“So graceful, the swans. And faithful to each other,” my companion remarked as we watched them at their evening ablutions.
“Psychopomps,” I said.
“What’s one of those when it’s at home?”
I laughed at her expression. “It’s the soul’s guide to the Land of the Dead.”
“To heaven?” she asked and crossed herself. “You’re saying they’re angels?”
“The Land of the Dead’s in the high northern lands, where the angels dance amongst the coloured lights.”
“The aurora?”
“The aurora,” I agreed.
“And that’s why we must never kill a swan?”
I nodded, linked our arms, and continued our walk. The sun was setting over the marshland, the old mills silhouetted. We’d come here to watch it.
crispina kemp 
What a deep and lovely story about these lovely misterious creatures.
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Thank you. I love swans…and who does not
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This is a sweet story
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Only slightly adrift from the northern myths
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😍🥹
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😊
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Continuing a theme at https://bobfairfield.org/2023/01/05/crimsons-creative-challenge-217-monogamous/
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What a wonderful tale, so mystical
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Thank you, Pam 🙂
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Beautiful
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One of my favorites! 🦢
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😊
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I did not know these long necked geese were psychopomps. Cool! I’m already mindful of them whilst kayaking around them and will be more so now.
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I love the myths, but even more the ancient folklore. You might have noticed this about me 😊 😊 😊
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If the swans lead, I would follow, so lovely indeed
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Thank you, Frank 😊 😊 😊
The folklore on swans I have used in my soon to be published next book
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They are such beautiful creatures. Love that they are psychopomps. Makes so much sense, doesn’t it? And who would ever want to hurt them?
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I hadn’t realised their beaks have teeth… until coming rather close to a couple. I had to edge past them, they were blocking the path. I didn’t feel particularly brave!
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I had no idea, either.
I wouldn’t want to be snapped at by one!
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No, and that’s what was happening, and how I know. Shudders. They can be very vicious when they have young, which these had
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Yes, you did well to give them a wide berth!
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Treat them with respect! Else they’ll have my soul and away to the north they’ll fly 😊 😊 😊
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We cannot have that! 🙂 🙂
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Absolutely not. Not ready for that yet!
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😀
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