Hilary R Sparkes
@hilaryrsparkes.bsky.social
Independent researcher and blogger: Caribbean religious history, anthropology, and things folkloric. Fan of The Byrds and the gothic. Posts about Warwickshire folkore at @warksfolklore.bsky.social
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Owls in Hawaiian Mythology, pt 1
Recently on Nature and Supernatural Nature, I’ve been writing about ground doves and the gi-me-me-bit, birds which both have a sinister reputation in Jamaican folklore. Owls in Jamaica have a simi…
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com
Owls can have a bit of a bad reputation in folklore. New post on my blog shows how they fare much better in Hawaiian mythology.
#Owls #Mythology
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com/2025/10/17/o...
#Owls #Mythology
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com/2025/10/17/o...
Reposted by Hilary R Sparkes
The Caladrius was a #bird who'd stand at the end of a sick person's bed. 🛌 If the bird met a patient's gaze, it would inhale any illness, rise to the sun burning that sickness away, & the patient would heal. But, if the bird averted its gaze, the patient would not recover. 🪶 #Mythology #Folklore
November 11, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The Caladrius was a #bird who'd stand at the end of a sick person's bed. 🛌 If the bird met a patient's gaze, it would inhale any illness, rise to the sun burning that sickness away, & the patient would heal. But, if the bird averted its gaze, the patient would not recover. 🪶 #Mythology #Folklore
Holy Trinity church, Stratford upon Avon. I like the mix of shadows and light in this pic - even though they happened by accident 🙂
November 11, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Holy Trinity church, Stratford upon Avon. I like the mix of shadows and light in this pic - even though they happened by accident 🙂
The terracotta and umber tones of acer leaves
#SmallBeauties
#SmallBeauties
November 10, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The terracotta and umber tones of acer leaves
#SmallBeauties
#SmallBeauties
Reposted by Hilary R Sparkes
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
#RemembranceSunday #LestWeForget
#RemembranceSunday #LestWeForget
November 9, 2025 at 9:08 AM
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
#RemembranceSunday #LestWeForget
#RemembranceSunday #LestWeForget
Fungi* looking like it's been carved from wood growing out of a fallen oak in Priory Park, Warwick
*possibly chicken of the woods?
*possibly chicken of the woods?
November 9, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Fungi* looking like it's been carved from wood growing out of a fallen oak in Priory Park, Warwick
*possibly chicken of the woods?
*possibly chicken of the woods?
Fireworks here sound like a load of sodding artillery shells going off. We truly are a nation of animal haters
November 8, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Fireworks here sound like a load of sodding artillery shells going off. We truly are a nation of animal haters
This week’s listening: “Light Up the Night”- The Besnard Lakes. What with firework night and the Mourning supermoon. #music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPp8...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPp8...
Light Up The Night
YouTube video by The Besnard Lakes - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
This week’s listening: “Light Up the Night”- The Besnard Lakes. What with firework night and the Mourning supermoon. #music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPp8...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPp8...
I wear a poppy as my Dad fought in WWII and his dad was one of the "missing presumed dead" in WWI. But I hate the annual berating of politicians/those on TV wh don't, for whatever reason, wear one.
November 6, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I wear a poppy as my Dad fought in WWII and his dad was one of the "missing presumed dead" in WWI. But I hate the annual berating of politicians/those on TV wh don't, for whatever reason, wear one.
Sleeping beside human figures on a 16th century effigy tomb in the church of St Giles, Chesterton.
November 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Sleeping beside human figures on a 16th century effigy tomb in the church of St Giles, Chesterton.
This week’s listening: “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”- Bauhaus. Some classic goth to round off my #Gothtober listening (tho I’m more of a Max Schrek person myself).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy9h...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy9h...
Bela Lugosi's Dead (Official Version)
YouTube video by Bauhaus - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:52 AM
This week’s listening: “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”- Bauhaus. Some classic goth to round off my #Gothtober listening (tho I’m more of a Max Schrek person myself).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy9h...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy9h...
Samhain Blessings/Happy Halloween
Despite all the plastic and commercialism, It's good to have a time to acknowledge the spirits. For me, they're as much a part of existence as us creatures in the mortal realm.
Despite all the plastic and commercialism, It's good to have a time to acknowledge the spirits. For me, they're as much a part of existence as us creatures in the mortal realm.
October 31, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Samhain Blessings/Happy Halloween
Despite all the plastic and commercialism, It's good to have a time to acknowledge the spirits. For me, they're as much a part of existence as us creatures in the mortal realm.
Despite all the plastic and commercialism, It's good to have a time to acknowledge the spirits. For me, they're as much a part of existence as us creatures in the mortal realm.
Reposted by Hilary R Sparkes
The Clurichaun, a mischievous Irish #fairy known for his love of drink, haunts breweries, pubs, & wine cellars. 👻
According to folklorist Nicholas O'Kearney, "Any wine cellar known to be haunted by this sprite was doomed to bring its owner to speedy ruin." 🍷 #FolkloreSunday #Fairytales
According to folklorist Nicholas O'Kearney, "Any wine cellar known to be haunted by this sprite was doomed to bring its owner to speedy ruin." 🍷 #FolkloreSunday #Fairytales
October 19, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The Clurichaun, a mischievous Irish #fairy known for his love of drink, haunts breweries, pubs, & wine cellars. 👻
According to folklorist Nicholas O'Kearney, "Any wine cellar known to be haunted by this sprite was doomed to bring its owner to speedy ruin." 🍷 #FolkloreSunday #Fairytales
According to folklorist Nicholas O'Kearney, "Any wine cellar known to be haunted by this sprite was doomed to bring its owner to speedy ruin." 🍷 #FolkloreSunday #Fairytales
As Halloween looms ever closer, going for a gothic vibe to my Tuesday church pic - the churchyard of St Mary's church, Whitby
October 28, 2025 at 9:26 AM
As Halloween looms ever closer, going for a gothic vibe to my Tuesday church pic - the churchyard of St Mary's church, Whitby
“Belonging to Heaven and Earth” - new post on my blog looks at Owls in Hawaiian mythology
#MondayBlogs #owls #mythology
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com/2025/10/17/o...
#MondayBlogs #owls #mythology
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com/2025/10/17/o...
Owls in Hawaiian Mythology, pt 1
Recently on Nature and Supernatural Nature, I’ve been writing about ground doves and the gi-me-me-bit, birds which both have a sinister reputation in Jamaican folklore. Owls in Jamaica have a simi…
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:39 AM
“Belonging to Heaven and Earth” - new post on my blog looks at Owls in Hawaiian mythology
#MondayBlogs #owls #mythology
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com/2025/10/17/o...
#MondayBlogs #owls #mythology
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com/2025/10/17/o...
Pic from yesterday: 23rd October and a bee still visiting my dahlias. Wondering how many more will visit before the frosts kick in🤔
#nature
#nature
October 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Pic from yesterday: 23rd October and a bee still visiting my dahlias. Wondering how many more will visit before the frosts kick in🤔
#nature
#nature
This week’s listening: “Dark Entries”- Bauhaus. Brings to mind Halloweentide last yr. Walking thru a passageway between roads, all quiet except the swirl of fallen leaves, and a strong sensation that someone was behind me even tho no one was there.
#Goth #Bauhaus
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0On...
#Goth #Bauhaus
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0On...
Dark Entries
YouTube video by Bauhaus - Topic
www.youtube.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:14 AM
This week’s listening: “Dark Entries”- Bauhaus. Brings to mind Halloweentide last yr. Walking thru a passageway between roads, all quiet except the swirl of fallen leaves, and a strong sensation that someone was behind me even tho no one was there.
#Goth #Bauhaus
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0On...
#Goth #Bauhaus
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0On...
A mooch to the shrine of St Amphibalus in St Alban's cathedral.
October 21, 2025 at 8:08 PM
A mooch to the shrine of St Amphibalus in St Alban's cathedral.
Owls can have a bit of a bad reputation in folklore. New post on my blog shows how they fare much better in Hawaiian mythology.
#Owls #Mythology
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com/2025/10/17/o...
#Owls #Mythology
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com/2025/10/17/o...
Owls in Hawaiian Mythology, pt 1
Recently on Nature and Supernatural Nature, I’ve been writing about ground doves and the gi-me-me-bit, birds which both have a sinister reputation in Jamaican folklore. Owls in Jamaica have a simi…
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com
October 19, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Owls can have a bit of a bad reputation in folklore. New post on my blog shows how they fare much better in Hawaiian mythology.
#Owls #Mythology
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com/2025/10/17/o...
#Owls #Mythology
natureandsupernaturalnature.wordpress.com/2025/10/17/o...
This week’s listening: “Incubus Succubus”- Xmal Deutschland. Continuing my #Gothtober listening theme with a nod to creatures of the night.
#music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8jX...
#music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8jX...
Xmal Deutschland - Incubus Succubus (Lyric Video)
YouTube video by Sacred Bones Records
www.youtube.com
October 18, 2025 at 7:05 AM
This week’s listening: “Incubus Succubus”- Xmal Deutschland. Continuing my #Gothtober listening theme with a nod to creatures of the night.
#music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8jX...
#music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8jX...
Reposted by Hilary R Sparkes
This #FolkloreThursday I transcribed a c17 recipe by a ‘scotch witch’ for preserving yeast. Dip an oak bough or broom into fermenting beer, hang it to dry, then rehydrate in warm wort when needed. Capturing live yeast cells in wood! So clever. 🧙🧹🍺
October 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
This #FolkloreThursday I transcribed a c17 recipe by a ‘scotch witch’ for preserving yeast. Dip an oak bough or broom into fermenting beer, hang it to dry, then rehydrate in warm wort when needed. Capturing live yeast cells in wood! So clever. 🧙🧹🍺
'Braveheart' and 'The Wizard of Oz' from the Harvest flower festival at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Haseley.
This year theme = 'Movies'
#flowers
This year theme = 'Movies'
#flowers
October 14, 2025 at 8:26 AM
'Braveheart' and 'The Wizard of Oz' from the Harvest flower festival at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Haseley.
This year theme = 'Movies'
#flowers
This year theme = 'Movies'
#flowers
Woke up this morning to the eerie silence of a thick blanket of fog and the cobwebs on the rotar drier bejewelled with mist droplets
October 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Woke up this morning to the eerie silence of a thick blanket of fog and the cobwebs on the rotar drier bejewelled with mist droplets
This week’s listening: “Serpent’s Kiss”- The Mission. As tomorrow is Warwickshire lad Aleister Crowley’s birthday #Gothober
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C35R...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C35R...
Serpents Kiss
YouTube video by The Mission - Topic
www.youtube.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:10 AM
This week’s listening: “Serpent’s Kiss”- The Mission. As tomorrow is Warwickshire lad Aleister Crowley’s birthday #Gothober
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C35R...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C35R...