The Skogsrå – Forest Spirit of Åland's Woodlands
The skogsrå (forest spirit) is a female nature spirit found throughout Swedish-speaking regions including Åland. She appears as a beautiful woman from the front, but seen from behind she has a hollow, rotten back and often a cow's tail or one horse foot. She lures men deep into the forests, leading them astray into swamps or wilderness. Men who follow her may lose their health or sanity after repeated visits. However, she is known to be kind to charcoal burners and woodcutters, and can reward hunters with good fortune. In the Christian reinterpretation common to Åland and the Nordic region, th