I am a believer.

Mock me if you wish, but I steadfastly believe in the little people. They are everywhere. They influence nature, our environment and our attitudes to life. In fact, your own childhood belief system rested on what you read in fairy tales. And you'll be surprised at how influential fairy tales and faeries themselves have been, and still are, over our culture, religions and morals. Even the most cynical of you out there cannot deny it.

Still not convinced?

Well, just for you, I'm going to share my own experiences with faeries, beginning at the beginning, when I first encountered a faerie of my own. I hold the hope that your imagination will once more be touched by the folk at the bottom of the garden. But, first, I shall fill you in with the tale of faerie folklore that has affected our culture for centuries.

Where to start?

The Beginning

In the United Kingdom, faerie legend mainly began in Celtic Scotland, Ireland and Southwest England, with its roots leading back to Paganism. The peoples of ancient Ireland were split into two races; the visible race (Celts) and the invisible race (Faeries or Sidhe). In Irish legend the Tuatha de Danann branch of the spirit race, or Sidhe ("shee"), were forced to take refuge from the Milesian people to the land of Tir na nog (Land of Eternal Youth), a place few mortals escape from alive. In fact, the Tuatha de Danann knights were said to be giant in size, but over the course of time, legend has dwindled them into diminutive beings, but with huge power and beauty. Finvarra, king of the Sidhe and thought to be King of the Dead too, still holds court in his palace, Tara, in the Hill of Knockma, the Tuatha de Danann world.

As well as this race, ancient Irish folklore tells of a race of Fenian heroes; noble warriors who fought for the Fiana, a great fighting force of Ireland. In Scotland, the Seelie Court is said to be home of the Daoine Sidhe (deena shee). They are supposedly fallen angels who live underground and underwater.

From the Sidhe legend derived such faerie legends as the Heroic Faeries and the Medieval Faeries. King Aurthur of England was said to be of Heroic Faerie descent and was even tended by four faerie queens on the island of Avalon. He is said to still be waiting deep within the hill to this day; more proof that faerie folklore continues to be as strong today than ever.

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                                                  To page 2 of "Faerie Folk"