Sprites, Faeries & Pixies

The Beginning They are called the Fay, faeries, sprites and pixies. Are they the same thing, are their variations, what are they exactly? Where to they live, who believes in them and how can we communicate with them?   The best place to start this topic is with spellings and definitions. There are several spellings used throughout the world and spiritual community for faeries. Fairy and faerie are the two most common, but they can also be described as faerie, faerie, fay or fae.   Pixie, leprechaun, faerie, brownie, elf, sprite are all terms for these supernatural beings, thought to be helpful or harmful to people. faerie is the most general name for such beings: a good faerie is often referred to as a godmother (faerie godmother); but they may also cause misadventures for humans by an evil faerie. A brownie is a good-natured tiny being who appears usually at night to do household tasks: more often outside chores such as cutting the the lawn and tending weeds in flower beds. An Elf is usually a young, mischievous or roguish faerie. A Sprite refers to a faerie of pleasing appearance who is older than an elf and who is to be admired for ease and lightness of movement. Sprite can also refer to an impish or even hostile being.   faerie is Old French and was first used in the 14th century. It was found in "Elfland" to mean a supernatural kingdom. Fairy is a derivation of faerie also found in the 14th century. It was used to describe "enchantment, magic," from Old French "faerie" to describe the "land of fairies, meeting of fairies, enchantment, magic,"   Fae is a derivation of "fay," found from Latin to describe "the Fates." In reference to a class of supernatural beings, the word is not used before the mid-15th century.   Fairy ring is initially found in the 1590s. Fossil sea urchins found on the English downlands were called fairy loaves.   The use of fairy to describe a homosexual man wasn't used until the 1950s.   Pixie (or pixy) can be found from about 1630 and is believed to derive from the Swedish dialect pyske "small fairy,". However the West County origin suggests the original source is Celtic and was initially found in Cornwall. Some of the earliest uses of pixie were in pixie-path meaning "bewilderment," and in literature as pixie-lead to mean a "path on which one is led astray by pixies". It can also be found as pixilated to mean a person who has been touched by the pixies and are therefore confused or often flighty in thought and mind.   Leprechauns are generally seen as different supernatural beings from faeries, and who primarily live in Celtic lands. They are susceptible to similar magikal interference from faeries that humans are. Or the faeries work to correct any mischievous manipulation done to humans by the leprechauns.   In folklore a faerie is one of a class of supernatural beings, generally conceived as having a tiny human form and possessing magical powers with which they intervene in human affairs. There are over 1000 varieties of faeries throughout legend and lore around the world. Almost every culture has some form of faerie being who interacts with humans. Some cause havoc others protect or help.   The earliest depictions of faeries is reportedly found in Etruscan art around 600 BC where paintings display small human formed beings with wings. The Etruscans called these beings Lasa. Some have suggested that faeries don't appear in Celtic lands until after the rise of Christianity. But earlier Celtic lore doesn't support this approach and suggests the faeries were first described around 400 BC as the Celts were exposed to the practices of the Etruscans. Others suggest they can first be found during the Stone Age period (9000-8000BC) in Old Europe's Cult of the Dead. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles (800 AD) were writings that described, among other things, charms against 'elf-shot'.   The link between faeries and the dead has been a long association. Some suggest fairies were originally the spirits of the deceased. Thus their association with the Cult of the Dead in Old Europe, the tomb paintings of the ancient Mediterranean and in Etruscan art which depicts faeries in the company of a god or goddess. They can also be found in this context as the Lare of the Romans.   The Celtic Tuatha de Danaan have been described as early legends of Celtic faeries. the Tuatha de Danaan came out of the mist and arrived in the British Isles. The Celtic Book of Invasions (The Lebhar Gabhála Éireann) describes the Tuatha de Danaan battling the Fir Bolg and defeating them. The Tuatha de Danaan were not friends to the Celtic people however. Rather they are described as precursors in the Book of Invasions.   As the Celts moved into Britain around 600-500BC the Tuatha de Danaan moved into the hills and forests to live in secret. This presumably linked the faeries to nature and living in the country lands. The Etruscan faeries are associated with vegetation and the secrets of Nature, again aligning faeries with nature.   The spiritualists of the west tend to focus on faeries of Europe, but they do exist all over the world. they can be found in Japan, China, India and in many shamanistic cultures of Native American Indians, African tribes and Australian Aborigines. For instance, in Japan the Chin-Chin Kobakama are elven like in appearance. they are generally elderly but are amazingly spry. They are seen as a house faerie and specifically are interested in floors, either natural wood or rugs. They move into a home, provide their protection and assistance as long as the home is kept clean. they are known to tease sloppy children and chase after sloppy housekeepers.   The Faeries Generally faeries are highly connected to nature and take care of the natural world or what some might call the elemental world. They bring the spring and help the nature kingdom wake up from it's long winter slumber. They work through the summer to help nature grow and into the fall to direct nature through it's transition into winter. And in winter they bring the snows and watch over the natural world while it sleeps. In these legends, the faeries are in charge of the elemental seasons helping the world transition from one section of the Divine circle to the next.   Other legends have the faeries watching over the vortex elements of nature, earth, air, fire and water. They use these elements to support the natural courses of nature as it moves around the circle of change birth, life, death and spirit.   The most popular legends have faeries living in perfect rhythm with nature and working to direct it's process of evolution and it's service to humanity. If you've seen Disney's Tinkerbell movies, you'll have a good idea of this perspective. Each faerie has it's own 'talent' and is responsible for specific elements of nature.   In general faeries live in Faerie Land, a mystical invisible place that can rarely be seen by humans and only at certain times of the day or year. Some legends foretell of humans who have been touched by the faeries and can see their land when ever they want, or only at night. Other stories say Faerie Land can only be seen at night during a full moon, or only during certain holidays during the year when there is much merriment and the faeries drop their guard to keep hidden. The most common of these holidays is Bealtaine when the God and maiden Goddess are betrothed, Samhain when the Celtic New Year begins and Yule when the God is reborn to the world.   Other encounters can occur, but are often confused as being something else and not as communications or sightings from the faerie world. Faerie Fire is a perfect example of this. Faerie Fire is a misty, phosphorescent light flittering or flowing through the night. It can be seen in a graveyard as an etherical shell around a confused spirit. When seen on a road, it is believed to be a light designed to misdirect a night time traveler. In Russia it is seen floating around the head of an unbaptized child while it sleeps. Presumably the light is from faeries magik designed to protect the child from evil while it sleeps.   Some legends describe faerie signs or signs of faerie existence. Such as faerie circles, faerie mounds, faerie stones and faerie weeds. Faerie mounds are described in Scotland as the actual physical formations in the earth believed to be the homes of the little people. Faerie Stones are stones with a naturally formed hole that has the vibrational frequency to be worn as a healing agent or an amulet of protection. Faerie Weed is a specific type of plant that assists the faeries with physic manifestations.   Most legends of faeries agree that in Faerie Land time and space do not move in the same manner as it does in the human world. A single night in Faerie Land can equal several years in human time. Because of this the entrance ways into Faerie Land is highly guarded and can only be found in the base of a tree trunk. Some suggest it has to be a specific kind of tree, such as an old Oak. While others specify other variations of entrances based on that cultures connection to the spirit world. For instance a few legends of the orient suggest the entrance into Faerie Land can only be found in the 1st bloom of a lotus plant. In order to guard against the faeries from playing havoc with the human world, some people would block the 'exits' from Faerie Land with iron. Faeries believe iron to be an abomination and have no magikal influence over it. In order for a human to gain entrance into the Faerie Land, a human would stick a rod of iron into the door so it could not be closed. The faeries wouldn't touch the iron and the door would remain open until the human removed it.   The Faerie Traditions There are many Witchcraft traditions that incorporate faerie legend and lore into their practices and focus. There are so many modern variations of faerie traditions that they all cannot be listed here. One of the most well known Wiccan based systems is The Feri Tradition founded by Victor Anderson and Gwydion Pendderwen. Their practices are very secretive and little is known about their specific beliefs and practices.   Faeri Wicca places an emphasis on the Fae (gnomes, elves, faeries, sprites, etc.), their lore, and their relation to the natural world. Many associate this tradition with the Tuatha De Danaan. Another variation is sometimes called faerie Wicca which is associated with the faerie tradition founded by author Kisma Stepanich.   Other faerie traditions base their practices on common thoughts and beliefs of the Faerie folk laid out in several cultures and mythologies. Taking what they like and discarding other elements of their existence. Other groups such as the Dryads, a Celtic tradition that honors a specific set of faeries. In this case the Dryads work with and honor the Tree Spirits. They also go by the name Sidhe Draoi or the English translation faerie Druids.   Connecting With The Faeries Of course no one has to connect with faeries for magikal workings. But doing so helps you add the elements and energy of nature to your workings. There maybe times when you want a little extra help and the faeries can certainly do that. You can work with specific groups of faeries for specific purposes or you can work with specific faeries by name.   In her book 'A Witch's Guide to faerie Folk', Eden McCoy provides a great quick guide for faerie forms and endeavors. Healing Animals Brown men Gnomes vilas Zips   Protection of Animals Bean-Tighe Brownie Dinnshenchas Gnomes Gruagach Korreds Masseriol Twlwwyth Tegs Vasly Zips   Protection of Home Bean-Tighe Brownie Chin-Chin Kobakama Clurichaun Domoviyr Geancanach Kolbalds Penates Twlwwyth Tegs Tomtra Wag-by-the-way Healing People Brown men Chi spirits gnomes Vilas   Protection of People Bean-Tighe Brownie Dinnshenchas Gwragedd Annwn Korreds Twlwwyth Tegs   Prosperity Spells Brownie Gnomes Leprechaun   Travel or Lost Objects Gnomes Klaboutermannikin Knockers Merpeople   Fertility Spells Bean-tighe Gnomes Gruagach     You can work in general terms as well by calling on faeries of particular elements, such as the Faeries of the Wood, or Water, Air or Fire. Or you can just call on the faerie folk and allow them to come to you as they may. It's really up to you and what you feel comfortable with.   Calling upon the faeries isn't different than calling upon your guides or the Divine force in your life. It requires focus and forethought. What do you want to do, how do you want the faeries to help and what do you want them to help with are all things you need to think about before you call upon their magikal assistance.   Begin by sitting down in a quiet location and going within to your higher self. Take in several cleansing breaths, set your shields of protection and state your intent. Move into a meditative state and guide your visions toward creating the energy you want to establish, be it communication, looking within yourself for spiritual learning, or walking through the process of a ritual you are about to conduct.   You can create a Faerie greeting that rhymes and that you can use each time you work with your faeries. Here are a few examples: For going within and looking for answers: Faeries bright in faerie light, please help guide my sight, to find the answers inside tonight. For divination (especially with tarot): Faeries bright in faerie light, please help me pull the card that is right and find the answers I need tonight. For ritual work Faeries bright in faerie light, please help me create energy tonight, guide my thoughts and guide my sight to manifest a spell that is right.   Just as important as asking for help is making sure you thank the faeries for coming to help you. It's also a good idea to make an offering to the faeries as well. Specific faeries like specific things, but if you want to provide a generic gift leave a plate of fruit or vegetables outside by your favorite tree after sunset. Don't leave meat, and if you leave a drink, wine is the most common. Highly processed alcohol is generally a bad idea.   Additional Reading The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries by Walter Yeeling Evans-Wentz, University Books 1966 The Elements of the Arthurian Tradition by John Matthews, Element Books 1989 The Vanishing People: Fairy Lore and Legends by Katherine Briggs, Pantheon Books 1978 A Witch's Guide to faerie Folk by Edain McCoy, Llewellyn Publications 2007

Sources: 1, o2, o17, o32, o35, o36, o37, o39, o54, o57, o58, o58, w07, w08 Created:  07.31.2010       Updated: 07.31.2010