Faeries, also called the Fair Folk, the Good Neighbors or the aos sí, are the otherworldly beings of Irish, Scottish and British folklore: powerful, beautiful, easily offended and never quite what they seem. Many witches feel drawn to them, especially those who celebrate the Celtic festivals or work with Irish deities.
But faery lore has a darker side too. Old stories warn of stolen children, enchanted travelers and harsh punishments for disrespect. So are faeries friendly or frightening? The honest answer is: both, and it depends a great deal on how you treat them.
In this guide we'll look at where faeries come from, the difference between faeries and fairies, the most famous kinds of faeries in Irish and Scottish folklore, the Seelie and Unseelie courts, what Faery Wicca is, and how to honor the Fair Folk safely and respectfully.
Are Faeries Friendly or Frightening?
Quick answer: in traditional folklore, faeries are neither simply good nor simply evil. They can bless a household with luck or lead a traveler astray, and they expect respect, courtesy and their due. Most old customs about faeries are about keeping on their good side: leaving offerings, not disturbing their places, and using protective charms like iron and rowan.
Modern witches who work with the Fair Folk usually approach them the way our ancestors did: carefully, politely and without expecting them to behave like the gentle, glittering fairies of children's films.
How to Honor the Fair Folk Respectfully in 5 Steps
- Learn the lore first. Read traditional stories from Ireland, Scotland and Britain, and learn the rules they teach.
- Leave simple offerings. A little milk, butter, bread or honey on a stone or at the foot of a tree, especially at dusk.
- Respect their places. Don't damage fairy forts, hawthorn trees, mushroom rings or wild corners of your garden.
- Be polite but careful. Don't make promises you can't keep, and many people avoid saying "thank you" directly to faeries, offering gifts instead.
- Keep protection close. A piece of iron, a sprig of rowan or a St. John's wort charm by your door keeps the balance if anything feels off.
Where Do Faeries Come From?
Faery-like beings appear across Europe, but the faery lore that most witches know comes from Ireland, Scotland and Britain. Much of it was passed down by word of mouth for centuries before it was written down, so there are many local versions and very few fixed rules.
There are two main traditional explanations for where faeries came from. After Christianity arrived, some people said faeries were fallen angels who were neither good enough for heaven nor wicked enough for the underworld, so they were left to live in the hills. The older Irish explanation links them to the Tuatha Dé Danann, the divine race of Irish myth, whose great mother is the goddess Danu and whose members include Brigid.
In the medieval story of how Ireland was settled, the Tuatha Dé Danann were defeated by the Milesians, the ancestors of the Irish people. Rather than leave, they withdrew into the sídhe, the ancient mounds and hills, where they lived in shining halls, ruled by faery kings and queens. Over the centuries, these old gods became the faeries of folklore, still proud and powerful, and still expecting to be treated with respect.
Faeries vs Fairies: What's the Difference?
Both spellings refer to the same beings. "Faery" (or "faerie") is an older, more literary spelling, used for example in Edmund Spenser's poem The Faerie Queene (1590). Many pagans prefer it because it feels closer to the old, powerful beings of folklore, while "fairy" now tends to bring to mind the tiny, winged sprites of children's stories.
Some people use the two spellings to separate kind spirits ("fairies") from dangerous ones ("faeries"), but that isn't a traditional distinction. We use "faery" in this article, and we'll see that good and bad don't sit neatly on either side.
In Irish, the faeries are the aos sí (older spelling aes sídhe), "the people of the mounds." Sí (pronounced "shee") means a fairy mound or hill. Many ancient burial mounds and the ring-shaped earthworks called ringforts are known as fairy forts, and plenty of people in rural Ireland still won't disturb them.
Human Dealings With Faeries
In Irish and Scottish lore, the Fair Folk often look much like humans, only more beautiful, and they have powers we don't. They can help, hinder or harm. Even when they offer favors, most tales advise caution, because their gifts often come with a price. Many old customs were really ways of keeping the peace with them.
Faeries were said to be quick to take offense at rudeness, broken promises or anyone who damaged their homes. Some of the milder tricks blamed on them include:
- Leading travelers astray at night ("pixie-led" or "fairy-led")
- Hiding or stealing small objects
- Riding horses at night and leaving them tired and tangled by morning
- Tangling people's hair while they sleep ("elf-locks")
- Giving "fairy gold" that turns into dry leaves by morning
The Changeling Myth
The most frightening faery stories are about changelings. In folklore, faeries might steal a human baby (or sometimes a young mother or bride) and leave one of their own in its place. The changeling might be a sickly faery child, or even a very old faery wanting to be cared for. People protected babies with iron, such as scissors or a horseshoe near the cradle, by turning a coat inside out, or by saying a blessing after admiring a child.
The Reality Behind the Myth
Sadly, changeling beliefs did real harm. Parents whose babies became ill or developed differently sometimes believed their child had been swapped, and cruel "tests" with fire, cold or harsh herbs were sometimes used to drive the changeling out. The best-known case is that of Bridget Cleary, a young woman in County Tipperary who was killed by her husband in 1895 after he became convinced she was a faery changeling.
These stories remind us that fear can make people do terrible things. They don't mean the Fair Folk are evil. They show how folklore was once used to explain illness and disability that people didn't understand, and why we approach this lore with compassion and care.
Are Faeries Good or Bad? The Seelie and Unseelie Courts
Scottish folklore divides faeries into two courts. The Seelie Court ("blessed" or "lucky") are the more kindly faeries, who may help humans and reward kindness, though they still punish insults. The Unseelie Court ("unblessed" or "unlucky") are the hostile faeries, who need little reason to cause harm and were said to ride the night winds.
This division comes from Scotland, not Ireland, and even there it isn't a strict rule. Still, it's a useful way to think about the Fair Folk: like people, they range from friendly to dangerous, and most fall somewhere in between.
Trooping, Solitary and Domestic Faeries
Another popular way to sort faeries comes from the poet W. B. Yeats, who collected Irish folklore in Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry (1888). He divided them into two groups:
- Trooping faeries, who live and travel together in great processions and faery courts, ruled by kings and queens.
- Solitary faeries, who live alone and are often more unpredictable, like the leprechaun and the far darrig.
The folklorist Katharine Briggs later wrote about a third kind, domestic faeries, household spirits like the Scottish brownie, who quietly help with chores in exchange for a bowl of cream, but leave forever if they are insulted or paid with clothes.
Types of Faeries in Irish and Scottish Folklore
Here are some of the best-known faeries of Irish and Scottish folklore. Can you tell which are trooping, solitary or domestic?
| Faery | From | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Banshee (bean sí) | Ireland | "Woman of the fairy mound" whose keening cry warns of a death in certain old families |
| Leprechaun | Ireland | A solitary shoemaker said to know where treasure is hidden |
| Clurichaun | Ireland | The leprechaun's rowdy cousin, who haunts wine cellars and pubs |
| Far darrig (fear dearg) | Ireland | The "red man," a solitary faery in a red coat known for gruesome practical jokes |
| Púca | Ireland | A shapeshifter, often a dark horse, linked with Samhain |
| Leannán sí | Ireland | The "faery lover" who inspires poets and artists, though their lives are said to be short |
| Gancanagh | Ireland | The "love-talker," a charming male faery with a pipe whose lovers pine away |
| Alp-luachra | Ireland | A newt-like faery that steals the food of the person it lives in |
| Brownie | Scotland | A helpful household faery who works at night for a bowl of cream |
| Ghillie Dhu | Scotland | A shy forest faery dressed in leaves and moss, kind to lost children |
| Selkie | Scotland and Orkney | Seal folk who can shed their skins and walk on land as humans |
The Faery Lovers
Some faeries don't fit any category. The leannán sí, or faery lover, is a faery woman who takes a human lover and gives him endless inspiration in return for his devotion. Yeats called her the muse of Irish poets, and warned that those she loves burn brightly but briefly.
Her male counterpart is the gancanagh ("love-talker"), a handsome faery with a clay pipe who charms human women. The stories say that the women he leaves behind pine away for him. If a charming stranger with an old-fashioned pipe starts flattering you, it may be wise to walk the other way.
Ghillie Dhu
Ghillie Dhu was a solitary faery said to live in the birch woods near Gairloch in the Scottish Highlands. He dressed in leaves and moss, was wild and shy, and was remembered for kindly helping a lost child find her way home. In local tradition, a group of landowners later tried to hunt him in the 18th century, but he was never found.
What Is Faery Wicca?
Faery Wicca is a modern tradition that blends Wicca with Irish faery lore. It was popularized by Kisma Stepanich in her book Faery Wicca (1994), which presents it as a way to recover the old ways of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Critics, including many Irish pagans, point out that much of it comes from the author's own vision rather than from historical sources, so it's best seen as a modern spiritual path inspired by folklore.
Faery Wicca is different from the Feri Tradition (once also spelled "Faery"), a separate American witchcraft tradition founded by Victor and Cora Anderson. You don't need to join either to honor the Fair Folk. Many witches simply include faeries in their practice alongside the Goddess and God, especially at the sabbats.
Remember, too, that Irish and Scottish faery belief is part of the living folk culture of those countries. Learn from the people and stories of those places, and treat the lore with the respect it deserves.
How to Work With Faeries
Working with the Fair Folk is about building trust slowly. Here's what the old lore and modern practitioners suggest.
When the Veil Is Thin
In Irish myth, the faeries live in the Otherworld, known by names like Tír na nÓg, the Land of the Young. In the famous tale of Oisín, a hero spends what feels like three years there, only to find that three hundred years have passed in Ireland when he returns. The lore has two firm warnings for anyone who visits: don't eat faery food, or you may never leave, and don't stay longer than you must.
Luckily, you don't have to travel to meet them. The boundary between our world and theirs is said to be thinnest at the "in-between" times: dawn and dusk. Faeries are also especially active at certain festivals, above all Samhain, Beltane and Midsummer (Litha), when faery processions were said to move from one dwelling to the next.
Leave Offerings at a Faery Altar
A small faery altar or offering spot in your garden, on a balcony or at the foot of a tree is a lovely way to make contact. Traditional offerings include:
- A little milk, cream or butter
- Bread, oatcakes or honey
- Flowers, shells, pretty stones or bits of colored glass
- A song, a poem or simply time spent quietly in nature
Leave food outdoors only in small amounts, and choose things that won't hurt wildlife or pets. Keep iron away from the altar, since folklore says faeries dislike it. Treat the land around it kindly: pick up litter, don't cut plants without asking, and let a wild corner grow. Our guide to the best herbs for a witch's garden has ideas for planting a faery-friendly space.
Signs of Faery Presence
Folklore describes several signs that the Fair Folk are near. The most famous is the fairy ring, a circle of mushrooms that grows naturally on lawns and in woods. Tradition says it marks where faeries danced, and that stepping inside can trap you in their revels, so many people walk around rather than through them.
Others notice faery presence as a flicker of light at the edge of sight, small things going missing and turning up again, or music heard faintly at dusk. Hawthorn trees, especially lone ones in a field, are traditionally faery trees and are never cut down in parts of Ireland.
Faery Protection
If you ever feel a faery presence is unwelcome, folklore has plenty of protections. Iron is the classic, from a horseshoe over the door to a nail in your pocket. Rowan branches tied with red thread, St. John's wort, bells, salt, four-leaf clovers and turning your coat inside out are all traditional too. For more ideas, see our protection spells for your home and protection herbs.
Final Thoughts
Faeries are neither tiny, harmless sprites nor monsters. In the old stories they're proud, powerful neighbors who reward respect and punish rudeness. Whether you want to work with them or simply understand the lore, knowing their ways helps you move through the natural and spirit worlds with more care.
If spirit work calls to you, our spirits and familiars course covers working safely with many kinds of spirits, and you might also enjoy our guide to witch familiars. Have you ever felt the presence of the Fair Folk?
Sources
Yeats, W. B. (ed.). Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry. Walter Scott, 1888.
Briggs, Katharine. A Dictionary of Fairies. Allen Lane, 1976.
Stepanich, Kisma K. Faery Wicca, Book One. Llewellyn Publications, 1994.
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The Wiccan Holiday Beltane
Get to Know Your Familiar
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Faery FAQs
What are faeries in witchcraft?
In witchcraft, faeries are nature spirits and otherworldly beings drawn from Irish, Scottish and British folklore. Some witches honor them with offerings and work with them in their magick, while others simply respect them and use traditional protections.
Are faeries real?
That's for you to decide. For centuries, many people in Ireland, Scotland and Britain believed in the Fair Folk, and some still do. Many witches experience faeries as real nature spirits, while others see the lore as a meaningful way to respect the land. Trust your own experience.
What do faeries like as offerings?
Traditional offerings for the Fair Folk include milk, cream, butter, bread, oatcakes and honey. Many modern witches also leave flowers, shells, shiny stones, songs or poems. Keep food offerings small and safe for wildlife.
What are faeries afraid of?
In folklore, faeries are said to dislike iron above all, along with rowan, St. John's wort, four-leaf clovers, bells, salt and running water. These were traditionally used to protect homes, babies and travelers.
Why shouldn't you say thank you to faeries?
Some traditions say that thanking a faery directly can offend it or suggest you owe it a debt. Many people prefer to show gratitude by leaving a gift or offering instead. Customs vary, so follow what feels respectful to you.
Is Faery Wicca a real tradition?
Faery Wicca is a modern tradition popularized by Kisma Stepanich in the 1990s that blends Wicca with Irish faery lore. It is practiced by some witches today, but historians and many Irish pagans note that it is a modern creation rather than an ancient one.
