Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Fairy Herbs for Fairy Magic: Working in Partnership with the 'Hidden People' 

by Daniela 'Svartheiðrinn' Simina

Image credit: Pixabay.com
The belief in fairies[1] giving the gift of knowledge is common to many cultures. Fairies have a well-established reputation for teaching the secrets of healing with herbs to selected few among humans. Irish, Romanian, and Scottish material talk about people who, following encounters with fairies, began to display skills and knowledge of herbal healing and herbal magic. Local tales and testimonies from various witch trials speak about fairy familiars gifting not only knowledge but also giving herbs or herbal preparations for their human partners to use. (Wilby, 2022) Lore from Germany, Iceland and continental Scandinavia is filled with stories of encounters with elves which resulted in luck, acquisition of knowledge, and healing. 

However, fairy-beings, including elves, are also known for their ambiguity toward humans. Like other all the other types of fairies, elves too might reward lavishly or harm, sometimes for reasons clear only to themselves. In general, relationships with elves have a transactional component and are regulated by strict rules.

While the Irish tradition knows fairy doctors and fairy witches who work in close contact with The Good People[2], it also recommends extreme caution around them. Outside the specialized sphere of fairy doctors and fairy witches, the general belief in Ireland is that The Good People, Na Daoine Maithe, are best left alone.

In Romania, under the collective name zâne, two fairy groups feature most prominently: Sânziene, also known as Zâne, and Rusalii, also known as Iele. The Rusalii are overtly not fond of humans. The Sânziene, however, act benevolently and gift knowledge of herbal healing and magic. However, if offended, the Sânziene will turn as deadly as the Rusalii. And, antipathy aside, the Rusalii also have immense healing powers and knowledge of herbs which, in a very specific ritual context, they willingly share with humans. Due to such ambiguity, fairy seers from Romania recommend that everyone exercises extreme caution around fairies.

German and Scandinavian lore too warns about the potential dangers arising from interacting with the Hidden People. In Anglo-Saxon England the magic practiced by elves was called sīden and sīdsa, which words are cognate with Icelandic and Scandinavian seiðr. Elves can use their magic to harm, by inflicting the notorious ‘elf shot’. But there are also accounts of elves effecting healing on people. In Kormáks Saga, advised by a seeress/spækonna, one of the protagonists sacrificed a bull to the elves dwelling in a certain mound and received healing. 

Like other fairy-beings, elves are not one large, undifferentiated category, so there is little uniformity across the breadth of the lore about elves’ likes or dislikes for specific herbs. One may need both apotropaic herbs to keep the ill-meaning beings at bay, and herbs to invite allies and propitiate good will. For everyone involved in partnerships with elves it is wise considering carefully the herbs to gather in ritual spaces, altars, and homes: it is not a good idea to inadvertently vanquish boundaries, let in the wrong crowd while in the same time upsetting close allies by using plants carelessly. 

When choosing herbal ingredients, it is important to keep in mind that fairies- elves making no exception- are not set fixtures in the geographical landscape. A growing body of evidence shows that fairies and fairy-like beings can and do travel around, oftentimes accompanying humans to foreign lands (Daimler, 2023, 2024).

Therefore, when working with elven guides and/or familiars, it is important to know the lore that is specific to geographical regions or to the cultures where the said allies come from. For example, if you interact consistently with elves and other kinds of fairy-beings from two different traditions, such as Icelandic and Irish, you may want to use herbs that are agreeable to both groups. While a common denominator is usually present, there are also marked differences between these culture-specific groups of fairies. 

And, things can get even more complicated than this. Similar to human communities, not all communities – elves or other fairies- get along with each other, not even when belonging to the same culture. As a concrete example, Irish lore speaks of armies of sí[3] battling fiercely one another (Evans-Wenz, 1998). Still from the Irish lore, we have numerous accounts of sport events where teams from different regional fairy groups compete against each other in matches that are as fierce as encounters on battlegrounds. (Lenihan, 2004, Simina, 2023) From the humans’ perspective, it means that being in the good graces of a certain group or elven community, may put one on the black list of another group. Within this paradigm, propitiating goodwill while also setting boundaries are vital knowledge. 

Let’s look at three herbs and application of their properties in connection to elves:

Mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris, has a well-established reputation as apotropaic. In Romanian lore, Mugwort is known as a selectively-acting herb: it will banish the malevolent beings and not upset the goodly inclined ones. This built-in versatility accounts for Mugwort’s widespread use in both getting dangerous spirits to vacate or pre-emptively protecting a space or person.

In Lacnunga, the 11th century Anglo-Saxon medical text, Mugwort is presented as an herb with immense power over all kinds of evil. While not specifically mentioned as an elf-repelling herb, the verses in the Lacnunga’s Nine Herbs Charmmake it quite clear that Mugwort can be successfully employed against any kind of malevolent powers, which would extend to Mugwort’s efficiency in case of attacks from elves.   

“Remember Mugwort, what you made known

What you arranged at Reenmeld.

You were called Una, the oldest of herbs,

You have power over three and thirty,

You have power against poison and against infection,

You have power against the loathsome foe roaming through the land.”

(Lacnunga)

During the Middle Ages, in Germany and Holland Mugwort was widely used for protection against possession and harm caused by evil spirits. According to traditions in these areas, Mugwort has maximum potency if gathered on the St. John’s Eve. 

In addition to the Artemisia vulgaris which grows throughout Northern Europe, in Scandinavia a local kind of Mugwort, Artemisia norvegica, is also present. In the lore, this type of Mugwort is connected to Thor, and it is employed as protection against malevolent spirit beings. Thor’s hostile actions are described as primarily against threats coming from the jötnar, but he is a protector of people in a broader sense. Thus, the by association with Thor, Mugwort (Artemisia norvegica) should emulate the same broad-spectrum protective properties.

In my own experience Mugwort acts like a selective filter: it allows my elven familiars to come near and closes the boundaries to anyone approaching with hostile intent.

St. John’s Wort is best-known in Irish tradition for keeping the sí away. This herb, with its small golden flowers reminding of the power of the sun itself, reaches maturity around Midsummer when, according to practitioners of folk medicine and magic, is the optimal time to harvest it. 

In Romania, same as in Ireland, St. John’s Wort is also harvested at Midsummer when its properties, both magical and medicinal, are peaking. The Romanian name for this herb, Sunatoare /Soo-nuh- Toah- reh/, relates to its solar associations and makes no allusion to the saint.  I favor the solar association instead of the saint, and use the name Sunnawort[4],which translates as the “herb of Sunna”. 

In Norse mythology the sun, Sunna, is also connected to the Álfar. In the Skírnismál, the Sun is named Álfröðul, with possible translations “elf-beam”, “elf-disc’, “elf-glory”. In my own version of Álfatrú – my spiritual practice centered on the Álfar and related vættir- I regard Sunnawort as sacred and compatible with most among the elves. It is part of my personal gnosis that at Midsummer, the Álfar and other vættir act similarly to other fairy-beings from across Europe in that they go around to bless this herb infusing it with magical powers for healing and protection.

 

Lavender (Lavandula)

Lavender is deeply relaxing, which makes it a valuable aid in attaining meditative, altered states of consciousness which facilitate communication with spirit allies including elves. When I lived in Italy, I heard people calling Lavender Elf Leafor Elf’s Herb which suggests an affinity that elves[5] might have for this plant. In my experience, lavender is favored by many kinds of fairies, not just elves. I am fond of lavender because it was one of the first herbs that I became acquainted with for magical purposes. My grandmother grew lavender in our yard, and I used to help her make bundles which we would then hang to dry. As a witch I use lavender for almost everything: healing magic, hallowing space in preparation for ritual, and in offerings to deity and elf familiars. It is a forgiving and very versatile herb. Using lavender by mistake as the “wrong” ingredient in a spell or ritual is not likely to backfire given lavender’s versatility and easy-going character. 

Next, are few suggestions about employing herbs in elf-centered practices: 

Apotropaic: Dried Mugwort, St. John’s Wort and Lavender can be burned (individually or in combination) to smoke-cleanse spaces or people. To repel unwanted attentions from Huldufólk or troublesome spirits, carry dried Mugwort, St. John’s Wort and Vervain in a pouch and if absolutely necessary, along with other apotropaic materials such as iron and salt. Iron and salt should be last resort because they could annoy some among the elf allies. Personally, I found out that seeking to understand what is the cause for animosity and finding ways to reconciliate works better than implementing extreme measures right away. 

Offerings: Traditional offerings for elves include dairy, breads, fresh water, beer- but also the flowers they like. Fresh or dried flowers can be strewn around offerings of food and drink, or left at the places sacred to Them as an offering of its own. I would suggest for this purpose Lavender, Primrose, Rose, and frankincense and amber oils.  Conversely, do not pick up anything from an elf mound, don’t take souvenirs from rocks inhabited by elves, or trees which are in some way connected to elves.  

Healing and magicwater infused with selected herbs can be asperged or spayed around to render the space appealing to elven allies. Herb-infused oils can be applied to ritual items or other objects dedicated to working with elves. Satchels with herbs that fairy themselves favor can be worn or carried inside a pocket to invite the presence of fairy allies or, depending on the situation, to protect against harm caused by fairies.

Please keep in mind that from an animistic perspective, the herbs themselves are forms of consciousness, so do not treat any plant as an object or disposable commodity. When bringing plants into your practice, treat them as plant-people whose help you seek to enlist, not as someone who you can bossy around. Seek to work in synergy with plants, elves and other fairy-beings instead of asserting yourself and trying to dominate the scene; it rarely works, and when it does, it is short-lived and backfires badly. 

This short presentation is an invitation to explore, learn, and experiment. There are countless herbs and ways to work with them. People take on spiritual paths which involve elves for various reasons. If you feel called to follow a path where spiritual herbalism and elves are involved, it is a great idea to research both plant and elf-related lore in the cultural tradition, or traditions, you associate yourself with. The words “elf” and “fairy” may bring to mind quaint and charming beings, and the make the idea of partnerships sound lovely. However, the experiences of seers, fairy doctors and witches from past and present times inform that the reality of working with elves and fairies-beings in general has nothing idyllic about it. Study and keep an open mind. Pay close attention to your own personal experiences, but whenever presented with the opportunity, also learn from the experience of those who walked this path before you. 

Bibliography 

Daimler, Morgan “Celtic Fairies in North America” (2023)

Daimler, Morgan “A New Dictionary of Fairies: A 21st Century Exploration of Celtic and Related Western European Fairies” (2020)

Daimler, Morgan “Fairy: The Otherworld by Many other Names” (2024)

Daimler, Morgan, “Celtic Fairies in North America” (2024)

Gundarsson, Kveldulf “Amulets, Stones, and Herbs: Studies Toward Germanic Heathenry” (2022)

Gundarsson, Kveldulf “Elves, Wights, and Trolls” (2007)

Heath, Cat "Elves, Witches& Gods: Spinning Old Heathen Magic in the Modern Day" (2021)

Lenihan, Eddie, “Meeting the Othercrowd: The Fairy Stories of Hidden Ireland” (2004)

MacCoitir, Nial “Ireland’s Wild Plants” (2016)

“Medical Writings from Early Medieval England: The Old English Herbal, Lacnunga, and Other Texts”, translation by John D. Niles and Maria A. D’Aronco (2023)

Pflanzenkunst, “Mugwort”, retrieved at https://pflanzenkunst.wordpress.com/plant-profiles/mugwort/

Simina, Daniela “Where Fairies Meet: Parallels between Irish and Romanian Fairy Traditions” (2023)

Simina, Daniela, “A Fairy Path: The Memoir of a Young Fairy Seer in Training” (2024)

Simina, Daniela, “Fairy Herbs for Fairy Magic: A Practical Guide to Fairy Herbal Magic” (2024)

Wilby, Emma, “Cunning-Folk and Familiar Spirits: Shamanistic Visionary Traditions in Early Modern English Witchcraft and Magic” (2022)

Heath, Cat “Charms, Whita and  Stories” (Part I and 2) https://payhip.com/SeoHelrune

Heath, Cat “Elves and Witches” https://payhip.com/SeoHelrune

 


[1] In this context the word ‘fairies’ is a catch-all term used to represent the fairy-beings from various cultures. 

[2] Euphemism used in Ireland in reference to fairies. 

[3] Irish name for fairies

[4] From Gundarsson, Kveldulf “Amulets, Stones, and Herbs: Studies Toward Germanic Heathenry” (2022)

[5] As mentioned earlier, I believe that otherworldly beings are not confined by geography; I would not be surprised to find elves in Northern part of Italy

Saturday, August 3, 2024

Contingencies in Personal Practice: Fairycrafting and Heathenry

 

In today’s post I will take a look at the overlap between the two sides of my work and personal practice: the side concerning fairies and the Heathen side. They are not at all separated as they may appear, one area of contingency being women’s relationship to power as it is described in the fairy lore, myth, saga material and historical records from North-Western Europe. 

This year at the Mystic South, the conference that takes place in Atlanta each summer, I gave a presentation titled “Woman Politics &Power in pre-Christian Scandinavia”. For the past several years my work – published books, articles, conference presentations- have been almost exclusively centered on fairy lore and associated magical traditions. So, this year’s conference it seemed like a complete departure. But was that really the case? 

 

Fairies, both the Irish sidhe and Scandinavian elves, are described in the lore as living in worlds adjacent and sometimes overlapping with the world of humans (Daimler, 2023, 2024). Stories passed down through generations, both orally and in writing, depict fairies as transgressive of gender roles as such roles had become established with the rising and spreading of Christianity throughout Europe. We read about fairy women who take lovers as they please, have children with whoever they want, rule as monarchs and make political and military decisions (Wenz, 1911; Lenihan, 2004; Daimler, 2017). These stories did not sit well with the new religion who equated fairies with devils and tried hard to stamp out fairy beliefs and practices because they were the most obvious antithesis to the Church’s moral codes regarding gender (Green, 2018). 

 

With the passing of time, society took on praising women who were submissive, quaint and pious. Women were “meant” to be fragile and weak in their judgement thus dependent on men.   Well into the 20th century it was still believed that certain types of exertion would physically hurt women and in general, women were deemed too emotional therefore untrustworthy to handle money or property (Lewis, 2019) .

 

This image is a far cry from the one found in Norse mythology and writings with historical character that depict Scandinavian society in the Viking Age.  Norse myth is populated with powerful feminine figures. Freyja is not only a goddess associated with abundance and passionate love but a warrior figure as well who takes for herself half the battle dead, the other half claimed by Oðinn. The Norns shape people’s destiny, and Frigga can outsmart her husband, the wise and powerful Oðinn. (Ellis Davidson, 1990; Waggoner, 2021; Daimler, 2023)

 

The objection here might be that these are only stories. However, one must keep in mind that such stories arise from people’s beliefs and that mythologies shape spiritual and religious practices thus shaping norms and mores in society. From the Icelandic sagas we learn that women had the right to get a divorce on the grounds of domestic violence. They could own land, run businesses, and participate in trade and warfare (Auerbach, 1998; Palsson, 1989; Magnusson, 1975)Histories of Norway and Denmark mention warrior women, queens who ruled independently and also women participating in politics indirectly by influencing kings and chieftains - their husbands or sons (Elton, 2023; Monsen, 1990). Last but not least women exercised power in their roles of ritual specialist whose counsel was sought after by everyone, including kings and other people of high status. (Gardeła, 2023) 

 

Those who recorded the fairy lore, same as those who wrote down the myths and tried to reconstruct histories of Norway and Denmark were in their majority clerics, some of them highly educated.  Whether monks or historians these men were the product of their own society. Their own cultural lenses were bound to color how and what they wrote about.  But despite the Christian treatment of some themes and criticism of women’s un-fitting behavior, there’s enough in these texts to allow the discerning eye to see the full picture: whether fairies or women from the mortal realm, they lived in a time when bravery, industriousness, cleverness and physical strength were praised qualities in women and not unnatural traits to be suppressed.  

 

Whether fairies or women-warriors of the Viking Age, their behavior is subversive of gender norms prevailing at the time their stories were written down. 

 

Bibliography

Auerbach, Loren “Female Experience and Authorial Intention in Laxdœla Saga”, Saga – Book, vol XXV (1998-2001)

Daimler, Morgan, “21st Century Fairy: The Good Folk in the new millennium” (2023)

Daimler, Morgan, “Fairy: The Otherworld by Many Other Names” (2024)

Daimler, Morgan “Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk” (2017)

Daimler, Morgan “Freya: Meeting the Norse Goddess of Magic” (2023)

Ellis Davidson, Hilda “Gods and Myths of Northern Europe” (1990)

“Eyrbyggja Saga”, Hermann Palsson, Paul Edwards translation, (1989)

Grammaticus, Saxo, “Gesta Danorum. Books I- IX” Oliver Elton translation (2023)

Green, Richard Firth “Elf Queens and Holy Friars: Fairy Beliefs and the Medieval Church”, (2018)

            “Laxdœla saga”, Magnus Magnusson and Herman Pálsson translation (1975)

Lenihan, Eddie, “Meeting the Othercrowd: The Fairy Stories of Hidden Ireland” (2004)

Gardeła, Leszek, Sophie Bonding & Peter Pentz, editors, “The Norse Sorceress: Mind and Materiality in the Viking World” (2023)

Lewis, Jone Johnson “A Short History of Women’s Property Rights in the United States” (2019) retrieved at  https://www.thoughtco.com/property-rights-of-women-3529578

Sturluson, Snorri, “Heimskringla or The Lives of Norse Kings”, Erling Monsen translation and notes (1990)

Waggoner, Ben “Our Troth: Heathen Gods” (2021) 

Wenz, Walter Evans, “The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries” (1911)


 

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Blending Fairy Apotropaic Elements in Home Design and Décor

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What this post is about

Whether rewarding lavishly, or mercilessly punishing trespassers, capable of influencing   weather, crops, and people’s fortune, fairies– going by different names in different cultures- are forces to reckon with. Every culture in Europe and North America has fairy lore that speaks of encounters between humans and denizens of Fairy. Such encounters, sometimes accidental but many times sought on purpose, had various kinds consequences, ranging from fortuitous to outright disastrous for the humans involved. 

 

Based on necessity, humans learned to propitiate the presence of goodly inclined fairy beings while keeping the less benevolent ones at bay. Both, inviting fairy blessings and repelling fairy presences were once part of every sector of activity and stage of life: birth, marriage, death, farming activities, healing, financial security, relationships with neighbors, and expelling enemies to claim sovereignty over land. When building houses, it was thus only natural for people to consider the range of fairy impact, and incorporate both propitiatory and apotropaic elements in the house structure and home décor. 

 

This is an overview of how propitiatory and apotropaic elements targeting fairies were and still are incorporated in home building and decorating in various cultural traditions. The presentation includes practical ideas about incorporating such elements into modern-day home design and décor.  


 

What is not covered in this post

I will not go through the whole array of possible mishaps resulting from fairy encounters taking place outside the bounds of someone’s property, like random encounters in the woods or while traveling on lonely roads for example. Nor am I going detail what happens when people intrude fairy places, spy on fairies, or join fairy parties or partake from fairy food. I am limiting the discussion to only what can possibly occur, fairy-related, good and bad, within the bounds of one’s property and mainly inside the household.

 

Who are the fairies?

I believe that it is necessary to first explain the use of the word fairies. In the context of this discussion, the word fairiescovers loosely those beings who appear humanlike or are humanoid, have various degrees of corporeality, have magical powers, and inhabit a world adjacent to the humans’ world. (Daimler, 2027; O’Brien 2021) In certain places or times, the boundaries between their world and ours thin out resulting in a more noticeable fairy presence on our side.




The term fairy is typically used in the English-speaking cultures (Young, 2017) in the same way as the elves are typical to Germanic and Scandinavian areas, Little People, Yunwi Tsundsi, are the fairy-like beings known to the Cherokee Nation (Lossiah, 1998), and Sânziene and Iele are the Romanian equivalent of the English fairies and Scandinavian elves. So, please keep in mind that I am using here the word fairy generically, because it would be impossible to name every type of being each time it makes it into conversation.

 

“Good” Fairies? “Bad” Fairies?

Victorian age literature and the subsequent children literature introduced the infantilized fairy, small, cute, winged, and relatively harmless. The nineteenth century Spiritualist movement, which had a massive influence on the development of modern witchcraft and Neo-Paganism, reduced fairies to elementals, spirits not fully developed and inferior to humans.  (Doyle, 2019; Rudbøg, 2019) These views are largely at odds with the hundreds of years of recorded fairy lore and with recent testimonials about fairy encounters. (Magliocco, 2019; Seo Helrune, 2016; Simina, 2023) However, differently from the lore recorded in a distant past, modern accounts of fairy encounters tend to be more positive overall. Does this mean that fairy nature has changed so much in time to make protective measures redundant?  Let’s once again remember that in talking about fairies - any kind, any culture – blanket statements do not apply. 




What kind dangers could fairies pose?

-A very old belief encountered in both Irish and Romanian lore, is that of fairies’ ability to interfere with crops. Fairies can make crops scarce or destroy them. (Evans-Wentz 2011; Pócs, 1989) In Ireland, fairy winds can pick up bales of hay and dump them far away (Lenihan, 2004)

- Irish lore and lore from the Cape Breton area in Canada is littered with stories that show fairies’ proclivity to mess up with farm animals: stealing, killing, riding them to exhaustion, braiding or entangling manes are examples of what fairies can do to cattle and horses. (Munson, 2021; Evans-Wentz, 2011; Lenihan, 2004; School Collection, Volume 1118, Page 231)

- Fairies can ride horses to exhaustion, steal cows, milk and butter. (Lenihan, 2004; Evans-Wentz, 1911)

-Fairies are known to disturb people in their homes, oftentimes because the house has been positioned on a fairy path, but also without any obvious reason. (Lenihan, 2004; Daimler 2017; Chronicle Books, 2019)

-The lore is littered with stories of fairy stealing babies, and sometimes leaving a substitute in place. (Daimler, 2027; Lenihan, 2004; Simina, 2023)

-Irish, Scottish, and Anglo-Saxon material has countless accounts about fairies stealing nursing women. (Lenihan, 2004; Kirk, Lang, 2018)

-Another theme well represented across folklore is that of fairies stealing brides, young women and children from households or immediate surroundings (Rieti, 1991, Evans-Wentz, 2011)


 

Are there any “good” fairies?

-From listening to fairy folklore from pretty much everywhere, we learn about what fairies could give to humans.

-Protection for mothers and babies. There are accounts of fairy familiars and at least on one occasion a fairy queen being present when women give birth and gifting newborns good luck, great beauty, or special talents (Evans-Wentz, 2011; Lenihan, 2004; Daimler, 2017, Wilby, 2022)

-Fairies oftentimes reward courage, fairness, cleverness by granting good luck, health, and beauty. 

-Fairies may come to the aid of a financially stranded human. In Irish lore there are stories of fairies giving gold coins to people to help them avoid eviction. Fairies instructed these people to dispose of the gold according to the purpose it was given for. Humans who did as they were told turned out well, but the greedy landlords ended up with gingerbread or dry leaves instead of the gold coins they cashed. Humans who held onto the gold instead of using it right away, also ended up with a pocketful of leaves. (Lenihan, 2004)

- Fairy allies can protect the household against malevolent fairies. Even within the same culture, fairies are not one homogenous population. There are oftentimes rival factions, and humans finding themselves in the good graces of some types of fairies are not guaranteed diplomatic immunity everywhere in the Otherworld. In a crisis situation the intervention of fairy allies could save the day. Some fairies protect certain communities of people while acting predatory toward others (Pócs, 1989; Kligman, 1981)

- Fairies can gift food or other supplies that would never run out unless some taboo or vow of secrecy is broken (Lenihan, 2004; Daimler 2017; The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1098, Page 288)  

- Fairies help farmers by increasing fertility in farm animals, make these animals give large amounts of milk, and increase a household’s butter production. To us, especially those living in the city, these gifts may not seem in any way special.  But for people living on farms in a time when survival depended entirely of domestic production having more calves and ewes, sheep giving more wool, and surplus milk and butter were all very significant. Icelandic and Irish lore have many stories of elves and fairy beings granting humans such gifts. (Brown, 2022; Sigmundsottir, 2019) 

-In some cultures, fairies are known for blessing herbs to be used in healing and magic, and for making crops more abundant. Agrarian societies held rituals to both acknowledge the help received as well as to propitiate fairies’ benevolent attention. These rituals still exist albeit not as widespread as they were in a remote past. (Ghinoiu, 2020; Pócs, 1989; Simina, 2023)

-Fairies may grant the gift of musical talent, prophecy, or knowledge of healing (Wilby, 2022;

Lenihan 2004; Daimler 2017) 



Are fairy traditions a thing of the past?

When talking about fairies and fairy-related traditions, we tend to use the past tense and cast these into a “once upon a time” kind of timeframe. But fairy encounters occur today as they did in the past, and more people break the silence and talk about these encounters. Fairy seers albeit rare are still present. (Vivod, 2018; Simina, 2023; Wilby, 2022)

 

Although the materialism and pragmatism of the modern age exacted a toll on the spiritual lives of many, it did not obliterate fairy traditions. One of the reasons fairy traditions didn’t die out is people clinging onto them due to necessity; such is the case of practices that pertain to protection, and rituals related to the agrarian calendar. Some things are just too obvious to deny their objectivity, and too important to renounce even under pressure.



Fairies in North America. 

At this point, I believe the emerging question to be about the usefulness and practicality of the information discussed so far: how is this type of knowledge relevant for those living in North America (and in other parts of the world that have seen a large influx of immigrants), and how do fairy traditions, including the need for apotropaic measures, apply now?

 

“American folk magic and witchcraft is a crossroad of clashing cultures. Brought together by adversity, theft, enslavement, expansion, love, war and liberty, our culture as Americans is defined by our diversity, and our traditions of magic were birthed first by a synthesis of European, African and Indigenous spiritual beliefs and superstitions, and then later by all the many parts of the world” (Via Hedera, “Folkloric American Witchcraft and the Multicultural Experience”, p.53)

 

Let’s pause for a moment to ponder the words “...European, African and Indigenous … and… all the many parts of the world…” as they describe the sources of provenance - in this particular case- for fairy-related traditions. It is not only the lore and the stories that travel, but also the fairy-beings themselves. Unless they are bound in some way to certain features, natural or man-made, which they cannot or do not want to abandon, fairies accompany migrating humans. One such example is the large number of stories about the ban sidhe (banshee) following families of Irish immigrants to America. (Young, 2018)



Witches’ familiars are oftentimes from among fairies (as fairies have been defined in the beginning of this presentation). For example, from the records of the Witch Trials in Scotland, we learn that Tom Reid was Bessie Dunlop’s familiar, and he was a fairy man. (Wilby, 2022)

Colonial and post-Colonial America were weary of witches and feared the harm caused by witches directly and through their familiars (Hedera, 2021). These circumstances brought up the need for apotropaic measures against witches themselves and against their familiars, some of them fairies.


 

Apotropaic and Propitiatory Practices

So, what do people do to protect themselves, their families, and homes? 

Firstly, worth reminding that not all fairies act benevolently but not all fairies are malevolent by default, and some fairies actually become rather close to certain humans.

 

With such large spectrum to cover, one general rule is to make sure about offending no one. Sometimes this means putting some distance between us and them, but doing so in a way that would not be perceived as hostile or insulting. One way of doing this is leaving offerings for fairies at specific times, especially during holidays which bear fairy association. May Eve is an example of such a holiday. Offerings would be left at a distance from house and byre. 

 

We shall have in place protections that keep away any fairy who approaches with ill intent. In the same time, we would not want protections to repel indiscriminately. Both types of practice, apotropaic and propitiatory, have their place.



Old practices in modern garb

It goes without saying that we should know the local lore, the lore of the culture we seek to connect with, and know how our own fairy allies react to different things so won’t offend anybody by mistake. We want to make a place to feel inhospitable only for those fairies whom we seek to keep out. When working alongside fairy allies, one must be sure that whatever ingredient is used it has the allies’ seal of approval. We can meditate, journey, do divination, or take omens to find out whether the chosen ingredient is suited or not.  Fairy allies themselves could play important roles in defending us and our places against psychic threats of various kinds, so it is important not to upset them. (*At the end of the presentation, listed as Bonus Resource, there is a link to a meditation to connect with a fairy guide and interact with them on an as-needed basis) 



House fairies. For those who don’t currently have fairy allies but nurture an interest in building such connections, then the place to start is one’s own house. Houses have their own spirits and/or fairies. Kobold, tomte, brownie, are the names of household fairy-beings as they are known in German, Scandinavian, and English folklore. Bean tighe is a 21century creation derived from an Irish story of a fairy coming in to spin, causing chaos, and ultimately, the woman living in the house had to trick the fairy and her companions to get out. 


 

I did not come across any names used specifically for house fairies in America, except the generic hob (pl. hobs) common in the Anglosphere. Whatever you call the fairies in your house, it is a good idea to set up a little place for them somewhere in the kitchen, on the fireplace mantel, windowsill, or a shelf, and leave out offerings for them.  Offerings can be made daily or almost daily, weekly, or on specific occasions. Find out what works for you and for them, and if you promise to follow a certain schedule then you must abide. What you do for them doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, but make it heartfelt.

 

House fairies don’t mind iron and, in my experience, not even salt. House fairies would be powerful allies who help protect the house and those who live in it. It is thus important to have their trust and support.

 

How does this relate to home décor though?  A crystal, a figurine or set of figurines, a painting, a flower vase, a bottle - any of these items could be both a nice addition to the space dedicated to house fairies, and a decorative piece for the living space.



 

Herbal protection for the house

Mugwort, Broom, Vervain, Basil, Rosemary, Juniper, Rowan, St John’s Wort (Sunnawort), are few herbs known quite universally for their apotropaic qualities. However, since fairies are such a diverse group, they are not all repelled or attracted by the same things. This is important to keep in mind because we wouldn’t want to repel those beings that we seek to keep close, and keep close whoever we wish to repel. 

 

St. John’s Wort for example, which I prefer to call Sunnawort (Gundarsson, 2021) is perceived differently by different fairy groups. Irish lore recommends it as protection against fairies in general. Romanian experience is slightly different: a major group of fairies that people petition for help are fond of this herb while inimical beings are strongly repelled by it. In Norse traditions, Sunnawort is favored by certain elves but it is deterring for some others (Gundarsson, 2007)

 

To make the right decision about what plant material to use, read the lore that is specific to the area where you live and to the culture you are engaging with. Oftentimes you will have to synthesize and adapt information you find in the older lore. Today we are much less separated, one human community from another. We do intermingle and exchange information more and faster than at any other time in the history, so the landscape that we operate in today is very different from the one in the past.  Check with the fairies in the house where you live if any of the above herbs bothers them. If it does, then leave it out or substitute with something else that has their approval. Ask your house fairies and/or other fairy allies that you have, to point you toward the herbs that are right for you and for them. 

 

Herbs and plant material can be fashioned into decorative bundles or potpourri dishes to display on tables, desks, or windowsills. These are pleasantly fragrant, and potpourris especially are unobtrusive enough to be kept in the office without drawing attention.  Spray bottles filled with infusion made from apotropaic herbs can be used in addition to or instead of bundles and potpourris. You can add roses, lavender, frankincense or any plant material that your fairy allies like to make the space welcoming for them. When spraying around, explicitly welcome your allies and demand that by the virtue of the herbs that you use and the power of your will no ill-meaning entity can approach. 



 

Another option is to have planters, pots, or herb gardens – your choice depends on the space you have at disposition. After consulting with fairy allies and house fairies, decide what do you wish to grow and where.  

 

Whether making herb bundles, spray bottles, or planting, address the plants themselves as sentient beings whom you invite into your space which you ask them to protect.

 

Fire is well known across the breadth of folklore for its purifying and protective properties. Irish lore recommends fire as apotropaic against fairies who would try to abduct babies, women in childbirth, and nursing mothers. 

 

But not every fairy-being is repelled by fire. House fairies are fine around fire because fire is an intrinsic part of the household life and the fairies’ environment. Fairy kings and queens are not repelled by fire either: Áine, Irish fairy Queen and Sânziana, Romanian Fairy Queen, are two such examples. (Simina, 2023) Norse lore talks about fairies who come in at night to warm themselves by the fire (Chronicle Books, 2019)

 

Generally speaking, fairies with a proclivity for causing harm are deterred by fire. This is also my personal observation: my own fairy allies receive well offerings which are tossed in the fire, come around the fireplace when the fire is lit, and come into the ritual space that I marked by carrying around a candle, torch, or censer with burning herbs.

 

Upon lighting the fire in patio firepits and indoor fireplaces, these can be consecrated for protection, for banishing those whom you seek to banish. You can sprinkle mugwort, Saint John’s Wort/ Sunnawort, Basil, Rosemary, Juniper into the flames. If you chose to do this, consecrate each herb accordingly.

 

To mellow just a little the “DO NOT ENTER” vibe so my own allies won’t take it personally, I sprinkle rose petals around or spray rosewater, which is a gift we agreed that I should make. There are other herbs that my fairy allies like, and I may sprinkle some of those as well. My point here is to making the space not only well guarded but also inviting for my own allies.


 

Candles can be used in the absence of, or in addition to, firepits and fireplaces. Candles can be home made and herbal ingredients can be incorporated in the wax. Candles may be purchased. In either case, check with your allies if the candle and the herbs it contains are not offensive to them.

 

Fire and herbs combine when using of incense or burning herbs on coals for clearing a space with smoke. Certain herbs or incense can be burned as offerings to allies.


Iron is one of the strongest known apotropaics. With very few exceptions, most fairies are averse to it. House fairies are not repelled by iron: there are many iron implements in the house and kitchen, and same as fire, iron is part of the house-fairies’ habitat. Because iron is so strongly repelling, it would be wise to check with fairy allies, other than house-fairies, if they are comfortable with you using it at all, and if yes, then in what spaces and circumstances.



If needed, iron can be included among home protection implements is the form of large nails driven in doorposts or gateposts, iron implements kept in plain sight, iron fences, iron porch decorations, etc.  In Irish lore horseshoes nailed above the doors are known to keep fairies away and bring in good luck. In Romania, to the best of my knowledge, fairies are not repelled by horseshoes, but horseshoes are still nailed above doors for good luck.

 

Salt is known as a powerful apotropaic, pretty universal in its uses. Salt can be incorporated in home décor in form of large chunks displayed in the same way as large crystals would be displayed. Salt lamps are also popular. However, because salt repels a broad spectrum of beings, it would be wise to check with fairy allies if they are bothered by salt.


 

Carvings with apotropaic purposes have been incorporated in both home building and decorating.  Best known are wood carvings that represent horses, sun-wheels, and ropes.

 

-Horses. In European folklore, horses bear strong fairy associations. The fairy procession known as the Wild Hunt in Germanic and Scandinavian areas for example, rides Otherworldly horses. Centaur-like fairy beings or fairy men riding horses (depending on which regional version is told) are a Romanian equivalent of the Wild Hunt. In ballad material, (Thomas the Rhymer, Tam Linn) fairy queens and their retinues ride horses. 

 

But, for reasons which remain obscure, horses can also deter certain fairy beings. In “Egil’s Saga”, Egil Skalagrimsson uses a níðstang to curse his enemies. The níðstang is a pole topped with a freshly cut horsehead. The pole is planted with one end in the ground and the horse head at its top turned toward the enemy. The runes engraved on the pole and the spoken curse address the land wights and elves, making them leave. Without the support of the land wights and elves the ruler of that land loses his power. (Sturluson, 1987) 

 

A similar practice is known in Romania. In old times, a pole topped with a horse skull was planted in the yard to ward off the very dangerous fairies known as Iele. With the passing of time the impaled horse skull was replaced by wooden roofbeams with their ends carved into horseheads. Window frames and windowsills were decorated with carved horse figures or horse heads to ward off malevolent fairies. (Kligman, 1981) The horsehead-shaped roof beams are still used in German communities in Romania, and in villages in Germany. (Dow, 2006)


 

While carving horseheads on roofbeams and placing horsehead-topped poles in the yard are not practical for us today, horse statues, paintings, and pictures function equally well. These would be not only beautiful decorative pieces in your home, but can be consecrated for protection. As always, know the lore, and check with your guides.


 


Sun-wheels carved on gate posts, door jambs and window frames, were and still are used not only for esthetic value but also for protection.


 

Norse lore mentions elves who are not bothered by sun and solar elements (solar herbs, such as Sunnawort), while others are repelled by those. Some fairy queens and kings have an affinity for the sun. As a general rule, fairies with a proclivity for ill are deterred by the sun and solar symbolism. The light of the sun is oftentimes evoked in ritual and when setting sacred space. Based on the same principle, the protective power of the sun can be invoked by bringing solar symbolism into home décor. Pictures or paintings of the sunrise and any kind of solar imagery brighten up the space and can be consecrated to work as apotropaics. 


 

-Ropes symbolize boundaries and binding. In magical work ropes are used to bind that which is undesired and needs to be stopped. They are used by some partitioners to mark the boundaries of the ritual space. Incorporated into home décor, ropes - textile threads or carvings - provide safe boundaries and magically bind the ill intent. In Romanian lore, the rope motif, together with solar symbolism and horse representations, was used to decorate different parts of the house and the fence surrounding the property not only for esthetic purposes but also to protect against ill-meaning fairies.  (Kligman, 1981) The original intent behind combining rope and solar motives to embellish gates and fences -which obviously mark boundaries – was explicitly related to protection. Nowadays, few people are aware of the meaning and the purpose of rope carvings on gates and gate posts which is still done for esthetic reasons. 


 

Location. Folklore surrounding fairies warns people about the risks incurred when building on fairy property.  Irish lore talks about mishaps resulting from people building their houses on fairy roads. (The School Collection, The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1015, Page 354) Irish lore recommends, before the construction begins, to check first if the location chosen is good to build the house on it. The checking is done by marking the space with bricks, positioned standing. If the next day the bricks are toppled or shifted, then a fairy road passes through that space and building the house right there is a very bad idea.

 

Fairies can render life impossible for those living in a house that sits on fairy road. Stories tell about furniture moving around, loud noises, things dropping, sound of stomping feet, and loud chatter in the absence of a visible presence happen in houses built on fairy roads. People cannot rest, and if no attempt is made to correct the situation, more bad things would happen to the inhabitants. Fairy doctors or fairy witches are consulted and they advise on the matter. Sometimes, the solution is to cut out another door or cutting a corner of the house – that one corner that encroaches the fairy road. There are also accounts of owners having to rebuild the house and re-position it. Offerings and agreements made between house owners and fairy people are always part of the remediation process. (Lenihan 2004)



Irish, Icelandic, Romanian, lore from all across Europe and, I believe from all over the world where fairy beings are known, warn people not to mess up with fairy places. In Ireland and Iceland construction plans for public roads are sometimes altered to protect a specific tree, stone, or mound. (Daimler, 2017; Sigmundsdottir, 2019; Brown, 2022)

 

Most of us don’t have the chance to check whether the houses that we move in were built in ways that disrespect fairy property. But the house-fairies, those beings who were displaced and those trying to adapt to the new dwelling conditions, will communicate their discontent. Which takes us back full circle to the beginning of this discussion when we talked about making friends with fairies in the houses we live and on the patches of land we inhabit. It is one fundamental element for protecting ourselves (having good friends in high places, if you will) and probably even more important, in showing respect we acknowledge the personhood of Otherworldly beings, shift away from the anthropocentric viewpoint, and help restore balance.

 

In conclusion… 

Albeit the meanings and purposes for using certain décor elements have been obscured over time, they are not entirely lost. We saw this in the case of carved motifs with apotropaic value. With an increase in Otherworldly activity and a resurgence in the interest people have for fairies, the need for creating safe spaces around ourselves is real, thus digging up old knowledge is a must. Depending on what are the personal motivations and how fairy beliefs weave into someone’s spiritual life, herbs, fire, iron, carvings or statuary representing the sun and horses, and ropes- whether actual textile threads or carved representations- can be used to protect homes. The same essence preserved from old practices can take on new outer forms that suit modern taste and materials available.  Based on personal preference, any or all of the elements suggested in this presentation can be combined and blended in as decorative elements, that aside from magically protecting a space would also make it esthetically appealing. 



Thank you so much for reading, and until next time,

bright fairy blessings,

Daniela


Bonus resource:

“Meditation to Meet and Interact with a Fairy Guide “ https://youtu.be/993eUq7BuHA

 

Suggested podcasts and online classes: 

Feed the Fairies”, Morgan Daimler and Cat Heath https://www.stitcher.com/show/feed-the-fairies-podcast

“6th Degrees of John Keel”, Barbara Fischer https://6degreesofjohnkeel.com

“ Boggart and Banshee: A Supernatural Podcast” Simon Young and Chris Woodyard https://www.facebook.com/groups/1396529487421974

“Fairy Faith in Practice” Morgan Daimler, Irish Pagan School https://irishpaganschool.com/p/fairy-faith

“Pulling the Wings off Fairies” Morgan Daimler, Irish Pagan School https://irishpaganschool.com/p/fairies

“Elves Witches- My oh, my” Cat Heath- contact the author at seo.helrune@gmail.com

“Elves, Necromancy and Adaptation” (Parts 1 and 2), Cat Heath, contact the author at seo.helrune@gmail.com

 

References:

Brown, Nancy Marie “Looking for the Hidden Folk: How Iceland’s Elves can Save the Earth” (2022)

Chronicle Books, “Nordic Tales” (2019)

Daimler, Morgan, “Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk” (2017)

Doyle, Arthur Conan “The History of Spiritualism” (2019)

Dow, James R. “German Folklore” (2006)

Evans-Wentz, Walter, “The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries” (2011)

Ghinoiu, Ion “Romanian Folk Almanac” (2020)

Gundarsson, Kveldulf “Elves, Wights, and Trolls” (2007)

Gundarsson, Kveldulf “Amulets: Stones, Herbs, Runes and More.” (2021)

Hedera, Via “Folkloric American Witchcraft and the Multicultural Experience” (2021)

Kirk, Robert, and Andrew Lang “The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies” (2018) 

Kligman, Gail “Cālus: Symbolic Transformation in Romanian Ritual” (1981)

Lenihan, Eddie “Meeting the Othercrowd. The Fairy Stories of Hidden Ireland” (2004)

Magliocco, Sabina “The Taming of the Fae: Literary and Folkloric Fairies in Modern Paganism” (2019)

O’Brien, Lora, “Fairy Faith in Ireland” (2021)

Pócs, Eva “Fairies and Witches at the Boundary of South-Eastern and Central Europe” (1989)

Rieti, Barbara “Strange Terrain. The Fairy World in New Foundland” (1991)

Rudbøg, Tim “Helena Petrovna Blavatsky” (2019)

Seo Helrune, “Essays from the Crossroads: 2016 Collection” (2016)

Sturluson, Snori “ Edda” (1987)

Sigmundsdottir, Alda, “The Little Book of Hidden People” (2019)

Simina, Daniela “Where Fairies Meet: Parallels between Irish and Romanian Fairy Traditions” (2023) 

The School Collection “Fairy Legends” The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1118, Page 231, https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4493785/4420111/4537240

The School Collection “Fairy Road” The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1015, Page 354 https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5162181/5161662

The School Collection “The Fairy Woman” The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1098, Page 288 https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4493713/4413576/4535087

Vivod, Maria “The Fairy Seers of Eastern Serbia: Seeing Fairies- Speaking through Trance” (2018) 

Wilby, Emma “Cunning Folks and Familiar Spirits: Shamanistic Visionary Traditions in Early Modern British Witchcraft and Magic” (2022) 

Young, Simon “Magical Folk: British and Irish Fairies- 500 AD to Present” (2018)

 

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Daniela Simina on Academia https://www.academia.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairy Herbs for Fairy Magic: Working in Partnership with the 'Hidden People'  by Daniela 'Svartheiðrinn' Simina Image credit...