Faery Song and Singing

Faery Song and Singing

I am using two oracle decks, firstly The Heart of Faerie by Wendy and Brian Froud. The second is The Faeries Oracle by Brian Froud and Jessica Macbeth.

The Lady of Song - The Heart of Faerie Oracle

Most people who haven't done a lot of singing, or at least not the trained kind, think singing is something that you do with your throat.

It isn't that at all. Singing requires the whole body. I try and explain that much like a guitar the sound comes from the belly, the notes come from your neck and you tune yourself with your pegs (your ears). Most everyone can sing given time, training and of course tuning.

Those who struggle do not do so because they haven't the strings (the throat) or the belly to make the sound. No only on the rare occasion when someone truly can't sing it is because they can not listen.

Listening is the skill required most to make pleasant and tuneful music. She says

"Listen! What is your soul really singing?"

 When you can connect your soul with  your voice, nothing short of magick happens. Music that revels that, really shows something is very different than most of the vapid junk out there. It isn't how perfect, or tuneful but how real it is that moves us. 

There is something healing in song. Healing in allowing something so deep within us out. When we listen, and sing out our own song it changes the world.

The Singer of Initiation - The Faeries Oracle

I have written extensively about initiation* and this singer is the bringer of deeper secrets, hidden knowledge's and truer faith, what ever that might be. Yet you must surrender to it. Let go of the ego, let go and listen truly and deeply to your heart song. Listen to your soul song and if you can join your voice in chorus. Connect your song with those around you. It doesn't have to be their song, in fact it doesn't matter if it is totally different because it the harmonies that are important. 

*click on the blue word to read more about initiation.

The Singer say

" Your soul will transform your life, or life will transform your soul."

Initiation is always a mixture of something we choose to do and something that is done to us and through us. Sometimes it hurts, because change even the best change can be painful. The doorways are open and now you must pass through. You must grow. You can not remain as you have been. You can not see and know without being changed.

Faeries of Truth and Change

Faeries of Truth and Change

I am using The Heart of Faerie by Wendy and Brian Froud and The Faeries Oracle by Brian Froud and Jessica Macbeth.

Sylvanius - the Faeries Oracle

Sylvanius is a complicated guy. Well the truth is complicated too. All about perspective, time, attitude. Nature doesn't lie, not often anyway.  He keeps watch on the 'teen. Between here and there, Faery and our world, especially in the woods and wild places.

In the wilds we are often faced with the truth about ourselves that we can keep safely hidden in the "real" world.

The woods, is a dream land too, where the truth is dressed in all kinds of masks. Where things are real and unreal. Opposite but not opposing and where the dichotomy of things spins like a coin on it's edge. Like the swords edge. Sylvanius say

"Minding true things by what there mockeries be." 

There is a truth in jest, and art, plays and songs, artists (like the Bard himself) know. In fact sometimes we have to show a lie, to tell the truth too.

If you want to be easy, well, sorry! It's time to come clean. Even, no, especially with yourself. If you need to make it "fiction" to say it, if you need to write in a novel, a song or poem, or paint it in a picture, do that. Of course truth will out eventually any way. It is it's nature, like ivy and thorn to bring down the walls that divide us. For while you are in the wilds, the wilds are also in you.

The Queen of Passage - The Heart of Faerie

Faery like 'tweens. The shifting place between one thing and another. Where things rub, overlap, pull apart. Faery accept change far more easily than we. We like things how they are but they never stay that way. Our biggest struggles are fighting against change, even desired change. 

Change often requires work. Yet we have to surrender to it. To the process, blood, pain, tears and all. If we find that calm space in ourselves. If we can just let go we will find the transitions much easier.

She says

"Keep breathing. In and out. In and out. You can do it."

She will deliver you into the next part of your life. She is there guiding, checking and trying to make it as smooth as possible. Relax. Work with the process and don't fight so hard. Keep breathing. Have a touch of faith. Listen to your better instincts. All things do pass after all.

Faery Questions

Faery Questions

I am using The Heart of Faerie Oracle by Wendy and Brian Froud and The Faeries Oracle by Brian Froud and Jessica Macbeth.

The Question - The Heart of Faerie 

Questions are like keys. Knowing the right question can unlock all sorts of situations, difficulties and problems within and in the world. Faeries ask us all kinds of questions, especially in quests and journey's (quest, I, on?).

The problem with most people is they only ask questions they think they know the answer to. You would be surprised how often I have had clients begged me to tell them one way or another not for the truth, or a truth, but for a lie they desperately want to cling to. 

I'd probably make a lot more money if I gave them the sweet lies, but I just can't do it. 

"No, he is not going to leave his wife."

"Yes, your crazy ex will stalk you."

"It's going to get worse before it gets better."

Some people are stranger still, in that they get the answer they are looking for and can't except it. They wrestle with it, you can see something inside them refuses to accept good news, or the thing they want. They twist and turn on the seat.

Then there are the folks who's question/s make more questions. This usually means their question wasn't the best question they could have asked. It could have been vague, too specific. 

The Question says

"What do you really want to know?"

An answer is coming. You might like it. You might not. You might have needed a better question. You might twist and wriggle away from the answer good or bad. If you don't have the answers you want or you are comfortable with, that could bring up a whole host of interesting questions. 

The Singer of Courage 

Most people think fear is a terrible thing and that feeling frightened is some how a weakness. Fear is not a weakness. Fear is the body telling the mind something important. Something to warn it about pain. Sometimes we need to hear the warning and jump right out and do it anyway.

Courage is braving the crowded supermarket in the school holidays and not having a panic attack. 

Courage is in speaking up for yourself and for others.

Courage is really accepting who you are and being that person even though it is easier and convenient not to be.

It is being bruised and broken-hearted and loving anyway. 

Big brave things, like jumping off a bridge with a piece of elastic on your feet seem more impressive but it is the courage to be authentic, vulnerable and present that changes the world. 

The Singer of Courage says

"What are you really afraid of?"

When we look at ourselves and begin to deconstruct our fears, ration, irrational, social and taught we begin a courageous journey.

If we can sing our own song, dance our own dance, live our own life, then we truly are courageous. 

Faery Sorcery and Unity

Faery Sorcery and Unity

I am using The Heart of Faerie Oracle By Wendy and Brian Froud and The Faeries Oracle by Brian Froud and Jessica Macbeth.

The Sorcerer - The Heart of Faerie 

The Sorcerer is not quite what most people think of when the world "faery" pops up. He looks like a Brownie. If not of the house variety when certainly that type of faery. Hard working, grumpy, and always listening.

"I wish", you yell. Up his ears prick! 

What magick is at his command?

While most Brownies like to help around the house that is not his job (they do take their jobs seriously).

His job is old magick. Powerful, ancient and deep.

He grants wishes. Not like the twinkly kind of faery. He shows you how powerful you are. In this regard he gets quite a reputation. His magick is not in the warm and fuzzy feeling of "ish".

He wants things to specific, detailed, and wise. He says

"Make better wishes!"

Sometimes we forget how powerful our words, thoughts and wishes are. Most often we forget to control our thinking (and our magick). He gives us exactly what we wish for. It is never boring when he is around and it always works, well, like magick. That said there are often some...interesting consequences. 

Unity - The Faeries Oracle

Unity is less a faery and more an understanding. All faery are different but they are all connected. What harms one, harms them all and they feel it. What brings one joy lifts them all. It is a shame we forget we too are all connected, to each other and to the beautiful world we live in. Cooperation, connectedness, to the earth and each other, to magick and ourselves is an integral part of being human.

Unity sing

"You are everything."

Get "in touch" with your better self. What ever you might call that. Spirit, higher self, God/dess. Better yet connect with the world. Be it a partner, lover, community or place. We are powerful, beautiful beings and if we could just work together, less ego, less bullshit, less me, me, me, I, I, I, we might discover what connects us is far stronger than what keeps us apart.

Faery Gifts

Faery Gifts

I am using The Heart of Faerie Oracle by Brian and Wendy Froud and The Faeries Oracle by Brian Froud and Jessica Macbeth.

The Gift - The Heart of Faerie Oracle

Gifts and blessings are tricky things. As are curses and poisons. We can't always tell them apart when we get them. What seems sweet can be a poison and what is poison is really a medicine that heals us. You can't tell what it is from it's wrapper, or the mask it might wear. Something about her appearance this morning brought with her a wave of deep sadness.
Perhaps it is because she reminds me of Death in the Faeries Oracle. Which is also a gift too. Or maybe my tears are the gift themselves with their own wisdom and medicine. She says

"What did it teach you?"

Pain, loss, suffering and heartache are over. You can carry the scars and wallow in self pity or you can let it be a gift.You made it through, your are still here. It made you better, not bitter. You win. 
You are through it now. Cleanse yourself in the water of wisdom. Let it heal you. 

 The Maiden - The Faeries Oracle

The Maiden is pure joy and magick. She is bright new beginnings and hopes. She is the new after the the old. The re-birth. Spring after Winter. Yet she is fragile too. She needs nurture and gentleness. Yet there is great power in her too. She knows every day is a new beginning. Every new breath a new opportunity. Change, growth, joy are only one breath away if we allow it. She says

"Be gentle with your joy."

I think she means that all hope and happiness, dreams and wishes are as fragile as a dandelion clock, and just as pervasive. The more you wish, the more hopeful you are the more hopeful you can be. Maybe she also means that we shouldn't rush or dismiss our dreams. That we should follow our joy gently. Just allow ourselves to get out of our own way, which is definitely something  need to work on!

Faery Temptation

Faery Temptation 

I am using The Heart of Faerie Oracle by Brian and Wendy Froud and The Faeries Oracle by Brian Froud and Jessica Macbeth.

The Temptation - The Heart of Faerie Oracle

The Temptation for me, and another person is always so different. We all carry around our own "devils". Our self destructive tendencies. From bad relationships to addiction, to our own soup of self doubt and loathing, rage and self pity. Often we only find these tempting because we are trying to fill a void, or avoid what we are really feeling. Faerie don't really understand this. They are beings of intense feeling and revel in feeling it all. They wear their hearts on their sleeves. Which doesn't mean they can't trick you, or manipulate. They are like young children, being present makes their feelings very strong and natural. I guess it is how we all were until someone told us to "stop making a fuss."
He says

"One bite wouldn't hurt? Would it?"

You will be tempted. By what ever is your poison. Your devil will raise it's head and then you get to choose. One bite? One glass? One bottle? Or one moment of honesty with yourself. What am I avoiding? What am I trying so hard to numb? If you need some help or support, ask for it. The temptation to be strong and "do it alone" can be just as poisonous as anything else.

The Laume - The Faeries Oracle

The Laume are all about giving. She is in all the random acts of kindness. She is a helping hand, a soft word, a strong shoulder and tender lap. She is kindness for kindnesses sake. She says

"Give kindness a try, especially to yourself."

The world can seem a strange cruel place. It can be hard to have hope in the goodness of humanity but there is goodness. Give something to someone that they need. Donate money or time to a charity. Give someone a flower, a sandwich, a smile. Clear some litter, wash a neighbours windows (with permission), baby sit, cat sit. Send toys or food to a food bank. Giving for it's own sake is a beautiful thing 
Remember to except the good and kindness you are given. I have been helped by random strangers a few times and it saved my life! 

Faery of Growth and Ideas

Faery of Growth and Ideas

I am using The Heart of Faerie Oracle by Brian and Wendy Froud and The Faeries Oracle by Brian Froud and Jessica Macbeth.

The Faerie of Growth - The Heart of Faerie Oracle

This card reminds me of fresh pea-pods.There is something so fresh and vital and green about her. She is poised to move like a pod about to burst or a coiled spring. We tend to think of growth as this slow measured thing but in nature it never goes like that. It has slow quiet seasons and then it bursts forth. Be it the moment when a seed rips open it's outer casing to put out roost, or the moment when a flower bud explodes into colour, or when a seed pod twists and contorts until it pops showering seeds far and wide. She says

"It's happening, hang on!"

Faery don't really understand human idea of time. They certainly don't understand human ideas about being "ready". Things happen when the wind blows, when the light changes, when the pod is ready to pop. They worry about the details or deal with the problems that "might" come with the change when they get there. Or after. Or they don't worry at all!

Taitin The Sylph - The Faeries Oracle

This card positively glows. Taitin is so beautiful you could be forgiven for thinking she is always well behaved. Yet she is that sudden jolt of ideas. She looks tiny too, but again that would be a trick because she carries something huge inside her. She is not only dreaming but aliveness. Like a hummingbird she flies.  She says

"Wake up! Look sharp. Think!"

While she is amazing and beautiful I also feel like she is the whisperer of drunken ideas, daring dos, and down right dangerous stunts. If you are a Hitchhikers Guide fan, she is Zaphod's patronus. Thinking cap and all! She is always interesting and mostly fun (hangovers and bad choices aside) but hey it was your idea, right?