Are Faery Shamans Faerys? ©
by Tira Brandon-Evans

The idea that there are faerys incarnate in physical bodies living among us is one that keeps popping up and, so far as I can discover from conversations with my Inworld friends, is not true. When we die we are 'born' in shining form in the Shining Realms, but we are material beings assuming immaterial forms there. We do not become faerys when we dwell in those realms between lives.

When I am 'born' into this material realm a part of 'who I am' remains in the Shining Realms. But that part is not a faery, exactly. Faerys are real beings who never have and never will be born of woman. Some may, for a time, assume a human form but these must return to their faery form before returning to the Shining Realms.

The confusion arises because many of us can remember living in the Shining Realms between our worldly lives. In fact, most of us dwell in the Shining Country for longer periods than we dwell in the material world. But we are not faerys. One might as well imagine that an airline pilot is a bird because she spends so much time in the air. Or that Jacques Cousteau was really a fish because he spent so much of this life underwater.

The Fair Folk have no interest in being born in a human body and living a lifetime as a human. To be limited for an entire lifetime by a material body would be torture to them. It can be pretty uncomfortable for us, imagine what it would be for a completely immaterial being.

Faery Lovers and Faery Blood


There are many stories told in Celtic countries about faery women who come into our world and marry a human man. There are also stories of faery men seducing human women. These stories are not exclusive to Celtica and we find tales of this sort all over the world. Some of them are very dark, the seducer is a sort of vampire or intent on enslaving their human lover. In other stories the human enslaves the faery and binds her/him to the earth for a period of time. Often when the faery lover wins her/his freedom and returns to the faery realms she/he leaves behind children in this one. There are today many Celtic descendants who claim faery blood. Can this be true? I do not know and do not want to deny it may be true. Certainly we sometimes see people that look not quite human. For instance, David Bowie and Annie Lennox when they were young certainly had an Otherworldly glamour and I have met women and men, boys and girls, who seem not quite of this earth.

I do, however, have a deep, instinctive distrust of anyone who tells me they are part faery and uses this to 'pull rank'. If you have not already met this sort of person chances are one day you will. They tend to join groups for the sole purpose of informing everyone of their faery lineage so they may recieve adoration from their new friends. They are horribly tedious.

Truth? Lie? Mistake? Mental Illness?


Someone who has very vivid memories of the lives they live in the Shining Realms between incarnations may honestly believe they are faerys. This is a simple mistake and so long as we don't try to unduly impress people, or influence them for profit or sexual favors, we may all believe what we will in this regards. We do have to remember that our belief is just that 'our belief' and not try to make others beleive it too.

Another reason someone might wish to make this claim is because they wish to impress others. Bragging about being a faery is exactly the same thing as bragging about one's wealth, good looks, or Mensa membership. If you meet someone who claims that they are a faery – and that you aren't – avoid them. They are trying to impress you with their wonderful spiritual nature – which you, by implication, do not share. This is on a par with claiming to be an angel or a Goddess/God.

Another possiblity is that the person making the claim may be mentally unbalanced. There are certain types of mental illness that manifest as religious mania. Almost every town has the man or woman who stands on the busy street corner warning of the end of the world or claiming to be Jesus or Mary or a divine messenger of God. There is a thin line between being here now and being so far 'out there' one is not able to percieve material reality.

Then there is always the possiblity the 'living faery' is trying to get their hand into your pocket. There are lots of folks who want your money. Some travel about 'channeling' angels, ascended masters, Merlin, various Gods and Goddesses, ancient Druids, space aliens and just about anything else one can imagine. Some may claim to be direct descendants of faerys, Gods/Goddesses, living angels, reincarnations of Edgar Cayce and who knows what all. The one's who just want your money are the least dangerous. Some of these imposters want you to dedicate your lives to them and they may, eventually, want you to end your lives at their bidding – as in the Heaven's Gate cult.

Words to the Wise


Be very wary of anyone who wants you to participate in sexual activity with them or with Otherworld beings in the name of religion or spiritual enlightenment.

Avoid anyone who claims to be a living faery – especially if they seem to be trying to manipulate you. No matter what their mental state or their motive, you do not want to co-operate with or encourage them.

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Tira Brandon-Evans is the Founder and Moderator of the Society of Celtic Shamans, editor of Earthsongs: Journal of the Society of Celtic Shamans, and is, herself, a Faery Shaman. Her books, The Green and Burning Tree: A Faery Shaman's Handbook, Portals of the Seasons: A Celtic Wheel of the Year, Through the Unremembered Gate: Journeys of Initiation, The Labyrinthine Way: Walking Ancient Paths in a Modern World, and Healing Waters, are all published by Elder Grove Press. She is presently writing a book about the Ogham. You may contact Tira by email at info@faeryshaman.org.

Are Faery Shamans Faerys? copyright © 2004 by Tira Brandon-Evans, all rights reserved. Used with permission. Top of Page

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