look I don’t want to tell anyone what to do but if you go down that path you will wake up a thousand years later and all your great-grandchildren will be dead
The Faeries are divided into two courts – the Seelie (blessed) and Unseelie (damned). They are like Yin and Yang, neither being able to thrive without the other, yet still opposites. Typically, the Seelie rule from Beltane to Samhain, and the Unseelie rule from Samhain to Beltane. The Seelie are believed to be amicable, whereas the Unseelie are depicted as more hostile, almost malevolent. The Faeries themselves come from the Tuatha de Danann of Celtic legend – the people of the goddess Danu – and the Seelie Queen is often shown in likeness to Danu with her flowing red hair.
I personally love the fae, but I know many people would rather stay far away (and of course it’s very important to know safety guidelines whether you do or not!) so here’s some information I’ve collected.
From many different sources:
Never use your real name when interacting with fae, or they can take control over you
Always be polite and respectful and do your best not to offend. Remember, better safe than sorry
As a general rule, don’t eat food when visiting the fae realm. This will make you a captive, unable to leave, and often the food isn’t as wonderful as it may seem, and only glamoured rocks, mud and sticks. (It’s said faeries will take offense if you don’t accept food they offer to you in our own world though)
Do not think yourself more clever than them or try to swindle them; you will end up in very hot water
You may not want to accept faerie money.. as again, it is often glamoured and will turn back into leaves and acorns soon after
Do not blindly intrude were you are not wanted (fairy rings, sacred faerie places, etc) Always ask first and respect their answer!
Should you find you’ve wandered into a place where you feel strong malevolent energy or evil presence and experience “faerie terror”, back away slowly, don’t run or you might get lost. Send out your good will, and if you can, throw up a bubble/egg ward to protect yourself
Do not to take the fae lightly or seek them half-heartedly. Take care not to act as if they were weak, harmless or lenient. It is very foolish to underestimate them. Faeries are not strictly good or evil (neither are humans), and respect and caution are always best
Salt and iron (tools made from iron, a nail in your pocket) are traditional faerie deterrents
Three leaf clovers can be carried as a protective charm, and four leaf ones can break through faerie magic or allow you to see hidden fae (note some traditions say you should have multiple clovers as each will only work once)
Wearing St. John’s Wort will give you strong protection from faerie magic
As will wearing a daisy
Carrying a rowan twig, or hanging one over your door, that was collected on Betaine may bring protection
Flipping your clothes inside out can prevent faerie mischief by its unexpectedness
Visualisation wards can be effective
Scatter primrose petals outside your door to keep faeries at bay by creating a barrier
If you hear bluebells chime it is a warning that danger or faerie enchantments are near
Putting a daisy chain on a child is said to protect them from being taken as a changeling
Forget me nots can be used for faerie protection
If you’re friendly with any other faeries, you may ask them for protection against ill-willed fae
Faeries will avoid gardens with tomato plants
Make a bundle of twigs from the trees of the faerie triad, oak ash and thorn, and carry it for protection (it will only work if they’re bound together, if separate, they are an invitation to the fae)
One traditional faerie protection is placing mirrors throughout your home
Cats may chase away faeries
The sound of heavy iron bells and chimes may drive them away
Leaving out gifts of honey and milk can appease the fae if you wish them to leave you alone
If you’ve tended to a thriving garden or taken the time to smell the wild lilacs, there’s a good chance that you’ve encountered some form of Fae. In my experience, these devious little angels hide out in floral escapes and foliage. If you’d like to pay tribute to these babes or attract them to your own garden, here’s a sweet rosy treat to lure them in.
Ingredients
3 tbsp rose petals (dried or fresh, food grade)
1 tbsp rosehips
1 tbsp chamomile flowers*
1 vanilla bean
2 cups sugar of choice
*If you’re allergic to chamomile or ragweed, feel free to substitute with lavender.
Method
1. Grind the rose petals, rosehips and chamomile flowers with a mortar and pestle. Think about the reasons you wish to draw the Fae to your humble abode and infuse those feelings of comfort, safety and kindness into your herbs.
If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, or if this type of action isn’t something you’re able to do, feel free to use a food processor. Your intent will come through just the same. 🙂
2. Slice the vanilla bean down the middle and place it within your jar.
3. Pour the sugar and ground herbs into the jar. Shake the jar and charge it with your own energy.
4. Leave the jar on the window sill, either during the day for solar energy, overnight for lunar/cosmic energy, or both if you’re so inclined. I like to surround my jar with crystals and herbs, as well.
5. Pour out some of the mixture into a dish and leave it outdoors for the Fae to snack on. If you’d like, you can also use this in place of sweetener in tea and share it with them – just be sure to strain out the herbs!
At Spiritionary, our team of mods and primary contributors work together with other spirit workers to gather information about all spirit species. This is our collection of posts about fae spirits. Sidi is used as a non-culturally specific term for fae and other spirits who self-identify as fae or in the same class of spirits as faefolk. All posts should be considered UPG unless indicated otherwise.
In my perspective, as well as experience, Fae (I can only speak of those in North America and Central America) are spirits. As such, it is not likely you’ll ever see them physically manifest. Like other spirits, (Ancestors, Angels, Demons, Djinn, plant spirits, etc.) Fae exist within a hierarchy of both age and size, which generally go hand-in-hand. In fact, there is a hierarchy that is recognized by all spirits. (When I say “size” I am referring to how powerful they are, not how tall they are.) –SJWwarning: Things within this post are 70% learned from direct experience, 25% taught to me by a practitioner of Curanderismo, & 5% book/internet research.
Dealings with Fea:
If you must, despite the warnings from the community, seek out a Fae, you should know a few things:
1- Where to find them. 2- How to locate one within that place and convince them to commune with you. 3- Ways you can protect yourself and others around you. 4- How to “befriend” one. 5- How to close communion.
A few useful things to have on you: fresh mint, fresh lavender, really any common flowering plant in your region (All must be harvested respectfully because the Fae will feel it.) As well as buttons (the older- the better), red wine, moon water, and/or a small potted plant (if dealing with a Fae within a building)
Without knowing at least a few of these things, I surely would have been subject to all kinds of spiritual, physical and mental torture/harassment.
#1: Where to find Fae Fae do not necessarily reside in woodlands, deserts, swamps, mountains, forests, or lakes (etc). They can and do live in cities, suburbs and places like Walmart. However, places like Walmart aren’t very attractive to them, and they will likely only live there temporarily. Fae like to be left alone, like most spirits. They will always nestle into a place that is secluded and rather quiet. The more foliage, the better because Fae do prefer more natural areas. They only exist out of nature due to urbanization. It’s actually really sad. If you find a Fae within a building, PLEASE be careful. They will likely not be too friendly. So, think of a place that is near you, where there is little human traffic that has at least some foliage. Then, once you have communed with a few Fae (That are in a more preferred habitat), and think that you could handle it, look in the dark secluded places in buildings.
#2: How to locate and speak to a Fae if they reside in that area You will need your intuition here- in fact, you will be relying on it nearly wholly. If in forests, mountains, and woodlands: they will likely be found near groves of old trees, running water, large boulders (That are covered in moss AND fungus), on mounds with flowers, secluded clearings in trees, and small caves. In deserts: secluded caves, atop mesas, near water, oases, and around clusters of larger plants. In swamps: Near the oldest tree in the area, running water, large rocks that are being devoured by moss and mud, in tree branches, as well as nearly all over the place. In plains/prairie: You will only find younger and/or smaller Fae. They will be clinging to the base of the grasses, hiding under yucca, near cacti, resting near wildflowers.
In buildings: They will be found in dark corridors, abandoned buildings, attics, storage rooms that are barely used, the roof, and elevator shafts/empty stairwells.
Once you think you’ve found one, lay out an offering without looking directly at them. It is always best to look directly at the ground. Once the offering is set, bow your head to the ground- touching your forehead. Then speak aloud the reasoning for leaving that specific offering, while being as respectful and genuine as possible. Then give an offering of energy. (Before doing this, be sure to have protection [see #3]) This energy needs to be appropriate for the vibe of the Fae.
Then, begin to speak aloud to them. Tell them about yourself, and your craft. You must be completely honest. Lying to a Fae can result in their anger. Ask if they are comfortable speaking to you. If they aren’t you’ll feel it. If this happens, bow again and stand and leave respectfully. Be sure to give a blessing to their home as you are leaving it.
#3: How you can protect yourself and those around you Objects you can carry that will help prevent them from: Following you [F], Leeching energy from you [L], Cursing you [C], Messing with your Psyche [P]. {”-” before a symbol means that it makes it easier, rather than preventing.)
There are a few energetic way to protect yourself as well. Creating a shell of neutral reflective energy around you, building and maintaining a flame in your heart energy center, astral weapons/shields, tulpas/servitors/thought-forms, and blessings.
Be sure to ALWAYS salt all thresholds in your home before leaving to commune with Fae. Brick dust, iron shavings, and Pipestone dust can be used in place of salt.
Also, NEVER underestimate the power of respect, intuition, and understanding.
#4: How to “Befriend” a Fae I use the term “befriend” very loosely, hence the quotation marks. It’s more like a trade deal. This can happen once they feel comfortable speaking to you, and you can then make a request- but not without compensation. If a request is made without compensation, they will likely take something of their own choosing. For example, I met a really old Fae that recently migrated to a conservation area near me. (by recently I mean within the last 100 years, which is like a week or two to her.) Once she was comfortable speaking to me, I asked her for guidance and assistance in my craft- as well as to join my circle of spirits in the direction of the North. In return I offered to ward her home- to this, she scoffed. Instead, all she asked for in return was my faith in her and her home- as well as to never mention her name around or to any other humans. (I can’t even write it in my Grimoire- I checked)
#5: How to close a communion with a Fae If a Fae is gracious enough to commune with you, you should always end with a statement of honest gratitude. Ways to physically show gratitude and respect could be as follows: -placing your forehead on the ground -kissing the ground -manifest your aura as butterflies or another flying creature depending on the vibe of the Fae. -Bow after standing up (If you were previously sitting) -Bow before leaving. -Facing towards the center of their home, as you are leaving, and placing your forehead on the center (Try, if you are able, to face south when doing this) -Leave a second offering. -Draw a sigil of gratitude in the air with your energy.
There are some Fae you should strive to avoid! -Faeries (Not Fairies): They will blatantly lie to you and will almost always be insulted and/or disgusted at your presence. -Fae that feel palpably angry- most likely found in abandoned buildings. -Fae that live in a lone tree. -Fae that live in poisonous/toxic plants -There are a few more- but your gut will honestly be your best tool.
IF YOU CAN HELP A FAE THAT HAS HAD ITS HOME RIPPED AWAY FROM IT DUE TO URBANIZATION- DO IT. WITH ITS PERMISSION, HELP FIND IT A NEW HOME- AND BE SURE TO GET THE PERMISSION OF THE FAE THAT LIVE IN THE NEW LOCATION AS WELL.
Heatherwitch 