| I often go out to the countryside to visit my mother. | | | | small fountain in such an area is much appreciated by |
| Her home is like a magnet; it draws you in from the | | | | the wee folk. |
| street. Walking up to her porch, one cannot mistake | | | | Leave out a food offering over night. Fairies |
| how the air sparkles. Even the cares of the world, | | | | especially love dairy products, bread, cakes, and |
| which have been weighing down your shoulders, | | | | cookies. Don't despair if in the morning it doesn't look |
| seem to melt away into the earth along the pathway | | | | like the meal has been eaten. Fairies are able to |
| like rainwater. I am not the only one drawn to | | | | extract the essence of food without physically eating |
| mother's house. Several years ago mother came | | | | it. Food should be discarded after a day or two, since |
| upon an old, out-of-print fairy book at a library book | | | | it will have little nutritional value left for the fairy. If |
| sale. Within these pages she learned how to attract | | | | an animal should approach the food don't chase it |
| fairies. Since then, her home has been the refuge of | | | | away! Sometimes a shy fairy will assume the shape |
| human and fairy alike. The following suggestions will | | | | of an animal to accept its present. |
| help you create a fairy-welcoming atmosphere in | | | | Fairies love water. Fountains, bird baths, ponds, and |
| your home: | | | | streams will all attract fairies. |
| The most effective way to invite fairies to your | | | | Abodes of various types are appreciated by fairies. |
| home is to plant their favorite flowers. Fairies share | | | | Using rocks, caves can be made at the base of rose |
| the same habitat as hummingbirds, butterflies, and | | | | bushes. A bird-house can be easily adapted for fairy |
| bees. Flowers that attract these creatures will also | | | | use by adding bright colors, dollhouse furniture, and |
| attract fairies.Bluebells, foxglove, forget-me-nots, | | | | glitter to the inside. Toadstools and mushrooms (real |
| heather, hollyhocks, lilacs, lilies, marigolds, pansies, | | | | or fake) are also a favorite of the wee folk. Colored |
| peonies, primrose, and roses are flowers beloved by | | | | stones and crystals, especially in a water-filled |
| the wee folk. | | | | bird-bath, will attract fairies. |
| In addition to flowers, clover, ferns, and thyme are | | | | Set aside a table top or a corner for an altar, where |
| plants especially attractive to fairies. Oak trees hold | | | | you can leave offerings for your fairy friends in a |
| special powers for fairies. | | | | basket. Offerings may be food, flowers, herbs, |
| Since fairies are sensitive, it is best not to refer to | | | | pretty leaves, stones, or anything else you think your |
| them directly. They find the name "fairy" particularly | | | | fairy might like. |
| offensive. If you must talk about them, you may use | | | | Keep your home reasonably tidy, as fairies hate a |
| the terms: wee folk, good folk, or the gentry. | | | | mess. |
| Fairies enjoy both well-manicured and wild areas in | | | | Most important of all, you must cultivate a sense of |
| gardens. It is good idea to reserve a special corner in | | | | reverence, wonder, and fun-as these are qualities |
| your garden for fairy use. Placing a special statue or a | | | | necessary to befriend a fairy. |