I stumbled upon a fairy tree in a forest on my island, a magical portal believed to connect our human realm with the enchanting world of elves and fairies.
By both your article and this magical find in the forest near your home.
I confess a weakness for magic and fantasy especially when it involves such childlike enchantment.
In these times when our world is inundated with tragedy, anguish, deep concerns from every possible source around us, it’s a beautiful escape to visit a world of innocence and wonder.
As one who finds magic in trees under any circumstance, this tree that fairies may have chosen to inhabit heightens the delicate appeal. And aren’t those little openings at the bottom of a tree fantastic? I love thinking how small animals have taken shelter there. And perhaps been welcomed by fairies.
I love this delightful tale and the photos that invite images to thrill the imagination.
I fully expect your next visit to this special places will include an offering to leave behind.
Yes, it's a beautiful escape. It is an escape by someone who cares for the fairies and this tree instead of following the madness of our world on screens. And it's an escape by me, first by walking and finding this little imaginary paradise, but then by choosing to write about fairies instead of the 'real news,' For instance, this evening, I could have written about GOP Members of Congress, believing in the fairytale of the stolen election and in selling fairytales to their voters, like the one that the Biden Administration not willing to propose new laws on migration that their party wants so badly. Maybe I should combine these stories and let them all tumble in this portal hole in the oak tree to a world of little good fairies who may open their eyes to the real little people, Orwell's sheep, watching Fox News, the ones who gain nothing from being ignored and bought off with fairytales about trickling down economies and a cheap red cap.
What a welcome retreat from C-Span and the New York Times all day long on the Article 3, Amendment #14 issue,
following SCOTUS asking their questions and bringing up very valid concerns. I am much more impressed with their efforts to meet the needs of the people although I think the outcome will favor Trump. It was exhausting but I am well informed. Now just need to enumerate and evaluate all the other avenues to get TFG 🍑 out of our political arena.
I am optimistic but the work is hard and arduous. How I would love to live in a nation with a long history of freedoms assured (and fairies!) 🧚 helping in their own way, scientific or not! Great story and photos of the tiny belongings in the magical trees. I hope you are well now and recovered from your illness. Good to see you back! 😘🕊️
Thanks. And yes, I'm back. As always, I write when possible, aiming for a minimum of 100 newsletters yearly. So far, I wrote far more than 100 each year. On Trump: I think that amendment was exactly written to prevent people from the dark side to become president, they had just seen how messy things could become during and directly after the civil war. You can't blame the lawmakers of more than 150 years ago for lacking the imagination to describe Trump, but it's clear they didn't want anyone to become president who has a proven track record of wanting to overthrow democracy. Legal experts and politicians may need more time for this, but I think it obvious what was meant then and it's obvious that you don't want now a democracy to be lead by one who wants to replace it by a dictatorship.
Totally reminded me of Norway or Iceland mythology and you really don't want to mess with the so-called hidden people (Huldufólk). I love trolls and elves. Team science all the way but still not messing with trolls and elves. Thank you for this. It triggered fond memories of trips to Iceland, Norway and Ireland.
It's nice to see a Celtic tradition in these woods. I know you can find more trees with gifts to the fairies and wee-people in Scandinavia, Ireland and the UK. I wonder if you can find them in Galicia too, I saw countless places with little 'offerings' but mostly from a Catholic tradition, or in other places maybe less religiously inspired (more like a mix between Catholic tradition, adapted now to all cultures that walk the Camino, like the messages at the Iron Cross where people leave a stone they carried with them; thoughts for another article some day. Or that book I keep postponing to a long winter...)
I would love to see you write about the different traditions. I'm very familiar with anything Scandinavian in that respect, but not even sure if we have that kind of tradition here in Switzerland too. We do have the Catholic tradition of crosses or Maria statues where people leave gifts. I hope you explore this further at some point. Also looking forward to your book ;-). Don't let me beat you to it. I've given writing one (print on demand) a lot of thought recently ...
Thank you Alex for this wonderful article... -this pleasant suspended moment🙏-… far from the rumors, the terrible tumults of our century.
For “ancient” men, nature was a magical temple, overflowing with enchantments and spells, in which they could only venture on the condition of respecting these tiny or giant beings who lived in the trees, the waterfalls…
To have a chance of meeting fairies, they had to risk entering the deep forest, deep in the wilderness.
Without science, these men could only pay homage, imagine or fear this magnificent nature, so many things being inexplicable to them.
For many, we continue tirelessly to admire these forests, to find refuge there.
The oak tree alone deserves an entire book, as its mythological and legendary role in European tradition is so important.
It was here long before us (and with luck, I hope, it will survive our civilizations)
I like much these places which were in legends full of mysteries full of mysteries and stories like the « forest of Brocéliande » in Bretagne 🇫🇷. It is in this deep and sovereign forest that the legend of King Arthur, of the fairy Viviane, Merlin the enchanter or the knight Lancelot!
Today the forest is, for me (and for many, I imagine) a place of meditation, of contemplation, where I find strength...
a place of endless curiosity, according to the seasons...
a space that can calm my stress or soothe me…
a place that the seasons make magical with this “eternal” renewal…
And for those who listen attentively, have they not already had the impression that the trees communicate with each other (this little music of the leaves and the swaying of the branches?..)
Why do I feel so good in the forest? Why this attraction?
The beauty and purity of the place, certainly, but wouldn't it also be all these tales, all these mythologies from the very distant past of man which have left few traces in our genes and would thus lead us naturally, spontaneously to admire and respect the forest, as a being, as comforting companion on the journey of our life ?
Aren't our hearts torn, angry at the sight of forests ravaged, razed or burned?
Many actions are initiated to protect them because we know that we cannot, we will not be able to do without them completely to continue living.
Today, it is no longer tales, myths, but a pact of mutual protection between the forests and us!
This therefore deserves all our deep respect, our recognition, even if it is expressed differently than among our ancestors!
Love this, Alex!! The Irish-American side of my family had no doubts in the Wee People…And my mother would leave a drop or two not just to an oak but a rose bush or a cedar, as I recall, when we were children…that, along w/hiking outings w/our father and beaching it regularly instilled that beautiful love and wonder of Nature that never leaves you…
Lovely! I agree that despite the non-scientific nature of fairies and folklore, there must be something to the fact that stories and beliefs have persisted so long. Some things we just can’t explain, and that’s fine! 😀
Too many people believe what they shouldn't believe, even to such an extend that it threatens democracy and the foundations of our society. But for something as innocent as fairies, I hope more people will believe that there is some goodness hidden inside nature and all of us when the world turns dark.
I am beguiled!
By both your article and this magical find in the forest near your home.
I confess a weakness for magic and fantasy especially when it involves such childlike enchantment.
In these times when our world is inundated with tragedy, anguish, deep concerns from every possible source around us, it’s a beautiful escape to visit a world of innocence and wonder.
As one who finds magic in trees under any circumstance, this tree that fairies may have chosen to inhabit heightens the delicate appeal. And aren’t those little openings at the bottom of a tree fantastic? I love thinking how small animals have taken shelter there. And perhaps been welcomed by fairies.
I love this delightful tale and the photos that invite images to thrill the imagination.
I fully expect your next visit to this special places will include an offering to leave behind.
Yes, it's a beautiful escape. It is an escape by someone who cares for the fairies and this tree instead of following the madness of our world on screens. And it's an escape by me, first by walking and finding this little imaginary paradise, but then by choosing to write about fairies instead of the 'real news,' For instance, this evening, I could have written about GOP Members of Congress, believing in the fairytale of the stolen election and in selling fairytales to their voters, like the one that the Biden Administration not willing to propose new laws on migration that their party wants so badly. Maybe I should combine these stories and let them all tumble in this portal hole in the oak tree to a world of little good fairies who may open their eyes to the real little people, Orwell's sheep, watching Fox News, the ones who gain nothing from being ignored and bought off with fairytales about trickling down economies and a cheap red cap.
So many worthy nuggets in this soliloquy of thoughts.
I’m pleased you took the road less traveled and allowed fantasy to provide the welcome escape.
Those stories you mentioned will be written by others but yours is far more satisfying.
Nevertheless, your final words have an appeal of a different kind of fantasy with an appeal of its own.
Maybe another day. 😉
LUNA!! I think you walked into Luna's underworld 🤣
I think she send you to see her healing tree to meet the fairies. 🧚 🧚 🧚
After all, she is mysterious, can shapeshift and be puzzling . . . 😺
Thank you, Alexander!
I love this encounter (-:
haha, who knows what goes on in her world...
What a welcome retreat from C-Span and the New York Times all day long on the Article 3, Amendment #14 issue,
following SCOTUS asking their questions and bringing up very valid concerns. I am much more impressed with their efforts to meet the needs of the people although I think the outcome will favor Trump. It was exhausting but I am well informed. Now just need to enumerate and evaluate all the other avenues to get TFG 🍑 out of our political arena.
I am optimistic but the work is hard and arduous. How I would love to live in a nation with a long history of freedoms assured (and fairies!) 🧚 helping in their own way, scientific or not! Great story and photos of the tiny belongings in the magical trees. I hope you are well now and recovered from your illness. Good to see you back! 😘🕊️
Thanks. And yes, I'm back. As always, I write when possible, aiming for a minimum of 100 newsletters yearly. So far, I wrote far more than 100 each year. On Trump: I think that amendment was exactly written to prevent people from the dark side to become president, they had just seen how messy things could become during and directly after the civil war. You can't blame the lawmakers of more than 150 years ago for lacking the imagination to describe Trump, but it's clear they didn't want anyone to become president who has a proven track record of wanting to overthrow democracy. Legal experts and politicians may need more time for this, but I think it obvious what was meant then and it's obvious that you don't want now a democracy to be lead by one who wants to replace it by a dictatorship.
What a lovely story to wake up to.
Totally reminded me of Norway or Iceland mythology and you really don't want to mess with the so-called hidden people (Huldufólk). I love trolls and elves. Team science all the way but still not messing with trolls and elves. Thank you for this. It triggered fond memories of trips to Iceland, Norway and Ireland.
It's nice to see a Celtic tradition in these woods. I know you can find more trees with gifts to the fairies and wee-people in Scandinavia, Ireland and the UK. I wonder if you can find them in Galicia too, I saw countless places with little 'offerings' but mostly from a Catholic tradition, or in other places maybe less religiously inspired (more like a mix between Catholic tradition, adapted now to all cultures that walk the Camino, like the messages at the Iron Cross where people leave a stone they carried with them; thoughts for another article some day. Or that book I keep postponing to a long winter...)
I would love to see you write about the different traditions. I'm very familiar with anything Scandinavian in that respect, but not even sure if we have that kind of tradition here in Switzerland too. We do have the Catholic tradition of crosses or Maria statues where people leave gifts. I hope you explore this further at some point. Also looking forward to your book ;-). Don't let me beat you to it. I've given writing one (print on demand) a lot of thought recently ...
Thank you Alex for this wonderful article... -this pleasant suspended moment🙏-… far from the rumors, the terrible tumults of our century.
For “ancient” men, nature was a magical temple, overflowing with enchantments and spells, in which they could only venture on the condition of respecting these tiny or giant beings who lived in the trees, the waterfalls…
To have a chance of meeting fairies, they had to risk entering the deep forest, deep in the wilderness.
Without science, these men could only pay homage, imagine or fear this magnificent nature, so many things being inexplicable to them.
For many, we continue tirelessly to admire these forests, to find refuge there.
The oak tree alone deserves an entire book, as its mythological and legendary role in European tradition is so important.
It was here long before us (and with luck, I hope, it will survive our civilizations)
I like much these places which were in legends full of mysteries full of mysteries and stories like the « forest of Brocéliande » in Bretagne 🇫🇷. It is in this deep and sovereign forest that the legend of King Arthur, of the fairy Viviane, Merlin the enchanter or the knight Lancelot!
Today the forest is, for me (and for many, I imagine) a place of meditation, of contemplation, where I find strength...
a place of endless curiosity, according to the seasons...
a space that can calm my stress or soothe me…
a place that the seasons make magical with this “eternal” renewal…
And for those who listen attentively, have they not already had the impression that the trees communicate with each other (this little music of the leaves and the swaying of the branches?..)
Why do I feel so good in the forest? Why this attraction?
The beauty and purity of the place, certainly, but wouldn't it also be all these tales, all these mythologies from the very distant past of man which have left few traces in our genes and would thus lead us naturally, spontaneously to admire and respect the forest, as a being, as comforting companion on the journey of our life ?
Aren't our hearts torn, angry at the sight of forests ravaged, razed or burned?
Many actions are initiated to protect them because we know that we cannot, we will not be able to do without them completely to continue living.
Today, it is no longer tales, myths, but a pact of mutual protection between the forests and us!
This therefore deserves all our deep respect, our recognition, even if it is expressed differently than among our ancestors!
🙋♀️🌳🌲
Thank you, yes that's all so true. Time spent in nature, especially forests, is never wasted time. It heals :-)
Thank you Alexander! That was a whimsical and wonderful essay. You brightened my afternoon!
Nice to read this, Mike. Bedtime here; enjoy the afternoon!
Love this, Alex!! The Irish-American side of my family had no doubts in the Wee People…And my mother would leave a drop or two not just to an oak but a rose bush or a cedar, as I recall, when we were children…that, along w/hiking outings w/our father and beaching it regularly instilled that beautiful love and wonder of Nature that never leaves you…
Thank you, Nancie. It's a good reminder of the importance of nature education for the next generation by parents and schools.
My new favorite essay of yours ❤ Precious
So glad you like it 😊
Lovely! I agree that despite the non-scientific nature of fairies and folklore, there must be something to the fact that stories and beliefs have persisted so long. Some things we just can’t explain, and that’s fine! 😀
Too many people believe what they shouldn't believe, even to such an extend that it threatens democracy and the foundations of our society. But for something as innocent as fairies, I hope more people will believe that there is some goodness hidden inside nature and all of us when the world turns dark.
Good point! There’s a fine line - the fantasy has to be rooted in reality!