Fairies have been with us since time immemorial. In recent years their role in human society has become more friendly and fluffy, largely due to Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower fairies and children’s authors such as Enid Blyton.

Historically though, the Fey inhabitants of the Kingdoms of Elfame were a race to be respected. Indeed many cultures lived in fear of upsetting their magical neighbours, for their retribution was swift and firm. 

Our relationship with Faeries in this day and age has evolved and diversified and they appear to people in all manner of forms. Children still love to draw their version of the fairies in their beautiful gossamer dresses with flowers in their hair, and these are the friends they seek in their gardens and parks.  Special, secret friends who offer unconditional love and understanding. These are the fairies conjured into our minds’ eyes in dreams and meditations.  Their purpose is very clear as they relate closely to garden flowers and trees, encouraging a relationship with our natural environment.

The true faerie spirits of nature or Devas appear in a rather different form as small orbs of bright light. Each tree and bush has its own guardian – a Dryad – who adjoins a tree whilst it is quite young and remains inseparably attached for the life of a tree.  Dryads are said to be ancient beings who know when their tree is nearing the end of its life, and seek a new young place to be.  Some people who have a particular affinity with these amazing tree faeries feel desperate sadness when visiting places where trees have been cut down, causing a wrenching and unexpected separation of Dryads from their trees.  In Scotland the tree fairies are known as Ghillie Dhu; in Scandinavia they are called Hyldermoder! Some trees have very specific fairies associated with them, such as the moon worshiping Lunantisidhe who protect and are protected by blackthorn trees, and the fairies who inhabit nut trees are Caryatids.

We can support and encourage our relationship with these nature spirits by taking care of our gardens and parklands, and teaching our children to do the same.