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One of the darker entities associated with fate is the banshee spirit. The etymology of the banshee indicates a connection with fairy mounds and fairy women, the earlier forms being ban-sith, bean-sidhe and ben-shee. As a fairy woman the banshee is associated with second sight, the foretelling of the future. In Ireland and Scotland the banshee appears when death is approaching, her mournful cry is said to foretell death rather than cause it, although in some tales she comes to take the living. The banshee can appear either as a beautiful maiden or a gruesome hag. In folklore the banshee wears white, the ancient color of death associated with bones. In this she is connected with the White Lady legends appearing in many cultures. In some tales the banshee wears a grey cloak over a green dress, and in modern times she is often depicted dressed all in black.source:
Encyclopedia of Witchcraft - Raven Grimassi
Mysteries of the afterlife - Frank Smith and Roy Stemman
Amazon links
The Banshee: The Irish Death MessengerCeltic Myths and Legends
A Guide to Irish Mythology
Scottish Myths & Legends
