Selkiecore

Selkiecore is an aesthetic based around Norse and Celtic marine life, both real and mythological, as well as their environment and the weather there. The nature aspect features rocky beaches, jagged shorelines, and the cold ocean itself, set against a mysterious background of fog and mist. The setting is usually Ireland and Scotland, as well as Scandinavian countries like Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Harbors, coastal towns and lighthouses are part of this aesthetic as well, provided they feature gray cloudy skies, or cold dark waters. 
The aesthetic is similar to Mermaidcore, but less colorful and flashy, favoring cooler, darker and neutral colors. While Dark Nautical centers on the sailors, the fishermen, and the mysteries of the sea itself, Selkiecore is more about mythological sea creatures as well as other marine life, their nature, and their habitat, with a heavy Northern European influence. 
==Selkies==
Selkies are mythological beings capable of therianthropy, changing from seal to beautiful human form by shedding their skin, sometimes into a coat. They are found in folktales and mythology originating from the Northern Isles of Scotland. The folk-tales frequently revolve around female selkies having their seal skin or coat being stolen and hidden. The thief will then coerce them into relationships or straight up marriage thus exhibiting the tale motif of the swan maiden type.
The selkie wife trapped on land will spend her time longing for the sea, her true home, and will often be seen gazing longingly at the ocean. She may bear several children by her human husband, but once she discovers her skin, she will immediately return to the sea. Sometimes she will abandon the children she loved, or she will take the children with her. Sometimes, one of her children discovers or knows the whereabouts of the skin. Sometimes it is revealed she already had a first husband of her own kind. Although in some children's story versions, the selkie revisits her family on land once a year, in the typical folktale she is never seen again by them.
Male selkies are described as being very beautiful in their human form, and having great seductive powers over humans. They typically seek those who are dissatisfied with their lives, such as married women waiting for their fishermen/sailormen husbands. Male selkies can be summoned by shedding seven tears into the sea.
There are counterparts in Faroese and Icelandic folklore that speak of seal-women and seal-skin.
==Marine Life==
Though the aesthetic is named after and mostly centers on selkies, the aesthetic also centers on the marine life of the sea of Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Sweden or Finland.
===Scotland ===
*Minke whale
*Seals
*Risso's dolphin
*Basking shark
*Humpback whale
*Orca
===Ireland===
*Atlantic white-sided dolphin
* Beluga whale
*Blue whale
*Bottlenose dolphin
*False killer whale
===Norway===
*Beluga whale
*Harbour seal
*Killer whale
* Ringed seal
*Sperm Whale
===Sweden/Finland===
* Grey seal
*Harbour seal
*Ringed seal
*Harbour porpoise
==Visuals==
* Grey/cloudy skies
* Seals
*Seal skin
*The ocean (usually colder, darker waters)
*Small coastal towns
*Lighthouses
*Harbors
*Rocky beaches
*Marine life
==Activities== 
*Walking on the beach (especially rocky beaches)
*Beach combing 
*Swimming in the ocean
*Singing or playing an instrument 
*Dancing
*Daydreaming
*Eating fish
*Eating seaweed
==Fashion==
As you may have noticed, many aesthetics divide the fashion category into "men's" and "women's" but don't feel restricted to one category or the other. You're welcome to pick and choose pieces from each for your personal look.
===Fem===
*Long, simple dresses
*Scarves
*Shawls
*Sea-like hair accessories
*Sea-like jewelry
*Seal coats
*Dark swimwear
*Leather boots
*Scottish/Irish dress clothes
===Masc===
*Button-up dress shirts
*Dark trousers
*Seal coats
*Dark swimwear
*Leather boots
*Scottish/Irish dress clothes
==Media==
=== Movies===
*
*The Golden Seal (1983)
*The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)
*Selkie (2000)
*Disney Nature: Oceans (2009)
*Ondine (2009)
*The Selkie's Lover (2013)
*The Whale (2013)
*Song of the Sea (2014)
*Mara: The Seal Wife (2021)
=== Games ===
* Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
===Literature=== 
*The Visitors by Simon Sylvester 
*The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
*The Secret of Ron Mor Skerry by Rosalie K. Fry
* The Dolphin in the Mirror: Exploring Dolphin Minds and Saving Dolphin Lives by Diana Reiss
*Home from the Sea by Mercedes Lackey
*The Tale of the Skin from The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente
*The Odyssey of KP2: An Orphan Seal and a Marine Biologist's Fight to Save a Species by Terrie M. Williams
*Selkie Stories are for Losers by Sofia Samatar
*The Breath of a Whale: The Science and Spirit of Pacific Ocean Giants by Leigh calvez
*Seven Tears into the Sea by Terri Farley
*The Whale called Killer by Erich Hoyt
* The Selkie Girl by Susan Cooper
* Secrets of Selkie Bay by Shelley Thomas
*Selkie by Josephine Birch
*Seals by Jinny Johnson
*Seal Song by Andrea Spalding
*The Turning by Emily Whitman
===Music===
*"The Great Silkie O' Sule Skerrie" by Sheena Wellington
*"Silkie" by Joan Baez
*"I Am A Selkie" by Blackrose
* "The Maiden and the Selkie" by Heather Dale
* "Amhrán na Farriage" by Lisa Hannigan
* "The Grey Selkie" by Maz O'Connor
* "Selkie-boy" by Julie Fowlis and The Lost Words: Spell Songs
====YouTube Playlists====
*Selkie music by Donaldfann
*Selkie songs by Josh Catchur
*Selkie song by Stephanie Knight
*
====Spotify Playlists====
*Selkiecore - Unhelpfulcookie
*Celtic sea Shanty's - Karl Hogan
*Norse sea shanties/viking - johnzim05
*A Selkie's song - Magpie of magic
== Gallery==
Faroese stamp 584 the seal woman.jpg|Faroese Stamp
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Sealsonirishwaters-s1.jpg
Killer-whales.jpg|Killer Whales
Dolphins-in-the-wild.jpg|Dolphins
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Category:Celtic
Category:Nordic
Category:Core Suffix
Category:Oceans and islands
Category:Visual
Category:Mutes
Category:Light Blue
Category:Character Tropes
Category:Irish
Category:British
Category:Scottish
Category:Galician
Category:Faroese
Category:Finnish
Category:Norwegian
Category:Swedish
Category:European