Some hints on the History of the Faeries

Ancient wisdom of Faeryness

Faeries are a very old beings!
Faeries, the great spiritual creatures of the natural world, have been known to many cultures. To the Celts, they were the Sidhe, or People of the Mounds. To the Nordic, they were the Alfar, or Elves. A Vision Quest is a great journey into their Realm. Called "Pathworking," or "Astral Travel" in other Traditions, it is a Quest into the unknown reaches of the Other World in order to learn about oneself, one's environment, and one's spiritual beliefs. Some see this World as merely the Sub-Conscious Realm of Archetypal Images. Others see it as Astral projection. Still others see it as a journey through the space/time of Faerie, Sidhe, or Elven Realm. You must decide for yourself.

Faery Quest

Introduction to Faerie Paganism
The Faerie Folk have inhabited the hills,valleys and plains of the Earth since the very beginning of time. Shamanism is as old and as vast as the night sky. Paganism, as a religion based on paganism, has been a part of humanity since the building of the first small communal village. Faerie Paganism is a modern expression of these Universal Creations.

Faerie Shamanism and Paganism is a religion and belief system of great personal and universal power. Imbedded in the Faith of the Fey is a deep reverence for the Earth and all of her bounties a firm belief in the Faerie Folk of the Ancient Celtic and Nordic Worlds, a respect for all life from the tiny insect to the gigantic whale, a personal internal and external power called Magick, a love of the nature inherent in human beings both inner and outer, and a communion with the Ancient Divinities of the Earth, Sea, Sky, and Stars.

One of the first and most important beliefs of Faerie Paganism is a respect for the Earth and an environmental consciousness which runs so deep it connects with the divine spirit within. Energy and healing are gained from the soil… knowledge and wisdom are gained from the trees, cleansing and purging comes from the lakes, rivers, and streams… protection comes from the rocks and fire. The Earth is a magickal, mystical Realm which mirrors the Astral Other Worlds and it is important to see her as the Ultimate Mother who nurtures and protects her children, whether they are Faerie, Human, Animal, Plant, and Mineral. Rites are practiced which attune the seeker to the harmonious workings of the seasons of nature.

Faerie Paganism has a firm belief in the Faerie Folk stemming from the mythologies and folk beliefs of the Celtic and Nordic Peoples. The Faeries are sought for protection, companionship, wisdom, knowledge, inspiration, and magick. They are invited to all of the Rites and Rituals, and they are acknowledged in every aspect of life. Along with this comes a respect for all creatures, both great and small. For the Fey are Shape-Shifters, and can assume any shape… from a lady bug, to a bear, to a rock, a tree, or spring mist.

Magick is an integral part of the Faerie Shaman Faith. Magick is the art and science of causing change in ones environment in conformity with one's will. Magick can be used to heal, to divine, or to assist in the obtaining of goals. The only possible limits of Magick are the self, the imagination, and the knowledge of the Faerie (or any other) Magickal System. In Faerie Paganism, the natural human body, soul, and mind are seen as beautiful, powerful, and divine. Human beings were not cast out of paradise, they are born into it.

Human beings are not born inherently evil or bad, they are born innocent with the gift of choice. Human beings do not answer to the laws of an omnipotent god, they answer and account for their own actions. And the eternal afterlife of a human being is not judged by one lifetime alone… many lifetimes will be traversed before we are all reconnected with divinity.

Finally, in Faerie Paganism, there is the communion with the Ancient Divinities of the Ancient World… the Gods and Goddesses, Heroes and Heroines of the ancient Celtic and Nordic lands. The original race of Faeries who first came to the Earth from the Stars were known to the Celts as the Tuadha De Dannan, or People of the Goddess Dana. Eventually, when the Milesians (humans) came to inhabit the Earth, the Tuadha De Dannan moved into the Realm of the Faerie, or Faerie Land. We know speak and commune with them when we travel to their Realm or when they cross over into reality.

Faerie Paganism is a religion of love and beauty. It is a wonderful ideology coveting the goodness inherent in humankind. It is a religion containing all of the wonderful enchantments of the Faerie Realm. And it is a religion revering the wondrous beauty, enchantment and magick of the Earth, the Sea, the Sky, and the Stars. Note: the ideas and concepts here are mine and only mine. When I say "Faerie Paganism," I mean my own idea of Faerie Paganism and Shamanism, NOT Celtic Paganism or Nordic Paganism in general.

The Radical Faerie Movement

The early explorations of the current revival of gay faery spirituality had no single foucs. They were eclectiv examinaitons of divers paths of esotericism and particularly neo-Paganism from a gay perspective. the synthesis of these ideas of gay spirit and politcal ferment began in earnest in the late 1970's. Several people simultaneously put forth their own ideas in manifesto form which proved to be oddly synchronous. Arthur Evans was conduting research into the relationship between pagan traditions, gay lifestylse and radical politics and had started the first circles of gay men in San Francisco. At the same time Harry Hay conceived of a fundamental concept of gay spirituality called relating 'subject to subject', the baisis for the Radical Faerie principle titlted 'subject-SUBJECT' consciousness. Mitch Walker, a psychologist in the neo-Jungian tradition had contac with both Hay and Evans, and was working the same ideas of gay enspiritment. It was to be the publication of 'A Call to Gay Brothers: A Spiritual Conference for Radical Faeries' which consolidated these different threads into a recongisable pattern. The resultant fabric cold be given the name of Radical Faeries. The conference was held on the labour day weekend of 1979 (August 31- September 2) at Desert Sancturary - a gay friendly retreat in the middle of the Arizona desert. Nearly 200 people made their way from all over the United States to gather at Desert Sanctuary and responded to the vision for the conference. The agenda focussed on a comination of polictics and spirituality within the overriding context of gay perceptions and experiences. The etymological examination of both the word "radical" and the word "faerie" can give an introductiory understaning to the identity which arises when the tow terms are juxtaposed. The word radical has two main meanings- firstly, something which is fundamental, or at the root level; and secondly something or someone politically extrem. Faerie also can be seen to have a double barreled meaning - a near universal and powerful mythological figure, and a derogatory name appliled to gay men by heterosexuals. By combining these meanings the the Radical Faeries expressed one of their basic tenets, the oft-bandied notion that gays are a spiritual tribe...

... One universal defining characteristic of Radical Faeries is that of identity. People say that becoming a Faerie is to remember something which had become forgotten or repressed.... As Faerie Gatherings increased in popularitiy in the U. S., a larger cross-section of the gay community came into contact with the movement, and because of its complexity and diffuse nature, there arose much questioning about defining "faeries" ..... Some members suggested that including bisexuals comprosmised the notion of "third gender vision" and should be excluded from the movement, in order to promote a public image of a powerful queer minority rather thant jsut a powerless hterosexual variation ....

Einige Hinweise zur Geschichte der Faeries

Das Treffen spiritueller Schwulen ist in Europa seit Urzeiten bekannt. Lange schon in vorchristlichen Zeiten kamen Menschen des dritten Geschlechts (sog. Trickster) zusammen. In alten Völker, wie nachweislich bei den Indianern, waren Faeries als Schamanen, Priester, Heiler, "Berdachen" und Magier integriert.

Mehr zur uralten Geschichte der Faeries findest Du unter Faery-Quest

Die ersten schwulen Faerie-treffen dieses Jahrhunderts wurden in den USA Ende der 70-er Jahre organisiert. Von schwulen Visionären wie Harry Hay und anderen wurden die ersten Treffen in abgelegenen, besonderen Naturorten organisiert die Gelegenheit boten die spirituelle Seite der schwulen Seele zu entdecken. Gemeinsam mit Gleichgesinnten konnten sich so Schwule in ihrem Selbst kreativ öffnen und in freier Weise Spaß miteinander haben. Eine freie "Spiritualität" und lebensbejahende Freude können sich so als natur- und sozialverbundene Erfahrung entfalten.

Gegenwärtig finden die Treffen an verschiedensten Orten in den USA und Kanada statt und umfassen ein informelle 'Brüdergemeinschaft' von mehreren Tausend. Bei dem zweiten europäischen Treffen spiritueller Männer kommen wir in diesem gemeinschaftlichen Geist zusammen, um einander uns zu ermutigen und unsere spirituelle Natur und eine offene Quer-kultur zu entdecken und zu feiern !