K.J. Edwards describes herself as a single mom in her mid-30s from Texas. Edwards' magical influences are varied, and pull primarily from her Irish heritage and relationship with nature. You can find Edwards on the web at HausofHighWitchery on Etsy.
A traveler is walking along a path in the woods one evening, whistling a tune and minding their own business.
Through the foggy woods, a small, warm light appears.
The bobbing light gets closer, then a bit farther, wandering in and then floating away.
Curious, the traveler steps off the safety of the path...and is never seen again.
What are Wanderlights?
Wanderlight comes from the dutch word “dwaallicht” (dwaal = wander, licht = light). Wanderlights can best be described as ghost lights - low hovering orbs of light seen by travelers at night. They are most often spotted in and around swamps, and sometimes in graveyards. They often recede when approached, which leads travelers astray.
Another commonly known version of the wanderlights are known as “Will-o’-the-wisps”.
Will-o-the-wisp comes from the common name “WIll” combined with “wisp”, a bundle of sticks or paper sometimes used as a torch.
There are different variations as to the origin of this tale, but they mostly come from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. In this folktale, an evil man named Will is doomed to haunt marshes with a light as punishment for some misdeed.
In Shropshire, Will, the smith, is a very wicked man who is given a second chance by Saint Peter at the gates of heaven. However, he ends up ruining his second chance by living such a terrible life that he is doomed to wander the earth. The devil gives him one single coal to keep himself warm, which he uses to lure travelers into the marshes.
In Europe, wanderlights are said to be mischievous spirits of the dead, or faeries attempting to lead travelers astray.
In North America, the lights are frequently seen along roadsides or railroads, leading people to believe they are the spirits of railway workers who died on the job. In Marfa, TX, ghost lights have been observed near US Rt 67 on Mitchell Flat east of Marfa, TX. No one is quite sure what they are, but some people believe they are aliens.
There have also been many, many sightings of lights similar to wanderlights all throughout Central and South America. In Mexico, wanderlights are explained as witches who have transformed into the lights. In Argentina, this phenomenon is very feared. The lights are known as “Luz Mala” or “Fuego Fatuo”, evil lights. They are mostly seen in rural Argentine areas.
In Brazil, they are known as “Mboi-tata”, which comes from the old Tupi language meaning “fiery serpent.” This creature’s eyes leave it blind during the day, but at night it can see everything. It leaves its cave dwelling after a deluge and goes through fields in the dark eating corpses and animals, but only the eyes. The light from the eyes is what gives it it’s fiery gaze.
Australia has what are known as the “Min Min Lights”. This is an unusual light formation in the eastern outback of Australia. They have been reported from as far south as Brewarriha in western New South Wales, to as far north as Boulia in northern Queensland. Stories of these lights can be found in aboriginal myth predating colonization of the region.
In Asia, the Bengali people call them “Aleya”, or marsh ghost lights. Local communities of the area believe they are the ghosts of fishermen who died fishing. Sometimes they are helpful but sometimes they are mischievous. Near the Indo-Pakistani border in Kutch district, Gujarat State, India, “Chir Batti” are unexplained dancing lights that villagers have reported as having always seen. In Japan, “hitodama” are human souls as balls of energy, and are seen all across Japan.
In conclusion…
Wanderlights are mysterious and unexplained lights that happen on almost every continent. These lights have been reported even before there was written language. Are they human spirits? Are they faeries? Are they just balls of energy or fire? When it comes to wanderlights, we really just do not know...and that may be for the best.