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p l a n t s a n d a n i m a l s
apple, cherry, cypress, pine, redwood, elder, eucalyptus, fir, palm, oak, birch, walnut, willow, cedar, hazel, yew, rowan, ash, hawthorn, maple
holly, juniper, blackberry, ivy, grape
ivy as death plant - choking, strangling, poison
Birch: truth
Pine: peace
Rowan: protection
Sycamore: dreams, goals
Oak: strength of body and character
Willow: love, bending, give and take
Cherry: compassion, releasing pain of the heart
frog, mouse, seal, salmon, boar, pig, bear, horse, fox, wolf, hound, stag, goat, bull, hare, ram, coyote, turtle, lizard, squirrel, serpent, cat
owl, raven, crow, swan, goose, pheasant, duck, gull, hawk, wren, starling, crane/heron, robin, blackbird, blue jay, eagle
foxglove, roses, primroses, toadflax, hyacinth, periwinkle, wood violets, red clover, lily of the valley, wisteria, love in a mist, lilacs, rosemary
The Language of Fairy Flowers
Bluebell: Constancy and Kindness
Bluebells are also known as wood hyacinths and as Cuckoo's Boots, Crowtoes
and Endymion (after the woodland lover of Diana, the goddess of hunting).
The Scottish name for the plant is Deadmen's Bells, for to hear the ring of
a bluebell is to hear one's death knell. Fairies are summoned to their midnight
revels by the ringing of these tiny flowers, which are reputed to be the most
potent of all fairy flora. Legend has it that children who venture into bluebell
glades will be held captive, while adults will be pixie-led, until met by
another mortal and guided out.
Clover: Thoughtfulness
Because fairies do not like to be seen by humans, they disappear in the blink
of an eye, but some people believe that a four-leafed clover may prevent this
and allow a mortal to see fairies in their invisible state. A four-leafed
clover is famous for bringing luck and it gives a person the power to break
fairy spells and see through their magic. Cowslip: Grace and Pensiveness Cowslips
are an invaluable fairy flower, for their blossoms provide shelter from the
rain. Above tufts of wrinkled oval leaves, their tall stems sway with parasol-like
clusters of fragrant, buttery yellow flowers, each one painted with five tiny
red dots ("rubies, faerie favours," according to Shakespeare). In England
they are known as the Culver's Keys, for their heads resemble a bunch of keys
and these are said to hold the power to unlock the way to fairy treasure.
Forget-Me-Not: Love & Devotion
Fairy flowers may be divided into those that belong to them and those that
give protection from them. Forget-me-nots are one of the latter group and
like the cowslip have the power to unlock secret treasures, often supposed
to be guarded by fairies or sprites. The delicate forget-me-not has long been
the emblem of love and remembrance.
Foxglove: Insincerity
Foxgloves are universally reputed to be fairy plants and it is unlucky to
pick them or bring them into your home, but you will please the fairy folk
if you grow the tall foxglove in your garden. The flower derives its name
from Little Folks-glove, since it is believed that the florets are worn by
fairies, sometimes as bonnets, sometimes as gloves. The flower has many strange
folk names, such as Fairy Weed, Dead Men's Bellows, Bloody Man's Fingers and
Witch's Thimble. The poison in the plant causes drunkenness and frenzy. But
in Irish belief, the juice of ten foxglove leaves will cure a fairy-struck
child. The juice is also an ingredient used by witches in the potion that
helps them to fly. The little flecks on the flowers are said to be the fairies'
fingerprints.
Hawthorn: Hope
Like all thorn trees, the hawthorn is a sacred meeting place for fairies.
It also has a reputation for being both sacred and unlucky. Among its many
folk names are Whitehorn and May Blossom and its red fruit has been called
Pixie Pears, Cuckoo's Beads and Fairy Thorn. Some country people in Europe
still associate hawthorn flowers with the smell of the Black Death. It may
be for this reason, or because of other more ancient memories, that May Blossom
is still considered unlucky to bring into the home. However, the hawthorn's
powerful constituents have been used by herbalists for centuries as a cardiac
tonic. The Druids also used these properties to strengthen the body in old
age and their smiths used the wood to make the hottest fire-wood known. Many
Native Americans used the fruit of the hawthorn to make a winter cake. They
also used its long, sharp spines as probes, awls and fish hooks.
Hazel: Reconciliation & Peace
From the earliest times trees have been believed to be the homes of spirits,
but some trees are more sacred than others. One of the most magical is the
hazel, held by the Druids to be the tree of wisdom and knowledge, poetry and
fire, beauty and fecundity. A forked hazel twig is used for water divining,
and some believe that it can also find gold. The hazel can offer protection
from danger--a cap of hazel leaves and twigs ensures good luck and safety
at sea, while a sprig of hazel will protect against lightning. According to
ancient lore, the nuts from the hazel were dropped into the water to feed
the sacred salmon of the Celts and these fish were then considered to be full
of mystical knowledge. In England, the hazelnut has long been associated with
fertility--a bag of nuts bestowed upon a bride will ensure a fruitful marriage!
Heather: Good Fortune & Solitude
Heather thrives on wide open windy moors, and so it has also become the symbol
of solitude. Fairies who enjoy living undisturbed are said to feast on its
stalks. Legend has it that a gift of white heather brings luck to both the
giver and the receiver, wheras red heather is said to have been colored by
heathens killed in battle by Christians. In ancient times the Danes brewed
a powerful beer made from heather. And for centuries the heather flowers have
also been a special beverage to the bee, who in return creates delightful
heather honey!
Jasmine: Affection & Elegance
The jasmine is a symbol of beauty in China and a sacred plant of India and
Persia - Hindus call it the Moonlight of the Grove. The white jasmine is also
sometimes known as the Star of Divine Hope and is associated with the purity
of the Virgin Mary in Christianity. While the white jasmine is believed to
symbolize deep affection, the yellow represents grace and elegance. According
to folklore, to dream of jasmine means that a romance is blossoming.
Pansy: Joy and Remembrance
Legend has it that Cupid brought color to the pansy with one of his arrows,
and this flower is widely associated with love and the healing of an aching
heart. The best-loved wild flowers accrue the most folk names and the pansy
is certainly one of these! In addition to their most popular pseudonym of
Heartsease, pansies have also been called Love-in-Idleness, Three Faces in
a Hood, Tickle my Fancy, and Jack Behind the Garden Gate, as well as being
the notorious, mischievous Leap up and Kiss Me. Bold-faced and multicolored,
they flower blithely from spring to snowfall and are used by the fairies as
a love potion.
Peach Blossom: Immortality
The peach tree, also called the Tree of the Fairy Fruit, is presumed to have
originated in China. Peaches are the symbol of immortality in China because
the peach tree of the gods, which grew in the mythical gardens of Hsi Wang
Mu, the Royal Lady of the West, was said to bloom only once in 3000 years,
yielding the ripened fruits of eternal life.
Primrose: Youthfulness & Promise Primroses make the invisible visible and to eat them is said to be a sure way to see the fairies. According to folklore you should count the number you first see each springtime, and if there are thirteen or more, you will be lucky all year. If a nosegay holds less than thirteen, it must be protected by violets, or it is risky to take into church, or even into a house. If you lay a little posy upon your doorstep, fairies will cross your threshold as you sleep, to bless your home. In Ireland, primroses are scattered before the house door to ward off the fairies, who are not supposed to be able to pass them, while in Germany, the primrose is said to open hidden treasure boxes. Some believe that the way to fairyland can be opened by touching a fairy rock with proper number of primroses in a posy--but the wrong number opens the door to doom!
Rowan: Prudence
If a rowan tree should take root in your garden, then your home and all who
live there will be blessed, for the garden is under the special protection
of the fairies, guarded against witchcraft and bad luck. For this reason the
tree was traditionally planted around houses and in lonely places to deter
evil spirits. The Celts believed that no witches or evil spirits could cross
a door over which a branch of rowan had been nailed. In some legends, the
rowan has also been called the whispering tree because it has secrets to tell
to those who will listen. The fruit and the bark of the rowan have medicinal
powers--there are many old remedies made from this tree. In Scotland, fires
made from rowan wood were used to protect the cattle against evil fairy spirits,
and it was believed that a "bewitched" horse could always be controlled by
a rowan whip.
Silver Birch: Patience
The silver birch is an emblem of everlasting summer that prevails in the spirit
world. It is also the symbol of the festival of the first fruits known as
Lammas-tide, when the goodness of Mother Earth is celebrated. May Day, Whitsuntide
and Midsummer are also important days, for wearing a sprig of birch in your
buttonhole will work as a love charm. And in winter, their stark beauty of
the birch symbolizes the serenity of nature dormant and sleeping. Folklore
says that garlands of silver birch by the front door keep demons away, but
the spirit of the tree can inflict madness and death. The Native Americans
used the bark of the silver birch to make the legendary birch-bark canoes,
hence the name Canoe Birch. They also used strips of white birch to make their
wigwams, as well as baskets, mattresses and even writing paper.
Toadstool: Magic & Temptation
Countless folk tales and songs link fairies with toadstools whose sudden appearance
and rapid growth have always intrigued people--seemingly caused by some inexplicable,
supernatural force. Their unearthly shapes and colors (sometimes quite luminous)
and their often hallucinogenic properties are thought to be a sure sign that
they are the creation of fairies! The Fairy Ring Mushroom is the one which
grows in a circular formation, marking the boundary of the fairies favorite
dancing places. The enchanting timbre of the fairies' music and revelry can
lure mortal passers-by inexorably into the ring for what may seem like minutes
but is actually years, sometimes even forever!
White Lotus: Purity The white lotus flower was sacred in ancient Egypt, India, China and Tibet and is still regarded as a symbol of purity in those countries. In medieval Germany, peasants believed that lotus flowers were nymphs in disguise and ladies would carry the flower in their hand to counteract the effects of love potions.
Flower/Plant Fairies
Basil- The Fae of the Basil help us awaken greater discipline and devotion
Buttercup- This flower and its Faerie bring healing energies, They help us rediscover our selfworth
Carnation- Their energy is healing to the body, contact with them strengthens the aura
Clover- The clover Faeries assist in finding love and fidelity
Daisy- The daisy is a favorite of Dryads(wood nymphs) The Faeries help awaken creativity
Gardenia- This special Faerie stimulates feelings of peace, The Fae of this flower are VERY protective towards children
Heather-The Fae of this flower are drawn to humans who are shy
Jasmine- These Fae love to evoke pleasant dreams, They have also been known to help develop mental clarity
Lily- These Faeries help in the development of purity and humility
Rose- The Faerie of the rose can help in all aspects of love and fertility
Sage- They awaken a sense of wisdom in your life
Snapdragon- These bring humans great protection
Thyme- Thyme draws the wee Folk into your sleeping chambers
Alder- The Fae of the Alder have been known as the "dark Faeries". They are very protective. When they leave their trees this Faerie will take the form of a Raven
Apple- This also known as the home for Unicorns.
Birch- This is sometimes known as the" Lady of the Woods" .
Elder- The Elder tree is sacred to the Druid clans. It is the tree of the beginning and the end.
Oak- Linking with the Oak Faeries awakens visions of your future.
Willow- It is associated with Brigid in the Celtic tradition; It opens vision and communication.
Apple is the faery tree of awakening from confusion and sleep to the true reality.