So what is a Pooka (Phouka) anyway?

This is my first post. I thought it would be something grand and inciteful but now that I've managed to finish setting it up... I'm too tired to be creative. So why don't I just let the world know what a Pooka/Phouka is. If nothing else, it will be helpful as it is loosely from this place or state of mind that I intend to make my posts in the future anyway.


The Phooka (Old Irish), (also Pooka, Puka, Phouka, Púka, - Pwca in Welsh, - Bucca in Cornish) is a creature of Celtic folklore, notably in Ireland and Wales. It is one of the myriad of fairy (faery) folk, and, like many faery folk, is both respected and feared by those who believe in it.

According to legend, the phooka is an adroit shape changer, capable of assuming a variety of terrifying forms. It may appear as a horse, rabbit, goat, goblin, or dog. No matter what form the phooka takes, its fur is almost always dark. (its name is a cognate of the early Irish 'poc', 'a male goat', and it may lend its name to Puck, the goat-footed satyr made famous in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream), but it most commonly takes the form of a sleek black horse with a flowing mane and glowing yellow eyes.

The Púca has the power of human speech, and has been known to give advice and lead people away from danger. Though the phooka enjoys confusing and often terrifying humans, it is considered to be benevolent.