A Ritual for Midsummer and The Heliacal Rising of the Pleiades

Midsummer. Art credit: Pixabay

For those who follow a fairy-related spiritual path, Midsummer and the Heliacal Rising of the Pleiades mark an important moment. The energy around this celebration is cheerful.  Interactions that occur at this time between humans and denizens of Fairy have overall positive outcomes. 

If you read my other posts, you are already familiar with my take on fairy faith. If, however, you just came across this blog, I would suggest going back and reading some of the older posts about fairy holidays, rituals, and Liminal Powers or Fairy Gods. These posts will shed light on the content that follows make it look less strange.

One of the tasks I carry out regularly is to open portals between the human world and the Otherworld and to diligently keep these portals open. The purpose for opening such portals is to facilitate the access of beings and energies of Fairy to 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. Diminished fairy presence caused by destroying their spaces, distorting fairy lore and stamping out folk traditions, led to the displacement of fairy populations¹  This in turn brought about problems on every imaginable level. Just take a look at the ecological, health and spiritual crises humanity is confronted right now as we speak. As I see it, the time for action aimed at restoring balance is past due.  

 

I prefer follow the same outline for all the portal-opening rituals. The only change is that I call on different Powers depending on the season or the time when the ritual takes place. On my fairy-led spiritual path, I follow a calendar that is both star-based and takes into account solstices and equinoxes. This sounds complicated because it actually is.  I am thus trying to make things simpler by creating resources for those who, like myself, feel called to follow a spiritual path that is fairy-led and a little bit different.

Time to open the portal. Art credit: Pixabay

Personal mythology

Around Midsummer the Pleiades become visible again. In the early hours just before the first light the little blue flame of the Seven Queens makes a short appearance in the East-Northeast. In my personal mythology, this time marks the return of The Seven to their celestial realm after having intermingled with the world of humans, with both natural and man-made habitats. (If you are interested to learn more about fairies’ connection to Pleiades and non-standard personal beliefs surrounding those, “Living Fairies” by Morgan Daimler is an excellent source.) 

Recomendations for ritual

Summer Solstice, Midsummer and the Heliacal Rising of the Pleiades occur within a span of only few days. I celebrate this seasonal tide as one single holiday. I choose Midsummer for several reasons:

    1.Midsummer Eve, June 23, is known in Romania as the Night of Sânziene, a night when the fairies known as Sânziene reign supreme. 

    2.The Heliacal Rising of the Pleiades is visible to the naked eye on June 24, before the first light.

    3.June 23 and 24 are close enough to the Summer Solstice for the energy of this particular event to be present. 

The night of June 23 is one of the times intended for portal-opening².  The outline for this ritual builds upon the work of my teachers who pursue similar paths, and on 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, honoring the Seven Queens and personal deities who are related to Fairy and this seasonal tide.

If I decide to hold the ritual when the Pleiades are visible in the sky, I have to get up very early on June 24 while it is still dark outside. I suggest you chose the timing that feels right for you. 

Please adapt the ritual described here to suit your beliefs and style of practice. Whatever you do, make sure that it feels authentic to your beliefs and is comfortable to you. I sometimes find other people’s recommendations for practice to fit perfectly with my own beliefs and personal taste, in which case I gladly incorporate those ideas and then credit the sources. Other times I chose to do things which are entirely my own. 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 beforehand. Elaborate your ritual components and celebratory aspects as much as you like. If opening portals is not something you resonate with, you can skip that part and still do the ritual focusing on your fairy allies, 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 that are associated with the Pleiades, and for any other Fairy deity or Fairy monarch you are devoted to, if you chose to invite 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 you chose to invite 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, figurines for the altar, extra dishes or bowls, 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 Seven Queens and Liminal Fairy Gods (name them here if you are inviting anyone. For example, I invite An Dagda and Freyr). I will open a 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 the 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 counterclockwise 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 water, and call "to the Powers of the Rising Sun", 

        Turn to face West, pour out a little water, and call "to the Powers of the Setting Sun",

        Turn to face South, pour out a little water, and call "to the Powers of the Midday",

        Turn to face North, pour out a little water, and call "to the Powers of the Midnight",

        I entrust this space to ground and keep"

 - Put aside the dish with the remaining 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, it is a good idea that no one moves 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. Make amends once the emergency has been resolved. I will debunk this is a separate post.)

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 accordingly. 

To open the portal, I begin by holding my knife in the right hand with the tip pointing up. I walk the periphery of the space, and I imagine the energy of the blade extending upward, as high up as it can reach. I walk and state my intent to cut an opening for 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 arrive back to the exact point where I started the circumambulation, I switch the position of the knife. I still have it in my right hand but with the tip pointing 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 a tool, now set it aside. Pause and feel the energy in your space.

Open the Portal. Art credit: Pixabay

- 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 Seven Queens returning in the night sky.

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. From your celestial realm watch upon us with benevolent eyes.

With joy and gratitude, we offer to you fresh water (or whatever libation you prepared) and (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 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, 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. 

Offerings and feasting. Art credit www.foodiesfeed.com 

- 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 or as a self-standing offering to Them.

-You can now sit and meditate, contemplate, journal, or simply enjoy being in the space and sensing Their presence.

- 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 offerings you leave outside. 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 activities. Intend for the energy of Fairy to flow through the portal and extend smoothly into this world.

Happy Midsummer celebration, and may the light of The Seven shine bright on your path.

Daniela

 ---------------------------------------

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 and alfs 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 alfs dwelt, making them leave. In leaving, however, the alfs and wights took away the land’s abundance, and people were left to deal with the problem. (Gundarsson, 2007; id.1993) In feuding against each other, chieftains and kings intentionally offended the wights and alfs dwelling into the opponents’ land to cause opponents' downfall, because without protection form local alfs and 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 case 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; Paxon, 2021)

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 21^st 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

Paxon, Diana, L. “Taking up the Runes: A Complete Guide to Using Runes in Spells, Rituals, Divination, and Magic”, 2021

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 SiminaYoga on Facebook for announcements regarding course dates and description. 

 

 

 

Speaking at the Fairylight Convention

 

Art credit: Pixabay

I was invited earlier this year to speak at the Firelight Convention, an event organized by Ammie Hague.  It was a lovely experience for me, and I hope that the audience felt the same way.  Different people engage with fairies in different ways. The Firelight convention has a nice balance between a serious and respectful take on fairies  and  playfulness, just the right amount. My part in the event was to guide the audience through a meditation to connect with fairy guides. You can glimpse into the Fairylight Convention and watch my presentation by accessing the link below. 

Fairylight Convention Guest Speaker Daniela Simina

Thanks for watching!

Daniela 

Relationships with Fairies, Elves, and Gods: Too Quick Too Soon?

Art credit Thomas Ulrich, pixabay.com

You have just encountered the fairy being that is your ally, your personal guide, and you feel like a captain whose ship reached reached the harbor, the last and final one, the destination that you call home. You believe the fairy ally you just met is your forever fairy ally. Or that the fairy queen or king you just met are the forever connection to Fairy, the one you’ve been seeking for who knows how long. Which realization may prompt you to excitedly officially dedicate yourself to them in a “yours, forever” kind of fashion. A couple of years later you may still be celebrating your decision. Or doubt it. Or have second thoughts about it. Or regret it altogether. 

 

I am not writing this with the intent to dissuade anyone from pursuing strong, close, long-lasting, or forever relationships with fairy allies or honoring particularly, even exclusively, fairy queens and kings. Quite the opposite. I am writing this with the hope that readers will find the information useful in building relationships that grow organically from and into one’s path however that path meanders. I don’t want to talk only about relationships beginning, but also about relationships in the spirit realm coming to an end, about parting ways with fairy allies and even deity whom one believes they’d serve for life. These are rarely brought up in conversation. Among the very few who address the ending/separation part, Morgan Daimler has excellent material on this topic. (“When Dedication Ends” and “Evolution of My Spirituality”- see links in Resources at the end of this post. )

 

Sometimes we discover that relationships are not what we expected them to be. We wish we would have not committed indefinitely to a particular fairy being. In the same time, we may feel bad for wanting to back out, and uncertain whether this is even acceptable. We may end up end up staying in relationships for the wrong reason. Or the relationship may fracture in painful ways. It worth thus pondering: are temporary relationships ok in spirit work? Is temporary ok in fairy dealings? Is temporary always temporary? Could forever become temporary, and vice versa? 

 

Here’s my my personal perspective, and of course, there will be many who disagree. Take it for whatever it worth, and I hope you’ll find something useful in here. Relationships with fairies can have a rather transactional character. There is a balance in the energy exchanged, mutual agreements and  expectations one side has from the other. This being said, I’ll paraphrase Cat Heath[1] and point out that, however,  one shall not think of this as elf-vending machines where one puts in an offering, and a service of favor comes out . So yes, it is transactional in the sense that being a good friend and a good partner is usually reciprocated. No, it is not transactional in the sense that you could instantly “buy”, lets say, help for a job promotion, by randomly calling fairy beings, pouring some milk, and formulate your request. This would be actually offensive. 

 

Raised eyebrows?  Let’s imagine that a person who was never properly introduced to you shows up at your door, possibly at an inconvenient time, hands you a cup of coffee that may not even be your taste, and asks you bluntly to babysit their kid in the afternoon. How would you feel? The person who showed up never took time to get to know you personally and learn that you are not even a coffee drinker. They assumed you like coffee based on a rather general preference. The person heard from a common acquaintance that you work in education, assumed you are good at dealing with young children, and thus a good fit for what they need. Notice, there is no concern whatsoever with what you like, care about, and who you really are aside from the potential provider of a service they need and want. In other words, there is no concern with forming a relationship that is mutually beneficial. If turned down abruptly, the person who brought you coffee in exchange for anticipated babysitting would get offended. You may end up with rumors spread about your selfishness and rudeness:  you shut the door in the face of the “nice” person who brought you coffee, right? At least this would be the version of the story circulating. Now transfer this scenario to requests made to fairy beings- whatever their culture of provenance. (To learn more about the role of offerings in establishing relationships among fairies, read “Offerings to gods and Spirits” by Morgan Daimler, and “Offerings for Fairies”, by Daniela Simina, linked in the Resources)

 

Generally, appropriateness or inappropriateness of asking for assistance form fairies, elves, or whoever else you chose to think of, is determined by the type of relationship you have with them. In turn, such relationships could be defined by contracts and agreements of various types. Contracts and agreements made upfront help minimize potential problems arising from the expectations – what, how, when- one has from another. 

 

Contracts and agreements with fairy beings are exactly what they sound like: these are forms of settling partnerships in which terms are spelled out clearly. I emphasize clearly. Typically, fairies don’t lie and they take what is said at face value, so don’t be sarcastic because it will backfire eventually. Fairy culture is different from that of humans. This reflects in a number of things including verbal communication. Bottom line, listen carefully, speak carefully, and think carefully before you act. Contracts with fairies are very difficult to renegotiate.

 

When fairy beings seek you out but you don’t feel ready for the undertaking, negotiate for a temporary contract or agreement. This will set up the tone of a relationship that allows time for exploration and getting to know one another better. Then extend the contract if it feels right or part ways if it doesn’t. Whatever you do, just do it in fairness – their interests count as much as your own- and as nicely as possible. 

 

If you want to jump into a relationship of your initiative and volition, you could also begin by calling for a temporary agreement. It will give you time to assess whether the relationship is what you imagined it would be and wanted, or not. This is no different than relationships among humans, ranging from business to personal. To get a job, there’ll be interviews and possibly a trial period. People date for some time before getting engaged, and usually get engaged before getting married. So take time to explore how fairy partnerships feel and work for you. 

 

After extending or renewing an agreement, maybe a couple of times, you may decide that yep, it is definitely what you want. Then you may even choose to formally dedicate your services by ritually marking your commitment to a specific fairy, Fairy Power or fairy-related endeavor.  (See posts “Midsummer in Transition”, “Evolution of My Spirituality” by M. Daimler, and “On Liminal Powers or Fairy Gods” , “A Fairy Path” by D. Simina, all linked in Resources), 

 

However, for as much as possible, in making agreements avoid using word like “forever in your service” at which point contracts with fairy denizens turn from temporary into very permanent. Considering that they live unfathomable long lives, it would be possible to sign yourself off to them for several lifetimes: permanently, right? Think this over before proceeding, and make sure the wording is as clear as possible. Go for plain rather than flowery formulations: literary sophistication at the expense of clarity may not be  a good idea. 

 

My own experience.

 

If you read “A Fairy Path”, the very short story linked in Resources, you’ll get the broad strokes of how I ended up initiated in fairy seership. If you’ll actually read the book “A Fairy Path: The Memoir of a Young Fairy Seer in Training” (also linked in Resources), you will get the full story including all the details about getting into relationships with fairies, breaking a number of rules because of ignorance or stubbornness, and getting into trouble because of it. In a nutshell, a case study for a lot of what is being discussed in this post. 

 

To summarize, I once rushed head-first into a relationship with fairies, pledged myself to them, and asked them to take me as a forever partner in their magic workings. And they actually took me seriously on my promise. Because I was only about nine when I threw myself into the deep end, it didn’t take long for me to mess up in a pretty big way. The consequences were dire, and knowing what I know now, I realize that it could have ended even worse. In retrospect, I believe the fairies[2] made some allowance because of my age.  Lesson learned: never write rain checks, and always mind fairy etiquette. 

Photos taken by the author 

But relationships with fairies, deities, and other kind of spirit guides must not end in tumultuous ways, nor should involve punitive action. It should be like parting ways with companions we had been traveling with for a long time, or separating from teachers when a course of learning has reached conclusion. Such is my experience with Brigit, the Irish goddess, prominent member of the Tuatha Dé Danann (See “Fairies, February, and Brigit”, linked in the Resources)  I was first acquainted with her in the context of practicing an Irish-focused paganism. Brigit lit up the lantern and held it up for me to see not just one but a multitude of paths that were opening for me. She helped me discern amongst thoughts, beliefs and feelings, ideas coming from other and to shake off the pressure coming from shoulds. She taught me a thing or two about about the forge and the art of smiths, so I’d know about transformation, skills, and endurance. She asked me to never shrink my dreams to fit other people’s reality. One day, Brigit had me pack my bag while she watched that I won’t forget anything, and sent me out into the world to follow the path I chose. Truth being said, I didn’t actually chose the path: it chose me. The call reached through years, many, and it could no longer be ignored. When I hesitated, Brigit encouraged me to pursue. Mine is a fairy path, and Brigit saw that it would be her dad, An Dagda, king of all fairies in Ireland, to guide me further. 2022 was thus my last year of service as Flame Keeper for Brigit since the fairy path claimed me one hundred percent. While officially parting ways, there is yet a forever element forged into our temporary joined walk through the woods called Life.

Many of the relationships that we form in the Otherworld - same with relationships that we form in this world - may come to an end or morph into something else. We may realize it was not the right choice. Some relationships simply outrun their course. On such departures, there may be feelings of guilt and inadequacy creeping in and make us wonder about where did things go wrong and why. If we’d only remain aware of and accept the fact that temporary relationships are intrinsic and natural to any spiritual path, we’d save ourselves from much disappointment, self-doubt, and self-criticism.  Temporary doesn’t show lack of commitment; it shows that we take things seriously and think things in the long run, or at least, we try to. Temporary can lead to forever while forever may turn out to be temporary, and there’s nothing wrong in any of these. 

 

I hope what’s being said so far paints a fairly good picture of temporary, forever, contractual, and accidental spirit relationships, possible endings, and safe ways to start. I would suggest checking “Witches& Elves: A Survival Guide”, Cat Heath, “Working with Fairies”, Morgan Daimler, and “Fairycrafting: The Art of Fairy Magic”, "A Fairy Path" by Daniela Simina, all linked in the “Resources” section at the end, because when engaging with fairies one can never know too much.

 

[1] For more details check out “Elves& Witches: A Survival Guide”, info linked in the Resources. 

[2] Zâne, specifically.

Resources:

Books 

Daimler, Morgan “Fairy Witchcraft”, 2014

Simina, Daniela “A Fairy Path: The Memoir of a Young Fairy Seer in Training”, https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/authors/daniela-simina

Daimler, Morgan, “When Dedication Ends” https://lairbhan.blogspot.com/2018/03/when-dedication-ends.html

Daimler, Morgan “Evolution of My Spirituality” https://lairbhan.blogspot.com/search?q=parting+ways+with+gods

Daimler, Morgan “Midsummer in Transition”, https://lairbhan.blogspot.com/2012/06/midsummer-in-transition.html

Daimler, Morgan “Offerings to Gods and Spirits” https://lairbhan.blogspot.com/search?q=Offerings  

Simina, Daniela “Offerings for Fairies: What’s this, what’s not, and why bother?” https://whispersinthetwilight.blogspot.com/2022/03/offerings-for-fairies-whats-this-whats.html   

Simina, Daniela “On Liminal Powers or Fairy Gods”  https://whispersinthetwilight.blogspot.com/2022/10/on-liminal-powers-or-fairy-gods.html

Simina, Daniela, “A Fairy Path” https://www.academia.edu/70184317/A_Fairy_Path_Jan_2022

Simina Daniela “Ritual for the Autumn Equinox and the Acronychal Rising of Pleiades” https://whispersinthetwilight.blogspot.com/2022/09/a-ritual-for-autumn-equinox-opening.html

Simina, Daniela “Fairies, February, and Brigit”  https://whispersinthetwilight.blogspot.com/search?q=Brigit

Classes

Daimler,  Morgan “Working with Fairies”, course offered every autumn at the Irish Pagan School https://irishpaganschool.com/courses/author/244072

Heath, Cat, “Witches& Elves: A Survival Guide”, for access to the class recordings, contact Cat Heath at seo.helrune@gmail.com

Simina, Daniela “Fairy Magic Foundations”, for details and registration visit Daniela Simina Author Page on Facebook 

A Bridge in the Winter Sky, My Eclectic Practice and the Slippery Slope of Unfounded Attribution

A Bridge in the Winter Sky. Art: pixabay.com 

My own practice, a fairy path as it were, finds itself in the area of overlap between Irish and Nordic lore. More precisely, my personal practice caters mainly to fairy beings who are connected to the Norse-Gaels[1], the descendants of both the Norsemen who founded Dublin and the Irish, peoples that intertwined to form the most amazing cultural mélange. Since fairy beings[2] are known to travel alongside migrating humans, it’s only logically to think of Álfar arriving to Ireland with the Norse and settling there.  Aligning my practice to the cycle of the Pleiades is a relatively new development which comes with its own challenges. But in addressing these challenges - related for most part to identifying various positions of the Pleiades, finding lore about fairies and their possible connections to these stars, and carving out new meanings- I learned a lot. There are also the little aha moments which turn the uphill portions  of the journey into sources of joy. Here's one example.

Tracking the Pleiades movement across the sky throughout November and December, I notice them following a E-NE- W-SW trajectory. In her incredibly informative two-part class, “Mound Magic”, Cat Heath speaks about burial mounds with a NE- SW orientation. The sites where these mounds are found were developed before and during the Viking age in Scandinavia, thus in a geographical area where the belief in mound elves were strong.

 

Coincidence? Maybe. I certainly won’t go around shouting that people during the Viking age oriented mounds based on the trajectory of the Pleiades in November and December skies. But I don’t discard it either as a possibility, because both the Norse Álfar and the Irish Sidhe are related to mounds, and both are known to relate in significant ways to the human dead. The very word sí, with the older form sidhe, means mound. Additionally, there’s lore that specifically connects fairies to stars, and among the scholars that I highly regard some have developed personal practices based on the aforementioned fairies and stars connection. 

 

To me, this is so beautiful. I mean, all of it: the blending of certainty and uncertainty, of what we know from archaeology, oldest recorded lore, and personal experiences. But this is also where things get tricky. Some of the Pleiades positions coincide, at least occasionally, with other astronomical events in the lunisolar cycles. Such coincidences set up the trap of making attributions that have no basis which is exactly what I want to avoid. So, I won’t go around presenting as certainty the fact that burial mounds were alligned to the trajectory of the Pleiades, because there is not enough evidence to support this statement. Nor am I going to claim that the Norse-Gaels were observant of the movement of the Pleiades because again, there’s no historical record I can use in support of this claim.

My own guides, human and Other, cautioned against operating out of context. This doesn’t mean that my own observations are worthless either. To the contrary, they are very relevant for me, my practice and beliefs, and they could be also relevant for someone else who follows a similar path and is open to such beliefs. In my own approach I integrate information coming from lore that connects fairies and stars, from stories that relate burial mounds to Elves and Sidhe, and the archaeologically attestation of  NE-SW orientation of mounds in areas where beliefs in elves held strong. I add to these my own physical observation of the NE-SW trajectory that the Pleiades follow throughout November- December.

 

While my own my fairy path involves shifting from lunisolar to a Pleiades-based calendar, my personal guides did not ask me to completely divorce the two.  Rather, I was told to follow the stars and also be mindful of the possible connections between lunisolar and stellar events. Accordingly, such events are markers for time periods when the boundaries between worlds are at their thinnest, portals can cut through much easier than they otherwise would and the Other can come through in a world that sorely needs their presence and enchantment. I am thus marking these moments as holy days on my personal calendar, and celebrate through ritual and feasting. 

I believe in the value of practices that grow organically from the old roots, whether of just one or several traditions, and weaving those threads into the tapestry of modern living. As it is the case for me now, I navigate by starlight, have the solar and lunar system as a second compass, and pay close attention to the times when both compasses point to the same magnetic North. I hope readers will find the information here to be useful in some way, and get inspired to incorporate personal observations and experience into a practice that is still rooted in a historical context and into bodies of lore that have been in circulation for many hundreds of years.

 

Thank you for reading this. 

 

I wish everyone a bright Winter Solstice, and I welcome the elven kin who, by the light of the Pleiades, walk the bridge from their world into ours ushering in wild Fairy magic.

 

Daniela

 

Resources:

Books:

Daimler, Morgan “Living Fairy”, Pagan Portals, 2019

Online Papers and Articles:

Daimler, Morgan “SPeking Starlight” XXXXX give specific links – personal Mythology 

Daimler, Morgan “Celebrating a New Holiday” https://lairbhan.blogspot.com/2018/11/celebrating-new-holiday.html

Daimler, Morgan “Speaking Stars” https://speakingstarlight.blogspot.com/2020/12/breathing-stars.html

Heath, Cat “Mound Magic: Elves, Necromancy, and Adaptation” Parts 1 &2. For details and availability email Cat Heath at seo.helrune@gmail.com

Simina, Daniela, “Chasing Stars” https://whispersinthetwilight.blogspot.com/2022/10/chasing-stars.html

Simina, Daniela “Goddesses to Fairy Queens: Fairy Queens with Solar Associations in Irish and Romanian Fairy Traditions”  https://www.academia.edu/83220250/Goddesses_to_Fairy_Queens_Fairy_Queens_with_Solar_Associations_in_Irish_and_Romanian_Traditions

“Norse-Gaels”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse–Gaels

“The Origins of Norse-Gaels in Ireland and Scotland” https://www.thedockyards.com/origins-norse-gaels-ireland-scotland/

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[1]  Norse-Gaels as a distinct group originated in the Viking Age from the intermingling of Norse colonizers and Gaelic inhabitants of the colonized territory; see links in Resources for more information.

[2] Used as an umbrella term to cover Norse, Germanic and Irish humanoid, non-monstrous beings, many among whom are described in the lore and mythology as akin to gods.

[6] I prefer the spelling Aos Sidhe, as used by Morgan Daimler in their book “Aos Sidhe: Meeting the Irish Fair Folk”. Other ways to spell out the name are Aes Sí and Aes Side.

[7] I was instructed specifically on the name and words to use in reference to them: Ælfe, capitalized when I refer to the whole group, ælf in singular form, and ælven or ælvish as attributes or adjectives. 

Samhain: Honoring Winter Fairy Gods, Elves and Ancestors

"Inviting the Liminal Powers" Art credit pixabay.com

To introduce this topic briefly, I’ll remind that some time ago I took on the assignment of opening portals between worlds and keep these portals open with the purpose of allowing the Other to come through, re-enchant our world as it once was and should be. [1]  Also, I am shifting toward a calendar of holidays that is based primarily on the Pleiades. The focus of this holy day and the accompanying ritual are different. No portal opening takes place this time and, while the Pleiades and the Fairy Powers they represent are a significant presence, they are not the main focus of this ritual.

I the previous post, “Chasing Stars”, I talked about pinpointing the moment when the Pleiades sit on the  horizon line in East-Northeast just after dark. This happens in interval Oct 26 - November 2. During this interval the Pleiades emerge on the horizon later and later with each passing day but the delay is very small, of only about two minutes. Because visibility depends on location, surrounding landforms, buildings and tall trees, I prefer to take into consideration this entire window of opportunity rather than a one-day-only chance to observe the stars and hold a ritual [2].  

I hold my ritual on October 31 or November 1^st. These dates align with Samhain, with transitioning into a new year, with fairy beliefs and ancestor veneration practices from several cultural trditions. Also, from where I live, I can  observe the Pleiades shortly after they raise above horizon on these dates. My Samhain ritual centers on land spirits, Hidden People, Fair Folk, ancestors, Fairy Gods connected to this time of the year and to fairies, and seasonal Liminal Powers.  

Mythology.
In my personal mythology, this is the time when the Seven Queen and the Hunter meet and hold their Winter Council. The Queen of Winds [3] and the Hunter [4] partner up and jointly lead the Fairy Cavalcade across the sky throughout the coming months. Some of the dead are in the Cavalcade alongside other fairies. The Seven Queens ride along, with the Queen of the Winds and Hunter in the lead. The Hunter also fulfills the role of protector. The Fairy Cavalcade begins its journey in the East-Northeast, reaches zenith in November during Culmination and continues to travel Northwest in the night sky. At Samhain we make offerings to the Queen of Winds and the Hunter and ask for their protection through the winter ahead. We honor fairy monarchs and deities connected to fairies and the seasonal tide, Elves, Land Spirits, fairies and ancestors. The offerings we make to them are an expression gratitude for their presence in our spaces and for the gifts they grant. 

Recommendations for ritual 

If I decide to hold the ritual when the Pleiades are visible from my location, I have to wait about another hour or a little longer after dark. Chose the timing that feels right for you. 

Please adapt the ritual described here to suit your beliefs and style of practice. Whatever you do, make sure that it fells authentic to your beliefs and is comfortable to you. I sometimes find other people’s recommendations for practice to fit perfectly with my own beliefs and personal taste, in which case I gladly incorporate those ideas and then credit the sources. Other times I chose to do things which are entirely my own. 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 beforehand. 

Elaborate your ritual components and celebratory aspects as much as you like. If there are any parts that do not resonate with you, change, adapt or skip entirely. The focus is on the fairy allies, Fairy Gods, Goddesses, the Pleiades, and the seasonal tide but the way you express this focus is entirely up to you.

What you need for ritual

- 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 that are associated with the Pleiades, and for any other Fairy deity or Fairy monarch you are devoted to, if you chose to invite 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 you chose to invite any. For offerings, I usually have little cakes, 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, figurines for the altar, extra dishes or bowls, 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 hallowing this space. In this sacred space I will hold a ritual to honor the Seven Queens, the Leaders of the Fairy Cavalcade, Liminal Fairy Gods (name them here if you are inviting anyone. For example, I invite An Dagda and Freyr), elves, fairies, land spirits and ancestors.”

 

- Turning to the left (counterclockwise), walk a spiral path starting at the center of the 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 counterclockwise 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 water, and call "to the Powers of the Rising Sun", 

Turn to face West, pour out a little water, and call "to the Powers of the Setting Sun",

Turn to face South, pour out a little water, and call "to the Powers of the Midday",

Turn to face North, pour out a little water, and call "to the Powers of the Midnight",

I entrust this space to ground and keep"

 

Put aside the dish with the remaining water.

 

- Light up the candle. Circumambulate and say these or similar words:

 

"Fire I carry as I go around

Holy this space, sacred the bound,

I light the path for those returning/visiting 

The way back is easily found.”

 

After circling once, put the candle somewhere safe so you won't trip over it. From this point onward, it is a good idea that no one moves 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. Make amends once the emergency has been resolved. I will debunk this is a separate post.)

 

- 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 Seven Queens shining brightly in the night sky.

Queen of Winds

Queen of the Greenwood

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. From your celestial realm watch upon us with benevolent eyes.

Hail the Queen of Winds and the Hunter, leaders of the Fairy Cavalcade!

We honor you and humbly ask that our homes and loved ones by spared from loss and damage throughout this winter.

With joy and gratitude, we offer to you fresh water (or whatever libation you prepared) and (any food you have prepared for Them)"

 

Pour out some of the libation and scoop some of the food for Them.

 

- 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 among fairies. You can say these or similar words:

"I welcome you, Fair Folk, Hidden Folk, and all my fairy allies and guides.  Enjoy these offerings, a small token of my love and gratitude."

Pour some of the remaining libation and food. 

 

- Welcome the ancestors and offer them food and drink. Whom you consider ancestors may or may not be part of your human family or blood relatives. An ancestor can be anyone you feel you have a close bond and would consider family. When including this step in your Samhain ritual, please take into account the religious beliefs and practice of those people. Make sure you don’t do anything they would find offensive. If those who you call ancestors are not comfortable having offerings made to them in this fashion, then do something special for them separately, outside this ritual. 

 

- If you have any other offering, such as song, dance, reading aloud something that you chose for the Fairy Queens, your Other guests and ancestors, you can deliver that now. You can burn incense or fragrant herbs with your offerings or as a self-standing offering to those you are honoring.

 

-You can now sit and meditate, contemplate, journal, or simply enjoy being in the space and sensing Their presence.

 

- Express your gratitude for the presence and support coming from those you honored in this ritual.

 

- Walk around and scatter some leaves or dirt to restore a neutral feel to the space.

 

Make merry and feast. Be careful about what food offerings you leave outside. 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 and invitees and other guests 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.

 

Happy Samhain, may the light of The Seven shine bright on your path, and may ancestors and fairy guides be always at your side.

Daniela

Notes:

[1] Part of my task was to find the days when the Pleiades are first visible at night fall in the night sky in late autumn. Based on observations, this is a period of time between October 30 and November 6. The name for the holy day is the Autumnal Rising.

[2] Portals open naturally at various times and in different locations. They may follow natural cycles or features in the landscape. The process can be supported and enhanced through ritual action which makes the portals stronger and permanent or semi-permanent which means that their energetic influence increases in the surrounding area or even wider.

[3], [4] See the post "On Liminal Powers and Fairy Gods"

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

Seo Helrune, “Essays from Crossroads: A 2016 Collection” , 2016

Simina, Daniela, “A Fairy Path: The Memoir of a Young Fairy Seer in Training”, 2023

On-line resources:

Daimler, Morgan “Fairy Priestessing: When Your Spirituality Swallows You Whole” https://lairbhan.blogspot.com/2018/07/fairy-priestessing-when-your.html

Daimler, Morgan “Liminal Gods- Deeper Theology”, January, 2021 https://lairbhan.blogspot.com/search?q=Liminal+Gods

Daimler, Morgan “Speaking Stars”, https://speakingstarlight.blogspot.com/2020/12/

Daimler, Morgan “Another Approach to Holidays” https://speakingstarlight.blogspot.com/2021/11/an-other-approach-to-holy-days.html

“The Fairy Dwelling on Selena Mor” https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/swc2/swc216.htm

“The Fairy Queen”, The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0576, Page 414, https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes

Simina, Daniela “Chasing Stars” https://whispersinthetwilight.blogspot.com/2022/10/chasing-stars.html

Simina, Daniela "A Fairy Path", 2023 https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/authors/daniela-simina  

Classes:

“Elves and Witches: A Survival Guide”, with Cat Heath. For questions about registration and access to recorded material contact Cat Heath at seo.helrune@gmail.com

“Mound Magic: Elves, Necromancy, and Adaptation” Parts 1 and 2, with Cat Heath. For questions about registration and access to recorded material contact Cat Heath at seo.helrune@gmail.com

“Pleiades: Exploring the Significance of Stars in Ireland and Globally” , with Morgan Daimler, available at https://irishpaganschool.com/p/stars

“ Fairy Magic – Foundations” with Daniela Simina. For registration and details check Daniela Simina Author Page on Facebook.