Chronicle Fifteen: Craft Project: Wedding in the Woods

Legends foretell that birds often choose their mates. For the romantic month of Feburary create a bird's wedding supper. Make peanut butter balls using bird seeds, rasins, and chopped nuts. Chill in the freezer and hang them in netted produce bags. Adorn bags with red ribbons. Hang finished product on trees.

Chronicle Fourteen: Craft Project: Toad House

Here is an additional nature project to enjoy. To craft a Toad House, you can use old flower pots or any container you can turn over on its side. You need moss, soft leaves and a place where there is moisture. Turn over your container on its side. You can anchor the container (if made of plastic) with a stone placed inside. Line bottom under the container on the ground with moist moss and leaves; also place these items inside to make a soft bed for the toads to sit. You should place the toad habitat near an area that has water.

Chronicle Thirteen: Craft Project: Garden Bird Bath

During the summer months I often did fun projects in which nature could benefit. These projects also allowed me to display concern and good treatment of nature to the fairies. Allowing for them to possibly trust me a little more, so that communication is continued to be welcomed. Fairies are very fond of the forest creatures and are said to often take forms of birds, rabbits, and insects. Making a bird bath can be a lovely adornment for your yard or garden. You don’t have to buy an expensive bird bath instead make your own. You can use old ceramic bowls, pie pans or any other shallow container. You can decorate them, and paint them any way you would like. Pick an area which is sturdy enough to hold the birds to place your bath. The bath I created consisted of a shallow ceramic desert garden container (I had previously had cactus and other succulent plants in container). The container was white and I did not wish to repaint it. I sat the container nicely in a tree limb which appeared to be a sturdy stand for it (you don’t want to place container somewhere where the birds could be injured). You then fill container with fresh clean water. Remember to keep bath filled on a regular basis so that the birds will return to bath.

Chronicle Twelve: Technical Fairies

Brian Froud the best selling artist and author of various fairy and fantasy related books; discusses in the book “Good Fairies/Bad Fairies” a fairy in particular he has named “Computer Glitch”. He describes the fairy as being linked to computer problems in which we have all once and while experienced. Such as computers crashing, calculators jamming, and darkening digital screens. Also mentioned in the publication are the following untraditional fairies; [the Ear Poking Fairy, who pokes ears and causes confusion among humans. The Credit Card Fairy who causes problems concerning credit transactions. The Pen Stealer Fairy who of course steals your pens and other small objects. The Bad Hair Fairy who loves to tangle hair which includes both human and animal.] This fairy causes you to wake up to have a bad hair day from having crazy bed head since the fairy tangled it all night. These are just a few of the quirky fairies displayed in the book.
Upon my first impression reading this book, I found it questionable. I have been a long time fan of Froud’s, however with this book I was indecisive concerning my feelings. On one hand I loved the art work and depiction of the fairies. The concern I had was that although I loved the traditional portrayal of the fairies, I did not like the quirky ones who were displayed. I thought to myself “fairies that are so intuned to modern man and his devices, that they would actually cause technical difficulties.” Let’s just say I had a difficult time being convinced these fairies could exist. This was my opinion of course until I actually had my own experience with the fairies I have coined “Technical Fairies”. I was sitting on my couch with my laptop. I had typed a blog, had uploaded a picture to accompany the text, when suddenly an odd incident occurred. About an average of twenty different photos of fairies began to pop up on my screen causing me to be unable to see the displayed blog in which I was working. I then saw faint spots floating around in my vision on the screen (this was not on my computer but in front of my face). These spots I could only determine to be my little friend or friends from the forest who had entered my home and was checking out my work. Apparently they were not satisfied or amused by my writing. I believed it must have upset them because they reacted by annoying me with the popping up photos. I thought maybe they did not like the photo I had chosen for this particular blog; therefore they were demonstrating the other possible photos I had to choose from. Never the less I went ahead and uploaded my choice. I then had to close all the photos and shut down my computer. The only explanation I could think of for this particular incident is to refer it back to Froud’s book; I was apparently punked by the Computer Glitch fairy or fairies. Have you had any technical difficulties lately? Maybe you were punked by a Computer Glitch. This has made me more open minded and has made me wonder if maybe when I’m having a bad morning and I just can’t do anything with my hair no matter how many products I use, it just has a mind of it’s own, then maybe it is just the bad hair fairy taking her turn at punking me.

Chronicle Eleven

In Andrews book the between or tween times are discussed. This is a subject often also discussed throughout the history of fairy lore. This concept explains that these beings are best seen in the in between times and also between places. Such as for example dusk or noon and seasons such as autumn and spring. A between place could be any area that is neither here nor there, such as a hedge or island. Reflecting on this theory, I recall the occasions I have seen my floating objects. I have seen them at noon when I am leaving for lunch. Noon is a tween time. I have also seen them around 5:30 to 6 pm as I am leaving work nearing dusk (also a tween time). My connection to them became stronger in the months of August and September. Autumn months are tween times. They have often appeared at the neighbor’s fence, the hedge borders, and the opening of my trail which was once a traveled dirt road, that leads deep into the forest and then ends. These locations are also between. Another Andrews’ suggestion is to spend more time in nature. During the summer I did spend more than usual amounts of time outdoors. I also became closer nature and the elements by gardening. This is an activity I do not usually partake in; however I was interested this year.
Rethinking on the events following concludes my ideas on the floating spheres to be identified as air spirits. Andrews states that finding in nature or having received from an individual unique gifts can be linked to fairies and elementals. Such as receiving a stone from a friend unexpectedly or finding a unique feather outdoors. One evening I was walking on the trail, it is near the area I made for the fairies (which I will discuss later and have suggestions for your own); I had made a fairy house; this was placed at the opening of the walking path. As I strolled pass the fairy house, I found a very large feather lying in the path. I did not know which bird it came from, I just knew it was a pretty feather. I did not pick it up, I just walked on. I later read that feathers can be gifts from Sylphs. These beings of nature are said to be more closely in line with fairies and angels. They can often serve as temporary guardian angels to individuals according to Andrews. These beings are air spirits. At the time of the incident, I did not realize that it could have been a gift. The air spirits were most likely always around the yard and I just never noticed them and my eyes did not perceive their existence. Andrews also suggests that those who can connect easily with the Sylphs often over analyze things. This is very interesting because I often have issues with over analyzing. Friends and family tell me I do this to much and worry too much. Could my connection be to close to the beings? Could my analyzing issue be a direct result? I do not know, and I am very curious. Andrews suggests that a human must thank the elementals and fairies when receiving gifts. If had this knowledge prior I would have picked up the feather, thanked the Sylphs and keep it for further research, a luck charm and a mediation tool. Another summer activity I conducted was lounging outside and reading. My reading often consisted of fantasy and fairy tales. I believe that my summer practices helped open my relationship to the air spirits and helped to maintain my new vision ability to see them. I strongly suggest that if you are interested in having contact with the faerie realm, you must read Andrews’ book. It is an excellent tool to use in your quest. I am confident that the book has been completely beneficial to educating myself on the subject. With out it, I would have been unaware of the possibilities which lay before me in which I never knew truly existed.

Chronicle Ten

I have always connected myself with the element earth, because I am very down to earth, an earthy person. The sky has always been the last place on earth I would like to roam. I like my feet to be firmly planted on the ground. I have never ridden in an air plane, and I often have nightmares of crashing planes and UFO crashes. I have a fear of heights; I once went on a nature trip in which I had to ride a sky lift to get to the top of the natural tunnel mountain to walk back down. I cried and closed my eyes; I could not wait to get back off and was extremely frightened. I vowed to never do anything that adventurous ever again. To be able to see air spirits is curious to me because I appear to have no rational apparent connection to the element. Around approximately a week following the exercise I practiced, I began to notice things in which I never had before. I walked out into the yard and stood at the neighbor’s fence. They have cattle and an open field. At times there are no cattle in the field, they move them around. So anyways there I stood looking out over the fields enjoying the scenery. It was a blue sky with few fluffy clouds and butterflies swarmed the field. It was in the evening after work nearing dusk. I looked up to observe the biggest fluffiest cloud in the sky and noticed something odd. Three spheres of a slightly dark color (sort of like shadows) floated in the air above, then to the side of me, then back in front of me, then back up above my head. I turned from side to side following the spheres. Then came floating through them was a long squiggly object. I ran around the yard and continued to see these unknown objects. They followed me to my porch, and I could see them on the porch when I looked up at the white ceiling. However, when I went inside, no more floating objects. I came back outside, there they were once again. I turned around about the yard, they followed, and I then stopped and looked straight up at the sky above my head. I observed tiny sparkles of light (sort of like glitter but slightly larger in size), this fairy glitter came pouring down over me. I thought I was dreaming, however I was awake. Maybe this could be part of fairy glamour, I’m not sure. It was a very exciting episode in my life. Well at least it was during the first few times I have seen the objects. Following this incident I have not seen any more glitter. I have seen the spheres and the squiggly object while I am driving through fog on the mountain, whenever I walked outside to the porch or yard mostly only in the evenings. Also when I leave work I see them outside the building as they follow me to my car. I wasn't sure what this meant or what it really was. I asked myself is there something wrong with my vision. Do I need to have an eye exam. Then I remember I just had my yearly eye exam which was perfect vision. Seeing objects float around on a daily basis is curious yet can be slightly annoying, especially when you continue to ask the beings to reveal more of themselves and they refuse. Could they be shy or could they be toying with me and think my plea is humorous?

Chronicle Nine

According to Ted Andrews book “Enchantment of the Faerie Realm”, each individual may have more success working with certain beings of the realm more than others. I have had questions and lots of them pertaining to the reasoning of my connection to air spirits. Well according to Mr. Andrews everyone’s energy is different, and one person may connect with flower fairies rather than an elemental. During the summer I decided after having already read his entire book once, to go back and reread the material. This time the reading would be different because I would not only conduct my own experiments in attempts to practice his exercises, but I would also record my findings. The first exercises were processes in which I have conducted throughout my entire life, which may be why my results were so fast. These exercises include revisiting childhood, reading myths and fairies tales (in which opens your mind to the presences which exist). One of my hobbies is reading and researching myths, legends and fairy tales. I have always regarded my inner child as alive and well. So I then decided to experiment with the exercise in which you call forth the king of the element you should connect. This element would be according to your birth sign. The king of the Gnomes is determined to be in my element. Therefore I sat under a secluded tree in my back yard, in the evening. Barefoot in the grass with eyes closed and as closely connected to nature as I could be. I sat and conducted the exercise. I did my mediation/visualization. I called forth the king of the Gnomes, I then called forth the Archangel of the element, and lastly I called out my own name in order to link us. Immediately following the exercise, I had no indication that it had worked. I observed nothing unusual in my nature surroundings. Nothing unusual for days.