Wishing Wells

The sky is clearly seen in the water at Urunga

 
Wishing wells come to us from European folklore. The term is used to describe wells where it was thought that any spoken wish would be granted.

The idea that a wish would be granted came from the idea that water housed deities or had been placed there as a gift from the gods, since water was a source of life and often a scarce commodity.

To the Germanic and Celtic peoples, springs and wells were sacred places. Germanic peoples were known to throw the armor and weapons of defeated enemies into bogs and other pools of water as offerings to their gods.

Water was seen to have healing powers and so wells became popular for drinking, bathing and simply wishing over it.

Some people believed that the guardians or dwellers of the well would grant them their wish if they paid a price. After speaking the wish, one would drop coins into the well. The wish would be granted by the guardian or dweller of the well, based upon how the coin would land at the bottom of the well. So, it was potentially lucky to toss coins in the well, but the result depended on how they landed.

Ancient Norse mythology tells of Mímir's Well, which was known as the "Well of Wisdom." Mímir is the Nordic god of wisdom. His Well at the roots of Yggdrasil, the "World Tree," could grant infinite wisdom - provided you sacrificed something you held dear. Odin was asked to sacrifice his right eye. He did so, throwing it into the well to receive the wisdom of seeing the future and the understanding of why things must be.

Our contemporary tradition of dropping pennies in ponds and fountains stems from this. Coins can be placed there as as symbols of hope, the desire for change and gifts for Deity to show appreciation.

[Thanks to Lisa for inspiring this post!]

Images @ Eminpee Fotography