Samhain Faeries
Ankou Faery: Ankou is found in Brittany, but is also part of Cornwall, Wales and Irish mythology. Other known names are Death, the Grim Reaper and Father Time and Ankou is part of all elements, including the least known element, spirit. Ankou represents Death and is the soul collector of passed-on humans. No one alive has ever seen his dark face buried deep within his black robes, for only those who are about to die can lay eyes on his face. In Ireland, he is known to drive a black cart drawn by four black horses. This is a faery that should not be contacted Banshee: Banshee or 'Bean-sidhe' is Irish for fairy woman. Her sharp, cries and wails are also called 'keening'. The English word 'Keen' is from the Irish 'Caoineadh' meaning lament. There is no harm or evil in her mere presence, unless she is seen in the act of crying; but this is a fatal sign. The wail of a banshee pierces the night, it's notes rising and falling like the waves of the sea, it always announces a mortal's death. She is solitary woman fairy, mourning and forewarning those only of the best families in Ireland, those with most ancient Celtic lineages. Those whose names begin with 'Mac/Mc' or 'O', whose origin dates from the time of the Irish heroes. The banshee loves the old mortal families with a fierce and unearthly caring. When a member of the beloved race is dying, she paces the dark hills about his house. She sharply contrasts against the night's blackness, her white figure emerges with silver-grey hair streaming to the ground and a grey-white cloak of a cobweb texture clinging to her tall thin body. Her face is pale, her eyes red with centuries of crying. But this is not the only way that the banshee appears, at other times she is seen as a beautiful young girl, with long, red-golden hair, and wearing a green kirtle and scarlet mantle, broached with gold, after the Irish fashion. Or she will appear shrouded and muffled in a dark, mist-like cloak. White Lady of Sorrow some people name her, and Lady of Death. She is the Woman of Peace and the Spirit of the Air. For despite her wailing, she is somehow graced with a manner of peace. Unseen, banshees attend the funerals of the beloved dead. Although, sometimes she can be heard wailing, her voice blending in with the mournful cries of others. Each banshee has her own mortal family. Out of love she follows the old race across the ocean to distant lands. Her wails or keen can be heard in America and England, wherever the true Irish have settled. But they never forget their blood ties; and neither does she. Black Angus: In Scotland they are called Cu Sith which means "faery dog". It is a large black dog with yellow eyes and sharp fangs who roams the Scottish countryside showing himself to those who will die in a fortnight. When showing himself to bring his message of dying he will cross your path, jump in front of you, then turn and growl. Contact is not advised with this faery and he can provide no ritual help. Cailleach Bheur Faeries: These faeries are from Scotland and are a cross between the Underworld goddess and a faery spirit. She has fangs and also sometimes has three faces which makes her a triple being or deity. Clim: A mischievious goblin that resides in chimneys and peeks out at children, scolding them when they are bad. The Corn Spirit Faerie: The Corn Spirit faery is revered by the North Amerian Indians, expecially the Cherokee. The Corn Faery is a deva that is associated with nature. She is depended on to fertilize the grain and a successful harvest. Cyhyraeth (kerherrighth): Wales. A form of banshee. It usually cries or groans before multiple deaths by epidemic of accident. The Deva Faeries: The Devas are the ones who would be the souls of the plants we work with, for they like to work qwith us and share the plants secrets with us. But, only if we do so with a pure heart and with repsect. They can teach us about the plants medicinal properties, nutritional values, it magickal qualities, its spiritual uses, whether or not it is poison or not! It takes patience to work with these fairies, as it does with all fairy! When you meet one it will show up as a glowing or flashing light that comes from the plant we seek knowledge from. You will feel its presence thru a tingling or warm sensation. They never leave their plant so finding them in some ways is easier, for they are there. But treat them and their plant kindly, with pure intentions and they will teach you much! Dryads: All Celtic countries. Spirits who dwell in trees, oaks in particular. The Druids contacted them for inspiration. Oak galls were known as Serpent Eggs by the Druids and used in many of their charms. Dullahan: Dullaghan; far dorocha; Crom Dubh. The dullahan is one of the most spectacular creatures in the Irish fairy realm and one which is particularly active in the more remote parts of counties Sligo and Down.Around midnight on certain Irish festivals or feast days, this wild and black-robed horseman may be observed riding a dark and snorting steed across the countryside.W. J. Fitzpatrick, a storyteller from the Mourne Mountains in County Down, recounts:
"I seen the dullahan myself, stopping on the brow of the hill between Bryansford and Moneyscalp late one evening, just as the sun was setting. It was completely headless but it held up its own head in its hand and I heard it call out a name. I put my hand across my ears in case the name was my own, so I couldn't hear what it said. When I looked again, it was gone. But shortly afterwards, there was a bad car accident on that very hill and a young man was killed. It had been his name that the dullahan was calling".<o:p></o:p> Dullahans are headless. Although the dullahan has no head upon its shoulders, he carries it with him, either on the saddle-brow of his horse or upraised in his right hand. The head is the colour and texture of stale dough or mouldy cheese, and quite smooth. A hideous, idiotic grin splits the face from ear to ear, and the eyes, which are small and black, dart about like malignant flies. The entire head glows with the phosphoresence of decaying matter and the creature may use it as a lantern to guide its way along the darkened laneways of the Irish countryside. Wherever the dullahan stops, a mortal dies. The dullahan is possessed of supernatural sight. By holding his severed head aloft, he can see for vast distances across the countryside, even on the darkest night. Using this power, he can spy the house of a dying person, no matter where it lies. Those who watch from their windows to see him pass are rewarded for their pains by having a basin of blood thrown in their faces, or by being struck blind in one eye. The dullahan is usually mounted on a black steed, which thunders through the night. He uses a human spine as a whip. The horse sends out sparks and flames from its nostrils as it charges forth. In some parts of the country, such as County Tyrone, the dullahan drives a black coach known as the coach-a-bower (from the Irish coiste bodhar, meaning 'deaf or silent coach'). This is drawn by six black horses, and travels so fast that the friction created by its movement often sets on fire the bushes along the sides of the road. All gates fly open to let rider and coach through, no matter how firmly they are locked, so no one is truly safe from the attentions of this fairy. This fairy has a limited power of speech. Its disembodied head is permitted to speak just once on each journey it undertakes, and then has only the ability to call the name of the person whose death it heralds. A dullahan will stop its snorting horse before the door of a house and shout the name of the person about to die, drawing forth the soul at the call. He may also stop at the very spot where a person will die. On nights of Irish feast days, it is advisable to stay at home with the curtains drawn; particularly around the end of August or early September when the festival of Crom Dubh reputedly took place. If you have to be abroad at this time, be sure to keep some gold object close to hand. The origins of the dullahan are not known for certain, but he is thought to be the embodiment of an ancient Celtic god, Crom Dubh, or Black Crom. Crom Dubh was worshipped by the prehistoric king, Tighermas, who ruled in Ireland about fifteen hundred years ago and who legitimised human sacrifice to heathen idols. Being a fertility god, Crom Dubh demanded human lives each year, the most favoured method of sacrifice being decapitation. The worship of Crom continued in Ireland until the sixth century, when Christian missionaries arrived from Scotland. They denounced all such worship and under their influence, the old sacrificial religions of Ireland began to lose favour. Nonetheless, Crom Dubh was not to be denied his annual quota of souls, and took on a physical form which became known as the dullahan or far dorocha (meaning dark man), the tangible embodiment of death. Unlike the banshee, the dullahan does not pursue specific families and its call is a summoning of the soul of a dying person rather than a death warning. There is no real defence against the dullahan because he is death's herald. However, an artefact made of gold may frighten him away, for dullahan's appear to have an irrational fear of this precious metal. Even a small amount of gold may suffice to drive them off, as the following account from County Galway relates: <o:p></o:p> "A man was on his way home one night between Roundstone and Ballyconneely. It was just getting dark and, all of a sudden, he heard the sound of horse's hooves pounding along the road behind him. Looking around, he saw the dullahan on his charger, hurtling towards him at a fair speed. With a loud shout, he made to run but the thing came on after him, gaining on him all the time. In truth, it would have overtaken him and carried him away had he not dropped a gold-headed pin from the folds of his shirt on the road behind him. There was a roar in the air above him and, when he looked again, the dullahan was gone". Not a Faery to be contacted. Eves: Eves are found all over the world. They are small & chubby. Trooping elves are considered friendly while solitary elves can be dangerous. Their only enemy is the cat. They can aid in home protection & raising energy for all types of spells & rituals. Leave out food & milk to attract them, but remember to lock up the cat! Erlkonig: The Erlkonig is an air faerie from Germany that is only seen by those about to die. The name means "Elf King" and he appears wearing a golden crown and tailored clothing. His home is Valhallah, the Nordic Land of the Dead. Fairies/ Faeries: The earlier name was Fays. The term fairy now covers Anglo-Saxon elves, the Daoine Sidhe of the Highlands, th Tuatha De Danann of Ireland, the Tylwyth Teg of Wales, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, the Wee Folk, Good Neighbors, and many more. Some of the fairies are friendly, others wild and alien to humans. The subyerranean faires are those who live in lochs, lakes, and streams or the sea. While many faires prefer to live in bands, large and small, there are also individual daires who live alone. There individual fairies usually do not dress as drandly as those of the bands. The lone fairies wear different outfits of fox skins, leaves, green moss, flowers, moleskins, or cobwebs. Fairies vary in size from diminutive to 18 inches. Others are three or four feet tall, while some are of human or larger size. In Ireland, the men of the Trooping Fairies, the Daoine Sidh and the Shefro wear green coats and red caps, while the women wear green gowns and red shoes. Fairies love finery; they add feathers to their caps, decorate their gowns with gold spangles and wear small coronets, sometimes of pearls. Some of the men wear yellow breaches. Elves traditional wear green, while the feiries of Manx like blue. White is another color that occasionally appears in fairy descriptions. Whatever their preferemce in clothing, they tend to dress in the costumes of the country in which they live. Green is the favorite fairy color in Celtic countries with red next. Because of this preference, green came to be associated with death among the Celts. Fairy have been described as having hair of red, brown, black or blond. The women wear it long and flowing. Fairies require food and sleep, are liable to disease and can be killed. They spin and weave within their communities. Fairies have their fairs, hunts, markets, processional rides, games, interclan warfare (in Ireland), and revels. Hurling is a particular sport of the Irish fairies. Their horses are often speckled grey and shaggy. Fairies distinctly do not like humans spying on them. According to JG Campbell in his book Superstitions of the Highland and Islands of Scotland, they have banquets of roots of silverweed, stalks of heather, milk of red deer and goats, barley meal, bread, mushrooms, honey, and dew. Fairies are quite fond of music and dancing. Amoung their musical instruments are the pan pipes, bag pipes, cybals, tambourines, harps, whistles, and drums. The music of the Londonerry Air is said to have been learned from the fairies. Fairies tend to guard their real names, instead giving fals ones to humans. Some are also capable of shape-shifting into birds to escape capture. Faires often use glamour (spells) when encountering humans; in Ireland these spells are called pishogue (pish-ogue). Fairies value neatness, the ability to keep a secret and generosity among humans. They also like humans to leave out fresh water for washing their babies, and enjoy and affering or milk, bread and cheese. Ephame is a Scottish version of the Norse word Alfheim, country of the elves, or Fairyland. It is said that those who are psychic can see fairies travel abroad and change their residences at Imbolc, Beltain, Lughnassadh, and Samhain. In Scottish witchcraft, the high priestess of the coven was called the Queen of Elphame. Both the Welsh and Irish called the fairies The Mothers and considered Fairyland the land of Women. This may harken back to the fact that the Celtic peoples were originally a matriarchal society. In the Book of the Dun Cow, a fairy queen describes her realm under the earth. Although most Celtic hairies tend to live in hills, burghs, or barrows, some live in the deem woods and in lakes. Their favorite hour is twilight, between day and night. It is said that one can open a door into a fairy hill by walking around it three times counterclockwise. The Fate Faeries: The Fatae... Also known as Fates. Greek and Roman mythologies include three spiritual beings called in Greek the Moirai, in Latin Parcae or Fatae, who were supposed to control the destiny of a person. They were named (probably after Hesiod) Clothe (or Clotho), who held a distaff on which was the material of life; Lachesis, who spun the thread from this material and, by doing so, assigned the individual his lot or fate ; and Atropos (literately "the one that cannot be restrained"), who made that final cut of the thread which ended life. The Fates were conceived as old women, who were present at every birth, ready to spin the new born's fate, according to the will of the gods. Sometimes the three are called the Harsh Spinners, even though they do not all spin. Their 'spinning' was said to take place at birth, and in some periods also at marriage, when a new life or fate was made. The general word moirai means 'share' or 'apportioned lot'. Lachesis means approximately 'obtaining by lot' and atropos 'irresistible'. The three witches in Macbeth have been linked with these three spinners, from the old English term weird, which means approximately 'destiny'; the three 'weird sisters' were the Fates who control destiny. Fin Folk: Also known as Sea Gardeners and the Lady's Own. They are anthropomorphic beings who shun human contact though they seem not to wish us any harm. They live beneath the lochs of Scotland. No one has ever met them but there are myths and stories of those who have been taken to their underwater world which is said to be utopian in nature and enclosed in glass . Their favorite pastime is gardening and their underwater world is a paradise of flowers and lush foliage. If you desire contact with them they can found on the physical plane as well as the astral. Approach them with caution since little is known about them. If they show you their world be careful not to offend them or overstay your visit. They may be helpful in lending energy to spells for the protection and preservation of plants and marine life. Gnomes: Earth Elmentals. They live underground and guard the treasures of the Earth. Gnomes are wonderful metal workers, espially of swords and breastplates. They are elderly dwarf people who stand from 1 - 2 feet tall and like dwarfs, live underground except for the few times when they come up to roam in the deep forest. They are dwarf faeries who appear to be quite old because they mature very young though they live about a thousand years. They wear old fashioned costumes such as small pointed red hats and blue or green clothing. They are also kind hearted and always take care of sick or frightened animals. Males gnomes grow long beards. Gnomes live under old oak trees in heavily forested areas, and like gifts of beautiful stones. Their only known enemies are martens, owls, and humans that destroy their homes. They can be found on the physical plane and in the astral. Their element is earth. To contact them simply invite them to you. This works especially well in astral travel. Gnomes can lend their help in spells and rituals, especially that of protection, healing animals and people. Since they are expert healers, they may be willing to teach one the secrets of magical herbalism. They love to dance and lend their energies to rituals celebrating the forest gods and goddesses. Goblins/Hobgoblins: Originaly a general name for small, grotesque but friendly brownie-type creatures. Lunantishee: They guard the blackthorn bushes particularly on Samhain and Beltane. If you cut a stick from the bush on either one of those days, you will suffer misfortune. Oakman: A wood faery who lives in oak trees, the oakman is a guardian of the animals. The familiar saying "faery folks are in old oaks" speaks of their kind. The oak is considered the tree of the dead and the abode of departed spirits. Oakmen resemble dwarfs with red noses, wear red toadstool caps and have an affinity with bluebells. Queen Mab/ Mabh/ Medb (meev)/Medbh/ Medhbh/ Maeve (maive or mayyv): Ireland. “Drunk Woman�? “Queen-wolf�? Celtic fairy queen whose name means mead, more particularly a red drink or claret she gave to her many consorts. Also considered a queen of Connacht, a warrior queen of the Ulster cycle. Goddess of war, actually participating in the fighting; combined mother and warior aspects of the Goddess. Physical sexuality and fertility, revenge, war. The Sluagh (slooa)/The Host: Scotland. The Host of the Unforgiven Dead, or pagan ancestors. The most formidable of the Highland Fairies. Slyphs/Sylphs: Living for a thousand years without seeming to age, they are beautiful, changeable creatures that parallel nymphs, only they exist in the Element of Air. Living on the tops of high places such as mountains and cliffs, slyphs vary in size, are winged, transparent, elusive, and surrounded by a glowing radiance. For a very brief time, they can take on human form. They move by floating about with the wind, and as such, are known as the Spirit faeries of the Air. They inspire mortals, especially those individuals involved in the creative arts. Sprites: Very shy, delicate, and reclusive, sprites are winged spirits that dwell in meadows and woodland glens. There are many types of sprites, depending upon their Element. Fire sprites are very rare. As William Shakespeare describes them in The Tempest, "Sprites are spirits: they do not have bodies as fairies do." They adore gifts of nuts, acorns, and sweet treats, and love to be flattered by mortals. Subterranean Fairies: Scotland. Fairies who live in brochs or hills. They travel from place to place at Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnassadh, and Samhein in order to change the residences. SYLPHS: Sylphs land of origin is Greece and Egypt. They are very small and so light in color and body as to be virtually transparent. They are active all year. They appear buoyant as to defy gravity and they can hold themselves aloft for long periods without ever moving their tiny wings. Sylphs can be helpful to humans who seek them out. You automatically call them to your circle when you call upon the four directions. Sylphs aid with any ritual or magickal undertaking, especially those concerning the element of air. Tir-Nan-Og/ Tir Na-Nog (tier-nan-ohk or teer na nogue) Ireland. Land of the young; Fairyland; Avalon; Isles of the Blest. Sometimes described as a land across the west sea where part of the Tuatha De Danann retreated. A fountain there gives the Water of Life that makes the old young again. Trolls: Originally supernatural beings in Scandianvian folklore, later they became huge ogres with great strength and little wit.Trolls are known for guarding castles and treasure, hunting in packs in the deep forest and being deadly to mortals. They can outrun any mortal. Fire and sunlight will harm them. Never try to befriend one. Tuatha De Danann (toodha dae donnann or tootha day danan): Ireland. Race of gods who finally overthrew the Fomors. The Irish said they were giants who lived in underground chambers at Tara and built stone temples. Undines: Greece, Britian, Garmany, Indonesia, and the Middle East. As Elemental Water spirits usually found within forest pools, waterfalls, marshlands, rivers, lakes and riding the ocean waves, the beautiful voices of the undines can sometimes drift above the sound of the water. They inhabit underwater caves, river banks and lake shores. They are able to influence the flow of water in streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans, as well as the plants that grow in and under the water. Undines can appear human-like and are generally shy, but friendly. Peaceful, graceful and attractive, their skin shimmers blue-green, green or aqua like the water. The undines are ruled by love and adore gifts of sweet-smelling perfumes. Undines were first recorded in the annals of human folklore by the Greeks, who reported seeing them frolicking in the Aegean Sea. In the Middle East they came to represent the element of water in the mystic rites of the Kabbalists and the Sufis. When Rome adopted the Greek pantheon and, along with it, much of its folklore, they also adopted the Undines, whom they regarded as demigods. In Ceremonial Magick, Undines are the archetypal elementals of water and of the west. They are called upon to witness all rituals and are called to your cirlce when you do an invocation to the direction of the West. Undines are credited witht he power to enhance the energy and efficancy of any ritual or spell, especially ones associated with water |
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