Selkies

As the early morning mists swirl along the shore, a majestic seal approaches the rocky beach, seeking a suitable spot to land among the waves crashing against the coastline. A small child watches from a cliff and is rendered speechless when the seal rises from the surf, discards its skin, and emerges as a beautiful woman.
The child has just witnessed the magical transformation of one of the Celtic world’s most beloved supernatural creatures: the Selkie.
Selkies have been a part of Irish, Scottish and Icelandic lore for centuries, and there is quite a bit of controversy regarding their actual origins. Some folklorists believe that selkies first appeared in the legends surrounding the Orkneys, a group of islands off the north coast of Scotland. There may be some truth to this, as selch is the Scots’ word for seal. Other mythological experts believe that the legends may have evolved from the sight of Finnish fishermen, wrapped in warm sealskins, sliding out to sea in their kayaks. And another school of thought, as noted by A. Asbjorn Jon, states that selkies “are said to be supernaturally formed from the souls of drowned people.”

Whichever theory you believe, it is obvious that the selkie, the Celtic version of mermaids, continues to haunt the minds of those in and around the Emerald Isle. To this day, it is taboo among many fishermen to hunt and kill seals, because for them, there is a deeply ingrained belief that they may be killing a relative or friend.
So, what is it about selkies that we find so fascinating? Well, part of the attraction is that they are creatures of the sea, and the sea holds great mystical and cultural value to the Irish. Another part of the selkie allure is their magical ability to change shape and live among us. Finally, there is a romantic sadness associated with selkies. They seem to be loving and kind creatures, but are also perpetually lonely.
Most selkie stories start with the emergence of a selkie on land after shedding her skin. Once on land, this ever curious and beautiful creature explores the shores and surrounding villages, only to find that she has unintentionally entranced a local man. If the villager is lucky enough to find the selkie’s skin and place it in a hidden and secure spot, the selkie will then become a loving wife and mother.
The selkie almost always falls in love with her benign captor, but she never forgets her first home, the sea, and is often found roaming the shore, looking wistfully upon the cold Atlantic waters. Her life continues in much the same vein until either she or her children accidentally discovers the hidden skin. The moment it surfaces, the selkie wraps it around her body, rushes to the sea, dives into the waves, and resurfaces as a seal. The selkie will not return to land, for it does not want to be tricked again, but it will sun itself on rocks close to shore, hoping to get a glance at its former mate and its cherished children.
And such is the sorrow of the selkie, to never be happy and to never feel as if it belongs 100 percent on the land or in the sea—except for the male selkie (yipes, selkies can be men, too).
These fellows are a bit different from their female counterparts in that they actual seek out the companionship of mortals. They are infamous for their seductive powers over human women and troll the shores looking for Irish lasses who might enjoy a maritime romantic interlude. In fact, the amorous abilities of male selkies are so well known and revered, that human females have been known to stroll along the seashore in an attempt to catch a selkie’s eye. As one legend recalls, “Should such a mortal woman wish to make contact with a selkie-man, there was a specific rite she had to follow. At high tide, she should make her way to the shore, where she had to shed seven tears into the sea. The selkie-man would then come ashore and, after removing his magical sealskin, seek out ‘unlawful love’” (Orkneyjar). As you may imagine, these watery Lotharios aren’t quite so popular with their brothers on land. Since, according to Walter Traill Dennison, the rascals “…often made havoc among thoughtless girls, and sometimes intruded into the sanctity of married life.” In fact, some so feared the seductive powers of male selkies that “mothers would paint the sign of the cross on their daughters’ breasts before they undertook a sea journey” (Orkneyjar). It’s not stated if this was an effective technique or not, but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.
Still, romance is not the only thought that occupies the male selkie’s mind. He has one other main interest: punishing any human who dares take the life of a seal. As a force of vengeance, the selkie is quite formidable, as he can control the weather and the sea. When the Atlantic turns particularly rough and ships start capsizing and breaking apart, villagers cast accusing eyes upon each other, wondering which fool was idiotic enough to bring the wrath of the selkies down upon their shores.
While selkies can control the weather at will, they cannot control how often they may take human form. Some legends insist that selkies are only provided one opportunity a year to walk the earth: Midsummer’s Eve. Others suggest the transformation could take place every ninth night or when a seventh stream—a magical inlet created after nine straight days of high tides—flows onto shore.
Though the debate continues as to when selkies may come ashore, it is impossible to deny the impact selkies have had on our culture. Our folklore and oral histories have been recounting their adventures for eons, and today the selkie still emerges as a popular figure in literature and film. One of the most notable incarnations is in the children’s novel Secret of Ron Mor Sherry by Rosalie K. Fry. The story surrounds that of a small child, Fiona, who, according to Elfrieda Abbe, through sheer perseverance, willpower and “determination uncovers a family secret and unravels a mystery” wrapped around her own hidden heritage as the offspring of a selkie. Though the novel was originally published in the late fifties, the story now reaches an even broader audience through its marvelous 1994 film adaptation, The Secret of Roan Inish. The director, John Sayles, wanting to convey all the beauty, charm and mystery the story had to offer, decided to film on location on the West Coast of Ireland. It is a simply breathtaking and magical cinematic voyage that is well worthy of the 103 minutes of screentime.
Another fabulous film that invokes the beauty of Ireland and the mythology surrounding selkies is the 2001 Hallmark Channel release, The Seventh Stream, starring Scott Glenn as a lonely widower who saves a beautiful young woman trapped in a loveless and abusive relationship. This is a particularily heart renching and poignant version of the legend, and may bring even the staunchest cynic to shed a tear. For those seeking a much more light hearted approach to the mythology, read Laurell K. Hamilton’s A Kiss of Shadows, which follows the adventures of a selkie and his part human part fey princess girlfriend as they solve mysteries in Los Angeles.
Or, for the greatest adventure of all, find a quiet and peaceful stretch of shoreline, shed a few strategic tears, and wait. The selkies will come to you.

By Marjorie McKinstry-Miller