Faeries Herb Charms by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Faeries Herb Charms

From Lady Domnu

Cowslip - This flower is also known as Fairy Cups in Lincolnshire, and was often a hiding place for frightened fairies. At dawn, as the light shines on the dewdrops, the fairies "hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear."

Ferns - This plant was guarded by Oberon on Midsummer night, since this is when the fern would flower--a beautiful sapphire blue--and Oberon wanted to prevent mortals from obtaining the fern seed. If you managed to collect it despite him, you would be under the protection of spirits, and while you carried the seed it would render you invisible.

Clover - Finding a four-leafed clover grants you a wish, and gives you the power to see the fairies dancing in their fairy rings. This is also the main ingredient of fairy ointment, which gives you the power to penetrate the fairies' glamour and see them as they truly are. Be careful, though: if you unknowingly carry a four-leafed clover (in a bundle of grass) the fairies have the power to enchant you.

Foxglove - The flowers serve as petticoats for the fairies and in Ireland, they serve as fairies' gloves. Also, flowers are used as thimbles when fairies mend their clothing.

Furze Bushes - The cobwebs collected on its branches are used to make fairies' mantles.

Stichwort - In Devonshire, people do not pick this for fear they be "pixy led." Held in special honor by fairies.

Strawberries - In Bavaria, fairies are very fond of strawberries and peasants will tie a basket of them between cows' horns to assure an abundance of milk.

Rose - In Germany and Scandinavia, this plant is under special protection of dwarfs and elves, both who are ruled by King Laurin, Lord of the Rose Garden.

Cabbage stalks - Also serve as transportation for fairies, who ride these like horses.

Cuscuta Epithymum - In Jersey, known as "Fairies' Hair." Peziza Coccinea - Used for fairies' hats.

Elecampane - In Denmark, this is known as 'Elf-Dock'.

Toadstools - These are thought to be 'Stylized Pixy Stools' and in the north of Wales are called 'Fairy Tables'.

Pyrus Japonica - Used as kindling for fairy fires.

Tulips - The flowers are used as cradles for fairy children.

A folktale from Devon tells of a woman who grew many tulips in her garden because she once went out at night and saw the babes sleeping in them. After she died, the man who moved into her cottage dug up all the tulips because he thought they were useless, and instead planted vegetables and parsley. This so enraged the fairies that every night they would dance on the vegetables and tear their roots out of the ground and shred the parsley leaves. Only on the woman's grave were the tulips still big and beautiful and fragrant.

In time, though, the grave became forgotten, the tulips were trampled, and the fairies withdrew far away. Since then, tulips have lost their size and splendor. Wood Anemone - Shelters fairies in wet weather. Wood Sorrel - From Wales, its white flowers are known as "fairy bells" and are used to summon fairies to their reveries.

Mallow - The fruit of this plant is called "Fairy Cheeses" in the North of England.

Nightwort - Evil elves prepare poison in this plant. It is also one of the sacred plants of the Dutch Alven, along with elf-leaf, which they watered and strengthened against the coming day. The Alven would sicken or kill people or cattle that touched the plants.

Globe Flower - Also called the "Troll Flower", trolls are supposed to unlock the flower at night and drop venom in the cup to poison dairymaids and herdsmen.

Hawthorn - In Brittany and Ireland, also called "Fairy Thorn", this tree is the trysting place of fairies. To pick a branch or leaf from a hawthorn is to court the displeasure of the fairies.

Wormwood - This is 'Dian's Bud' which Oberon used to remove the enchantment from Titania. Wormwood is also protection against the Rusalky of Russia, who will tickle you to death if they find you in the woods without some of this in your pockets.

Flax - The flowers are not only protection against sorcery, but also are beloved of Queen Hulda, who leads a procession through the valley between Kroppbuhl and Unterlassen while the flax is blooming.

Fairy-flax - is used by the fairies to weave all their linen. Poludnitsa, the Noon Woman, interrogates women she finds in the flax fields at noon, to make sure they know how to cultivate and spin flax. If they answer incorrectly, she kills them.

To prepare a sleeping place for Queen Titania, you should plant these flowers:

'Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with lush woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.
There sleeps Titania sometime of the night
Lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight.'

Any fruit out of season or remaining after the harvest is the property of the fairies. In the West of England, strays are left to assure fairy goodwill. Fairies, like witches, don't like yellow flowers and will go out of their way to avoid them.

(From: Gothic Gardening is copyright (c) 1995-1999 by Alice Day (mAlice). All Rights Reserved.--unless otherwise attributed--)

Fey-Be-Gone Information

There are many stories of faery wrecking havoc on a home or enchanting humans, stealing babies etc. Faerie folk live by their own set of rules and often have a double standard when it comes to humans. While many faerie are messy, prone to theft, drunkenness or many other bad habits they detest them in humans. Some house fairy will cause mischief should they come into your home and you are not living according to their standards. What's a person to do? If a fairy you invited in suddenly turns on you or one decided to take up residence invited or not here are a few things you can try to out them.

Bells - Many of the wee folk don't like bells. Hang them on your doors so they jingle when opened. Walk through your home shaking them. If you don't have bells take a pot and spoon and walk through your home banging loudly. Most fae will gladly leave such a loud and annoying environment.

Cats - these furry friends are excellent deterrents. With their keen eyesight and sense of smell most fairy can't hide from them. Most fairy won't stay in a home with a cat.

Iron - Once you've ousted the pesky fae place the metal iron around doorways and windows. Nails are good for this. Hang an iron horse shoe above the door.