Neil Philip
@neilphilipmyth.bsky.social
I post about folklore, mythology, poetry, children's literature, art, cats, nature and anything else that takes my fancy. Currently working on an absurdly over-ambitious "key to all mythologies", The Hidden Matrix for Unbound.
The latest issue of Jon Appleton's wonderful journal the gab. Lots of interest here, and even a long interview with me. For subscriptions, contact jonappletonsbooks@gmail.com - you won't regret it.
October 25, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The latest issue of Jon Appleton's wonderful journal the gab. Lots of interest here, and even a long interview with me. For subscriptions, contact jonappletonsbooks@gmail.com - you won't regret it.
Excellent new book by Jane Harrington on the pioneering women salon writers of fairy tales whose work was eclipsed by that of Charles Perrault. Informative essays on each one, followed by a couple of sample stories.
September 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Excellent new book by Jane Harrington on the pioneering women salon writers of fairy tales whose work was eclipsed by that of Charles Perrault. Informative essays on each one, followed by a couple of sample stories.
Our radiotelescopes
will reach out beyond the big bang, and what
it will sound like is one question, and another
what the silence before it will sound like the silence after.
Martin Johnston, last lines of "The Brazen Head". A great poet from a family doomed to disaster. A poète maudit.
will reach out beyond the big bang, and what
it will sound like is one question, and another
what the silence before it will sound like the silence after.
Martin Johnston, last lines of "The Brazen Head". A great poet from a family doomed to disaster. A poète maudit.
July 1, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Our radiotelescopes
will reach out beyond the big bang, and what
it will sound like is one question, and another
what the silence before it will sound like the silence after.
Martin Johnston, last lines of "The Brazen Head". A great poet from a family doomed to disaster. A poète maudit.
will reach out beyond the big bang, and what
it will sound like is one question, and another
what the silence before it will sound like the silence after.
Martin Johnston, last lines of "The Brazen Head". A great poet from a family doomed to disaster. A poète maudit.
Friends, sorry not to have posted much this year. In Dec I was told I was dying, with a best case scenario of living 3 months. So I have been scurrying around making a will, planning a funeral, and putting my affairs in order. 6 months has passed, and now I am told I am ill but OK. Head spinning.
July 1, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Friends, sorry not to have posted much this year. In Dec I was told I was dying, with a best case scenario of living 3 months. So I have been scurrying around making a will, planning a funeral, and putting my affairs in order. 6 months has passed, and now I am told I am ill but OK. Head spinning.
The glorious gold-bright sun was after rising on the crests of the great hills, and it was changing colour - green, purple, red, blood-red. white, intense-white, and gold-white, like the glory of the God of the elements to the children of men.
April 20, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The glorious gold-bright sun was after rising on the crests of the great hills, and it was changing colour - green, purple, red, blood-red. white, intense-white, and gold-white, like the glory of the God of the elements to the children of men.
Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen
Heart, my heart, be not cast down,
bear up and accept your fate.
Spring will come, and recreate
all this winter has undone.
Think how much remains to love
still, in this most lovely world.
All its beauty will unfurl,
my heart, unfurl for you to love.
Heart, my heart, be not cast down,
bear up and accept your fate.
Spring will come, and recreate
all this winter has undone.
Think how much remains to love
still, in this most lovely world.
All its beauty will unfurl,
my heart, unfurl for you to love.
April 12, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen
Heart, my heart, be not cast down,
bear up and accept your fate.
Spring will come, and recreate
all this winter has undone.
Think how much remains to love
still, in this most lovely world.
All its beauty will unfurl,
my heart, unfurl for you to love.
Heart, my heart, be not cast down,
bear up and accept your fate.
Spring will come, and recreate
all this winter has undone.
Think how much remains to love
still, in this most lovely world.
All its beauty will unfurl,
my heart, unfurl for you to love.
Still alive, friends, and able, with a friend by my side, to enjoy my spring garden. I sat down for a rest, and Kiki turned up ready for her close-up.
April 3, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Still alive, friends, and able, with a friend by my side, to enjoy my spring garden. I sat down for a rest, and Kiki turned up ready for her close-up.
Friends, you may have noticed I have been very quiet on here. The reason is I have been extremely ill. What energy I can summon, I am putting into writing, trying to get as much work done as I can. One book finished, one 90% done, in 2 months of a gloomy prognosis. Still enjoying your posts.
February 25, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Friends, you may have noticed I have been very quiet on here. The reason is I have been extremely ill. What energy I can summon, I am putting into writing, trying to get as much work done as I can. One book finished, one 90% done, in 2 months of a gloomy prognosis. Still enjoying your posts.
Me looking like me, after a lovely lunch with my brother and sister-in-law. Love, wine, and devoted cat. A rare happy moment in what has been a trying week.
January 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Me looking like me, after a lovely lunch with my brother and sister-in-law. Love, wine, and devoted cat. A rare happy moment in what has been a trying week.
Rather thrilled by this.
January 6, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Rather thrilled by this.
My late wife Emma Bradford's quick sketch of a seagull in Jutland.
December 14, 2024 at 11:47 PM
My late wife Emma Bradford's quick sketch of a seagull in Jutland.
Oh, honestly - managed to fall backwards downstairs onto a hard tiled floor last night, trying to carry too much. Nothing broken. Dr today said "There's nothing wrong with his brain." Majority opinion thinks the jury is still out on that one.
December 11, 2024 at 9:26 PM
Oh, honestly - managed to fall backwards downstairs onto a hard tiled floor last night, trying to carry too much. Nothing broken. Dr today said "There's nothing wrong with his brain." Majority opinion thinks the jury is still out on that one.
This is sad news.
Virginia Tech professor and poet, Nikki Giovanni, has died at the age of 81.
Well-known Virginia Tech professor dies at 81
Virginia Tech professor and poet, Nikki Giovanni, has died at the age of 81.
www.wdbj7.com
December 10, 2024 at 4:43 AM
This is sad news.
This is a wonderful book by one of the leading scholars in the field - in relaxed accessible way it tells you both the stories and the stories behind the stories. Perfect for a spooky Christmas.
December 9, 2024 at 3:23 PM
This is a wonderful book by one of the leading scholars in the field - in relaxed accessible way it tells you both the stories and the stories behind the stories. Perfect for a spooky Christmas.
Reposted by Neil Philip
The Werewolf has landed! Thrilled to see my book starting to appear in the hands of the many patrons who backed it and made it happen via @unbounders.bsky.social. The book itself appears in bookshops on the 19th of December - why not order a copy for Christmas?
Wonderful. Arrived today and already been sat on by a wet cat, with the clear message, "I ain't afraid of no werewolf."
December 7, 2024 at 4:50 PM
The Werewolf has landed! Thrilled to see my book starting to appear in the hands of the many patrons who backed it and made it happen via @unbounders.bsky.social. The book itself appears in bookshops on the 19th of December - why not order a copy for Christmas?
Wonderful. Arrived today and already been sat on by a wet cat, with the clear message, "I ain't afraid of no werewolf."
December 7, 2024 at 4:21 PM
Wonderful. Arrived today and already been sat on by a wet cat, with the clear message, "I ain't afraid of no werewolf."
Lashing rain, howling winds. The storm is coming in. Stay safe everyone.
December 7, 2024 at 12:16 AM
Lashing rain, howling winds. The storm is coming in. Stay safe everyone.
Reposted by Neil Philip
I don't remember much about the stuff I had to learn at school. But I will NEVER EVER FORGET Mr Evans, the teacher who just read us stories – pure reading for pleasure, no assessment whatsoever. That's the stuff that changes lives! I'm so grateful to him & all the life-changing teachers out there!
December 6, 2024 at 8:38 PM
I don't remember much about the stuff I had to learn at school. But I will NEVER EVER FORGET Mr Evans, the teacher who just read us stories – pure reading for pleasure, no assessment whatsoever. That's the stuff that changes lives! I'm so grateful to him & all the life-changing teachers out there!
Reposted by Neil Philip
Reposted by Neil Philip
Luppitt, Devon. Late Saxon or early Norman font. Extraordinary carving, on this face showing a scene representing martyrdom. For me, this is one of the most astonishing and fascinating of all the church fonts I’ve seen. #fontsonfriday #churchcrawling
December 6, 2024 at 8:11 AM
Luppitt, Devon. Late Saxon or early Norman font. Extraordinary carving, on this face showing a scene representing martyrdom. For me, this is one of the most astonishing and fascinating of all the church fonts I’ve seen. #fontsonfriday #churchcrawling
Kiki loves her catnip banana.
December 5, 2024 at 9:15 PM
Kiki loves her catnip banana.
Well, this is a first. Fell out of bed in the night, hit my head on the bedside cabinet, and then discovered I couldn't get up. Rang neighbours who were here in 5 minutes, also 999 and ambulance arrived in 20 (incredibly quick for a remote village). Refused to be hospitalised. OK, but all shook up.
December 5, 2024 at 10:11 AM
Well, this is a first. Fell out of bed in the night, hit my head on the bedside cabinet, and then discovered I couldn't get up. Rang neighbours who were here in 5 minutes, also 999 and ambulance arrived in 20 (incredibly quick for a remote village). Refused to be hospitalised. OK, but all shook up.
Reposted by Neil Philip
Amazing what's under your feet in Edinburgh! www.bbc.com/news/article...
The forgotten Edinburgh street found behind a hidden library door - BBC News
A passageway gives a glimpse of how the Scottish city looked centuries ago.
www.bbc.com
December 4, 2024 at 3:43 PM
Amazing what's under your feet in Edinburgh! www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Neil Philip
For anyone who's read VARJAK PAW and wants to know how it was written - or anyone interested in the #writing process - here's a free resource I made for the British Library, sharing pages from 7 different drafts. You can have a lot of fun showing this to a class!
www.sfsaid.com/2024/06/the-...
www.sfsaid.com/2024/06/the-...
December 3, 2024 at 7:46 PM
For anyone who's read VARJAK PAW and wants to know how it was written - or anyone interested in the #writing process - here's a free resource I made for the British Library, sharing pages from 7 different drafts. You can have a lot of fun showing this to a class!
www.sfsaid.com/2024/06/the-...
www.sfsaid.com/2024/06/the-...
Reposted by Neil Philip
Calling all post-graduate students in folklore-related subjects at UK HE institutions: the deadline for applications for The Estella Canziani Bursary for Post-Graduate Research 2025 is Friday 6 December 2024. More info here: folklore-society.com/awards/the-e...
The Estella Canziani Post-Graduate Bursary for Research - The Folklore Society
The Folklore Society each year invites applications for a bursary, the ‘Estella Canziani Post-Graduate Bursary for Research’. The bursary is competitive and worth up to £1,500. Scope of the Bursary Th...
folklore-society.com
December 1, 2024 at 2:07 PM
Calling all post-graduate students in folklore-related subjects at UK HE institutions: the deadline for applications for The Estella Canziani Bursary for Post-Graduate Research 2025 is Friday 6 December 2024. More info here: folklore-society.com/awards/the-e...