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Do you wanna go watch the sunlight pierce the leaves of the forest with me?
Death Witchcraft: An Exploration
Death witchcraft is a branch of occult practice deeply connected with the mysteries of life, death, and the transition between the two. It involves working with the energies surrounding death, the afterlife, ancestors, spirits, and the unseen realms that lie beyond physical existence. The practice is often misunderstood due to its association with darkness, fear, and taboo. However, death witchcraft is a deeply transformative and powerful path, one that offers healing, guidance, and a deeper understanding of existence and mortality. It is not necessarily about harming others, but rather engaging with the sacred and mysterious forces of life and death in ways that can lead to empowerment, spiritual growth, and the honoring of those who have passed.
Core Principles of Death Witchcraft
Death witchcraft revolves around several key principles:
• Honor and Respect for Ancestors: Ancestor veneration is an integral aspect of death witchcraft. Practitioners often work with ancestral spirits, seeking guidance, wisdom, and protection from those who came before them. Through rituals, offerings, and prayers, death witches maintain strong connections to their ancestors, ensuring their spirits are honored and respected. This work can help heal generational trauma, discover hidden family wisdom, and preserve the energy of the ancestors within the practitioner’s own lineage.
• Reverence for the Cycle of Life and Death: Death witchcraft embraces the natural cycle of life, acknowledging that death is as much a part of life as birth. It does not seek to control or avoid death, but rather understands and respects its role in the cosmic order. Death witches work with death as a transformative force—whether through spiritual transformation, endings, or transitions. Their practice includes rituals for rebirth and regeneration, as well as rituals to honor the dead and assist them in their journeys to the afterlife.
• Communion with Spirits: Death witches frequently engage in communication with spirits, especially those of the deceased. This can include ancestral spirits, beloved departed, and even spirits who may still be trapped between worlds. Communication is facilitated through divination tools like spirit boards (ouija boards), pendulums, scrying, or simply invoking spirits during meditative or ritual work. Some death witches work as mediums, facilitating communication between the living and the dead.
• Working with the Underworld and Deities of Death: Many death witches also work with deities or spirits associated with death and the underworld. In various cultures, these deities are seen as guides for the dead, as well as rulers of death and the afterlife. Deities such as Hecate (Greek goddess of the underworld), Hel (Norse goddess of the dead), Anubis (Egyptian god of mummification and the afterlife), and Baron Samedi (Haitian Vodou loa of the dead) are frequently invoked in death witchcraft for their wisdom, protection, and assistance in working with death-related energies.
• Rituals and Ceremonies: Death witches often perform rituals and ceremonies to mark and honor death. These may include funeral rites, memorial services, or specific rituals that allow the practitioner to connect with deceased loved ones, guide souls into the afterlife, or work through personal grief. Rituals can be solitary or communal and may take place in sacred spaces such as graveyards, cemeteries, or even the practitioner’s home altar.
Magickal Practices in Death Witchcraft
• Necromancy: A cornerstone of death witchcraft is necromancy, the practice of communicating with and working with the spirits of the dead. Necromancers—often considered to be death witches—may use tools like spirit boards, pendulums, crystals, or scrying mirrors to summon and communicate with spirits. Necromancy can also involve rituals to help spirits move on, protect the living from malevolent spirits, or gain insight into future events by consulting the deceased.
• Spirit Work: Spirit work goes hand in hand with necromancy, though it is not always about divining or commanding spirits. Spirit work in death witchcraft involves developing a deep relationship with the spirits of the dead, listening to their messages, and sometimes offering spiritual assistance. Death witches may dedicate spaces on their altars or in their homes to honor these spirits, offering food, trinkets, or symbolic items to maintain good relationships and receive guidance.
• Psychic Development: Many death witches develop their psychic abilities to perceive spirits, energies, and otherworldly dimensions. This may involve cultivating clairvoyance, clairaudience, or clairsentience (the ability to perceive spiritual energy or communicate with the dead). Through meditation, divination, and dream work, practitioners can enhance their sensitivity to the spirit world and develop the skills necessary to work with death in a more intimate way.
• Death-Related Divination: Death witches often use divination to understand the mysteries of life and death. They may practice tarot, runes, or bone reading, methods in which the symbols or objects used represent the interconnectedness of life and death. For example, certain tarot cards like Death or The Hanged Man symbolize transformations, endings, and rebirths. Practitioners may turn to these tools to gain clarity on matters of life transitions, cycles, and endings.
• Baneful Magick: Some branches of death witchcraft include working with baneful magick—spells meant to harm, curse, or protect against malevolent forces. This can involve using death-related symbols, graveyard dirt, or other elements connected to death. However, these practices should be approached with caution, as they are often considered ethically and spiritually dangerous, carrying consequences that may affect the practitioner.
Death witches can be spiritual guides for those dealing with grief, loss, or personal transformation. In many cultures, they may serve as shamans, healers, or mediators between the living and the dead. They may be called upon to perform rituals for the deceased, help souls find peace, or provide guidance to the living regarding their own mortality or transitions.
They also play an important role in facilitating spiritual healing. Many death witches assist individuals in releasing attachments to loved ones who have passed or help them make peace with death. They may use rituals to help heal grief or even to address fears surrounding death. By acknowledging and embracing death, these practitioners help others live more fully, knowing that death is an inevitable part of existence.
Although death witchcraft can seem mysterious or dark, it is not evil. In fact, it is an inherently respectful practice that seeks to understand, honor, and make peace with the natural world’s cycles. However, as with any form of magick, it is crucial that practitioners approach death witchcraft with respect, responsibility, and reverence for the forces they work with. Working with spirits, especially those of the dead, requires a deep level of discernment, sensitivity, and ethical awareness. Practitioners must be cautious when invoking spirits, ensuring they maintain healthy boundaries and avoid harming others.
Death witchcraft is a deeply transformative and sacred path that connects practitioners with the timeless mysteries of life and death. It is a practice that encourages reverence for the dead, for ancestors, and for the cycle of existence itself. Through communication with spirits, necromantic practices, and rituals focused on transformation, death witches help others understand their relationship with death and the afterlife. The practice offers spiritual growth, healing, and empowerment, guiding both practitioners and their communities to embrace death as a natural part of the human experience—an experience to be honored and respected, not feared.
2026 Witches' Calendar
January 3 ● Full Moon in Cancer (Wolf Moon) January 18 ● New Moon in Capricorn February 1 ● Imbolc February 1 ● Full Moon in Leo (Snow Moon) February 17 ● New Moon in Aquarius February 26 - March 20 ● Mercury Retrograde March 3 ● Full Moon in Virgo (Worm Moon) March 19 ● New Moon in Pisces March 20 ● Ostara April 2 ● Full Moon in Libra (Pink Moon) April 17 ● New Moon in Aries May 1 ● Beltane May 1 ● Full Moon in Scorpio (Flower Moon) May 16 ● New Moon in Taurus May 31 ● Full Moon in Sagittarius (Blue Moon) June 20-21 ● Litha June 15 ● New Moon in Gemini June 29 ● Full Moon in Capricorn (Strawberry Moon) June 29 - July 23 ● Mercury Retrograde July 14 ● New Moon in Cancer July 29 ● Full Moon in Aquarius (Buck Moon) August 1 ● Lammas August 12 ● New Moon in Leo August 28 ● Full Moon (Sturgeon Moon) September 11 ● New Moon in Virgo September 23 ● Mabon September 26 ● Full Moon in Aries(Harvest Moon) October 10 ● New Moon in Libra October 24 - November 13 ● Mercury in Retrograde October 26 ● Full Moon in Taurus (Hunter's Moon) October 31 ● Samhain November 9 ● New Moon in Scorpio November 24 ● Full Moon in Gemini (Beaver Moon) December 9 ● New Moon in Sagittarius December 21 ● Yule December 24 ● Full Moon in Cancer (Cold Moon)
How To Set Up a Grimoire (Without Overthinking It)
A grimoire doesn’t need to be ancient, leather-bound, or perfect. It’s simply a record of your practice, your learning, and your growth.
What You’ll Need
any notebook (lined, blank, digital - all valid)
a pen
permission to be imperfect
How To Begin
Decide what this book is for It can be for;
spells
notes
dreams
rituals
reflections
or all of the above
Start with a simple opening page Write something like; "This book holds my learning, my curiosity, and my growth."
Create loose sections (optional) Examples;
Moon notes
Dreams
Spells
Correspondences
Personal reflections you don’t need to fill them evenly.
Write as you learn Your grimoire is allowed to change. Cross things out. Add sticky notes. Grow.
Let it be personal Your handwriting, your words, your understanding - that’s the magic.
A messy grimoire is a used grimoire. That’s a good thing.
EYE OF NEWT, WOOL OF BAT... HERB CODE NAMES IN WITCHCRAFT
"Filet of fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye Of Newt, and Toe Of Frog, Wool Of Bat, and Tongue Of Dog, Adder's Fork, and Blind Worm's Sting, Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing. For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble" - Second Witch, Act IV Scene I, William Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Though, Shakespeare was a master of manipulating words, he doesn't get credit for the macabre sounding ingredients in Macbeth's witches' brew. In fact, as long as mankind has been using plants for food and medicine, we have given them interesting folk names. Throughout history, commonly used plants and herbs have been given different names based on certain attributes of the plant, it's growth habits or even specific reasons it was used for. Common dandelion has been called bitterwort, for it's strong and bitter taste, blowball and puffball because of it's seeding habits, lion's tooth for it's deeply serrated foliage and piss-in-the-bed because of it's diuretic properties. Depending on where you live, you may call Glechoma hederacea creeping charlie or ground ivy; it's also gone by gill over the ground, runaway robin, and lizzie run up the hedge because of it's aggressive runners, cat's foot for the shape of it's leaves, alehoof because it was commonly used in the making of beer and ale, and field balm because it has been used for as a general heal-all herb for balms, salves and teas for thousands of years.
Witches were specifically careful to guard their herbal secrets. They came up with odd and grisly sounding folk names for the plants they regularly used, like eye of newt for mustard seed or wool of bat for moss. Many historians believe that witches used these gruesome sounding names so that their spells and herbal remedies could not be easily copied. Back in Shakespearean times, those who were labeled as witches were usually herbalist, midwives and healers; their livelihood often depended on their knowledge of herbs and their uses. Therefore they created secret code names for the plants they used.
In some cases certain body parts were used as code for the part of the plant used in a spell or herbal remedy. For example, "eye of…" would usually refer to a round shaped blossom or seed of a specific plant; as in eye of newt, which is simply mustard seed. In some cases, an animal name was used in place of a plant name, just like the "newt" would represent mustard plant in eye of newt. Below I've listed some of the common body parts in witchy plant names and their meaning, as well as commonly used animal code names.
BODY PARTS AS PLANT PARTS Eye- Blossom or Seed Heart- Bud or Seed Beak, Bill or Nose- Seed, Bud or Bloom Tongue or Teeth- Petal or Leaf Head- Blossom Tail- Stem Hair- Dried Herbs or Stringy Parts Of Herbs Privates, Genitals Or Semen- Seeds Or Sap Blood-Sap Guts- Roots or Stalk Paw, Foot, Leg, Wing or Toe- Leaves
PLANT NAMES AS ANIMALS Toad- Sage Cat- Catmint Dog- Grasses, Specifically Couchgrass Frog- Cinquefoil Eagle- Wild Garlic Blue Jay- Laurel Hawk- Hawkweed Lamb-Wild Lettuce Nightingale- Hops Rat- Valerian Weasel- Rue Woodpecker- Peony
Secret codes among witches and herbalists There are many other animal/plant associations, and even associations to gods and mythological beings, that were used as plant code names. Like folk names, witchy plant names would have changed by region and era. By combining a body part and an animal from simple lists like these as a code, a witch or herbalist could keep the ingredients of their spell or remedy secret. For example a witch who wanted to sell her herbs might list the ingredients of a tea for insomnia as rat guts and blood of lamb, instead of just valerian root and wild lettuce sap. This would not only prevent the customer from just growing their own valerian (which is actually heliotrope) and wild lettuce, but it also had a much more official witchy sound. Even though these names were crude and sometimes vile, they made the healer sound more legit and gave the tired consumer confidence that they finally found the one magical cure.
Some of these names are still in use today! These days, there are many almanacs of magical herbs and herbal grimmoires available online or at bookstores, that list out Witch Herb/Plant names and even details their uses. Just for fun, I will leave you with a list of some of my favorite witchy plant names.
Ass' Ear- Comfrey Bat's Wing- Holly Leaves Beard Of Monk- Chicory Bear's Foot- Lady's Mantle Bird's Eye- Germander or Speedwell Blind Eyes- Poppy Blood From A Head- Lupine Blood Of Ares- Purslane Blood Of Hestia- Chamomile Bloody Fingers- Foxglove Calf's Snout- Snapdragon Cat's Foot- Ground Ivy Crow's Foot- Wood Anemone Devil's Ear- Jack In The Pulpit Devil's Plaything- Yarrow Dew Of The Sea- Rosemary Dog's Mouth- Snapdragon Dragon's Teeth- Vervain Elf Leaf- Lavender Englishman's Foot- Common Plaintain Fairy Eggs- Nutmeg Flower Of Death- Vinca Goose Tongue- Lemon Balm Graveyard Dust- Mullein Hawk's Heart- Wormwood Juno's Tears- Vervain Jupiter's Beard- Sempervivums Lion's Foot- Lady's Mantle Little Faces- Viola Man's Bile- Turnip Sap Mortification Root- Rose Of Sharon Nose Of Turtle- Turtlehead, Chelone Nosebleed- Yarrow Our Lady's Tears- Lily Of The Valley Old Man's Flannel- Mullein Ram's Head- Valerian Scale Of Dragon- Tarragon Semen Of Ares- White Clover Semen Of Hermes- Dill Serpent's Tongue- Dog's Tooth Violet Sparrow's Tongue- Knotweed Tree Of Doom- Elder Unicorn Root- Boneset Weasel Snout- Yellow Archangel Wool Of Bat- Moss
Reblogging to remind myself to find these grimoires and books cuz I think they'd be hella cool to read.
Animals Master List
Here is a very brief list of symbol meanings of various animals and other shapes. Never feel the need to stick to one definition or meaning, the most powerful correspondences are those that you discover for yourself.
Animal Symbolism
A
Alligator - aggression, survival, adaptability Alpaca - minimalism, generosity, interdependence Ant - team player, worker Antelope - nimble, quick, sensitive Armadillo - active, nocturnal, protection
B Badger - aggression, assertiveness, powerful defense, determination Bat - guardian of the night, cleaner Bear - power, adaptability Beaver - builder, planner Bee - communication, abundance, productivity Bison - survival, fortitude, strength Black Panther - secrets, solitude, stealth Blackbird - mystery, sacred messenger, cosmic knowledge Blue Bird - joy, pleasures, messenger Boar - sacred, cunning, ferocious Bobcat - patience, listening, interpreting Buffalo - sacredness, life builder Bull - strength, warning Butterfly - metamorphosis, carefree, transformer
C Cat - protector, guardian Chameleon - adaptation, patience, perception Cheetah - accuracy, elegance, refinement Chinchilla - curiosity, innocence, warmth Chipmunk - creativity, intuition, exploration Cougar - leadership, courage Coyote - prankster, insight, playful Crab - emotion, security, vulnerability Crane - solitude, independence Cricket - meditation, vibration, spirit Crocodile - longevity, fierceness, power Crow - messenger, clairvoyance, change, ancient wisdom
D Deer - kindness, love, gentleness Dolphin - kindness, play, bridge man to ocean Dove - peace, understanding Dragon - wisdom, nobility Dragonfly - flighty, carefree Duck - intuition, awareness, communication
E Eagle - divine spirit, connection to creator Eel - adaptability, wisdom, inspiration, defense Elk - strength, agility, freedom Elephant - patience, strength, wisdom
F Firefly - illumination, possibility, belief Fox - cunning, provider, intelligence Frog - water element, prosperity, transformation, true love
G Giraffe - graceful, observer, foresight Goose - community, synchronicity, treasure Grasshopper - discipline, balance, freedom Grizzly Bear - hunter, nature’s pharmacist
H Hawk - messenger, observer of the sky Heron - moon magic, shamanic travel, secrets, the logical mind Horse - stamina, nobility, strength Hummingbird - messenger, stopper of time
J Jaguar - confidence, power, preparation
K Koala - slow down, mystery and power of self, soulmates
L Ladybug - luck, enchantments, dreams Leopard - secrets, mystery, sensuality Lion - wisdom, power, mastery Lizard - conservation, agility Lynx - instincts, observation, silence
M Magpie - omens, prophecies Marmot - truth, consciousness, curiosity Moose - headstrong, unstoppable, longevity Moth - wonder, delight, passion Mountain Lion - bravery, freedom, intention Mouse - survival instincts, cunning, observations, shyness
O Orca - healing, spirituality, journey Otter - laughter, curiosity, mischievous Owl - wisdom, truth, patience
P Panda - enjoyment, prosperity, carefree spirit, conservation Peacock - grace, pride, prosperity Pegasus - carrier of lightning Penguin - elegance, survival, imagination Polar Bear - power, fearlessness Porcupine - liesure, nonchalance, wisdom Praying Mantis - intention, hypnotism, perception
R Rabbit - alertness, nurturing Raccoon - fearless, exploration, secrets Ram - determination, new beginning Raven - trickster, teacher, hoarder Reindeer - determination, visionary, magic Robin - new beginnings, good luck, serendipity
S Scarab - eternity, creativity, imagination Scorpion - precision, defense, passion Seahorse - confidence, grace Shark - hunter, survival Skunk - power, respect, protection Snake - shrewdness, transformation Snow Leopard - intuition, solitary, secrets Spider - creative, pattern of life Squirrel - trusting, innocence Starfish - flow, movement, sensitivity Swan - grace, balance, festive
T Thunderbird - caller of rain Tiger - sanctuary, mysticism, passion Tortoise - treasure, guidance, peace, meditation Turtle - self-contained, creative source
U Unicorn - singular, unique
W Wren - divination, strengthening, cleansing Whale - wisdom, provider, cleaner White Peacock - illumination, renewal, attraction Wolf - loyalty, success, perseverance
Z Zebra - clarity, individuality, balance
Other Symbols
All Birds - freedom, messengers from the divinities Angel - guardian of hope and wonder Bear Paw - strength, mobility Cross - redemption, salvation Eye of Horus - protection, nobility, good health Heart - love, fondness Hopi Hand - life, creative, healing Kokopelli - fertility, joy, music Om - the sound of the universe Star of David - union, heart, love Trinity Celtic Knot - long life, eternity Wolf Paw - freedom, success, guidance Yin & Yang - balance, harmony Zuni Bear - good health
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“spirit of the flowers” tiles manufactured in 1874
In the mist
wow september 1st happy halloween everyone!
Things to Research Before Working with the Fae
Research is the most important thing to do before heading into Faery work and witchcraft. You want to have a lot of in depth and versatile knowledge covering many areas of the topic so you’ll be able to understand and interact with the Fair Folk! If you don’t want to work with the Fair Folk you can use this list to help yourself understand them and take the proper measure if you ever stumble upon them. I know the list could go on forever but I’m compiling the topics I find build a good foundation of understanding. I have compiled this list to give those interested guidance and a push in the right direction, it is best you do your own research before asking other’s personal knowledge and opinions!!
The Basics
Terminology ( Fae, faery, fairy, changeling, seelie, unseelie, sidhe, etc)
The Origins of the Fae (Tuatha de Dannan, Aos Sí, Tylwyth Teg)
Faeries in Different Cultures: Celtic (Irish, Scottish, Gaulish, French), Norse, Influences from Greek and Roman culture.
Folklore & Myths!! ex. Oisin and Tír na nÓg , Fenian Cycle, Arthurian Legend.
Celtic Gods, Goddesses & Heroes- strong influences and connections to the Fae
Types of Faeries (study diverse types from pixies,brownies, pooka to Kelpies, Bwbach and Red caps) *Make sure you can at least answer who, what and where about them.
The Otherworlds (Tir na Nog, Caer Arianrhod, Annwn, Alfheim, Svartalfheim, etc.)
Faery Landmarks (fairy tree, fairy ring, fairy hill)
Signs of the Fae
Sacred Trees and Plants (Hawthorn)
Protection!! very important
*Bonus if you learn Celtic Culture
Getting into Working with Them
Connecting to Nature and the Land
How to Banish Faeries & Protect yourself, house, family, etc.
Faery Behaviour and Proper Etiquette
Proper Offerings, How to give an Offering
Animals associated with the Fair Folk and Why? (raven, deer, etc)
Faery Festivals and Holidays (Samhain, Midsummer, Beltane)
Why certain things offend them- iron, saying “thank you”,etc.
The Courts (Seelie, Unseelie, trooping fairies, solitary)
Setting up a Faery Altar
How to work with them in Rituals
Faery Flowers, herbs and crystals
A proper and personal way to communicate with them!!this means developing psychic ability, tarot, meditation, signs, etc.
Hagstones, heptagram/faery star
Some Good Books :)
The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries, by W. Y. Evans Wentz
Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Illes
Enchantment of the Faerie Realm by Ted Andrews
Faery Craft by Morgan Daimler
Celtic Mythology: Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes by Phillip Freeman
**if you have more topics, books or anything else feel free to add some!
Faerie Witch Guide
Altar Items/Symbols/Decorations: Fae stars, Milk, Apples, Wildflowers, Mushrooms, Alcohol, Fairy Statues, Butterfly symbolism, Bee symbolism, Dried or fresh fruit, Fresh water, Plants, Bells, Bubbles, Non-plastic Glitter, Tree symbolism, Dancing, Four-leaf clovers, Nuts and seeds
What not to include on a Fae altar: Anything plastic or unnatural like plastic glitter (the fae hate littering), Chocolate (very dangerous for animals), Himalayan Salt (it gets its pink color from iron and iron repels fae), anything iron
Stones and Crystals: Pink tourmaline, Rose quartz, Aura quartz, Chrysoprase, Amethyst, Peridot, Opal (opalite), Tree agate, Moss agate, Dyed quartz, Holey stones, Goldstone, Copper, Honey calcite, Calcite (any)
Herbs and Plants: Rose, Lavender, Thyme, Chamomile, Blackberry, Apple, Clover, Elderberry, Violet, Bluebells, Lilac, Peony, St John’s Wort, Oak, Holly, Willow, Moss, Ferns, Dandelions, Berries, Heather
Deities: Brigid, Aine, Rhiannon, Lugh, Morrigan
Scents/Incense/Essential Oils: Bergamot, Lavender, Rose, Fir, Pine, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Jasmine, Lemongrass, Strawberry, Violet, Gardenia, Grapefruit, Oakmoss, Tea tree
Natural Gateways (to the Fae realm): Rivers, Stone and Tree Arches, Lakes, Springs, Mountains, Old Trees, Wishing Wells, Hills, Wildflower Fields, Stone Circles, Flower Gardens, Rainbows, Clover Patches, Mushroom Circles
Fae Elements: Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Moon, Sun, Stars
Spells and Magic the Fae can help with: Cottage witchcraft, Kitchen witchery, Garden magic, Prosperity, Happiness, Elemental magic, Art, Life, Animals, Cannabis, Solar and Lunar energies, Nature magic, Air witchcraft, Fertility spells, Magic that doesn’t involve children
OFFERINGS
Milk
Honey
Anything small and shiny
Rings
Beads
Pretty Rocks and Crystals
Cream
Sweets (natural)
Cakes and Cookies
Clean Water
Fresh Fruit
Alcohol or Juice
Natural items
DEVOTIONAL ACTS
Clean up litter
Spend more time in nature, especially near natural gateways
Wear a floral perfume
Help animals whenever you can
Grow a Faerie garden
Study local fae
Stay hydrated with fruit-infused water, floral-infused water, or teas
Have an outdoor party or picnic to honor the fae
Make offerings regularly, especially when asking for favors
Things going missing or suddenly lost is a sign that the Fae are near
Carry a sachet of, or wear a locket of rose quartz, thyme, st John’s wort, rose petals and lavender to attract fae and help you see them
Dance, Sing and make Art
FAE COURTS
This is only a small portion of known Fae courts, so please acknowledge that there’s far more than just this. Be careful with the Fae, and stay educated on them.
Spring Court
Very cheerful faeries who celebrate life in all its forms. They are the most inclined to pull pranks, though these could potentially turn dangerous when they fail to realize how fragile non-fae are. They love flowers and spread happiness and joy. They enjoy dancing and prefer not to think about death at all, and the other courts often see them as naive. Polite, seductive and curious.
Summer Court
Well-mannered and polite, though not as cheerful as the spring court. Not afraid of death, but wishes to enjoy life anyways. Smart, but not conceited. Will punish those who harm and insult them, but are not prone to kill or torture unless they’re absolutely furious. They prefer to respect life rather than take it away.
Autumn Court
Mysterious and strange yet very beautiful. They view death as a natural part of life, and do not understand the hate and fear surrounding it. They are not conceded, but do hold grudges when wronged. When disrespected, they become very cruel, often cursing or torturing those who fail to respect them for their own amusement. The autumn court, however, does give the best gifts and boons out of all the courts. When respected, they will show that courtesy right back. Those on their good side are very fortunate.
Winter Court
Hearts of ice, both figuratively and literally. Expect death when dealing with them, as they do not care for life and only focus on decay. They are cruel, and proud of it. Threatening, dark and eerie. Hates mortal creatures, and thinks other courts are weak. They gain amusement from their own cruelty.
Seelie and Unseelie
The general idea is that Seelie are good, holy and pure. Unseelie are considered unholy, tainted and evil. Spring and Summer could be considered Seelie, while Autumn and Winter could be considered Unseelie. While these definitions seem blunt, the reality is not as clear-cut. Unseelie can be kind and take in mortals to provide for them (though they probably consider them “pets” more than anything), while Seelie can play evil pranks without realizing how harmful they can be, and they definitely won’t apologize for it. These terms are complicated, and every Fae is as unique as a snowflake. However, these definitions still might be useful for getting a general idea of how to interact with the Fair Folk.
FAERIE CONDUCT
Whatever you do, don’t be rude to them. Fae are old and powerful creatures, and will take revenge if hurt or insulted. Avoid being nosey when it comes to faerie business, be gracious when accepting gifts or blessings they give you, and never approach them with iron on your person.
Do not lie, as fae can sense truth and will punish liars. Also remember to always keep your promises to them, they expect diligence in others.
Do not say sorry, thank you, or accept any gifts from them. This means you become in debt to the fae, and that is a very bad thing to be. Say “I appreciate this” or something like it instead.
Do not give them your real name. That gives them power over you. You should give them a nickname, alias or title instead.
Do not mention any children, infants or loved ones to them. The Fae love kids, but they have a tendency to steal them and put one of their own in their place. They will also cause misfortune upon your loved ones if mistreated, so it’s best not to mention them at all.
Do not provoke them or invade their space
Don’t call them “the fae” or “fairies” to their face. Say “fair folk” or “good neighbors” instead
Ask if something is a gift or a contract. If it’s a gift, it may be considered rude to not take it
Do not dance with them or accept food or drink from them. This usually ends with you dancing until you die, or being forever tied and abducted into the fae realm.
Mind your words. The Fae are masters of trickery, they’re naturally mischievous in nature. They take things very literally, and even if you don’t break any of these rules explicitly, they could misconstrue your words and mess up a request. Choose your words VERY carefully, especially when asking for help.
How to tell if Faeries are nearby:
Feeling warm tingles across your skin
Things go missing and reappear elsewhere in your home
You see things out the corner of your eyes
You find yourself wanting to participate in childish activities like swinging and skipping
Random floral scented breezes
You have a habit of bringing nature inside
You find yourself wanting to save insects instead of killing them when you find them inside
Faerie circles
You are followed by crows and ravens
Increased animal activity
Shimmers in the air
You hear mysterious giggling
You find large patches of clovers
Faerie Garden Ideas
Thyme is often used for Faerie communication
Heather marks the resting place of faeries
Alyssum is useful in faerie gardens
Buttercups, Columbines, Dianthus/Sweet William, Hollyhock, Jasmine, Peony, Primrose and Rosemary are associated with faeries and are known to invite them
Hawthorn is sacred to faeries, so don’t mess with Hawthorn trees
Hummingbirds and Rabbits are associated with Faeries, so having them in your garden is a good thing
NOTES
Many fae are not humanoid or traditionally “cute”. Do not be alarmed if you see one and it’s not what you expected
Most fae are much larger than you think too
If fae are in your house, they probably won’t hurt you. They likely believe it’s just as much their house as it is yours
Appliances will randomly stop working. Don’t worry about it
Do NOT hurt the spiders and bugs
They will interact with your pets and animals
Do not accept any items from Fae unless it’s explicitly stated to be a gift
If you write about your experiences with them, they may try and stop you. In which case you should stop, since you’re sharing too much about them
When it’s 3AM and you randomly feel bursts of energy, the desire to dance and be productive, you’ve been faeriestruck. This is normal
Play music with constant rhythms for them
Always thank plants when plucking flowers and leaves
Your fae will eventually learn things about you, especially if they live in your house. Do not panic
Befriend your fae or they will never stop bothering you. Just be careful
Elves, Faeries, Spirit Work and European Animism Masterlist
[wip]
I do not personally endorse all these sources, read skeptically and cross-reference at your discretion. These are, however, all sources I personally use, with varying levels of trust.
Books, Articles, Etc
Elves in Anglo-Saxon England : Matters of Belief, Health, Gender and Identity - Hall
Glosses, Gaps and Gender: The Rise of Female Elves in Anglo-Saxon Culture - Hall
The Evidence for maran, the Anglo-Saxon "Nightmares" - Hall
Folk-healing, Fairies and Witchcraft: The Trial of Stein Maltman, Stirling 1628 - Hall
Getting Shot of Elves: Healing, Witchcraft and Fairies in the Scottish Witchcraft Trials - Hall
Myths and symbols in pagan Europe : early Scandinavian and Celtic religions - H.R. Ellis-Davidson
Swedish Legends and Folktales - Lindow
Trolls : an Unnatural History - Lindow
County Folk-lore - GB Folklore Society
Welsh Fairies - Mhara Starling
Superstitions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland - Campbell
Scottish Folk-lore and Folk Life - MacKenzie
Collected words of Eleanor Hull
The Denham Tracts
The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies - Kirk
The Certainty of the World of Spirits, to which is added the Wonders of the Invisible World by Cotton Mather - Baxter
Gods and Fighting Men - Lady Gregory
Survivals in Beliefs among the Celts - Henderson
The Aryan Household, Its Structure and Its Development: An Introduction to Comparative Jurisprudence ; Chapter II: the house spirit - Hearn
An Encyclopaedia of Fairies - Briggs
Northern Mythology: comprising the principal popular traditions and superstitions of Scandinavia, North Germany, and The Netherlands - Thorpe | vol 2 | vol 3
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i love worshipping dionysus bc being intoxicated and having gay sex are the most religious things you can do