Allen Cunningham in his “Lives of Eminent British Painters” records that William Blake claimed to have seen a fairy funeral. “‘Did you ever see a fairy’s funeral, madam?‘ said Blake to a lady who happened to sit next to him. ‘Never, sir!’ said the lady. ‘I have,’ said Blake, ‘but not before last night.‘ And he went on to tell how, in his garden, he had seen ‘a procession of creatures of the size and colour of green and grey grasshoppers, bearing a body laid out on a rose-leaf, which they buried with songs, and then disappeared.”
You know a fairy. Admit it. You are aware of magical creatures. You know the Tooth Fairy. You know Tinkerbell. You know the Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker. And you know about fairy godmothers. A fairy is a mythical being, a form of spirit. Various traditions refer to fairies as wee folk, good folk, people of peace. Throughout time, fairies have been reported as tiny beings described as human in appearance. Although often depicted as having wings, fairies are believed to fly by means of magic or perhaps on the backs of birds.
You probably also know about gnomes. You might even have one or two in your garden. Gnomes are a symbol of good luck and are thought to provide protection. They may watch over crops or livestock and are also thought to help gardeners in the night.
Recently I had an opportunity to visit the Connecticut woods, a place where fairies and gnomes and elves and all sorts of creatures live. I’m a great believer in forest medicine. Having spent my childhood in the New England woods, I’ve always known the healing power of time in nature. We know the woods are magical, now we know the effects of that magic are reflected in scientific research. Medical studies have shown that nature can help ease physical disease as well as anxiety and depression.
“Patients with anxiety and depression respond very well to the calming stimuli of nature,” says Clemens G. Arvay, a biologist and author of the books “The Biophilia Effect” and “The Healing Code of Nature”. “Anxiety, especially, is connected to the overactive sympathetic nervous system, which is the nerve of the fight or flight response. Many people who suffer from anxiety find release in nature.” We are natural beings. We need to be in contact with the natural world of trees and lakes and mountains.
While visiting the woods, I became a participant in a beautiful, collaborative act of creation and a visit to an unseen realm. Having made a decision to believe in magic and return to the awesome power of a child’s imagination, we decided to build a fairy village.
The building of a fairy village is not to be taken lightly. As in all building projects, there are decisions to be made and materials to be gathered. First a building site must be determined. This decision was made by Maureen, Queen of the Garden. She chose a perfect spot which offered the backdrop of a fine stone wall to serve as protection and a boundary. On the left, an old tree stump creates another border and to the right is a space for the village to grow. The site is located atop a hill which allows for a clear view across a vast expanse of lawn with abundant flower gardens.
The gathering of building materials may take a little time. When building a fairy village, materials are restricted. Everything must be scaled to fairy size. Materials must be natural, organic materials, although things that are found (a shiny button, a lost earring, a scrap of fabric) may be used. The best way to gather is to get a large bag and take a walk. Go into the woods. Walk along the shore. Wander through a garden. Sticks. Big sticks. Little sticks. Sticks with forks. Sticks that are straight and sticks that are not straight. Stones. All sizes of stones. Sea shells. Sea grass. Sea weed. Vines. Tree bark. Thick bark. Thin bark. Smooth bark and rough bark.
In our village, the Queen of the Garden wanted to honor her sons’ childhood fort. Since gnomes are known to be protective spirits, the fort was chosen to be the center of the village. The gnomes were invited into the concrete bunker. A thatch roof was constructed of seaweed secured by a large stone. Atop the stone, a pair of elf boots as a memorial to all those who had come before. A large feather serves as a flagpole and two small feathers mark the opening to the fort. A single sentry stands watch…a tiny, plastic army guy whose had held his rifle ready for a quarter of a century.
Two fairy homes were constructed. One is fully furnished with table and chairs. It features window shades fashioned from birch bark. And both a floor and an awning made from salvaged shingles. The walls are sticks wrapped in vine and secured together. Thick bark creates a sturdy roof. The garden, accented by a freshly planted fern, is surrounded by a stone wall with a gate featuring a seashell arbor. The other home is more of an open air sleeping structure furnished with a bed and side tables. It features an arched entryway flanked by two stones. Its roof is constructed of a number of pieces of bark lashed together with braided sea grass rope. It is perched atop the arch and two rear support columns. The roof is removable and may serve as a raft or sailboat in the case of a tsunami or flooding of the village. The garden is bordered by a stone wall and furnished with seashell lounge chairs. Since there are no restrictions regarding clotheslines in a fairy village, one was quickly put into use.
The final feature of our village is the mythical, magical flying pig. Perched atop the highest point, he serves as a reminder that anything is possible…if you believe.
I invite you to make a choice. When you are feeling overwhelmed or lonely…or when you are seeking answers…step outside. Make yourself open to any messages from Spirit. Notice the presence of birds or butterflies. Check for any special stones that appear at your feet. Touch the tree bark. Feel the grass beneath your feet. Look for shapes in the clouds. Listen to the leaves rustling in the wind. Find the child within. Play. All of the Cosmos is communicating with you. Abundance. Wisdom. Connection. We are one. Believe in Magic.
#fairies #gnomes #magic #nature #anxiety #depression