Halloween and Faerie Folk

Halloween, along with Beltane/May 1st, is one of the two times of year when Faerie activity is most intense. The Faery Raide is seen on this night as the Good Folk move from their summer residences to their winter ones. Children born on Hallowe’en are gifted with the ability to see the Faeries, and for those of you brave enough, walking nine times anti-clockwise around a Faery Hill will grant you with the Sight too. This time of year is associated with gathering the harvest, but make sure you have had your pick of blackberries and fruits before sundown tonight, for the Faeries claim them from Hallowe’en onwards. Anyone eating the fruit after this date risks illness or falling under a Faery spell.

Faery Healing: The Lore and the Legacy

Margie McArthur, author of Faery Healing: The Lore and the Legacy, seeks to explore the tradition of spiritual healing in association with the Faery Folk. The site gives a brief introduction to both the concept and the book, while the book covers the topic in more detail. It examines the origins of the Celtic Faery Healing tradition, making the cure, Faery Healing for today, and a practical manual for Faery Healing.

Tam Lin

Please visit Tam-Lin.org, a site dedicated entirely to this particular ballad.

O I forbid you, maidens a’,
That wear gowd on your hair,
To come or gae by Carterhaugh,
For young Tam Lin is there.

There’s nane that gaes by Carterhaugh
But they leave him a wad,
Either their rings, or green mantles,
Or else their maidenhead.

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The Art of Sue Miller

Sue Miller has been painting since a young age and now works full time as an illustrator and art teacher. Having a string of paintings published in magazines and books, Sue’s sweet portraits are proving very popular. Her images are also available on a wide range of accessories and ornaments, including clocks, mouse pads and even teddy bears. Also on the site are art tips by Sue for all you budding fantasy artists.

Horse and Hattock!

(…Or a Faery’s Guide to Flying)

In folklore faeries were never winged. These came later, partly as part of Victorian re-imaginings of how Faeries should look.
According to the 17th century folklorist John Aubrey, when the Fae wished to magically transport themselves from one place to another they would cry ‘Horse and Hattock’. They could also travel on cabbage stalks, rather like the popular portrayal of witches on broomsticks.
Katherine Briggs writes of a boy who finds himself lost in the woods. A bear leads him to a little cottage where the two little women who live there invite him in for supper. During the night he is awakened by the clock striking midnight. He witnesses his hosts put on white caps which were hanging on the bed. One says ‘Here’s off’ and the other ‘Here’s after’ at which the both disappear! The boy, not wanting to be left alone takes up another of the white caps and repeats ‘Here’s after!’ He finds himself transported to the fairy ring outside the hut where the women are dancing. So begins an adventure where the women take him to a house using the same formula of magic words. The night ends with the boy in the cellar of the house (having come down the chimney), where he drinks a bottle of wine and falls fast asleep. The servants find him, alone, the next morning, and being unable to explain how he got there he is condemned to hang. The day arrives and just as it looks like all is lost, one of the women rushes to the scaffold and puts a white cap on his head, saying ‘Here’s off!’ The boy quickly cries ‘Here’s after!’ and zips off to the hut in the woods. Here, the fairy woman explains that he displeased them by taking the magic cap, and not to take liberties with the fairies property in the future. This he promises and is allowed to go home. Again, here is an alternative method of flying to the usual wings.

Heart Magic – Gary Stadler

Heart Magic is the online home of musician and composer Gary Stadler. With five Faerie themed CDs already out Gary has found many fans in the ethereal and New Age camps. ‘Reflections of Faerie’ is entirely instrumental, while ‘Fairy HeartMagic’ features the wonderful vocals of Stephannie. ‘Fairy NightSongs’ is a collaboration with Singh Kaur and ‘Fairy of the Woods’ is where it all started. His newest album, a collaboration with Australian singer Wendy Rule, is ‘Deep Within A Faerie Forest’. While the lyrics can on occasion be a little on the twee side, all of the albums make great background music to transport you to the Faerie world.

Catherine Weisheit Photography

Catherine Weisheit is a photographer and digital artist hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. Aside from her beautiful images of the natural world, Catherine also creates Medieval and Fantasy inspired scenes. Catherine works with both film and digital cameras, and is currently studying Graphic and Web Design. Shown above is ‘Summoning the Spirit’.

Garden Beguiled

Add a touch of magic to your home and garden with Garden Beguiled’s range of tiles and plaques, inspired by classic art nouveau and pre-Raphelite era artists. The products are made from a durable cast stone with an antique ivory patina, and are suitable for use indoors and out. Also available are a range of prints and note cards based on the designs.

Faery Enchants by Christine Ruggle

The aptly named Enchants are the work of doll maker Christine Ruggle. Melding sweet child-like characters with finely detailed leaf clothing, wings and antennae they exude Otherworldly charm, whilst the finish gives the impression of aged bronze statues. These one of a kind sculptures have won several awards and are available from a number of galleries as well as through eBay.

The Art of Renae Taylor

Renae Taylor is not only a talented artist working in an astounding array of techniques and styles, she also crafts a plethora of faerie goodies as well as the most exceedingly curious fish sculptures. The wings are some of the best I have ever seen, made from different layers of paper stretched over a wire frame and hand painted. The ‘lotus luminaries’ lamps are adorable, and the art dolls (a collaboration with Tom Davies) are stunning.