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The Llewellyn Encyclopedia

Term: fairy

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

The Fairy Ring Oracle Review
Summary: An oracle deck (not a Tarot) with photorealistic (and surrealistic) art that crosses the boundaries between our physical world and the spiritual world of the fairy. It’s ideal for learning about the classical myths of fairies and various ...
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The Golden Bough
The Golden Bough is a reference to a mystical tree branch in Greco-Roman myth. In an ancient tale the hero Aeneas, on a quest, consults a prophetess who is one of the Sibyl at Cumae. The Sibyl instructs Aeneas to break a branch from a certain tree ...
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Review of the Celtic Dragon Tarot
Summary: A deck that will appeal to lovers of dragons, especially in a Celtic context. As this deck follows the RWS "standard," it will be usable by beginners and pros looking for an additional deck to add to their collection. A must for lovers of ...
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Review of the Wiccan Cards
Summary: The Wiccan Cards invite the user’s intuition and imagination into each quiet image. Each card is a doorway leading to worlds waiting to be explored. By going through these charming and deceptively simple portals, seekers can find answers ...
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Review of the Tarot of Mermaids
Summary: The Tarot of Mermaids is an enchanting Rider-Waite-Smith-style deck that can easily be used out of the box for anyone familiar with that system. It is also much more than that, inviting journeys into the murky depths of the waters of our ...
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Review of the Shapeshifter Tarot
Summary: A stunning and transformative artistic deck that is good as an additional deck with a focus on major life changes and magickal work including meditation, shapeshifting, and spellwork. However there are some flaws and the differences between ...
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Review of The Fey Tarot
Summary: The Fey Tarot invites you into a world of joy and magic. The faeries in these cards are not traditional English spirits but altogether different and completely enchanting. Likewise, the meanings of the cards and the messages they give are ...
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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 Tarot of Jane Austen
Summary: The Tarot of Jane Austen beautifully blends Tarot and the beloved characters and stories of Jane Austen’s classic novels. The marriage of this theme with Tarot is elegantly mastered without feeling forced or contrived. Within these cards, ...
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Curiosity is a great cure-all because it generates energy and enthusiasm. Even if you don’t have much control over your present circumstances, you can nevertheless indulge your curiosity with simple tarot readings. The following is a “card search” technique that gives you something to look forward to. As you shuffle your deck,... read this article
The Hats We Wear in Tarot
The Astrological Elements: How Compatible Are Your Sun Signs?
The Everyday Clairvoyant: What’s Your Gift? (And Does It Help You Clean The House?)
Court Cards, Part I: The Kings of Tarot
Court Cards, Part II: The Queens of Tarot

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