LESHY

Leshy is the enigmatic spirit of the forest and the master of the hunt. He usually takes on a humanoid form, often appearing as an elderly man, with long white hair full of berries, roots and branches. One of this being’s most notable traits is its ability to mimic voices and shape-shift; he can take on an appearance of a wild animal, or a tall tree, which makes him hard to spot or capture. Leshy is a trickster deity that is more often heard than seen, and he frequently shows his mischievous side by confusing and misleading those who wander too deep into the woods, and get too close to his domain. Despite his unpredictable nature, he shows kindness to those who respect him and the forest. It is said that if you treat the natural world with care, Leshy may bless you with prosperity and good luck on your journey through the wilderness.

Existing in the forests of Eastern Europe, Leshie transform themselves into the animals that inhabit the area, making it difficult for people to notice them by hiding in plain sight. Be it an intimidating predator like a brown bear or a wild boar, or a nimble creature like a red fox or a grey hare, Leshy can mimic their features with ease, so travellers... Beware!

Leshie are rulers of flora and fauna alike, which enables them to appear as a variety of plant matter. A more powerful Leshy can transform into a tree that towers over the entire forest, so tall it blocks all sunlight. If weakened, the spirit can turn into something as small and inconspicuous as a cowberry or a pine cone, disguising themselves and evading those who seek to harm them.

According to Slavic folklore, Leshy can bring luck to hunters and foragers, and even help protect livestock. To achieve this, a person should make a pact with the spirit: for example agreeing to never touch a certain berry or disturb bird nests. In return, Leshy could make valuable prey come to a hunter, protect a shepherd’s livestock or guide a forager towards a meadow so full of mushrooms and nuts that the person would be able to feed their entire family for weeks to come.

It is believed that before entering a forest, one must appease the Leshy that dwells within. For that, you could place a bit of bread or a sweet treat on a tree stump as an offering. Only after making this kind gesture should you explore the forest, but beware... Leshy likes his peace and quiet, so you should never make loud noises or whistle, or you risk angering the spirit. As long as you stay quiet and treat him with respect, your forest adventure will be safe and pleasant.

While there are many spirits that exist only in old fairy tales, Leshy is a spirit that many people still believe in to this day, be it superstition or alleged sightings. Leshy is an ancient being, and references to his existence could be found in countless paintings, time-worn scrolls and manuscripts, fairy-tales, plays and more. When in his human form, he is depicted as an elderly man with tangled locks of white hair, a long beard and glowing green eyes. It is said that his beard holds his strength and wisdom in it. In many illustrations, Leshy appears as half-man, half-goat, similar to Satyr from Greek mythology.