The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies was documented by a Scottish minister named Robert Kirk. He traveled the Highlands in search of collecting stories of first hand encounters with those of the faerie realm. The book has an introduction by Andrew Lang the author, poet and collector of folk/fairy tales. The book appears to have been once hard to find. Dover Publications offers an edition for the price of $6.95. The book discusses themes that particularly stand out in my memory. These themes may also be of interest to others.
The text explains that those of the faerie world are of middle nature between man and angel. References to an array of spiritual beings are made in the text. Which curiously includes references to daemons which were old and intelligent spirits (also reminds me of the Golden Compass film), good/bad spirits and also those of the angelic realm (the nine orders of angels).The one theory in particular which was most curious and disturbing in my opinion was that of the possibility of a double self. A spirit or shape of a person in two places. The author refers to man as the superterranean race, and those of faerie as the subterranean race. He states that those of the superterranean (man) could have a double that is of the faerie (subterranean) race, which resembles each other identical. This spirit is haunting the individual as a shadow. The spirit appears to be specifically assigned to that person. He refers to this type of spirit as a reflex man or cowalker.
The author describes those of faerie to appear to be made up of light changeable bodies (astral form), like a condensed cloud (in which actually describes the presence I have seen) and that they are best seen in twilight (which appears to be directly linked to the denseness of their bodies). Their apparel and speech may be the same as humans as a direct result of the area (country) in which the being resides. Such as the theory that leprechauns will appear wearing Irish dress. These spirits of faerie can appear and disappear at will. The text suggest these spirits are so dense they can enter into any cranny or cleft in the earth (which appears logical to the myth that some reside within rocks and the earth). English authors relate that laying your ears to a cleft of rocks, you can hear inner activity regarding hammering, and clashing of armor. They are also portrayed to be able to swim in the air around you, in which you can not see them unless you have the gift of sight. Only those who are seers or have the gift of second sight have the ability to communicate or see the spirits. According to the text women are actually less likely to have the special ability to see them.
As for their behavior or lifestyle, it is explained that the faerie beings have human abilities such as living in tribes, having children, marrying, and deaths. The author also states that these acts could be solely preformed in the human eye as a mockery of our own daily lives. They have been found to possess aristocratic rulers and laws however they do not appear to have religion. They are also portrayed to be bound to lust and passion just as the human race is also capable.
The text in my opinion was a little difficult to understand and read. As a direct result of the timeframe in which it was written. However, it is a curiousity book that any lover of faerie, or fantasy should not pass by without reading.
The text explains that those of the faerie world are of middle nature between man and angel. References to an array of spiritual beings are made in the text. Which curiously includes references to daemons which were old and intelligent spirits (also reminds me of the Golden Compass film), good/bad spirits and also those of the angelic realm (the nine orders of angels).The one theory in particular which was most curious and disturbing in my opinion was that of the possibility of a double self. A spirit or shape of a person in two places. The author refers to man as the superterranean race, and those of faerie as the subterranean race. He states that those of the superterranean (man) could have a double that is of the faerie (subterranean) race, which resembles each other identical. This spirit is haunting the individual as a shadow. The spirit appears to be specifically assigned to that person. He refers to this type of spirit as a reflex man or cowalker.
The author describes those of faerie to appear to be made up of light changeable bodies (astral form), like a condensed cloud (in which actually describes the presence I have seen) and that they are best seen in twilight (which appears to be directly linked to the denseness of their bodies). Their apparel and speech may be the same as humans as a direct result of the area (country) in which the being resides. Such as the theory that leprechauns will appear wearing Irish dress. These spirits of faerie can appear and disappear at will. The text suggest these spirits are so dense they can enter into any cranny or cleft in the earth (which appears logical to the myth that some reside within rocks and the earth). English authors relate that laying your ears to a cleft of rocks, you can hear inner activity regarding hammering, and clashing of armor. They are also portrayed to be able to swim in the air around you, in which you can not see them unless you have the gift of sight. Only those who are seers or have the gift of second sight have the ability to communicate or see the spirits. According to the text women are actually less likely to have the special ability to see them.
As for their behavior or lifestyle, it is explained that the faerie beings have human abilities such as living in tribes, having children, marrying, and deaths. The author also states that these acts could be solely preformed in the human eye as a mockery of our own daily lives. They have been found to possess aristocratic rulers and laws however they do not appear to have religion. They are also portrayed to be bound to lust and passion just as the human race is also capable.
The text in my opinion was a little difficult to understand and read. As a direct result of the timeframe in which it was written. However, it is a curiousity book that any lover of faerie, or fantasy should not pass by without reading.
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