Tradition / Region: Alpine folklore (Austria; Dornbirn, Haselstauden, Rankweil)
Alternate Names: —
Category: Restless spirit / penitent ghost
The Myth
In the region between Dornbirn and Haselstauden, people walking at night often heard sneezing beneath the bridge over the Fischbach. Most ignored the sound and continued on their way. One night, however, a traveler, hearing the sneezing, called out, “God help you, if you need help.”
At once, a man appeared before him and answered that he could indeed be helped—if the traveler would carry him that very night to Rankweil. Though exhausted, the traveler agreed, saying that he would first return home to eat supper and tell his wife of his plan. When he did so, his wife pleaded with him not to keep such a dangerous promise, but he refused to break his word.
The man returned to the bridge, where the spirit awaited him. The ghost leapt onto his back, and the traveler was forced to carry it all the way through the night, bearing its heavy weight until they reached Rankweil. At the steps of the church, the spirit finally dismounted and said, “You have redeemed me, and I will redeem you as well.”
The man, drenched in sweat and weakened by the ordeal, returned home. From that night on, he fell ill, and six weeks later he died. It was said that the ghost had vowed during his lifetime to make a pilgrimage to Rankweil but had never fulfilled his promise. After death, he was forced to wander until someone carried him there, binding his redemption to the life of the one who helped him.
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
Philosophical Readings
Psychological Readings
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive