Fairys: Irish Belief
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Fairies: An Old Irish Belief Old Irish belief is that the Faeries came from the sky, riding the clouds during a terrible storm, and dismounting upon a High, Sacred Mountain. They were known as the Tuatha De Danann, and were worshipped as Gods, due to their high intelligence. The Tuatha De Danann were known as a race of Faerie beings. This race included many mythological characters known to us today (i.e. the dragon, satyr, pixie, unicorn). The spelling of their name "Faerie" changed later with the coming of "Fairy Tales" and the diminutive, Tinkberbell image. The Tuatha De Danann were known for their wonderful skill in most any part of life (in old Ireland). They were wonderful horsemen, warriors, magicians, dancers, poets, and not to mention pranksters. They were known for their giddy, and innocent, sense of humor. Many believe the Faeries taught the art of healing to humans. This includes the old Druids, who had a mass amount of power over the people of Ireland because of their hidden knowledge. It was the tree spirits, mainly, who taught healing to friendly humans. Faeries are still known today for their wonderful healing powers. They are also very neat and tidy, and have helped humans around the house with their daily chores. And yet they have never accepted any form of gratitude, accept for food left out for them. Bowls of milk were often placed outside for the wee folk. During the time period of the Roman Church and their will to take over religion in Ireland, believing in Faeries was no longer accepted. For a long while Pagans, who believed in the Tuatha De Danann, and Christians lived side by side peacefully. But when the reign of a new King came, they were forced out. Pagans were hung and then burned, and fairies were either diabolized, or simply thought of as fake. The satyr, a Faerie being with goat legs and horns, is an example of diabolizing. This Faerie's image was made to look like the Devil. A clever mind saved the belief and lore of Faeries. 'Fairy Tales', they called it, and it was accepted as entertainment for children. The writer insisted it was fake and only meant to amuse. Centuries later we still believe him; we still scoff at those tales. Look in the nursery rhymes, and you will find secrets to the Faerie realm. An example is the story of Rumplestiltskin, where a Faerie makes a riddle out of his own name, tempting a human to find it out. Now, we find in our books on their temperament, that Faeries will NEVER tell anyone their name, as it is sacred to them, and must be kept secret. Many Faeries are offended even by the name 'Faerie', and would rather be called 'The Good Neighbors', 'The Wee Folk', 'The Good People', and others. Here is an old saying...If you call me a fairy, I'll work you very hard. If good neighbor you call me, Then good neighbor I'll be. Faeries have also never accepted apologies or gratitude that is not in gift form. I suppose they think "Thank You"'s are cheap, and not very meaningful. A bowl of milk, strawberries, cream, bread, butter, and others are quite appreciated by the Wee Folk. Another quirk of theirs is their hate of human cruelty, and yet they will be as mean as they like in their own pranks. They are not purposefully hurtful, and I think that is the difference. They only want to get back at you for your own cruelty. Faeries hate human lies, and especially a broken promise! Big taboo! Big, important taboo! So, what do they like? Honesty, kindness, good deeds, respect, gifts, care to animals and sick humans, protectiveness over nature, animals and children, and anything else that is proof of a warm and kind heart. You may be treating other people this way, and Faeries will be attracted to you. Kindness to children is also very good, since they are adorable, and beloved of Faeries. So adorable are they to the eye of a Faerie, that children have been stolen from their own crib, by a Faerie perhaps unknowing of the pain the parents would suffer. They just see the giggling human child so lovely. If ever a Faerie you see, approach carefully. Come with a loving heart, and respectful mind. Present yourself as a lover of nature, and be sweet, just as they will be. It is common to give libations to the Faerie in honor of them, for they are spirits of nature and wondrous in all their ways. Some give libations in hopes that the Fae might help them with their garden or farm. Other times, they may be given in order to draw faeries into view. Some Faerie Libations include: Milk Honey Bread Fresh Water Gemstones Trinkets Flowers To play an instrument or sing is a truly effective way of drawing faeries. I can do neither, but certainly wish that I could. To those who have the talent: be appreciative and spread the good sound to faerie ears. Placing a bouquet of flowers at the edge of a pond is said to help draw out spirits, or possibly even the guardian, of the water. A good housewife of olden times was expected to leave out a bowl of fresh water by the hearth for faeries to wash their babies in. Milk and bread are especially liked by the faerie folk, since they cannot make these things themselves. Types of Faeries Asrais Small and delecate female faeries. Cannot be exposed to sunlight or captured or they melt away into a pool of water. Brownies Attach themselves to human households. Dwarfs Short and powerful. Mature at three years old and are grey and bearded by the age of seven. It is said they cannot appear in the light of day for to do so would turn them to stone. Fir Darrig (Fear deang) Practical joker of a gruesome nature. Goblins Name used for uglier species of faerie. Small and malicious. Gwragedd Annwn (Gwageth anoon) Are Welsh water faeries, who occasionally take human men for husbands. Leprechaun Sly and tricky and can disappear in a blink. Pixies Often take the form of hedgehogs. Mischievous and love to steal horses to ride. Spriggans Said to be ugly and grotesque and small, but can inflate themselves to gigantic size. Water Faeries Providers of food, nourishers of crops and takers of lives. They combine beauty with treachery. Where Do fairies Live The Astral Faeries are often seen as beings existing in Spirit, specifically on the astral realm, which is very close to the physical. The astral realm blends with what we call the imagination, so we are intimately linked with this realm. Whatever we imagine is instantly created. Some things we view as imaginary in our minds can be quite real on this realm of Spirit. The astral realm lives and breathes, similar to the physical. This is hard to describe... Beings of astral substance also have health to maintain, although the healing process can be much, much faster. The will is so strongly influential that all that is needed is a mound of good energy to heal the deepest wound. As astral beings faeries exist to help plants and animals survive. They help stabilize nutrients in the soil, bring in sunlight and other tasks. Also they are like angels, (sometimes called Nature's Angels), protecting the animal or plant from harm and channeling good energy to help heal. Meditation and visualization are used to visit faeries in the astral. This is truly an extraordinary experience for those on the journey. Books on faeries, such as those by Ted Andrews and Edain Mc Coy contain detailed visualizations to help lead you. The Physical Not only are faeries believed to exist in Spirit, but also in the physical. This is when the lore of faeries comes in... for every story you've ever heard about faeries has probably referred to them in the physical. Some say that faeries exist primarily on the astral and can visit the physical for about as long as we can visit the astral. In the physical the faeries also have tasks, usually protecting and helping plants and animals. Sometimes they help humans, too, on farms and with housework. This is done discreetly and the only form of thanks they accept is an offering left for them such as milk or water. Sometimes no thanks at all is most appropriate, for it can be taken as an insult!
Background Art by Selina Fenech
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