Mythology Beneath

An ancient well called Venton Bebibell lies hidden near Men Scryfa in Cornwall. It means “the well of the little people.” Not fairies, not elves, and not the glittering creatures we all imagine with sparkling wings. The little people. It is said carefully, said with respect, because, I’m told, in the villages of southwest England, you don’t use the real name. You call them the Good Folk, the Fair Folk, or the Good Neighbours.

The word Druid means “knower of the oak” or “the one who sees the oak”. When I looked up the word, I learned that the Anglo Saxons also used it, giving it two meanings: tree and truth. It’s a word I contemplate whenever I’m taking a hike or meditatively observing the trees at the nearby park.