{"id":3112,"date":"2010-02-01T01:10:52","date_gmt":"2010-02-01T06:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=3170"},"modified":"2010-01-19T15:00:04","modified_gmt":"2010-01-19T20:00:04","slug":"faeries-elves-and-other-kin-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2010\/02\/01\/faeries-elves-and-other-kin-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Faeries, Elves, and Other Kin"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Imbolc and Honoring the Fae<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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We of the pagan persuasion will be celebrating the sabbat of Imbolc (\u201cin the belly) on 2 February here in the Northern hemisphere.\u00a0 This sabbat is also known as Oimelc (\u201cmilk of ewes\u201d), Candlemas, St. Brigid\u2019s Day (or Brigit, Brighid, Bride, or Br\u00ecd), L\u00e0 Fh\u00e8ill Br\u00ecghde (Scotland), <\/em> L\u00e1 Fh\u00e9ile Br\u00edde (Ireland),<\/em> G<\/span>?<\/span>yl Fair (Wales), <\/em> Brigantia, and Lupercalia, and may be spelled Imbollgc.<\/span><\/p>\n

For those who were unable or preferred not to perform the <\/span>Twelfth Night ritual<\/span><\/span><\/a> of removing their Yuletide foliage from the home to release any fae or nature spirits residing therein, as one of the four fire festivals Imbolc is an excellent time to do so.\u00a0 Burning your spent evergreens in the Imbolc bonfire will release and honor the fae while simultaneously celebrating the growth of the newly reborn Sun.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some ways I honor and work with the fae on Imbolc:<\/span><\/p>\n

Plantable Paper<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Our fae friends, as the guardians of nature, will appreciate any effort you make on their behalf to keep the earth green. Paper you can plant is a project you can do that involves both recycling and growing life-sustaining greenery.<\/span><\/p>\n

Making paper from trash is really quite easy.\u00a0 You can use newspaper, junk mail, discarded printer paper, gift-wrap, etc., to create paper pulp.\u00a0 Just be sure to remove any pieces of plastic (such as windows on envelopes) and staples as they are not good for the environment or your blender.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you have gathered the materials you will be recycling, you need to create a deckle.\u00a0 The deckle is simply a frame with a screen that lets water drain away leaving the paper pulp behind.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t have two old frames sitting around gathering dust that you can use, two unadorned inexpensive wooden frames about 8\u201dX11\u201d are readily available at craft and home stores.\u00a0 You will need two pieces of screen about an inch bigger than your frame all the way round and of the type used on windows.\u00a0 You will most like find this type of screen at a home or building supply store if there are no old screen doors or windows around from which you can “harvest.\u201d\u00a0 Using small nails or a staple gun, affix one screen to the flattest side of one of your frames.\u00a0 When you are ready to use the deckle, place the second frame, flattest side down, against the screened side of the first frame, trapping the screen between the frames.<\/span><\/p>\n

You are now ready to create your pulp.\u00a0 Pour a blender filled with water into a tub (such as an old kitty litter tray or a roasting pan) that is at least 4\u201d bigger on all sides than your deckle.\u00a0 Then fill your blender to the halfway point with water and hand shred the equivalent of about three sheets of paper into 1\u201d to 2\u201d pieces and place them in the blender.\u00a0 Begin at the lowest speed and work your way up to the highest speed until all of the junk paper thoroughly disintegrates.\u00a0 Do this until all your scraps are blended, but do not overfill the tub; leave at least 2\u201d to 3\u201d unfilled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hold your deckle firmly on the longer sides and slip it into the tub of pulp at a downward angle until it is fully immersed.\u00a0 Swish the deckle from side to side and back and forth, agitating and evenly dispersing the pulp in the water.\u00a0 Holding the deckle level with the floor, raise it out of the pulp and let the water drain.\u00a0 The pulp fibers that remain in the deckle are about to become your first sheet of paper!\u00a0 Practice will make the amount of pulp in the deckle more (thicker paper) or less (thinner paper).<\/span><\/p>\n

Set the deckle on a baking sheet with sides and gently lift off the top frame.\u00a0 Sprinkle the wet pulp with seeds you have selected and that will grow in your area.\u00a0 Sprinkle (or place) them in the correct density for the type of seed chosen.\u00a0 Now place the second screen over the pulp and seeds.\u00a0 Using a sponge, gently press straight down to remove water from the paper pulp.\u00a0 Wring out your sponge often.\u00a0 When the second screen is sticking nicely to the pulp, turn the deckle over and sponge again, this time upon the screen attached to the deckle, until you cannot remove any more water.\u00a0 Try lifting the bottom of the deckle to see if your sheet of paper sticks to the deckle.\u00a0 You want it to transfer to the second screen.\u00a0 If it does not, flip again and sponge some more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the sheet of paper is off the deckle, you can remove even more water from it by placing it between two absorbent sheets of paper called couching sheets.\u00a0 If you do not have couching sheets, children\u2019s white\/light colored construction paper works okay.\u00a0 Place the couching sheet atop the handmade paper still on the second screen and, using a pressing bar (anything flat, like a piece of 2X4) firmly press and smooth the sheet.\u00a0 The handmade paper should lift off the screen and onto the couching sheet.\u00a0 Place a second couching sheet on top of the handmade paper, sandwiching it between the couching sheets, and use the pressing bar again.\u00a0 Remove the couching sheets.\u00a0 Your paper is now ready to be dried.\u00a0 If you want your sheets to dry flat, you can layer them between sheets of waxed paper and place them under old books or stacks of telephone directories; otherwise, lay them on a tablecloth and let them dry naturally.\u00a0 (Note:\u00a0 When disposing of your leftover paper pulp and water, do not pour it down the drain or toilet.\u00a0 Strain the pulp out of the water and dispose of it in the trash, and use the water to water your outdoor plants, or your plantable paper if you plant it immediately.)<\/span><\/p>\n

On Imbolc, during your celebration and ceremony, dedicate the sheets to the fae by asking for their blessing while passing the handmade papers through flame (bonfire or candle) and smoke (incense).\u00a0 Here is an example of a blessing you may use, although it is always best to write your own or speak from the heart:<\/span><\/p>\n

Imbolc Faerie Blessing
\nby Kat Cranston<\/span><\/p>\n

Come hither now, Good Folk, <\/span><\/p>\n

Nature\u2019s first children, faeries free.<\/span><\/p>\n

Guardians of all growing things,<\/span><\/p>\n

Hear what I would ask of thee:<\/span><\/p>\n

Elves of the Earth,<\/span><\/p>\n

See that the soil is ready for birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sylphs of the Air,<\/span><\/p>\n

See that the winds blow gentle and fair.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dragons of the Fire,<\/span><\/p>\n

See that the days grow warm and drier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Naiads of the Water,<\/span><\/p>\n

See that the rains do softly nurture.<\/span><\/p>\n

Go hither now, Good Folk,<\/span><\/p>\n

Nature\u2019s first children, faeries free.<\/span><\/p>\n

Guardians of all growing things,<\/span><\/p>\n

Do what I have asked of thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, as soon as the ground thaws or when it is time to plant the seeds you selected, place the dedicated paper at the correct depth into Mother Earth (which includes potting soil in containers, so it\u2019s possible to do this on Imbolc!) and wait for the miracle of life to begin once again.\u00a0 Know the fae will watch over the seedlings and that you have made a healthy contribution to the turning of the Wheel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paper Whites<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know about you, but when I lived in New England, by this time of year I was desperate to see signs of life.\u00a0 I satisfied this need by \u201cforcing\u201d paper white bulbs.\u00a0 Not only do they smell wonderful, but also their beautiful flowers are white, one of the colors of Imbolc.\u00a0 In addition, my house faeries adore them.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Imbolc, during your celebration and ceremony, dedicate your paper white bulbs to the fae by asking for their blessing while carefully passing the bulbs through flame (bonfire or candle) and smoke (incense).\u00a0 Here is an example you may use, although it is best to speak from the heart or write your own blessing:<\/span><\/p>\n

Paper White Blessing<\/span><\/p>\n

By Kat Cranston<\/span><\/p>\n

Little paper white<\/span><\/p>\n

With your face so bright<\/span><\/p>\n

Shinning like a light<\/span><\/p>\n

After the long dark night<\/span><\/p>\n

Little paper white<\/span><\/p>\n

At your scent and sight<\/span><\/p>\n

Passion will ignite<\/span><\/p>\n

In every faerie knight<\/span><\/p>\n

Little paper white<\/span><\/p>\n

The faeries nearly fight<\/span><\/p>\n

To cling to you so tight<\/span><\/p>\n

In rapturous delight<\/span><\/p>\n

Little paper white<\/span><\/p>\n

The heart of every sprite<\/span><\/p>\n

It is my wish to invite<\/span><\/p>\n

To join with yours tonight<\/span><\/p>\n

You will need a container that does not have any drainage holes and that is about 3\u201d to 4\u201d deep.\u00a0 Shallow casseroles work well, as do ceramic dog dishes.\u00a0 Fill the container with about 1\u201d to 1 \u00bd\u201d of small stones or marbles; do not use anything else, like earth or sand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Place as many bulbs as you can squeeze in (the more the merrier) with their tips pointing up (their bottoms will look like the bottom of an onion) on top of the stones.\u00a0 Add another \u00bd\u201d to 1\u201d of small stones or marbles on top of the bulbs to help keep them in place.\u00a0 Don\u2019t cover the tips; only cover about 2\/3rds of each bulb.<\/span><\/p>\n

Add enough water to cover the root area of the bulbs.\u00a0 More than that and your bulbs will rot; less and the roots won\u2019t begin to grow.\u00a0 Maintain the water level (don\u2019t do as I have done and forget to check their water!).<\/span><\/p>\n

The bulbs don\u2019t need any sun at this point, but when there is 1\u201d to 2\u201d of growth, try this trick to keep your paper whites from getting leggy and falling over.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t want to try this trick, tie a soft ribbon or yarn around the mass of stems when they start to fall over and insert a small stick to give them some support.\u00a0 Pour off the water and feed your paper whites a mixture of water and hard liquor (i.e., vodka, not beer or wine).\u00a0 It will reduce their height, but won\u2019t reduce their bloom size. <\/span><\/p>\n

To figure out the correct ratio, use the following table compiled from About.com, which shows alcohol proof converted into alcohol percentage and how much water to use with that strength of alcohol:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Proof<\/span><\/td>\nEquivalent<\/span><\/td>\nWater<\/span><\/td>\nAlcohol<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20<\/span><\/td>\n10%<\/span><\/td>\nUse 1 Part<\/span><\/td>\nUse 1 Part<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30<\/span><\/td>\n15%<\/span><\/td>\nUse 2 Parts<\/span><\/td>\nUse 1 Part<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40<\/span><\/td>\n20%<\/span><\/td>\nUse 3 Parts<\/span><\/td>\nUse 1 Part<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
50<\/span><\/td>\n25%<\/span><\/td>\nUse 4 Parts<\/span><\/td>\nUse 1 Part<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
60<\/span><\/td>\n30%<\/span><\/td>\nUse 5 Parts<\/span><\/td>\nUse 1 Part<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
70<\/span><\/td>\n35%<\/span><\/td>\nUse 6 Parts<\/span><\/td>\nUse 1 Part<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
80<\/span><\/td>\n40%<\/span><\/td>\nUse 7 Parts<\/span><\/td>\nUse 1 Part<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

You can now move your paper whites into a sunny location, but don\u2019t let them get hot.\u00a0 When the blooms appear, move them back into a cooler, shadier part of the house to help them last longer.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have fae living with you now, this may be just the thing to attract them!\u00a0 However, be prepared for small, bright and shiny items to go temporarily missing and to find oddments you\u2019ve never seen before hiding amongst the dust bunnies (who may suddenly become very militant!).\u00a0 Living with the fae is simultaneously meddlesome, loving, annoying, instructional, vexing and entertaining\u2014and worth every minute!<\/span><\/p>\n