Hello everybody! I want this forum to be about Faeries. First of all I understand many many people do not believe in such creatures. Its hard to take I understand. But if you are a believer come on over here and comment because I love educating people - Properly - On what Faeries - Really - are. So first of all ill explain some common questions people have:
What really are Faeries?
Faeries are spiritual beings made up of energy, just like a spirit/ghost, they are on the earth to take care of animals, land, old castles and buildings, motte and baileys, and sometimes even people. Some say they are Earth angels.
Where do they come from?
There is another dimension, or plane of existence called the Astral Plane or Astral World. All spiritual creatures exist here, on different levels on the plane. Everything vibrates at its own rate so whichever vibration frequency it has (low or high) it exists on a certain level. The Fae are always able to pass through onto earth but the veil thins at certain times of the day (inbetween times) dates, times of year, occasions things like that.
Are they good or bad?
With Faeries you have no guarantee they are all good, though the bad ones usually dont stay around humans. Most are good, but just like humans can be rude, and bad tempered. You just need to know how to take them.
Do I see them?
Yes. I've always seen them. But not always as little human type figures. A Faerie can be a ladybug, or spider, can be the thistledown that blows, or a dandelion seed in the air. They shapeshift onto a form you will take most easily and also to protect themselves. There was once a time when humans and Fae were great companions, back in the old Celtic times and pagan times, but over the years we have lost belief, stole from the faeries they're land, trees and polluted the earth, so now most humans dont see unless they are open to it.
Do Faeries have categories?
Yes. They are put into an elemental category. Earth, Air, Water and Salamanders/Fire. Examples would be: Earth: Gnomes, goblins, pixies, dryads. Air: Sylphs. Water: Nymphs, Mermaids, Selkies etc. Fire/Salamanders: Salamanders (a type of serpent that goes greatly with fire element) and Fire Faeries (specifically work with fire)
Feel free to ask as many and any questions you like. I love to help!
I think it's important to make the distinction that Fae is an umbrella term that refers to a group of spirits across multiple pantheons/regional lore, and that most of those spirits originally weren't called Fae in the times they were initially recorded. I think the closest to "Fae" that a singular group of spirits was ever referred to were the Sidhe (pronounced "she") or other variations of the spelling depending on where in Celtic lore they were found. A lot of what we know about Fae comes from the Romantic Era, where a lot of different spirits began to be presented in a different light (like how "Fairies" are portrayed as diminutive humans with wings).
Specifically in Norse Paganism, there is a distinction between "nature spirits (Landvaettir, Sjovaettir, and so on) and other kinds of spirits that were blended with them in Romantic Era paintings, like the Alfar (who were regarded as ancestors or as a separate race of Vaettir depending on what region you're pulling sources from). Alfar also began being portrayed as "Little Folk" and then as time went on, they began being portayed as "Hidden People" or Huldufolk. Nowadays in Iceland, Huldufolk is almost synonymous with Alfar, though the Landvaettir can sometimes be lumped in with them as they are also spirits of non-physical, subtle nature. In modern Heathenry, most make a clear distinction between Alfar and Landvaettir, though exactly what that distinction is differs from person to person. For me, Alfar are a separate race of Vaettir, known as Elves in English. Those that take up dwelling in Midgardr, as some are portrayed in the Sagas (or Sogur) I call Landalfar; they differ from other Landvaettir in how they function, where they are from, what forms they take, and what they're about. Landvaettir can be spirits of trees, hills, rivers, and such, but they are inherently of the land. Landalfar, on the other hand, originated from Alfheimr, or (in my view), Svartalfheimr instead, and aren't specifically of the land and simply decided to dwell here (in my personal experience, they're also still hold the traits general to Alfar in the lore, such as illusion/glamor, song, and their personal customs that aren't shared with other Landvaettir.
I understand they show in different forms in many religions. I myself am Irish. You make a very good point. The small humans with wings came from the Victorian era, the Romantic age as you said. Yes, they do not all look like that. Most actually, that I have seen dont have wings. Like gnomes and goblins. In one religion it could be called something and another religion its called a different thing, but they could be the exact same thing. I guess it just depends on your beliefs
Often The Fae are around you without you even knowing unless you can see or feel their presence. Almost everybody at some point in their lives has encountered them. Whether it is in nature, when you sit by a tree and suddenly you see a mushroom or a flower. They disguise themselves as bugs and insects and animals. You may have seen a lovely butterfly today, maybe that was them in disguise. They come in a form that you will take well. You can communicate by leaving out sweet foods such as honey, cream, nuts and berries. Anything really. Ask them to come to you in dreams, to your home. Make them feel welcome. Make a sacred space for them. Statues and books about Faeroes also draw them because they know they are then welcome.
Whether or not Fae are the same beings under different names according to the religion or folk belief they are a part of is a matter of belief; but make no mistake, in their original contexts, they had little, if nothing, to do with one another historically. This is why it's misleading to present the information without acknowledging their origins.
I most definitely acknowledge their origins. I am sorry if any of this information I've said is wrong, that is just what I've gathered through the years or researching, and speaking to them. Whether you believe or not is entirely up to you and I acknowledge that they came from different countries, stories, folklore.
The point is that the distinction isn't made clear in the initial post and that can be misleading to any newbies who read it; regardless if you actually make the distinction on a personal level. I'm talking about facts of recorded history, which isn't the same as pushing my views on you or anyone else.
It's fine that you didn't mention it earlier, Fullmoon. Just remember to in the future. :)
Also, I'm very happy that you're making a forum about the fair folk. There isn't a lot of information about them online (save from a painfully inaccurate article I published a while ago) so I'm glad to see more being posted.
Ah yes, thank you so very much. I realised there was much information online about them, I thought this would be a good forum to make. They are underestimated creatures, very much. They can offer so much to somebody! Blessings ~
