Can someone help me with Elementals, fairies, wee folks?

I am writing a story where wee folks play an important role and I want to make sure I get their part right. I also want to include elementals from the Americas, Asia and Africa, and not just limited to the European wee folks we seem to hear about.

Can someone help me figure out how a person living in an apartment in Manhattan can get in touch with the elementals? I can travel to woods, beaches, rivers, and similar places where they live. But what do I do once I get there? Any ideas?

Also, how do the elementals convey their messages to people? I want to know what to look for, in case they think I'm "communication-worthy."

This is about the only place I could think of where I could post this message and not have someone question my sanity.

Thanks!

I know that the wee folk in the fields and woods around my home really like gifts. I put out dryer lint and cat fur combings where they can get it to make their homes soft and comfy. Of course the birds also like to line their nests with it as well. They also like shiny gems and jewels and ribbons.

Catfur combings and dryer lint - easy. They are biodegradable and I don't have to feel bad about leaving them in the woods. The other items are not biodegradable (except if I can find ribbon made with natural fiber) and probably not a good idea.

Problem: I don't have fields or woods around my home. Would leaving offerings miles away make any difference in being able to connect to them? Should I sit and wait near the offerings so the little ones can associate them with me?

Also is food a good offering? I'm thinking about fruit or vegetables. Birds could eat the offering and if not, it would decompose easily.

They love plants and flowers and honey. These would attract them. I would try lavender as well. Do you have a balcony or terrace or rooftop where you can grow some plants?

If you go to the woods, probably a little honey or rose water or lavender water. Sit near some flowering plants, and bring an offering for the critters in the woods as well -- maybe a little cat food.

Good luck. Elementals are a cautious, discerning lot, so you may not get in touch right away. The good news is they love to help people, it could happen.

I have one plant out there and could add more.
Maybe I can leave lavender and honey on sunny days.
Thanks for the ideas.

Apparently you don't even have to leave home to attract Elementals

How to Create A Fairy Altar

One of the first things to do when attuning to the realm of Faerie is to create a fairy altar. This builds a bridge of intent to the Enchanted Realm, and provides you with a focus for your fairy work.
The fairy altar can be large or small; as humble as a nook on a shelf, or as elaborate as a fully dedicated table. Do what feels right, and what your living space allows. The altar should contain fairy-related items and natural objects, such as fairy ornaments or imagery, stones, crystals, feathers, nuts, acorns, leaves, twigs, seashells, a dish of water, glitter (to represent fairy dust), incense, candles and so on. Make sure that the altar is kept fresh; clean and dust it regularly and update the items with the passing moons and seasons.

Make sure that each of the four elements are represented - water, earth, fire and air - and also ether if you wish. If you intend to work intently with Faerie, then you might wish to make several small altars throughout the house and/or garden, with the appropriate element represented in each quarter. This would help you work with specific fairy types.

How to Honour the Fairies with Fairy Offerings and Respect

The Fey are a shy folk, who have little time for humans given their neglect and mistreatment of Mother Earth. Before you can expect them to show their presence, let alone work with you, you will need to gain their trust.

Proving that you care for the planet and your environment will give the fairies a good initial opinion of you. Caring tenderly for the plants in your garden, looking after its wildlife, growing food, recycling, composting and using natural products are all looked upon favourably by the Fair Folk. Even the house does not escape their scrutiny; a cluttered, untidy house full of dirt and mess will not be inhabited by any fairy, except perhaps a grumpy goblin or other such spirit that you would do well not to encourage. Fairies prize a clean and tidy house, and look more favourably on those who complete their daily chores joyfully, and don't leave mess overnight to be cleaned away in the morning. Night is when the fairies come out to play, and they do not appreciate having to revel amidst dirty pans and messy floors.

Having proven that you are a kind-hearted, hardworking soul, you will next need to show that you respect the fairies. This includes refraining from spying on them. They are a shy and private Folk, and do not appreciate people poking into bushes looking for them. Let a few small parts of the garden run wild, and leave those border edges just a little raggedy, to allow them some privacy. Try to keep from house and garden chores at dusk or dawn, as this is fairy revel time, and they would rather not be disturbed (feel free to sit and enjoy the display, however!)

Leave offerings to the fairies, ideally on a daily basis. If possible, find a large flat stone that you can use as an altar upon which to leave your gifts. Fairies favour milk, honey, mead, cream, and bread. Always ensure that what you leave is fresh, not stale, or the fairies will be insulted. If the gifts are later taken, either by bird or animal, it is a sign that the fairies approve.

You can also honour the Fey by lighting a candle for them on your altar, and thanking them for their blessings. Fairies also love creativity and joy, so share any talents you might have, such as art or music. Sing in the garden, or take your easel and paints outside to create in nature. Put joy into your work, and the fairies will bless your baking or sewing project.

but they look like a breeze would blow them away.
I think I might combine this idea with the fairy altar someone else mentioned.

there's a book I recently bought called "The Encyclodedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses" by Judika Illes. It was about $30, so if you don't want to buy it, maybe your library has a copy. Either way, it's an excellent source no matter what your needs. (I'm also using it for storytelling ;))

That sounds like a great book. I went online to my library, found they have it, and reserved it. Yeah! I should have it in a week or so.
The wonderful thing about your recommendation is that it brings in gods and goddesses; I plan to make them characters in the book too.

;) I keep running into snags in the plot...

One thing about the book: it is organized like an encyclopedia, so everything's in alphabetical order. So, finding gods and goddesses can be problematic because they are named and not categorized. You may find, as I did, that you end up just reading page after page because it's fun and educational :)

I shall post them one at a time so my posts are not so large.
In this state, there was a rock quarry that allowed rock-hounds to come in and collect the crystals in the basalt rocks. The state would blast the area,,then let the rock hounds come in and clean out some of the crystals..and then would crush and use what was left to build roads.
Because I love crystals and didn't want to see them turned to rubble, I began to work very hard to bring as many home as I could..for my gardens.
I soon after, then had the same dream three nights in a row.
I would become aware of a line of about ten or so small (and very grumpy) little men. (the number sometimes changed)
Their hair was white as snow and stuck up all over the place like they had no combs..long and fuzzy like Cotton candy. Their beards were so long, some had them tucked into their pockets or wrapped around their shoulders. Their hair and beards had feathers or twigs and leaves, one had a small nest..places in their hair looked braided or tied into knots. Their busy eyebrows were all tufted as well.
What brought my consciousness up close to them was their clothing. At first I thought they were dressed in brown leather but after looking closer..I was amazed to find they were made of cunningly tanned leaves..very neatly cut and stitched and they seemed very supple.
They were moving their mouths like they were trying to talk to me (all at once too)..and waving their arms around and stomping their feet and after a short time of this..they seemed angry and would just disappear and I would wake up.
I was very excited by these dreams and was wondering what they were all about..when the last dream happened and it was the last I saw of the little men.
The last dream started out the same but this time...I noticed that on the ground and all around their feet were crystals and geo's. The one little guy that seemed to be the leader..walked a little bit forward with a huge crystal in his hand and shook it at me and pointed to it and then to himself..and I suddenly "knew".
They were just trying to show me that I had been bringing them home..and as soon as I had that realization, he seemed relieved and they all turned and left and I woke up.
I have moved several times since that day so long ago. But I always carefully bring every crystal and geo and indeed every rock of my rock garden as well with me and ask them where they wish to live in my gardens.
I think they are happy to live in my flower gardens..and happy with me that they are not ground to a rubble and used to build roads.

I had been sitting meditating in the early evening in my darkened front room and as I finished and looked up..I was startled by a cobalt blue ball of light, perched on the edge of my hanging plant which was slightly across the room from where I sat on the floor.
The moment I saw the ball of light..it jumped and I could see there was something inside the light..but the truth is..it was moving so fast..I am not sure what it was.
It bounced once on the floor and bounced under the end table by the end of the couch and disappeared from my view.
I went scrambling after it on my hands and knees and I searched the room many times. For weeks afterward, I would search everywhere for that little ball of light. But I never saw it again.
I do not know for sure, but I do believe in my heart that it was a fairy.

It was many years ago and a grey and drizzling day and I was with my husband at the time.
I confess..we were out picking magic mushrooms at the park that day.
There were a number growing so my husband was busy and so was I and I went behind a large hedge into another part of the park as I picked.
(No, I was not eating the mushrooms while we were picking them)
I was amazed at the large amount of mushrooms growing like a path into the section of the park's spring green grassy area.
At the far side of the area..was a small hill covered with grass and with a lovely and very beautiful miniature weeping willow growing at the very top of the little hill. The willow looked like a bonsai to me at the time.
As I was picking the mushrooms in the rain..I suddenly heard a small soft and high and clear voice slowly sing the following words..and as it sang..the song got louder and faster and music started and many voices joined in. The music was very irish to my ears and had a beautiful fiddle sound as well.

"Come my children...we've been sleeping..."(the lone voice sang and then more and more joined in)
"Underneith the willows weeping..
Let's all dance with the Lord and Lady...
Underneith the moon!"

(by this time..many voices were singing and the music was very lively and I began to dance along the path of mushrooms)
(chorus)
"Let's all dance with the Lord and Lady,
Let's all dance with the Lord and Lady...
Let's all dance with the lord and lady...
Underneith the moon!"

As the song went on...I found myself dancing and that the path of mushrooms I was dancing alongside of...was winding in a large spiral..around and around the little hill.
(the drums and music and singing was very loud by this time)

"Raise your voices, join the chorus..
Wood nymphs singing in the forest...
Let's all dance with the Lord and Lady..
Underneith the moon.." (and then they sang the chorus again and by then I was singing and dancing along)

"In the meadow, Pan is calling,
and the Morning Star is dawning...
Let's all dance with the Lord and Lady..
underneith the moon!
(chorus)

"All hold hands around the fire,
singing of our heart's desire..
Let's all dance with the Lord and Lady..
Underneith the moon!"
(chorus)

This went on over and over again until I finally reached the top of the little hill..and collapsed on the wet grass at the base of the weeping willow. The rain had stopped and the sun was peeking out.
I was all worn out and exhausted and I have no idea how long I had danced. I had thought about stopping a while sooner but I found I just couldn't stop.
I believe it was my husband's voice calling for me that brought the song to an end.
I shall always cherish this memory and I always try to honor the wee folk when I am outdoors. I plant my gardens for them and I always try to leave a place for the fairies to dance.

:D

I love the imagery of the first story. It gives me ideas on how to describe what my characters look like.
Your stories compel me to do more with my nature on my balcony.

little book that answers all your questions. Also, don't forget angels who are higher beings but considered part of that dimension.

I will check it out.

need some inspiration on faeries, (HBO) True Blood's, Sookie Stackhouse is part fairy. She doesn't even know it yet, but some of her gifts are beginning to show up.

I had to use Google to look up True Blood and Sookie Stackhouse. Funny how the idea of fairies is hitting the mainstream.

You might want to see if your local library has it - City Magick by Christopher Penczak.

communication - think of what, if any, esp type phenomena have you previously experienced, where do you feel premonitions such as the common gut feeling or some other body part. for example I am primarily an empath so I get emotions more than anything else. if I get a vision it is with my inner minds eye like remembering something I never knew before. there is only a few times I thought I saw something with my physical eyes that were not there. There are people who physically hear spirit communications and others who perceive with the inner ear, some who see with the physical eyes and others with the inner. Some do things like automatic writing to communicate. If varies with what innate abilities a person has and how much they have been blocked by life events, and how much work has been put in to develop them further. My communications with nature spirits usually were when I was in a hypnogogic state (between waking and sleep) tho some occurred when wide awake. things tend to be subtle when i first started noticing stuff like this so it is easy to dismiss but as I paid more attention phenomena became easier to notice. so I guess what I am trying to say is different people have different ways of picking up stuff so if you don't have something typical or strong occur do not ignore it. practice and test your senses until you can tell when your impressions, visions, or gut sensations are the accurate ones and which are just indigestion or drifting imagination. actually imagination can be good. sometimes pretending I am pretending to be psychic and thinking 'if could see auras what color would that aura be' or 'if i could see energy what would that achy spot in my back looks like'. then I might get a mental photo of it or just *know* that achy spot is where a past life injury occurred and the bocked energy is in the form of an arrowhead.

My library system does not have that particular book but they have something else by him that might be good. It's called Spirit Allies: meet your team from the other side.

Have you heard about that book?

Ah-Ha! yah for google books:

Spirit Allies: Meet Your Team from the Other Side‎
by Christopher Penczak - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 214 pages
A practical discussion of the spirit world and how it can be contracted for guidance and assistance. Find and benefit from your friends beyond the veil.
http://books.google.com/books?id=lXLPqeJ1MSsC


City Magick: Urban Rituals, Spells, and Shamanism‎
by Christopher Penczak - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001 - 302 pages
City magic is everywhere! Christopher Penczak outlines the basics of magic: ...
City Magick is a fresh look at an earth-based religion that has taken root
http://books.google.com/books?id=4-fcBdGllXwC


this one looks interesting:
Power Animal Meditations: Shamanic Journeys with Your Spirit Allies‎
by Nicki Scully, Angela Werneke - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001 - 265 pages
A collection of guided journeys and meditations to help the reader connect with
and learn from power animals and spirit allies.• 50 unique power animal and
http://books.google.com/books?id=sef9GgAACAAJ

They are my favorite mythological wee folk.

One problem -- I couldn't find anything about them via Google. Are there any alternate spellings?

I forgot how to spell Hawaiian phonetically. It is "menehune".

http://www.mythicalrealm.com/creatures/menehune.html

I read they're supposed to be master builders. I think I could have fun with that. My collection of wee folks will have their own barter economy.