Fairies are generally very beautiful and very intelligent, though it might be said they are not very practical. There are many tribes of Fairies, and these include many of the the Naiads and Dryads of classical mythology, some of theManitouof certain North American native tribes,the Ishigaq of the Inuits, and the Laminaks and Mairiakof the Basques, along with many, many others. They range greatly in size; small ones are no bigger than a human hand, but large ones can be as large as a human being. They tend to be solitary or, less commonly, to be part of a small group of their own kind. They are generally peaceful, considerate of others, and even-tempered. They sometimes inhabit human bodies, though I am not sure whether they incarnate at birth, or whether they move into the bodies of infants who would otherwise die, taking over the body and healing it. The idea of a changeling is partly based on such actions be certain kinds of wee folk, and Fairies may be among them.
Fairies tend toward creative arts, including music and visual arts. In nature, they express this creativity by working in gardens and glens, causing vegetation to grow according to the patterns they envision. They can be the cause, for example, of a particular spot being much more beautiful or restful than what one might normally find. This is particularly true of Dryads and Naiads, which is one reason why these two tribes are so present in our classical literature.
Their instrumental music sounds rather like it is coming from bells, hammer dulcimers, those harps that sound rather like bells, metallophones, flutes, and glass harmonicas. The sound of a glass harmonica is the same as the sound fine crystal makes when it is rubbed with a wet finger. I do not know what instruments they actually use. They sing as well, but their song is not verbal; instead it is more like images imbedded in sound. I suspect that it might be difficult for a human being to listen to too much of their music, because it is rather unnerving, but I am certain it is not harmful if taken in judicious amounts.
Fairies Looking Through a Gothic Arch, by John Anster Fitzgerald, ca. 1864. Public domain.
Their music is imperceptible to the senses of most people, but is emotionally present to us all. Those who are exposed to it, as we all are from time to time, are moved by it, and it can contribute to our happiness greatly, if the song conveys love and beauty. An angry Fairy can, however, inflict a painful song on a person, and it is a very good practice not to anger them with unnecessary intrusions into their lives or disturbances of the natural places they inhabit.
Their homes depend on the specific tribe and its preferences. Some live in openings in the woods, especially where the vegetation naturally forms a circle, which can be the actual home. Some of them live on large rocks that sit by pools. Some live in groupings of rocks, and again, this is especially true if the rocks are in a circle. Many of them inhabit trees, and some telepaths have come to believe that mature trees have intelligent spirits because of this. Some inhabit small fields, especially if they are surrounded by vegetation, and, once more, especially if they are round.
Contrary to what some people might believe, Fairies do not actually live in the circles of mushrooms called fairy rings; the circles are attractive places for them to dance in the evening or early morning, but the mushrooms do not last long enough to be inhabited.
When approaching a grouping of objects that might be a Fairy’s home, it is best to be cautious. A respectful approach may gain permission for entry, and if a person feels this, it is probably safe to enter. A feeling of hostility, or a sense that one is intruding, should be respected; if it is, an attempt on some other day might gain acceptance. One should never point out a Fairy’s home to anyone else without a strong sense of permission. I did this once, and they moved away for months, out of resentment.
One way to make friends with a Fairy is to create a home it might like. Such a thing should be a circle of vegetation or rocks, or possibly even a small, round island in a pond or brook. It should be well shielded by vegetation so the Fairy can feel it is private; ferns are good for this, as are low plants with very large leaves. The home should be visited seldom, unless the Fairy is giving the sense of desiring more company. Strangers, and often even family members or friends, should not be introduced to the Fairy’s home without a clear sense of permission; when in doubt, don’t bother them.
There are many legends about Fairies, and these should be mentioned. One is about the changelings, as mentioned above. This is not a matter of a Fairy stealing a baby. Rather it is a matter of a Fairy, who has a particular mission, taking the body of a baby who would otherwise have died. I am aware of no case where such a mission was intended to be evil. Evil can be judged as it reveals itself, but a person who is merely psychically different from others should not be punished for being unusual. Instead, such a person should be given love and encouraged.
The Star Money, by Ludwig Richter, 1862. Public domain.
One type of legend deals with human beings who are poor, but nevertheless give to others who are poorer yet. Such a legend is typified by the story, “The Star Money,” which is in Grimm’s Fairy Tales. In it a poor girl gives away everything she has, even her clothes, to people in need. A fairy then causes a rain of what looks like stars, but turns out to be gold coins, making her rich. Human beings regard such stories as mere tales, but Wee Folk would probably call them history.
Another legend is the story of Fairy gold, which looks like gold when it is paid for a purchase, but turns to leaves or some such thing as soon as the one who paid it is gone. A person who experiences this is likely to be angry with the Fairy, and possibly may even go seeking retribution. This is very unwise. Those Fairies who can be tricksters are usually very careful to pick victims who did not deserve to own what they were selling in the first place, and the things sold are used to support people who have been oppressed. Seeking retribution on Fairies is very likely to backfire.
Yet another legend is the idea of the Fairy funeral. I have no experience with such things. Since the Fairies I have known did not seem willing to address the issue, I am not sure what it means. I think it might be that it is not something they do, and when I have asked about it, they did not understand my question.
The problems confronting Fairies are primarily loss of habitation areas. They are disturbed by such problems as acid rain, air pollution, urban lighting, and to a much greater degree, by noise. They have been comforted to some degree by the creation of parks, but are rather overwhelmed by the numbers of human beings who visit them. They benefit from the creation of forest preserves, even including areas reserved for hunting and fishing. They sometimes enjoy watching people fish, and will even stand over a person’s shoulder to share the excitement of seeing the fish as it is brought in. Some fairies have asked me to add that they do not like poachers, but I suspect that has more to do with the poachers’ mind sets than anything else.
