Tradition: Polish Mythology
Alternative Names: Błędnica
Category: Demon
The Myth
Błędnica is a forest demoness who appears most often as a young and beautiful girl. She inhabits the forest and leads people astray, causing them to become lost deep among the trees.
Those who fall under Błędnica’s influence are led farther and farther into the forest until they are completely lost. The demoness then abandons them in the wilderness, where they may eventually die from starvation or be eaten by wild animals.
Błędnica could be driven away through powerful spells or by making a sacrifice. Such offerings could be made at home or during a hunt in an attempt to protect people from the demoness.
Sources
“Błędnica (Slavic demoness).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C5%82%C4%99dnica_(Slavic_demoness)