Monday, October 27, 2008

Fairy Trees - Some Folkore, Legends And Myth, Or Could This Be True ???

Some say Fairy Folk can be found in mushroom circles, in pine forests, in hollows of oak trees and amongst the acorns, pine cones and Autumn leaves. Milkweed pods are sure to lead you to the wee ones. Dew drops, primroses, running streams are regular homes for the Fae & Gnome. Almost all kinds of tree found in the Celtic countries have been thought to have special powers or to serve as the abode of the fairies, especially the magical trio of oak, ash, and thorn. Next in rank are the fruit-bearing trees apple and hazel, followed by the alder, elder, holly, and willow. The esteem given different trees varies in different parts of the Celtic world; on the Isle of Man, the phrase ‘fairy tree’ denotes the tramman [elder]. D. A. MacManus devotes a chapter to Irish fairy trees in The Middle Kingdom (London, 1959). You can find this and some other books that may be of interest to you regarding folklore, legends, and myth of the fairy and sacred trees just below.




You should easily be able to find these books at your local library to see if this would be something you would want to purchase. That's what we do. We love to go to and support our local libraries. It is a fun experience and we are always surprised to find that the place is very busy.

Just below is a picture of my Sparkle Fairy surrounded by mystical fairy trees. In my Enchanted Fairy World the trees are very magical indeed and look and feel and smell nothing like you have ever experienced except perhaps in your dreams. Be that as it may, all of our beautiful and enchanting trees in this world are just as magical if we just lift the veil from our eyes and really see them.





* Oak * Legend tells us that "Faery folks are in the oaks". Oak trees are believed to provide safe havens and homes for many varieties of faery. OAK is the king of the forest. Oak trees are safe havens and homes for many varieties of fairies. Oakmen are created when an oak stump sends up shoots. One should never take food offered by the Oakmen, as it is poisonous. Fairies cherish the Great Oak and use the acorns for decoration, celebrations and use the tops for hats. The leaves are used in the autumn celebrations. There are some families of fairies who live in the Great Oaks. Hundreds of faeries have been found to live in the oldest Oaks. There are fairies to be found in every Oak tree, the health of the surrounding environment plays a major role in determining the number of fairies that actually inhabit the Great Oak. Planting an acorn in the dark of the moon ensures that you shall receive money in the near future. Carrying an acorn increases fertility and strengthens sexual potency. Carrying a piece of Oak draws good luck.

* Ash * has healing properties in fairy folklore. Ash is a sacred tree to the Druids. The ash was made into wands used for healing, general or solar magic. It was believed that children with crooked bodies, legs or arms should be passed through young ash trees. If the tree grew tall and straight, so also would the child.

* Hawthorn * Hawthorn Tree is one part of the sacred triad of trees that are said to be sacred to the Faery. Oak, Ash, and Thorn, when growing naturally together, create a place where it is easy to see the Fey. Hawthorns were once believed to be the abode of spirits which was that of a dryad or tree faery. A grove comprised of those three trees is believed to be the perfect habitat for fairies, and an excellent place to catch sight of them. Pixie Pears is another name for hawthorn berries. Hawthorn was once used to decorate May poles.

*Apple * The bark of apple trees or the fruits themselves have the power to transport a true-hearted seeker to the Otherworld. APPLE was regarded as the fruit of immortality in Celtic Mythology. Apple was also known as the home for Unicorns. The Welsh 'Avalon' means 'Apple Island'. CĂșchulainn followed the trail of a magical apple to gain his freedom in one story. Connla the son of Conn is fed an apple by a fairy lover which sustains him but also makes him fall hopelessly in love with her. One of the tasks of the children of Tuirenn is to retrieve the magical apples of the Hesperides.

* Alder * The Fae of the Alder have been known as the " dark Faeries". They are very protective. When they leave their trees this Faerie will take the form of a Raven.

* Elder * Elder is said to offer protection to the faeries from negative spirits. They may become offended by the misuse of the wood from the elder. Folklore advises to never lay a baby in an elder wood cradle or fairies spirit the baby away or pinch them so that they bruise. Elderberry wine is considered fairy wine. Drinking it is said to enable you to see fairies. Add dried elderberries to an incense mixture that you burn to attract fairies to a gathering. The word Elder is derived from an old Anglo-Saxon word ‘aeld’ meaning fire, an association given to the Elder because of its use. The soft pith of an Elder branch pushes out easily and the tubes formed were used as pipes for blowing up fires, later Elder bellows were made for same effect. From this came the folklore name Pipe-Tree - and the belief that the most resonant horns were made from Elder trees grown in areas away from human habitation and away from the sound of a cocks-crow. Popguns and whistles had long been made from the Elder.

* Birch * This is sometimes known as the" Lady of the Woods".


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