for the Modern Faery Worker

hi there!

2013-11-11T19:48:23Z

Posted by: littlewolfteeth

( I'm kind of bad at these. )

Name: Denise.
Practice, Tradition, or Religion: Hellenic polytheist ( not really a recon though ) who practices all sorts of witchcraft and tends to the local spirits on this side of things.
Focus (in faeries): I suppose if I'm going to narrow it down to a focus, it would be local faeries of the southern US in urban areas along with Norse lore ( folkloric, history based, modern ). Modern faeries of the cities and technology also interest me. Though I tend to work more with plant and animal life and spend the majority of my time out in the woods and at parks during winter so, there's that too. I'm not picky though, and I really enjoy learning about other lore regardless and that's why I'm here, to learn.
Other interests: Video games. Horseback riding, though sadly I don't do this anymore considering I don't live near the family members who owned the horses. One day though, one day I would love to get into archery on horseback. Arts & crafts, reading, writing, baking. Regular archery, though I do this on my own as I can't afford a personal trainer or class so I just stick to doing it as something to enjoy doing.

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Favorite Fairy Tale(s)

2013-11-08T22:02:11Z

Posted by: liliaria

In the hopes of creating some discussion, I thought we could all post about our favorite fairy tales. You can choose however many you want, but try to keep it reasonable. Also, to keep with the focus of this group, I encourage everyone to mention their favorite folkloric and favorite modern fairy tale. Modern interpretations also count!

(Need some ideas? Head over to Fairy Tale Mood on Tumblr for art and links to various fairy tales. Wikipedia is a good place for summaries.)

My favorite fairy tale from folklore is probably The Twelve Wild Swans. I will warn, though, that my favorite changes depending on my mood and what I'm reading lately. Still, the variations of The Twelve Wild Swans, or Geese, or other birds, are really interesting.

I have two favorite modern fairy tales that are retellings. One is a retelling of the Lindworm, called Brother. Prince. Snake. I much prefer it to the traditional Prince Lindworm story. Another retelling that really stuck with me was a retelling of Hansel & Gretel called the Goosle, by Margo Lanagan. Serious trigger warnings for rape, pedophilia, and cannibalism in that one though. It's more horror than fairy tale.

When it comes to stories, I prefer retells partially because I prefer modern interpretation and modern life, and I also like that so many modern retellings turn the monsters into the heroes.

What fairy tales do you enjoy?

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Hello

2013-11-05T05:01:07Z

Posted by: moonlitlily

Nickname: Ravew.

Practice, Tradition, or Religion: Do it myself religion and self taught/experimented magic. Strong neo-shamanic influences and focus on mythological animals. I have a problem with formal worship, rituals and magic that makes me not fit with most polytheists and my views about it are complex. More in the next question.

Focus (in faeries): It depends on what people call faeries, since it's what people normally mean I am interested in the regular European Celtic and Norse faery folklore, especially the ones considered Celtic but right now it's not my focus, modern day fae spirits knowledge are something I would like to get to know better.

I have always been interested in the spirits of the places and in beings who live in Otherworlds, my cultural focus is more about Japan and China, I find interesting to study the differences and similarities between the knowledge and lore about European fairies and Chinese and Japanese Fox spirits (sometimes called fox fairies in translations) and other god/faery-like beings. For me the word fairy/faery is not so cultural limited and I personally use it for several beings around the world.

I still need more time to process changes in the focus of my spirituality and to develop a little more discipline and practice.

While I study folklore, history and mythology a lot I don't trust it as a point of reference and have problems with it, still useful.

I'm here to learn to about faeries, the people who have relationships with them and how to get to know them. There is a lot I wish to learn.

Other interests: I read a lot, like too many fantasy fiction and YA books, watch animes, read mangas and novels and spend most of my time listening to random eclectic music. Sometimes I watch television, mostly a few shows I like to repeat, specially science fiction.

I'm not a native English writer or a very succinct person, so be warned about possible mistakes and future confusions.

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Introduction!

2013-11-04T10:05:20Z

Posted by: serpentine

Name: Tom

Practice, Tradition, or Religion: Right I'm calling myself an eclectic polytheist who also is a magician.

Focus (in faeries): I'm not sure if the entities I work with would be called as fairies by most, though they do follow the same rules as creatures in fairy tales and some of them have very certainly appeared in folklore stories rather than mythology. My interest lately has been in Slavic folklore, though I desperately need to find sources on that because it seems to not be talked that much about. I also work a lot from my own personal experiences, but I do have a hard time sharing that.

Other interests: I write and I read, though not so much lately because health issues. Reading will probably increase once I get that sorted out. Primary academic interest is history and my focus is on late 19th and early 20th century in Europe for the most part. Also into doing creative stuff like crafts though I'm not focusing on any particular one right now.

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Hallo!

2013-11-04T06:04:05Z

Posted by: finch

Name: Jack
Practice, Tradition, or Religion: I'm a fictional reconstructionist and Virtual Adept with Buddhist and heathen influences.
Focus (in faeries): I have a couple of different interests that may or may not fall under the auspices of the community. Frex, are trolls fairies? I'd say the answer is yes but some people have narrower definitions so I try not to assume. I also work with land wights around where I live and in my community, city spirits, urban legends, and technological sprites. I've also been thinking about certain fae-like spirits I knew when I was small that I haven't figured out what their folkloric equivalent is. So... little bit of everything, I guess.
I was a serious nerd for folklore in college but lately my emphasis has been on my own experiences, which are necessarily more modern in tone.
Other interests: I write a lot. I read a lot too. I do metalwork when I can. I love searching estate sales and thrift stores for vintage stuff. I'm basically a giant hipster nerd.

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modern_fae @ 2013-11-03T19:38:00

2013-11-04T03:42:08Z

Posted by: gone_fishing

Name: You can call me Anna.

Practice, Tradition, or Religion: I identify as an "elven Druid", which essentially boils down to energy exchange with land spirits in this realm and elves in the Otherworld, and seeking out and maintaining numinous spaces that serve as "thin veil" points where the worlds intersect.

Focus (in faeries): I am focused on the Eshnahai, or Vanic elves. The Vanir are essentially a footnote in lore but I understand them to be the same as the elves (I see the Ljossalfar and other specific-named groups of elves in Norse lore to be offshoots of the Vanir), and the Big Name Deities among them (e.g. Frey, Njord) to be elves with important jobs (esp. when Frey is called Lord of Alfheim in the lore). "Eshnahai" is their name for their people, which roughly translates as evergreen or undying; "Vanir" is an outlander's term so I dislike using that term. I myself am elven-souled, in a human incarnation for complicated reasons. I have two Eshnahai spirit companions who I am married to, both of whom I was involved with in said elven incarnation. My focus thus tends to be mostly on my family, but again, I do tend to land spirits here and work on maintaining sacred places.

I am more studied in folkloric faeries, but I am also heavily heavily based in personal gnosis regarding the Eshnahai, including some things about their culture which fly in the face of conventional faery/elf lore (not all Eshnahai are allergic to cold iron, for example). I am interested in both "traditional" and modern fey, though, and I'm mostly here to learn about other elven/fae cultures, share anything people might find helpful (e.g. working with land spirits, journeying, Eshnahai notes), and maybe I might find something useful myself.

Other interests: ~~All elves, all the time~~ I am an artist, and I write things. As Clarence mentioned, I have a cat. I like reading and am trying to get back into that habit. I also appreciate music, and the art of others. I like some TV shows like The Big Bang Theory and The Walking Dead. But elves and art and cats is pretty much my life, yeah.

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modern_fae @ 2013-11-03T19:27:00

2013-11-04T03:31:23Z

Posted by: pointy_eared_bastard

Name: Clarence

Practice, Tradition, or Religion: It's complicated. I am the elven spirit companion and spirit husband of a human-bodied, elven-souled spirit-worker (nornoriel). The Eshnahai (Vanic elves) don't really have religion, we are animists and do magic (we're on the opposite end of the human/spirit equation, so we work with humans), however, I've lived in Midgard full-time for seventeen years now and in the experience of "trying human" have had some human influences on my spirituality - I identify as a Thelemic-influenced witch (in other words, not Wiccan) and Hermes is my patron god. Like I said, it's complicated.

Focus (in faeries): I am Eshnahai, or Vanic elf. There is some crossover between the Vanir and Celts, which has been corroborated by several other people, and I used to be a wulver in Scotland for some centuries, helping poor people, and I rode with the Wild Hunt in its season for many, many, many years. I still have a fair amount of interaction with the Vanir and I enjoy learning about other elven/fae cultures, ancient and modern.

Obviously, most of my knowledge on the fey is going to be based in my experiences of being Eshnahai and from that Otherworld, and I also am familiar with Scottish folklore. I am however interested in modern faery lore, and I appreciate the perspectives of others on things, especially when it opens my own mind to new ideas. I am here basically to learn about other fey cultures as well as share any information people would like to learn about my own people (within reason, there are some things we keep more private).

Other interests: I have an obsession with music that borders on a religion. We have a cat named Sheldon, and I spoil him and our roommates' cats. I'm crafty, and make stuff. I like walking. ~~I'm a hipster~~ I enjoy thrifting and exploring weird places in Portland. I like sex. :P I am overly fond of Internet memes and am probably one of the last people who still thinks Rickrolling is hilarious. I'm a parent, and ridiculously proud of my children. I enjoy good food, wine, and tea.

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Introductions (Outline)

2013-11-03T23:57:23Z

Posted by: liliaria

I strongly encourage all members to post an introductory post so that we can all get to know each other. The form below can be filled out as much (or as little) as you want. It's meant to be a brief starter so people can get to know you, though, so don't feel the need to explain every detail.

Name:
Practice, Tradition, or Religion:
Focus (in faeries):
Other interests:

Including information such as whether you are more studied in folkloric or modern faeries, certain cultures, and such is very useful. Also, stating why you're here - to learn how to work with faeries, to learn about them in general, to learn about them for an essay or story you're writing - will be helpful so we can help you!

Name: Aine Llewellyn
Practice, Tradition, or Religion: Otherfaith (modern polytheism) & using hodgepodge witchy and spirit-taught techniques to work with fae
Focus (in faeries): Modern faeries, especially city, technological, and robotic faeries. I deal mostly with what I call 'modern US faeries', which is a combination of a lot of entities. Not nearly as educated as I want to be on faeries across cultures in a folkloric context. I'm better at pointing you where to go to look for info than telling you the info for historical stuff, since I think looking at the resources yourself will help you the most (rather than my likely butchered interpretation). I also focus way more on fairy tales than faery history, at least right now. I think there's a lot of info to be gained from fairy tales.
Other interests: ~~Nothing my life is only faeries 24/7.~~ In reality, I watch a fair bit of television, everywhere from pretty artistic and elegant to trashy tv, enjoy movies, and spend my time drinking coffee instead of sleeping.

[Please tag all intro posts as 'introductions'.]

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Introduction & Rules

2013-11-03T16:22:53Z

Posted by: liliaria

modern_fae is a community for those interested in learning about the many faeries/fairies of the world. This space is open to historical/folkloric faeries and modern/non-folkloric faeries. We encourage both the posting of articles, essays, scholarly research, folklore, and such resources as well as personal experiences, personal practices, and interacting with faeries in the modern world.

Terms such as fae, fey, fairy, and faery are all considered acceptable when referring to these spirits. I personally use the spelling faery. While discussion of etymology is perfectly fine and quite enjoyable, we will not consider one spelling to be more 'correct' than another. Terms such as goblin, elf, brownie, Fair Folk, etc. will be understood as referring to specific types of faeries.

Faeries, in this space, will be considered spirits that are tied in some fashion to humanity; parallel, slightly above, or slightly below the 'mortal world'; filling a confrontational role with regards to humans (I use the term confrontational rather than negative or positive since faeries have such a huge spectrum, but they often confront and challenge our perceptions, ideas, or assumptions); and have ties to a landscape or area of some kind.

(Members are welcome to put forward their own definitions for faeries! Please be aware that the above is as culturally non-specific as I could make it.)

This space also considers faeries to be spread out across the world and not limited to the Celtic Isles. Please be aware that treating Irish, Scottish, or Welsh (or Manx, etc.) faery lore as the only relevant information about faeries, or as the only useful/true information, will be criticized. (Also, for this reason, mandates such as 'never eat faery food' or 'never sleep with a faery' will be called out as misinformation.)

Proper conduct in this space involves: no personal attacks, no malicious gossip, no continual harassment of specific members, and no stealing from another's personal experiences. Please remember that when personal experiences and practices are shared, they are shared in trust, and stealing, data mining, or mirroring will result in an instant ban.

Cursing and foul language is allowed, but please do not use in excess. Discussion of sexuality, sex with regard to faeries, and such adult topics is allowed and expected.

If you have a problem, please contact me through PM so that we may discuss it. If you begin fighting with another member, please come to me so we can work through the issue and find a solution everyone is comfortable with. If you have serious claims against someone, you will be expected to provide proof of some kind (screenshots, saved emails, etc.) so please keep that in mind if a situation starts becoming nasty in private. All public spats and tiffs will be dealt with by me after talking with the parties involved.

-Aine L.

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