D. J. Conway - Magickal Mermaids and Water Creatures

This edition first published in 2019 by Weiser Books, an imprint of

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
With offices at:
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com

Copyright 2005, 2019 by D. J. Conway

Foreword copyright 2019 by Skye Alexander

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages. Previously published as Magickal Mermaids and Water Creatures in 2005 by New Page Books, ISBN: 978-1-56414-784-4.

ISBN: 978-1-57863-683-9

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.

Cover design by Kathryn Sky-Peck and Kasandra Cook

Cover photograph Yuri Arcurs / Getty Images

Interior photos/images by Shutterstock

Interior by Kathryn Sky-Peck

Typeset in Adobe Caslon Pro and Incognito

Printed in Canada

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Why do mermaids fascinate us? Why has their allure lasted for millennia, in cultures around the world, and grown stronger now than ever before? Yes, mermaids are incredibly beautiful and their exquisite singing reputedly sends men into throes of ecstasy. But more than that, it's their mysterious magickal powers that intrigue us. They govern the weather, foresee the future, and live forever. They can transform themselves from entities who occupy the watery depths into humanlike creatures who walk among us on dry land. Today, as in ancient times, we're entranced by the mermaids' mystique. Do these beguiling beings really exist? Where can we meet them? What can we learn from them?

In Magickal Mermaids and Water Creatures, noted author, tarot deck designer, magick worker, and respected spiritual teacher D.J. Conway provides answers to these and many more questions. Here Conway shares mermaid legends from the British Isles and Europe, from the Middle and Far East, from Africa and the Americas. Some of the earliest creation myths talk about an aquatic female who birthed life on earth by mingling the salt and fresh waters. Archaeologists have discovered paintings and figurines of mer-folk dating back to the ancient civilizations of Babylonia, Persia, and Mesopotamiaproof that mermaids (or at least our beliefs about them) have been around since antiquity.

Undoubtedly you're familiar with mermaids, but you may not realize that mermen reside in the world's waterways too. And as you'll soon see, mer-folk don't always appear as the hybrid creatures we usually think of, with human torsos and fishy tailssome sport snake-like appendages, dolphin parts, or sealskins. They can even shed their tails to come ashore, where they look just like people except for the webs of skin between their fingers and toes. Some (like the Starbucks mermaid) have two tails or a split tail that allows them to mate with humansand the offspring of these unions are unique to say the least!

Not only do mer-folk populate the seven seas, they also make their homes in rivers and streams, lakes and marshes, even wells and fountains. In Magickal Mermaids and Water Creatures, you'll meet a menagerie of mer-folk, including the Merry Maids of Cornwall who'll grant three wishes if you capture them; the Mediterranean sea nymphs known as Nereids who ride the waves on the backs of porpoises; the dangerous Lorelei who live in Germany's Rhine River where their singing mesmerizes sailors and lures them to watery graves. You'll also learn about odd and mysterious aquatic creatures with ties to mermaids, such as Tarroo-Ushtey, a wild bull that lives in the ocean, and the hippocampus, a half-horse half-fish that legends say pulled the chariot of the Greek sea god Poseidon. Conway describes where they live (in underwater palaces made of gold and jewels collected from sunken ships), what they eat, and what they do for entertainment. She also explains how these amazing creatures can assist or harm youthey're capricious, she warns, and they don't embrace the same codes of ethics humans do, nor do they make strong emotional attachments to mortals. And woe be to earthlings who offend the mer-folk!

Would you like to meet a mermaid? According to folklore, mermaids can grant wishes, increase your psychic powers, lead you to treasure, offer protection, and provide healing. They can also teach you the secrets of water magick. In Magickal Mermaids and Water Creatures, Conway shares her extensive knowledge of spellcraft and invites you to join your skills with those of the mer-folk, using shells, gemstones, plants, and other accouterments to generate outcomes you desire. She teaches you how to befriend mermaids through meditations and rituals, by building stone symbols near a body of water, and offering gifts of gemstones or jewelry. You'll know when a mermaid is talking to you because she'll speak in words you don't ordinarily use or she'll express opinions that may be different from those you normally hold.

You may wonder why, if mermaids are so prevalent and have been with us since the beginning of time, we haven't found tangible evidence of them. Countless people claim to have seen these mysterious beings, but scant physical proof exists. That's because mermaids now live in the astral realm, Conway tells us. Occasionally, though, they let us glimpse them frolicking on the waves or combing their hair by the shorelineand we're delighted by these special visitations. Those who've had the rare privilege of spotting a mermaid never forget the experience.

Perhaps the reason we love mermaids today more than ever is that we really need them now. At this crucial time when pollution and climate change endanger all creatures on Earthespecially the aquatic oneswe must expand our understanding and appreciation for our planet's waters and marine life. Our own lives depend on it. Mermaids can serve as our teachers.

Skye Alexander,

author of Mermaids: The Myths, Legends, & Lore
and Magickal Astrology

Mermaidsthe mystical word conjures up age-old images of sea sirens, beautiful half-fish women who live along the shores of all the major oceans of the world. Their relationship with humans has always been one of mixed emotions and reactions on both sides. Perhaps this is because humans are closer in physical form to the mer-folk than to any other mystical creature. Perhaps it is because we expect a similar-looking species to think and act as we do.

Are mermaids real? Just because a number of different creatures can transport themselves quickly and easily between the astral realms and this world does not mean they are illusions and do not exist. It simply means humans must be much more aware of their surroundings if they wish to see these beings. We tend to be aware of the big picture and forget to look at the small, lovely details in life.

It is very difficult to explain about the Earth and astral realm issue with the mermaids and other water creatures, because the old tales speak of them as actually having been in this world. However, at some time this species and many others decided to move completely to the astral realm for safety. The mermaids, other beings, and their habitats and civilizations are now entirely found in the astral realm, although they have the ability to visit the physical plane whenever they wish. I have seen only one mermaid personally, and because I had binoculars, there was no doubt what the being was. Clearly, I saw the long pale flash of arms and head as the mermaid leaped and played in the waves. Each time she went beneath the water, her iridescent fish tail was very visible. In her last dive, she smacked the ocean waters with her tail, as if laughing at my astonishment. However, physical sightings are rare in modern times. Therefore, most of the information I entered into this book is a combination of very old tales and personal experience in spiritual interactions and deep meditations. Rather than sound like a dull professor reading from a textbook and reiterate this throughout the book, I have chosen to write as if these occurrences and meetings are ordinary physical events.