I’m sure if I were to say to you, “My house is full of fairies,” you might think I mean collectible statues and artwork from the likes of Nene Thomas and Selina Fenech. Or perhaps you might think that I have a young daughter obsessed with the Disney Tinkerbell movies, and trinkets and toys are piled up around my home. The word “fairy” conjures up specific images of magical beings, such as fairy godmothers and the tooth fairy.
So what even are faeries, and why bother spelling it differently?
Fairy vs. Faery
A fairy is typically a beautiful female creature, with wings and long flowing hair. Sometimes they are nude, sometimes they create their own garments out of wisps of spider silk, leaves and flower petals. Generally benign and sweet in nature, these beings carry magic wands and grant wishes to princesses or those who are true of heart. Fairies and fairy tales have been relegated to the sanitized, perfect world of children, where those who deserve to are certain to live a long and happy life.
Faeries are all of this; their mythos has been evolving ever since our very first encounters with them. This is only the most recent version of their character, though. They are not the docile, goodly beings that most people would probably see them as today. Think of them in terms of cats. Some cats are sweet and kind, and all they want is to purr on your lap and eat tuna. Others are wary of humans and skitter out of sight whenever they see one. Some cats only like one certain person, others love everyone, and some don’t like humans at all.
Faeries are nature spirits. They encompass the beautiful winged creatures (generally known as sylphs or pixies) and a whole lot more. I use the term “fae” to mean pretty much anything that doesn’t belong strictly to our human realm. Dragons, vampires, unicorns, trolls, goblins, naiads; all those and more are creatures that I would consider to be under the umbrella term of fae. They are wild, passionate beings, most with an innate connection to the natural world.
A different realm.
Like angels, faeries are part of a different plane of existence. This plane is like a filter, where we can only see the world in front of us. Some people are able to get glimpses here and there, but most of us have forgotten how to tune in to this special realm. It’s okay to forget; after all, we’re only human. The good news is that we can learn how to communicate through the realms, all it takes is an open mind and a lot of practice.
This doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to get a pet dragon. Believe me, if it worked that way, most of us who work with faeries would probably have one or two by now. But you might attract a dragon spirit guide, or perhaps you’d be good working with the fire element. It’s really all down to personal preferences . . . what relationships do you want to develop with the fae?
Nature beings will appear to you as natural things.
Since fae are nature beings who live on a different plane, you might have certain assumptions about their appearance. Indeed, artists like Brian Froud have brilliantly captured faeries in all their faery glory. However, if a brownie or a gnome suddenly appeared to you, most people might either be frightened or dismiss it as a trick of the imagination. Why? Because we’ve been trained from a young age to rely solely on our five senses, and to dismiss anything that doesn’t fit into the rational world.
Science is amazing—from Newton’s Laws to Quantum Theory, it has taught us much about the physical world. But faeries live by their own rules, outside the scope of scientific understanding.
When I see faeries, they often appear to me in the form of animals in nature. From dragonflies to frogs, I have encountered fae creatures embodied in these 3-dimensional forms. Not every frog or dragonfly is a faerie, of course. The key is the feeling they give off. If it feels like the creature is watching you, like it’s trying to say “hello,” then you’re likely encountering a faerie. If I’m the only one who notices the animal, that’s another strong indicator. And I always say “Hello!” back. Sometimes they seem startled by this—surprised that a human noticed them—but often, they greet me right back.
The Fae and Mindfulness
I believe faeries are here to remind us of mindfulness and to help us reconnect with nature. Let’s face it—most of us don’t spend nearly enough time among trees and green spaces. I can attest to this myself: sometimes, the only outdoor time I get is the short walk from my apartment to my car. That’s not enough time in nature, and we know it. Humans come from nature; we were once hunters and gatherers, deeply connected to the world around us. Now, many of us barely crack the window on a nice day.
Reconnecting with nature, even in small ways, can help us rediscover a sense of harmony with the fae—and with ourselves
