The glowing Ruby should adornThose who in warm July are bornThen will they be exempt and freeFrom love’s doubt and anxiety. — Traditional The first day of every month is sacred to Hestia (known in Rome as Vesta), the Goddess of the Hearth. With the Graces, Hestia was always honored first, before all others. She … Read more
The Love Potion – Evelyn de Morgan, 1903There are some things after all that Sally Owens knows for certain: Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Add pepper to your mashed potatoes. Plant roses and lavender, for luck. Fall in love whenever you can. — Practical Magic, by … Read more
Hanged up in houses,it doth very well attemper the aire,coole and make fresh the place to the delightand comfort of such as are therein. — John Gerard, 1597 As our days fill with the gift of Summer’s lush ripening, beloved Thalia, the Grace of Mirth and Flowering, continues to teach us. In the hot, summery … Read more
Faerie Guardians © Howard David JohnsonWhen I sound the fairy call, gather here in silent meeting,Chin to knee on the orchard wall, cooled with dew and cherries eating.Merry, merry, take a cherry, mine are sounder, mine are rounder,Mine are sweeter for the eater, when the dews fall, and you’ll be fairies all. — Emily Dickinson … Read more
Cock Robin Defending His Nest by John Anster FitzGeraldSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. — C.S. Lewis If you are called to establish ties with the Good People, you are going to want to learn about the proper use of offerings and gifts. According to the 1911 work … Read more
Titania by Arthur RackhamHand in hand, with Fairy grace,Will we sing, and bless this place.— Titania (in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream) Yesterday, I noted that, when making your initial introductions with the Gentle Folk, naming is powerful, and this is one reason that so many euphemisms abound. According to Cassandra Eason in A … Read more
Puck and a Fairy, from A Midsummer Night’s Dreamby Arthur RackhamSome call him Robin Good-fellow,Hob-goblin or mad Crisp, And some againe doe tearme him oft,By name of Will the Wispe;But call him by what name you list,I have studied on my pillow,I think the best name he deservesIs Robin the Good Fellow.— from The Merry … Read more
Go not to the hills of ErinnWhen the night winds are about,Put up your bar and shutter,And so keep the danger out. For the good-folk whirl within it,And they pull you by the hand,And they push you on the shoulder,Till you move to their command. — from The Wind on the Hills, by Dora Sigerson … Read more
Fairy Under the Flowers © by James Christensen Within thine eyes are dreams of mystic things, Within thy voice a subtler music rings Than ever mortal from the keen reeds drew; Thou weav’st a web which men have callèd Death But Life is in the magic of thy breath. — from Madonna Natura, by Fiona … Read more
Oberon, Titania, Puck with Fairies Dancing,by William BlakeThe iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve;Lovers to bed; ‘tis almost fairy time. — from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare One of the very important functions of the Faery altar is that it will be a portal and communications center, between our world of mortals and … Read more