On the deepest level this refers to an awakening in humanity as a result of the awakening of the inner light of the planet itself. In John Matthews’s fascinating contemporary account of Faery contact, The Sidhe: Wisdom from the Celtic Otherworld, he receives an insight from the sidhe that hints at this very possibility: “We believe that a new era may be about to dawn in which the people of the sidhe will come forth again and be seen by all.”
Through examining the possible origin of Faery beings as fallen angels, we gain insight into not only Faery but also ourselves as spiritual beings and our relationship and connection to them. They, like us, are both of earth and stars. Like us, their spiritual origins are in the cosmos. As those of us on a spiritual path long for reconnection with the cosmic source of spirit, so do the Faery beings. They are our cousins in spirit.
World Soul
“The nymphs of the fountains and all the water-spirits and the depths of the earth and the air and the gleaming hollows are the lunar riders and the rulers of matter, celestial, starry, and that which is of the abysses.”
Chaldean Oracles
The ideas discussed here of Faery as being originally cosmic energy that now radiates from inner earth have direct and fascinating parallels with the ancient concept of the world soul, which exists in a number of ancient worldviews in slightly varying forms and still resonates today as a cosmic truth. The phrase world soul originates with the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, but similar concepts that predate his writings can be found around the world in ancient Egypt, the beliefs of ancient Semitic tribes, Hindu teachings, and the Chaldean Oracles, mysterious fragments of a collection of writings thought to date back to ancient Babylon. These ancient philosophies essentially tell us that all living things are imbued with spirit that radiates from one source at the centre of earth, which in turn was placed there by a creator god at the beginning of time.
This world soul is usually referred to as female and is the common origin of many wisdom goddesses throughout history, including the Judeo-Christian wisdom goddess the Shekinah, whose presence in Christianity is better known as the Holy Spirit. The earliest origins of this wisdom goddess can be traced back to Sumerian myths of the goddess Inanna some four thousand years before the birth of Christianity. In a fascinating parallel to the tale of the fall of Lucifer, Inanna, also known as the Queen of Heaven, flees from her father’s heavenly realm to bring wisdom to humanity. It is also extremely interesting to note that both Inanna and her Semitic equivalent Astarte are worshipped as the Morning Star, the title of the planet Venus, which is also associated with Lucifer. It is also interesting to note that Innana and Astarte are both associated with the septagram that has in recent years been closely linked to Faery as the “elven star.”
Later manifestations of the wisdom goddess, most notably the Gnostic Sophia, also strongly feature the theme of light that “falls” into the world to bring wisdom to the earthly realm. I will not dwell too long on this area but will draw your attention to more interesting parallels for consideration that may deepen your understanding of the nature of Faery. As David Rankine and Sorita D’Este point out in their excellent study The Cosmic Shekinah, “The Shekinah is the primordial light of creation, the heavenly glory of divine wisdom, and the inspiration for prophecy,” and this certainly seems relevant to the exploration of Faery. Not only are there the links we have already discussed with Faeries as beings of the light of the inner realm, but there is an interesting connection again with the gift of prophecy, which, as previously discussed, is one of the most constant gifts of Faery, particularly of Faery queens.
Is it coincidental that the goddess Hekate, who in British folklore counts “Faery queen” among her many titles, is also a light bringer and ancient wisdom goddess? Hekate is worshipped as the World Soul as Hekate Soteira (saviour), so this opens up a new area of study and contemplation. Another fascinating aspect of the Shekinah is that she is said to manifest as the Garden of Eden itself. This is another direct connection with Faery, for not only does their ageless realm resemble all descriptions of the perfection inherent in Eden, but a tale from Icelandic folklore tells that the Faery race were, in fact, the children of Eve whom she hid from the eyes of God out of shame, who were then forever cursed by God to remain hidden from sight, gaining the name Huldufólk, or “hidden folk.” This has obvious similarities with the Celtic tales of faeries as fallen angels and similarly compelling implications when we look at the spiritual truths behind the dogma.
When we work with Faery and visit their realm, we are collaborating with agents of this “primordial light” in order to strengthen the much-needed link between their wisdom and our material world. If we perceive angels as the intermediaries between ourselves and the divine source above, it follows that Faery beings, as “fallen” angels, are the intermediaries between ourselves and the divine source below, or within the world of nature. In a parallel with the loss of the Divine Feminine through mainstream patriarchal religions, our ability to recognise the inherent spirit and wisdom in the world of nature has been weakened. The very light that dwells within the inner world and within the realm of Faery as intermediaries is the source of the same divine spark that dwells within each of us and within every living thing. Through this light, we are all connected.
Faery Hierarchy
When studying the Faery
