Truthfully, any Faery being is dangerous when crossed, to different extents, according to their natures. Who is to say that those we call unseelie do not have good reason to be, from some past betrayal? That is why it is so important to always be honourable in our dealings with all otherworldly (and, indeed, this-worldly) beings, for applying certain rules in some cases and not in others, or neglecting to live by our spiritual principles in daily life, does not a true and clear path make.
Faery Etiquette
Unfortunately, amidst the modern prevalence for quick fixes and doing “whatever feels right” in the modern magickal community, the ancient rules of Faery etiquette, which are woven throughout our myths and folklore, have been much neglected. However, they are highly relevant and ignored at our peril!
Iron
The prohibition against iron is well known, and there are a number of differing theories as to its origins and reasoning. It has been suggested that it is man’s use of iron in weapons, bringing an end to the Bronze Age, which originally drove the Faery race beneath the hollow hills and beyond the veil. This may have some truth in it, but the simple fact is that iron has the power to hurt all spiritual creatures, not only Faery beings. This is why magicians use a sword containing iron to control summoned entities.
It is considered extremely rude to carry iron tools or use them in Faery Craft, and for this reason steel is to be avoided also. When cutting any plants or trees for Faery work, a sharp knife of bronze, stone, or bone is preferable, and this must also be with agreement from the spirit of the plant. There are several exercises within this book designed to strengthen connection to the point where communication of this sort should be possible with practice. There is, however, no need to be paranoid about iron content in metal to the extent that you worry about belt buckles and underwired bras!
Taking from Sacred Sites and Trees
One of the chief causes of anger amongst the Faery realm against humanity is our propensity for taking without the thought of asking or giving fair exchange in return. This is another reason for working on connection and intuition before all else, so that we develop a strong sense of when a site or tree is sacred. Not all places that are sacred are marked in obvious ways, and certainly not those places that are sacred to Faery and beyond the ken of humanity. Permission must always be asked from the spirits of place before working on their land, and nothing must be taken from the area without explicit permission. There are well-documented accounts in folklore of ill-fated men cutting down Faery trees (usually thorns) or even taking branches from them, and then being stricken with serious illness and even death. Moving sacred stones also elicits similar punishment:
There was a man on the road between Chevy and Marble Hill, where there is a faery plumb-stone that stands straight up and it about five feet in height, and the man was building a house and carried it away to put above his door. And from the time he brought it away, all his stock began to die, and whenever he went in or out, night or day, he was severely beaten. So at last he took the stone down and put it back where it was before, and from that time nothing has troubled him. (Lady Gregory, Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland)
In fact, in November 2011, there was a report in an Irish newspaper of a wealthy man who lost all his fortune reputedly because he had removed an ancient burial mound from his land. The headline read Sean Quinn’s Downfall Is Fairies’ Revenge, a clear sign that belief in the ancient Faery lore is alive and well!
Thanking
There is a curious piece of Faery lore that says we should never thank them for things they do for us. This is seen in a number of tales, where being thanked or given payment of any kind results in the faerie leaving and never being seen again. It is my personal opinion that this is down to misunderstanding on both sides, and that simply giving thanks without following reciprocal action can be seen as being dismissive. We should indeed be grateful but show our gratitude through continued cooperation and team-work rather than thanking and drawing the alliance to a close.
Lying
Lying is very simply unacceptable—to them, to ourselves, and to others. Equally important is the keeping of promises, as failure to keep a promise is a form of lying. Faery beings will always know, and they will have no dealings with those who have the shadow of deception upon their heart.
Offerings
There are a number of important considerations to bear in mind concerning the very important area of offerings, and these are covered in great detail in chapter four.
Eating Faery Food
Most people have heard the prohibition against consuming food or drink from the land of Faery, and it is right to be wary. It is important to spend many years working on connection and building up experience to be able to judge when this particular rule may be broken.
Faery Beasts
“She turned about her milk-white steed,
And took True Thomas up behind,
And aye whene’er her bridle rang,
The steed flew swifter than the wind…”
Thomas Rhymer, traditional Scottish ballad
There are a number of animals that seem to have special significance or connection to the Faery realm and its inhabitants. Often their appearance in our world heralds the presence of other Faery beings, sometimes the beginning of an adventure into the Faery realm, or in some cases they may be Faery beings themselves in
