{"id":14240,"date":"2017-06-01T01:10:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-01T06:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=14722"},"modified":"2017-05-30T14:51:03","modified_gmt":"2017-05-30T19:51:03","slug":"witchcrafting-crafts-for-witches-35","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2017\/06\/01\/witchcrafting-crafts-for-witches-35\/","title":{"rendered":"WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Attracting the <\/span><\/span>F<\/span><\/span>ae <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Merry meet.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The summer solstice \u2013 along with Beltane and Samhain \u2013 are traditional times to honor the fae, fae folk, faeries, or simply, fey. They are magical creatures with powers given them by nature. They are guardians of botanicals, water sources and other natural elements. Others live in a magical underground kingdom. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fey exist in all cultures, from the little people to elves, and from gnomes to leprechauns. They appear in art, music, folklore and movies. <\/span><\/span>Fey have magic, and magic in and of itself is not good or bad, it\u2019s all about how it\u2019s used.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For some reason, many Americans think of faeries only as cute, tiny, harmless winged creatures. While there are some who look like that, there are many who are ugly and fierce. They can be playful and mischievous or annoying and frightening. If you\u2019ve ever left a pair of earbuds out, the fae will be attracted to come and tangle them. Keys left out can also prompt fey pranks. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The fae like sugar, milk, honey, flowers and miniature people things like fairy houses.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tess Ahlberg makes houses for them from bark, mushrooms and other gifts of nature. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

From a young age, she said she was immersed in nature. She\u2019d collect moss, pine cones, mushrooms, animal skins, shells, feathers and discarded insects during her travels in woods, meadows, marshes, swamps and on beaches. Listening to the messages whispered in the leaves, she was inspired to begin making faerie houses out of birch bark she found decomposing on the ground. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI ask permission from the forest, if I can harvest the bark, mushrooms, plants and moss. I also give the spirits a token offering,\u201d she explained. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Milkweed pods and acorns, along with ferns, leaves and wild flowers that she\u2019s pressed also found their way onto pieces of birch bark. She continued making houses, painting cured mushrooms for roofs and adding some details. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

They add whimsy and magic when placed in a home; if left outside they will slowly decompose.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To encourage others to appreciate nature, provide homes for the fay, and an escape from the chaotic world, Ahlberg makes kits available. But you can gather all the materials yourself and make a home to invite the fae to visit.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn today\u2019s society there is a disconnect with nature,\u201d she said, hoping to help change that by reconnecting people with it.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFaeries are inter dimensional beings. If you go back to remembering your innocence of youth, a time when perhaps as a youth, some of us had glimpses into other enchanted worlds. We saw faeries and other enchanted beings in our peripheral vision,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You can connect to that magical world by being fae friendly. Houses and other inviting spots can be portals into enchanted worlds. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Try building a cave out of pebbles in a hidden spot in your yard, such as under bushes or in a flower garden. Set out a miniature wooden table and chairs, painted bright colors or wrapped in vines if you wish. Making a circle of stones, shells or pinecones can create a magical space. Hang tiny bells from branches.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Flowers such as daisies, cosmos, tulips, honeysuckle, lilac, sunflowers, lavender, snapdragons, pansies and heliotrope are all said to attract fey, as are herbs such as rosemary, mint and thyme.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fey are also said to be partial to oak, ash, holly, willow and hawthorn trees <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My three favorite spots in the yard where I was grew up were a stand of lilacs with a narrow space in the center, the small space between two large oak trees, and a willow tree I loved to climb. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To feel close to the fae now, I plant cosmos, sunflowers, rosemary and snapdragons in my community garden plot, leaving the center wild and untouched, seeded with wildflowers that attract hummingbirds, a mugwort plant and morning glories that reseed themselves. I leave offerings there from time to time, and know the fae are present because if I make the mistake of brining my cellphone, they download apps while I work in the garden. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They also bless me with joy. May they do the same for you.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Merry part. And merry meet again.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Check out Tessimals Celestial Faerie Houses and Faeries on Facebook<\/a> or at https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/shop\/tessimal<\/a>.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Attracting the Fae     Merry meet. The summer solstice \u2013 along with Beltane and Samhain \u2013 are traditional times to honor the fae, fae folk, faeries, or simply, fey. They are magical creatures with powers given them by nature. They are guardians of botanicals, water sources and other natural elements. Others live in a magical underground kingdom. Fey exist in all cultures, from the little people to elves, and from gnomes to leprechauns. They appear in art, music, folklore and movies. Fey have magic, and magic in and of itself is not good or bad, it\u2019s all about how it\u2019s used. For some reason, many Americans think of faeries only as cute, tiny, harmless winged creatures. While there are some who look like that, there are many who are ugly and fierce. They can be playful and mischievous or annoying and frightening. If you\u2019ve ever left a pair of earbuds out, the fae will be attracted to come and tangle them. Keys left out can also prompt fey pranks. The fae like sugar, milk, honey, flowers and miniature people things like fairy houses.         Tess Ahlberg makes houses for them from bark, mushrooms and other gifts of nature. From a young age, she said she was immersed in nature. She\u2019d collect moss, pine cones, mushrooms, animal skins, shells, feathers and discarded insects during her travels in woods, meadows, marshes, swamps and on beaches. Listening to the messages whispered in the leaves, she was inspired to begin making faerie houses out of birch bark she found decomposing on the ground. \u201cI ask permission from the forest, if I can harvest the bark, mushrooms, plants and moss. I also give the spirits a token offering,\u201d she explained. Milkweed pods and acorns, along with ferns, leaves and wild flowers that she\u2019s pressed also found their way onto pieces of birch bark. She continued making houses, painting cured mushrooms for roofs and adding some details. They add whimsy and magic when placed in a home; if left outside they will slowly decompose. To encourage others to appreciate nature, provide homes for the fay, and an escape from the chaotic world, Ahlberg makes kits available. But you can gather all the materials yourself and make a home to invite the fae to visit.         \u201cIn today\u2019s society there is a disconnect with nature,\u201d she said, hoping to help change that by reconnecting people with it. \u201cFaeries are inter dimensional beings. If you go back to remembering your innocence of youth, a time when perhaps as a youth, some of us had glimpses into other enchanted worlds. We saw faeries and other enchanted beings in our peripheral vision,\u201d she said. You can connect to that magical world by being fae friendly. Houses and other inviting spots can be portals into enchanted worlds. Try building a cave out of pebbles in a hidden spot in your yard, such as under bushes or in a flower garden. Set out a miniature wooden table and chairs, painted bright colors or wrapped in vines if you wish. Making a circle of stones, shells or pinecones can create a magical space. Hang tiny bells from branches.         Flowers such as daisies, cosmos, tulips, honeysuckle, lilac, sunflowers, lavender, snapdragons, pansies and heliotrope are all said to attract fey, as are herbs such as rosemary, mint and thyme. Fey are also said to be partial to oak, ash, holly, willow and hawthorn trees         My three favorite spots in the yard where I was grew up were a stand of lilacs with a narrow space in the center, the small space between two large oak trees, and a willow tree I loved to climb. To feel close to the fae now, I plant cosmos, sunflowers, rosemary and snapdragons in my community garden plot, leaving the center wild and untouched, seeded with wildflowers that attract hummingbirds, a mugwort plant and morning glories that reseed themselves. I leave offerings there from time to time, and know the fae are present because if I make the mistake of brining my cellphone, they download apps while I work in the garden.         They also bless me with joy. May they do the same for you. Merry part. And merry meet again.   Check out Tessimals Celestial Faerie Houses and Faeries on Facebook or at https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/shop\/tessimal.    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":210,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/210"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14240\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}