Slavic folklore is a rich tapestry of wild creatures and monsters.
From the wild witch of the woods, Baba Yaga - who lives deep in the forest in a hut rested on two chicken legs - to the magickal, glowing firebird who annoys the King by eating the golden apples from his magickal tree, triggering an epic adventure for the King's youngest son Tsarevich Ivan...
The characters are fascinating, and the stories are old, and like all folklore, they tell us something deep and profound about life and our experiences of the environment we live in.
One of these creatures is The Leshy...
The Leshy
The Leshy is known as the lord of the forests, the guardian of the wild spaces, and protector of nature. He’s an immense being who is the true embodiment of the wild.
The Leshy is a spirit of the forests, a neutral being of chaos, mischievous and treacherous but also capable of the gentle nurturing of the plants and animals who live within his domain.
He is a master of trickery and leads walkers astray, driving them ever deeper into the forest to their doom, causing them condition and disorientation. The Leshy is able to trick wary traveller's through vocal deceptions too, by being able to mimic sounds of voices, animals, leaves rustling, and even the whispers of the wind.
His appearance is a large, tall humanoid creature with a long green beard, with skin like bark and piercing green eyes. He often appears with other woodland fauna markings and attributes too, from branches growing from his head to mosses hanging from his body and mushrooms sprouting from his arms.
But whilst his stature is of epic proportions within his own woodland, as soon as The Leshy leaves its borders, he shrinks down to the size of a blade of grass, so seemingly he gains his power from within his own boundaries.
He’s also able to shape-shift to become any denizen of the woods. From a tree to mouse to a toadstool, the only way to know the difference would be to spot his glowing green eyes.
There are ways to appease and gain favour with this terrifying protector of the forest though, and they're actually pretty simple: just show respect for the woodland.
Don’t whistle, shout, run or purposely damage any of the plants or animals who live there. Move about the forest with purpose and poise, ensure your steps are measured and careful.
By protecting the forest and showing our care, we ensure we stay in the Leshy’s good books and we don’t become the focus of his wrath.
For more musings, why not join our Facebook group 'Beneath The Canopy?'