seconds. Add the greens, using a large fork or tongs to get them coated with the onion, garlic, and oil mixture. Add the ham hocks or bacon. Pour the stock or water over the greens and meat. Cover the pot and cook for 45-55 minutes or until the greens are wilted and done to your satisfaction.

 

SERVING

Dish the greens out into a bowl and ladle in plenty of the liquid pot likker. If you are not low carbing it, add a pone or piece of cornbread to soak up the likker for an extra special treat.

The goddess Epona is a secondary character in Wytchfae Runes and the heroine of Mind Your Goddess. As a goddess of fruitfulness, she embodies the vitality, abundance, and compassionate renewal of spring.

from Wytchfae Runes:

Epona cantered from the forest on a grey and silver dappled horse. Like a revelation of spring, the goddess known for riding side-saddle gracefully guided the unbridled mare. On one slender arm, Epona carried a basket that overflowed with fruits, flowers, and other rich bounty from the earth. Kelly inhaled the scent of roses, cinnamon, and grapes.

Halting just outside the circle near one of the sentinel trees, Epona dismounted, slipping nimbly to the ground.

Kelly leaned forward in an effort to hear the goddess’ few whispered words into the regal and twitching ears of her mount.

Whickering and bobbing her head in apparent understanding, the mare galloped away.

With her ever-present cornucopia swinging at her side, Epona glided toward Kelly.

Never before had the Wytchfae seen Epona so clearly, a vision of abundance. Kelly’s throat pulsated, as much of the energy she used was transmitted through this energy center or chakra.

Epona’s voice reminded Kelly of the taste of honeyed wine. “Sister mine, you have long given me your admiration and dedication. I stand with you on your journey.”

Kelly felt tears brim at Epona’s support.

The goddess continued. “But, as you know, I have no weapons to aid you. As well, I have no great ability in using them. My gifts lie in a different direction.”

Thrilled to have Epona join her and not caring a fig that she wasn’t a warrior goddess, Kelly smiled.

“Shall I come with you, sister?”

Kelly nodded vehemently.

“Then accept this rose quartz crystal as my token.”

“Thank you.” Kelly placed the shimmering gemstone, mounted on a chain of intricately carved rose quartz pieces, around her throat.

“You are most welcome, sister.” Epona moved to stand beside her. The warmth of the goddess spread to Kelly, deepening her trance. She knew she was moving in between worlds now.

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Heart, Humor, and Happily Ever After from the Pen Dames!

Posted by Flossie Benton Rogers