Midsummer Magick.....

In folklore it is believed that the Summer Solstice in particularly Midsummer's Eve is a time when Faeries would bestow goodluck on humans. Field and forest elves, sprites, and fairies abound in great numbers - making this a great time to commune with them. An old ritual for children was to place food out in the garden for the Faeries who would then sometimes leave crystals as token of thanks. Leaving out a little food for the fairies is also common practice at Midsummer. Milk, water, butter, honey, wine and bread are their favoured foods.

to see faeries ~ wild Thyme

*Gather wild thyme and carry it with you, or put it on the eyelids (with your eyes closed) and sleep on a Faerie hill, this will supposedly guarantee your seeing fairies.

*The tops of the Wild Thyme must be gathered near the side of a faerie hill. Wild thyme, gathered from the side of a fairy mound, is especially potent for use in fairy magic.

*Wearing thyme will increase your ability to see the Sidhe.

*Sprinkle it at the base of your door, and on windowsills to invite the Faery to enter your home.

*When used as a bedtime fragrance, thyme draws the wee folk into your sleeping chambers.

*Wearing a sprig of wild thyme, or essential oil of thyme, is said to help one to see fairies.

Midsummer

Midsummer Night's Eve is supposed to be a good time to commune with field and forest sprites and faeries. The faeries abound at this time and it is customary to leave offerings - such as food or herbs - for them in the evening.

Midsummer's Eve at midnight, Midsummer's Day at dawn and Midsummer noon are prime times to collect plants sacred to the sun or special to the fey.
Midsummer is a fey time, both by tradition and observation. The scent of the air is thick, green and juicy; it's lost its spring astringency and is simply lush. The whole world is stretching its limbs and frolicking. The fey are big on that. Especially for charms of love, gardening and magickal abilities, the fey are a great help in herb collecting. In exchange, they like gifts of milk and honey, cookies, sweet liqueurs, or any sweet food, drink or liquor. They also like baubles, particularly pretty or shiny. Or cold hard cash -- but in coin, not paper, and it's best if shiny.

To stay in good with the fey and the herbs you collect from, leave enough of the plant or other plants of the type that the herb survives in the spot collected from. Remember too to always ask the plant before taking a cutting, and to wait for an answer.

Fey charms: To see the fey, pick flowers from a patch of wild thyme where the little folk live and place the flowers on your eyes. A four-leafed clover not only grants you a wish but also, carried in your pocket or a charm, gives you the power to see fairies dancing in rings. A good place to look is by oaks, said in Germany to be a favourite place for fey dances. To penetrate fey glamour, make and wear an ointment including four leaved clovers.

St. John's wort, also known as ragwort, has a strong connection to the fey and transportation. You might add it to charms to travel quickly. The Irish call the plant the fairy's horse, and the fey are said to ride it through the air. But beware: The Manx say if you step on a ragwort plant on Midsummer's Eve after sunset, a fairy horse springs out of the earth and carries you off till sunrise, leaving you wherever you happen to be when the sun comes up.

(various authors - unknown to me)

stones of the faeries

Crystals attract faeries and stimulate plant growth, too. Make circles of clear quartz or strategically arrange larger crystal clusters near favorite plants or sources of water. the most appropriate are faerie stones (staurolite), quartz crystal, rose quartz, moonstone, celestite (blue quartz), selenite, amethyst, labradorite and amber. To guard against mischievous spirits, it is best to use flint.
Deva crystals are quartz crystals with lots of "fairy frost" that is, inclusions of white fillaments and frosty effects. Holding one of these while you meditate will facillitate contact with the fairy and Devic realms.

sprites

Sprites are playful nature spirits that live in ponds, trees or other cool and serene places. They often play with nymphs and butterflies and were charged with changing the color of the leaves in autumn, each one comes fully equipped with bright orange & yellow paints and several paint brushes to make sure his/her job is done properly. Sprites are also some of the most creative of the faekith ... They are muses to artists and poets and can bond to humans or elves, in which case they stay for the rest of their lives. There are also weather-Sprites who deal with the clouds and rain, but that's normally done by particular rogue Faeries who like to cause havoc !!

*faery tree*

Some say that faery folk live inside trees. But not every tree is suitable for faeries, they do have their favourites. Look in woods or parks for a tree that is weirdly shaped. Old twisted oaks or knobbly hawthorns are ideal faery trees. Find one that is crooked with strangely curled branches. Often these stand alone in some mysterious corner of a dark and lonely wood. If there is a stream nearby, all the better. You may see a gnome like face on the gnarled trunk. Or a claw like branch hanging down as if about to snatch you. This will be the faery tree.


Having found the faery tree you must now stand quietly and think of the joy that the tree has brought to this world of ours. Look up at its wonderful branches, admire their shape. These are like no other branches on Earth, this is a very special tree. Hold love for this tree in your heart and talk gently to it. Tell this faery tree that you are a friend. Accept that this tree is a gift from God to the world. Be as one with the tree. Be at peace.

On your first visit to the faery tree just stay a short while and before you leave say these few words of poetry. Speak them aloud talking directly to the tree and the faery folk will hear them.

I come with love and hope in my heart
To you fairy folk I speak
I will not disturb or cause you pain
I promise to respect your private domain
And ask no more than you would give
Please can I be your friend.

Say this with meaning. If you don't mean it then do not say it. Faery folk hate liars, so always tell them the truth. If you don't believe in faeries, then forget it. One thing is for sure, they won't believe in you. However, even if you really do believe, sometimes the faery folk just will not let you see them. Don't be too disappointed if this happens. Just keep talking to them with love and hope in your heart. They'll be listening, honest!

(psychic world)

attracting faeries to your home

F. Baumgarten

Be Warned! Once they are invited in, they may never leave
1. Spend time in nature.
2. Meditate while sitting under trees, around lakes, etc.
3. Have plants and flowers inside your house or apartment.
4. Be cognizant of the abuses of nature and do your part to clean it up and reverence it.
5. Involve yourself in some creative activity on a regular basis. You don't have to be expert in it, but enjoyment of any creative activity will draw those of the faerie realm.
6. Leave an area in your yard to grow wild so that the faeries can play freely.
7. Be generous in your dealings with others.
8. Keep the child in you alive.
9. Place an echinite (fossil sea urchin) on your mantelpiece. They were called faerie loaves, made by the faeries. Those who had them would never want for food and always had faerie assistance.
10. Sing often. Nature spirits gather wherever there is song and music.
11. Keep your house relatively clean. Unless you are trying to attract a brownie, most faeries shy away from mess.
12. Once you have a faerie in your home, never leave it monetary gifts. A thimble of milk and a little bread with honey will do just fine.

~ (Lady of the Earth)