The Forest of Enchantment

And a flute off far lead me on again
And the laughter fell like Silver Rain
Led me through the grey-trunked walls
Whose golden leaves did never fall
Not even in Winter deep.

--Amalthea of the Children of Twilight


Welcome to the Faerie Woods
It is here, in the tangles of branches and softness of moss where the most secretive of the Faerie live.

Many things may lie in the turn of the path. Perhaps a cottage awaits where a wise woman will teach you the secrets of her garden. Or perhaps you will find a maiden enclosed within a coffin of glass, waiting in stillness for the touch of lips upon her own. Or perhaps you will find a castle surrounded by briar.

It is within the forest that many adventures of Faerie begin. The strange mists that filter through the stillness often form into vague shapes of beasts and monsters, confusing and frightening the mortal traveler.

This place is a place of illusions, of voices and sounds and seeings that will try to take the traveler from off her path, lead her into the forest, and make her forever lost within. Perhaps she will remember to gather pebbles to drop behind her as she investigates the strange and beautiful music that floats through the air with the mist.






The Hunt
Hunting is a favored sport of the Faerie Nobility, who will often leave their castles' halls of gold and crystal to hunt in the woods. Sometimes humans will catch a glimpse of the Faerie Hunters' prey.

One of the most magical and coveted beasts within the forest is the Faerie creature known as the White Hart.



The creature has the magical ability to lead all that see it on a chase, no matter what other quest they were on at the time. However, no marksman or huntsman, no matter how clever, could wound the magical beast. The White Hart became an obsession with King Arthur. The stag itself is know for being the King of the forest.

This is yet another way for the mortal to step from the path and into the enchanting powers of the Faerie.

The Faerie Dance

By the moone we sport and play,
With the night begins our day;
As we daunce, the dew doth fall;
Trip it little urchins all,
Lightly as the little Bee,
Two by two and three by three:
And about go wee, and about go wee.

--William Shakespeare: Midsummer's Night Dream

Perhaps the one experience that is common to all Faeries is the love of dancing. The most common form the dance takes in within a ring or circle. It is the dancing of the Fairies which leads to rings of toadstools and dark rings of grass.

If a human steps withing the Faerie Round he is compelled to dance with them for as long as the dance lasts. As with any journey into the Land of Faerie, he may not return for many years and find his children grown and his friends unable to recognize him.

Many poor souls spend their time wandering in a listless, half-aware state, seaching for ways to return to Faerie where they may drink of the Faerie wine and feel the ecstacy of the Dance once more.


Dance in the Circle

Out in the woods is a band of some faeries
go singing and dancing at night.
They're laughing and drinking,
and soon you'll be thinking,
that you'd come to join in their rite.
If they see you, know they'll entreat you
to come and join in their small friendly dance.
If you do then your soul will go too;
You will lose it with no second chance.


But please come, join, dance in our Circle,
Our voices will make your heart yearn,
To please come, join, dance in our Circle,
But know that you'll never return.

Meg Davis: Dance in the Circle


Stepping into the Shadows



We have traveled upon the more regal and fanciful paths of the Faerie. The creatures have seemed more of fancy than of nightmare. Yet the Shadows remain within the deepest part of the Forest. There things take on a picture of horror. But as with everything of Faerie, these creatures of terror and death still holds a deep beauty that most of us cannot deny, though it may be our doom.

They are the ones that sing the Song of the Siren, seducing us into an embrace which may be our doom.




We may never pass through the gate into our own world ever again.

Questions or Comments send E-Mail to Michelle Heber
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