Faery Craft: Weaving Connections with the Enchanted Realm by Emily Carding

interview with R. J. Stewart that appears later in the book, which states that faeries never appear with “little butterfly wings”! A sense of humour is so important when dealing with Faery.
    Dogs
    Dogs feature heavily in Faery lore, predominantly as the red-eared white hounds of the otherworld. Known as the Cwn Annwn in Welsh tradition, they would accompany Arawn or Gwyn ap Nudd on their hunts or on Samhain night when the host would ride out, bringing fear to the land. The Tuatha de Danann and the Fomorians also had hounds; in fact, the name of the great hero of the Tuatha, Cu Chulainn, means “hound of Chulainn.”
    There is a strong tradition of strange black dogs associated with Faery in England that is almost interchangeable with stories of ghosts and ill omens. The goddess Hekate is also associated with black dogs. They were sacrificed to her in ancient Greece at the crossroads, and in her triple-animal-headed form she would often have the head of a dog. This may be seen to relate to her underworld aspect as Hekate Chthonia, which logically would be the aspect most connected to the Faery realm. Much of the folklore connected to black dogs in England also connects them to the crossroads, generally as the lost souls of hanged criminals.
    The wild relatives of dogs, wolves and foxes, also have strong connections with Faery lore worldwide. Foxes are particularly apparent in Chinese folklore in the form of shape-shifting femme fatales known as huli jing, and also in Japan, where they are known as kitsune.
    Deer
    Deer, both hinds and stags, are an important part of Faery lore. In Celtic myth, it is often a white stag or hind that leads the way to the otherworld or lures unsuspecting huntsmen. Faery beings sometimes take the guise of deer, and Faery kings are often depicted as having the antlers of a stag. To be transformed into a deer for a span of time is also a punishment inflicted on mortals in a number of tales.
    Cats
    Katharine Briggs states that “cats were almost fairies in themselves” ( A Dictionary of Fairies ), and I’m sure that most cat lovers would agree! They certainly have otherworldly qualities. There is also a tradition of Faery cats in Scotland known as cait sith, and a number of people have suggested that the phantom big cats sometimes sighted on British moorland, such as the Beast of Bodmin, may, in fact, be Faery cats.
    There is also an increased reporting in recent years of “shadow cats,” which are cat-size shadowy creatures that have been seen to pass through walls and into impossible spaces. These may well be a form of Faery being.
    Serpents
    As ancient chthonic symbols, serpents often arise in Faery lore. There are a number of beings who are described as being part serpent, such as the Faery bride Melusine. You may not realise it, but you see an image of Melusine every time you pass a Starbucks.
    Mythical Beasts
    There are a large number of mythical beasts associated with Faery, and we do not have room for an entire bestiary within this volume! Many of these may be encountered when working in the Faery realm either in journey, meditation, or other work in an altered state. Dragons, like Faery beings, are agents of the deepest powers of inner earth and the elements, and they may be encountered in wild landscapes and high, rugged places where the primal power of the land may be felt. Unicorns, beautiful symbols of purity and spirit, are also often seen in vision.

    Esther Remmington, “Earth Dragon”
(www.estherremmington.com)

    Symbols
    Symbols are not an obvious or traditional part of Faery Craft, which is mostly concerned with the world of nature and the otherworld; however, there are a number of symbols that have particular associations relevant to Faery. Symbols change and evolve in their meaning over time, and if you wish to add your own personal significance and insights to those mentioned here, that is completely acceptable as long as they resonate with the symbol’s innate energy.