Some faery types are universally known and are hard to type by ethnic origin. Others are broad categories, with many different faery life forms falling within their range. Most of the faery forms listed below with be familiar to westerners.
Flying or winged faeries are usually the ones which children see. The toxic herb foxglove is said to give these faeries their power of flight, and it was once used in human flying (astral projection) ointments, which often killed those foolish enough to try them. Folk names for foxglove include Faery Finger, Faery Weed, Faery Cap, and Faery Dress. Some believe the wings of faeries to be only human thought-forms projected onto faeries who are otherwise wingless to help us more easily accept their power of flight. Winged faeries have bright, clear auras of light which are easily seen surrounding them. They are not seem as often by adults as are dwarf (or land-bound) faeries.
Elves and dwarves are generic terms for small wingless faeries such as Gnomes. Often they are seen as having the appearance of older men, but women dwarves are also occasionally seen. But don't be misled by their apparent age- dwarves are very quick and can seem to appear and disappear before your eyes, as if translocating magickally. They are the smartest and most clever and resourceful of all the faery folk. Occasionally, though, they overindulge in food and drink and can be heard reveling loudly beneath a home or oak tree.
Water women are baneful faeries who are often disguised as seaweed or ground fauna. Though the term for them is feiminine, male and androgynous forms of the faeries have been reported. In Celtic countries these faeries are especially said to like to disguise themselves as hazel trees and may be the source of the popular Halloween crone, "Witch Hazel." Water women can be nasty or neutral depending upon their location, the day of the week, and the time of the year one is encountered.
Water spirits are numerous and usually quite dangerous. Popular forms are Mermaids and Mermen, and the Germen Lorelei. They spend most of their time hunting for human mates and protecting their watery kingdoms. Almost every culture has at least one tale to tell of a faery kingdom which exists beneath a lake or ocean hidden by the illusion of water. Occasionally water faeries are benevolent and have been known to lead sailors to safety and fishermen to a catch, but one must exercise extreme caution when dealing with them. Water faeries have been credited with both saving humans from drowning and with drowning them. In Polynesia, where the faery faith is still strong, friendly dolphins are thought to be sea faeries.
Seasonal faeries are another worldwide phenomenon. These faeries can take any form, but their sole function seems to be to assist the Goddess with the change of the seasons as she turns the Wheel of the Year. In spring, flower faeries are often sighred, especially near Bealtaine when faeries are generally very active. In autumn, they aid plants and animals in preparing for winter. Their exceptionally playful nature makes them fun to frolic with, but not very useful for serious work.
Probably the most familiar seasonal faeries are the snow faeries of winter. They tend to be personified into singular forms known as Old Man Winter and Jack Frost. Until quite recently, strong belief in this snow faery king existed in Russia and much of Asia.
Treasure hoarders such as the Irish Leprechaun or the Italian Monaciello are another well-known faery type. They are dwarf faeries who hold among their few possessions crocks of gold and precious gems. Some of the world's most intriguing folklore concerns the capture of this treasure from the faery world.
Guardian spirits are another wll known faery form and are often mistakenly thought to be deities or discarnate human spirits. But guardian spirits do just that- they guard a thing or a place, such as the well spirits who guard sacred wells.
Goblin is a generic term for a malicious, dark, ugly faery, one who is generally disliked and unwelcome even by other faery folk.
A host of other beings are often classed as faeries, and they may or may not be. Much of making a determination depends upon your point of view and the pagan tradition you follow. These include Ghosts (both human and nonhuman discarnates), Raw Elementals (nonsentient archetypal beings), Angels (benevolent beings from the patriarchal religions), Giants and Ogres (popular in the Yorkshire region of England), Demons (malevolent beings from the patriarchal religions), Vampires (blood-sucking, animated, human corpses), Werewolves (shapeshifting humans), Mythical Beasts (such as the Satyr, Unicorn and Firebird), Monsters (such as the Loch Ness Monster or the Buru), Dragons (mythical reptiles who breathe fire), and Faery Godmothers (spirit world old women who look after young girls being cruelly tossed about by life's unpredictable ups and downs).
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