(CW: Fae, Faeries, Mentions of Death, Fantasy Worlds, Neraidaphobia)
Wow, alright… so it’s been far too long since I’ve sat down to do one of these but, I’m extremely happy to be back and sharing my worlds with you. (We’re back! Yay!) For those of you who know me personally, you may know that my current and most precious WIP Something Wicked is all about Faeries.
I’ve spent years doing research, and I’ve taken an incredible amount of inspiration from Irish, Gaelic, and Scottish folklore for this story, as well as finding ways to incorporate some of my favorite Germanic lore. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do them all justice, while giving the tales the respect and dignity that they deserve. That being said, it only made perfect sense to me for the first few installments in this series that I will be posting every other Wednesday to be about the Good Neighbors.
You see, ever since I was younger, I always found myself fascinated with the thought of magic and Faeries. Just the thought that there could be other worlds out there, either connected or completely separate from our own fascinated me and kept me up at night thinking about what it would mean to explore them all. I loved fairytales, magic, and playing pretend with my friends. Creating silly little stories and playing them out with stuffed animals, or dolls, and wishing them into reality. So, when I found the writing prompt on Pinterest that would eventually evolve into the major plot of Something Wicked, I completely gave my all to it.
Last time, I tried to share some of the basics with all of you. So, if you haven’t read that post quite yet, I’ll leave it linked right here for you to go back and check it out whenever you get the time. However, I think it may benefit you to read that one first. Because in this one, I’m hoping to get a little bit more in-depth about what you can and should do if you ever find yourself in the presence of the Fae. After all, you need to remember that Faeries are wild and tricksy things- some of them may appear friendly, and like they have your best interests in mind but, they aren’t all fun and games. If given the chance, some Fae will trick you, and try to get you to trust them just so that they can lead you astray.
(However, they aren’t all bad either. Like with all people you just need to use your common sense and trust your gut. If someone seems like they’re out to hurt you, stay on your guard, and make sure to stay safe. Always.)
I’d also like to remind you before we get too far into this post that Faerie and Fae are very broad terms. In some cultures and religions, Faerie can also cover things like Mermaids, Ogres, and Goblins, and each of these factions have their own rules and guidelines. For example, some Faeries are hurt and repulsed by iron, or the color red. Some cannot cross running water. So please keep that in mind when delving into the world of Faeries, magick, and the preternatural world.
Now, just like in the last installment, it is absolutely imperative that you do not give your name to the Fae. If they ask for your name, don’t give it to them. If you have to give them something to call you, make up a false name, and try not to give them your nickname. It’s thought that names hold power, which means, that if they know your true name then there’s a very high chance that they can control you using magick, persuasion, or glamour. And I know, you’re probably thinking “you’ve already told us this, why are you telling us again?” and personally, I think the answer is pretty simple. It’s important. Especially when it’s so common for us to introduce ourselves when we first meet people, and that typically includes giving our names. So, one of the best, and easiest ways to keep yourself safe from the Fae is by not giving them your name.
Ever.
But that isn’t the only way you can keep yourself safe. In fact, there’s a lot that you can do to keep yourself safe from the influence and affects of the Faerie world, and it’s people. Starting with the clothes that you wear! Clothing has multiple purposes; covering your body, protecting your body from harm, and keeping it clean, as well as protecting you from outside forced… like the Fae.
- Wearing red can help protect you from the Fae because, it is thought to sometimes deter certain types of Faeries. Red berries, like those from Holly or Rowan are sometimes even used to keep Faeries away. (However, this rule is not set in stone. Leprechauns, and Red Caps are types of Fae who wear red, and Rowan is also a sacred tree to some Fae.)
- You can also turn your clothing and stockings inside out, as this is thought to protect you from being led astray, or off your path.
- In the old days, daisies were tucked into pockets and sewn into the hems of clothing in hopes of keeping children from being taken. (Flower crowns anyone?)
- And while we’re on the topic of things being tucked into pockets- oatmeal also used to be seen as a Faerie repellant, and was sometimes carried in pockets, or sprinkled on clothing.
While clothing is often a more uncommon way of keeping yourself safe from Faeries, it isn’t the only way to keep you safe. Aside from keeping your true names hidden, and wearing special, or slightly altered clothing, there’s always the tried-and-true way of keeping yourself safe that I think almost everyone has heard of. Iron. In lore, it is often called “cold iron” which is just a pretty, poetic term for it. Faeries and iron just don’t mix- which I personally think sounds like a horrible way to live because, I love my iron wok way too damn much, and I would be heartbroken if I couldn’t use it anymore.
The Good Neighbors cannot touch iron, and there are some that cannot even go near it. So, if you can, it’s best to carry some form of iron on you. Maybe an iron nail, tucked in your purse, or a piece of jewelry? It doesn’t have to be very large, as long as it’s there. Some parents will even go as far as to hang iron shears over their child’s cradle to keep the Faeries away. -don’t ask me why they’d choose shears over handing a horseshoe over the doorway because, it doesn’t really make sense to me. However, like with all cultures and religions, it isn’t our place to question these things. All that we can do is try to learn more about it and appreciate our differences.
Now, remember this because, iron isn’t just a good protection from the Fae. It is seen as a good way to protect yourself from many preternatural beings as well as the Fae. Just one cut or a blow from an iron blade may either never heal or heal at an almost unmoving pace depending on the Fae, and it is also seen as a poison. Iron may just be one of the only ways to kill a Faerie.
(Or depending on the Faerie, it might just piss them off.)
Not only just that but, there are also certain plants and herbs that are thought to hold protective properties when it comes to Faeries and their magick. However, just as a quick disclaimer, not all plants and herbs are safe to ingest, or have in and around our homes and our pets. So, always do tons and tons of research before bringing them into your home. Some of your best resources when it comes to this are local botanists, your local library, and Google but make sure you’re using reputable sources! (Remember, we’re trying to stay safe, not put ourselves in more danger!)
- St. John’s Wort is supposed to provide a strong protection from magick and mayhem.
(It’s also available in pill form- so for the modern Faerie problem?)
- Primrose and Marsh Marigold are two others that are known to protect from Faeries. Hang them above your barn doors, and it’s thought to protect your horses and other livestock from being stolen in the middle of the night and ridden to exhaustion. Also, hang them on doors and windows to keep them out of your homes.
- Another one is four-leaf clovers if you can be lucky enough to find one. These can prevent Faeries from being able to hide. The Fae can use magick and glamour to make themselves invisible or hide in plain sight by making themselves look different. Carrying a four-leaf clover on you can help you see through those the magick and glamour, allowing you to see the Faeries true form.
While we’re on the topic of plants and herbs, I also feel like I should mention another big one. Trees. Just like you wouldn’t damage or desecrate a fellow human’s home (or anyone’s I should hope) it is unwise to purposefully damage or harm sacred trees such as hawthorns, oaks, or mounds that the Fae call home, and deem sacred. This goes for all plants, animals, or sacred grounds really, and not just when it comes to the Fae.
(Because this is 2022, and desecrating someone’s sacred space, culture, and religion is gross, and we just don’t do that here. Okay? Good.)
Finally, let’s talk about food. (And I don’t just mean that because I want a snack.)
I touched base on this a little bit in the last post, and I promise to dedicate a whole post to this topic in the very near future because, I have quite a lot to say on the matter. But, if you ever find yourself in the Mounds, Faeryland, or even just in the presence of a Faerie in the Mortal Realm- do not eat or drink anything that they give you. Doing so could risk you falling under their power, and potentially barring yourself from the mortal realm forever. If you still choose to do it anyways though, there are a couple things that you can do to hopefully break any potential enchantments placed upon the food and keep you as safe as possible.
(Time also runs strangely in the Faerylands- so a human may seem to spend one night and return a hundred years later. This isn’t something that I’m really going to get into in this installment but, there will be a whole installment on this topic at a later time.)
- Salt any and all food.
If you’re brave enough to take food or drink, make sure that you salt it. Salt can be known to break curses, enchantments, and even undo spells in some cases. It can also be used as protection against preternatural beings, and Faeries also. Because, with a little bit of magick, almost any Faerie can make even putrid, rotting food, look, smell, and even taste delicious to those who don’t know any better.
(Remember that human blood and tears have salt and iron in them and can be used in a pinch.)
- Carry yeast-risen bread.
This can be used as either an offering or protection against the Fae. Depending on the type of Faeries you run across, you may either be able to use this to barter for your freedom, or gift them this in return for your freedom.
(Remember, Faeries are easily offended, especially by a lack of hospitality. If they think that they are owed something by right, and they are denied that thing, they might retaliate badly. However, this is also something that you can use to your advantage when you’re smart about it! But that’s something else that I plan to write more about in the near future.)
So, what do you think? Do you think that if you find yourself face-to-face with the Fae, or some other preternatural being in my world, that you’ll be able to protect yourself? Do you think you’d be able to keep yourself and your loved ones safe using the information that I’ve given you? Or maybe I’ve left you with more questions than answers- if so, please by all means ask your questions. Leave them in the comments below, email me, find me on Instagram, or Facebook, or TikTok, all of my socials are linked below. I want to hear all of your questions. I want to give you answers.
I want to share my world with all of you.
Until next time,
-Sky
Skyla N. Lambert
Author | Blogger | Bookworm
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