Tradition / Region: Estonian folklore
Category: Cemetery spirit · Penitent spirit
The Myth
Jeekim is a penitent cemetery spirit found in Estonian legends and myths. The name Jeekim refers to a spirit bound to burial grounds, associated with repentance and unrest rather than active malevolence.
In traditional belief, Jeekim dwells among graves as a presence marked by penitence, suggesting a soul unable to leave the cemetery due to unresolved guilt or unfinished atonement. No detailed deeds or encounters are preserved, and the spirit is known primarily through its association with the place of the dead.
Jeekim belongs to a group of Estonian cemetery spirits whose existence is attested in folklore sources but whose myths survive only in fragmentary form, emphasizing presence and state rather than narrative action.
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
Philosophical Readings
Psychological Readings
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive