Faerieland's position is elusive. It is somtimes just over the horizon and sometimes beneath our feet. Yet there have been periods when faerieland was thought to be an actual geographical are, although even this has tended to shift. Avalon is probably the most famous of faerie islands.

Faerie can reveal itself, bright and glittering without warning, anywhere and just as suddenly disappear. Its frontiers of twilight, mists and fancy are all around us and, like a tide running out, can momentarily reveal Faerie before flowing back to conceal it again.

There are those that live on faerie islands ot in countries under the oceans while there are also water faeries inhabiting the seas, lakes and rivers. There are also fae that are "house-spirits"

Faerie musicians have a magical skill, and many songs and airs which today are widley known in the human would have their origins in Faerie. Faeries are passionately fond of music and outstanding human musicians are at risk of being lured into the land of Faerie for the sake of their talent. Faerie melodies are known to be beautiful and plaintive yet wild and capricious and they have a fatal charm for mortal ears. A wistful faerie air may lull the listener into a fatal sleep while, at best, he might become drawn into forgetfulness. hearing forever the vague, yearning music, a constand reminder of the unattainable.

Faerie Rings: Faeries often dance in circles in the grass which are called faerie rings and this spells danger for the humman passerby. The wild enchantment of the faerie music can lead him inexorably towards the ring which, like a faerie kiss or faerie food and drink, can lead to captivity forever in the world of Faerie. If a human steps into the ring he is compelled to join the faeries in their wild prancing. The dance might seem to last only minutes, or an hour or two, or even at most, the whole night but in fact the normal duration would be seven years by our time and sometimes longer. The captive can be rescued by a friend who, with others holding his coat-tails, follows the faerie music, reaches into the ring (keeping one foot firmly outside) and pulls the dancer out.

  Faerie Ways/Types of Fae: A faerie called "Alp-Lauchra" sits invisibly beside his vicitm and shares his food with him. Tangles in human hair and horses' manes are better known as elf-locks. Generally faeries are mishcievious, and sometimes spiteful creatures. They like cheerful, generous humans and are paticularly sympathetic towards lovers. They like food and wine to be left out at night. Reliability and kindness are usually repaid with good luck, gifts or practical help and faeries can be extravagant.

Faeries have the ability to render themselves visible or invisible to the mortal eye. However, they can be seen without their knowledge if they are busy working or doign fae things. Most faerie sightings take place at either noon or at midnight, and in the twilight hours precedding sunset and sunrise. May Day is a favorable time for faerie sightings. The naked eye can be 'opened' (because generally humans are unable to see faeries when in their invisible state) then carrying a four-leaf clover. Any mortal who dares apply the special faerie ointment to their lids to veiw faeries are blinded in punishment.

Above text taken from Faeries - By: Bian Froud & Alan Lee

The Tuljin Pixie is a cousin of the well known Pixie of children's literature. Its appearance is that of a small, huminoid figure, usually of the female sex, bearing silvery wings (usually 2, but occasionally 4) on her back. The wings work similar to that of a humming bird, allowing the Pixie to hover in one spot by flapping the tiny wings at tremendous speeds. The Tuljin Pixie lives in many parts of the world, including the United States, but is usually found on small, crystal clear mountain lakes, where they water dance with the dragon flies. If you are ever to catch a glimpse of the Tuljin Pixie while fishing in the streams and lakes of the high country, hold very still, because they know you are there by scent. If you avoid sudden movements they may keep doing what you found them doing and you can get a good eye full of the little magical being.

The Mushroom Faerie is not known as well as many other faeries of the forest, but we do know that they reside in the peaceful mushroom groves and gardens of Europe. The Mushroom Faerie makes it's home inside tree trunks, underground, or sometimes if it finds a big enough mushroom, it will dig it out and make it's home inside the mushroom where it is protected from the winter winds. The Mushroom Faerie looks similar to other Pixies, but in fact is not related at all. The Mushroom Faerie only bears two wings on it's back, and also is not a childish, happy go lucky faerie as are many Pixies. Instead, the Mushroom Faerie spends most of it's time reading from books, magazines, or anything it can find that humans have left behind in the groves or gardens. Since the Mushroom Faerie reads from our books, one would think they speak our languages, but there have been no reports of anyone talking to a Mushroom Faerie.

The Origin of the Fairies  The origin of Orkney's fairies is unclear although as you will see on the section dealing with the sea dwelling Selkie Folk, it was thought that:  "When the angels fell, some fell on the land and some on the sea. The former are the fairies and the latter the selkies." These land based fallen angels had the same hatred (or fear) of the bible as the other magical creatures of the islands. In what sounds suspiciously like a piece of later church propaganda, it was said that a fairy once met a man and asked him if there was any way that she might be saved.  The man replied: "Yes indeed, but only if you can say 'Our father which art in Heaven'". The fairy woman tried for all she was worth but was only able to say "Our father which wert in heaven" (thus indicating her loyalty to Satan - the Fallen Angel). In despair, she went away crying.

 

"Faery Song" by William Butler Yeats  Sung by the people of Faery over Diarmuid and Grania, in their bridal sleep under a Cromlech.  We who are old, old and gay, O so old! Thousands of years, thousands of years, If all were told:  Give to these children, new from the world, Silence and love; And the long dew-dropping hours of the night, And the stars above:  Gie to these children, new from the world, Rest far from men. Is anything better, anything better? Tell us it then:  Us who are old, old and gay, O so old! Thousands of years, thousands of years, If all were told.

 

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