Legendary Forest Spirits Around the World
Number Five
Dryads
In Greek mythology, they are a type of tree spirits.
Usually they are associated specifically with oak trees.
But as time goes on, they are said to be the tree spirits of any types of trees.
The dryads are usually described to be female and are quite shy.
Usually depicted with a beauty that is very ethereal.
Each dryads are born to a specific tree.
They would protect and watch over that particular tree for the rest of its life.
This is because the dryads are connected to the tree it is born to.
It is connected through life.
Meaning, if the tree dies, the dryads would also die and vice versa.
So if anyone harms the trees it inhabits, they WILL try to protect its home.
They might even punish the perpetrators to death.
There are apparently 2 types of dryads.
Ones that live inside the trees and the ones that live outside or near the trees.
Number Four
Kodama
The Kodama are pretty similar the dryads.
They live in the trees or around it.
They protect the trees and its surrounding.
And their life is connected to the trees it inhabits.
Whats different is that: they aren't necessarily female, their folklore came from japan and
rather than ethereal beauty, they might look a little bit weird.
The Kodama are currently mostly depicted as small cute humanoid creatures.
But they may also take the appearance of a ghostly apparition or the form of a light orb.
They rarely show themselves to humans as they are pretty shy.
But if you happen to hear an echo which took very long to return, they might be around.
These tree spirits can manifest itself outside of its main tree host and could even wander
very far from the trees they are living in.
They usually tend the groves around the area and help maintain the balance of the ecosystem.
Thus why the Kodama are seen as the God or protector of the forests that blesses the
land it is in.
Now because the Kodama are connected to the tree it inhabits,
it will protect it as much as it could.
If it couldn't protect it and the tree still ends up being cut down, it would put a curse
on the person, the whole area of the fallen tree, or even the community the person came from.
The trees that are believed to house these Kodama are marked with a Shimenawa.
A big sacred rope tied around the big trees.
So its obvious not to be cut down.
Leshy
This woodland spirit comes from the Slavic folklore.
It protects the whole forest it inhabits.
Its appearance is that of a giant horned creature with tails and hooves.
Their hair is foliage such as grass and vines.
They have pale skin, green eyes and carries a club around.
Saying all that, they could actually shapeshift into other woodland plants or creatures.
Another way to distinguish them is by checking their shadow.
They do NOT have any shadows.
So, even if you don't see a bearded horned creature carrying a club, beware of anything
in the forest that has no shadow.
Now this spirit could imitate any sounds it wants.
Animal sounds, human sounds; whatever it wants.
They usually use this ability to lure wanderers towards them.
Their intention for luring wanderers is to play with them.
They are not necessarily evil.
But it is known that the Leshy has no restraints.
They might just tickle you to death unknowingly.
Here are a few known ways to confuse or awe the Leshy from playing with you:
So, when you find yourself to be lost.
Be calm, sit under a tree and start wearing your clothes backwards
and your shoes on different feet.
And another quick way to stop it from disturbing you is by setting the forest on fire.
Seeing how they are the forest guardians, they'd prioritise saving the forest first
rather than playing with you.
While its on fire you should try to get out of the forest as fast as you can, or they
would definitely pursue you.
Nang Mai
In Thai Folklore, there exists tree spirits that looks like a female human.
At least that's what they like to show themselves as.
These spirits are called Nang Mai which means Lady of the Tree.
They are always depicted as beautiful women wearing earth coloured dresses such as green
and/or brown.
So what does the Nang Mai do?
They just haunt the immediate surrounding of the tree it inhabits.
Like appearing and disappearing near or on the tree and just stand or sit around.
The Nang Mai does not die when the tree it inhabits gets cut down, but it will follow
wherever the piece of wood it latches itself on to goes.
If the wood is made into furniture, it haunts the furniture, if its made into a house, well,
it haunts the house.
Luckily they are pretty harmless.
Until you are deemed evil or annoying in their point of view.
That is when the Nang Mai would make your life, in her immediate surrounding, hard.
Bunian
These forest spirits comes from the Malay folklore in South East Asia.
They are spirits that live in a different plane that can't be accessed by normal humans
or should I say a different dimension of the same earth.
They prefer living in the jungle or forest.
Making settlements or villages surrounded by nature.
The Bunian are said to look just like normal humans with an exception of being very attractive.
From older folklore, they are said to always be wearing one coloured clothing from top
to bottom.
But seeing how they have a civilisation, who knows how their fashion might have changed
by now.
They are said to have magical powers but only a few could travel between our world and theirs.
Humans can also travel to their world, but it needs certain rituals and conditions to
enable them to travel.
I guess its a bit like a sort of visa.
Apparently those that can travel to our world can also choose to be invisible or visible
to our human eyes.
There are stories of humans marrying these Bunian.
And they are usually given a choice of either to continue to live in this world or go with
them to theirs.
There are also some other stories that if a Bunian is attracted to you, that Bunian
would go into your dream and give you a wet dream.
Making you theirs and ensuring you either be single forever or finally acknowledging
their existence.