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 Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 3:33 pm
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NOTE: This class/discussion is no longer taught/led by a teacher. However, please feel free to read through it and ask any questions that you may have or express any thoughts/opinions you have. Just please don't ask, "Can I join the class?" Because the answer is 'no'. Thank you.
The idea of Faerie has captivated our ancestors from the earliest days of tribal settlements, the majority of the stories of what we know today as "Faeries" centering in Europe. Faeries, however, are a global occurrence and this guide will endeavor to introduce readers to faeries from around the world, both in general and specific terms, and provide information for those seeking to learn more about these beings.
The guide will be updated every Friday, and questions or topics of discussion are strongly encouraged! The following is a loose plan of the topics that will be discussed, but the list is in no particular order. So please, feel free to ask about something that's not listed, or hurry along a particular discussion. wink
Topics to be discussed:
Origins of Faery Myth
Names for, and Classifications, of Faeries
Faery Associations
Evolution of Faeries
Types of Faeries
Faerie Realm
Faerie Encounters
Faerie Music
Faerie Food
Scared Plants
Myths
Exercises:
Choosing a Fairy Power Form 08/15/08
Topics Discussed:
Origins of Faery Myth
Names for Faeries
Offerings for Faeries
Recommended Reading List
idea Under Construction idea
A Complete Guide to Faeries and Magical Beings - Cassandra Eason
A Dictionary of Fairies - Katharine Briggs
Faeries - Brian Froud and Allan Lee
A Field Guide to the Little People - Nancy Arrowsmith
Folklore and Customs of Rural England - Margaret Baker
The Lost Gods of England - Brian Branston
The Anatomy of Puck - K. M. Briggs
The Fairies in Tradition and Literature - K. M. Briggs
Handbook of Faeiries - Ronan Coghlan
Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland - Crofton Croker
The Fairy Mythology - Thomas Keightley
The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies - Robert Kirk
Goblins: The Realm of Faerie - Wirt Sikes
The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries - W. Y. Wents-Evans
Faerie Central
Faeries and Other Wee Folk
The Faery Crossing
Comments, suggestions, or requests for topics (if there's something you're dying to know, I have no problem with updating more than once a week, or posting on a topic of interest) are welcome and appreciated! I'd love to hear from anyone who's been reading or has taken an interest in the guide. - Pounce
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 4:05 pm
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What are Faeries?
This a deceptively simple question, with any number of possible answers. No one answer is necessarily any truer than any other, so let your own judgement be your guide. Discussions on what faeries are, exactly, vary from diminished gods to nature spirits, the manifestation of energies from plants or fallen angels, or even aliens. Here, we'll explore some of the more popular theories.
Diminished Gods
With their associations to the natural world, there are many who believe that faeries are the remains of diminished, Pagan gods. How, you may ask? It is supposed that when these gods fell out of worship, their powers diminished accordingly. However, the significance of plants and trees did not diminish as sources of food, building materials or healing purposes so the gods associated with them did not entirely vanish, nor did the importance of the locations associated with them.
One famous example of the diminished gods are the Tuatha de Dannan (Children of Danna). Once powerful gods in ancient Ireland, banished by the Milesians to the hollow hills (duns), they evolved after the introduction of Christianity in Ireland to faeries. No longer gods with the power to control the destinies of humans, they became mischievous beings more benign than demons, but not as elevated as angels. Like the Tuatha de Dannan before them, Irish faeries were most commonly said to inhabit or haunt hollow hills.
Fallen Angels
There are two variations on this myth, the first being that when Satan and his rebelling angels through wide the gates of Heaven and were then expelled, there were other beings sucked out of Heaven with them. The Rebel angels were damned to Hell for their actions when the gates were ordered shut and sealed, and it was decreed that "Those who are without must stay without, and those who are within must remain within," unintentionally banishing the other beings, as well. They remained on Earth, between Heaven and Hell, and became faeries.
The other variation is that the faeries are angels who were not evil enough for Hell, but were cast out of Heaven. They remain on Earth, waiting for the Day of Judgement, when their fates will be determined.
Demons
The early Church, upon arriving in the British Isles, did not take kindly to the faerie legends as they were Pagan in nature. In their efforts to convert the populations of the Isles, early monks and missionaries explained that the often troublesome fae were in fact demons, minions of the devil and creatures of evil. They supported their claims with already-existent stories of human abductions, or the swapping of human babies with faerie changelings.
These claims were not well received, however, especially by the country dwellers who lived closest to faerie beings, and the stance of the Church was later adapted to the fallen angels previously discussed.
Elementals
Again, because of their association to nature, faeries are often believed to be elementals and they are divided into four categories: Gnomes (Earth Elementals), Sylphs (Air Elementals), Salamanders (Fire Elementals), and Undines (Water Elementals). Each elemental can be invoked when working with the elements, and the faerie associated with each element shares physical associations with its element.
Gnomes live beneath the earth, very much like dwarves.
Sylphs are spritely, winged creatures and resemble the fairies of the Victorian era with their delicate wings.
Salamanders are small, dragon-like creatures that live among the hot coals of a fire.
Undines are similar to merefolks and selkies, dwelling in bodies of water.
Nature Spirits
The most popular theory, by far, is that faeries are the manifestation of the vital energies of plants. Likewise, they are considered to be the spirit of a particular location, such as a sacred well or hollow hill. Faeries are, however, associated with certain plants more so than others, such as oak and foxglove flowers.
Ghosts and Spirits
There are those that believe that faeries are not a separate class of being, but are instead the ghosts and trapped spirits of human beings. Theories on how this is possible vary, with some claiming that they are spirits, much like angels, who are neither evil enough for Hell, or righteous enough for Heaven; rather than being placed in Purgatory, they roam the human world.
Others believe that they are human beings who have met violent ends and haunt the area in which they died. The Red Caps of Scotland, faeries said to haunt battle fields and dye their hats with human blood, are an example of this theory.
Extra Terrestrials
There is little evidence to support these claims, and it could be that reports have been confused between faeries and aliens, but the connection does exist.
There have been sightings of beings, very much like faeries, being "beamed" up into unusual vessels which then disappear into the sky in rural parts of England. These sightings, however, are few and far between. Who is to say that "little green men" are aliens or faeries?
These reports may also have been confused, however. Where faeries are "Otherworldly" beings, this notion of a parallel otherworld may have been confused with other plants or "worlds."
Whatever faeries are, they have captivated the human imagination for thousands of years and have been partners in magic for nearly as long. When approached with respect, they can be powerful and wise allies but some faeries, no matter how much respect they are given, are best avoided.
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 5:33 pm
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Names for Faeries
Faeries are known by many different names, both collectively and individually and this week’s tutorial will address why, and some of the more common names for faeries as a group, rather than individuals.
Names, especially true names, were once believed to have magical powers; knowing the name of a faery could force them to do the bidding of the human who knew it, or to summon them at will by calling it out. It was considered unlucky in the British Isles to say the word “faery” because doing so was believed to summon them. Therefore, to avoid the mischief of the faeries, country dwellers began to refer to them by other names.
“Jack” became a very popular name when referring to a male faery, as was any reference to the colour green; Jack in the Green was another name for Robin Goodfellow, better known as Puck. Names used for fearies collectively included the Fair Folk, the Shining Ones, Little/Wee People, People of Peace, the Gentry, and Good Neighbors/Good Folk. The Gentry was reserved for groups of trooping faeries, referencing the practice of human nobility to go riding and hunting in groups. The other names were used more universally.
“Goodfellow” or “Good Neighbor” were used in the hopes of inspiring the faeries to be helpful rather than troublesome, seeking to flatter and to avoid insult. Since faeries were believed to be able to turn invisible at will, or to shape shift, one could never be certain if one was near, so it paid to be cautious.
The terms we are more familiar with today are Fairy/Faery or elf, both lately adopted terms. Elf comes to us out of the Scandinavian tradition, used to describe a similar diminutive people in Germanic folklore. Fairy/Faery is believed to come out of either the Medieval French word “Fae”, or the Latin word “fatum” meaning fate. Whatever the source of the name, it indicates the power of Faeries over the fate of humans, their ability to gift abilities, or to curse.
A Note on Spelling:
Depending on the text you’re reading, you will see, most commonly, one of two spellings used: Fairy or Faery. Both are correct, as the former is a modernization of older spellings and the latter is the Old English spelling of the word. To differentiate between using these beings as pure fantasy or magical entities, an author will use one spelling or the other. “Fairy” is generally used in indicate a fictitious creature, where as “Faery” indicates use in a metaphysical context.
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:27 am
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Cassandra Eason's A Complete Guide to Faeries and Magical Beings Exercise: Choosing a Fairy Power Form We all have our own concepts of fairies. For some it is a strong wind blowing a field of corn, for others a flower fairy complete with gossamer and wings, a powerful being of light, or a wise brown gnome in a woodland or garden. Like any other symbol of power, protection or challenge, a fairy guardian can form a focus for your own innate power and wisdom, amplified by the aspect of nature that is represented by the fairy. If you select a fairy form now, it may serve for a few days, weeks or months or during a particular period of joy, challenge or crisis. Because fairies can shape-shift, your guardian may appear as an animal or bird or seem to reside in a tree on your garden. They may, for example, be a wild bird who always appears when you are sad or anxious, or a particular fragrance in your garden or on your balcony that is amplified at times when you are especially sensitive. - If you sense a spirit in a tree that has special powers for you, find a fallen branch of the same wood and carve with a pen knife a shape to represent the guardian. - Alternatively, buy a statue that expresses what a fairy is to you. You will see one by synchronicity (meaningful coincidence), perhaps in an unusual place when you least expect to. I found my blackthorn fairy guardian in a dusty old book shop. - If you ever see or sense a flower fairy near a particular species or display of flowers, keep a pot of the living plant in your home. - Hang a string of silver bells near an open window for a sylph of the air. Alternatively make a water feature, drop crystals in a bowl of water or add to fish to represent you water fey. Add weeds or water plants to the water is s/he is a creature of the reeds. - If your essence is manifest as a bird of animal, craft a clay form of your power creature. You can also make your own fairy from clay, is possibly found in nature. - Try to spend a few moments each day quietly holding you symbol, smelling the flowers or rippling the water. - Then close your eyes and see the essential form taking shape. - You may at first perceive a flash of colour or light shimmer or a sudden rainbow. Allow any words to flow through your mind. - Your guardian may appear at other times as a sudden fragrance when you least expect it, or in a vivid dream. - In time the power will accumulate, so after a few weeks you have only to close your eyes at any time to connect with the power. - If your guardian seems hard to contact or after a while loses potency, wrap the symbol in white silk or, if it is a natural symbol, return it to the earth and begin with a new guardian form. |
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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:49 am
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Offerings for Faeries
Leaving offerings for faeries is an ancient practice, and was traditionally done to insure that the faeries remained friendly and didn't cause mischief in the home or on the farm. The most common offering left was milk or cream, a rich treat to encourage the faeries to leave the cattle alone, to neither tangle their tails nor sour the milk in the udder. Some times, honey would be added to sweeten the treat.
Loaves were also common, too, or small cakes (think cookies) made from wheat, oats, barley or honey. These were often left for household faeries, such as brownies, to thank then for their assistance around the home. Failure to nightly leave the cake or loaf, and possibly a small saucer of milk, was believed to offend the faeries who would then neglect their chores, and then wreak havoc by overturning butter churns, pulling out the stitching in unfinished knitting, dirtying clean clothes, etc.
In the fall, all fruits, grains and other vegetables that were left in the fields or orchards after Samhain were left for the faeries. Some say this was because the faery phooka would come out that night and deficate (eww) on these items, while others insist it was out of an agreement with the faeries to assure a good harvest and the good will of the faeries for the following year.
Coins have also been left at faerie hills or faerie trees, buried at the base to ensure good luck. Legend also has it that in Wales, two gold coins could be left at a certain hill at dusk with a horse and in the morning the horse would be shod with new shoes and the coins would be gone.
Offerings can be made anywhere, and can be made of anything. Faeries are very fond of music, anything that glitters, and anything sweet. A dish of milk can be left on the counter to encourage faeries to frequent your home, or you can set up a specific altar where you leave cut flowers, fragrant herbs, milk, incense, loaves or cakes, stones, or anything you feel is appropriate. If the offering is not gone in the morning, don't be disappointed; the faeries partake of your gift on a more metaphysical level and absorb the essence of the gift. Bury the cakes or pour the milk out in the morning and replace as you feel necessary.
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:27 am
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 7:15 pm
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:45 pm
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For those of you who are interested in the Fae and/or Faries...this is a list of books for you:
A.E.(GEORGE RUSSELL); "The Candle of Vision", Quest Books, Theosophical Pub. 1965; ISBN 0-8356-0445- 4 Autobiography of the great Celtic mystic, ostensibly Christian, but awfully pagan in his thoughts. Russell's book deals a lot with his interaction with the Irish Fey.
ALLINGHAM, WILLIAM, "The Fairies", Henry Hold & Co., 1989; ISBN 0-8050-1003- 3
BORD, JANET & COLIN; "The Enchanted Land, Myths and Legends of Britain's Landscape", Thorsons, 1995 ISBN1-85538- 407-8
BRIGGS, KATHERINE; "Abbey Lubbers, Banshees, & Boggarts", Pantheon 1979 Encyclopedia of British Faerie Folk and legends.
BRIGGS, KATHERINE, "The Fairies in English Tradition and Literature", Bellew Publishing, 1967, ISBN 0-947792-18- X
CHMELOVA, ELENA; "Celtic Tales", Exeter Books 1982
COGHLAN, RONAN; "Dictionary of Irish Myth and Legend", Donard Press 1979 who's who of Irish myth and legend.
COLUM, PADRAIG; "Treasury of Irish Folklore", Crown Pub. 1967 ISBN 0-517-502941
COLUM, PADRAIG; "Treasury of Irish Folklore", 2nd rev. ed. Killenny Press 1954/1982 ISBN 0-517-67612- 5
CROSSLEY-HOLLAND, KEVIN ed.; "Folk Tales of the British Isles", Pantheon, 1985, ISBN# 0-394-75553- 7
CURREN, BOB, "A Field Guide to Irish Fairies", Chronicle Books, 1998. ISBN 0-8118-2276- 1
CURTAIN, JEREMIAH; "Myths and Folk Tales of Ireland", Dover Books 1975
EVANS-WENTZ, W. Y.; "The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries", University Books 1966/1994 ISBN 0-8065-1160- 5***Very good work on the fairy beliefs of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, the Isle of Man and Cornwall. In depth look at Celtic pagan theology and philosophy. A must for any serious Celtic student.
FROUD, BRIAN & ALAN LEE; "Faeries", Harry M. Abrams 1978 ISBN 0-8109-0901- 4 Fairy legends from the British Isles. Beautifully illustrated.
GOSE, ELLIOT B., Jr.: "The World of the Irish Wonder Tale: An Introduction to the Study of Fairytales" University of Toronto Press 1985 ISBN 0-8020-658506
GREGORY, LADY AUGUSTA; "Visions and Beliefs in The West of Ireland", Colin Smythe 1920/1979 ISBN 0-901072-36- 2 Very similar to Evans-Wentz' s Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries. Collections of folklore gathered in The early 20th century.
KEIGHTLY, THOMAS; "The World Guide to Gnomes, Fairies, Elves, and Other Little People", Avenel Press 1978, ISBN 0-517-26313- 0 Reprint of The Fairy Mythology.
KERR, MILDRED L., ELISABETH HARNER & FRANCES ROSS, "Giants and Fairies", Charles E. Merrill Co., Inc., 1946. (No ISBN) International stories of giants and faeries
LANG, ANDREW, ed. "The Blue Fairy Book," Longman's Green and Company, Ltd., 1949, No ISBN
LANG, ANDREW, ed., "The Lilac Fairy Book" Dover Publications, 1910/1938/1968 ISBN 0-486-21907- 0
LANG, ANDREW, ed., "The Orange Fairy Book," Dover Publications, Inc. 1906/1968, ISBN 486-2190907
LANG, ANDREW,ed. "The Pink Fairy Book," Dover Publications, Inc., 1897/1967 ISBN 486-21792-2
LANG, ANDREW, ed. "The Violet Fairy Book," Dover Publications, Inc. 1901/1966, ISBN 486-21675-6
LEAMY, EDMUND; "Golden Spears", Desmond Fitzgerald 1911 (No ISBN)
LENIHAN, EDDIE, & Carolyn Eve Green, "Meeting the Other Crowd, Fairy Stories of Hidden Ireland", Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, 2003, ISBN 1-58542-307- 6
LYSAGHT, PATRICIA, "The Banshee, The Irish Death Messenger," Roberts Rinehart, 1986, ISBN 1-57098-138- 8
macLIAMMOIR, MICHEAL; "Faery Nights" Lucky Tree Books, The O'Brien Press 1922/1984 ISBN0-86278- 133-7
MACMANUS, DERMOT; "The Middle Kingdom, The Fairy World of Ireland" Colin Smythe Ltd. 1959/1973 ISBN0-900675- 82-9
MOONEY, JAMES; "Myths of The Cherokee and Sacred Formulas of The Cherokees", Charles & Randy Elder/ Cherokee Heritage Books 1982 ISBN 0-918450-22- 5 Excerpts from The Bureau of Ethnology records on The folk customs and beliefs of The Cherokee tribe. Formulas (spells) for medicine, love, hunting, etc. Very rare and valuable information.
RONEY-DOUGAL, SERENA, "The Faery Faith: An Integration of Science With Spirit", Green Magic, 2003, ISBN 0-9536631-7- 5
ROSE, CAROL; "Spirits, Faeries, Leprechauns and Goblins, An Encyclopedia" W.W. Norton & Co. 1996 ISBN 0-393-31792- 7
SPENCE, LEWIS; "British Fairy Origins", Aquarian Press 1946/1918, ISBN 0-85030-262- 5 Examines The fairy faith from a scholarly viewpoint and tries to determine its roots. One of The finest of writers on The Celtic culture.
SPENCE, LEWIS; "The Minor Traditions of British Mythology", Rider & Co. 1948 This Book deals with The lesser known members of British mythology. The minor gods and spirits of rivers, lakes, wells, etc. Giants, ogres, goblins and supernatural animals are also covered. A delightful Book by one of The best writers available.
STEWART, R. J.; "The Living World of Faery", Mercury Publishing 1999 ISBN 1-892137-09- 7
STEWART R. J.; "Robert Kirk - Walker Between Worlds", Element, 1990, ISBN 1-85230-141- 4
VAN GELDER, DORA, "The Real World of Fairies: A First-Person Account: with a new forward by Celtic folklore expert, Caitlin Matthews, Quest Books, 1977, 1999, ISBN 0-8356-0779- 8
WHITE, CAROLYN; "A History of Irish Fairies", Mercier Press 1976 *** Short Book of facts about Irish faeries
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