Faerie/Feri Trad

[WaterLilly]

First of all, why when a Feri Trad question is asked, does there never seem to be any member of the tradition around to answer it? Is it the least populated of all Pagan Paths or something?

Second of all, why on earth is it called Faerie (Feri) Tradition? I found a very descriptive website at one point and tried reading through all of it, but never once did I catch on what it has to do with Faeries. In fact, who even knows what "faeries" are???

I read once recently in Anne Moura's Green Witchcraft book that one theory was that they are spirits in nature that are the souls of people that have completed their spiritual lessons and choose not to be incarnated again and roam earth... but then how does that explain why people associate them with tricks and pranks? Wouldn't a fully developed spirit be above trickery?

-Much confused...

Waterlilly

[Myst]

See a post I made about Faerie Paganism at http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3066

A lot of people have interests in fae folk and working with them but so far I've only met one person who was actually a Faerie Pagan. This type of Paganism is far different then many others in that it is based on ecstasy, doesn't really have deities, and doesn't have a lot of ritual or spellwork.

There are many theories on what the fae folk are - passed spirits, spirits from another realm, elemental energy spirits, etc. Some suggest they do pranks to get back at humans because they hate how humans have damaged mother earth or abuse the gifts they have (ie. love, food), or that they are just playful. For every mischievious naughty fae I imagine there are many helpful fae as well. My young nieces have many fae protectors, for example. We're all fascinated and many of us like to incorporate work with fae into our beliefs. The answers aren't clear anyway :)

[WaterLilly]

Thanks, I checked that out. The site I referred to earlier is http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/5569/fae_toc.html and it's the most informative source I've found, but I haven't read it all. Every Faerie site I've been to is so elusive as far as details go. The bit about ecstacy is pretty much the only thing it says.

[Mairwen]

AFAIK, there's a difference between Faerie and Feri??

[WaterLilly]

What's AFAIK? Not that I know for sure, but I've been put under the impression that the only differences between Faerie, Fairy, Feri ect. is just the spelling, much like Faerie and Sidhe are the same thing, but different words...? One author said she avoids the spelling Faerie because of its connection with the word Fae (I think that's what it was) and somehow fae is a reference of or the name of something/someone else that's bad... confusing I know. If I find that book again I'll get an actual quote to clear things up.

[Mairwen]

AFAIK ~ as far as I know

And there is a specific Tradition that is called the Feri Tradition ... That's the one Starhawk was initiated into. Then there are the Radical Fairies ~ but that's restricted to gay men. So, you see, it's not just a difference in spelling. It's a difference in tradition.

[Myst]

Yeah Feri Tradition and Radical Fairies would be two different trads, whether the spelling is different or not lol.

I'm pretty sure all I've read has said that it's just a matter of how you feel like spelling them - maybe whoever started the Feri Tradition preferred Feri and the other ones preferred Fairy.

[Lucidia]

the way that things have come to me is...

perhaps long ago.. when people were closer to nature... the essense that is "fae" integrated itself into humanity... some of us therefore inherited "fae-like" traits....

i personally feel deep connections with fae lore..

i don't, however, think there are sprites and fae poping out of bushes and flowers.. at least not anymore..

[Myst]

That reminded me of a post I made the other night on the "member pictures" thread - I have a bunch of pics from around my apartment of elemental energies, spirits, possibly fae folk, etc.... I swear no lighting tricks involved and the camera isn't broken (it does produce normal pictures most of the time), and the pics haven't been edited. They're just neat and we think some of them are fae... who can tell? Anyways, they're all in a dir at

http://www.willowraven.com/pics

[pmoonfyre]

Bright Blessings and Merry Meet

I have always seen faeries during my life... on the astal as well as the physical. To me they are spirits of nature as much as any forest nymph... I have also seen a few new kinds in our modern world... One was at a bus compound and they were totally different than the ones I was use to... They can be prankish as much as any human wanting to have a few giggles... Plus when they are mad at me they usually hide my stuff until I appologize...

On the astral they have been very helpful with my rituals... Lending energy and guidance when I needed it... I have a book called Faery Magick that goes into alot of the different kinds I have seen... When I find the book in this mess I will put up the author and the publishing company for those who want to check it out...

[Lucidia]

ahh.. the astral is another story entirely. i will agree that fae do inhabit that realm... i can't say i've ever seen one in the physical.. but i've seen LOTS Of things on the astral side....

everything is possible, within the rules that are not rules, within the space that is not space... *grins*

faeries rock!

[Silver Venus]

Originally posted by Willow Raven
That reminded me of a post I made the other night on the "member pictures" thread - I have a bunch of pics from around my apartment of elemental energies, spirits, possibly fae folk, etc.... I swear no lighting tricks involved and the camera isn't broken (it does produce normal pictures most of the time), and the pics haven't been edited. They're just neat and we think some of them are fae... who can tell? Anyways, they're all in a dir at

http://www.willowraven.com/pics

Willow, thanks for sharing those with us ~ they are really good! I love the one of your black cat as it looks as those there is a white fairy right infront of her with two wings in the background.
I believe in Fae too in both astral and physical, although I have only seen them in the astral I sense that they are around especially in my yard and kitchen.
I think most of those pictures you took show elemental energies and maybe your own energy ~ for the ones with the light at the top of your photo ~ therefoe very close to you.. if not you!

:sunny:

[Hope]

This is part of the material we share in some of our classes. I practice the Faery Faith, and include it in my diversity training here. I hope you find the information helpful and or interesting.

blessings!
hope

What are Faeries? And why did they spell it Faery and not Fairy!
I have read the tales and that’s not how it is spelled.
Do you find yourself wondering any of these things? If you do that’s good that means you are that you are open and questioning. Not just believing everything you are taught. The Faery Faith is very much a living religion it takes work, it is a way of life that takes commitment. The Faery Faith is an earth-based religion. It is a simple faith based on the turning of the wheel of life, the connection we have to the planet and to each other.

First Faery’s are real; they are a race of people that have feelings, and rights very much like our own. Many people interact daily with them. We spell it faery to represent who they are, and frankly, who they are not. Faery is the traditional spelling of the race, and Fairy is the spelling commonly used to refer to diminutive little creatures from children’s books. Faeries are found all around the world every culture has a story about Faeries. Sometimes they use other words, like Brownie, Pixie, Chi Spirits or Zips.

[Myst]

Originally posted by Silver Venus
I think most of those pictures you took show elemental energies and maybe your own energy ~ for the ones with the light at the top of your photo ~ therefoe very close to you.. if not you!

I'm glad you enjoyed them Silv :) That's what one of my friends suggested - lots of elemental energies and stuff. Very cool anyway!

[aquinnah]

We saw a faery in the physical realm after our Lammas ritual a few weeks ago. It flew right up to my friend Sam, who had made a beautiful and impassioned plea on their behalf at our public Litha ritual. It hovered a few inches away for a couple of seconds and then flew off. I think it was thanking her for believing, and for encouraging others "not to discount what you see out of the corner of your eye" and not to tell children that faeries are only their imagination -"They know better". It was beautiful and ethereal. I know they play tricks on me, hiding things briefly, etc. I like to leave a small dish of milk and something sweet for them in my garden from time to time. Check out http://www.fionabroome.com for more information on working with them, and The Findhorn Garden published by Harper and Row is a wonderful book about devas and nature spirits, Pan and all sorts of earth workings. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Peace

[Myst]

Lovely aquinnah! :)

I also see those flashes of light out the corner of my eye. Sometimes people are too sure faeries look a certain way and they miss out when they see one - you think you might be nuts because you just saw a flash of light out the corner of your eye and when you looked it was gone.. meanwhile it was probably one of the fae folk playing about. They are always present at our bonfires and enjoying the merriment! :)

[Tarot Collector]

This is a subject I'm getting more and more interested in. I voted the second choice (spirits, or from another realm... paraphrased)

I very enlightened by the thoughts shared in this thread and I hope over time we get to talk and learn/share information about these things.

I have tended to suppose that they are elemental spirits of some sort. Perhaps even beings that live with us but in another dimension we are not normally able to percieve. I think the many many references to them throughout recorded history has to indicate something.

I'm still chucking around theories internally on this subject, and want to learn more.

I did encounter what I believe were faery lights one quiet evening while visiting a friend in near Mystic Connecticut. She had a beautiful home, but most remarkably I was struck by a very mysterious-feeling and subtle energy outside in the back of her house where lush green grass and ALOT of moss grew all the way back to the tree line where beyond a nice woods faded into the darkness. Scattered around the edges of the yard and into the wood were many very old short stone walls, unmortered, just stacked in wily-nily fashion as I could tell. Several small boulders also rested in the earth around about the yard and into the woods. I sat quietly, after noticing a great many mushrooms growing in many parts of the yard near the wood. Then, out the corner of my eye I see a little flash of light on the ground a dozen feet away towards the woods... Now I've seen plenty of lightning bugs in my days, so I chalked it up to that--- nothing unusual. Then I saw another, got up and went to the spots expecting to find the source-bug..... but try as I might I couldnt find a bug of any sort anywhere in the yard or at the edge of the woods. (I used a small flashlight, mind you) and finding nothing I sat back down and relaxed 10 or 15 minutes more before making a soft plea to any faeries that might be near to show me something to help me understand that this was one of their "areas" .... AND I mean in a mere second of the plea I saw another tiny light nearer the treeline in the yard that even lingered for a few seconds bouncing slightly in once spot. Well, suffice it to say I thanked the little "whatever it was" and headed inside as to not further disturb the activities going on in this seemingly magical little spot.

-definitely a novice in this field-
-Jesse-

[aquinnah]

I believe that the fey are the nature spirits, the devas or elemental beings of plants and living things. I'm not certain that their form is as described in popular literature, that of a small winged creature, often childlike, even though the one we saw looked something like that. I thought perhaps it was a silver dragonfly, but checked with an entomologist who informed me that there are no silver dragonflies, and definitely not any that fly at night. it wa too big anyway. Spending time in nature, or in a garden (which can be a couple of potted plants on a fire escape) can help one access their energies. Like Jessie said, sometimes all one needs to do is ask. Before picking something from a plant, or pruning, or otherwise disturbing it, tell it what you are about to do and thank it for it's contribution. The nature spirits, or devas, don't mind that we use plants for food, or medicine, or even for cut flowers in a vase. They would just like to be acknowledged and appreciated. Your garden will grow better for it, trust me (or rather, trust them:p )

[Silver Venus]

I agree :D and also love what Willow and Jesse wrote too :D
Lets hope at shamain this year lots of fea come out to play with all the fire and candles :)

Does anyone know of any fae rituals or prayers :) That would be really nice to do with them.

[aquinnah]

Dria El had a beautiful little ritual for celebrating the Dryads, or nature spirits, posted here at Midsummer, in the Gods and Goddesses forum. I don't know how to go back in time here - i suppose the search function would bring it up. worse comes to worse, I'll type it in for you - I printed it out.

[Armitage]

I think I saw faerie lights once too, or maybe tree-spirits, unless lighning bugs come in blue and live in huge oak and maple trees.

[Silver Venus]

Originally posted by aquinnah
Dria El had a beautiful little ritual for celebrating the Dryads, or nature spirits, posted here at Midsummer, in the Gods and Goddesses forum. I don't know how to go back in time here - i suppose the search function would bring it up. worse comes to worse, I'll type it in for you - I printed it out.

:D I will go in search now! and post the ritual link ~ if I find it! here!

[Silver Venus]

Thanks so much! Here's the link and it looks really cool ~ I really like the chant!!! I will have to thank Dria El too :D

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?threadid=3378

[BlueWinter]

This is a good site about the fae.

Faery Related Main Contents Page

http://www.belinus.co.uk/doorsofpeace/FaeryHomeMain.htm


And this is an article about the Trad.

The Faery Tradition

http://www.cog.org/wicca/trads/faery.html



Tara :)

[SusanDirs]

Merry meet. :)

Elven Wicca;
http://www.jps.net/elve/elfinwicca.html

and Otherkin.net are good sites to start
http://www.otherkin.net/main.html


Then there's others. :)
http://www.jps.net/elve/silverelves.html
http://www.rialian.com/elves3.htm
http://www.otherwonders.com/otherkin/
http://dmoz.org/Society/People/Otherkin/

[Twilight Garden]

I just love sprite. :boing: No caffiene. No coke. Oh wait! That says Nature 'Spirit,' not 'Sprite.' :bug: My mistake. I guess I'll explain my logic another time.:elf:

[Earth Shadow~]

I have a really cool set of fairy oracle cards that has helped me out greatly. I think they are creatures in a different realm. They (unlike us) can travel freely from ours to theirs. Perhaps we see them where the veil is thin or when we have a 'moment' of hightened spirituality.

They can be very helpful and also very tricky. I think they often remind us not to take things for granted. For example, "My car hasn't broken down in a long time." Better knock on wood, the faires will be right there saying "Oh yeah, BAM!" Now you need a new engine. :)

All and all though, they are a great addition to our mundane world.

To embrace them and their carefree nature is to learn what it means to live.

Love and light to all.

[Myst]

Originally posted by Earth Shadow~
I have a really cool set of fairy oracle cards that has helped me out greatly.

Ooh the Froud/MacBeth deck? I love those, I have a set too! :)

I've often read that fae folk play tricks because they are jealous of us in that they live in another realm where there is no love nor need for food. They are just above these things, in ecstasy, and yet sometimes they are jealous that we can have such simple primal needs and responses. I love fae folk :)

[jon_frum]

The Feri Tradition (as far as my limited knowledge goes ) was started by one Victor Anderson--not sure where, but the people I know who are initiates were(and are) active in northern California. Nature spirits seem to be regarded highly and the trad. also incorporates elements of Huna, Voudon (I have heard it said that Mr. Anderson had some contact with knowledgeable practioners in that tradition and learned from them), and in a tried- and-true organic fashion also borrowed anything else that worked from a variety of places, thereby, IMO, demonstrating his gift as an artist as well as folk magician.
He published a volume of poetry--Thorns of the Blood Rose--also, his wife, Cora, wrote a book about him, the Feri craft as seen through her own earthy, no-nonsense view of the world. Unfortunately, the title has escaped me. Perhaps someone can invoke the search engine of their choice and share with us, or maybe someone who knows more about it than I will manifest.

I'm sure that Those Good People are included somewhere in there, too.
That's all for now. . . I really should have been to bed an hour ago, Oh Well.
j_f

[jon_frum]

Back again--upon investigating the matter,it seems there is a thread at this very forum that provides a link to witchvox where the subject(Feri Tradition) is covered in some detail. Were I not so inept, I would 'port all you there, but, *alas*--I am--inept, that is.
If someone who wants to know will go to witchvox and look up Feri he or she can begin to find out what they wish to know.

BTW, Victor Anderson also played the accordian--that gives him cool points with me.

j_f

[Kalika]

I believe that the Fae are elemental beings.

Honestly, this is the first time I have seen it spelled Feri, as I spell it Faery, so I find that rather interesting.

I don't follow a path as such... but I do believe that they exist, whether it be in the physical or the astral realm, and that they can be helpful when asked properly.

Blessed Be.

[jon_frum]

"I believe that the Fae are elemental beings.

Honestly, this is the first time I have seen it spelled Feri, as I spell it Faery, so I find that rather interesting.

I don't follow a path as such... but I do believe that they exist, whether it be in the physical or the astral realm, and that they can be helpful when asked properly.

Blessed Be."


jon_frum replies--

The Feri Tradition often spells the word "feri". I don't know why they do this. Perhaps you could find a practicioner and ask him/her.

I, myself, have encountered no objective evidence to confirm the existance of supernatural beings.

I would be interested in participating in a discussion on that subject if anyone else wants to. . .

Otherwise, be happy in your belief.

j_f

[aefentid]

I found a good link on Feri Tradition http://www.geocities.com/ferigold/index.html

As for fairies whether I believe in them or not depends on what you mean by fairy.In my tradition we have quite a few different beings which could be classified as fairies.Land wights which are spirits that inhabit trees,rocks ,ect.House wights which inhabit homes.It's a very common practice to leave offerings like milk and honey for them.There are also the alfr or elfs which are ruled over by my Patron Freyr there are several different kinds including mound alfr ,which are spirits of male ancestors that watch over their descendants ,the disir are the female version and both do have holydays in Heathenry.
Other than that there are a large number of folkloric beings such as The Huldra in my tradition.

[jon_frum]

Hail, Aefentid--

Thank you for the Feri-trad link. I'm sure many will find it informative.

Question: are these beings physical or non-physical?

If they are physical, do they leave evidence of their existance?

If they are not, how can I know if they exist?

Was hael

j_f

[aefentid]

Hail, Jon

Question: are these beings physical or non-physical?

If you mean can you see them without being in any kind of altered state ,then yes.I have seen landwights a time or two.As for Alfr and Disr I've interacted with them while doing seidr.
There was also a been a sighting of a Huldra a year ago .Here's a link to a thread about it that contains a translation to the Norwegian article on the sighting
http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/message_list.asp?discussionID=203031
If they are physical, do they leave evidence of their existance?
I don't think they do leave physical evidence ,as far as the Alfr ,Disr land and house wights go,I think of them as incorporeal spirits.

If they are not, how can I know if they exist?
You can't know for certain they exist. I know my expeiences were subjective, and there's no reason for you or anyone else to believe me just because I say these beings are real,after all I could just be a flake with an overactive imagination.
I suppose it all boils down to faith.

In frith,
Aefentid

[jon_frum]

Hail, Aefentid--

"If you mean can you see them without being in any kind of altered
state ,then yes.I have seen landwights a time or two.As for Alfr and Disr I've interacted with them while doing seidr."

So, I understand that it's possible to see landwights while in an everyday state of being.

I'm not sure what you mean by seidr--The limited contact I've had with Asatruar and what I remember about what they told me says that is ancestral/divination type of ritual. (forgive me if I'm in error here, it's been a long time). Is it possible to be a partcipant in a ritual like that and not be in an altered state?

The Huldra story looks interesting--looks like many people believed what they told the paper was true. I didn't take a real thourough look, though--maybe later.

The other question that I have here is how a noncorporal being could be seen by a corporal being--I mean, light has to reflect off of things for us to see them, yes? Perhaps it has a way of implanting its image directly in your mind and bypassing your eyes altogether?

I'm confused.

Please do not mistake my scepticism for disrespect, I am trying to understand what you're telling me.

I think that it *does* boil down to faith.

Oh, yeah, could you tell me what "frith" means? The way you use the word makes it seem like a good thing.

was hael,
j_f

[RubyRose]

I believe in the Fae, as for a Feri Tradition, I'm not sure, I've read websites, some have been more helpful than others, but being able to define the practices have been tricky, as for a patheon, they've been loosely defined. It's a pity, that whatever knowledge may have been around on this sect, has long since been obsured so that only loose information exists or the Feri Trad, is so closely related to a more Celtic path, that's its obsure ... just my 2 cents on the subject ...

Having seen, and heard from the fae, I know they are around, but am lacking to understand what they really are and why they exist, as for mischevious beings, yes they are definitely that, often misunderstood to be graceful, and pretty creatures, not all of them are, though they are intriguing to say the least, even those that don't denote prettiness and rainbows, when you first lay eyes on them

[aefentid]

Hail Jon,

I'm not sure what you mean by seidr--The limited contact I've had with Asatruar and what I remember about what they told me says that is ancestral/divination type of ritual. (forgive me if I'm in error here, it's been a long time). Is it possible to be a partcipant in a ritual like that and not be in an altered state?The most common definition of seidr is an oracular type of ritual done in trance, like the ritual described in the Saga of Erik the Red.However some people widen the definition to include other shamanic practices done in a northern context,that's how I was using it.
It is possible to be a participant without being in an altered state. During the oracular type of seidr the seidh-wo\man will be in a trance state as for other participants it depends.In some seidr rites such as some of Hrafnar's the whole group of participants will journey to the gates of Hel with the seidh-wo\man ,and wait for him or her there while she journeys into Hel. In other seidr rites the seidhwo\man goes alone and other participants will ask him or her questions once she reaches her destination.Usually there is also a guide someone who will chant or sing the seidh-worker into trance and relay questions to the seidh-worker.Those are just a few types of seidr but probably the most common.


The other question that I have here is how a noncorporal being could be seen by a corporal being--I mean, light has to reflect off of things for us to see them, yes? Perhaps it has a way of implanting its image directly in your mind and bypassing your eyes altogether? I probably used the wrong word,I meant that the ones I saw didn't seem solid.I don't really know how to put it into words.The ones I saw were near trees, greenish-brown ,
small,and didn't seem substantial.When I saw them I got this feeling that they were the spirits that resided in the trees.
Of course other fairies might be as substantial as you or me.Have you read The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries by W.Y. Evans-Wentz.Very interesting book that was written in 1911 ,it includes first and second hand accounts of peoples experiences with fairies,along with some folklore ,and bizarre Victorian science where the author(or at least I think it was the author) tries to prove fairies exist .They have it along with some other books on fairies at the internet sacred text archive ,if you're interested http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/index.htm#fairies
It could be that the particular land wights I saw did somehow put it's image directly in my mind.It's an interesting theory at least.

I'm confused.Sorry,I just have a hard time describing things like this.Sometimes there just aren't any words that can adequately describe something .



Please do not mistake my scepticism for disrespect, I am trying to understand what you're telling me.
I didn't notice any disrespect.I'm still very sceptical about my own experiences.Probably because for a good deal of my life I was either an atheist or an agnostic.Even with experiencing things like seeing land wights it's still hard for me to believe sometimes.I just hope I'm doing a decent job explaining myself.




Oh, yeah, could you tell me what "frith" means? The way you use the word makes it seem like a good thing.Frith roughly translates into peace,friendship,and freedom.

In frith,
Aefentid

[jon_frum]

Hail, Aefentid--

Thanks for the seidr descriptions--I wasn't aware of the variations. Now that you describe it--I can see how one could be at the ritual and not be in trance--it was a Hrafnr person I got the info from.

I read the "Fairy-Faith" many years ago. I found it an interesting if farfetched read.

Most of my information about the Fair Folk comes from folklore and traditional songs--I have been singing them for years. If they are anything like they are in Tam Lynn, I hope never to meet one.

I have another question--I am assuming that you were in the U.S. when you saw it/them. Since they are said to be northern european land spirits how is it that they appear in the U.S.? I remember from my studies in folklore and comparitive religion/belief systems that such spirits were part of the land they occupied. If I were in the same situation as you, I would expect to see a native american spirit instead of one from somewhere else. . . but then, you see them and I don't so it's actually kinda moot anyway.

Thank you for being understanding--sometimes people get prickly if they feel their beliefs are being questioned.

Frith is a good word, indeed. Thanks for telling me what it means.

Do you mind telling me what your tradition is? You sound like Asatru.


was hael
Jon Frum

[aefentid]

Hail Jon,

Most of my information about the Fair Folk comes from folklore and traditional songs--I have been singing them for years. If they are anything like they are in Tam Lynn, I hope never to meet one.You're definitely ahead of me when it comes to folklore ,I've only been studying it off and on for a year or two.Since you've studied folklore I'm wondering if you could point me in the direction of good sources for English folklore. I agree with you that most of the beings mentioned in folklore aren't the sort I'd want to meet.


I have another question--I am assuming that you were in the U.S. when you saw it/them. Since they are said to be northern european land spirits how is it that they appear in the U.S.? I remember from my studies in folklore and comparitive religion/belief systems that such spirits were part of the land they occupied. If I were in the same situation as you, I would expect to see a native american spirit instead of one from somewhere else. . . but then, you see them and I don't so it's actually kinda moot anyway.When it comes to wights, the thing you have to remember is the word wight refers to any being with some kind of living quality,so landwight can be used as a synonym for land spirit. On the other hand I don't expect for there to be sightings of banshees in Texas or wendigos in Ireland.

Thank you for being understanding--sometimes people get prickly if they feel their beliefs are being questioned. I don't mind questions at all. They actually help me to look more deeply at my beliefs,which is always a good thing.


Do you mind telling me what your tradition is? You sound like Asatru.I'm a Heathen or to be more specific since I concentrate on the Vanir I'm Vanatru.

In frith,
Aefentid

[jon_frum]

Hail, Aefentid--


<<I'm wondering if you could point me in the direction of good sources for English folklore.>>

I recommend--
Stations of the Sun and The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles--both by Ronald Hutton. The first deals with the histories and practices of folk ceremonies of the English seasonal ritual calendar

The second--I'll quote from the blurb:

"This is the first survey of Religious beliefs in the British Isles, from the Old stone Age to the coming of Cristianity, one of the least famimiar but most extensive periods in Britian's history. . . "

Most of the data he draws on here is archaeological and "hard science" oriented.

Oxford Press has a "Dictionary of Folklore" that is a pretty good reference work--your local library might have it.

I'm in a bit of a rush at the moment, I'll respond to the rest of your post later when I have more time.

was hael
j_f

[jon_frum]

Hail, Aefentid--

<<When it comes to wights, the thing you have to remember is the word wight refers to any being with some kind of living quality,so landwight can be used as a synonym for land spirit.>>

So wight is a generic term? What kind of being would not be a wight?

<<On the other hand I don't expect for there to be sightings of banshees in Texas or wendigos in Ireland.>>

One of the definitions of supernatural is not bound by the natural laws we are aware of. What's to stop such a being from appearing wherever it wants to? Of course, there could be laws/principles that I know nothing of, or maybe each land has its own type of spirit being and the way they would appear would depend on the cultural/reality filter the person seeing/encountering them had developed.

Who knows?

<<I'm a Heathen or to be more specific since I concentrate on the Vanir I'm Vanatru>>

Vanir? Sorry, I'm not sure what that means--could you explain a little?

I, myself am fascinated by English/Saxon artwork--I have a large tattoo on my right forearm of zoomorphic knotwork in the Saxon style. It is based on the gold belt buckle from Sutton Hoo. (8th century or so)

was hael
j_f

[aefentid]

Hail Jon,

So wight is a generic term? What kind of being would not be a wight?
Generally wight is used only for land spirits or house spirits, by Heathens. Although I have seen people use wight to refer to Gods, people, trees, and alfr.Using wight for such a large number of things can get confusing , so generally if a being has a specifis name that is used instead of wight.


One of the definitions of supernatural is not bound by the natural laws we are aware of. What's to stop such a being from appearing wherever it wants to? Of course, there could be laws/principles that I know nothing of, or maybe each land has its own type of spirit being and the way they would appear would depend on the cultural/reality filter the person seeing/encountering them had developed.

Those are all good points.Personally, I think that what you see or at least the name you use for what you see does have something to do with where you're coming from culturally. It might be interesting to see how early American settlers classified any supernatural beings they encountered ,would they call them by their Native American names or would they use the name of a similar being they were familiar with from their old country.




Vanir? Sorry, I'm not sure what that means--could you explain a little?
There are two tribes of Gods in Norse mythology the Aesir and the Vanir. The Aesir include Odin, Thor, Frigg ,ect...The Vanir are mainly thought of as fertility Gods ,although they are much more than that and include Freyr, Freyja, Njord, and Nerthus.
I don't ignore the Aesir, but since the Vanir grt most of my attention I call myself Vanatru.



I, myself am fascinated by English/Saxon artwork--I have a large tattoo on my right forearm of zoomorphic knotwork in the Saxon style. It is based on the gold belt buckle from Sutton Hoo. (8th century or so)
Anglo-Saxon artwork is gorgeous ,I found a page recently on a Heathen site with a few pictures of Anglo-Saxon artwork http://www.englishheathenism.homestead.com/images.html

Thank you, for the recommendations ,in your earlier post.I do have Hutton's ancient Religions of the British Isles and I've been on the lookout for the other one.

In frith,
Aefentid

[badkitty]

Ok I practice the Feri Trad as does Pearl59. This is an old thread that I have never seen, but now that I have I will have a LONG response, but I need to leave for church now (UU) and am basically just bumping this along till later when I write more. (Also hoping Pearl will see it too)

[Morgandria]

Faerie is different from Feri. They're not the same path.

I consider the Fae wild spirits, and while I'll interact with them, I don't go out of my way to initiate it. I leave them the occasional offering, we respect one another, I don't bother them, they don't bother me. It works better this way for me. All the fae I know are dirty, wicked, wild-eyed things, weirdly-proportioned, twig and thorn tangled hair, tribal marked...and while I respect them and honour them as part of the natural order of my world, I don't feel the need to work with them. I don't percieve them as flying, winged floaty glowy light things...anytime I've "seen" them they've been on their feet.

[badkitty]

The faerie tradition that Francesca De Grandis, Starthawk, and many other work with is s branch of the same as the Feri tradition of Victor and Cora Anderson. In fact Victor himself at times in his life had spelled it Faerie.

To debunk some other myths. Yes the Feri tradition works with the God and Goddess. Their forms and names are unique to our tradition. In my tradition, 3rd Rd which is a branch of Feri there is quite a bit of ritual and spellwork. It is NOT so closely related to the Celtic path that it is obsure, what could give that impression is that in general we don't discuss specifics of our tradition outside of it. (most of us have taken oaths to this effect.)

jon_frum's post seem quiet accurate, and there are many solid links in this thread. All and all though it is facinating to see how your tradition is percieved.

My two favorite Feri or Fairie links.

Francesca's 3rd Rd. Faerie http://www.well.com/user/zthirdrd/WiccanMiscellany.html

Victor Anderson's Feri
http://www.lilithslantern.com/anderson.htm

Enjoy!

[Angharad Goldenhand]

"All the fae I know are dirty, wicked, wild-eyed things, weirdly-proportioned, twig and thorn tangled hair, tribal marked"

lol, that actually describes me perfectly! :alol: :alol: :alol: poor boyfriend is always picking twigs out of my hair.

Yes, I am sure that faeries are real, and my experiences have led me to believe that I once led a faery life. I consider the fae to be a slightly different species to humanity - but not so distant that intermarriage is impossible. If we are able to breed, we can't be that different.

I pay the fae folk honour, leaving offerings for those who share my house (they think it's their house, and who am I to argue?!) and to those who live in the woods and hills around here.

Blessings,

Angharad

[arowind]

well, faeries (did i spell it right?) have always been an enigma to me. i can not say i have truely even knew of thier existance till recently. i guess ive been alittle "sheltered" as a kid. my mom was one of those really catholic people. so these links and everything were realy helpful. thanks everyone!

[Teresa]

Bumping for Soulfire to see! :smile:

[Inquisitive Soul]

I've been fascinated by faeries since I was very young. I used to talk to them when I was little. For the longest time I figured they were just my "imaginary friends" but from communicating with them now, I think it's quite possible that I really was talking to faeries. I don't have the faery oracle cards, but I am going to be making some here soon for the faery lore class on here. I talked to them with my tarot deck a few times, and one of the times they definitely let me know they were here to stay and be an active part of my life. I leave them tokens of shiny trinkets and jewelry in a little basket on my faery altar. Hopefully, they'll forgive me soon for not putting it up for a while after I moved to my new apartment. I hope with enough gifts I'll soon gain their favor again. ^_^