Regional Land and Water Spirits/Beings

I just saw an article about how Pennsylvania state park is evicting gnomes from the gnome houses that were made for them on some of the trees. Now, while I can understand why people are upset about this, because the belief in the Fae, Fair Folk, Gnomes, Trolls, and such are on the rise in other countries aside from Scandinavia, I don't think you are going to find them in North America.

I have a good reason for saying this.

These fantastical beings are regional, they are land and water beings, tied to the land of their lore. North America has their own land and water beings/spirits that you aren't going to find in Europe or in Asia. Some creatures seem to be world wide (such as vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters), but those are not creatures of the land or waters. They are creatures that are human or once were human and therefore not tied to the lands they originated in. You are not going find the Raven Mocker in France, the Panti' roaming around Germany, the Bakwas floating in the forests of Scandinavia, the Urayuli walking about the woods of Romania, or the Achiyalatopa roaming around Greece.

North America does have their own versions of similar creatures to Europe, some examples are the Ishigaq from the Inuit lore, the Gaasyendietha from Seneca lore, Skin-walkers from the Navajo lore (though they are much more malevolent and dangerous than other shapeshifters), Yehasuri of the Catawba lore, Unhcegila from the Lakota lore, Tsul 'Kalu from the Cherokee lore, etc.

There are many spirits and land/water beings that exist all throughout the world, some are very similar to one another, others are almost identical, and many are extremely unique.

The point of this article is that while many of us Pagans practice and follow European paths and believe in many European creatures, we assume that those same practices and creatures are here in North America. It is disrespectful to the land and surroundings beings when you follow the rules and traditions of another land when dealing with the local beings, instead of learning and understanding the rules that they follow here.

Not saying some house creatures didn't come over with those who immigrated from Europe, but they are few and probably stay within those houses and yards. My best suggestion, is while you follow your path and learn about the creatures of Europe, learn about the local creatures and their rules as well, that way when you work with the land and its inhabitants, you are showing them respect and acknowledgement that they are there.

"How Morning Star Lost Her Fish", from Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children by Mabel Powers, 1917

Larry MacDougall