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The Llewellyn Encyclopedia

Term: faery

DEFINITIONS

Fairy: An imaginary [sic] supernatural being or spirit, supposed to assume a human form (usually diminutive), either male or female, and to meddle for good or evil in the affairs of mankind; a fay. See elf. "Elves and fairies in a ring."--Shakespeare
source: Merriam-Webster, 1927

Fairy: A realm of nonhuman entities associated with the natural world; also the entities themselves. Technically speaking, an inhabitant of Faery is a fay, not a faery or fairy, but the terms have become totally confused over the last half-dozen centuries or so. The exact nature of Faery and its inhabitants has been a subject of quite a bit of debate down through the years, in and out of the Western occult traditions.

Entities of the sort later known as fays, elves, and the like can be found in ancient Greek and Roman sources, where they blend in seamlessly with the realm of nature spirits and minor gods – the background fabric of classical religion. This same attitude can be found in Germanic and Celtic traditions, where the boundaries between gods and elves are impossible to draw.

Current ideas about faery in the occult community range across the spectrum from Jungian analyses that conceptualize them as psychological realities through Theosophically derived teachings that see them as participants in another current of evolution (one that starts with elementals and proceeds through faeries, devas, and angels to archangels and beyond), to Pagan conceptions that interpret them as simply one part of the complex fabric of spiritual reality, bring the wheel around full circle. Which of these is closest to the truth, only the fays know – and they’re not saying.
source: The New Encyclopedia of the Occult, John Michael Greer (Llewellyn Publications)

Fairy: Fairies are viewed in many modern Wicca/Witchcraft traditions as spiritual beings whose actions maintain the life force in Nature. The fairy concept has its origins in the Neolithic Cult of the Dead in Old Europe and to the ancient burial mounds of that period.
source: Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft, Raven Grimassi (Llewellyn Publications)

Also See: faery

ARTICLES

Review of the Faery Wicca Tarot
Summary: A complex deck that can lead to intense readings by intermediate and advanced readers, it is also appropriate for those following Kisma’s Faery Wicca tradition. The Irish names will take dedication to master, but the usefulness of extra ...
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Flower Fascinations from A–Z
The folklore of flowers is a fascinating subject and it is simple to work into natural spells and charms. Check out this alphabet of common garden blossoms and see what type of natural magick you can add to your next spell or charm, by employing the ...
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Beltane Ritual
Setup Items for this ritual include: Two white candles for deities; Four candles for the directions in pastel shades or colors of bright flowers; Chalice; Athame; Sweet juice such as peach nectar; Shelled sunflower seeds on a plate suitable for the ...
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Review of the Celtic Oracle
Summary: The twenty-two oversized cards of the Celtic Oracle provide both an excellent divination tool as well as an introduction to Celtic studies. It elegantly combines Celtic astrology with the Ogham (or Celtic alphabet) and tree symbolism ...
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Review of the Celtic Tarot
Summary: Beautiful deck made in the Rider-Waite-Smith pattern, but with a unique Major Arcana and a focus on Celtic myth and legend. Perfect for Celtic Wiccans and all Pagans drawn to Celtic lore. Beside being good for doing divination (especially ...
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From Freemasonry, by Mark Stavish In 1717, four lodges located in London came together and created the first Grand Lodge, the oldest Masonic Grand Lodge. It is important to re- member that this is the date given for the formation of the Grand Lodge of England, not the beginning of Freemasonry. For the Grand Lodge to have been created, lodges... read this article
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