Seven Seconds in the Fairy Pools

One of the most magical stops on our trip to Scotland was the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. Beneath the dramatic Black Cuillin mountains, clear water runs through a series of waterfalls and vivid blue‑green pools in Glen Brittle. Their name reflects Skye’s wider association with fairies and the tale of a MacLeod chief who married a fairy woman. 

We had heard that the icy water carried a special kind of fairy blessing. According to tradition, if you immerse your face in the water for seven seconds and allow it to dry naturally, the fairies may grant you eternal beauty or youth. The ritual is more commonly associated with the river below Sligachan Old Bridge, but it has become part of the magical atmosphere visitors bring to Skye’s clear mountain waters. 

So, naturally, we all tried it. Even Neville. 

The water was freezing. The shock made us laugh, gasp, and feel briefly transformed. Whether or not any of us emerged more beautiful is open to debate, but the experience reminded me of something deeper. 

Transformation often comes through discomfort. Through willingness. Through trust in the unseen. In landscapes shaped by mist, mountain, and myth, it is easy to understand why people imagine that water can hold a little magic. 

As I reflect on that moment, I wonder: 

• What rituals or traditions in your life invite you to step into mystery? 

• Where do you allow discomfort to become transformation? 

• And how might you honour the unseen forces that shape your journey, even if only for seven seconds at a time? 

Reveal greatness,

gina 🙂