Tooth Fairy

Losing a tooth is a right of passage every child goes through... and in North America, many children celebrate this event with a visit from the tooth fairy! I do things a little different. Usually people get their kids to put the tooth under the pillow and wake up to find some money. I don't do that. Beforehand when I notice my child has their first tooth a little loose, I go to the dollar store to pick up a small wooden box. Once home I have them paint/decorate it anyway they wish. This is to keep the special fairy dust that the tooth fairy leaves behind. This fairy dust I make with sand and green food colouring. Once it is mixed well enough and dried enough I use a fork to make sure there are no clumps. Then I add golden or silver sparkles that I also got at the dollar store.
When the tooth is out I get a drinking glass and have the child place the tooth on the windowsill with the glass over it. When she is asleep I take the tooth and replace it with a few coins. Placing the glass back over the coins, I then sprinkle the fairy dust so the coins are free from the dusting and its easier for us to save the fairy dust in their special wooden box. When the child wants to make a wish, she takes the box outside, takes a pinch of the dust, makes a wish and tosses the dust to the wind.
But did you know that the whole thing started because people believed burying a child's tooth in the back yard would ward off evil spirits and witches, and also allow children's new teeth to grow? As cities grew and not everyone had backyards at their disposal, people started burying the teeth in potted plants instead, and eventually transitioned to "burying" teeth under the pillow.
The original tooth fairy was actually a Tooth Mouse. The Tooth Mouse still visits children in many countries, replacing their lost teeth with money or gifts. I guess that takes a little of the pressure off the Tooth Fairy!
Of course, in our day and age, the Tooth Fairy has gone high-tech! She has her own website. At Tooth Fairy Land, kids can write to the Tooth Fairy and get their questions answered! And parents can purchase things to make their children's Tooth Fairy experiences even more magical, like a personalized First Tooth certificate, complete with a Tooth Fairy newsletter with your child in it!
How much is the Tooth Fairy paying these days, you wonder? It seems to vary from person to person. Most parents report that their children receive anywhere from twenty-five cents to two dollars for a tooth. Some say that their child received five dollars for their first lost tooth, and less for other teeth. But some people say the Tooth Fairy leaves their kids as much as twenty-five dollars!
Some people have also mentioned that the Tooth Fairy leaves their kids small gifts, such as gum, chocolate, or a new tooth brush!
What does the Tooth Fairy do for the kids in your life?

Fairy Dream Pillow

Cut out two squares of soft fabric approximately 6 inches square....
velvet, velveteen or satin are preferred, sew around three sides of
the squares with white or silver thread. Turn pillow inside out and stuff the pillow with a mixture of herbs as below.
Mix in a bowl:
Rose Petals (two parts)
Primroses (one part)
Bay leaves, fresh (one part)
Lavender (one part )
Milkweed pod silky tassels (two parts)

Sew up the end so that the herbs stay in the pillow. You can then decorate the pillow if you want with lace, silk, or embroider with designs, or even use fabric paint, etc. Take this pillow to bed with you at night and put it under your pillow. This not only smells great but will help you to have dreams of the fey.

** After six months these pillows may lose their "fresh" scent.
You can reuse them by emptying out the old contents and refilling
them with new herbs.
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Magickal Faery Fritters

These small cakes are not unlike those made on the night before Beltaine by women around the turn of the century. These cakes were left in the garden to please faery visitors.

1/2 C Sweet White Wine
1 Egg
2/3 Flour
1/8 Tsp Cinnamon
1/8 Tsp Salt
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 C Honey
1/8 Tsp Nutmeg
Oil for Frying

Beat the wine and egg in a medium bowl. Combine the flour, cinnamon, salt and sugar in a small bowl. Stir into the egg mixture. Let stand for 30 minutes.
Combine the honey and nutmeg into a small bowl. Heat 1/2 inch of the oil in a frying pan until hot but not smoking. Drop the batter into the oil 1 tablespoon at a time; fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dip into the honey.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen.
source unknown

Fairy Flora and Fauna

* Alder Tree [Venus, Mars, Saturn & The Moon]: This tree is protected
by water Faeries.
* Almond [Mercury & The Sun]: Carry in your pocket to find the
treasure of Leprechauns.
* Angelica [Uranus, Venus, Sparta, The Sun & Moon]: the faeries of
this flower are very beautiful. These faeries bring good fortune and
strong energy.
* Apple Blossom Oil [Venus]: To "see" in your mind's eye The Other
World.

* Basil {Mars, Venus, Neptune & The Earth]: This faerie spirit is
more of an elf form. Where ever basil grows, there usually is a
dragon to be found serving as protector.
* Bilberry leaf [The SUn & Moon]: To bring the spirit of Gnomes to
help you with your magick.
* Blackthorn Tree [Saturn, Mars & The Earth]: The Lunantishee (a race
of Moon Faeries) are the guardians of this powerful tree, which may
be used either for great ill or great good.
* Bluebell [The Moon & Venus]: This flower is filled with danger! As
the Scottish name for this plant is "deadmen's bells" for to hear the
ring of a bluebell is to hear one's death knell. The bluebell is one
of the most potent Faerie flowers, and a Bluebell wood is an
extremely dangerous place to be-a place of Faerie woven spells &
enchantments. Fairies are beckoned to their midnight dances just by
ringing these little bells. Represents kindness and most potent of
all faery flowers.They are also called "warning bells" because to
travel into bluebell glade is to find yourself in a place of
concencrated faery magick and enchantment.
* Boldo Leaves, Whole [Saturn, Mercury, Mars, The Sun & Moon]: Ruled
by the Faerie King, Bran. Carry in a green or purple magick-bag, or
place in a bowl in your living space. Boldo will bring a Faerie
spirit to guide you & to bring happiness into your life. Hang a
pink, yellow or green magick-bag of Boldo leaves & Earth near your
garden & the Faeries will help your garden to grow.
* Buttercup [Venus, The Sun & Moon]: The buttercup and it's faery bring
most healing energies. Give your self-esteem a boost. These faeries
are compassionate and empathetic towards humans.

*Carnations, Red [Venus, The Sun & Moon]: Red carnations draw faeries
who enjoy healing animals.
* Clover, Four-Leafed [Mercury]: Will break a Faerie spell.
* Cowslips [Venus & The Sun]: Have always been a special charge of
the Faeries, in fact guarded by them. Also distinguished by their
power to find hidden Faerie gold and is also known as, "keys to
unlock the way to treasure," in the West of England.

* Daisy [Venus & The Sun]: Dryad flower. Helps to boost creativity.
The Daisy is a favorite flower of the wood nymphs. Relax among these
flowers and to help contact them.
* Dandelion [Mercury & The Sun]: Said to be used by the faeries for
making beverages.
* Dill [The Sun & Moon]: Faeries dislike the scent of this plant.

* Elder Tree [Venus, The Moon & Sun]: This tree is sometimes a Witch
(probably, in actuallity, a Faerie) in tree-form & should not be axed
without asking her leave. And, children should also not be laid in a
cradle made of Elder wood for the faeries will pinch them black &
blue.

* Faerie Lanterns [Unknown]: These spirits inspire the imagination
but be wary if becoming faerie charmed in the process. May also
help "grounding" and re-awakening the inner child within all of us.
* Fiddle Fern [The Earth, Moon & Sun]: Put fern seeds, spores or
leaves in your shoes & you will dance with the Faeries in your dreams.
* Forget-me-Not [Unknown]: A symbol of love and devotion. If you
place these flowers on the side of a mountain where fairy treasure is
hidden, secret cavern walls will open up for you.
* Foxglove, POISONOUS [Venus]: The oxglove derives its name
from "Little Folks' Glove" for the flowers are worn by Faeries,
sometimes as hats, sometimes as gloves. Another name attributed to
Foxglove is "Goblins' Thimbles." Not, perhaps, in apt, considering
that Foxglove contains digitalis, a heart stimulant & source of wild,
dark excitement that Goblins bring.

Gardenia [Neptune & The Moon]: A symbol of love and devotion. If you
place these flowers on the side of a mountain where fairy treasure is
hidden, secret cavern walls will open up for you.
* Gorse [Unknown]: Repels almost all faeries.

* Heather [Venus]: The natural inhabitant of the Heather Pixies
(a.k.a. Moor Sprites). The fae of this flower are attracted to shy
humans. Fairies that live among the heather undisturbed are said to
feast on the heather stalks. A flower of peace and solitude.
* Hibiscus Flowers [Jupiter & The Sun]: Are dried by Witches to
powder & used in letters & packages to loved ones far away. They
carry a love spell a long distance. Hibiscus flowers, also with red
Poppies, will bring a red moon goblin (sending them a long distance,
as well) to whisper sweet things in your lover's ear while he or she
is sleeping, and he or she will dream of you as the moon goblins
whisper your name.
* Hollyhock [Venus]: This is a favorite of faeries, especially the
pink variety.

* Iris [Venus, Vulcan & The Moon]: Iris was the Greek goddess of the
rainbow, and the faeries of this flower manifest in all the colors of
the rainbow itself.
* Irish Moos- Sea Weed [Neptune}: To bring Mermaid's magick to your
spells, for a beautiful voice.

* Jasmine [Jupiter, Moon & The Sun]: These faeries will help to bring
on peaceful dreams and clarity of the mind.

* Lady's Slipper [Venus, The Sun & Moon] Brings women the protection
of Maeve, the Faerie Queen (carry the root).
* Lavender [Venus, Mercury, Uranus, The Moon & Sun]: The faeries of
this flower and the other nature spirits it draws are very protective.
* Lilac [Venus & The Moon]: The Sprite known as Pusait has his
favorite place to wait around the Lilac. Known as a friend of
Drarves & Earth Spirits, he would send Drawves to village homes to
bring him bread, beer & cooked foods. The scent draws faeries. The
faeries of this flower are musical.
* Lily of the Velley [The Moon]: For Faerie power.
* Lobelia [Jupiter & The Sun]: Attracts winged faeries.

* Marigold [The Sun]: These faeries will help to bring on peaceful
dreams and clarity of the mind. The faeries and nature spirits
associated with this flower hold the mysteries and magic of
thunderstorms.
* Meadowsweet [Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, The Earth, Moon & Sun]: The
Faerie Goddess Aine gave this herbe its scent, use it to honour Her
on Midsummer.
* Mistletoe [The Sun]: Attracts unpleasant tree faeries.
* Mimosa Oil [Saturn & The Moon]: For enchantments, glamourics, &
shapeshifting.
* Morning Glory, POISONOUS [The Sun & Mon]: Repels unwanted night
faeries.
* Mulberry Bark [Jupiter & The Sun]: Will bring Faerie power to you.

* Pansy [Venus & Neptune]: Pansy is the "little Western flower" that
was used as a love potion by Oberon and was equally as loved by both
faerie & commoner in Elizabethan England. Attracts parades of
trooping faeries.
* Phlox [Venus]: The faeries of this flower are of elf form. They are
more of an overseer and guardian.
* Pine Oil [Uranus, Pluto, Saturn & Jupiter]: To envoke Merlin & the
Faerie Queen, Morgan.
* Poppy Flowers, Red [The Moon & Venus]: To attract red moon goblins
to whisper in your lover's ear while your lover is asleep, and do
your bidding.
* Prickly Ash Bark [The Earth & Moon]: To give Faerie powerto your
spells.
* Primrose [Venus & Pluto]: Use to gain the love & loyalty of
Faeries, also to bring you love, health & sex. They also boast a
unique power- they make the invisible, visable, and to eat them is a
sure way to see Faeries! If one touches a Faerie rock with the
correct number or Primroses in a posy, the way is opened to
Faerieland (The Underworld) & Faerie gifts, but the wrong number
opens the door to doom.

* Ragwort [The Earth]: Bring the protection of Epona (Celtic Goddess
of Horses). And, the Faeries use them, as well as Rye-Grass, as make-
shift horses. "Horse & Hattock" are the magick words to make them
fly.
* Red Clover, Tops [Venus, Mars & The Moon]: The Faerie Queen, Maeve
shall show you love, honour her. Use in love spells. The clover
faeries will help find love.
* Rosemary [Pluto, The Sun & Moon]: Gives protection from baneful
faeries.
* Rowan Wood [Venus, Saturn, The Earth & Moon]: Protects you from
others doing evil against you. Brings Faerie power to your spells.
However, it may also be used to good effect from malign spirits &
faeries. As butter churns were once made from this wood to ensure
the butter was not "overlooked" by Faeries or Witches. And, be
witched horses can always be controlled by a Rowan whip. The "Flying
Rowan" (the tree not growing with its root in the ground, but, in a
cleft, a rock, or the braches of another tree) are to be the MOST
potent. The Druids also used this wood to conjure Spirits.

* Senna Leaf [Venus, The Earth & Moon]: To float your wishes on
Faerie dust.
* Shallot [Mars]: To prtect against misfortune & Trolls.
* Snapdragon [Mercury, The Sun & Moon]: These fae bring protection
for all from deceit and curses! Hold these flowers secretly in your
hand and others will see you as gracious and fascinating. This plant
and where it grows are often watched over by tiny dragons. The
faeries and sprits of this flower have connections to the energies of
all dragons and bring great protection.
* Sweetgrass [The Sun & Moon]: Most often used to bring Faeries to
you. Very powerful at doing so.
* St, Joan's Wort, POISONOUS [Saturn & The Earth]: Use the root for
protection of the Sidhe.
* St. John's Wort [The Sun]: Is even more efficacious against spells
for it provides actual protection from Faeries. This herbe, being a
sun symbol, like the daisy, was used extensively in Midsummer Pagan
rituals, and is both a powerful protection & a good healing plant.

* Thyme, Wild [Mercury, Vulcan & The Sun]: Bees, which are considered
to be messangers of the Gods, have a particular fondness for this
blossom. "To see the Fayries" a brew must be concocted including
Wild Thyme "the tops of which must be gathered near the side of a
hill where the fayries used to be oft, & the grass of a fayrie
throne." Like other flowers which are the favorites of Faerie, Wild
Thyme is dangerous to bring into the house.
* Tragacanth Powder [The Earth, Moon & Sun]: Place in a green magick-
bag for Faerie King power.

* Usnea [Venus, Neptune & The Moon]: Sets your magick afloat on the
nearest ocean wave & brings Mermaids to do your magick for you.
* Uva Ursi Leaf, POISONOUS [Uranus, mercury & The Moon]: To
communicate with the spirit of powerful Elves.

* Volet [Jupiter, Venus & The Moon]: Use the Essential Oil to invoke
Viviane, The Lady of The Lake (and in some accounts a Water Faerie &
foster mother of Lancelot whom gave him a magick silver ring to break
any enchantment). The violet is sacred to all fairies. Gathering
violets in the spring will bring good luck and a wish come true
courtesy of the faery realm. It is sacred to all Faeries, especially
the Faerie Queen

* White Lotus [The Moon]: Some believe that the white lotus flowers
are nymphs in disguise. A woman can carry this flower to counter the
effect of unwanted love spells.
source unknown

Goblins

Goblins are inhabitants of the fairy realm, in folklore goblins are depicted as being grotesque small man like mystical creatures and are also known as brownies or gnomes. They tend to live in or around the homes of humans, in the past they lived in wilderness areas of the countryside, woodlands and mountain. As society grew so did the curiosity of the goblin and they came to investigate. Although many are mischief makers there are also many who like to help with domestic duties in and around our homes and gardens.

When we come in contact with goblins the impression we pick up from their energy tends to be interpreted by humans as a little uncomfortable as they can feel a little intense and constricting, we therefore can be inclined to see these goblin folks as unfriendly and cantankerous.

However these feelings we are interpreting are not all together right. They are earth elementals, so they are the spirit of the earth. Goblins being of the earth elemental, which is the densest element, share this element with elves, gnomes, hobgoblins and trolls all of these energy vibrations are of a much more solid and intense frequency to which we interpret as a serious emotion of malevolent intent.

As with our own society goblins can be harsh and aggressive, mainly though they are benevolent, cooperative and helpful. Goblins are the playfully roguish scallywags of the fairy realm they are full of fun and mischief, so if you're loosing your duvet or blankets when you are sleeping you could have a goblin making mischief with you!

Goblins are household spirits and nature spirits and busy themselves helping with odd jobs and tasks that need doing in and around our homes so they are also very helpful too. They are particularly fond of children no doubt because they have not yet lost their playful spirit that adults often forget, they like nothing better than to play and laugh.

They are very fond of silver coins, so if you want the help of an earth elemental, bury a silver coloured coin and sit and wait, when you feel its presence, give fourth it your request.

They are good with helping with -

* Easing mental stress
* Protection against psychic attack
* Practical concerns
* Grounding and manifestations
* Material needs and luck
Your gift to them should be silver coins

To attract them to your garden, include mosses and lichens, wild plants and flowers, herbs, tree bark, rocks stones and fossils in the North part of your garden.

Goblin protect the garden, and this has not been forgotten today as they can often be found as in the garden as gnomes or statues, this is an ancient belief that still stands today, as we all know, many people have a gnome/goblin in their gardens.

We all grew up listening to the tales of goblins and fairies which have now been brought to life in the Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter films. In the first Harry potter film, the Philosophers Stone, Hagrid indicated, whilst visits the Gringotts' bank vaults in Diagon Alley which is run by Guardians, Goblins, that Goblins are very wise!
source unknown

Fairy Doors

What are fairy doors? Can I make my own fairy door?
Fairy Doors are magical items and when placed into your home or garden you can be sure that fairy folk from all around will follow.

By "inviting" the little magical creatures in they bring good luck. Fairy Doors let the "little people" into your house & garden. You can place them anywhere, on a wall , or baseboard, against a stone, a stump, a tree, literally anywhere you want them.

Of course only "they" can open them.

In Ann Arbor: The urban fairies have clear favorites. Judging by the locations of the doors, and by the items sold in the related stores, they enjoy toys, art, candy, fashion, deli meats, theater and caffeine. They may also have a yen for books and chocolate.

Some ideas for making your own fairy doors
You can make fairy doors for either outside or inside (for the newly suburbanized fairies). For outside doors, you will obviously need weather-proof materials. Some ideas include:

Concrete: you can use plastic containers as a mold to make a fairy door out of cement, similar to making a stepping stone (get portland cement, sand and mix with water, pour into mold, cure for a bit and add do-dads). You could insert a rectangular tile as the door, and broken tile or glass globs as decoration around the edges.

Ceramic: If you use clay, form a simple door frame, door, door knob, window (if you like) on a slab. Glaze and fire it.

Wood: Using scraps of wood make any design you fancy (see our links section for more pictures). Finish the wood to make it weather proof, or allow it to weather naturally (except plywood may not work well in the weather). You can get pre-cut pieces at craft places like Michael's. Use waterproof paints for outdoor use.

For indoors:
It would be pretty simple to take a small picture frame (wood), as a door frame, and a piece of wood (or wood covered with copper foil) as the door. Use a bead for a door knob. Using a frame has the benefit of a built in hanger.

Make wood doors out of precut pieces from a crafts store, or maybe someone handy can make you some pieces. The basic door has a frame (3 rectangles) and a rectangular door.

Books: Seems there are ways to make old books into fairy doors (see our Flikr Photos below).

Old VHS: Could you wrap them in Copper foil, use a patina on it, or use muslin dampened with glue?

http://www.squidoo.com/fairydoor

Fairy Queens

ARGANTE
(British) Elf; the Queen of Avalon.
According to some legends, King Arthur went to Queen Argante in Avalon after he was mortally wounded in his final battle. Some authorities connect Argante with Morgan le Fay, but others associate her with the goddess Arianrhod. Evoke Argante for healing, fairy magic, and working with elves.

CAELIA
(Celtic: British) Fairy queen.
Caelia is a fairy queen of British legend and literature. She enchanted Tom o' Lincoln, an illegitimate son of King Arthur, and took him for her lover despite the fact that he was married. They had a son, a fairy knight called Red Rose Knight. Eventually, Caelia drowned herself. Christian legend has it that she dwells in the House of Holiness with her three daughters: Fidelia (faith), Speranza (hope), and Charissa (charity). Evoke Caelia for motherhood, enchantment, kindness, fairy magic, and learning the lessons that a relationship begun by magical means may not end happily, and that imposing your will upon someone, or taking something which you have no right to, will cause you negative
consequences.

FUAMNACH: (pronounced foo-am-nach)
(Celtic: Irish) Fairy queen.
Fuamnach was a powerful fairy queen. Midir the Proud, son of the Dagda, was her fairy king. After many years of marriage, Midir enraged her by taking the younger, more beautiful Etain as a second wife. Fuamnach used her druid rod to change Etain first into a pool of water, and then into a purple butterfly, but Midir was still madly in love with Etain. Etain spent seven years as a butterfly, blown across Ireland by the winds and storms that Fuamnach kept sending in order to keep her away from Midir. One day she landed in the palace of Angus, the god of love. He changed Etain back into a woman from dusk until dawn every night, and they became lovers. When Fuamnach heard this, she again became enraged. This time she changed Etain into a fly, and sent a tempest to blow her away. Angus was so angered by Etain's loss that he killed Fuamnach and took her head as a trophy. A thousand years passed. Etain was reborn as a human baby, grew again into a beautiful woman, and married the high king of Ireland. Midir, who was still besotted with Etain, was able to win her from her husband in a game of chess. He was not able to keep her for long though, because she chose her husband over Midir when he came to get her back. Evoke Fuamnach for transformation, raising magical storms, and learning the lesson that spells cast in anger seldom work the way you want them to.

MAB
Venus
(British) A night sprite.
Mab was probably derived from the Welsh goddess Mabd, who corresponds to the Irish goddess Maeve. Queen Mab is known from British fairy lore. Mab brings nightmares to humans when she visits, driving her hazelnut-shell wagon across their sleeping faces. Shakespeare called her the fairies' midwife, and described her as being "no bigger than an agate stone on the forefinger of an alderman". Evoke Mab for night magic and faery magic.

SUMMER
(Native American: Algonquin Indian) Queen of the Elves of Light. Summer is a tiny, beautiful woman who dances in the forest and hibernates during the winter. Winter, a giant, melts away when Summer appears. Evoke Summer fort fairy magic and seasonal magic.

Source: Unknown

Fairy Ring

Now...Fairy Rings technically are described as a naturally occurring ground circle caused by fungi or other biological agents; figuratively, a fanciful ring or circle of mystical or unusual behaviour or action. The oldest fairy ring on record is over one kilometer wide and believed to be over 700 years old and even Stonehenge has a fairy ring over 100 meters wide and believed to be over 300 years old!

In English folklore, fairy rings were said to be caused by, elves, fairies or pixies dancing in a circle, wearing down the grass beneath their feet. Toads would then sit on the mushrooms, poisoning them; hence the name toadstool.
In Sussex they were called, “hag tracks”, in Devon people thought that fairies caught young horses and rode them in circles.
In Scandinavian folklore, these circles were attributed to elves or witches and were called älvdanser, i.e. elf dances, älvringar, or heksering.
In German-speaking Europe, fairy rings are known as Hexenringe, or "witches rings", stemming from an old medieval belief that the rings represented places where witches would have their gatherings.
In Austria people thought that dragons breath burned the land. Similar myths to those in German folklore can be found in Czech, Slovak, Polish and even Russian folk tales. In the Czech language they are called čarodějné kruhy, as they are thought to have been caused by a dragons having a rest at those places.
Another myth states that fairy rings are doors into the fairies' world, transporting people to other places or making people appear in the same place in a different time.
Young ladies are also warned not to touch dew situated on the grass within the ring, due to the belief that it can cause skin problems.
Source: Wikipedia

There are so many different myths in different countries about fairy rings.
Now...my dh is a Native Canadian and his family believe in the little people which I will talk about another time. But with the fairy rings I have an interesting story about that. About six years ago or so we ended up getting a fairy ring in our front yard. I had a strange feeling and told my dh if he was going to cut the grass to take heed and not mow over the fairy ring. He scoffed at the whole idea but I warned him. First he had problems just getting the lawn mower to work. After 2 weeks of trying, he finally got it to work and proceeded to cut the lawn. Before he could even get to the front yard somehow the blades on the lawn mower ended up getting destroyed...TWICE! LOL! By the time he was able to get a decent blade, the fairy ring just disappeared and he had no trouble cutting the grass in the front yard.
So...is it just mere fungus? Or something more? I'll leave it for you to decide. ;)

Fairy Tea

Little Fairy, Shimmering Light
Gather your magic through the night,
Flower nectar, sweet and cold,
Only as much as a teacup will hold

Hugs and Kisses, flavor it right,
Warmed by the fire, such a delight!
Fairy Tea in your cup,
Filled with love so drink it up!

Copyright 2009 G.B. Schenck
Posted here with permission.

Fairy Day...June 24th

June 24th is Fairy Day!

Fairy Day! The official holiday for fairy collectors, believers, artisans and the young at heart. Celebrated around the world by those who love all things fairy. Mark your calendars & join in the magic! Fairy Day falls on June 24th each year!
Fairy Day is a holiday sprung from the imagination of a fairy artist and believer, and brought to life with the help of many of her talented friends and fellow fairy lovers. With the world enjoying a surge of interest in all things fairy, we feel that now is the perfect time to introduce a yearly holiday to celebrate the fae. This holiday is for everyone who believes in the magic of fairytales. It is for those imaginative souls who dare to dream impossible dreams. It is for the children of the world, wide eyed and open to the magic that surrounds them. It is for adults too, who long to capture a bit of that magic they remember from thier own childhood. Please join us in supporting this wonderful holiday. We have filled the pages of this web site with ideas on how you can support and celebrate Fairy Day.

- Jessica Galbreth, fairy artist, founder of Fairy Day

http://fairyday.com/

The Trooping Fairies

The Trooping Fairies - W.B. Yeats: Fairy and Folk Tales
The Irish word for fairy is sheehogue [sidheóg], a diminutive of “shee” in banshee. Fairies are deenee shee [daoine sidhe] (fairy people).

Who are they? “Fallen angels who were not good enough to be saved, nor bad enough to be lost,” say the peasantry. “The gods of the earth,” says the Book of Armagh. “The gods of pagan Ireland,” say the Irish antiquarians, “the Tuatha De Danaan, who, when no longer worshiped and fed with offerings, dwindled away in the popular imagination, and now are only a few spans high.”

And they will tell you, in proof, that the names of fairy chiefs are the names of old Danaan heroes, and the places where they especially gather together, Danaan burying-places, and that the Tuatha De Danaan used also to be called the slooa-shee [sheagh sidhe] (the fairy host), or Marcra shee (the fairy cavalcade).

On the other hand, there is much evidence to prove them fallen angels. Witness the nature of the creatures, their caprice, their way of being good to the good and evil to the evil, having every charm but conscience–consistency. Beings so quickly offended that you must not speak much about them at all, and never call them anything but the “gentry”, or else daoine maithe, which in English means good people, yet so easily pleased, they will do their best to keep misfortune away from you, if you leave a little milk for them on the window-sill over night. On the whole, the popular belief tells us most about them, telling us how they fell, and yet were not lost, because their evil was wholly without malice.

Are they “the gods of the earth”? Perhaps! Many poets, and all mystic and occult writers, in all ages and countries, have declared that behind the visible are chains on chains of conscious beings, who are not of heaven but of the earth, who have no inherent form but change according to their whim, or the mind that sees them. You cannot lift your hand without influencing and being influenced by hoards. The visible world is merely their skin. In dreams we go amongst them, and play with them, and combat with them. They are, perhaps, human souls in the crucible–these creatures of whim.

Do not think the fairies are always little. Everything is capricious about them, even their size. They seem to take what size or shape pleases them. Their chief occupations are feasting, fighting, and making love, and playing the most beautiful music. They have only one industrious person amongst them, the lepra-caun–the shoemaker. Perhaps they wear their shoes out with dancing. Near the village of Ballisodare is a little woman who lived amongst them seven years. When she came home she had no toes–she had danced them off.

They have three great festivals in the year–May Eve, Midsummer Eve, November Eve. On May Eve, every seventh year, they fight all round, but mostly on the “Plain-a-Bawn” (wherever that is), for the harvest, for the best ears of grain belong to them. An old man told me he saw them fight once; they tore the thatch off a house in the midst of it all. Had anyone else been near they would merely have seen a great wind whirling everything into the air as it passed. When the wind makes the straws and leaves whirl as it passes, that is the fairies, and the peasantry take off their hats and say, “God bless them.”

On Midsummer Eve, when the bonfires are lighted on every hill in honour of St. John, the fairies are at their gayest, and sometimes steal away beautiful mortals to be their brides.

On November Eve they are at their gloomiest, for according to the old Gaelic reckoning, this is the first night of winter. This night they dance with the ghosts, and the pooka is abroad, and witches make their spells, and girls set a table with food in the name of the devil, that the fetch of their future lover may come through the window and eat of the food. After November Eve the blackberries are no longer wholesome, for the pooka has spoiled them.

When they are angry they paralyse men and cattle with their fairy darts.

When they are gay they sing. Many a poor girl has heard them, and pined away and died, for love of that singing. Plenty of the old beautiful tunes of Ireland are only their music, caught up by eavesdroppers. No wise peasant would hum “The Pretty Girl milking the Cow” near a fairy rath, for they are jealous, and do not like to hear their songs on clumsy mortal lips. Carolan, the last of the Irish bards, slept on a rath, and ever after the fairy tunes ran in his head, and made him the great man he was.

Do they die? Blake saw a fairy’s funeral; but in Ireland we say they are immortal.

- W.B. Yeats: Fairy and Folk Tales

http://www.obrienstore.com/literature-books/the-trooping-fairies-wb-yeats-fairy-and-folk-tales/

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Attracting Fairies to Your Garden

Create a garden that is conductive to all life. Put up birdhouses,
birdbaths and bird feeders, bat houses and hummingbird feeders.

Plant flowers and plants that are attractive to bees and
butterflies. Faeries are attracted to any place where there are
butterflies. Put nuts out for the squirrels.

Whatever you do to bring life to your garden will bring faeries as
well.

Here is a short list of plants that attract beautiful butterflies and
faeries to your garden:

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)
Aster novi-belgii (New York aster)
Chrysanthemum maximum (shasta daisy)
Coreopsis grandiflora/verticillata (coreopsis)
Agastache occidentalis (western giant hyssop or horsemint)
Lavendula dentata (French lavender)
Rosemarinus officinalis (rosemary)
Thymus (thyme)
Buddleia alternifolia (fountain butterfly bush)
Buddleia davidii (orange-eye butterfly bush, summer lilac)
Potentilla fruitiosa (shrubby cinquefoil)
Petunia hybrida (common garden petunia)
Verbena (verbenas, vervains)
Scabiosa caucasica (pincushion flowers)
Cosmos bipinnatus (cosmos)
Zinnia elegans (common zinnia)

Install a small fountain or waterfall or put in a fishpond. You might
want to include statues of faeries. Anything that reflects light or is
colourful and moving particularly attracts the gnomes and elves.
Both faeries and water sprites like the splashy sound and sight of a
fountain.

Leave an area of your garden a bit wild and not too cultivated.
Faeries. It need not be a large space, but having one area that is
dedicated to the faeries will make them feel very welcome.

Ask faeries and elves to come to your garden. "Where Intention
goes, energy flows." Whatever you place your conscious awareness
on, you will pull into your life. As you put your attention on faeries
and gnomes and the elemental realm, they will respond by being
drawn into your garden.
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