For those who follow a spiritual path that is centered on fairies, the Autumn Equinox and the Achronycal Rising of the Pleiades mark an important holiday. The energy of this time is cheerful because there is much to celebrate, and the interaction between fairies and humans is generally positive in my experience.
If you have been reading my posts in which I mention Fairy Gods, Liminal Powers and fairy holidays, then you are also familiar with everything that happened since I returned from the last year's trip to Ireland. In which case, apologize to you because this may sound repetitive. If, however, you just came across this blog, and this is the first post you read, then I must provide a little bit of context. I would however suggest that you go back and read some of the older posts about fairy holidays, rituals, and Liminal Powers and Fairy Gods. These posts will shed light on what you are about to read from here on and hopefully make it sound less strange.
Last year, while in Ireland, I have been tasked by the fairy beings I work with (and for) to open portals between the human world and the Otherworld, and to diligently keep these portals open. I have to do this at specific times throughout the year. Opening such portals is a sacred endeavor for me as much as it is a reason for joy and celebration. So the whole process takes the form of ritual followed by feasting.
The purpose for opening such portals is to give more access to beings and energies of Fairy to flow into the human world which is in dire need for re-enchanting (Daimler, 2018; id. 2020). It is a necessary thing for both sides, fairy and human, because it would restore a heavily compromised balance. Influx of Fairy would shake things up on our side, but it has to be done: diminishing of fairy presence by aggressively blocking their access and displacement of their populations1 brought about problems on every imaginable level. Just take a look at the ecological, health and spiritual crises humanity is confronted as we speak.
The Autumn Equinox and the Acronychal Rising of the Pleiades occur within few days from one another, so I celebrate this seasonal tide as one single holiday. It is one of the dates intended for portal-opening2. The outline of this ritual and most of what is to be said throughout performing it builds upon the work of my teachers who pursue similar paths and on the directions I received while journeying to access specific information. Please keep in mind that my ritual focuses on opening a portal between Fairy and the human world and honoring the 7 Queens. Celebrating the Autumn Equinox itself is part of this ritual, but it is more of a backdrop rather than the main purpose in itself.
It makes sense to me to hold the ritual when I see the Pleiades in the sky and when I get the sense that night and day are equal, which means that I will wait for another day or two after the equinox. Align your practice with whatever timing you feel is right for you.
Adapt the ritual described here to suit your beliefs and style of practice. Whatever you do, make sure that it fells authentic and is comfortable to you. I sometimes find other people’s recommendations for practice to fit perfectly my own beliefs and personal taste in which case I gladly incoporate those ideas and then credit the source. Other times I do things which are entirely in my own ideas. This ritual is based on recommendations made by Morgan Daimler in their books “Living Fairy” and “Traveling the Fairy Path”, on Cat Heath’s approach to setting sacred space as she talks about it in “Elves, Gods & Witches” (see “Resources”) and on what I learned from my own grandmother. But in developing this ritual into the form described here I followed primarily what my elven guides recommended.
I suggest that you get familiar with the script in advance, and prepare your tools and offerings before starting. Elaborate your ritual components and celebratory aspects as much as you like. If opening portals is not something you resonate with, you can still do the ritual focusing on the Fairy Gods, Goddesses, the Pleiades and the seasonal tide.
What you need
- bowl with herb-infused water (you can use dried herbs or a couple of drops of herbal oil);
- cup, horn, or any other vessel with fresh water for offering to the Powers of the cardinal directions;
- cup, horn or any other vessel with fresh water or any other libation you feel it is suited (juice, wine, etc) for the Fairy Goddesses (7 Sisters or 7 Queens) associated with the Pleiades, and for any other Fairy deity or Fairy monarch you are devoted to, if any;
- food offerings for the Fairy Goddesses associated with the Pleiades and for any other Fairy deity or Fairy monarch you are devoted to, if any.
For offerings, I usually have cakes3, or fresh bread and butter, fresh fruit, or a portion of what I have cooked for myself and my family. It doesn’t have to be a lot, you can make the portions small, but whatever it is, it shall be the best quality you can afford.
- candle in a jar or a lantern
- the script for the ritual
- any other items you wish to use: ritual blade, want, staff, etc.
Outline for the Ritual
- Stand at the center of the space where the ritual will take place. Face the direction that you would usually face when beginning a ritual. I face East because it is the best positioning I can get for the minimalistic altar I set up for occasions such as this.
- Announce what you are about to do, using words like: “I am setting now sacred space. In this sacred space I will hold a ritual to honor the 7 Queens, Liminal Fairy Gods. I will open portal between the human world and Fairy, a portal that allows the two worlds to merge within the confines of the space that I dedicate to this purpose”.
- Turning to the left (counterclockwise), walk a spiral path starting at the center of teh space and gradually expanding toward the periphery. I have a copper bowl filled with water in which I soak herbs I know are agreeable to fairies and Fairy Higher Powers. I sprinkle water on the ground as I walk around and repeat my intention out loud.
- When you reach the periphery, walk counterclocwise one full circle to mark the outer boundary and sprinkle herb-infused water on the ground. In my experience, sprinkling the herbs-infused water it makes the space feel hallowed and welcoming for the Powers that I seek to invite. In folklore, walking counterclockwise has been associated with calling in fairy beings.
- Get the bowl or cup with fresh water for offering:
Face East, pour out a little watter, and call "to the Powers of the Rising Sun",
Turn to face West, pour out a little watter, and call "to the Powers of the Setting Sun",
Turn to face South, pour out a little watter, and call "to the Powers of the Midday",
Turn to face North, pour out a little watter, and call "to the Powers of the Midnight",
I entrust this space to ground and keep"
Put aside the dish with the remainig water.
- Light up the candle. You will circumambulate to mark the outer boundaries of the portal with fire. Walk the outer boundary counterclockwise carrying the flame. Say these or similar words:
"Fire I carry as I go around
Holy this space, sacred the bound,
Good wights come in, ill-meaning ones keep out!"
After circling once, put the candle somewhere safe so you won't trip over it. From this point onward, no one should move past the circumference of the sacred space. (Use discernment: if you have an emergency, by all means do whatever you need to do even if this involves you or someone else leaving the ritual space.)
You finished walking the circle that defines the outer boundary of your ritual space which also marks the space and size of the portal. Now open a portal.
- To open a portal, you can use a ritual tool or simply walk the bounds with nothing else but your expressed intent. I prefer to use my ritual knife, which is a Damascus blade with layers of carbon steel and copper and copper hand guard. My fairy allies are a mixed group. They are not entirely averse to iron although many among them prefer copper or bronze. Ask your own allies what do they encourage you to use in ritual and chose your tool, if using any, accordingly.
To open the portal, I begin by holding my knife in the right hand with the tip ponting up and walk the periphery of the space. I imagine the energy of the blade extending upward, as high up as it can reach. I walk and state my intent to open a portal, a space where the two worlds, human and Fairy merge, a passage for the Other to return and re-enchant this world as it once was and should be.
When I arive to the exact point where I started the circumambulation, I switch the position of the knife. I still hold it in my right hand but with the tip ponting down. I walk again the periphery of the space. I imagine the energy of the blade extending downward, as deep down as it can go. I walk and state my intent to open a portal, a space where the two worlds, human and Fairy merge, a passage for the Other to return and re-enchant this world as it once was and should be.
- If you used any tool, now set it aside. Pause and feel the energy in your space.
- Now it is the time to acknowledge the Pleiades and the Powers they represent. Stand at the center of your space or wherever your altar and offerings are. Say this or similar words:
"I welcome the 7 Queens returning in the night sky illuminating the path and opening the ways for the Fairy Powers and this tide of the year.
Queen of the Greenwood
Queen of Winds
Queen of Waters
Queen of Sacred Earth and Ancient Stone
Queen of Flame,
Queen of Horns,
Queen of Wings and Talons,
We welcome you, and ask for your blessings on this day in throughout the months ahead.
With joy and gratitude we offer to you fresh water (or whatever libation you prepared) and food (any food you have prepared for Them)"
Pour out some of the libation and scoop some of the food (place food close to where you poured out the libation. If you have a bonfire, you can burn the food offerings.)
- If you have a particular Fairy deity, fairy queen or king that you are devout to, then you can invite them to join. You can say these or similar words:
"I welcome you, Name(s) and Title(s). Enjoy these offerings, a small token of my love and gratitude."
Pour out more of the remaining libation and food.
- Welcome the fairy-beings of the place and your own allies from among fairies. You can say these or similar words:
"I welcome you, Fair Folk, Hidden People, Elves and all my fairy allies and guides. Enjoy these offerings, a small token of my love and gratitude."
Pour out all of the remaining libation and food.
- If you have any other offering, such as song, dance, reading aloud something that you chose for the Fairy Queens and your Other guests, you can deliver that now. You can burn incense or fragrant herbs with your offerings.
- Express your gratitude for the presence and support coming from those you invited and the peoples they represent.
- Intend for the portal to remain open and bridge the worlds asunder, human and Fairy.
- Walk around and scatter some leaves or dirt to restore a neutral feel to the space and sort of camouflage the portal. This may seem contradictory, but while the portal stays open it does not have to be overly conspicuous.
Make merry and feast. Be careful about what food you leave outside, and make sure it is not toxic for the wildlife or the vegetation around. Alcohol is damaging for herbs and animals and chocolate is poisonous for dogs and the canis family in general (wolves, coyotes, foxes – etc), so best burry those items.
Tell your Fairy invitees that they may stay or leave as they wish. A while ago I learned the formula “In good will and perfect trust/ stay if you will, go if you must.” I like it and still use it, although I occasionally play around with the wording.
Let the vibe of the ritual carry into the rest of your evening. Intend for the energy of Fairy to flow through portal and extend smoothly into this world.
Happy Opening of the Ways celebration, happy Autumn Equinox and may the light of stars shine bright on your path.
Daniela
PS. In upcoming posts I will give more details about the Liminal Powers as well as templates for rituals for different occasions
1 As Norsemen began to populate Iceland they encountered the local land wights and alfs who acted benevolently toward the newly arrived. Making offerings and treating the local wights with respect ensured humans’ survival. Wights shared knowledge and made crops and game plentiful. Advancing of Christianity destroyed the balance. Priests sprinkled holy water on places where elves dwelt, making them leave. In leaving, however, the elves took away the land’s abundance, and people were left to deal with the consequences. (Gundarsson, 2007; id.1993) In feuding against each other, chieftains and kings intentionally offended the wights or elves dwelling into the opponents’ land to cause opponents' downfall, because without protection form local wights no ruler has control or power over land. (Gundarsson, 2007; id.1993) In Ireland, fairies seem to be bothered by church bells ringing which may caue them to abandon an area. (www.duchas.ie; Daimler, 2017; id. 2020) Destruction of fairy places is another reason for them to leave, oftentimes not before taking revenge on the humans who caused the destruction. (Gundarson, 2007)
2 Portals open automatically at different times and/or in specific places, but ritual action actively supports the process by landing more energy to it. More over, through ritual action, such portals can be anchored into physical places so they become permanent or semi-permanent. With these in mind, portals are not to be opened randomly and carelessly.
3 Daimler, “Living Fairy,” 2020.
4 For details you may check Daniela Simina, Pagan Portals “A Fairy Path: The Memoir of a Young Fairy Seer in Training”, 2023, autobiographic.
Bibliography and Resources
Books:
Carding, Emily “Faery Craft: Weaving Connections with the Enchanted Realm”, 2012
Daimler, Morgan “Travelling the Fairy Path”, 2018
Daimler, Morgan “Living Fairy”, 2020
Daimler, Morgan “Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk”, 2017
Daimler, Morgan “A Modern Dictionary of Fairies: A 21st Century Exploration of Celtic and Realted Western European Fairies”, 2020
Gundarsson, Kveldulf “Teutonic Religion: Folk Beliefs and Practices of the Northern Traditions”, 1993
Gundarsson Kveldulf “Elves, Wights, and Trolls: Studies Towards the Practice of Germanic Hethenry, Vol.1”, 2007
Simina, Daniela, “A Fairy Path: The Memoir of a Young Fairy Seer in Training”, 2023
On-line articles:
Winifred Hodge Rose, "Land Wights and Human Ecology", 2013, https://heathensoullore.net/landwights-and-human-ecology/
“The Fairy Swelling on Selena Mor” https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/swc2/swc216.htm
Daimler, Morgan “Liminal Gods- Deeper Theology”, January, 2021 https://lairbhan.blogspot.com/search?q=Liminal+Gods
“The School Collection”, https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes
Seo Helrune, "Elves and Witchcraft, Seidr and Grimoirs" , https://seohelrune.com
Classes:
Seo Helrune, "Elves and Witches: A Survival Guide", for access to class recording and materials, contact Set Helrune at seo.helrune@gmail.com
Morgan Daimler, "Pulling the Wings off Fairies" https://irishpaganschool.com/courses?page=3
Daniela Simina, "Fairycrafting: The Art of Fairy Magic", 3 parts course offered bi-annually. Email Daniela Simina at dsimina@gmail.com or check Daniela Simina Author Page on Facebook for announcements regarding course dates and description.
