To Walk with Saints and Scholars

March 10, 2026

“Slí Amach Dúnta – No Way Out” Photo by LKV Walsh

From Death Customs and Soul Beliefs in Irish Tradition:

“Irish tradition holds a rich tapestry of death messengers and omens, figures that appear or are heard before a death occurs, acting as heralds of the soul’s departure. These beings belong to the threshold between worlds and occupy an archetypal role as psychopomps, mediators who announce, accompany, or guard the passage of the dead. Their presence reflects the Irish understanding that death is rarely silent; it is signalled, forewarned, and woven into the fabric of the natural and supernatural landscape.

Foremost among these messengers is the banshee, or bean sí, the fairy woman. She is not to be confused with the human keening woman at the wake. The banshee is a supernatural being attached to certain families, particularly those of ancient lineage, and her wail foretells an impending death. Her cry is said to be piercing, mournful, and unmistakable, sometimes heard in the night before the news of a death arrives. In some accounts, she appears as an old woman with long hair, combing it by a river or on a stone. In others, she is unseen, her presence announced only by her lament. Her role is to herald death, not to cause it.”

To consider:

What markers or symbols warn we are dying to an old self and resurrecting toward a new self? Are the messengers of these changes welcome? How do we welcome the Banshee?