It is considered the world over that faerie are the domain of the child and in our culture in particular, for this century at least, they have stayed that way. Until now that is. We are now seeing a new page being slowly and tentatively opened in their magical and elusive history, for the faeries are emerging as magical beings in their own right, no longer content to belong to childhood, but the sensual and powerful beings that they once were when they existed alongside the Gods; some even considered to be gods and goddesses themselves. When we use the term faerie we are seldom talking about the Tinkerbell’s of this world, but the myriad of magical beings who inhabit the Land of Faerie, be they unicorn, elf, winged sylph, mermaid or trowie these are the faerie beings that colour the life of the faerie witch and allows them to walk this pathway of life with one foot in the Otherworldly Realms and the other firmly in reality. A faerie witch is someone who belongs to both worlds and follows the faerie’s messages of how to help others and/or the planet at this time of environmental (and human) fragility.

Here’s the thing – faerie beings belong to the natural world and that is why of course the UK and Scotland in particular is drenched in faerie legends. We have a wild landscape and wild faerie beings to go with it! Scotland is rich in faerie diversity and you will find without having to delve too far, that the faeries have only been considered child’s play in relatively recent history. In centuries past the fey were respected and feared by housewives, farmers and all who worked the land and were country dwellers. They knew that the faerie’s were really the spirits of the land and even today in remote areas of Scotland you will find that local people will not build on their ‘mounds’ which are considered to be faerie land and if a road is to be built through a faerie mound, local opposition in favour of the faeries has been known (yes, as recently as 2006) to halt construction and make planners consider another route! It will come as no surprise then, that if these beings belong to nature; this is why they are making a comeback in our consciousness at a time when our world is in jeopardy. They are reaching out to us to help us find the spiritual dimension once again in our natural world – a knowledge that our ancestors regarded as second nature. With the help of the faeries we can regain that knowledge and begin little by little to make steps to bring our environment back into harmony.

• Make a special place in your garden to befriend the faeries. The bottom of your garden is of course ideal! Find a secluded place to make into a faerie friendly grove and decorate with crystals, seashells, tinkling wind chimes, faerie inspired statues and anything that reminds you of the faeries. A tree stump is ideal or a clump of wild flowers.
  § Make this your special place to leave presents for the faeries. Always leave these in natural or faerie friendly containers such as shells, half a walnut shell, little wooden bowls, a cup from a children’s china tea set, a large leaf. Use your imagination; think faerie and you can’t go wrong! The fey dislike most metals and anything that is unnatural; stick to these guidelines and you will present a gift to the fey that they will be truly touched by.
• Leave them a present of one of their favourite things. Faerie Lore tells us that these are honey, cake, bread, milk and cream. Leave these in small amounts in your faerie grove whenever you feel inspired to connect with the fey. Faeries can’t actually very often transfer physical gifts to their own ‘astral’ realm; however, it is the love and good intentions that you leave your gift which is transferred to Faerie Land.
• When you leave your faerie gift simply ask that the faeries reach out and make themselves known to you. Take a few moments to quietly close your eyes; imagine yourself surrounded by faeries in a ring around you, bringing a wonderful light of peace and harmony. If you are serious in your intentions to befriend the fey and are pure in heart, the faeries will make themselves known
  to you before long. Don’t expect a straight forward reply to your requests, after all, the faeries deal in magic and opening the door to the Land of Faerie is a magical experience from the very beginning.

Good Luck!

This is just a ‘taster’ to ways of contacting the faeries and learning and sharing in the magical and enchanting pathway of the faerie witch. If you would like to find out more then please visit my website at www.faeriecraft.co.uk for more in-depth information.

Alicen Geddes-Ward is the author of two books; Faeriecraft published by Hay House (2005) and a novel on a faerie and magical theme; The Kiss of Two Worlds published by Winged Feet Productions (2006). Alicen and Neil Geddes-Ward photograph copyright www.neilgeddesward.com