Related to ancient pagan beliefs, we seem unable to shed our affinity with fairies, witches and mythical dragons. No self-respecting tale of “knights of old” would be complete without some mystical happening involving one or more of the above. Modern Man still holds on to his Pagan roots with a fascination for other mystical bodies, such as Fairies (Faeries, or The Fey), Witches (and Warlocks) and Dragons (Monsters and Gargoyles).
Fairies - supernatural beings that stem from European folklore - have been a part of our culture for centuries, and the fairy is usually an integral part of childhood (the tooth fairy, the Fairy Godmother, etc). Even when we are older, many of us are attracted to gothic fairies, fairy art, fairy doors and various fairy figurines that come under the heading of mystical fairies. Dragons and gargoyles often accompany our little fairy friends. Again widely expressed in literature, film and art, these beasts have become an intrinsic ingredient in the world of myth and magical adventure. Perhaps it is our way of showing we have controlled “the beast” and therefore our fears.
Unlike fairies, dragons and gargoyles, witches belong to both realms of reality and fantasy. In the real world there was a period in history when the name of Witch was greatly feared. To be a “Witch” was to dice with death, although truth was a witch was anyone who used natural healing, lived alone, had an illegitimate child, or threatened the prevailing religious or secular power. Today, despite a shift to a revival of Paganism which involves a flourishing of the ancient art of witchcraft, we have largely relegated “the witch” to a world of fantasy, where she casts spells happily for good or evil.
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Fairies | (9) |