The Faerie Folk have inhabited the hills, valleys and plains of the Earth since the very beginning of time. Shamanism is as old and as vast as the night sky. Paganism, as a religion based on paganism, has been a part of humanity since the building of the first small communal village. Faerie Paganism is a modern expression of these Universal Creations.

Faerie Shamanism and Paganism is a religion and belief system of great personal and universal power. Imbedded in the Faith of the Fey is a deep reverence for the Earth and all of her bounties a firm belief in the Faerie Folk of the Ancient Celtic and Nordic Worlds, a respect for all life from the tiny insect to the gigantic whale, a personal internal and external power called Magick, a love of the nature inherent in human beings both inner and outer, and a communion with the Ancient Divinities of the Earth, Sea, Sky, and Stars.

One of the first and most important beliefs of Faerie Paganism is a respect for the Earth and an environmental consciousness which runs so deep it connects with the divine spirit within. Energy and healing are gained from the soil�?knowledge and wisdom are gained from the trees, cleansing and purging comes from the lakes, rivers, and streams�?protection comes from the rocks and fire. The Earth is a magickal, mystical Realm which mirrors the Astral Other Worlds and it is important to see her as the Ultimate Mother who nurtures and protects her children, whether they are Faerie, Human, Animal, Plant, and Mineral. Rites are practiced which attune the seeker to the harmonious workings of the seasons of nature.

Faerie Paganism has a firm belief in the Faerie Folk stemming from the mythologies and folk beliefs of the Celtic and Nordic Peoples. The Faeries are sought for protection, companionship, wisdom, knowledge, inspiration, and magick. They are invited to all of the Rites and Rituals, and they are acknowledged in every aspect of life. Along with this comes a respect for all creatures, both great and small. For the Fey are Shape-Shifters, and can assume any shape�?from a lady bug, to a bear, to a rock, a tree, or spring mist.

Magick is an integral part of the Faerie Shaman Faith. Magick is the art and science of causing change in ones environment in conformity with one's will. Magick can be used to heal, to divine, or to assist in the obtaining of goals. The only possible limits of Magick are the self, the imagination, and the knowledge of the Faerie (or any other) Magickal System. In Faerie Paganism, the natural human body, soul, and mind are seen as beautiful, powerful, and divine. Human beings were not cast out of paradise, they are born into it.

Human beings are not born inherently evil or bad, they are born innocent with the gift of choice. Human beings do not answer to the laws of an omnipotent god, they answer and account for their own actions. And the eternal afterlife of a human being is not judged by one lifetime alone�?many lifetimes will be traversed before we are all reconnected with divinity.

Finally, in Faerie Paganism, there is the communion with the Ancient Divinities of the Ancient World�?the Gods and Goddesses, Heroes and Heroines of the ancient Celtic and Nordic lands. The original race of Faeries who first came to the Earth from the Stars were known to the Celts as the Tuatha De Danaan, or People of the Goddess Dana. Eventually, when the Milesians (humans) came to inhabit the Earth, the Tuatha De Danaan moved into the Realm of the Faerie, or Faerie Land. We know speak and commune with them when we travel to their Realm or when they cross over into reality.

Faerie Paganism is a religion of love and beauty. It is a wonderful ideology coveting the goodness inherent in humankind. It is a religion containing all of the wonderful enchantments of the Faerie Realm. And it is a religion revering the wondrous beauty, enchantment and magick of the Earth, the Sea, the Sky, and the Stars. Note: the ideas and concepts here are mine and only mine. When I say "Faerie Paganism," I mean my own idea of Faerie Paganism and Shamanism, NOT Celtic Paganism or Nordic Paganism in general.

COMMON TYPES OF FAERIES

Faerie people can be divided into numerous classes, or races. Faerie is a collective term for many different beings, usually possessing magical powers. Many fairies have a human form, but some have animal or human/animal shapes

Elves, Goblins, Gnomes, Dwarves and Trolls are the most representative of Faerie races among the many different cultures of Europe.

Bean-Sidhe

Aka : Washer of the Shrouds, Washer at the Banks, Washer at the Ford, Cointeach, Cyhiraeth, Cyoerraeth, Gwrach y Rhibyn, Eur-Cunnere Noe, Beansidhe, Bean Chaointe, the Bean-nighe, Kannerez-Noz

Race : Washerwoman, death spirit.

Origin : Ireland, Scotland, Germany

Element : Water.

Origin: The bean-sidhe (woman of the fairy) may be an ancestral spirit appointed to forewarn members of certain ancient Irish families of their time of death. According to tradition, the banshee can only cry for five major Irish families: the O'Neills, the O'Briens, the O'Connors, the O'Gradys and the Kavanaghs. Intermarriage has since extended this select list.

Appearance : Whatever her origins, the banshee chiefly appears in one of three guises: a young woman, a stately matron or a raddled old hag. These represent the triple aspects of the Celtic goddess of war and death, namely Badb, Macha and Mor-Rioghain. She has very long, flowing hair and wears green dresses with grey cloaks. In Cornwall she is said to have long black teeth. At times she is seen in lonely places, beside a pool or stream, washing the linen of those soon to die, and folding and beating it with her hands on a stone in the middle of the water. She is then known as the Bean-nighe, or washing woman; and her being seen is a sure sign that death is near. The Beansidhe's keening (mourning wail) can also be heard at night prior to a death. In 1437, King James I of Scotland was approached by an Irish seeress or banshee who foretold his murder at the instigation of the Earl of Atholl. This is an example of the banshee in human form. There are records of several human banshees or prophetesses attending the great houses of Ireland and the courts of local Irish kings. In some parts of Leinster, she is referred to as the bean chaointe (keening woman) whose wail can be so piercing that it shatters glass. In Kerry, the keen is experienced as a "low, pleasant singing"; in Tyrone as "the sound of two boards being struck together"; and on Rathlin Island as "a thin, screeching sound somewhere between the wail of a woman and the moan of an owl". The banshee may also appear in a variety of other forms, such as that of a hooded crow, stoat, hare and weasel - animals associated in Ireland with witchcraft.

Lore : dark rivers around big cities

Magic : In Mull and Tiree islands in Scotland, she is said to have preternaturally long breasts, which are in the way as she stoops at her washing. She throws them over her shoulders, and they hang down her back. Whoever sees her must not turn away, but steal up behind and endeavor to approach her unawares. When he is near enough he is to catch one of her breasts, and, putting it to his mouth, calls herself to witness that she is his first nursing or foster-mother. She answers that he has need of that being the case, and will then communicate whatever knowledge he desires. If she says the shirt she is washing is that of an enemy he allows the washing to go on, and that man's death follows; if it be that of her captor or any of his friends, she is put a stop to. She can also be caught and mastered and made to communicate her information at the point of a sword.

Elves

Aka : Elb, Erl, Mannikin (Germany)

Race : Elves

Elves are often used as a general term for fairies especially in the XIXth Anglo-Saxon literature. The king of the elves, Oberon, and his wife Titania appear in some very important works of medieval literature, such as Huon de Bordeaux and Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

In this section, we mainly deal with the Celtic elf, even if we have incorporated features from other cultures. There are quantities of descriptions that may vary from Monstrous�? especially in RPG games.

You may also be interested in how Tolkien rendered the elfic concept in his own mythical saga.

Origin : Elves were a very mysterious race from the beginning of time. Later they became supernatural beings, mainly shaped as humans. They were worshipped in trees, mountains and waterfalls.

Description : Elves vary in size from 4'10" and 5'8". However, according to their delicate bodies they seem much taller than they really are. Often male and female elves are hard to discern, at first glance. Both sexes usually have big, expressive eyes (in the most splendid colors). They wear their hair uncut and open, have graceful, fragile features and are of extraordinary beauty. Male elves also don't have any beard growth. Very typical for elves are their pointed ears, and high cheekbones. In modern descriptions, elves are either light or dark, the light elves having starlike eyes, faces brighter than the sun, and golden-colored hair; the dark elves are pitch black and have sometimes fluorescent eyes, this quality being indicative of their dealing with black magic. Both are attractive, in appearance at least. Elves prefer greens and greenish-greys while dark elves prefer blacks, dark grey, and sometimes silver.

Species: Dark or light, the elfic race is rarely seen and if so, elves only appear on certain times and on special places in the untouched nature. During the course of time elves moved to other places in the world and in many tribes their spiritual shape was lost completely and elves changed to beings consisting of blood and flesh. The light elves are a peaceful, nature-loving who love beautiful things and often try themselves in the arts of drawing and music. The black or dark elves are also called "Drow". Beautiful, agile, proud, dexterous and extremely deadly, they are the Drow, Elves of the underground. Very little is known about them.

Powers: In comparison to humans elves are stronger in spirit and in limb and have an exceptional constitution and endurance. When they grow older they seldom get weaker, instead they become wiser and even fairer. Elven senses, especially of hearing and sight, are much keener and intense than those of Men and are highly resistant to extremes of temperatures and also have several natural defenses against magical influences. The long life-spans of elves may be accounted to one of the main reasons that elves are very calm and patient in all their actions.

Even if some elves are said to be immortal, elves of all other tribes die a natural death after long lives. The amount of years elves live indeed varies enormously, ranging from 100 years to over 1000. It is also known that very often elves end their lives of their own will when they see a necessity to do so or if they think that their life's goal has been reached. Of course elves may also die when they are wounded severely, but in general elves heal very fast when they are tended to quickly. Death on the other hand is nothing an elf fears. The fact of death is interpreted by the elves as a return to nature.

Lore: Elves live in forests while dark elves live in deep underground caves. In spring they are viewed celebrating the blossoms and during the summer they swim in the rivers with their friends ondines. Elves usually settle in dense forests or at wooded lakes and lead quiet lives without interfering directly in other races activities and struggle for domination.

Gnomes

(Source : Wil Huygen's books, Gnomes, Secrets of the Gnomes and The Complete Gnomes)

Gnomes are very widespread species, known to a number of human races. Germans name them Erdmanleins, except in the Alpine areas, where they are called Heinzemannchens. In Denmark and Norway they are Nisse; Nissen is a Swedish variation. In Brittany they are called Nains. Tontti to the Finns and Foddenskkmaend is their name in Iceland. The Polish call they by the familar Gnom. Bulgaria and Albania, however, use Dudje. In Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia, Gnomes are called Mano. The Dutch use Kabouter and the Belgian, Skritek. Switzerland and Luxembourg use the same name, Kleinmanneken, which means "littlemen." Domovoi Djedoes is used in western Russia.

Race :Gnomes consist of a number of different types. The most common is the Forest Gnome who rarely comes into contact with man. The Garden Gnome lives in old gardens and enjoys telling melancholy tales. Dune Gnomes are slightly larger than their woodland brethren and choose remarkably drab clothing. House Gnomes have the most knowledge of man, often speaking his language. It is from this family that Gnome Kings are chosen. Farm Gnomes resemble their House brethren, but are more conservative in manner and dress. Siberian Gnomes have been more interbred than other Gnomes and associate freely with trolls. They are much larger than the other types and have an infinitely more nasty nature. It is best never to evoke the ire of such Gnomes for they delight in revenge.

Origin :Originating in Scandinavia, Gnomes later migrated to the lowlands some 1500 years ago.

Description : Gnomes are usually an average of 15 centimeters tall, but with its cap on it appears much taller. Their feet are somewhat pigeon toed which gives them an extra edge on speed and agility through the wood and grass. The males weigh 300 grams, and female is 250-275 grams.

The male wears a peaked red cap, blue brown-green pants, and ether felt boots, birch shoes, or wooden clogs. Around his waist is a belt with a tool kit attached, holding a knife, hammer, etc. They are fair of face, though the boast rosy red cheeks. Long beards adorn their faces and turn gray far sooner than their hair.

The female wears gray or khaki clothing, consisting of a blouse and skirt (to ankles). She also has black-gray knee socks and high shoes or slippers. Before she is married, she dons a green cap.

Prior to marriage her hair in hanging down, the outfit is complemented by a green cap and braids with which later disappear under a scarf while the green cap is replaced by more somber tones after she marries.

Friends/Foes :Males are the guardians of animal kind and show little preference for their animal friends, not withstanding their aversion to cats both wild and domesticated. They are known for freeing wildlife from man's traps and for operating on farm animals whose owners have neglected them or who are simply to poor to afford a veterinarian. Their enemies are mainly Trolls, and other beings who would try to destroy them or their homes. Otherwise, they are mostly peaceful beings.

Lore : Gnomes tend to live in hilly meadows and rocky woodlands. In Huygen's book, it says they live in three trees, the house itself, with a hidden entrance from another tree, and then a third is the supply room, with grains, beans, potatoes and everything else the gnomes may need during the winter.

Powers :Most Gnomes are 7 times stronger than a man, can run at speeds of 35 miles per hour, and have better sight than a hawk. These abilities help the Gnome to do many things, such as find wounded, dying animals for which they feel they are responsible for. Because of their love for animals, all the animals of the forest are the Gnome's friends and are willing to help him at any time. Many people say that gnomes have elevated practical jokes to an art form. But most especially they love gems and jewelry and are considered by many to be the best gem cutters and jewelers in existence

Element : Earth

They are generally vegetarian and never worry. The main meal consists of: Nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, beechnuts, etc), mushrooms, peas, beans, a small potato, applesauce, fruit, berries (all kinds), tubers, spices, vegetables, and preserves for dessert. As a beverage, the gnome drinks mead dew (fermented honey), fermented raspberries (which have a very high alcohol content), and spiced gin as a nightcap. The gnome eats no meat, so often consumes the nectar of the high protein plant called 'Vicia Sepuim'. fluffy willow catkins, dressing them up like dolls.

Leprechauns

Aka : The Gentry, Monaciello, Fir Darrig, Cluricaune, Logherima,

Race : treasure-hoarding faeries

Origin : Ireland. Originally coined by Thomas Keightley in The Fairy Mythology (1850) from the Irish "Leith bhroyan" or "Leith phroyan" meaning "one shoemaker," comes the name Leprechaun.

Element : Earth.

Appearance : solitary dwarf male faery wearing green clothing of a costly material and green tri-cornered hats. Infamous hoarders, they are loathe to spend a single penny, which probably explains their poor appearance in spite of their great wealth.

Function : shoemakers by trade, but their clientele is limited to the faery world and they only work on one shoe

Friends/Foes : trickster who loves to play pranks

Lore : around springs in wild areas with large grassy hills, sometimes in cellars

Magic : Music, dancing, fox hunting, and drinking Irish whiskey are said to be the Leprechauns' favorite pastimes. Once a leprechaun begins dancing to a human's song, it is said that he cannot stop until the tune ceases. His exhausted state may cause him to make outlandish offers, including his crock of gold, if you will please only allow him to stop dancing. Other means of finding his gold include looking at the end of a rainbow, which may lead him offer 3 wishes in exchange for his treasure. His promises of gold always proves hollow, as the Leprechaun always employs clever tricks in his granting of wishes, often resulting in the embarrassment or injury to the one who expected a bounteous reward.

Ogres

Aka : Orculli, Norrgens,

Race : Giants

Origin : They are born from a confusion between Orcus, the roman god of death and darkness, and Saturn who eats his own children and the Oïgours, hungarian tribes which made havoc in northern Europe in the IX and Xth centuries.

Element : Earth

Appearance : Ogres look like humans but are much larger sometimes with deformed faces, excessive body hair and sometimes a hump in their backs. One can always tell when an ogre is around because of the smell they produce, said to be like that of a rotting carcass. Despite their size they are slow and clumsy, and humans can easily get away from them.

Friends/Foes : Perhaps because of their size and unappealing appearance ogres have been regarded as unfriendly, but some folklore exists which tells us this is not so. Ogres enjoy eating human children and young faeries. Ogres are pretty fearless, but Giants are terrified of cats.

Powers : They have a very good hear and smell, thanks to their enchanted boots some are able to walk at great speed.

Lore : Ogres usually live on clouds just like the Giant in the fable "Jack and the Beanstalk" and descend to earth only to obtain food. They prefer to eat their own kind, but will settle for beef and human meat if they must. Their touch alone can sicken cattle to death, and they are adept thieves.

Famous : Giants and Ogres both figure largely in children's faery tales. The best known Giant is probably the one from the tale "Jack and the Beanstalk" where he is portrayed as evil, though in fact he is the victim of the story even though we are taught to identify Jack as the protagonist. Other popular faery tales from Yorkshire about giants are "The Brave Little Tailor" and "Jack the Giant Killer."

Other famous ogres include : Pacolet, Allewyn, Orlo, Orch, Saalah, Balardeu, Galaffre, Fine Oreille, Dents Rouge, Grand Colin, Raminagrobis, L’Homme Rouge, Babau, Babou, Pier Jan Claes, Pere Fouettard, Pere Lustucru, Croque-mitaine and Tartaro

Pixies

Aka : Urchins, Pisgies, Piskies, Pigseys, Pechts, Pechs, Pickers, Grigs or Dusters

Origin : Scotland,Cornwall

Element : Air

Appearance : small, winged creatures with pointed ears, noses and arched eyebrows. Their wings are shiny and translucent, and they are usually seen wearing seasonal colors and flora. The little caps they wear are the tops of foxglove or toadstool, plants they hold sacred. Their bells are often heard on the moor. They like to steal horses and torture them to get them to run faster.

Friends/Foes : friendly but capricious. Beware of doing pixies favors, for they have a tendency to backfire. Excessive contact with iron can kill Pixies.

Lore : In flower gardens. Pixies are trooping faeries who love playing, dancing, and music especially during large gatherings known in northern England as Pixie Fairs.

Faeries' Style of Life

The Fairies are counterparts of mankind. There are children and old people among them; they practice all kinds of trades and handicrafts; they possess cattle, dogs, arms; they require food, clothing, sleep; they are liable to disease, and can be killed. People entering their brughs, have found the inmates engaged in similar occupations to mankind, the women spinning, weaving, grinding meal, baking, cooking, churning, etc., and the men sleeping, dancing, and making merry, or sitting round a fire in the middle of the floor. Some Fairy families or communities are poorer than others, and borrow meal and other articles of domestic use from each other and from their neighbours of mankind.

The fairies have a great reputation for various skills. They are seen and heard working on their own account, they teach skills to mortals and they do work for them. Of the crafts in which fairies are distinguished, the most curious and contradictory is smithy work, when we consider the fairies' fear of cold iron. Gnomes and dwarves are reputed metal-workers, and many famous swords and breastplates were wrought by them.

Leprechauns were reputed to be highly skilled at shoemaking, but since there is no record that they made shoes for other than fairy feet, there is no certitude.

Goblins labouring in the mines were proverbial in the 17th century for producing no results by their deedy labours. Boat-building, on the other hand, was a work on which they nightly laboured and which they could transfer to human protégés. The men have smithies, in which they make the Fairy arrows and other weapons.

Fairy food consists principally of things intended for human food, of which the elves take the substance, fruit, or benefit, leaving the semblance or appearance to men themselves. In his manner they take cows, sheep, goats, meal, sowens, the produce of the land, �?Cattle falling over rocks are particularly liable to being taken by them, and milk spilt in coming from the dairy is theirs by right. They have, of food peculiar to themselves and not acquired from men, the root of silver weed (brisgein), the stalks of heather (cuiseagan an fhraoich), the milk of the red deer hinds and of goats, weeds gathered in the fields, and barleymeal. The brisgein is a root plentifully turned up by the plough in spring, and ranked in olden times as the `seventh bread'. Its inferior quality and its being found underground, are probably the cause of its being assigned to the Fairies.