The Tuadha d’Anu or Tuatha de Danaan

[bibliotecapleyades.net:] In the Scandinavian countries the craft or ability to gain wisdom or power (Sanskrit - Siddhi) by yielding to daemons or intelligences (ancestral god spirits which were part of the practitioners’ own genetic inheritance and make-up) through trance or dream states was considered to be shamanic and was called Siddir, whilst those who practiced this art were themselves called Siddirs.

The Siddir knotted together the web of dreams and loosened those knots to release power and knowledge.

In other words they brought together and spoke or gesticulated a series of mnemonics that would trigger off precontrived, imprinted states of consciousness that acted as doorways into deeper seats of consciousness.

In Gaelic Scythian this ability and the name corresponding to it was called the Sidhe, a term used to describe and name the Irish fairies, the Tuadha d’Anu or Tuatha de Danaan as they were later called, a race of priest kings or druid princes.

The Web of Dreams relates to both the witches’ knotted ball and the Web of Wyrd or Fate (fata-fairy) and in the Scythian and Celtic cosmology, the power associated with it was thought to reside in the Otherworld, the realm of the gods (druidic ancestors) which was entered via trance or dream states, achieved whilst the druid or druidess occupied the fairy hills, the mortuary raths where the forefathers were buried.

The witch, as a seer or Merlin in Scythian culture and society, consequently belonged to an exclusive genome within a distinct holy and royal caste of overlords, which is reflected in the Gaelic word for a witch - Druidhe - which is pronounced Drui and is related to Draoi and Dracoi, meaning a dragon. Drui itself means Man (or Woman) of the Tree (not men of the oaks, as some have suggested) and is also related to the Sanskrit dru, meaning to run. This is associated with the ritual of running the labyrinth, with which we will deal in due course.

Therefore in Galatia, which had its own druids and was the site of the Nemeton, the largest regular gathering of druids in Europe, the term for a witch was Uber meaning Overlord, whilst in the Gaelic west the term for a witch was Druidhe which meant the same as Uber - An Overlord....read more>>>...

A Warning About The Sidhe #2

They are master illusionists and manipulators. Accomplished artistes of mind control. They control exactly how you will see them. Their glamours are almost impossible to penetrate for such is their timeless knack of letting their victim see what they most desire.

Down through the ages of man so many have been lost to 'the siren's call' and other similar seductions. Working on the human mind, reading from stray thoughts what a person desires, what a person wants ... working then on those vibrations to create a glamour their victim will believe they see.

A warning to the lesser, and the inexperienced psychics, who have yet to control the stray vibrations of their uncontrolled ego. The Sidhe find so many of you such easy prey. It is so easy for them to read your jealousy and your desire. Thus so many 'guides' and 'ascended masters' and 'members of spirit' you think you sense and see ... are lesser Sidhe in disguise. Misleading you, misguiding you ... waiting for you to make a fatal choice. Once you let them in to your minds ....

Be warned The Sidhe are not benevolent to mankind, no matter what misguided teachings say. A valuable lesson they can offer for those who are stronger in mind than those they send. Fearlessness must always be the demeanour of they who battle with The Sidhe. For like any other predator, they feed off fear ....

Take it from the one who writes this warning ... The Sidhe are a very dangerous enemy.

Faeries as “Little People”

The first known mention of faeries as tiny beings, is in the 13th century work of Gervase of Tilbury. In his Otia imperialia, he describes “certain daemons, whom the French call Neptunes, the English Portunes,” and are less than “half a thumb” in height. He’s also quoted as saying they’re as tiny as half an inch, or the size of a small finger.

In the 14th century, Chaucer spoke of a land filled with faeries, in the opening of The Wyf of Bath’s Tale:

“In th’ olde dayes of the kyng arthour,
Of which that britons speken greet honour,
Al was this land fulfild of fayerye.
The elf-queene, with hir joly compaignye,
Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede.”

(In modern English: In the old days of King Arthur,
Of which Britons speak with honor,
All this land was filled with faeries.
The elf-queen with her jolly company
Danced often in many green meadows.)...read more>>>...

"Changelings"

It appears that fairy women all over Ireland find birth a difficult experience. Many fairy children die before birth and those that do survive are often stunted or deformed creatures.

The adult fairies, who are aesthetic beings, are repelled by these infants and have no wish to keep them. They will try to swap them with healthy children who they steal from the mortal world. The wizened, ill tempered creature left in place of the human child is generally known as a changeling and possesses the power to work evil in a household. Any child who is not baptised or who is overly admired is especially at risk of being exchanged.

It is their temperament, however, which most marks the changeling. Babies are generally joyful and pleasant, but the fairy substitute is never happy, except when some calamity befalls the household. For the most part, it howls and screeches throughout the waking hours and the sound and frequency of its yells often transcend the bounds of mortal endurance.

A changeling can be one of three types: actual fairy children; senile fairies who are disguised as children or, inanimate objects, such as pieces of wood which take on the appearance of a child through fairy magic. This latter type is known as a stock.

Puckered and wizened features coupled with yellow, parchment-like skin are all generic changeling attributes. This fairy will also exhibit very dark eyes, which betray a wisdom far older than its apparent years. Changelings display other characteristics, usually physical deformities, among which a crooked back or lame hand are common. About two weeks after their arrival in the human household, changelings will also exhibit a full set of teeth, legs as thin as chicken bones, and hands which are curved and crooked as birds' talons and covered with a light, downy hair.

No luck will come to a family in which there is a changeling because the creature drains away all the good fortune which would normally attend the household. Thus, those who are cursed with it tend to be very poor and struggle desperately to maintain the ravenous monster in their midst...read more...

A Word on 'Oenghus'

Oenghus is the son of the Dagda, ruler of an other-dimensional realm of beings known as the Tuatha de Danaan, a race of beings who were worshipped as gods by the Ancient Celts and Gaels of Western Europe, and Boann, the goddess of the Boyne River of County Meath in Eire (modern Ireland). Boann was the wife of the water-god, Nechtan, who settled Brugh na Boinne after the defeat of the Fomore, the eternal enemies of the Danaans.

As Chieftain of the Tuatha de Danaan, the Dagda sent Nechtan on a day long errand, and in his absence, seduced Boann. Using his mystical powers, the Dagda extended the day to last nine months so that Boann conceived and gave birth to Oenghus in a single day. Oenghus was given to his brother, Mider, to be raised to adulthood, but when Oenghus became an adult, Nechtan gave Brugh na Boinne to Oenghus, possibly seeing him as his only worthy heir.

The Tuatha de Dannan were worshipped as gods throughout Ireland, Britain and Western Europe with the Dagda as King of Eire and Oenghus taking his throne in his absence. However, when the Dagda retired from Earthly rule, he split Eire up among four counties among his sons with Oenghus acquiring Leinster, Mider receiving Connacht, Oghma receiving Ulster and his brother Bodb Derg receiving Munster. Bodb as the eldest son also acquired the title as King of Eire at Meath, kept separate from the other four counties. During the Milesian invasion, the Danaans departed Earth for the realm of Otherworld connected to the Earth's dimension by way of countless sidhs or faerie mounds throughout Eire. Oenghus's sidh was located at Brugh na Boinne.

Oenghus took Derbrenn, the daughter of King Eochaidh Airem of Eire as his wife, but he eventually fell in love with Caer, the daughter of Ethal Anubal and grand-daughter of King Ailill and Medhbha of Connacht. Caer had appeared to him in a vision, and Oenghus turned to his older brother, Bodb, in order to identify and find the mystery woman in the vision. Using his spells, Bodb finally found Caer a year after the dream alongside the bank of a lake in Connacht with her numerous sisters. Oenghus approached Ethal Anubal for the right to court Caer. He learned that Caer was actually a mortal shapeshifter with her sisters, only able to live half a year on Earth in human form and the other half of the year as a swan.

The reason for this spell is unrevealed, but Oenghus learned from King Ailill that the best way to court Caer was to take her as a swan and convince her to remain human. Following his instructions, Oenghus confronted Caer on the Feast of Samhain and followed her into the sky as she turned to a swan, becoming a swan himself. Enchanting a mystical spell to her in song, he finally encouraged her to fly away with him to Brugh na Boinne to live as his wife. After he out-lived her, he took a third wife, Nuamaisi...READ MORE...

A Word On 'Djidjigargaly'

Djidjigargaly is the blanket term for fae in the Aboriginal tongue of Australia. Back when the world was young, even before the Real People, the Aborigines inhabited the land. All the spirits of all things roamed freely, including the Djidjigargaly who even then roamed as a unified tribe.

The greatest spirits, the creators, led by Mawu, forged the real world out of song and dance. The great Djidjigargaly hunter Mirragan formed the caves and waterholes by driving his spear through the rock in pursuit of the great fish Gurrangatch. Emu and Brolga quarrelled, the enraged Brolga throwing Emu's egg into the firmament where it broke, the yolk catching fire and forming the sun. Wulungu the great Rainbow Serpent dug out the rivers and waterways. All spirits had their part to play in creation until the land was finished and teemed with life.

This was Achera, the Dreamtime, and all things were intertwined. Only the coming of the poisoned men from far off lands shattered the paradise with Banality.

As the Real People were driven inland to the desolate outback, away from the lush and bountiful coast, many of the Djidjigargaly died, unable to adapt or face the Banality of the invaders. The poisons of the invaders, as well as the temptations of civilisation and the bloody massacres of the past have afflicted the Real People and reduced their numbers greatly, drying up much of the pure Achera essence the Djidjigargaly needed to survive in the mortal realm. Today the Djidjigargaly are pitifully few, only attached to the minority of untainted tribes who still wander the outback. The majority now spend much of their time in Achera (the Dreamtime) wandering the Dreaming realm, and these have a powerful connection to the Dreaming that few kithain could ever conceive of.

The most plentiful fae in Australia today are the kiths of the West, and they are almost unaware of the great dreamscape surrounding them.

A Treatise on the Sidhe

The Sidhe Chrysalis is far different from the process the commoners perfected long ago. Indeed, the Sidhe seem to have no interest in following the path of the commoners.

When first entering the world, the sidhe is slowly melted away by Banality, and has to choose a host quickly or he will be claimed by the force that will plague her for the rest of her existence. For all intents and purposes, the sidhe is a chimera at this stage, and thus goes mostly unnoticed by the mortal world. Depending on the sidhe in question, she can survive for a few days to afew weeks in this stage before completly fading away. Most sidhe, however, are simply unwilling to stay in this ignoble condition for long.

Once the sidhe finds a suitable host, she will enter into the body. This is easiest with children, but the first newly-arrived Sidhe wanted to be able to benefit fully from their intelligence and thus 'borrowed' the bodys of adults. The mortal soul is displaced, usually kicked out of the body and taken 'elsewhere'. Most sidhe guess that the soul goes to Arcadia, where it will be pampered and cared for until it can return to its body. The truth, however, is unknown.

At this point, the Mists take full effect. Even in her chimerical stage the sidhe could not remember much of his Arcadian existence. Now, however, all vestiges are wiped from her mind. Some Sidhe (those with the Rememberance background) will remember more than others.

The sidhe does not go through a period of normality, as most commoner changelings do. Instead, she is thrust headlong into an unfamiliar and very banal world. It takes the sidhe quite along time to readjust herself without help. Thankfully, the act of taking a body sends off signs almost exactly like the Chrysalis of a commoner. Thus, help is sure to come if any is available.

The sidhe is very vulnerable to Banality at this stage, and most will be Undone quickly if not taken to a freehold quickly. Some manage to adjust quicker than others, and can actually get used to the Banality. At least, as much as a Sidhe can ever get used to Banality. The Mists have taken most of his mind, and he can only barely remember his name. Once taken to a freehold, the changelings there put the newly arrived noble through mostly the same rituals that the commoners face. They find his true name, and his house.

The newborn sidhe undergoes a 'crash course' in history, the modern world, and other important things. Over the course of his Fosterage he is slowly exposed to Banality and allowed to build up a resistance to it. Eventually, the Sidhe becomes as used to Banality as he can be, which is far far more vulnerable to it than the commoners are. At this point, the Fosterage is over and the Sidhe can fully join Kithain society.

The sidhe have the same seemings as the other changelings, and these effect their behavior and Glamour as much as they affect the commoners.

Childlings don't have to be exposed to as much Banality as older seemings, and retain much of their Glamour. They are very carefree, yet being sidhe, are also very often spoiled and stubborn. Their fosterages are often short, as it doesn't take them long to become as inured to Banality as they can be.

Wilders are generally the seemings of choice for sidhe. They still retain a good bit of their Glamour, don't have to be exposed to much Banality and still retain use of most of their facilities. Their fosterages are often longer than those of childlings, allowing them to learn more of both the mortal world, and the world of the Kithain: which has changed much since they were last here.

Grumps were chosen by a few sidhe, mostly those thrust in dangerous positions that didn't have a choice. They are quickly bathed in Banality before they are rescued by other changelings, and their fosterages are often the shortest of all: those who survive the bath in Banality, generally are stronger for it. Their fosterages generally consist of training in the mortal world and the world of the fae, and then they're release into Fae society. Sink or swim...READ MORE...

The Banshee

When someone mentions a ghost, most of us think of cemeteries, haunted houses, and transparent figures draped in sheets. Likewise, the word “faerie” is linked with cute little figures with wings, and merry mischief. However, mention a Banshee, and people squirm. The Banshee, like a ghost, can represent death, but that is not her actual role in folklore, or in our lives.

She can appear transparent, and is the size of a living person. Nevertheless, like her fae counterparts, she is associated with a more magickal Otherworld.

Perhaps she is the link which shows us that the Otherworld is a vast place, inhabited by many kinds of beings, including faeries and ghosts.

The Banshee, in Irish the Bean Sidhe (pronounced “bann-SHEE”), means “spirit woman.” She is usually described as a single being, although there are many of them.

According to legend, one Banshee guards each Milesian Irish family. These are the families whose names start with O’ or Mac, and sometimes Fitz, though those prefixes have been dropped, particularly by American families. There is a Banshee for each branch of these families, and the family Banshee can follow the descendants to America, Australia, or wherever the Irish family travels or emigrates.

The Banshee protects the family as best she can, perhaps as a forerunner of the “Guardian Angel” in Christian traditions. However, we are most aware of her before a tragedy that she cannot prevent. Traditionally, the Banshee appears shortly before a death in “her” family.

The Banshee is almost always female, and appears filmy in a white, hooded gown. (The exception is in Donegal, Ireland, where she may wear a green robe, or in County Mayo where she usually wears black.)

However, if she is washing a shroud when you see her, she may merely signal a major life-changing event in your future. The way to determine this is to go home and burn a beeswax candle after seeing her; if it burns in the shape of a shroud, her appearance foretells death...READ MORE...

The Faeries

Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen,
We daren’t go a-hunting
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping altogether;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owls’ feather!

Down along the rocky shore
Some make their home,
They live on crispy pancakes
Of yellow tide-foam;
Some in the reeds
Of the black mountain lake,
With frogs for their watch-dogs,
All night awake.
(William Allingham 1828 – 1889)

Nature Spirits: Guardians of the Earth

The traditions and lore of fairies has existed in highly diverse cultures around the world for centuries or even millennia. In some cultures, fairies have been viewed as mischievous little sprites, whereas in other cultures they have been given god-like stature. Fairies are said to appear to humans in ways that meet their own cultural expectations. Fairies and fairy-like beings are also known as nature spirits, house spirits, dwarves, elves, gnomes, mermaids and leprechauns.

Fairies can be divided into four basic types based on their primary association with the aspects of the four esoteric elements: earth, fire, air and water. Earth fairies include gnomes and trolls.

The symbol of the earth element and gnomes is the stone. The word gnome is believed to have originally derived from the New Latin gnomus and the Greek genomus or earth-dweller. Gnomes are often thought to live underground or in subterranean passageways. Gnomes are known by many different names. Germans call them erdmanleins. In Denmark and Norway they are called nisse. In Britain they are called nains. Gnomes are usually depicted as small, bearded men who care for plants, trees and other aspects of the earth. Garden gnomes are the most well-known type of gnomes. They are believed to assist in the healthy growth of plants of all types. The use of representational statues of gnomes in gardens began in the mid-1800s.

Garden gnome statues are most prevalent today in England, Germany and France. Other types of legendary gnomes are forest gnomes, house gnomes and dune gnomes. In some cultures, the terms gnomes and trolls are used interchangeably. Unfortunately, gnomes are often misunderstood and portrayed as mischievous or bad-tempered. The true nature of gnomes is that of guardians of the earth. Gnomes try to counterbalance hazardous conditions in the earth. For example, gnomes work closely with other nature spirits and angelic hierarchs to mitigate cataclysmic events such as earthquakes.

Fire fairies are known as salamanders or dragons. The symbol of the fire fairies is the spear. Descriptions of their appearances differ widely, but most are centered around a lizard-like shape a foot or more in length. Fiery salamanders are said to associate with all forms of fire from volcanoes to candle flames.Fiery salamanders are considered to be the strongest and most powerful of all the elementals. Fiery salamanders have often invoked fear among men. Their destructive powers are truly legendary. For this reason, many alchemists in the middle ages sought to exert influence over fiery salamanders and other nature spirits to gain power themselves over weather patterns and other forces of nature.Salamanders, along with other nature spirits, are guardians of the earth. Salamanders play an important role in the spiritual world and in the maintenance of the balance of the earth as a physical platform for mankind’s evolution.

Air fairies are known as sylphs. The symbol of air fairies is the sword. According to folklore, sylphs transform clouds into create artistic renderings in the sky. Sylphs are also responsible for wind, certain types of storms and weather patterns. From the tiniest of breezes to the most powerful hurricane, sylphs are a part of every natural phenomenon involving the air.Since we are completely dependent on air and can last only a few minutes without breath, the work of the sylphs is critical to our survival. Sylphs work closely with our own bodies to ensure that oxygen is properly absorbed in our lungs. Sylphs are also said to have specialized functions such as integrating new knowledge and mental development. The crossover between sylphs and angels becomes blurred. There may be a connection between young sylphs and small cherubs. Angel devas are in charge of the activities of sylphs. Sylphs may also serve as messengers for both angels and other elementals.

Sylphs are regal in manner and bearing, much like eagles. Sylphs have a very broad wingspan and live in the high mountains of the earth. Sylphs are immortal, non-physical beings. In modern times, the term sylph has also come to mean a lithe, graceful woman. Finally, water fairies are known as undines or mermaids. The symbol of the water fairies is the cup or cauldron. Undines can be found in any type of body of water, particularly forest pools and waterfalls. They are said to have beautiful voices, which are sometimes heard over the sound of the water. In Scotland, undines are referred to as wraiths of the water. According to some folklore traditions, undines can take human form, thereby losing their immortality but gaining a soul. This misleading notion has led them to be a popular motif in romantic and tragic literature. Undines are sometimes referred to as nixes, nasty water sprites with mean temperaments. This is another unfortunate characterization of undines. Likewise, undines are often confused with mermaids and sea goddesses ... read more ...