Updates, Quotes, and Magpie Lore

Fast Updates:

Wishing you all a safe and happy June!

We met some awesome creative folks and had a blast at the events we participated in during the month of May and we are really looking forward to our upcoming conventions!

In this fantastic and inviting collection, the...... review gif

I was honored to be interviewed by Reader’s House magazine! If you would like to read the full interview, here is a link: readershouse/unveiling-sumir.

“Exploring the Fantastical Realms and Emotional Journeys of ‘The Blood Inheritance Novels Series’

M. Ainihi delves into the origins of Sumir, character development, thematic exploration, illustration integration, and forthcoming short stories, enriching the series narrative.”- Reader’s House Magazine

In addition I was selected as one of the recipients of our Editor’s Choice Award of Literary Excellence. You can explore Reader’s House here: readershouse.co.uk

“This award is bestowed upon a select number of esteemed authors who have made significant contributions to the literary community, and it is our way of recognizing and celebrating your talent, creativity, and dedication to the craft of writing.” –Editorial Desk, Reader’s House Magazine

Also:

readersfavorite.com will have three of my available books listed as prizes in the monthly book giveaway. If you are interested in winning some amazing books by great authors you can check out the monthly giveaway here: book giveaway /Rise or here for The Warning Signs: giveaway/the-warning-signs and here: book-giveaway/combo.

Upcoming Event Reminders:

2024

Concealed Realms is scheduled to be at the Oz-Stravaganza! This event takes place May 31st – June 2nd in Chittenango, NY.

Concealed Realms plans to participate in the Kokomo Quad Con taking place July 20st and 21st. This event will take place at the Markland Mall, Kokomo IN.

We are scheduled to participate at the DarkHistory & Horror Convention. The con this year will be August 31^st -September 1^st, at the Orpheum theater in Champaign, IL.

Concealed Realms plans to participate at the inaugural horror fiesta in Peoria IL on September 14th. This event is set to take place at the exposition gardens opera house

.We are scheduled to participate in the Lafayette Comic Con, Mighty Con on October 26th. This event takes place at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, located in Lafayette, IN

Myth and Folklore Quotes

“True myths, ancient and modern, stop time because they emerge from somewhere beyond time.”

– Phil Cousineau

“Never overlook folklore if you want to really know about the place it came from.”
– Kate Milford, Greenglass House

“Myths aren’t fairy tales or legends—they’re an honest attempt to explain mysteries.”

-John J. Geddes

“Myths are seldom simple, and never irresponsible.”

– Robert Graves

“When we lose our myths we lose our place in the universe.”

– Madeleine L’Engle

“I’ve always preferred mythology to history. History is truth that becomes an illusion. Mythology is an illusion that becomes reality.”

-Jean Cocteau

“A myth is far truer than history, for a history only gives a story of the shadows, whereas a myth gives a story of the substances that cast the shadows.”

– Annie Besant

“The Dreamer awakes
The shadow goes by
The tale I have told you,
That tale is a lie.
But listen to me,
Bright maiden, proud youth
The tale is a lie;
What it tells is the truth.”
– Traditional folktale ending

“I love folklore and all festering superstitions.”
– E.M. Forster, Howards End

“A folklore study differs from most writing,

in that the tale is told in the voice of the individual telling the story,

not by the collector.”

– Karen Jones Gowen, Farm Girl

Definition of : Magpie

Dictionary.com

Noun

A: “either of two corvine birds, Pica pica black-billed magpie, of Eurasia and North America, or P. nuttalli yellow-billed magpie, of California, having long, graduated tails, black-and-white plumage, and noisy, mischievous habits.

B: “any of several black-and-white birds not related to the true magpies, as Gymnorhina tibicen, of Australia. – www.dictionary.com

Merriam Webster.com

Noun

A: ” any of various birds (especially Pica pica) related to the jays but having a long graduated tail and black-and-white or brightly colored plumage”

B: “a person who chatters noisily”

C: “one who collects indiscriminately” – merriamwebster.com

Magpie Lore

I have long been accused of being an early bird, and rightfully so. Since I can remember, I have had a habit of waking during the early morning hours before the suns golden fingers have begun to stretch out across the sky bringing with it melodic birdsong.

At this time of year this chorus of whoops and trills is particularly vigorous during those pre-light hours, rekindling memories of my recent trip to Ireland, where at one bed and breakfast we were treated to a passionate conversation regarding the lore of magpies. As such I thought it would be fun to create a short mythology post dedicated to this fascinating bird. In this post I will include some interesting magpie facts, list some of the superstitions associated with this species, and share some lore that features them.

Interesting Magpie Facts

There are around twenty different species of magpie in the world with varying coloration. Regarding this, according to Wikipedia, “two distinct lineages exist.” One which consists of magpies with black and white coloration, and the other containing several species with predominantly green or blue coloring.

Well known for their mimicry of other birds and animals, their talents hardly stop there. One of only two avian species tested that were able to pass a mirror test, Magpies have also shown the ability to create and use tools, grieve, play games, and even work in teams. With the exception of the Australian magpie (Artamidae family), this intelligent bird belongs to the Corvidae family, which includes crows, ravens, rooks, and jays.

Magpies are omnivores and have been known to cache food in order to later retrieve it. The typical magpie’s diet is made up of insects, but they’re opportunistic (their boldness was even mentioned in notes from the The Lewis and Clark Expedition) and will feast on roadkill, fruit, bird feed, small mammals and garbage.

For the most part, these birds do not migrate and when choosing a home, it is said that they tend to avoid dense forest or open grassland, preferring points in between. Believed to be monogamous, male and female partners work together to create nests out of twigs, mud, roots, grasses, and hair. With a concealed entrance, the casual observer may mistake these nests for nothing more than knots of haphazard twigs. If you are lucky enough to sneak a peek inside one, there is a good chance you may find some shiny treasures hidden within the space.

Magpie superstition and story’s

Birds have long been featured in myth and legends, in fact we created a post on owl lore back in 2021: updates-quotes-and-owl-lore. Similarly to this aforementioned bird of prey, the magpie has become a recurrent character in folklore, literature, and superstition in many countries, and its not hard to see why.

Magpies harbor a level of intelligence and personality that can rival some of the most celebrated creatures the world over. Their behaviors ranging from the mischievous to the inquisitive and insightful, has caused them to be a focal point of human intrigue across different cultures since the earliest ages. As such, they have taken on a variety of symbolic roles, in some places being seen as tricksters or omens of bad fortune, and in others being viewed as harbingers of joy and happiness.

Encountering a Magpie

During our recent visit to Ireland, we were advised to wave and greet the magpies we encountered in order to show respect and fend off bad luck. We were then treated to a rhyme that counts the number of magpies seen to predict one’s fate. The rhyme went something like this: “One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a wedding, Four for birth, Five for rich, Six for poor, Seven for a witch… “Although there are many variations. Here is an interesting video of one: www.tiktok.com/@williammooremusic

Wikipedia states that one version of the rhyme was first recorded in the 1700’s, but the exact origin of this folklore becomes hard to pinpoint, with so many versions in Irish and English tradition. It is indicated that Germany holds similar beliefs, in that the number of birds foretells forthcoming events, although I was unable to uncover an original example.

According to Culture Trip , the claim that bad luck will follow if you see a Magpie alone is one of the most common superstitions attached to the bird. Below I have compiled a list which shows examples of magpie superstitions and beliefs pertaining to their reputations.

Sinister or Exalted?

In the United Kingdom, Magpies are traditionally feared by those who are superstitious, and the solitary Magpie is seen as bad luck.

In some parts of Scotland, it was said that, if a magpie’s tongue was scratched with the sharp edge of an un-milled silver sixpence, and a drop of human blood was inserted into the wound, the chattering magpie would acquire the gift of speech.

Australia
Although the Australian magpie is often seen in an aggressive light, this bird is featured prominently in aboriginal folklore around Australia. According to sources, the Yindjibarndi people of the Pilbara used the birds call as a signal for sunrise, it was a totem bird of the people of the Illawarra region, and they are said to be present in (Burndud) songs of customs.

In Mongolia, the Magpie is considered a clever bird that can foretell weather. EX: “In the summer, if the magpie chatters several times, there is a lot of precipitation”

In France the magpie was honored by placing bundles of laurel or heather high in a tree, because her chatter was said to warn people of a wolf’s approach.

Featured in Native American folklore from several tribes, Magpie were generally considered allies and helpers. While one common superstition from lore says that wearing a magpie feather was a sign of fearlessness, others suggest that the bird is a sacred messenger or even a guardian.

Romans associated the magpie with magic and fortune-telling. They also recognized that the magpie was highly intelligent and had excellent reasoning abilities. “Magpies love to hear words which they can speak; and not only do they learn them, but they enjoy it;” –Pliny the Elder, [Natural History.

According to sources, in Greece the Magpie was sacred and was linked to the god Bacchus. In one tale, the Pierides were turned into Magpie’s for boasting that they were better singers than the muses.

Birds in Norse mythology were considered to have otherworldly abilities allowing them to fly as messengers and communicators between worlds. Here Magpies are said to have been linked with the giantess Skadi and goddess Hel.

In Korean tradition, the Magpie is seen as a symbol of good luck and of good news. Children were taught that when you lose a tooth, you should throw it on the roof while singing for the bird, in the hopes that the magpie would find it. The bird is also said to represent harmony, love and understanding between people.

A Celebrated Legend

The story of the cowherd and the weaver girl is found in Chinese mythology. Though there are many variations of the tale, the earliest-known reference dates back to a poem from over 2600 years ago.

In brief, the story tells of the romance between Zhinü, the weaver girl and Niulang, the cowherd. Despite their love for each other, their romance was forbidden and they are banished to opposite sides of the heavenly river. Moved by the couple’s plight, once a year a flock of magpies forms a bridge over the river, so they could be reunited for a single day.

It’s said that over the course of time, similar legends spread across Asia with variations appearing in Japanese(tanabata/two-star-crossed-lovers), Korean(koreatimes.co.kr), and Vietnamese lore.

Final thoughts

It’s clear that the above superstitions show humans have attached a significance to the magpie’s actions for centuries and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the lore surrounding them. These bird’s cognitive prowess has caused them to be seen as both omens of fortune and misfortune, symbols of hope and dread, from ancient to modern times.

I want to thank you for your continued support. I hope that you enjoyed this brief post!Lets look to the future with hope, excited about the chance for a fresh start and the endless possibilities to come. Stay safe and keep being awesome.