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Types of Faeries	Trees and their Spirits	Signs of Faerie Approach and Presence
Best Times for Faerie Approach	Best Places for Faerie Approach	Faerie Artwork

Types of Faeries

Bean Sidhe/Bean-Sidhe (ban-shee): Ireland. "Woman Fairy"; not actually a deity, but a spirit attached to certain families. When a member's death approaches, the family will hear the banshee crying. Not always terrigying.

Bwca (booka)/Bwbachod: Wales. A type of brownie.

Centaurs: Centaurs are half horse and half human. Most often the half that is human is depicted as male, but there can be a female half. Sometimes the animal half has been depicted horse and other times as a wild ass. In mythology, the centarus have their origion in Babylonia and originally were guardian spirits. In the Greek tradition, they were considered man-eaters, lecherous and violent.

Caoineag (konwack): Scotland. "Weeper"; a banshee.

Coblynau koblernigh: Wales. Mine spirits, similar to Knockers. About 18 inches high, they dress like miners. Although they are ugly, they are good humored and will knock where rich ores are to be found.

Cyhyraeth (kerherrighth): Wales. A form of banshee. It usually cries or groans before multiple deaths of epidemic or accident.

Daoine Sidhe (theena shee): Ireland. A name for the fairy people.

Dragons: Dragons are fantastic creatures which have appeared in various forms throughout the world. Though Christianity has made them out to be evil, they are the epitome of power. Most dragons have been depicted as composites of other animals. They may have a snake's body and a lion's claws. They may have wings of an eagle or bat. They could be multi-headed like the Hydra, or they could shape-shift, using varied forms.

Dryads: All Celtic countries. Spirits who dwell in trees, oaks in particular. The Druids contacted them for inspiration. Oak galls were knows as Serpent Eggs by the Druids and used in many of their charms.

Ellyllon (ethlerthlon): Wales. Faeries whose queen is Mab. Their food is toadstools and faerie butter, a fungus found on the roots of old trees.

Elves: Another name for the Trooping Faeries of Britain. In Scotland they are divided into the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. The name is also applied to small faerie boys. Elf-shot describes an illness or disability supposedly caused by their arrows.

Fairies/Faeries: The earlier name was Fays. The term fairy now covers Anglo-Saxon elves, the Daoine Sidhe of the Highlands, the Tuatha De Danann of Ireland, the Tylwyth Teg of Wales, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, the Wee Folk, Good Neighbors, and many more. Some fairies are friendly, others wild and alien to humans. The subterranean faeries are those who live in locks, lakes, streams or the sea.

Fenoderee/Phynnodderee (fin-ord-er-ree): Manx. Brownies who are large, ugly and hairy.

Ferrishyn ferrishin: Manx. Name for the faerie tribe.

Fin Bheara (fin-vara)/Fionnbharr fyunnvarr/Findabair (finnavar): Ireland. The Faerie King of Ulster, sometimes called the kind of the dead. Although he was married to a faerie lady, he still courted beautiful mortal women.

The Gentry: An Irish name for faeries.

Giants: Giants have been a part of many creation myths and tales. The Greeks had their Titans and the Teutonic tradition had its own great beings - from frost giants to giant maidens (such as the tale of Frey and Gerd). In the Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh, the giant Humbaba was the guardian to the garden of Ishtar. And in Biblical scripture we find the tale of the giant Goliath. Giants are symbols of primeval forces associated with an area of Mother Nature - often guarding some of her treasures. There are hill giants, mountain giants, river giants and forest giants. They reflect and embody the energy of their natural environment. They hold the key to its wisdom and power. They are neither good nor evil, but their energy amplifies that of humans.

Gnomes: Earth Elementals. They live underground and guard the treasures of the Earth. Gnomes are wonderful metal workers, especially of swords and breastplates.

Goblins/Hobgoblins: Originally a general name for small, grotesque but friendly brownie-type creatures.

Griffin: The griffin has its origin in the Middle East, and it is usually depicted with a combination of animals characteristics. Predominantly, it is part lion and part eagle (the wings and head encompassing the characteristics of an eagle). It is often the avenger of the faeries and elves, as it guards their realm against abuse and unwanted intrusion. Such guardianship and protection will take the form of natural phenomenon (i.e. storms, etc.).

Gwartheg Y Llyn (gwarrthey er thlin): Wales. Faerie cattle.

Gwragedd Annwn (gwrageth anoon): Wales. Lake Faeries.

Hounds of the Hill: The hunting dogs of the faeries. Very large, and white with red ears. Also called Cwn Annwn.

Knockers: Cornwall. Mine spirits who are friendly to miners. They knock where rich ore can be found. They are also called Buccas.

Lepracaun (lep-ra-chawn): Ireland. A solitary faerie who makes shoes and generally guards a pot of gold.

Mer-people: Mermaids; water dwellers who are human from the waist up but with the tail of a fish. They are irresistible singers who sometimes lure fishermen to their deaths. The Irish equivalent of the mermaid is the Murdhuacha (muroo-cha)or Merrows.

Old People: Cornish name for faeries.

Oonagh (oona): Ireland. Wife of Fin Bheara.

People of Peach: Ireland, Scotland. Another name for the Daoine Sidhe.

People of the Hills: Britain. Faeries who live under green mounds; subterranean faeris.

Phoenix: The phoenix is the legendary bird that sacrificed itself to fire and rose renewed from its ashes. Legends and myths contain common threads that link them to the phoenix. The hero lives a long life, and the phoenix appears either just before or after his death. Through death, the hero is able to live again.

Phouka (pooka): Ireland. It can take various animal forms and is considered dangerous.

Pixies/Piskies/Pisgies: The name for faeries in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

The Plant Annwn (plant anoon): Wales. Faeries of the underworld. The entrance to their kingdom is through lakes. Their king is called Gwynn ap Nudd. Gwragen Annwn is the Welsh name for their women. Their speckled cattle are Gwartheg Y Llyn and their white hounds are Cwn Annwn (see Hounds of the Hill).

Pwca (pooka): Wales. A version of Puck; not like the Irish Phouka. They are helpful if milk is left out, but can also be mischievous.

Seelie (Blessed Court: Scotland. These trooping faeries are benevolent towards humans, but will readily avenge any injury or insult.

Sidhe/Sidh/Sith/Si (shee): Ireland, Scottish Highlands. Name for faeries and their subterranean dwellings. A barrow or killock which has a door to a beautiful underground realm of the Tuatha or faeries.

Sirens: Sirens are often associated with the negative aspects of water spirits. Sometimes they are depicted as bird women, and at other times they are seen as sea nymphs. Traditionally, they were women who sand and played music so sweet and enticing that it lured mariners to destruction on the rocks surrounding their island. In essence, such stories may be more symbolic than anything else, reflecting the enticement of the realm for those who learn to hear its call, and symboling the death of one aspect of ourselves as we open to another.

Sithein (sheean): Ireland, Scotland. Name for the outside of a faeire hill or knowe. The inside is called the brugh.

The Sluagh (slooa)/The Host: Scotland. The Host of the Unforgiven Dead, or pagan ancestors.The most formidable of the Highland faeries.

Sphinx: The sphinx is a creature of great mystery. To the Greeks, it was a winged monster having the head of a woman and the body of a lion. In Phoenicia, it had the body of a lion and either a male of female head. To the Egyptians, it was a figure having the body of a lion and the head of a man, ram or hawk. The sphinx was a symbol of divine knowledge and the power of the mind to raise us to new heights and perceptions. This creature was the guardian of ancient mysteries. To be open to the mysteries, you often had to pass a teast or solve a riddle. The penalty for failing was death - often the sphinx itself would devour the individual. In many ways this signifies the danger of knowledge not applied or misused. Forgetfulness, ignorance or any disease of the mind would prevent you from gaining access to the true mysteries and high wisdom.

Subterranean Faeries: Scotland. Faeries who live in brochs or hills. They travel from place to place at Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnassadh, and Samhain in order to change their residences.

Trooping Faeries: They can be large or small, friendly or sinister. They tend to wear green jackets and love hunting and riding. The smaller ones make faerie rings with their circular dances.

Tylwyth Teg terlooeth teig)/The Fair Family: Wales. The most usual name for faeries. If one wants to court their frienship, they are called Bendith Y Mamau (the Mother's Blessing).

Unicorn: The unicorn has become a dynamic symbol of all the magic, enchantment and power of the faerie realm. It has a universal appeal and symbolism. It has been written about in India, Africa, China, Mesopotamia, Babylon, early Christianity, and it is even found in modern stories and lore. The unicorn appeals to the imagination. It is part of the world of dreams. It is a symbol of the sun and long life. It refelcts mystery, power, beauty, chastity, and ferocity. It is a symbol of humanity's longing for the mysterious and the unattainable. The killing of the unicorn is symbolic of the loss of innocence.

Unseelie Courts: Scotland. Faeriess who are never favorable to humans. They are either solitary evil faeries or bands of faeries called the Sluagh who use elf-shot against humans and cattle.

The Wee Folk: Scotland, Ireland. A name for faeries.

The Wild Hunt: The night hunt by the Sluagh with their terrible hounds. They are said to kidnap humans they encounter during their rides.

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Trees and Their Spirits

Alder: The spirit of the alder tree is very protective, and it has great knowledge about prophetic scrying with the use of water and mirrors. When it leaves the tree, it will often take the form of a raven.

Apple: The apple tree has many magical faerie characteristics associated with it. It is home to one of the fantastic creatures found within the faerie realm - the unicorn. Traditionally, the unicorn lives beneath the apple tree. The apple blossoms draw out great numbers of flower faeries in the spring who promote feelings of happiness in those who are near. The spirit of this tree holds the knowledge of eternal youth and beauty. Its spirit will often take the form of a beautifully enticing woman who can open the heart to new love.

Ash: The ash tree has great mysticism and power associated with it. In the Norse tradition, it was called Yggdrasil, the great tree of life. It is a doorway to many dimensions of the faerie realm. Its spirit is strong and holds the knowledge of how events and people are linked together. It can teach the magick of poetry and how to weave words into powerful effects.

Birch: The birch is a magical tree, and its spirit can connect you to many aspects of the elmental realms of life. It has a great antiquity, and it is sometimes known as the "lady of the woods". It is a doorway whose energy can connect you with all of the beings and goddesses of the woodlands (including the wood nymphs). The bark should never be taken without permission, but once achieved this wondrous spirit can demonstrate how to use a staff made from birch to pass from the mortal realm to the faerie realm and back again.

Cedar: This tree and its spirit are both protective and healing. It also has ties to the unicorn of the faerie realm - as the unicorn keeps its treasures in boxes made of cedar. This spirit brings calm and balance to smoetions and can stimulate inspiring dream activity.

Cherry: Just as the apple tree is the home of the unicorn, the cherry tree is home to yet another of those fantastic creatures of the faerie realm - the phoenix. The spirit of this tree is often fiery in appearance. It has the ability to bring individuals to the threshold of a new awakening.

Elder: The elder tree was sacred to those of the Druid and Celtic traditions. It was the tree of birth and death, beginning and end. Its spirit is that of transition. It teaches how to awaken opportunity to cast out the old and build the new. This tree can be a doorway to link with the mother goddess in many forms.
This tree's spirit has knowledge of great magic. She can provide protection and add power to even the slightest of wishes. The elder spirit facilitates contact with all the beings of the woods, including the dryads and other wood nymphs. She is the mother who protects her groves and all of her children within them. It is the ideal tree spirit to connect with to awaken a renaissance with the faerie realm.

Elm: The elm is the tree of intuition. Its spirit holds knowledge of how to awaken it to its fullest. It can teach how to hear the "inner call". There is always great elf activity around this tree, so much so that if balance is not udes, it is easy to become faerie charmed. This tree's spirit is so sensitive that it will mourn when other members of its family are cut down. It holds knowledge of empathy and compassion.

Hawthorn: The hawthorn is sacred to the faeries and elves. They hold great love for this tree and it spirit. This is the tree of magic - all of the magic found within the faerie realm. This spirit will provide a doorway to the inner realms, as well as protection against their magic. You must learn to be patient with the hawthorn spirit or those inner realm doors will not be opened to their fullest. This spirit can stimulate growth and fertility in all areas of your life, making it seem enchanted to others.

Hazel: This tree is home to a quiet spirit of magic. All fruit and but trees are symbolic of hidden wisdom, and the spirit of this tree can help you acquire hidden wisdom in a unique manner. It will awaken the intuition and insight, and it holds knowledge of the electromagnetic fields of the Earth. Attuning to this spirit can reveal much information about dowsing. This quiet spirit also holds knowledge of the weaving of words for great effects, and it can teach how to go within the quiet of one's own mind and consciousness (meditation).

Holly: Technically, holly is a bush, but it has the power of a tree, and its spirit os often guardian to many of the "little people". The holly is home to great numbers of elves and faeries. It was sacred to the Druids who kept it inside their homes during the winter to provide a faven for the faerie beings. Its spirit often is seen in masculine form, and it has knowledge of the angelic realms and how to connect more fully. It can show how best to become a true spiritual warrior, and it worked with, it can stimulate dynamic healing abilites.

Maple: This is a spirit who always appears in its true androgynous form - neither male or female, embodying qualities of both. It has great knowledge of balance and how to use balance to stay connected to Mother Earth. It can awaken the feminine aspects of nurturing, intuition and creativity. The flowering maple draws many faeries to it, and if attuned to during that time, the faeries will assist you in fulfilling sweet promises and aspirations.

Oak: The oak tree was sacred to the Celts and the Druids. It is home to a powerful spirit, which has great strength and endurance. It holds the ancient knowledge of the continuity of life, and just being near it is strengthening to the entire auric field. It is a natural doorway to the faerie realms and their mysteries. Every acorn has its own little faerie, and bringing an acorn into your home is a way of inviting more intimate contact with the faeries for brief periods. The oak tree is always home to great populations of elves and faeries.
The oak tree in which mistletoe is found is even more magical and powerful. Mistletoe, although found in the masculine oak, has faeries associated with it that embody the feminine energies. Where mistletoe is found, there will be faerie protection of children and those who are reconnecting with the child within. The faeries of the mistletoe hold the knowledge of invisibility and shape-shifting. They have great beauty and can stimulate fertility. Linking with mistletoe of the oak can awaken visions of your soul in the future.

Pine: The pine tree has a powerful and ancient spirit. It has ties to the Dionysian mysteries, and it was the sacred tree of Mithra. It was also sacred to Poseidon. Pine trees found along shorelines are often gathering spots for water spirits and sprites. This tree's spirit is healing and balancing, especially to emotions. It can show how to express our creative energies without feelings of guilt. It is protective against all forms of negativity.

Redwood: The redwood tree is one of the oldest and largest of the tree spirits upon the planet. They are direct descendants from the time known as Lemuria. They are homes to wondrous faeries and elves who, in spite of their rarity, are not shy about human contact. The redwood spirit can open great spiritual vision, and contact with them will bring extended growth periods that will touch the soul on many levels. They can help clarify one's own personal vision of life.

Rowan: The rowan is another ancient and magical tree. Its spirit holds the knowledge of the omens of nature and how to read them without becoming superstitious. This spirit is protective and visionary, and it can be used to connect with all goddesses. The wisdom of this spirit is so strong that when linked with, it can teach you to call up magic spirits, guides and elementals. It is a tree spirit who helps prevent instructions by outside forces. It is grounding and prevents becoming lose in the faerie realms.

Spruce: The spirit of the spruce tree holds great knowledge about healing, especially in realtion to the metaphysical causes of disease. Its spirit is gentle and will open the doorways to the faerie realm in the manner best handled by the individual. It is not unusual for those who attune to the spirit of spruce to find that there follows an increase in animals within that environment. The sprice spirit loves human company and activity, and it likes to align itself with families. If there is a spruce tree in the yard, it is often the primary protector and caretaker of the yard. It enjoys having a relationship with humans. The spruce spirit often affects the dream state and when attuned to will appear occasionally in them.

Sycamore: The sycamore was a sacred tree to the Egyptians and is still a doorway into those realms where beings and forced associated with Egypt can still be connected with. It can teach how to receive from the universe - be it in the form of assistance, compliments, or any other form. It holds the knowledge of the laws of abundance and supply and how to utilize them to your greatest benefit. It also has knowledge of hidden treasures. Attuning to the sycamore will augment all connections to nature.

Walnut: The walnut tree has an ancient spirit with knowledge of the tides of change. How to recognize and use them is part of what it can teach. It can open the individual to new perpectives on life. The walnut spirit also has knowledge of the mysteries of death and rebirth and how to apply them specifically to your life. It is a doorway into the faerie realm that can initiate change and the creative transition of rebirth. It also draws and houses faeries, and it is not unusual to find faeries gathering and playing upon the walnuts themselves.

Willow: The willow is a magical tree with great mysticism and life to it. It was associated with Orpheus in the Greek tradition and goddess Brigid in the Celtic. It has a long association with the faerie realm. Its spirit and the elves who live under it are keepers of the knowledge of herbology. The willow tree can speak audibly to us, if we learn to quiet ourselves and listen. It is most discernible at night. The willow spirit often left the tree at night and followed travelers, muttering and speaking to them. Not understanding, most travelers were frightened by this. The willow spirit has knowledge of how to make and use magic wands. The willoe tree opens vision, communication and it stimulates great dream activity. The best time to attune to it and its energies and spirit is at night.

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Signs of Faerie Approach and Presence

1. A sudden unexplained trembling or whispering of leaves.

2. A whirlwind or dust devil.

3. The bending of grass blades with no perceptible cause.

4. Sudden unexplained chills and goose flesh when alone in nature.

5. The feeling of an insect walking through your hair, when there is none.

6. A rippling of the water when not caused by a fish, a breeze or something tangible.

7. Extreme silliness and times of uncontrolled laugher.

8. An unexplainable loss of time.

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The Best Times for Faerie Approach
(All of the "'tween times")

1. Dawn

2. Dusk

3. Noon

4. Midnight

5. Equinoxes and solstices - especially autumn and spring

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The Best Places for Faerie Approach
(All of the "'tween places")

1. Where streams divide

2. Intersections of roads

3. Beaches and seashores

4. Lakeshores

5. Fences and border hedges

6. Islands

7. Thresholds

8. Bends in the road

9. Stairwells, landings and hallways

10. Any opening in sea or land

11. Glades in woods

12. Tidal pools

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Pictures/Graphics

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger view.

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