Types of Faeries
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Tuatha de Danann
(thoo-a'haw day dah'nawn)
The Tuatha de Danann are a race of Irish-Celtic faeries or gods
founded by the goddess Danu (identified with the Welsh goddess Don).
Their very name means "People of Danu". The Tuatha had perfected the
use of magic, and were renowned for their magical power as well as
their stunning beauty, grace, and intellect. They were very skilled
artisans.
The Tuatha are generally immortal beings, although they could be killed
in battle. When they went to war, they went armed with lances of blue
flame and shields of pure white. They could put Demon spirits in the
bodies of mortal men so they could fight, though this could be dispelled
by driving pegs of hazel and of quickentree into the back of their necks.
The Tuatha will fight beside mortals in a just battle.
The Tuatha originally lived on "the islands in the West."
The Lhiannan-Shee (lannan-shee), or Leanan Sidhe (lan-awn shee), "The Faerie Lover", has received a great amount of attention by the poet W. B. Yeats. Perhaps this is because of her main function as a Dark Muse.
While she is radiantly beautiful to the man she enchants, she is invisable to all other mortals. As with all things Faerie, once the poet has known the Leanan Sidhe's carress, all mortal women, however comely, seem lifeless and dull to him.
So the poet, living in an all encompassing yearning for his immortal lover, is inspired to great writings. This happens because the Leanan Sidhe has the power to make the creativity of an entire lifetime burn though the poet in a short time. Having taken her fill of his quickened lifeforce, he then must go to an early death.
The Bean Sidhe (ban shee) is a well known spirit of Celtic folklore. The name means "woman faerie." Often beautiful with long flowing hair, red eyes and wan skin, bean sidhe are said to wail at imminent death of a family member. Most of the Celts with "better" names (still retaining the traditional Mac/Mc or O') have bean sidhe that warn of the death of a loved one. They will sometimes take on the form of a young family member.
Sylphs
They are the highest type of fairy to be found anywhere. They are perfect in human feature and form. An opalescent mist, gorgeous to behold, surrounds them. They look like human beings enveloped in this shining matter. They are easier to communicate with. Many of them are superior to an average human being in understanding.
Ambition is to become an angel
So for this to happen they work alongside angels and act as messengers or personal aides
They can act as a guardian angel
Shakespeare's The Tempst is the closest description of a sylph available
They are the source of all life energy - pranan, chi, ki, etc.
They work to alleviate pain and suffering
They work to stimulate inspiration and creativity
They help children
They work to cleanse and uplift our thoughts and our intelligence
They often show themselves in human-like form and are very asexual. In fact, they often inspire this in others.
