Encounters With The Good People

So, you think you know the Good People?How well do you know them, really?It’s no secret that Encounters with the Good People is on a mission to discover what the Good People think of us. To know what they think, and how they feel about us, we must first get to know them.This is no easy task for the Good People are notoriously elusive and unpredictable.But, there is good news!There is much we can learn of the Good People from their behaviour, their longevity, their affinity with the natural world and, of course, records of their interactions with us.This week, Kitty delves deeper into the nature of the Good People to look at 3 insights to their character and ponders: could understanding the nature of the Good People help us to narrow the space between us?And, could being a little more like the Good People improve the quality of our own lives?*Fancy buying me a coffee?If you enjoy Encounters with the Good People and would like to give me a hand to continue in this work, please consider buying me a ‘coffee’ (I p

Dogs. No Black Shucks. No Hellhounds, today we are chatting about our ordinary, faithful, 4-legged friends. Many believe that dogs can see or sense the Good People, ghosts and spirits, around us. Have you ever been out for a walk with your dog and it suddenly stops at full alert, staring into space, grumbling, growling, perhaps even barking and poised to attack?Or has your dog ever, inexplicably, turn tail and run away from something in terror. Something which you cannot see, hear, smell or even sense?We know that the Good People are around us, or nearby, all the time. You can be sure that our dog companions cross paths with Faerie regularly and most always without incident, but on occasion, when a Faerie threatens their beloved Human, a devoted and courageous dog will act to protect them. When they do, it’s not pretty.Kitty shares 5 true tales of battles between our canine companions and members of the Good People. Not for the fainthearted.*Fancy buying me a coffee?If you enjoy Encounters with the Good Pe

Curled up by the fire, or slipping silently through the streets, sleek, sensual, smart and so wonderfully, wonderfully pretty.Cats.If there is any creature to enjoy the company of the Good People, to understand their charm, their unpredictability and their wild nature, it is surely the cat.Over the ages, many folk have believed that cats are actually Faeries in disguise. Or, if not Faeries themselves, to enjoy some form of alliance with the Good People.Cats spend years watching us, observing our strange habits, our plans, beliefs and rituals. What do you think they do with all that information? Do they report back to the Good People?Through poem, lyrics and tales, Kitty ponders if there is more to the humble cat than meets the eye and asks:Are they Faerie?Are they spies?Or could they act as mediator between the Good People and ourselves?You’ll never look at a cat the same way…*Fancy buying me a coffee?Simply click on the ‘Buy me a coffee’ icon on my website and you will be helping to create and produce ‘Enco

No one wants to see a death coach.Even to see the back of it, riding past your house, or leaving town is no great comfort, for the mere passing of the Death Coach is a sign of an impending death. But that’s not all… the Death Coach also transports the body or spirit of those who have already passed.You will hear long before you see it: clanking wheels, cracking whips, rattling chains and stamping hooves, the Death Coach barrels down narrow lanes and dark roads on darkest nights.Most who hear the Death Coach approach scuttle theirselves behind closed doors and latched windows, but what can you do if you find yourself stranded outside? On this week’s episode, Kitty shares tips on what to do, how to avoid the Death Coach and gives fair warning on what you might find if you dare to open the coach door and take a peek inside…Fancy more Encounters with the Good People?You are cordially invited to join ‘Encounters with the Good People’ on YouTube. You are our guest, don’t bring a thing, just yourself. Simply sit ba

Beware the Stray Sod.Mind how you go, lest you step your foot upon a Stray Sod.This week, Kitty tackles the phenomena of the ‘Stray Sod’: an area of ground within a field which is affected/charmed/marked in some way by the Good People.Anybody can be struck by the Stray Sod. No matter if a person has walked the same field, or the same path every day of their life, if they stand on a Stray Sod under the darkness of night, will suddenly find themselves lost and entirely disoriented.Some folk find their way out by chance. Others, who lived to tell the tale, are led to the brink of deadly accident. Most are trapped within the field until dawn finds them, distraught and exhausted.Is this just a case of Faerie pranksters? Playing practical jokes on Humans to entertain themselves?Could it be a method used to punish or seek revenge on Humans who have wronged the Good People?Or, is their motivation more complex? Could it be the Good People trap a person until dawn for to keep them from their destination? Do they have t

I don’t believe in Leprechauns!There I said it, what a relief… well, that is the stereotypical figure who appears on every street, in every store window and, bewilderingly, to represent Ireland on Saint Patrick’s Day. The Leprechaun of our popular culture is a hopeless misrepresentation of the true Leprechaun.So, leave all pre-conceived ideas and images of the Leprechaun behind, in this episode, we take a genuine look at the member of the Good People who has come to be known as the ‘Leprechaun’.Through poem and stories, we will discover the Leprechaun is a formidable Faerie, one who favours some Humans over others and one you most decidedly do not want to offend or injure! An encounter with this Faerie can change your life…Fancy more Encounters with the Good People?Don’t forget to drop into the ‘Encounters with the Good People’ channel on YouTube, sit back with a cuppa and enjoy our lovely Podcast videos. Don’t forget to Subscribe and Like. www.youtube.com/ ENTER YOUTUBE ADDRESS HERE PLEASEFor a daily peek a

Reverend Robert Kirk.Born - December 1644, Aberfoyle, Scotland.Taken by the Good People: May 1692, Aberfoyle, Scotland. Rev Kirk, also known as ‘The Fairy Minister’ was blessed (or cursed) with the skill of ‘Second Sight’. Second Sight allows a person to see, hear or interact with the Good People, and in some cases, bestows the person with great skills of healing. For Kirk, this led to an intense fascination with the Faerie of the highlands and lowlands of Scotland. Such so, it came to dominate his life, and some say, cause, his death.Others argue he has never died. But still, to this day, dwells among the Good People.On this week’s Podcast, Kitty takes a look at the strange life and mysterious death of Rev Robert Kirk and ponders:Did the Good People kill him in retaliation for him sharing their secrets?Did the Good People invite him to join them?Is Second Sight all its cracked up to be?Join Kitty to find out all this and much more! Fancy more Encounters with the Good People?For a daily peek at modern and h

The Good People enjoy a party as much as we do, probably more, and more often too!How do they celebrate?And what does it mean for us?The Good People don’t observe our ‘festive’ calendar so it follows they don’t celebrate Christmas, New Year or St Patricks Day. But… there are so many sightings and encounters with the good people at play that we know they enjoy sumptuous food and drink, music, dancing, storytelling, games and a song and dance.It sounds fabulous doesn’t it?So why is it that some people who stumble upon, or are invited to join in a Faerie celebration end up disfigured or dead soon after?Join Kitty to find out!Fancy more Encounters with the Good People?For a daily peek at modern and historical encounters with the Good People, plus loads of great links, conversation starters and otherwise hard-to-find information on the Good People, visit Kitty’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/encounterswiththegoodpeopleOr, for a dose of Faerie on the go, drop into Kitty’s ‘Faerie Lucky Dip’ over at Instagram. Ki

There can be no doubt Faerie music is alluring. People are known to literally drop whatever they are doing, stop wherever they are going, when they hear faerie music on the air.But, while it is given us to hear, to dance to, to lose ourselves within, it is never ours to keep.This wee collection of curious old tales, serves to remind us that faerie music can be as dangerous, as it is captivating.Fancy more Encounters with the Good People?For a daily peek at modern and historical encounters with the Good People, plus loads of great links, conversation starters and otherwise hard-to-find information on the Good People, visit Kitty’s Facebook page.Or, for a dose of Faerie on the go, drop into Kitty’s ‘Faerie Lucky Dip’ over at Instagram. Kitty posts once a day and you never know what you might get. Faerie top tips, fun facts, art, poems, and short tales.Hey! Your eyes work hard for you, isn’t it time to give them a treat?! Drop into ‘Encounters with the Good People’ channel on YouTube and feast your eyes on our l

On this special wee pocket episode, Kitty shares true tales of strange Faerie creatures.Sure, these tales may be amusing and entertaining but… they are also a timely reminder that the Good People can, and do, take many forms and we must be ever-mindful, and respectful, of the creatures around us. Fancy more Encounters with the Good People?For a daily peek at modern and historical encounters with the Good People, plus loads of great links, conversation starters and otherwise hard-to-find information on the Good People, visit Kitty’s Facebook page.Or, for a dose of Faerie on the go, drop into Kitty’s ‘Faerie Lucky Dip’ over at Instagram. Kitty posts once a day and you never know what you might get. Faerie top tips, fun facts, art, poems, and short tales.Hey! Your eyes work hard for you, isn’t it time to give them a treat?! Drop into ‘Encounters with the Good People’ channel on YouTube and feast your eyes on our lovely Podcast videos. If you enjoy them, please remember to Subscribe and Like.Who doesn’t like to r

What a treat! This week a former miner and more recently, mine tour guide, shares many strange events which occurred down in the mines of Colorado. He tells us about: clear, unmistakable knocking from closed areas of the mine rocks clearly hitting each other strange noises, shuffling and movements sudden, inexplicable injury to someone who ‘badmouthed’ the Tommyknockers and evidence the Tommyknockers enjoy a tune as much as we do.Take a listen to real encounters with Tommyknockers in Colorado.Fancy more Encounters with the Good People?For a daily peek at modern and historical encounters with the Good People, plus loads of great links, conversation starters and otherwise hard-to-find information on the Good People, visit Kitty’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/encounterswiththegoodpeopleOr, for a dose of Faerie on the go, drop into Kitty’s ‘Faerie Lucky Dip’ over at Instagram. Kitty posts once a day and you never know what you might get. Faerie top tips, fun facts, art, poems, and short tales. w

No, not those kinds of Knockers!This week we’re venturing underground to take a peek at those elusive creatures who lurk in and around mine tunnels and caverns: Knockers, also known as Tommyknockers.Are they Faerie, could they be spirits or even ghosts? Are they kind and helpful to the miner? Leading him to rich pockets of ore, and warning him of imminent danger?Or are they cruel and dangerous? Leading him away from ore and into caverns filled with deadly gas or water?That depends on who you ask, but one thing we know for certain, many miners have seen and heard Knockers in England, and Tommyknockers in the U.S.Join Kitty as she takes a fresh look at these fascinating Faerie.Fancy more Encounters with the Good People?For a daily peek at modern and historical encounters with the Good People, plus loads of great links, conversation starters and otherwise hard-to-find information on the Good People, visit Kitty’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/encounterswiththegoodpeopleOr, for a dose of Faerie on the go, drop

Over the past few weeks, we have looked at our Faerie Folklore and our Faerie creatures from a different perspective. From a different time. A time when sightings and encounters with the good people were common and people discussed the good people regularly and openly.This week, Mike shares tales from the treacherous waters off the Mizen head and Kitty announces the winners of the last two copies of Mike’s book, ‘Mizen: Rescued Folklore’.For more Encounters with the Good People, or just to catch up with Kitty, visit:www.facebook.com/encounterswiththegoodpeoplewww.instagram.com/encounterswiththegoodpeoplewww.encounterswiththegoodpeople.com Podcast Credits.Edited by: Magic Dan.Special Guest: Mike Baldwin.Theme Music: ‘Irish Coffee’ by Giorgio di CampoAdditional Music: ‘Cattails’ by Kevin Macleod.‘Welsh coast’ by Audio Library.

Did the Good People hold our Ancestors in higher regard than they do us? In this episode we take a look at the relationship between our Ancestors and the landscape which shaped their lives, and their relations with the good people. Kitty ponders:Is our treatment of the landscape and the natural world, one of the reasons the good people have withdrawn from us?Might they come back to us if we change the way we view the natural world around us?We welcome back Mike Baldwin, author of ‘Mizen: rescued folklore, histories and songs from Ireland’s south west’.Mike shares insights into how our Ancestors, and dare I say the good people, regarded the landscape around them. PRIZE GIVEAWAY.We are giving away FOUR copies of Mike’s wonderful new book ‘Mizen: rescued folklore, histories and songs from Ireland’s south west‘.To enter, simply visit our YouTube channel, which features videos of ‘Encounters with the Good People’ Podcast, and click on the SUBSCRIBE button.If you would like to receive a short, non-pesky message to

Why does it seem the Good People were closer to our Ancestors than they are to us? In this episode we take a look at the lifestyles and everyday customs of our Ancestors, those who ‘enjoyed’ regular, if not daily, contact with the Good People and ask:What was it about our Ancestors that the Good People responded to?Could it be their lifestyles and values were similar to the those of the Good People?And, Kitty wonders if you would you change your lifestyle to be closer to the Good People?We welcome back Mike Baldwin, author of ‘Mizen: rescued folklore, histories and songs from Ireland’s south west’.Mike shares several tales of the Good People from the Mizen region of South East Ireland and we ponder a common thread which weaves its way through these, and most of all, tales of the Good People: Caution. PRIZE GIVEAWAY.We are giving away FOUR copies of Mike’s wonderful new book ‘Mizen: rescued folklore, histories and songs from Ireland’s south west‘.To enter, simply visit our YouTube channel, which features vid

Did the Good People like our Ancestors more than they like us?True to our mission of taking a fresh look at the Good People, who they are, why they do the things they do and what they think of us, over the next 4 weeks we take a step sideways to glimpse them from a different perspective.Over the next 4 episodes, we are joined by Mike Baldwin, author of the new book ‘Mizen: rescued folklore, histories and songs from Ireland’s south west’.Mike transports us back to a time when sightings and encounters with the Good People were commonplace. When their constant presence was accepted. When folk shared their experiences with the Good People openly, unashamedly, with family and neighbours, those they trusted.Why was their relationship with the Good People so different to ours?Could it be our communities and lifestyles moved in harmony with the Good People?Or did the Good People just ‘like’ us more back then?Hmmm, so if we changed our ways, simplified our lives, lived closer to the natural world, would interaction be

Do the Good People, or at least some of them, dwell underground?Peter from the U.S. shares his tale of encountering curious and terrifying voices from an underground tunnel on a visit to County Cork.Ireland is riddled with underground caverns and tunnels, some built by the ‘Northmen’, some used by Priests for to hold secret Mass and many attached to old, overgrown structure known as ‘Forts’.Long since abandoned by Humans, The Good People, the original recyclers, use these old tunnels and rooms to this very day. But think twice before planning to drop in for a visit, it might the last thing you do!Join Kitty as she ponders: the strange voices Peter heard from an underground tunnel if these mysterious dwellings are guarded by large bulls the misfortunes which befall those who have ventured into these underground dwellings.Kitty announces the winner of our Halloween Book Giveaway and teases you with the next giveaway: we have 4 copies of another fabulous book to giveaway over 4 weeks in November! That’s

Join Kitty for a traditional Halloween Night of days past.A night filled of ghosts and Faeries, music, games, poems, scary tales and flying cabbages awaits you. So fill your glass and sit back beside the crackling fire. Smoke from burning pipes is whirling about the ceiling, children titter, old folk tut. Food and drink abound as the darkness of Halloween closes in.Will the children find courage to go treat or treating at their scary neighbours cottage?What happened to the young men who sought out the Good People under the Hawthorn Tree?Who were those mysterious cats who entered the cottage and stared, silently bemused, at the people and their strange customs. And why did they disappear at the mention of the Puca?And… we know that ghosts of those departed are free to visit loved ones on Halloween night, but have you ever wondered what happens to the ghost of someone who has their body stolen and divvied up by bodysnatchers?Find out, and join in all the fun of this extraordinary Halloween Night with Kitty.*J

Think our Ancestors hid away in fear on Halloween night?Think again.Although they knew and understood the dangers and limitations of the festival, it didn’t stop them from enjoying themselves in spite of them. After weeks of preparation, carefully performing customs to placate the Faeries and Spirits, and even more carefully practising rituals of protection against them, we are almost ready for All Hallow’s Eve.The hearthstone is swept, cakes baked, glasses filled, the kids are out wandering the dark night playing tricks on neighbours. It’s time to let the hair down, have a few drinks, singalong to a little music, listen to some old tales of Halloween and oh yes, acts of Divination.Want to know who you will marry?Will they be rich? Will they be handsome?Will someone in the family leave home?Will someone die before next Halloween?All these questions, and many more, can be answered on All Hallow’s Eve using traditional methods of Divination.Kitty shares true tales of Halloween shenanigans, and shows how, once y

Bin your plastic masks and candy cauldrons, it’s time to talk about the real Halloween. You can be sure: Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve, is far more frightening than any costume or horror film.All Hallow’s Eve falls on the Autumn Equinix. It is long believed that this pause causes a brief suspension in the natural world. For one night, our world and the otherworld slips, allowing Faeries, Spirits and Ghosts to pass between with ease.What?!That’s right.On the night of Halloween, Faeries, Spirits and Ghosts enjoy absolute freedom. They can go anywhere, and do most anything they please. Some Spirits may wish for nothing but to visit loved ones, enjoy a little music and hospitality… lovely.Others though, have been waiting, biding their otherworldly time to pay a visit to someone who have offended or wronged them in their life and unleash a little payback. This is when things get scary.And the Faerie? Well as we know, they are unpredictable and can be deathly dangerous.On this night… when the dead and the living