Loralie the Sorceress

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Lady Jenet Scales (from the book, FireDrake)
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I can’t promise it’ll be all that exciting at first because I really need to learn how this thing works, but it looks like fun — especially when I can give updates from conferences and such. Right now, I’ll probably be focusing on updates relating to my writing and activities surrounding my writing. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Dragon Isle II
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DON’T FORGET! Next Wednesday, August 6th, we’re having an all-day chat party on my Yahoo group. We’ll be talking books with a number of my author friends who’ll be dropping by to post excerpts and hang out at various points during the day. Stop by when you can and join in the fun. We’ll have lots of excerpts and contest, prizes and a whole lot more!

First, here’s what Wiki has to say on the subject, in part:

A fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms…Fairy rings also occupy a prominent place in European folklore as the location of gateways into elfin kingdoms, or places where elves gather and dance.

It is said that there are about 40 to 60 mushroom species which can grow in the fairy ring pattern. The best known is the edible Scotch bonnet (Marasmius oreades), which is commonly known as the fairy ring champignon.

One of the largest rings ever found is in France. Formed by Clitocybe geotropa, it is thought to be about 800 m in diameter and over 700 years old.

On the South Downs in southern England, Calocybe gambosa has formed huge fairy rings which appear to be several hundred years old.

…they are known as ronds de sorciers (”sorcerers’ rings”) in France, and hexenringe (”witches’ rings”) in German. In German tradition, fairy rings were thought to mark the site of witches’ dancing on Walpurgis Night, and Dutch superstition claimed that the circles show where the Devil set his milk churn. In the Tyrol, folklore attributed fairy rings to the fiery tales of flying dragons; once a dragon had created such a circle, nothing but toadstools could grow there for seven years. European superstitions routinely warned against entering a fairy ring. French tradition reported that fairy rings were guarded by giant bug-eyed toads that cursed those who violated the circles. In other parts of Europe, entering a fairy ring resulted in the loss of an eye. Outside of Europe, fairy rings are associated with diminutive spirits in the Philippines.

Scandinavian and Celtic traditions claimed that fairy rings are the result of elves or fairies dancing. Such ideas dated to at least the mediæval period; The Middle English term elferingewort (”elf-ring”), meaning “a ring of daisies caused by elves’ dancing” dates to the 12th century.

One of my favorite paintings is by the pre-Raphaelite artist, John William Waterhouse, depicting fairies dancing in a fairy ring.

Rings of all kinds are great devices when writing epic fantasy. I’ve used stone circles in my paranormal books as well. The circle is a powerful geometric shape and lends its special magic to fiction readily.

Whatever the scientific reason for mushrooms growing in a circle, it still seems somehow like magic. Even when the trick is revealed, we still marvel at the magician. In this case, even when science decides why these things happen, I think many of us will still be enchanted at the wonder of nature.

Although I’ve never seen a fairy ring in person, I’ve always wondered if I’d have the nerve to step into it if I somehow came across one. Would you?

Lady Kelzy - Scales
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I’ve always wondered where the word “toadstool” comes from. It turns out that the words toadstool an mushroom have been used interchangably for many, many years. However, most people seem to think of poisonous fungi as toadstools and the edible ones as mushrooms. Of course, it’s my no means settled. I assume different areas of the country or parts of the world will see it differently.

The Wiki entry on the subject conjectures that the word toadstool came from the association of poisonous toads with the poisonous fungi. I prefer to think of what I call the “Thumbelina” explanation. Even toads need a place to sit, don’t they?

Perhaps because of my visits to the Netherlands, I tend to associate the red toadstools with white dots with gnomes and fairies. It makes perfect sense to me that a frog prince would sit on a toadstool while holding court with his subjects of the forest. How about you?

Black Dragon Scales
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