Ondines have received a lot of attention throughout the ages by artists, who have usually portrayed them as very beautiful creatures, irresistible to men. In fact, their allure has given them a bad reputation. The archetypal mermaid (Ondine) sits in her grotto upon a rock, lazily combing her hair and admiring her image in a mirror. The passing male who spies this vision is doomed, for she will lure him to her side, capture him, and drag him down into the watery depths where he will perish.The mermaid represents the water element and the power of emotion. The doomed male, on the other hand, represents either the air element or that of earth; he is usually described as intellectual or very down-to-earth, and not ordinarily given to folly. Like all rational, practical types, he has difficulty acknowledging, accepting, and expressing his feelings. He fears them, in fact, and with good reason, for he is in danger of being swamped by them.
It is true that earthy and airy types--women as well as men-- fear being overwhelmed by emotion. There is some basis for this fear, as the release of feelings, long-denied usually results in an emotional cataclysm far out of proportion to whatever caused it. And there are magical considerations as well. Ondines do not respect individuals who are not comfortable with their emotions, and they will make trouble for those whom they don't admire.
Artists' conceptions notwithstanding, there are male as well as female Ondines, though they are in the minority. These male Ondines are sometimes called mermen. All are beautiful (and sometimes vain) creatures who love to splash about in the water and take life at an easy pace. They tend to be playful ... read more ...
