Fairies

Photo: Cathy Whitmire

Friends,

[Taking a break this week from political, societal, and personal angst. Enjoy the whimsical change!]

There is a charming bumper sticker promo for our island - "Whidbey Island: so magical ferries take you there.” My young grandchild was excited about the possibility of riding a fairy but was disappointed it was only a big boat. “Where are the fairies? she asked. But then she and her sister (as well as all previous visiting grandchildren) have welcomed another “presence” of Whidbey fairies and created a number of fairy houses in our yard made of moss, shells, stones, and collections of other interesting bits and pieces that would be attractive to fairies. They even have a permanent house. And the fairies magically visit these houses during the night leaving various gifts to be found early the next morning next to the fairy house.

Fairies have a long history in folklore with “relatives" of sprites, elves, pixies, leprechauns, gnomes, and other “semi” visible creatures associated with other cultures. The Celtic tradition has had the major influence on our contemporary folklore, and I especially felt their “presence” when we visited Ireland years ago. All these creatures have some form of enchanted, magical sense about them. They have been described as various forms of humans, with or without wings, as “wee” folk, often with a disguised appearance as leaves, flowers, grass, or insects.

In my growing appreciation of the wonder of fairies I have learned they really do create a welcoming space for our imagination. And our ideas of fairy creations are usually appreciated by and shared with other “believers." And it is very fortunate we have children to guide us into their fairy land. The sheer creative glee and awe when our grandchildren build their fairy houses represents a part of our adult souls we have lost or neglected. When we’re with children we are invited into an alternative world where magic can and does happen in a fairy environment infused with light, imagination and wonder.

So we need to join our children in believing in fairies. In spite of our adult minds, limited by science and an every day reality of these anxious times, fairies can provide an alternative to the more serious, morality based, beliefs in our religious faith and practices. Fairies can also guide and censure us, I suppose, but we are able to imagine they would only do so for our own good.

The next time you walk in the many magical places where you live - the forest, among wildflowers, next to a stream, on an early morning walk before the dew has lifted - I think you will find a treasure trove of natural gifts that the fairies have tended during the night for you to enjoy. So remember to thank them.

Peace, Tom

Do you believe in fairies? Do you want to believe in fairies? If not, why?
___________
A caveat: A friend also encouraged the building of grandchild fairy houses that also received fairy gifts during the night to be discovered first thing in the morning. As the children grew older they insisted to know if were true there were fairies. My friend held out answering until, finally, he was tired of being hassled with the demand to know and finally confessed he was the one leaving the fairy gifts. The child immediately broke into inconsolable sobs and said she was so sad she could no longer believe in fairies. It was a regrettable, devastating revelation, a broken dream of childhood - and a very chastised grandfather.