Category: Fae Friday

Leprechaun

A story by MasterLibrarian on .

Fae Friday happens to fall the day after St. Patrick’s Day this week, so I wanted to take some time to highlight the Pagan stars of the show: Leprechauns. (St. Patrick gets enough attention.) These little guys originated from (you guessed it) Ireland! Unlike most Fae who prefer to hang out in troops, Leprechauns are considered solitary Fae who would much rather spend their time working on a handsome pair of shoes than dancing the night away at a faery revelry (Bane, 2013). That’s not to say that they don’t appreciate their Fae brethren. After all, without all that frolicking, how would Leprechauns keep adding to those giant stashes of gold they’re so famously hoarding at the end of a rainbow? You see, a Leprechaun’s main occupation is cobbling (Logan, 2014). The more shoes that get worn out from all that dancing, the more these craftsmen stand to make. They’re also no strangers to partying on their own terms, often drinking and feasting when their work is all done (Bane, 2013). They are Irish, after all.

Leprechaun
Picture via https://eatsleepbreathetravel.com/traditional-irish-folklore-part-1-legend-leprechaun/?cn-reloaded=1

Though Leprechaun’s don’t really like humans, they don’t exactly leave us alone either. They can be helpful sometimes by lending their cobbling skills in exchange for some human coin. But it’s much more likely for a person to be caught up in some Leprechaun’s deception instead. They are notorious tricksters who love to play pranks on silly humans trying to steal their gold (Bane, 2013). A human might be “lucky” enough to catch a Leprechaun, but it is almost certain that some clever sleight of hand will leave the human stranded while their green-clad friend makes off with the goods. I think my favorite story came from a Joseph Jacobs’ tale (1892). A man named Tom manages to capture a Leprechaun and convinces the Fae to take him to his hidden treasure. The Leprechaun leads Tom to a field of boliauns and tells the man to dig under a certain bush. Tom doesn’t have a shovel on him at the time, so her marks the boliaun with a red garter and releases the Leprechaun. When Tom returns with a spade, every bush in the field now holds an identical red garter, ensuring that the Leprechaun’s gold would be safe from Tom’s greed.

If you ever hear the tap tap tapping of a tiny hammer on a shoe, you can assume that there is a Leprechaun near at hand. Maybe you have the cunning to outsmart them and get their gold. Or maybe you’ll wind up like so many before you with no riches, a bruised ego, and a great tale to tell.

Activity

I have a simple assignment this week. When you’re reveling in the full moon tonight or celebrating Ostara in a few days, don’t forget your Fae friends. Nourish your relationship with them by leaving a nice offering of something sweet. I plan to leave some honey tonight when I visit my Faerie circle. They are also partial to music, so you can give them the gift of song by singing your favorite tune outside, playing an instrument, or hanging bells in your garden or from a tree. Your present will be much appreciated!

For more ideas on how to celebrate Ostara, visit my friend Calista Moon’s post under the Sabbat tab!

References

Bane, T. (2013). Encyclopedia of fairies in world folklore and mythology. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.

Jacobs, J. (1892). The Field of Boliauns. https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/cft/cft06.htm

Logan, H. (2014, September 2). Traditional Irish folklore part 1: The legend of the Leprechaun. Eat Sleep Breathe Travel. https://eatsleepbreathetravel.com/traditional-irish-folklore-part-1-legend-leprechaun/?cn-reloaded=1

Âu Cơ

A story by MasterLibrarian on .

Welcome back to Fae Friday! (Many days late…) This time, we’re traveling to Vietnam to learn all about the Faery Queen they have to thank for creating their people. Âu Cơ, an immortal mountain faery, is at the center of Vietnam’s founding myth along with the dragon god Lạc Long Quân. They both left their respective homes in order to travel the land of Vietnam; Lạc Long Quân left the sea to battle monsters and Âu Cơ left the mountains to heal the people of the land. Their story starts as a typical damsel in distress tale. Âu Cơ was attacked by a bird-like monster and transformed herself into a beautiful white crane to escape. Lạc Long Quân was known as a monster hunter who earned humans’ admiration by slaying many mythological beasts that threatened their land and their lives. Seeing the white crane in peril, Lạc Long Quân killed the giant bird and saved Âu Cơ’s life. She immediately fell in love with her hero, and the two were married. Together, they became the Mother and Father of all the Vietnamese people. Their union led to Âu Cơ giving birth to 100 eggs, each of which hatched into strong, intelligent children (Kalmusky, 2018). (Some legends specify sons, but others say 50 daughters and 50 sons.)

Even though this was a love match between the immortal faery and the sea dragon god, both beings grew homesick for what they left behind. Though they always promised to love and help one another, they decided to separate. Each took 50 of their children with them: Lạc Long Quân went south to the ocean and Âu Cơ traveled north to her mountain home. The children who went south became fisherman and built extensive coastal villages, and those who populated the mountainous jungles learned to cultivate the land (Kalmusky, 2018). The oldest of their children, Hung Vuong, became the ancestral king of Vietnam, and present-day Vietnamese people are known as the grandchildren of the faery and the dragon (Canadian Museum of History, n.d.).

Âu Cơ, Lạc Long Quân, and their Children
Image via POPS Kids video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CI52V3lQTA

Activity

The Vietnamese people find hope within the tale of Âu Cơ and Lạc Long Quân because, even though its population might be separated by different terrain, they are still connected by that one sacred union. This post’s corresponding project is something that can help connect the earth and water elements within your own home, much like the mountain and ocean were connected in this origin story. I got the idea from a Hearth & Vine post by Patti Estep (2020) about making your own simple indoor water feature using river rocks: https://hearthandvine.com/diy-indoor-fountain/.

Indoor Fountain
via https://hearthandvine.com/diy-indoor-fountain

All you need is a medium or large waterproof bowl, some beautiful river rocks of your choosing, and a small water pump to make the fountain flow. The attached post has a recommendation for an inexpensive and efficient pump you can buy on Amazon for less than $10. You simply suction this pump to the bottom of your bowl, arrange your stones around it until only the pump’s outlet is showing, add your water, and then plug it in. Easy peasy!

You can add some extra magic to this feature by using moon water to fill the bowl. Choose the phase of the moon you wish to draw from and allow a jar of water to sit in the moonbeams for a few hours to soak up the lunar power. You can also incorporate water-safe crystals such as rose quartz, amethyst, and aventurine into this fountain for a beautiful witchy touch.

References

Canadian Museum of History. (n.d.). History of Vietnam: Legends and prehistory. https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/cultur/vietnam/vitim02e.html

Estep, P. (2020, February 10). DIY indoor water fountain you can make in minutes. Hearth & Vine. https://hearthandvine.com/diy-indoor-fountain/

Kalmusky, K. (2018, May 25). Âu Cơ the fairy goddess: Mother of Vietnam’s people. https://theculturetrip.com/asia/vietnam/articles/au-co-the-fairy-goddess-mother-of-vietnams-people/

Backyard Fairies

A story by MasterLibrarian on .

Happy Fae Friday! I’m doing things a little differently for this post, and instead of having a faery of the week, I’m going to channel my inner children’s librarian and review a beautiful picture book by Phoebe Wahl. I stumbled upon Backyard Fairies when I was looking for books to suit my upcoming story time all about (you guessed it) faeries! I immediately fell in love and wanted to share it with you in case you have a little one in your life you wish to treat to a story. (It counts if the little one is your own inner child.)

This book follows a little girl who believes with all her heart that faeries are all around her: living in magical, natural homes within her woods, playing music and flying through the trees, and even hiding inside her own house. She is constantly on a quest to catch a glimpse of one, and every page shows a magical creature hiding just out of (and sometimes in) plain sight.

p. 8

First and foremost, the thing I love most about this book is the illustrations. I mean, just look at this beautiful scene:

p. 17-18

There are so many distinct types of Fae represented, and they’re each celebrating in their own way during the festivity. There’s dancing, singing, kissing, drinking; you name it. They are portrayed as wild and free, just as faeries should be. They are also shown as living entirely separate lives from us, and I think that’s something important we need to learn. These are not beings who are waiting for us to notice them. They are not clamoring for our attention so their existence can be validated. They live and perish, love and feud, frolic and toil; all of this without our help or knowledge. They only interact with us when they choose to.

Which brings me to my next favorite point about this book. They do choose to play with the little girl in the story, even if she can’t see it at the time. They can be mischievous with their pranks, such as when they braid the hair of the protagonist’s dog when its sleeping. But they can also show their sweet side through actions like making the flower crown for the girl after she is sad for missing their revelries earlier in the night.

And why do they create such a sweet thing for the little girl? Because they like her. They know she believes in them and searches for them. And most importantly, they know she leaves them gifts:

p. 11-12

The surest way to a faery’s heart is to show how much you appreciate them. And how do you show your gratitude and build a strong relationship with these magical creatures? Leave them gifts. Oh, how they looove gifts. Which leads me to this week’s activity:

Activity

Start building your own relationship with the Fae. They are immensely powerful beings and can be very useful in spell work that needs some extra oomph. You can’t just ask them for something the moment you need it; they don’t work that way. That would be like asking a stranger on the street to help you move. The only help they’ll offer you is telling you where you can shove it.

So I recommend you make a connection with them now by leaving them presents. Sweet treats are the best way to go, and they are very fond of fresh berries, milk, and honey. My only suggestion is that you don’t leave anything that can poison local wildlife (e.g., chocolate). You can make these offerings as frequently as you want, and I make mine every full moon, new moon, and Sabbat. Leave these gifts anywhere you feel faeries may gather: in a hollowed-out tree stump in a forest, behind a potted plant in your apartment, or even in your own backyard. (See how I connected that back to the book title?)  

Bonus Activity

Check out more books by Phoebe Wahl. She truly is amazing.

Reference

Wahl, P. (2018). Backyard fairies. Alfred A. Knopf.

Dinny Mara

A story by MasterLibrarian on .

As a children’s librarian, I currently have summer reading on the brain. (It’s never too early to plan for warmer weather when you live in Indiana, right?) The theme this year is Oceans of Possibilities, and I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time looking to hire some poor unfortunate soul to dress as Ariel. With mermaids on the brain, I thought I’d dedicate this Fae Friday to an overlooked mythological creature: the merman. Specifically, the Dinny Mara who reside off the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. Mermen may have been sexualized in current media, but the Dinny Mara are considered ugly creatures with pig-like eyes, breath like raw fish, and crimson noses from drinking all the brandy found in sunken ships (Bane, 2013). Despite their odd appearance, the Dinny Mara are considered very affable sea creatures who are usually in the mood to help sailors by warning them of impending storms or by providing fish when food supplies are running short on ships (Mer-Gyver, 2013). The Dinny Mara do have a bit of a bad side, though. If you want to avoid making them upset, be sure to never whistle while sailing in their waters. They absolutely detest whistling, and they are known to conjure up strong winds that will blow your boat off its course (Bane, 2013).

Mermaid and Merman
Image via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MermenLubok.jpg

Activity

A beautiful way to connect to water and the spirits it holds is by taking a ritual bath. Though bodies of water hold danger and must be respected, they are also places of tremendous healing. In a chaotic world that fuels our stress, anxiety, and depression, slipping into the warm embrace of a relaxing bath can help ease the tensions we hold within our bodies on a daily basis.

I would suggest doing this during a new or full moon to help increase the bath’s potency. Just as the moon controls the tides of the Earth, it can also influence the water within your tub and within your body. Before drawing the bath, be thinking of your intentions. Do you want the water to heal your body? Your soul? Do you wish it to form a protective barrier around you? Whatever you desire, be thinking about that throughout your day as you gather the ingredients to add to your bath. These can be anything you feel drawn too (though to be safe, I would Google what you select to ensure it’s safe for human skin). To bring a bit of the ocean into this bath, I suggest Epsom or sea salt (these are also great for aches and pains). Rose petals would be a nice addition for femininity and beauty. Perhaps you are growing an herb garden and have some peppermint leaves or fresh rosemary to add. Essential oils are also a nice addition.

Before your bath, be sure to clean your ritual space. I know that cleaning your bathroom isn’t the most exciting task, but you are worthy of a clean environment. You deserve a peaceful bath free of impurities, and you will feel much more relaxed soaking in a freshly cleaned tub. It is also suggested that you take a short shower before the bath begins so you can rinse your skin of any unwanted sweat, grit, or negativity.

While you draw your bath and add your ingredients, set up the space to be most comfortable for you. Start a playlist of soothing music that feeds your soul. Light some candles to fill the room with soft light. You can surround your tub with your favorite crystals or bring your journal to write down your intentions. Incense would also be a pleasant addition to the atmosphere. Focus on making this time your own.

Next, enjoy your soak! You deserve it. Stay for as long as wish, releasing all your stress and anxiety into the water. Be sure to take note of your entire body as it is submerged; think of all the beautiful things those different body parts do for you in a day. All of you is powerful and beautiful. Focus on the intentions you set before entering the bath and enjoy a quiet meditation.

When you are finished, drain your tub and gather all the leftover ingredients in a bowl. After you are dry and feeling relaxed from your ritual bath, take those ingredients outside and return them to the Earth they were borrowed from. I hope this ritual gives you a restful night’s sleep and a wonderful start to your following day!

References

Bane, T. (2013). Encyclopedia of fairies in world folklore and mythology. McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers.

Mer-Gyver, M. (2013, June 12). Mermen in lore and history. http://mermaidminerals.com/mermaids/2013/mermen-in-lore-and-history

Hu Hsien

A story by MasterLibrarian on .

It’s time for Fae Friday again, and in honor of the 2022 Beijing Olympics going on right now, I decided to pick a faery of Chinese origin: the Hu Hsien. These are fox fairies known for their shapeshifting, as well as their trickster behavior. This particular faery has a (mostly) infamous reputation in Chinese mythology, and they are considered a bad omen if seen (Bane, 2016). Their fox form is usually described as having nine tails with magical properties, like the ability to start a fire by striking the ground (Bane, 2016). As shapeshifters, they can appear in whatever form they choose (demon, animal, man, etc.), but a beautiful woman seems to be their most prevalent choice. The reason this particular Fae has such a negative connotation is because they tend to use their trickery to lead people astray. The Hu Hsien would attempt to seduce mortals with wealth and power, causing the humans to fall into a life of debauchery and doom (Hamilton, 2021). They are also associated with using their shapeshifting abilities to seek revenge, whether or not this vengeance is actually warranted (Bane, 2016).

Image via https://www.lazada.sg/products/nine-tailed-fox-fairy-maidens-statue-summons-financial-protection-family-fairy-feng-bao-pingan-hu-xian-ling-fox-red-fox-yellow-fox-xuan-fox-ornaments-i1876897577.html

Activity

Ironically, I believe that foxes are a good omen in my own personal life. Foxes are confident and clever; they push boundaries and get into and out of trouble. Fox faeries like the Hu Hsien and other (more likable) fox spirits can become whatever they set their minds to simply because they believe they can. I find something so beautiful about that. Foxes symbolize so much more than just mischievousness; they offer protection, intelligence, luck, beauty, and a carefree outlook on life.

Your task for this week is to get in touch with your own inner fox spirit. Starting as far back as the Tang Dynasty (618 AD), Chinese commoners would leave offerings in their bedchambers for the fox spirits (Huntington, 2003). Food offerings are preferred, especially things like rice and tofu. I believe any type of food offering would be appreciated, however, so give whatever you can. And if you don’t have any food available, I think flattery might also put you in their good graces. A warning here: fox spirits are hungry creatures. They will expect to be fed again, and often.

After you have laid out your offering, put yourself in a state of meditation. Dive deep into yourself and see if you can locate your own fox faery inside your psyche. What characteristics does this fox display that you wish you had in your daily life? Perhaps they are oozing confidence in their own skin. Or maybe their cutting wit and cleverness are something you admire. Use this meditation to take on whatever attribute you desire most. Like the fox, you too can shapeshift to fit your needs. This might not be a physical metamorphosis, but it is a transformation nonetheless. After your communion with the fox spirit is complete, thank them for their guidance. Emerge from your meditation with your newfound character trait, and go about your day as if it has always been a part of you. Have the same assurance that a fox faery has when they slip into another skin with ease. Who knows? If you like this transformation enough, perhaps this new persona will be yours forever.

References:

Bane, T. (2016). Encyclopedia of beasts and monsters in myth, legend and folklore. McFarland.
Hamilton, M. (2021, November 22). Huxian. https://mythopedia.com/topics/huxian
Huntington, R. (2003). Alien kind: Foxes and late imperial Chinese narrative. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

Cailleach Bheur

A story by MasterLibrarian on .

Welcome to Fae Friday, my lovelies! In honor of the cold and snowy weather we’ve had here in the Midwest, I wanted to devote this week to the Cailleach Bheur (also known by many other names and spellings, depending on what region you’re in). This Celtic faerie (or goddess, if you’re pre-Christian old school), has Scottish and Irish roots, and her name translates to the Blue Hag. This is fitting for her appearance as she emerges on the night of Samhain (Halloween) and is depicted as an old crone with either blue skin or clothes, carrying a holly staff and a crow. She is the personification of winter, and as the cold season creeps closer to spring, she grows younger and younger by comparison (Wigington, 2018). This entity is one of the most powerful in Celtic tradition with the ability to transform landscapes on a whim. It is believed that she created the mountains as she flew in the sky overhead, throwing stones from her apron that would land as new rock formations. As the bringer of winter, she would also wash her filthy cloak after she emerged from her slumber at the end of fall, generating deadly whirlpools and causing snowstorms to rage across the land (Macdonald, 2014). When her cloak was pulled from the water white and clean, it would match the blanket of snow on the ground. Once her harsh cold season ended on May Eve, she would turn to stone until she was awoken again on Samhain (Eason, 2002.)

My favorite story about the Cailleach Bheur should actually sound familiar to many readers. On February 1 (or Imbolc, for those keeping up with the Sabbats), the Cailleach Bheur emerges from her home in search of firewood to keep her warm for the rest of winter. If the day is fair, she can go out and gather an abundance of kindling, meaning that winter will last longer because she is more prepared. If, however, it is a dreary day, she will choose to stay in and make do with the fuel she already has. This means that winter will end early, as soon as the Cailleach Bheur runs out of firewood. If you think this sounds a lot like Groundhog Day, a holiday made popular in North America when an adorable rodent predicts the weather, you would be right! This tradition stems from the legend of the Cailleach Bheur (Capper, 2016).

Cailleach Bheur
Image via https://atlanticreligion.com/2013/11/01/the-wand-or-club-of-the-cailleach/

Activity
To honor the Cailleach Bheur (and to start moving winter on its merry way), Patricia Telesco (1998) offers some beautiful ideas for your alter. Start by bringing the sun into your alter by covering it with some type of yellow clothe. If you don’t have something yellow available, you could always incorporate the real sun by leaving your window blinds open for its rays to peak inside. If the weather is right, go out and collect a bowl of snow to place on your alter. Light a blue candle as representation of the Cailleach Bheur, and allow both the candle and the snow to melt from the power of the flame and the sun. Just as the world turns and the seasons change, this winter will melt away into life-bringing spring. Take the melted snow and return it outside in a special place (I will pour mine around my faery circle). If you think you might need a future spell to help your temper cool down, save the wax from the blue candle and re-melt it for your spell work.

References

Capper, D. (2016). Groundhog oracles and their forebears. Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science, 51(2), 257–276. https://doi-org.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/10.1111/zygo.12247
Eason, C. (2002). A complete guide to faeries & magical beings. Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC.
Macdonald, F. (2014). Celtic myths and legends: Vol. 1 [edition]. Capstone.
Telesco, P. (1998). 365 goddess: A daily guide to the magic and inspiration of the goddess. HarperOne.
Wigington, P. (2018, February 21). Cailleach, the ruler of winter. Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/cailleach-the-ruler-of-winter-2561705

Fae Friday: Spirits Within

A story by MasterLibrarian on .

Hello, my lovelies! As the Ambassador to the Fae for the Midwest Coast Coven, I wanted to start a weekly blog post discussing faeries and our interactions with them. To me, faeries are synonymous with nature. And much like Pocahontas, I believe that “every rock and tree and creature has a life, has a spirit, has a name.” The personification of these spirits found within the natural world are what I would call faeries. And I’m not the only one who has this belief system. Throughout time, basically every region and culture have included faeries or faerie-like creatures within their mythologies (Eason, 2002). From the malicious Red Caps of Ireland and Scotland, to the Japanese Tengu with their fans of feathers, and even to our own shores in North America where Native Americans in the Algonquin tribe could hear the distant drumming of the antlered Manitou Fae (Eason, 2002).

Due to their pervasive presence around the globe, there are numerous forms faeries can take. I’ll be using these Fae Friday posts to dig a little deeper into the different kinds of Fae, their histories, and any notable examples found in literature or pop culture. For today’s post, however, I wanted to keep it simple by discussing why exactly the existence of faeries is so prevalent in Pagan groups like Wiccans, Druids, Shamans, and others. As I mentioned above, faeries tend to be a personification of nature, and Pagans of all kinds have a crucial foundation in common: nature is sacred, and they seek to have a closer relationship with the natural world (Goodrich, 2015). Animism is a common occurrence in Pagan religions because it attributes non-human things such as plants, animals, and inanimate objects with a soul (i.e., flower faeries and selkies of the sea).

In an age where it feels like the planet itself is dying merely so humans can feel like conquerors (over the land, over the animals, and even over other humans), it is no surprise that Pagans are trying to imbue the Earth with magic and make it as revered as it was before technology made man feel invincible. Fantastical creatures like faeries help give Pagans what they crave: a living being to commune with that makes them feel closer to nature as they try to heal it (Goodrich, 2015). This is why there has been a resurgence of the Faery Faith in recent decades. It’s due to people like us who revere nature and who can feel when it is hurting due to human expansion and neglect. By anthropomorphizing aspects of the natural world like trees, rivers, flowers, crystals, etc., we are trying to commune with and restore the land before it is lost.

Fairies, Away!
Image by Arthur Rackham via https://faeriequeene.com/transposing-edmund-spensers-the-faerie-queene/

Communing with the Fae in Your Life
I want to leave all of you with an activity that can help you feel more connected with any Fae that may be sharing your space. Since faeries and nature go hand in hand, the key here is to find an environment that makes you feel the most linked to the world around you. Don’t despair if you live in the city or if you don’t have access to a vast wilderness in your backyard. Faeries are strong creatures who have lasted throughout the ages; they are adaptable and can find ways to exist even in the most tech-heavy environments. Perhaps you have some potted plants that you care for inside. Maybe there is a rooftop garden nearby or a vegetable garden in your backyard. A botanical garden or park within walking distance. There are even elementals who thrive in the air, so just staring out a window into the sky beyond can work.

I am lucky enough to live nestled inside a small woods in the middle of nowhere. It is not hard for me to walk out my front door and immediately start communing with nature. While exploring my forest one day in spring, I noticed a round stone surrounded by a ring of blooming daffodils. I was immediately pulled to this spot and felt a magical energy about it. This is the faery circle I come to whenever I participate in a ritual like celebrating the full moon or embracing the coming changes during Imbolc.

Pick a day to go out (or stay in if you are cultivating an indoor garden) that works best for you. I would suggest times where the light is at its most vibrant: sunrise, sunset, or when the full moon is at its peak in the sky. Go where the aura of nature is the strongest for you, like your favorite flower fleetingly in bloom, a rock formation that draws you in with its permanence and strength, or perhaps an ancient tree that may have witnessed many secrets over the ages. Sit near your chosen spot and allow yourself to feel connected to the living, natural spirits around you. Feel as if you are sprouting roots into the Earth and out into the universe. Once you feel linked, let your eyes become unfocused. The light from the sun filtering through your windows or the moon streaming between tree branches may reveal faeries hidden in your presence. Let yourself see them out of the corner of your eye, hiding under a petal, or taking shelter beneath a mushroom cap.

Thank them for allowing you to witness their comings and goings by leaving a small offering of some kind. I usually leave fruits or nuts around my faery circle for the forest spirits to take when I leave. After you’re done with this exercise, go find a notebook to chronicle the experience. Write descriptions of what you saw. Or, if you have some artistic inclinations, try to sketch any faeries who crossed your path.

I hope you enjoy this experience! I’ll see you next week as we dive deeper into the world of the Fae.

References:
Eason, C. (2002). A complete guide to faeries & magical beings. Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC.
Goodrich, S. (2015). Human-nature relationship and faery faith in the American Pagan subculture. The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College.