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Selkie
Seal people who shed their skins to become human. If you steal a selkie's skin, they must stay with you. But they always long for the sea, and if they find their skin, they return forever.
Ancient - Present
Scotland, Ireland, Iceland
300+ witnesses
Selkies are mythological beings from Celtic and Norse folklore who can transform from seals to humans.
The Legend
According to documented folklore:
Selkies:
- Are seals in the water
- Shed their skin to become human
- Often stunningly beautiful
- If their skin is stolen, they’re trapped
- Always long for the sea
Transformation
How it works:
- They shed their seal skin on shore
- Become beautiful humans
- Must keep the skin safe
- Without it, cannot return to sea
- The skin is their soul
The Tragic Pattern
The classic tale:
- A man finds a selkie’s skin
- Hides it, forces marriage
- They have children
- She always stares at the sea
- Eventually finds her skin
- Returns to the ocean forever
Male Selkies
Male selkies:
- Are handsome and seductive
- Seek out dissatisfied women
- Wives of fishermen especially
- Their children are born with webbed hands
- They rarely stay long
Selkie Descendants
Those with selkie blood:
- Have webbed fingers or toes
- Are drawn to the sea
- Excellent swimmers
- May have seal-brown eyes
- The MacCodrum clan claims descent