The Histories of NicNevin

Somewhere in the dearth of light that fails to pierce the dense canopy of gnarled branches in those Fairy Forests of ancient Scotland, you may hear tell of a woman all alone with a stark stare. Her strange white rags catch the light and then whomever your narrator was- he trails off. I say HE because nary a woman would be crazy enough to venture out there to go and see. Well... alright- some women would- the Weird ones but- we'll talk of them later.

I fancy myself- one who comes to the point- provided I maintain my focus. Where was I? Yes the Strange Woman in the Woods. Yes she's a sight. There is many a version of her sightings over the centuries. Because its a rare convergence of many kinds of luck to even behold her presence, it is indeed rare. Not rare like the Sun in December Rare {laughs} but rare!

Now - because she is only seen in the forests I think we can safely assume that it be the forests inwhich she lives. Or lived. Who knows if she is still there. Where else would she go? There hasn't been a sighting in the last couple of decades. But what is that to the centuries eh? Also- were she to set foot on the wide sweeping Highlands and breathe in that air that makes Scottish Patriots of us all- I think someone would have caught a glimpse. No. She's there- in the forest. Thats all the proof needed.

The kids these days think they know everything- 'Its been decades!', they say. 'you do realize how impossible that is- that it could be the SAME person over and over being seen for hundreds of years'. Why do you believe in that fairy stuff?'.

Ohh these kids. So lost- you know what I tell them?

I say...

I know you believe in a big bang and a multiverse and I know you have your own priesty scientist on high and your bishops and experts to preach preach to you that somehow you are the first generation to magically know everything when you were born but- I would just as soon go back to a sensible respect of the forces I dont understand and fearing the God who gives me reasons to be grateful. So- you have your belief- and I have mine.

Well- that puts a pretty wonderful look upon there face- ha!ha! and I say 'God! There- THAT be another sight I'm grateful I was here for!"  And because I think of myself a man who always comes sback to the subject- let us return to Nicnevin. Who's she you ask? Well- she be the strange woman I was telling you about. Thats her name- Nicnevin!

There is a tangle of legends which has sprouted up around her not unlike the gnarled branches and boughs of the wild witchy woods of which her wondrous appearances have been whispered…

There is some call her the Gyre-Carlin- Queen of the Faeries- so she could be rapturous in her beauty but very well could be an old Crone. Or they say she was a beautiful Nymph in her youth- who sought refuge from the inevitable advances of well- some- shall we say- Gods with certain appetites. Then she come to these tangled trees and takes a shine to remain here well into her old age and becomes some kind of Witch queen.

Then there's the answer that the Kids like- which is that she was just a regular woman- who learned Witch craft and- well- she learned through the fiery trials why Scotland was not the best place to be doing that. Not just because we burned all our Witches but... because we- as Scots are known to be quite nosey.

Then others say she was not just a Nymph- she was a powerful Goddess herself- from the underworld-- Hecate herself!

When Hecate, among the last of the Titan’s whom Zues spared became the protectress of entrances, this allowed her to come and go from Hades underworld whenever she pleased.

And come and go she did. She travelled the world of man and kindled fires in the feminine shadows of the world. And she enchanted the places around her, bringing strange powers to the ones who invoked her presence. And not surprisingly… she became more interested with some places more than others. Also not surprisingly- one of those such places was here. These Scottish lands have been haunted since time began. So I’m told. And reader or audience of mine- that makes sense. Ofcourse I was not here at the beginning of the haunting of Scotland-

But...

It might have begun when Hecate started showing up. The Haunting of Scotland I mean. Anyone who’s been here can feel what I’m talking about. It’s a shadow. It’s her. And she adopted us Scots. She became NicNevin and This became her Home on the Earth.

It was a Hard time for poor folk. It always is I guess. So they worship someone who offers a better way- or atleast- a different way. Makes sense. Perfect Sense. So NicNevin is also known as 'Queen of Peasants'.

She lured Men and Women alike... Men who entered her realm became wild animals. Wolves and things. The Women became- Witches. "Weird Sisters" as they say. Now I told you she grants strange powers to her followers?

It’s Witchcraft. Ha!

Her followers have been known to collect herbs, leaves, Sloe berries, and the like and they are 'told' to make all kinds of things with them!

And NicNevin grants them wishes and Magick but it always comes with strange pricing you know? Being Weird so to speak has its bargaining. If you are weird- that is- if you are granted these special Powers- wherein the Fae abilities course through your veins- the regular people WILL know. So you'd better take care to hide it.

I guess its a strange deal to strike: Be granted the Powers of the Witch- understand the uses of medicines, poisons , clairvoyance, premonition, and curses- but- woe betide anyone with such abilities who seeks an audience to show them eh? You're libel to get right tattled on.

I mean why would you go fooling around with such a one as NicNevin? Nothing good comes out of going in to those woods and finding her. You know what I think? I think the Poor old lady sought out her solitude in nature away from the world of Gods and Goddesses and away from the civilization of all us tribes because- she is at home there. She's in Nature. So- for all the Legends and Myths- she's content to find herself among the trees and the creatures- and the Men she turned into creatures. She's reputed to be grouchy but thats no surprise because- well- if you were in your own forest paradise and someone comes calling and screams or asks for powers- wouldnt you be grumpy too?

It is the ones who are lost- who find her in the maze of curiosities in those dark and tangled trees. Lord knows what they find in there. I think they find they are more lost than ever.

Well now - because I measure myself a man who sprinkles some good celtic salt on everything he hears-I'll give you a dose of my own personal history of NicNevin.

Well not my own experience I never saw her, God be praised- but of an old Uncle of mine gone a good many years ago. He had a good life. Family, success, church. He's passed on now but I remember on his Death bed- he asked me- his own Nephew- to be there. When the rest of the family left his room for a break I stayed on. I told him what a good life he had. And in the Sunlight that warmed him from the window by his dark wooden bedframe- He beckoned me closer and said, "It's because- and Collum, you're the only one I'm telling this to- its because- ", and his voice went so low- I could barely hear it if not for its emphatic tone. He continued...

"I used to go into NicNevin's Woods when I was a curious young man." He nodded gravely off my looking quite aghast at his seriousness. "One day, I saw Her. ",says he- chilling my blood as he did so...

“I looked at her for a moment- not wanting to believe it.

And she… she stared back at me.

I ran like Hell out of those woods- and I never went back. I worked hard…at everything…after that. Sometimes I close my eyes and… I swear I see hers.

Staring right back at me.

“The Histories of NicNiven”

The Curtain RISES!

Pour yourself some Coffee.

Enjoy the show…