Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Down at the bottom of the garden

Faeries by Brian Froud

I have been spending more and more time in the garden now that Spring has at last arrived. Our backyard in particular is a magical place, which I deliberately leave a little overgrown. It was once my grandmother's pride-and-joy - she was a wonderful gardener and it is the bulbs and shrubs she planted that continue to flower the most. It's lovely, because it's like she comes back to visit every Spring. The garden also has lots of lovely nooks and crannies  making perfect homes and hiding spots for elves and faeries.
Light elves are extremely beautiful creatures. They have been described as ‘fairer to look on than the sun’. They are a part of many European pagan belief systems and so they have come to be known to us here in Australia. In Holland, they are called Alven. In Ireland, they are Sidhe or Faeries. In Iceland, they are Fylgiar. In Sweden and Denmark, they are Ellefolk.  In other parts of Northern Europe, there are the White Ladies and the Liosalfar.  In French forests, there are the Dames Vertes. Throughout Europe, there is also the Will O’ The Wisp. They are all considered guardian angels, walking alongside human beings as mediums between us and the natural world. They can move easily through the four elements, travelling on sunbeams or floating down a river in a bubble. 


Faeries and Elves by Arthur Rackham

The Light Elves represent nature and fertility. They have great magical powers—transforming flowers and stones into precious amulets, aiding women in childbirth, acting as guardian angels to us throughout our lives, foretelling the future and controlling the natural elements. They have also been known to inspire artistic and musical endeavours. But remember, with all of these powers, they can help or hinder humans. They must be treated with great respect.

They often prefer to come out at night, and since they are so strongly attached to nature, they like to do things such as watering their favourite plants in preparation for the coming day. Humans should take care as to how they deal with the natural environment. Light elves and faeries will punish those who do not respect Mother Earth. They are especially active around water.

Faeries by Linda Ravenscroft

You can attract light elves and faeries to your garden and home in a number of different ways. First of all, they must have a sense that you believe in them, since so many humans claim not to and the faeries then stay out of sight. They really appreciate a small offering left for them in the garden, to show that you do believe and that you are friendly. Something to eat perhaps (honey is a favourite), something to drink (they love a little beer!) or something shiny (they love copper but do not give them iron and glitter is another favourite). Keep part of your garden a little over-grown too—faeries love a little bit of wilderness to wander in! Garden statues of faeries will attract them too. Faeries love music, so the gentle tinkling of wind chimes in a tree will draw them in.

Be sure to make it clear to the Universe that you are only hoping to attract good faeries. Dark elves can be malicious, mischevious and difficult. 

Sources:
Nancy Arrowsmith, A Field Guide to the Little People, Macmillan.
Lucy Cavendish, White Magic, Hay House.

4 comments:

  1. I know the Book of Mrs Arrowsmith :-) - thank you for telling that you post here again. Nice to read you again!

    Bodecea

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  2. Thanks Bodecea! You told me about the Arrowsmith book, actually :)

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  3. I love this blog - looking forward to having a good read of older posts x

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