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Elphame's Fair Land
As researched by Shea Thomas
"Elphame" literally means Elf-home, or the fairy (fey) realm. As it appears in The Witches Creed, Elphame is likely a syncratic reference to concepts surrounding life-after-death. In the Celtic Pantheon specifically, the Queen of Elphame was the Goddess of Death and Rebirth, which also makes Elphame a likely reference to reincarnation.Footnote 1
There is also a literary Queen of Elphame. In English and Scottish Ballads, Elphame is mentioned as the High Priestess of a Scottish witch cult, whose "gude-man," or lover, Thomas of Erceldoune had become for seven years.Footnote 2 Otherwise known as Thomas the Rimer (or Rymer), Thomas was both a poet and prophet famous during the Thirteenth Century. In addition to immortalizing Elphame and her fair lands through verse, Thomas also cited his fairy queen as his chief source of power and inspiration. A short example of his work is listed below.Footnote 3
O See Not Ye Yon Narrow Road,
So Thick Beset With Thorns And Briars?
That Is The Path Of Righteousness,
Though After It But Few Enquiries.
And See Not Ye That Broad, Broad Road
That Lies Across Yon Lily Leven?
That Is The Path Of Wickedness,
Though Some Call It The Road To Heaven.
And See Not Ye That Bonny Road
That Winds About The Ferny Brae?
That Is The Road To Fair Elphame
Where You And I This Night Must Gae.
Footnotes (some old links have disappeared):