Episode 142: Dark Fae: Djinn
The folklore of djinn in a nutshell, translated to Afrikaans, and how I reimagined it for my writing.
Written and narrated by Ronel Janse van Vuuren.
Copyright 2024 Ronel Janse van Vuuren — All rights reserved.
Learn more about djinn in folklore here.
Get the transcript here.
Learn more about the author and her writing here.
Music: Secrets by David Fesliyan (FesliyanStudios.com) and Dramatic Heartbeat by FesliyanStudios.com
Transcript
You’re listening to the Faeries and Folklore podcast by Ronel.
I’m dark fantasy author Ronel Janse van Vuuren. With over a decade of digging around in dusty folklore books, researching creatures of imagination that ignited my curiosity, I’m here to share the folklore in a nutshell and how I reimagined it for my writing in an origin of the fae.
This is the Faeries and Folklore podcast.
Hi, I’m your host Ronel Janse van Vuuren. You can just call me Ronel. In today’s episode, we’re continuing our exploration of the fae realm.
This episode is brought to you by my Dark Court Sisters book series. Available in ebook, paperback and audiobook. Three sisters. Three destinies. Three ways to destroy the world. Go to ronelthemythmaker.com/darkcourtsistersseries for more.
You can now support my time in producing the podcast (researching, writing and everything else involved) by buying me a coffee. This can be a once-off thing, or you can buy me coffee again in the future at your discretion. Go to buymeacoffee.com/ronel to support me.
We’re continuing our exploration of Dark Fae.
Today’s Faery: Djinn
Folklore in a Nutshell by Ronel
The djinn were formed from smokeless fire, meaning the fiery wind of the Simoom. Though they aren’t immortal, they far outlive humans. They have their wars, their own land, their feasts and their affairs with humans. A child born of such a union has attributes from both parents. The djinn can also shapeshift into any animal, so ancient Persians were loath to kill cats and dogs for fear of retribution from the djinn they evicted from their home. When a djinn receives a mortal wound, it bursts into ashes, consumed by the fire within its veins. Djinn are able to be visible and invisible at will. They come in different sizes and shapes. Some humans have been able, through magical means, to enslave a djinn. Some djinn are malevolent, being seen as the reason for sandstorms, while others are helpful like the genie in the lamp from Arabian Nights.
And now for my interpretation of the fae in an Origin of the Fae: Djinn
With fire running through their veins, these shapeshifting creatures can survive almost anywhere – even inside bottles and lamps as folklore suggests. Though capturing a djinn and stuffing it into a bottle is a very bad idea as the magic needed to do so and the consequences of that far outweighs any benefit from having a djinn at your beck and call.
Djinn enjoy terrifying humans and fae alike, so they go for the scariest, most grotesque features they can think up when appearing before others. Though they don’t mind handing out magical gifts, they like handing out curses more. A gift to protect can turn out to be a poisonous touch.
They have the power to turn into any creature or into a puff of smoke. Their main mission in life is to cause mayhem. Helpful djinn are as rare as a four-leaf clover. They are charismatic, charming, and chaotic.
As a little bonus, let’s look at this faery translated to Afrikaans: Jinn
I hope that you’ve enjoyed this episode of the faeries and folklore podcast and that you’ve learned something new about faeries.
Remember that you can get a transcript of this episode in the description. If you’re new to the podcast, why not go and grab your free copy of Unseen, the second book in the Faery Tales series, on my website ronelthemythmaker.com? Loads of folklore, magic and danger await! Take care!
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You can now support my time in producing the podcast (researching, writing and everything else involved) by buying me a coffee. This can be a once-off thing, or you can buy me coffee again in the future at your discretion.
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No-one writes about the fae like Ronel Janse van Vuuren.