Faeries

Faeries

Faeries, The Little People, Fairy Folk and Kin:Most can be safely befriended.Use common sense, and leave them alone if you feel uneasy. Never commanded, most nature spirits and kin can be called on and asked for assistance by ritual offering of wine and cookies. Ginger is well liked as well as water to wash their offspring in and cheese and bread to 'eat'(They take the essence of the food, and leave the solid form behind). Place the offering near a tree or lush green plantings. (Oftentimes I have found mushrooms in a circular pattern after working in a garden..these are called fairy rings and are known to be caused by the dancing of "TROOPING FAIRIES" (Daoine Sidh and Shefro). Most live in bands, but several are alone. They come in sizes from teeny tiny...all the way to four feet tall. Most love finery. They must have food and sleep and are susceptible to disease. They have horses and they are usually speckled and shaggy. They do NOT like humans spying on them. It is known that they banquet on roots of silverweed, stalks of heather, milk of red deer and goats, barley, meal, bread, mushrooms, honey, and dew. They are musicians and have instruments. The music of Londonerry Air is said to have been learned from fairies. They tend to guard their real names. Some are shapeshifters(into birds). They often use glamour spells (called Pishogue in Ireland)when encountering humans. It is said that you can see faeries through stone with a natural hole in it. They value neatness, generosity and abilities to keep secrets. Elphame is a Scottich version of the Norse word Alfame, country of elves, or Fairyland. Psychics say they can see them travel at Imbolc, Beltand, Lughnassadh, and Samhain. In Scottich Witchcraft, the high priestess of the coven was called Queen of Elphame. Both the Welsh and Irish called the faires The Mothers and considered Fairyland the Land of Woman. This harkens back to the fact that the Celtic peoples were originally a matriarchal society. Most live in hills, brughs, or barrows. While some live deep in the woods and in lakes. Their favorite hour is twilight, between day and night. It is said you can open a door into a fairy hill by walking around it three times widdershins(counterclockwise)

To PROTECT yourself from unfriendly faeries:
• They dislike cold iron.
• Jumping over running water will stop pursuit.
• Bread and Salt
• Bells
• Iron Horseshoes
• Whistling
• Snapping the fingers
• St. Johnswort, Red Verbena, daisies, Rowan or Mountain Ash are all useful but the #1 power against them is THE FOUR LEAF CLOVER!!!It protects against glamours!

I will start with the PHOUKA(pooka)

• PHOUKA (pooka)- Ireland - It can take various animal forms and is considered dangerous!
  • PWCA (pooka)- Wales - A version of Puck; not like the Irish Phouka. They are helpful if milk is left out, but also can be mischievious.
• BEAN SIDHE/BEAN-SIDHE (ban-shee) - Ireland - "Woman Fairy"; not actually a diety, but a spirit attatched to certain families. When a member's death apporaches, the family will hear the banshee crying. Not always terrifying.
• BROWNIE (brownie) - Has many names; BWCA or BWBACHOD in Wales; BODACH (budagh) in the Scottish Highlands; FENODOREE in Manx; PIXIES or PISGIES in the West Country of England.- 3 feet high and in brown clothes; Brown faces and shaggy hair; Make themselves responsible for the house where they live by coming out at night to complete unfinished work. Any offer or reward will drive them away, but they except a bowl of milk or cream and cake to be left out. Tradition says they do NOT like teetotallers and ministers. If offended, they will create malicious mischief.
• BWCA/BWBACHOD (booka) - Wales - A type of Brownie.
• CAOINEAG (konyack) - Scotland - "Weeper"; A banshee.
• COBLYNAU (koblernigh) - Wales - Mine spirits, similar to knockers. 18 inches high; Dressed like miners; Ugly; Good humored and will knock where ores are to be found.
• CYHYRAETH (kerherrighth) - Wales - A form of banshee. It usually cries or groans before mulitple deathes by epidemic or accident.
• DAOINE SIDHE (theena shee) - Ireland - A name for the fairy people.
• DRYADS (dryads) - All Celtic Countries - Spirits who dwell in trees, oak in particular. The Druids contacted them for inspiration. Oak galls were known as ASerpent Eggs by the Druids and used in many of their charms.
• ELLYLLON (ethlerthlon) - Wales - Fairies whose queen is MAB. Their food is toadstools and fairy butter...a fungus found on the roots of old trees.
• ELVES (elves) - Another name for TROOPING FAIRIES in Britain; In Scotland they are divided into the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Elf-shot describes an illness or disability supposedly caused by their arrows.
  • SEELIE COURT (blessed court) - Scotland - These trooping fairies are benevolent towards humans, but will readily avenge any insult.
  • UNSEELIE COURT (unblessed court) - Scotland - Fairies who are never favorable to humans. They are either solitary evil fairies or bands of fairies called the SLUAGH who use elf-shot against humans and cattle.
• Fairies/faeries (fairies/faeries) - The earlier name was FAYS. The term now covers Anglo-Saxon elves, the Daoine Sidhe of the Highlands, the Tuathat De Danann of Ireland, the Tylwyth Teg of Wales, the Seelie and Unseelie courts,the Wee folk, Good Neighbors, and many more. The subterranean fairies are those who live in lochs, lakes, streams or the sea.