The
Pixie, also variously known as Pisgie, piskie, pigsey, of Cornwall,
is based in the district of Dartmoor.... There's hardly a place on Dartmoor
that is not haunted by the green mischievous creatures. They have
lent their name to many landmarks, Pixie's Holt, Pixie's Cave, Pixie's
Parlour, Puggie Stone (the word Puggie has the same derivation as Puck).
They dance in the shadows of the standing stones, or gambol on the tumbling
stream edges. Their bells can be heard deep in the heart of the
many tors on the moor.
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If thou'rt
of air let grey mist fold thee,
if of earth let the swart mine hold thee,
if a Pixie sink thy [faerie] ring,
if a Nixie seek thy spring.
WALTER
SCOTT
Pixies often take
the form of hedgehogs, known in dislect as urchins. |
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© Brian
Froud
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| The mischievous Pixies
delight in stealing horses and Dartmoor ponies at night to ride them wildly
across the moor, twisting and knotting their manes to spur them on.
Even in the house one is not safe from them, for they like to throw pots and
pans after kitchen girls. |
© Brian
Froud
|
To be misled by faeries, whether by
light or night, or a subtle changing of landmarks and features by day,
is described as being PIXIE-LED.
In Ireland this 'mis-leading' is attributed to a faerie fuft of grass
or stray sod which when trodden on triggers a spell. Under its
influence, a usual experience when trying to cross a field is to discover
that a stiled exit which may have been clearly visible on entering,
has suddenly disappeared; and no amount of systematic searching of the
surrounding hedges will reveal its whereabouts. In other cases
a walker might abruptly find himself heading in a totally different
direction to the way he wishes to go and no amount of re-alignment of
his course seems to put this right. The spell may be counteracted
by the traditional method of turning one's coat inside out and wearing
it this way.
--Excerpt
from FAERIES
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