are examples of this phenomenon. Many of these be-
ings will accept offerings of food, drink, or pretty
baubles. These are also the easiest to contact, and
many people report spontaneous experiences with
them, especially in wild places or among the fringes of
society. Faerie beings are to be approached with re-
spect and caution. Their ethics are different from ours,
and they may not be concerned about our little lives.
They are of the ancient, primordial consciousness of
the Earth and cosmos and
not to be trifled with.Faeries
There are countless
varieties of beings called
“Faeries” (or Fairies), and
they are known through-
out the world. They are
small to tiny, often exquis-
itely beautiful, and usu-
ally shown with insect
wings —especially those
of moths and flutterbys.
Sometimes, however, they
appear just as little dart-
ing lights. There are many books of Faerie lore and
much lovely artwork depicting them. In particular, Brian
Froud has done several large art books and a deck of
Faerie oracle cards. But my favorite book of Faeries is
Faery Call, by Grey Council member Katlyn Breen.
Faeries or “The Fae” (also Fay or Fey) has be-
come a generic term encompassing all varieties of Na-
ture spirits, including Elves, Pixies, Goblins, Nymphs,
Genii, Vila, Elementals—even old gods, Earthbound
Angels, and ghosts of the dead. Some may be spirits
of living or dead plants and animals. The word has
roots in the Latin Fatum (“Fate”), the Goddesses of
Destiny and also the Persian Pari or Peri—a sexy,
heavenly nymph. Faeries, like their magickal realm, exist
between the worlds of matter and spirit and are partly
of each. Unlike other spirit beings, they can directly
interact with the physical world, and they are famous
for hiding things, moving stuff around, making messes,
making gardens thrive, and even (if they wish to be
helpful) doing little household chores. They are often
seen (especially by children, cats, and dogs), and their
appearance leaves quite an impression. They may be
glimpsed as a sparkling glamour out of the corner of
the eye.
Faeries are grouped into
various categories. Nature
faeries are classified according
to the four Elements: Air
(Sylphs, Peries, Winged
faeries); Fire (Salamanders,
Firedrakes, Genii); Water
(Undines, Nixies, Lamias);and Earth (Gnomes, Kobolds, Brownies). Another ma-
jor division is the Seelie Court of beautiful, friendly,
and beneficent Faeries and the Unseelie Court, which
are ugly and malign—such as spriggans, boggarts,
and hags. Similarly, in Norse lore, beautiful White Elves
live in Alfheim and are benevolent; ugly Black Elves
live in Svartalfheim and inflict illness and injury.
It is considered rude to refer to Faeries directly or
by name. In lands where they are well-known, they are
called “The Good Folk,” “Fair Folk,” “The Gentry,”
“Good Neighbors,” “Little People,” “Wee Folk,” or
“Wee Ones.”Pixies, Brownies & Goblins
The Fir Bolg, legendary 4th people to inhabit Ire-
land, were a dark-skinned pygmy race. The Romans
called them Picts for the elaborate pictorial tattoos
with which they adorned their bodies. From that word,
we get the name pixies. Other tiny human races are
attested from every continent, and even from remote
places like the Hawaiian Islands, where they were called
mini-huni (“little people”). Of all these, only the Pyg-
mies of Africa’s Congo rainforest survive today as
intact populations. With an average adult male height
of 4’8”, they have been known to the Western world
since the Greek poet Homer wrote
about them in the 8th century BCE.
Ancient writers seldom dis-
tinguish between Dwarves,
Pygmies, Gnomes, and Elves,
and perhaps all of these beings
arose from a single source in
those ancient small races. Modern writers routinely
lump them all under Faeries. However, while they may
have had a common origin, the mythical histories of
these beings have certainly diverged.
The flint-knapping Picts were repeatedly con-
quered and greatly reduced by successive invasions
of iron-bearing “big people:” the Tuatha, Milesians,
Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Normans. By the Renais-
sance, they were only a memory—and a myth. In spirit
form now, they became known as pixies, pucksies,
pookas, and brownies. Some became the mysterious
swamp lights called Will-o-the-Wisp, leading travelers
astray. Appearing as an ugly black horse, the Irish
pooka ruined any crops left unharvested by Samhain.
But the ancient “little people” were not simply exter-
minated by the big folk. Over the centuries there was a
great deal of interbreeding. Many people today claim
descent from “Faerie” ancestors, and the Faerie Tra-
dition is well respected in the magickal community.
Many medieval Witches claimed that their lore
and teachings came from the Faeries, and Witches
and Faeries are often conflated in myth. A common
profession of both was midwifery (helping mothers give
birth). Deformed or unusual babies were considered
to be changelings—a Faerie child substituted for theCourse Seven: Lore 321
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