selkiä

Selkiä is a Finnish term often translated as "seal people" or "selkies." In folklore, particularly from the Celtic and Scandinavian traditions, selkies are mythological beings capable of transforming from seals into humans. These shape-shifters are often depicted as beautiful and alluring in their human form, but possess a deep sadness and longing for the sea. The transformation is typically achieved by shedding their seal skin.

The legends surrounding selkies often involve romantic relationships between humans and these mythical creatures. A common theme is a human finding a selkie's discarded skin and preventing them from returning to the ocean, thus forcing them to remain on land. These unions can be fruitful, leading to children, but are often tinged with sorrow. The selkie's true nature remains tethered to the sea, and they will eventually seek to reclaim their skin and return to their watery home, often leaving their human family behind.

While selkie myths are most prominent in Scottish, Irish, and Faroese traditions, similar tales of seal-folk exist in other maritime cultures. The stories often serve as explanations for shipwrecks, unusual occurrences at sea, or simply as cautionary tales about forbidden love and the pull of one's true home. The duality of the selkie, caught between two worlds, is central to their enduring mystique.