Faerie Lore - the Will of the Wisp
From September 2023’s Wyrd & the Wisp
Throughout human history, mortals have lived side-by-side with faery kind. Do they hide from us? Or do we keep them close as a way to explain that which is unexplainable? Maybe the answer is… there will always be a secret place between physical form and thought.
This month’s faery which we’ll dive into is the Will of the Wisp.
Since the early 1800s (maybe earlier), this intriguing creature/phenomenon has been explained away by science. However, it is interesting to note there are many holes in the scientific theories.
The main thought is Will of the Wisps are created by swamp gas ignited by traces of hydrogen phosphide which can be found near decaying organic matter. Think dead fish. But, ask yourself. How does one have fire without heat?
An observation from Sir Issac Newton has him characterizing the will of the wisp “as a vapour shining without heat.” I found this in a historical document, “Of the Phenomenon Vulgarly Called Will or Kitty With a Wisp, or Jack with a Lanthorn” by Rev. John Brand in the year 1777 .
And Newton was not the only one to report this. Consider one of this fairy’s nicknames—Ignis Fatuus, which means “‘foolish fire’ that hurteth not.”
[A cool deep-dive video I found while searching]
Will-o’-the-Wisp: Monstrous Flame or Scientific Phenomenon? video
Engraving. An Ignis Fatuus, or Will-o’-The-Whisp. As seen in Lincolnshire. engraved by T. W. Cook after Pether. Published by R.N. Rose, London, 1820. 23cm x 14.5cm. Public Domain.
I think it would be delightful if we would investigate new sightings with our improved modern recording devices (hello smart phones), and our advances in science but unfortunately, sightings have become rare to nonexistent. The leading explanation is too many of our bogs and wetlands have been drained. But certainly not all of them. It seems odd that there’s no sighting despite this when Will of the Wisp sightings had been a fairly common sight. This is based on the number of detailed historical accounts from across the globe.
If you’d like to read more about historical accounts, I’m including Sean B. Palmer’s page.
Will of the Wisps Description. So what exactly is a will of the wisp? Glowing balls of typically white or blue light. They are described as tricksters who delight in leading travelers into bogs and marshes. Sometimes they are described as spirits of the dead, of unbaptized children, of sorrowful women, and/or the spirits of unrighteous men. One story tells of a Will of the Wisp being a dastardly blacksmith who had been barred from both Heaven and Hell. And of course, Will of the Wisps are faeries.
They are malevolent forces that will lead you astray and into dangerous situations. But some stories paint them as sometimes kind. They may provide you the means to find fairy gold or sometimes a way back home, but you’re advised to keep one foot in a wagon rut at all times.
Nicknames. This fae has many. They include:
Hoberdy’s Lantern or a Hob and his Lantern.
Candle coffins
Ellylldan
Hinky punk
Jinny Buntail
Kit of the Canstick
Elf fire …. to name a few.
Modern Stories. You can find Will of the Wisps in modern stories such as:
Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien when Gollum warns Frodo and Sam against the corpse candles while traveling through the Dead Marshes.
There’s a reference to hinkypunks in Harry Potter (which you can see above is one of the creature’s nicknames).
And in Disney’s Brave, Merida follows will-of-the-wisps through the woods to the witch. Later, when Mor’du, the cursed villian bear, is defeated, he turns into a Will-of-the Wisp and conveys his thanks.
Researching to type up this essay/article, I can easily say this particular faery can lead you down some deep rabbit holes.
Additional links. If you are interested in learning more:
The Gentleman’s Magazine, Volume 250 – (page 335)
Will-o’-the-Wisp: Monstrous Flame or Scientific Phenomenon? video
Will-o’-the-Wisp – wiki page of links