The term Faerie is derived from “Fé erie”, meaning the enchantment of the Fées, while Fé is derived from Fay, which is itself derived from Fatae, or the Fates. In Ireland, the Faeries are called the Aes Sídhe (singular Aes Sídh). Sídhe happens to be the name for the earthen mounds and hills that dot the Irish landscape. Irish mythology, legendry, and folklore claim the Faeries live under these mounds, so the term “sídhe” has come to mean Faerie in general, but it more properly refers to the palaces, courts, halls, and residences of the Faeries. However they are known by a wide variety of euphemisms, including “the Fair Folk”, “the Good Neighbors”, “the Little Folk”, “the Little Darlings”, and “the People of Peace”. This is done for two reasons. The first is to avoid attracting their attention and the second is to avoid insulting them.
Faeries can be found anywhere. Mounds, caves, and other underground areas; the sea and large lakes; off-shore islands; above the clouds; and even the air itself. The gentry and the rustics can inhabit under ground or under water, but mostly they tend to inhabit the wilderness just beyond human towns and villages, such as woods, fields, hedgerows, glens, mountains, and rocky clefts. Others inhabit human funerary monuments such as dolmen and tumuli, or rings of standing stones, or mushroom rings.
Powers:
Luck, good or bad, is heavily influenced by faeries who can pass good or bad fortune on those who encounter them.
The power of illusion is a hallmark of faerie magic. Whether it’s disguising themselves from humans, or altering the appearance of familiar terrain to cause confusion.
Shape shifting is common, most likely into woodland creatures or changing their size.
Cockiness, selfishness, lack of manners, and infringing on privacy. Fae are private creatures, never chase or attempt to sneak on them. Avoid becoming indebted to faeries- or any fae by that measure. Iron things. Especially scissors left out in plain view. Pins, knives, anything made of iron will frighten them, sometimes.
Clutter, disorder, stacks of things that haven’t been sorted, and so on
Bells. I know that some faeries like bells, but they are their own bells. If your cat wears a bell, or you have a very rude alarm clock, or something like that, the noise may drive away the faeries.
Water. Many “psychic” experiences are attributed to a deep, hidden stream under a building. Some faeries are the opposite: They don’t like to cross a stream, hidden or visible. (Then again, we have plenty of faeries who live in or near the water, so this isn’t a firm rule.)
Looking them in the eye.
Tidiness, order, and cleanliness, especially in the kitchen
Bread and cake – little bits set out in the evening
Something that clearly invites them. The faerie door is a good example.
Milk or water, set out in the evening, perhaps in a nice thimble (but not one made of iron or steel)
Glittery and shiny things – small bells, marbles, jewelry (no iron or steel)
Music – light, happy music, even singing in the shower can help
Low lighting – they are most often seen at dusk and dawn, but a small candle (electric is okay) can guide them to your home
Common Misbeliefs:
not all faeries are kind and forgiving, faeries are mischievous spirits above all and will not hesitate to steal your first born if you cross them.
they are not butterfly winged tiny women. faeries come in a range of sizes, shapes, and types. mostly categorized by the terrain they inhabit (ex: water faerie, forest faerie, etc.)
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