Earth spirits are just about the easiest ones to make contact with. Their forms tend to be less subtle than those of many fairies,and they generally stick to one place- so if you feel a location is haunted by these beings, it will always be haunted. Wherever anything grows, there will be a fairy to attend to it.
Earth fairies love gardens,and will gather round you while you are planting and watering. At the end of a hot day they exult when you get out the hose or watering can, and will dance among the refreshed flowers with glee. Often they do not like you weeding,though,so make sure you always do this with respect. Leave a patch of your garden to grow wild, for the fairies love this and it creates a space for all the plants that are unwelcome elsewhere- just because humans do not like them, this does not mean they do not have a valuable place in the scheme of things.
Method
To draw close to the gnomes,settle quietly in your garden or in a park,woodland, field, or hillside- close to a barrow-mound may be the most powerful place of all. Gnomes of the deep earth may be experienced in a cave or hollow,whereas others may be more of the flower- or tree-fairy types. Let your bare feet and hands make contact with the earth,mud or stone. Beat a soft rhythm on a drum,if you wish.
Be very still, relaxed,and quiet. Try not to see anything,because that will put you in the wrong frame of mind. Just be there, and be observant- these spirits do not show themselves in the ways you might expect, and seeing them can seem almost ordinary.
Be aware of any little movements out of the corner of your eye, for that is where spirits are often first perceived. An animal running in the undergrowth may also be a shy gnome in disguise. Look out for the face of the Green Man among the leaves, and watch flowers, for they can also be sweet faces, nodding and smiling.
To show they have drawn close to you, gnomes will often give you a tangible gift,such as a coin or a piece of jewelry. If you find this on your path,treasure it, for it is very lucky.
Every plant is in essence a “fairy” plant, because fairies take care of them. However,there are some plants that are especially notable. Many flowers are linked to fairies,and in the Balkans, fairies are said to be born in flowers, to tend them as they bloom and fade.
The idea of flower fairies was popularized by (link -> Cicely Mary Barker(1895-1973),who illustrated the immensely successful Flower Fairy series of books, in which a fairy is depicted for each bloom, wearing clothes that look like the flower itself. This may appear to be a pretty fiction,but (like so many works of the imagination) it draws its inspiration from the subtle realms- for each flower does have a fairy and, when this is revealed to us, has some of the characteristics of the plant.
The wild rose,primrose,bluebell,cowslip,marigold,foxglove, and red campion are among many flowers especially associated with fairies. Herbs are a fairy favorite because they are both beautiful (generally) and useful. Wearing thyme can enable you to see fairies. Nettles and gorse are said to deter fairies- except, of course, for the Nettle and Gorse Fairies themselves. Fairies are said to live inside stalks of straw,which can be twisted to form an amulet. A four-leafed clover is especially lucky,so if you find such a leaf, treasure it. And, seven grains of wheat laid on a four-leafed clover enable you to see fairies.
Fairy Mushrooms
One plant especially associated with fairies in the fly agaric (Amanita Muscaria), a red and white spotted mushroom. Fairies are often depicted sitting on this mushroom, and the red caps worn by many fairies may be linked to this plant. Fly agaric is psychotropic (that is, it can affect the mind,emotions or behavior) and was ingested by European shamans to induce visions. Many of the reported visits to Fairyland- with their enhanced colors,strange music, and time distortion - sound ike drug-induced “trips”. So might the whole idea of fairies arise from drug use? Or is it more likely that the essence of certain plants,when used correctly,can take us into the true world of vibrant, enchanted Nature? Of course, to experiment with this would be dangerous in the extreme, but experienced shamans from Native American and other traditions have been using such plants since time immemorial. More than chemistry is at work here- the very soul of the plant combines with that of the human being and reveals a magical world to the traveler: the world of Fairyland
Many fairies are linked to just one tree or plant, or to a group of trees. Trees are extremely special - a fact recognized by the Native Americans, who call them “The Standing People”. Often you will come upon a tree and be very aware of its spirit, which is usually warm, wise, and welcoming; it can be very healing to be close to such trees. Occasionally, however, a tree may be not to well disposed towards humans (as the hobbits found in “The Lord of The Rings with Old Man Willow), and then it is best to keep your distance.
In times gone by,the earth was covered in forest, and when we go deep into the woodland, we really are in the presence of beings that are unutterably ancient, for all the accumulated wisdom of the ages is embodied in each tree. The primeval forest is also a metaphor for our unconscious, our deepest and most primitive impulses and yearnings. Tree fairies can teach us a great deal about ourselves, if we have the courage to listen. When we are alone in nature we are able to hear our own thoughts and feelings more clearly, and it is easier to be trustful with ourselves.
Long ago, many trees were considered to be the home of oracles, with deity whispering through the leaves.
The Fairy Triad
Oak,ash,and thorn are termed the Fairy Triad,and where three grow, fairies can easily be seen. Many fairies are reputed to live in the majestic oak,and to feel one is to risk the wrath of the Old Gods- namely,fairies. Druid worship took place in groves,and the oak grove was especially sacred. Ash may be used to protect against fairies,when carried as a staff or wand, but also offers a potential gateway between the worlds,as it was the tree upon which the Norse god Odin hung, to gain the secret of the runes. The twisted shape of hawthorn is magical indeed,especially when growing near a barrow mound or in groups of three. It is courting disaster to damage such a tree, and even dozing beneath one may be to risk fairy displeasure.Like much of nature, trees have been abused. Always proceed with respect for trees in order to retain the goodwill of the Fairy Folk.
Clothes are no small matter to fairies, who realize that clothing says a great deal about the wearer and has symbolic meanings. Some fairies prefer to remain naked,in the same way that some modern-day pagans,within closed rituals, prefer to “sky-clad”. They feel this is a sign that we are all naked before the gods,and shows respect for Nature.
Clothes As A Sign Of Power
By contrast, other fairy folk are very fussy about clothing,preferring the beautiful and costly. In many cultures, clothes define the status and occupation of the wearer,and so are an outward sign on an inward reality. We are freed from such constraints in the modern world, but fairies are well aware of the symbolic nature of all things. Some fairies,robbed of their clothing,are doomed to remain captive in the mortal world until they recover it. The good Persian fairy, the Peri, is one example,whose clothes signify her magical power.
One story tells of a weary merchant’s son,who rested from his travels by the shores of a lake. Four doves flew down and turned into Peries before his eyes. They then shed their robes and bathed in the waters. The young man hid the clothes and, when they realized what had happened, the Peries were distraught. One of them agreed to marry him in order that the others might escape,where upon he gave three Peries back their clothes,taking the fourth with him as his bride. They lived together for 10 years, after which he went on his travels again, leaving the precious clothes with an old woman. When he was gone, the Peri persuaded the old woman to let her put he clothes on just for a minute- whereupon she immediately vanished from sight.
Many fairies are intentionally ragged in appearance, such as the Brownies. However, if they are given clothes,they are so offended that they often disappear forever. This idea is echoed by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter books, in which a house elf is freed by the gift of clothes. To traditional house fairies,clothes are an empty gift conforming to human standards,not to those of Fairyland.
The Significance Of Color
Color is also an important consideration,with red and green being favorites. Both of these colors speak of the power of Nature: red being the color of blood (and death,with which some fairies are linked),and green the color of leaves and grass. Irish Leprechuans usually wear green, along with leather aprons, silver buckled shoes,and three-cornered hats,on which they may turn upside down and spin. In fact, in Ireland green is so much the property of the Fair Folk that it may be unlucky for mortals to wear it. Some fairies even have green skin. Nature spirits are the types of fairy most closely linked to green and the world of vegetation.
Red has magical connections,and witches are believed by some to have red hair and to wear red cloaks or caps. Red is linked with death,and in prehistoric times corpses were often smeared with red ochre,to give them renewed vitality. And the sun, when it “dies”, goes down in a blaze of red. Many fairies have red caps, or are entirely red in color. Red caps may also be associated with shamanism and with the fly agarie mushroom,which induces a trance.
Clothes As Symbols
✿ Human clothes can also be used as a weapon to break fairy enchantment. When led astray by fairies while out walking,the best thing to do is to take off your coat and turn it inside out,thus distracting the fairies long enough to escape. This may also be a way of marshalling all the powers of your conscious mind so that you can think logically.
✿ If troublesome fairies are disturbing your nights, place your shoes by the bed with the toes pointing outward and put your socks beneath them. A glove thrown into a fairy ring will stop all the revelry, and one Cornish tale describes how a farmer called Noy threw down his glove at a fairy assembly,whereupon the entire company disappeared,along with the house and orchard. Many customs feature gloves,as a sign of intention or authority- “throwing down the gauntlet”, for instance, was a medieval challenge,accepted if the gauntlet was picked up. The human hand has been the tool that has wrought many changes in the natural world- small wonder that the fairies are alive to the meaning of the glove.
✿ Nothing is just what it seems: All things have a meaning beyond their purpose,and naught more so than clothes. If humans will not realize this,the fairies will teach them.
Fairy festivals take place at crossover points in the seasons. Equinoxes and solstices are determined by the position of the Sun, but the other four festivals are celebrated when the time feels right, so the dates given below are approximate.
There are other festivals too,such as Christmas Eve,Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Any human festival that touches on old traditions,from Ramadan to a Japanese Flower Festival, is a fairy feast. If you celebrate these festivals and make the effort to tune into what concerns the fairies, you will draw closer to their world. If you celebrate a special meal, remember to leave a little outside afterward for the fairies
1. Imbolic -
February 2 in the Northern Hemisphere/July 31 in the Southern Hemisphere
Imbolc means “in the belly,” and this is the time when life stirs in the belly of the earth. Frost sparkles and the pale light lingers each evening,bringing the message that spring is on the horizon. Imbolc is the delicate crossover point from winter’s depths into the New Year. It is a feast of lightness and brightness,but also a time of cleansing,to make way for the new. The Hag, who is Dark Goddess or Dark Fairy, gives way now to the Maiden, who is young and radiant.
Fairies love neatness and good housekeeping,so it is a good idea to have a late-winter sort-out,in preparation for fresh activity. While the fairies are busy coaxing snowdrops and crocuses out of the winter-hard earth,do something creative of your own,such as knitting,painting,or writing poetry. Ask the fairies to lend you a little of their magic by leaving them an offering,such as a piece of wool or a verse written just for them.
This feast is also called candlemas,sacred to St.Bridget,who was the successor to the pagan goddess Bride (pronounced “Breed”). Bride was the keeper of the sacred flame,which represents eternal life. She is the patroness of poetry,smithcraft,child birth, and healing, and is a very powerful fairy indeed. Invite her into your home by lighting as many candles as you like, in your windows and around your house. Ask her to bless your projects for the coming year,and pledge a special act of caring for the natural world in return,to seal your pact as the year waxes.
2. Spring Equinox-
March 21 in the Northern Hemisphere/September 21 in the Southern Hemisphere
The fairies are very busy at the Spring Equinox,looking after all the flowers that are newly blooming.Scandinavian fairies become active now: the Russian cellar fairy,The Domoviyr,casts off its skin and grows a lighter one for summer; and the Russian Rusalki,or river fairies are glimpsed by lakes swollen with melted snow.
A tree planting project is a very fairy-friendly activity at this time. A seasonal blitz on the garden is also called for. While you are hard at work, digging and pulling away at dead winter twigs, it is easy to go into a kind of trance. This, coupled with the spell of the natural world around you,can create the perfect state of mind to catch a glimpse of fairies.You can be sure they are near you,helping you with their energies.Plant some seeds of your choice and, as you put them in the earth, close your eyes and make a special request for fairy help. Visualize the fairies tending your seeds,giving them their love and care. Ask out loud for the fairies to help you,and sing or hum and you plant. Touch the soft soil with your bare hands and make real contact with the earth.
Place water in a pottery or glass jug (plastic or metal is best avoided) and leave it out in the noon sunshine. Ask the fairies to bless it. Imagine them dancing around it and coming up to touch it with their glimmering fingers. Use the water to give your houseplants a special spring blessing.
The Green Man is a powerful nature spirit that has been sensed by many people. He is represented in numerous churches as the Foliate Mask (a face made up of leaves),and one theory about his presence is that the masons who fabricated him had hidden sympathies with the old nature- worship. He is making his appearance now on some new park benches and monuments. However, you can make contact with the real Green Man out alone walking through the woodland. Ancient and wise,he is watching you. Catch a glimpse of him behind tree trunks or in the lacework of budding branches. Hear his footfalls behind you as you walk. He is the very breath of Nature, and his strength is bursting forth in springtime.
3. Beltane -
April 30 in the Northern Hemisphere/October 31 in the Southern Hemisphere
Of all the festivals, Beltane is the most flagrantly joyful and sensuous as Nature is bursting forth with beauty and excitement. This was the Celtic beginning of summer, and also marked an important transition for the people of Fairy, for it was the time when the Milesian Celts landed on the shores of south-west Ireland. With this, the last of the magical peoples,the Tuatha de Danann, receded from the the world of humans into the Hollow Hills and became the people of the Sidhe.
However, they and the other fairy folk have not gone very far. You will find them dancing in a bluebell wood or skipping in the sunshine,sheltered by a greening hedge. Beltane is the time when good fairies reign supreme and bad fairies retreat. Fairies are very active now and may try to steal butter,or some of the ritual fire that used to be ignited on hilltops and is still lit by modern pagans.
This is the maypole season, but instead you can always dance around a friendly tree. Link hands with friends, and you may find yourselves spontaneously re-creating the kind of things people used to to do when seeing fairies was commonplace:lingering,walking,and talking, in the open air, away from television,computers,and other modern distractions.
There are many tales of beautiful fairies marrying mortals. Such tales usually end in tragedy, for fairy and human can never truly be joined. Better to borrow some of the fairy enchantment by performing a little magic of your own! Rise early on May Day and wash your face in the dew or simply walk in it. As the rhyme says: “The fairy maid who, the first of May Goes to the fields at break of day, And walk in dew from the hawthorn tree, Will ever handsome be.”
Welsh legend tells how the hero Pwll saw the Lady Rhiannon riding past him at Beltane and, after pursuing her, he eventually won her. Rhiannon is one aspect of the Fairy Queen,riding on her white horse between the worlds. As you sit quietly outside,on a bank in the late spring dusk,listen for the sounds of her horse’s hooves,and open your eyes to the shimmer of her sea-blue cloak. When Rhiannon touches your heart, she will fill it with love and inspiration.
4. Midsummer -
June 22 in the Northern Hemisphere/December 22 in the Southern Hemisphere
This is one of the most magical times of the year, when fairies are very active and visible, playing pranks and even, it is said, stealing away the young and beautiful to join them in the Hollow Hills. The sun is now at the height of its strength and this is an important crossover point,such as the fairies love. For at the Midsummer Solstice the sun stands still, before beginning to recede as we move into the waning half of the year.
Flowers are colorful and luxuriant, and one radiant day seems to merge into another, as late dusk meets early dawn. At no time is the natural world more inviting. Take part in it by going on quests -long walks to sacred spots,evening camping out with the minimum of equipment,to draw close to the mystery that is all around, and to the Fair Folk in particular.
The rose is possibly the most sensuous bloom of all, and at midsummer it is often at its most gorgeous. Roses in the garden are especially likely to attract fairies. Distil water from rose petals and add it to your bath, asking the fairies to lend you some of their enchantment and to help you attract love. Brew tea from rosebuds and drink it,to increase your psychic powers.Plant a rose bush with a friend, to affirm the loving bound between you and invite the fairies into your life.
St.John’s wort is a herb known to break any negative fairy enchantment and drive away depression. Pluck some on Midsummer’s Day and carry it, to keep cheerful.
Look out for water nymphs by streams, or for undines for water elementals on the seashore- or for even the Lady of the Lake herself,rising from the luminous depths.In olden times, these beings were said to have no souls. It is closer to the truth to say that they do not have human morals. Conventions often conceal or feelings, but the beauty of the water fairies opens us to our unconscious tides; see them and let yourself be transformed.
5.Lammas-
July 31 in the Northern Hemisphere/February 2 in the Southern Hemisphere
Lammas is “Loaf Mass,” a christian version of a much older festival known as Lughnasadh, or the “Feast of Lugh.” Lugh was a Celtic god,lord of the Tuatha de Danann, and his name means “bright one.” Lughnasadh is a major fairy festival, and many fairies become active during this period,such as the Russian Polevik, who kicks sleepy harvesters awake. It is also a time when fairies move about in preparation for winter,and processions of them may be seen as a line of twinkling lights moving between the hills in the countryside.
At Lammas, the fields are golden with corn and splashed with red poppies. It is hazy,lazy time of holidays and abundance,but there is an underlying theme of death,for the Corn Spirit must be sacrificed in order to reap the harvest. If you walk out into a field of ripe wheat, you may sense the anger of the nature spirits as what is to be taken from the earth,even thought that is a part of the natural cycle of life.Gather up some ears of wheat and tie them into a bunch with red thread,to make a charm for the coming winter to hang over your hearth. At the same time,pledge an act of caring for the earth,such as clearing a derelict site in your neighborhood or garden, or planting and tending a herb, as payment for what you-and all of us- take from it.
At home, bake your own bread, using the rising of the dough as a spell to ensure that everything prospers in your life. While you are kneading the bread dough, say to yourself “As this dough swells, so may my fortunes increase.” Ask for your own personal Brownie, or house fairy, to come and help your bread rise- and remember to leave some breadcrumbs outside afterward,for the fairies.
Some say that Lugh is lord of the waning year, and his dance- through the waving,whispering corn- is a dance of death. If so, it is a reminder that all things come in cycles,and that everything is united in love and beauty. Stand at the edge of a sun-kissed wheat field and see the shimmer and sway that betrays the presence of Lugh. Take a few moments to feel respect for the earth in your heart, and understand the meaning of the Wheel of Life.
6. Autumn Equinox (Mabon) -
September 21 in the Northern Hemisphere/March 21 in the Southern Hemisphere
At the Autumn Equinox, Nature stands poised between light and dark,but darkness is gaining. The veil between this world and the Otherworld is at its thinnest, and all manner of spirit visitations are more frequent now.
The hedgerows are beaded with berries,and mist lingers in the hollows. Sometimes the wind whistles in from nowhere and tosses baring branches. On other says, the mellow sun caresses the fields with slanting fingers. It is a time for reflection, but also for industry. In days gone by, preserves would be made for winter store and the help of the Good Folk would be sought by country people.
Absorb the atmosphere of the season by going blackberrying. In Celtic countries, there may be a taboo on eating blackberries, because these belong especially to fairies. However, as long as you gather them with respect and do not denude the bramble bushes, they will hardly object. Better still,leave out some of your homemade blackberry pie or wine for them,so that they will bless you. When this month ends, leave the blackberries alone and move on. Also look out for a bramble bush that forms an arch-so much the better if it faces east/west, for that mirrors the passage of the sun. Crawl through this three times on a sunny day to be healed of physical ills, especially rheumatism and skin troubles.
At this mysterious time, pay honor to Queen Mab. Her special gift is to bring dreams and visions to birth within us. She is really one of many manifestations of the Goddess, in her autumnal guise of wise-woman and Lady of Magic, and she is linked with ancient ideas of sovereignty- for the king drew his power from the land, and Mab presided.
Preferably at the Full Moon closest to the equinox,place good-quality wine in a stemmed glass or chalice,and take it into the garden or a secluded place.Raise the glass to the Moon,say, “Mab, I honor you”and pour some of the wine onto the earth. Drink a little and say, “Mab, I drink with you,” Then return home,light a bright-green candle beside your bed,gaze at the flame and say, “Mab,give me wisdom,” Place some jasmine or rose oil on your pillow,extinguish the candle-and drift into Fairyland. This is a little ritual that you can repeat during any Full Moon if you wish.
7. Samhain -
October 31 in the Northern Hemisphere/April 30 in the Southern Hemisphere
Samhain means “summer’s end” and is pronounced “sa-wen.” This ancient Celtic festival at the official start of the winter was later Christianized as Halloween- a time when the dead were remembered. There was always a sinister aspect to Samhain,because certain sacrifices had to be made in order to survive the coming cold weather. Animals had to be slaughtered,and some say that human sacrifice took place to propitiate the spirits. Sacrifice,however, is a corruption of nature worship,for life is hard enough as it is and all we have to do is show respect.
Barrow mounds,shrouded in mist,are particularly eerie places at Samhain. Draw close,if you dare,and sit quietly.Do you hear the strange,far-off noise of fairy music,or the sound of knocking? Maybe the mound will open for you and unearthly light will stream over the barren fields.After Samhain,the earth is given over to the powers of darkness and decay.No crops or berries may be harvested after this time,because the Phooka, a malevolent Irish Fairy,blights them. The true meaning here,of course,is that death and decay have a place in the natural order,requiring due honor and respect lest they get out of hand.
Traditionally, this is the start of the story telling season. While the wind whistles around the eaves or the mist comes down outside,gather family or friends around your hearth- preferably with a real fire burning in it. If you do not have an open hearth,substitute a collection of large,burning candles. Sit round and speak of times gone by and people who have passed over to the other side.Ask the Beloved Dead to be present, if you wish(but note that this is not a seance,and the Beloved Dead are invited,not summoned). Laugh,share funny stories,feast,and drink.
Cerridwen is the Underworld Goddess and the Fairy Hag most associated with this time. In her magic cauldron,she stirs a brew that confers inspiration and transformation. Simmer up a hearty soup of root vegetables or pumpkin, to share with friends,then light a black candle and ask Cerridwen to guide you through the darkness into the light. You will be both safe and wise.
8. ❄️ Yule - ❄️
December 22 in the Northern Hemisphere/June 22 in the Southern Hemisphere
Yule is the Midwinter Solstice, when the sun again appears to stand still,as it did at midsummer,but the season is poised for the return of light. Celebrations of Christ’s birth were moved to coincide with the much more ancient solstice.
As you deck your Christmas tree,remember that the evergreen is a powerful symbol of the enduring life in Nature. Of course,is has a fairy on top of it,confirming that it is a festival of the Fair Folk,who also rejoice in the sun’s rebirth. Decorating your tree is an important magical act,for the decorations are fairy charms. Each member of the family should hang at least one special charm of their own,to enable a wish to come true.
Jack Frost is an active fairy in the cold weather,painting windows with intricate lacework. In Russia he is called Father Frost,the soul of winter,covering the trees in ice. Do not shrink from the frost fairy-go out and wonder at his works and he will reward you with hope and joy,just as in Russia Father Frost brings presents for the children on New Year’s Day.
By far the best-known and most powerful fairy at Yule is Father Christmas himself. Today we know him by his robes of red and white, but in the past he also wore green and other colors. As we have seen,red is the color both of life and death, and many fairies wear red caps. The hearty red of Father Christmas is a sign that he is an Otherworld being-very much alive,but not of this earth. He is recognized all over the world, as Kris Kringle in Germany and Pere Noel in France. In Brazil he is Papa Noel,and in China Dun Che Loa. He is the essence of Yuletide mystery,joy and renewal,and like many traditional fairies, he comes in and out via the hearth.
When all is quiet on Christmas Eve, get ready to welcome Father Christmas- light a candle and look at the stars. Pledge a gift for a friend and one for the world, and ask for a special gift to answer your heart’s desire. Write your wish on a piece of paper and “post” it up the chimney if you have an open fire. If not, burn it in the candle flame. Can you hear those sleigh bells?
Thanks to the way the earth orbits the sun and the way the moon orbits the earth, our calendar year contains thirteen full moons and moon cycles, also called lunations. Here are some traditional correspondences from astrology and folklore.
January is known as the Cold Moon of the Wolf Moon. This is the time for new beginnings, for planning for and conceiving a child, and for making other goals for yourself, your working life, your health goals, and any other aspirations. You should look deep inside yourself and take this time during the Wolf Moon to think about and contemplate what is most important to you, and how you can have what is truly meaningful in your life. The Cold Moon is also when you should perform protection spells for yourself and your loved ones, and rituals of safekeeping for your home and the people and things you really care about.
Februaryis the time of the Wild Moon or the Snow Moon. Now you can begin growing the seeds you planted in your soul during the last month’s Wolf Moon. The Wild Moon is an excellent time for purification rituals and for cleansing old “bad” energy out of your life,your home, your psyche, and your office. The Wild Moon can be a time for great healing,especially after a ceremony for energy cleansing. One of the best cleansing rites you can perform is one for true acceptance of yourself, letting go of all self-loathing, and saying goodbye to your inner critic. A ritual of self-love and recognition would be a wonderful observance of the Wild Moon of February.
March is the Crow Moon or the Seed Moon. It is a time to balance your life energies. After the cleansing and goal-setting of the past two moons, now you can begin to activate your plans. This March Full Moon is also an excellent time to concentrate on prosperity. The Crow Moon is an ideal time for an abundance ceremony.
April is the Hare Moon or the Pink Moon. It is one of the most creative times of the year. This is the moon when you can act on what you have been dreaming of during the earlier moons. You can begin to manifest your deepest desires, both in terms of your aspirations and your amorous side, since the Hare Moon is made for love spells and other rites of romance. Pursue your passions with confidence and optimism.
May is the Merry Moon or the Flower Moon. It is known as the “green month” in terms of green magic and the season where “little folk” or fairies will appear. Nature has now burst into a glorious full spring. In May, your inner wisdom is at its height. Now is the time to connect with nature and explore our beautiful and sacred planet. Rites of spring are a wonderful way to commune with your spirit.
June is the Mead Moon or the Strawberry Moon, also called the Lover’s Moon. Now we can taste the sweetness of life and celebrate our strength and fruitfulness. It is a time of security and protection. Assess the results of all that you have planned and planted in the past months.
July is the Thunder Moon or the Blessing Moon. It is a time for divining meaning and focusing on spirituality. Now we can expand our consciousness and listen to the messages of our dreams. The Thunder Moon is when we receive the blessings of the rain and feel the charged energy of the thunderstorms. The Thunder Moon is an auspicious time for a dream ritual or a divinatory rite.
August is known as the Corn Moon or the Red Moon. This time of year is bursting with health,vitality,and ardor. This is an optimal time to gather friends and family together and celebrate the brightest side of life. Feasting,dancing, and delight are the order of the day.
September is the Harvest Moon or the Singing Moon. Now we see completion of plans and ideas and the harvesting of our crops. Now we reap what we have sown earlier in the year- our thoughts,actions,words,and projects. The Singing Moon is a wonderful time to organize our lives and let go of anything that is no longer working. If something is worn out,broken,or simply does not suit your life anymore, including emotions,patterns,beliefs,and even people, this is the perfect time to let go. Declutter and simplify your life.
October is the Hunter’s Moon or the Falling Leaf Moon. Great transitions are taking place all around you now, and change is also taking place within. Take time to observe and feel these transformations in your life and in the world around you. Notice how the temperature changes,how the trees shed their brightly colored leaves,how the geese and other birds fly south. The Hunter’s Moon should honor the very human need for physical nourishment, warmth, and rest. Seek inner peace now after the hurly-burly of summer. This is the season for relaxation and release. It is a karmic time, during which you can seek karmic completion. You should acknowledge the changing of the seasons with ceremony.
November is the Beaver Moon or the Mourning Moon. At this time you should get in touch with your spirit through introspection.Many countries observe November 1 as Ancestor’s Day and remember the dead through ritual and feasting.
Decemberis the Winter Moon or the Long Nights Moon. This is when we experience a metaphorical death and rebirth. We can alsolight the flame of our hearts and souls through journeys of the spirit.
The “Extra” or Thirteenth Full Moon of the year is the Blue Moon in the expression “once in a blue moon”,which refers to rare and special occasions. It is on that rare occasion when two full moons occur in one calendar month. The Blue Moon is to be used wisely. Take this opportunity to look at your long-term plans and goals and to give thanks for what you have, for the people in your life, and for your good health,children,a job you enjoy,good friends, a comfortable home, and opportunities.
The Blue Moon is also a time for prophecy. Each Blue Moon ritual you create should contain an aspect expressing thanks to the Gods and Goddesses and to Mother Nature, who gave you life.
Do this meditation outside, if you can find a quiet spot. All the natural scents and sounds will intensify your experience. However, it is very important that you should not be disturbed.
Method
Start by relaxing completely. Close your eyes and either imagine the actual place where you are sitting/lying or that you are somewhere else in Nature. Take the time to see this in detail. If you are using the place where you are, do not be surprised if it changes in some way.
Around you there are soft sounds of rustling and scuffling. The undergrowth seems to be moving here and there,this way and that, as if there are creatures within it. Each time you turn around to get a better look, the movement seems to stop. You feel that you are being watched by curious eyes.
The vegetation around you is becoming indistinct. You realize a soft gray mist is rising from the ground,slowly obscuring all that you see. Up, up goes the mist, around and above you, until you find yourself in a bell jar of whiteness. Peace surrounds you, and you wait patiently.
Now the mist is clearing in front of you, revealing a different scene entirely. You see there is a forest path,dark and over-arched by thick branches, winding deep into the heart of the woodland. You know that you must take this path.
You get up and begin to walk into the tunnel of green. Bird calls echo overhead. The air is still and cool, and there is a scent of moss and soil. The earth beneath your feet is springy and even, although the forest grows thick on both sides. As you walk, you are aware that the undergrowth on either side of the path is moving from time to time. Gradually you realize that beings are walking alongside you. As you walk on, they become clearer and clearer, until you can see their faces and fairy forms.
Ahead you can see a dark shape looming. The earthy scent intensifies, and you realize you are approaching the mouth of a cave. You stand before it, and the beings on either side of you stand still too. Beside the path there is a flat stone. You sit on it and wait.
You are becoming aware of a rhythmic sound, like a heartbeat or a muffled drum. The noise is steadily getting louder, and you realize that it is the sound of footsteps approaching. You feel a little apprehensive, but notice that all your companion earth spirits are clustering expectantly at the mouth of the cave, as you also watch patiently and hopefully.
The sound intensifies to a steady boom, until a figure appears in the shadowed arch of the cave. This is a mighty creature,which looks as if he has been hewn from solid rock: gnarled,gray-brown, and sinewy, His feet are like tree roots and his arms like the branches of an oak, and he carries a great club over his shoulder. For a moment you feel afraid, until you notice that above his tangled beard his eyes are brown and twinkling.
This being squats down, and as he does so he looks much more homely. All the gnomes and nature spirits throng around him and he laughs a deep,booming laugh as they climb upon his knees and shoulders and whisper in his ear. All the while he looks sidelong at you, winking and nodding, until you approach a little closer. “Look around you.” he says, and his voice is surprisingly soft, like the rain falling on thirsty ground. “Look around,listen around,feel around!” You look about you, into the green fertile forest. “Here.”. he says, “Is where it all happens. Do you understand? All takes shape,you take shape,everything is.”
Thoughts rise in your mind and feelings within your heart. Ask questions of the Gnome King. Speak to him especially of your plans and ambitions, your practical difficulties, and matters to do with your home,money,and body. Ask how you can proceed in love and harmony with the earth,while finding fulfillment. Don’t be surprised if some of his answers are quite short and to the point.
Soon the time comes to take your leave. Do so respectfully and thankfully. Walk back along the forest path,with such of the earth spirits have chosen to accompany you. As you approach to the place where you began, see that the mist has disappeared and all is normal.Come back gradually to everyday awareness.
Each of the planets rules a day of the week. Use it’s associated metals,crystals, incense,and other elements to strengthen a spell or ritual worked on that day. In addition, the associations with the sun can be used not only on Sunday but with all sun magic, and the Monday associations can be used in all magic. If you are calling a particular archangel,apply the associations of its planet or weekday.
Days Of The Week
☀️Sunday ☀️
Planet: Sun
Archangel: Michael
Color(s): Gold
Element: Fire
Crystals: Amber,carnelian,diamond,clear crystal quartz,tiger eye, or golden topaz
Incense: Cloves,cinnamon,or frankincense
Trees: Bay,birch, or laurel
Herbs and Oils: Chamomile,juniper,rosemary,saffron, or St.John’s Wort
Metal: Gold
Astrological Rulership: Leo
For ambition,power,and success; for fathers; improving health; prosperity; self- confidence; and overcoming bad luck.
Monday
Planet: Moon
Archangel: Gabriel
Color(s): Silver or translucent white
Element: Water
Crystals: Moonstone, mother of pearl, pearl, selenite, or opal
Incense: Jasmine, myrrh, mimosa, or lemon
Trees: Willow or alder
Herbs and Oils: Lotus,poppy, or wintergreen
Metal: Silver
Astrological Rulership: Cancer
For home and family matters,for women (especially mothers and grandmothers),children,animals,fertility,secrets,and psychic gifts.
⭐ Tuesday ⭐
Planet: Mars
Archangel: Samael or Camael
Color(s): Red
Element: Fire
Crystals: Garnet,Bloodstone,Ruby, or Red Jasper
Incense: Dragon’s blood, all spices, ginger, mint, or thyme
Trees: Cypress,Holly, or Pine
Herbs and Oils: Basil,cinnamon,coriander,garlic,pepper, or tarragon
Metal: Iron or Steel
Astrological Rulership: Aries (co-ruler of Scorpio)
For courage,change,independence,overcoming seemingly impossible odds and bullies,energy,passion,strength,perfection,principles,and fierce defense of the vulnerable.
For money making, examinations and tests, learning new things, shot-distance travel, moving, short holidays, repelling envy, malice,spite, and deceit.
♃ Thursday ♃
Planet: Jupiter
Archangel: Sachiel
Color(s): Blue or Purple
Element: Air
Crystals: Azurite,Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite, or Turquoise
Incense: Agrimony, Cedar, Sandalwood, or Sage
Tree: Beech, Oak, or Ash
Herbs and Oils: Borage, cinquefoil, coltsfoot, hyssop, or mistletoe
Metal: Tin
Astrological Rulership: Sagittarius (co-ruler or Pisces)
For expansion,career,leadership,long distance travel, moving, justice, marriage, self-employment,loyalty, male potency,and banishing excesses.
♀️ Friday ♀️
Planet: Venus
Archangel: Anael
Color(s): Green or Pink
Element: Earth
Crystals: Amethyst (also mercury),emerald,jade, moss agate, or rose quartz
Incense: Geranium,rose,strawberry,or vervain
Trees: Almond,apple or birch
Herbs and Oils: Feverfew, mugwort, pennyroyal, verbena, or yarrow
Metal: Copper
Astrological Rulership: Taurus or Libra
For all love magic, fidelity,sacred sex,mending quarrels, environment,fertility, women’s health, gradual growth in all matters, beauty,friendship, reducing the influence of destructive lovers,and possessiveness.
Saturday
Planet: Saturn
Archangel: Cassiel
Color(s): Brown,black,or grey
Element: Earth
Crystals: Haematite, jet, lodestone, obsidian, or smoky quartz
Incense: Aconite,cypress,or patchouli
Trees: Blackthorn or yew
Herbs: Aspen,bistort,comfrey,horsetail, or Solomon’s seal
Metals: Lead and Pewter
Astrological Rulership: Capricorn (co-ruler of Aquarius)
For unfinished business,endings,slow-moving official matters, Locating lost objects,animals,anti-addiction and debt, lifting depression,pain and illness,long-term psychic protection,locating lost objects(as well as animals and people), and establishing boundaries.
After a full day, ordinary daytime slips into an otherworldly realm of twilight; this is the most mystical hour. Here in this time and space where it is no longer day but not yet night, Twilight Fairies dance,play,flutes, and bless the oncoming night. Eventide approaches, and Twilight Fairies, though not rambunctious or loud, are excited to accept the decline of the sun-filled day because the night is given to mysteries and dreams.The Fairy Queen is sure to emerge or witness Twilight Fairies caper in their starry robes and moonbeam caps of creamy glowing white.
These sweet,playfully curious and furtive fairies want to draw us out of routines, lighten our beleaguered woes, and cool us in the soft shadows of our innate goodness. Twilight Fairies want us to draw near one another, to whisper kind thoughts and keep a sense of mirth, no matter what the day had brought. Fairies of Twilight surround us with excitement mixed with holiness as we give over to the moon rising.
How To Connect With Twilight Fairies
If you’d like to blend with the Fairies of Twilight, know that they invite you to their celebration. Drawing near to this magical space and time, it is best to go outside and watch the light as it changes, to see the sun go down and notice the way the trees,leaves,grass, and water transform in a wonderfully, almost eerie way. Invite friends and family over and set up a twilight dinner table outside (in warmer weather) using only candles for lighting and you’ll experience the enchanting sweetness of Twilight Fairies, as all of your sense the intimate thrill of the waning day, marveling at the approach of the night.
Use herbs in a pouch, or while cooking, and stir the mix or infusions to empower the spell to protect the home, any possessions, your workplace, and property. Use incense in sticks, cones, or as a powder incense and burn it on heated charcoal blocks and use a lighted incense stick like a smoke pen to write empowerments or symbols.
Allspice- for money,passion,swift-moving,or urgent matters.
Basil- for fidelity,prosperity,protection,and fear of flying.
Chamomile(Roman) and Chamomile(German)- for healing,babies,children, animals,and reversing bad luck. It also helps to attract money and is helpful in family matters.
Cedar/Cedar Wood- for healing,cleansing bad influences,negative thoughts,and harmony.
Cinnamon- for passion,regaining money after loss, urgently needing money and psychic awareness.
Dragon’s Blood- for fierce protection,anti-curse,any major enterprise, and male potency.
Fennel- for travel,house sales,and moves. It helps to banish and keep harm away from people,animals, and places.
Frankincense- For wealth,courage,joy,career,success,and travel. Also used in formal rituals.
Hyssop- For making a love commitment;healing;spirituality;all forms of protection, especially from psychic attack;and as an infusion to cleanse artifacts.
Juniper- purifies homes; protects against accidents,thieves,and illness;and male potency.
Lemongrass/Lemon- repels spite,malice,and gossip. It also helps with psychic awareness and travel.
Lemon Verbena- For breaking a run of bad luck,protection against negativity, the Evil Eye, and ill-wishing.
Mint and Peppermint drives negativity from objects and places,and brings money, health,love, and success.
Myrtle- For a lasting marriage,mature love, domestic happiness,property, and security.
Myrrh- For healing,peace,purification,overcoming grief, and protection against evil.Can be used in formal rituals and in moon magic.
Pine- Drives away harm from the home and family, especially newborn infants, cleansing negativity and malice, guarding property, and premises.
Rosemary- For learning,love,fidelity,prosperity,and banishing malevolence.
Sage- For longevity,good health,examinations,interviews,tests,protection of home and family,slow-growing prosperity, and wisdom.
Sandalwood- For spiritual awareness and healing,leadership,justice, compensation,and sexuality. Can be used in formal rituals.
Tarragon- The dragon herb,courage,and anti-bullying,and the shedding of old burdens,guilt,fears,and destructive relationships.
Thyme- Psychically cleanses the home,possessions,vehicles and land,health, memory of past worlds,and drives away nightmares and phantoms of the night.
Vertivert- For love, breaks a run of bad luck, protects against theft and negativity.
Like dogs and cats, not every dragon is exactly the same. Different types of dragons are determined by the number of limbs they have or the other creatures they resemble.
1. Amphitere
These dragons are a hybrid, part snake and part bird. They have the body of a serpent from their head to their tail, and their wings (similar to bat wings) sprout from their neck. Depending on the depiction, they might have forelimbs, but they never have any hind limbs.
2. Drake
In Middle English, Drake actually means dragon. This type has four limbs. They have low slung bodies with their bellies skimming the ground. They look similar to lizards, but are much larger.
3. Hydra
These dragons are water serpents with multiple heads. Every time one is chopped off, another will grow back in its place. Sometimes, these dragons also have additional tails, wings, or arms.
4. Eastern
These dragons possess great wisdom. They contain the body of a snake, belly of a frog, scales of a carp, head of a camel, horns of a giant stag, the eyes of a hare, ears like a bull, a neck like an iguana, paws like a tigers, and claws like an eagle.
5. Wyvern
These dragons are highly aggressive. They possess the head of a dragon (which is wedge-shaped like a crocodile), the wings of a bat, and a long serpent’s tail. They can either have lizard legs or bird legs.
6. Anthropomorphic
These dragons have human traits. They are tripedal with shortened forearms, which means they are unable to walk on all fours like other dragons. In some depictions, they will also have humanlike digits with fingernails and toes. Not only do they possess physical human qualities, but they also take on human behaviors as well.
7. Dragon Beasts
These creatures are hybrids of avian species and serpents. They will either have the head of a dragon, the tail of a dragon, or the ability to transform into a dragon. They can also contain the traits of other animals, so they might have cobra fangs or crocodile heads.
8. Western
These dragons are the servants of sorcerers. They have crocodile scales covering their body and a barbed tail. Their heads can contain either horns, antlers, or a crest. They can also spit fire and other deadly fumes.
9. Lindworm
These dragons have the head of a horse with a mane covering their neck. Their heads are oversized with bright eyes that burn like coals and their mouth is wide enough to swallow any human man or woman whole.
10. Wurm
These dragons are serpents with coils that can wrap around hills. They can exhale noxious fumes and move at a quick speed. You can spot them by their horns, large fangs, and bright, wide eyes.
11. African Dragon
Some people do not actually consider these creatures to be dragons because of their shape. They look more like serpents because they do not have any legs or arms. They resemble giant snakes.
12. Oriental
Oriental dragons are not dangerous. They are guardians. They protect the heavens and guard the people. They have four legs with four toes on each foot and a serpentine body without any wings attached.
13. Dragonnet
These dragons look exactly the same as Western dragons — except they are much smaller in size. They range from the size of a finger to the size of a human. Despite their size, they are dangerous because they hunt in packs and have poisonous blood that is lethal when it touches your skin.
14. Cockatrice
These dragons are either red or green with a yellow underbelly. They have scales covering their body and leather wings. They have poisonous breath, a beak that can kill, and eat anything they see moving.
The Most Famous Dragons
It doesn’t matter if you’re reading stories from Japan, China, Persia, or Europe — because there are dragons in each one. Mythology is filled with stories of winged creatures, both good and evil. Here are some of the most notable ones:
1. Yamata no Orochi
This dragon comes from Japanese mythology. It is an evil dragon with eight heads and eight tails. Every year, he devours a maiden as a sacrifice.
2. Fafnir
Fafnir comes from Norse mythology. He used to be a greedy dwarf, but a curse transformed him into a dragon.
3. Fucanglong
This dragon comes from Chinese mythology. It is an underworld dragon who guards buried treasures, specifically a magical pearl that multiplies when touched.
4. Zmey Gorynych
Zmey Gorynych comes from Slavic mythology. It has three heads and seven tails. It was famously attacked by the warrior Dobrynya Nikitich, but it took three full days of fighting before it was slain.
5. Jawzahr
Jawzahr comes from Persian mythology. It spends all of its time in the sky, chasing around the sun and the moon. Whenever a solar eclipse occurs, it is said that Jawzahr has finally caught up to the sun and moon and swallowed them.
6. Ladon
Ladon comes from Greek mythology. It had 100 heads and wrapped itself around a tree to guard golden apples. He was famously defeated by Hercules after he dipped an arrow into the gall of hydra and stuck the poison into Landon’s flesh.
7. Krak’s Dragon
This dragon comes from Polish folklore. It gets its name from a peasant boy named Krak who defeated it. Krak left a meal of three roasted sheep full of sulfur and hot spices beside the dragon’s cave. When it ate the meal, its gut exploded, killing it.
8. Ayida-Weddo
This dragon is the rainbow serpent who holds up the heavens. Whenever a rainbow is seen in the sky, it is the twin personalities of Ayida-Weddo with the red part of the rainbow identifying as male and the blue part as female. It is also said that Ayida-Weddo’s droppings help nourish the land and the mountains.
9. Kukulkan
Kulkulkan is a feathered serpent from Mesoamerica. It is considered the protector of craftsmen, the rain-maker, the wind-blower, and the fire-bringer. However, this peace-loving dragon was not a fan of bloodthirsty sacrifices.
10. Kur
Kur comes from Sumerian folklore. It lives in the void above the earth’s layer and below the sea. Because of its home underground and its wicked ways, it is commonly associated with the underworld.
Fairies of the flowers are filled with light and fluttering energy, their wings like silken petals, iridescent as a dragonfly’s wings. In fact, you may think you saw a dragonfly when in actuality it was a Flower Fairy you saw. They’re lovely, each to each, with satin and silky skirts, tiny seed like ballet slippers, and greatly colored petal hats and collars. They’re sensual yet modest,bold yet coy. Their allure is intoxicating. They are pure sexual,fruitful energy. They carry different traits, some receptive, others assertive and each conduct specific duties. Some are lovely,dainty fairies who are also shy and a bit sensitive, for all their pride and glorious beauty. They need adoration and respect or they feel faint and their mood wilts. They do everything they can to earn praise since they aim to do only one thing, and that is to give beauty to the world through their fecundity.
How Flower Fairies Help Us
Flower Fairies make it possible for humans to live through their focus on pollination and fruitful fulfillment of life giving life.They help nectar flow to attract and seduce bees to spread pollen. In our lives symbolically, they produce in us the desire to germinate ideas and see our own potential realized, to sweeten our judgement as they suggest we develop our own advantageous flowering through worthwhile pursuits. They remind us that we are benefactors to others, and bear plenteous gifts to share.
How To Connect With Flower Fairies
If you want to feel sexy, align with Flower Fairies! Try looking at life in a daring new way, freeing yourself of the weight of worry and allowing others to breathe their own air, to do as they choose to do, to learn through life as they deem best for them. Flower Fairies focus on their own great beauty and pay less attention to other flowers, and this is what each flower you behold (by admiring them on the stem or picking and arranging them in your home) beckons you to do. Flower Fairies want you to connect with them and receive the deep gratitude and love of self that they embody. The best way is to bring flowers in and pay attention to them. Admire them profusely and dance around them. Put flowers at your bedside and on tables throughout the home. Let them know you understand their exquisiteness. This will enhance your alluring qualities, bringing out your natural refinement and grace.
Remember playing in the mud as a kid, maybe making mud pies or getting covered in it, and feeling happy to squish it between your fingers and toes? Fairies of the Earth are at work underfoot, they’re the entities that govern the turn of the soil, helping the insects and worms that keep soil aerated and healthy. They encourage seeds, helping them germinate, and then coax the roots, urging them to have bold confidence to claim the soil for themselves. Earth Fairies are stocky with dark green,clay red, or brown hues. They have wings that resemble beetles shiny wings.They’re dense in appearance rather than holographic. They’ll brush against your ankles as you walk, playfully tugging at you through the mud or pricking your bare feet with tiny sticks or thorns, just out of rambunctiousness. They are seen best in the gloaming light at the end of day, as they like to catch a glimpse of the Residential Fairy Queen who passes at twilight.
How Earth Fairies Help Us
Earth fairies know that we come from dust and shall return to it, and that all living things on Earth eventually break down into the soil, in one form or another. While we are alive, the Fairies of the Earth long to claim us as the Earth’s gravity and magnetic pull show us that our place is naturally the ground we walk on. They help us understand intrinsically that we thrive from the root up, and need a foundational base in which to grow truly strong. The electrons and healthy bacteria emitted through the earth have great health benefits to us, shifting our moods and regulating bodily organs. Children instinctively run outside barefoot, and adults should too! (always making sure its safe and there’s nothing harmful that can prick your feet). Earth Fairies want us to be and feel grounded, to receive the gifts from the core of the Earth into our own core, and their mission is to give us reason to stabilize our lives through real depth; they want us to take root and know we belong.
How To Connect With Earth Fairies
Go outside as often as you can and walk barefoot. Try to get your feet against the actual ground, and simply feel yourself there, your weight sinking in or being fully supported by it. Earth Fairies will be present as you are infused with pure energy in the form of electrons, receiving and connecting with the biological rhythms of your planet. And don’t be shy about digging, rending to gardens, and reaching with bare hands into the earth. You may not be making mud pies or sand castles anymore, but there are great benefits of getting dirty and standing upon or getting into the rich soil.
A Map on which you have marked the places where you and the friend live, to the right of the candle
Timing:Wednesday, preferably on a windy day. (not obligated to be on a wednesday)
The Spell
Light the candle, saying, “The distance fades,miles disappear. When I think of you, I know you’re here.”
Draw a line in pen on the map from where you are to where your friend is living; saying: “ Joined we are in friendship, a friendship just as strong, Across the world, across the street, our hearts and minds will always meet.”
Leave the candle burning, go outdoors, face the direction in which your friend lives, call his name, and send a message of love.
Follow up with a social media post, a letter, or an email before the candle is burned through.
You are the kindest thing that ever happened to me, even if that is not how our tale is told. When everyone else told me I was destined to be a forgotten nymph that nurtured flowers and turned meadows gold, You saw that the ichor that resides in me demanded it’s own thrown. You showed me how a love like ours can turn even the darkest, coldest realm into the happiest of homes.
To see a fairy in your dream indicates that you are in search of some help or advice for a problem or decision, but may not want to directly admit you need help. In particular, if the fairy is evil, then it suggests that an aspect of yourself needs to be set free. The fairy is also symbolic of your soul and the feminine aspects of yourself.
Ningyo is a Japanese water fairy who cries pearls instead of tears. Some say that Ningyo has the head of a human and the body of a fish. Others believe it is clad in sheer silk robes that move about it, like waves. Ningyos dwell in gorgeous palaces beneath the sea, and are very seductive.
Urashima Taro was a young fisherman with a kindly nature. One day, while returning home, came upon some youths tormenting a turtle.When he could not make them stop, he offered to buy the creature from them. The youths grabbed his money and ran, so the fisherman place the poor turtle in the shallows and watched as it recovered and swam away. Out in his boat the next day, Urashima heard someone calling his name. Looking down, he saw the turtle he had rescued, and was amazed when it invited him to visit the King’s Palace beneath the waves. Urashima climbed on its back and the turtle grew much larger, taking him down to a magnificent palace. Brilliant fish ushered him into the presence of a lovely Sea Princess, who told Urashima that she was, in fact, the turtle he had rescued. The fisherman was utterly smitten, and he and the maiden lived in bliss for three days. Urashima then became worried about his parents and insisted on visiting them. His lady gave him a small box as a talisman, with instructions NOT to open it. Urashima promised to obey.
On returning to his village, he was dismayed, for everything was different, and folk told of a young fisherman who had disappeared 300 years ago.With nothing left of this home, Urashima could only return to the underwater palace, but first he rested on the shore in bewilderment. Seeking some answers, he pulled out the talisman box and opened it. A violet mist rose from it and enveloped him, whereupon he crumbled to dust.
This tale warns us- as so many do- that time passes differently in Fairyland, and that if we forget our world, we may not get back to it. It warns of too great an immersion in fairy matters, but also, in a sense, of too little. It was Urashima’s lack of faith and questing human mind that killed him. Our error is to try to have our cake and eat it,too!
