DrawDiction #19 | Banshee

Some consider her a fairy, others consider her a ghost. Banshees are popular in Irish mythology and I came across them when I was reading a collection of Irish folk tales. Banshees are bringers of death. They wail or shriek to warn family members that a dear one is in great danger and has possibly crossed that line of no return that exists between Life and Death.

The description of a banshee varies a great deal across accounts: young, red-haired, fair haired, demonly looking, a silver comb stuck in her hair, green hooded, fanged. In most cases she is said to have red eyes from crying or wailing.

For me, I always associated the banshee with fear. When she appeared in a book, I would feel uneasy and fear for the characters. It was only until I read about professional keeners that this fear (slightly) diminished. Apparently, in Ireland, there are women who are called to mourn the death of a family member by singing and wailing - professional keening. The pros are said to be much in demand and are highly sought after. Of course, this is all from the deep dark corners of the internet and I'm not entirely sure about the legitimacy of the practice in today's world. But then, who knows?

I look back at this drawing today and I remember even when I selected the word, I was not very attached to it. It's not my style, it's not my kind of word but I was surprised at what came out. I hesitated to post this one but the drawing triggers in me the same feeling that I associate with the word - a sense of uneasiness. And that counts.