Fog and its symbolism.

So, here we are in the 'season of mists and mellow fruitfulness' (Keats: To Autumn), so we thought that we would look at the symbolism of fog, because, well, why not?

Cat has tech issues today, so I am in the driver's seat for a minute!

Scientifically, mist or fog is formed as water droplets that hang in the air when cold air and warm, moist air meet. It is commonly found in valleys in Autumn and Spring.

Mist is thinner than fog, as such it will dissipate quicker. Technically, fog is when you can see less than half a mile (1,000m) ahead and mist is being able to see up to five miles ahead (1km to 8km).

There is a lot of symbolism associated with mist or fog.

The most obvious connection in today's world is an association with a state of mental confusion. I am sure that most of us have experienced 'brain fog' at some point. It is very prominent in a number of conditions, including (but not limited to) fibromyalgia, long covid and menopause.

I was diagnosed with long covid a couple of years ago (and am of menopausal age...) so I know this is a real thing.

In literature through the ages, we have seen that fog is used to represent confusion, as people often get lost in it. 

It can be used to obscure characters or their true intentions (think the Witches in Macbeth), or to show an uncertainty about how to proceed in a certain matter. 

It can be used to signify immorality of some form, as it is a literal 'grey area'. It was often used to great dramatic effect in the 'Gothic' novels of the Victorian era. 

Dickens often used fog as a metaphor of the perceived moral and social decay that was prevelant in English society at the time. 

It is also used as a metaphor for the unknown.

In real life, it is said to symbolise danger, uncertainty or confusion, due to not being able to see what is ahead.

I had the random thought the other day that fog/mist is the actual veil that is said to be thinning this time of year - although I argue that veils are always thin, that's kind of the point of them! - and that is why we have more fog at this time of year than any other (in the Northern Hemisphere, anyway). To me, the veil is just a way of obscuring the truth, so that ties in with the symbolism listed above. It makes sense in my head, at least! It obscures our reality, or our image of it, at least.

Fog can be said to represent secrets, lies, confusion, isolation, distortion of reality, hidden depths, hidden realities, hidden truths, cloaking the truth, ambiguity, sadness, despair, a bringer of chaos or ill-fortune.

In folklore, it is a harbinger of things to be feared, for example, the ghost ship 'The Flying Dutchman' is supposed to be presaged by rolling fog, and the ship that bares Dracula to English shores is followed by a dense fog, therefore fog became associated with vampires and vampiric lore. 

As fog has so many seemingly negative connotations to it, is has become something to be feared, although I feel that spiritually, it may be seen as an indicator of growth. As you push through the uncertainty, your path ahead will be clearer. It shows us that we need to be careful in our actions and our thoughts, due to the obscuring of the way ahead.

It can also symbolise your subconscious mind, either things that we have forgotten or are repressing, or things which we have yet to unlock within our own psyche. This can be seen in Jungian psychology and in shadow work.

In different cultures, fog or mist can represent:

Norse mythology has the 'misty home' of the ice realm where Hel reigns supreme along with her rooster that will usher in the end of days with its crow. One of the Valkyrie is also said to have a name that translates as fog or mist.

Scandinavian mythology also has dragoons lurking in mists, these are corpses, although whether phantasmal or re-animated I cannot confirm.

In Greek mythology, there is a fog which 'blinds mortal eyes'. It has also been said to be the personification of sorrow. Greek mythology also has the goddess Achlys, who is represented as shrouded in a cloak of fog, and she represents death, misery, mists and poison.

In some Asian cultures, fog is the realm of hungry ghosts.

Taoism has the 'broad fog' of the creation of reality from the primordial chaos that came before thought.

European folklore has it as the dominion of other creatures, such as witches and dwarves.

In Irish myth, the fog makes things invisible, such as the Tuatha de Danann. It is also hinted that witches summoned fog to roll in to protect fleeing mothers and their children from invaders.

In Witchcraft, it depends on the intent as to whether the use of fog is seen as baneful, so beware. If it is used for protection or concealment, then it is not considered baneful, if, however, it is used to harm or to confuse, then it would be.

Also in witchcraft, a place shrouded in fog is said to be a liminal space. This is a space where different energies can overlap. It is a place of transformation. It is associated with shadow work, astral work, energy work and spirit workings. 

It is a place of timelessness, where there are unlimited possibilities for creation. 

It is associated with: 

Spirits/spirit work,

The unseen/hidden,

The Veil

Invisibility

Obstruction

Warding

Curses and hexes (both making and breaking)

Protection

Meditation

Serenity/Peace

Calmness

Fear

Patience

Astral Projection

Invisibility.

This list is not exhaustive by any means, and a lot of what you practice depends on your beliefs and upbringing.

This has been a long topic so far, and I haven't got as far as crystals or herbs, so I will save that for another post.

Congratulations if you stayed with us this far!

Hopefully, Cat will be back with you soon.

K x