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Gnomes, Goblin and Gobelin, Golem, The Grant, Gremlin,



Griffins and Griffiths, Grigs, Gruagach, Guriuz, Gwragedd Annwn, Gwyllions



Gnomes


Land of Origin: Europe.
Other Origins: Scotland is the land from which most of the Gnome lore in North America comes from.
Other Names:
Throughout Europe, each land has its own name for the Gnome. In Germany they are called Erdmanleins, except in the Alpine areas, where they are known as Heinzemannchens. In Sweden they are called Nissen, and Nisse in Denmark and Norway. In Brittany they are called Nains. The Finns call them Tontti, and in Iceland they are the Foddenskkmaend. The Polish word for Gnome is Gnom, but it is Djude in Bulgaria and Albania. In Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia, Gnomes are called Mano. The Dutch word is Kabouter, the Belgian is Skritek, and in Switzerland and Luxembourg they are known as Kleinmanneken, which means "little men." In western Russia Gnomes are called Domovoi Djedoes, which roughly translated means "earth faery."
Element: Earth.
Appearance and Temperament:
Gnomes are dwarf faeries who appear to be quite old because they mature very early, though their average life span is around a thousand years. They reach maturity in about a hundred years, at which time they stand about 12 inches tall and look well past middle age. They are male and female adults and children, wear old-fashioned peasant costumes, and are kind-hearted and will always aid sick or frightened animals.
Time Most Active: All year.
Lore:
Much has been written about the Gnome, the most well known account being the Dutch book Gnomes by Will Huygen, which has been translated into English.

Gnomes live deep in ancient forests under old oak trees and make their dwellings amonth the intricate root systems. Their principal occupation is the protection and healing of wildlife, though they may occasionally help a human along on his or her spiritual quest.

Gnomes wear small pointed hats of red, their clothing is always green or blue in color, and their dimpled faces are merry and kind. They like to wear rainbow-colored stocking which they weave themselves. In general they are very smart and clever.

Sharing a tradition with the Amish and Orthodox Jews, married male Gnomes grow beards, and married women cover their hair.

They share their woodland homes with the animals they love and with whome they have a relationship of mutual trust and affection. Their only known enemies are martens and some owls, and humans who encroach on their homes.

The idea that a Gnome can bless or enhance a garden or wild place is stuck in our popular consciousness, as shown by the proliferation of the many ceramic or plastic "Lawn Gnomes' on the market.

An animated children's television series produced by BRB International called The World of David the Gnome has been seen on American cable television for several years. David, with his red hat and blue coat, lives with his wife in an oak tree and spends his time helping animals and fighting off evil Trolls. All in all, the scripts remain faithful to the European Gnome legends, including the libation of milk given to David's family each day by a kind townswoman.

In ceremonial magick, Gnomes are not only the archetypal earth elementals of the north who are called upon to witness all rituals, but in the Order of the Golden Dawn they are known as one of the four "Essential Spiritual Beings" who are called upon to "praise God" during a ritual known as the Benedicite Omnia Opera. For information about the other elementals of high magick, see Salamanders, Sylphs, and Undines.

Where to Find Them: At the base of old oak trees. Look for them in the autumn of Faeryland.
How to Contact: A simple invitation may bring them to you.
Magickal and Ritual Help:
Gnomes can help you protect yourself and your pets and lend their energy to any number of magickal purposes, especially healing spells, at which they excel. They may also be willing to teach you some secrets of medicinal herbalism. Gnomes love to dance to raise energy and might be persuaded to lend this energy to rituals celebrating the deities, especially the Gods and Goddessess of the woodlands.

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Goblins and Gobelin


See Boggart and/or Hobgoblin.

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Golem


Land of Origin: Israel.
Other Origins: Possibly ancient Canaan.
Other Names: None known.
Element: Earth.
Appearance and Temperament:
A Golem (pronounced with a long 'o') is human in appearance, but is not a thinking creature and has no malice towards humans except as programmed by his creator.
Time Most Active: All year.
Lore:
A golem might best be describes as a zombie-a staring, unthinking creature in a human body who is in no real way human or whole. They are well known by adepts in ceremonial magick as creatures created by magick rather in the same way that witches can create elemental beings. The golem was written about by Jewish folklorist Yudl Rosenburg in his short story "The Golem, or, The Miraculous Deeds of Rabbi Liva."

Where to Find Them: Unknown.
How to Contact: Contact not advised!
Magickal and Ritual Help: None.

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The Grant


Land of Origin: England.
Other Origins: None known.
Other Names: None known.
Element: Fire.
Appearance and Temperament:
The Grant looks something like a small, oddly-formed horse, though he walks erect. He warns humans of approaching trouble and is said to be very friendly, if somewhat terrifying to see.
Time Most Active: At sunset.
Lore:
Each Grant is attached to a particular English village, ,where he acts as lookout and guardian. If there is approaching trouble he runs through the streets at sunset stirring up the local dogs to bark and horses to whinny out a warning.

Sightings of the Grant are well documented. He has actually been seen at sunset in numerous village, and during World War II a few small English hamlets claimed they were warned by their Grant of approaching air raids.

English faery lore says that he is a very amiable creature, but quite bothersome to look upon.

Where to Find Them: Near the English villages they have adopted.
How to Contact: Unknown.
Magickal and Ritual Help:
Undetermined. In times of national crisis he may be able not only to warn the English, but to lend his energy to the defense of his homeland.

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Gremlin


Land of Origin: Germany.
Other Origins: Also a popular faery form in England.
Other Names:
Grimblens, Gremlers, Sky Boogies, and Widgets. Fifenallas are fmale Gremlins, and Widgets are the children. Spandules are the ones who ice airplane wings.
Element: Air.
Appearance and Temperament:
Gremlins range in size from very small to almost human-sized. They are hairy all over and tend to be dun to dark brown in color. They have wide grins that are anything but mirthful, and stubby little ears like those of terrier dogs. They do not like humans and seek to destroy them whenever possible.
Time Most Active: All year, especially at night.
Lore:
Gremlins seem to have once had the power of flight, an ablility which was lost for reasons unknown to us. Now they live high in the mountains of Europe where they can feel the winds and dream of the days when they could be airborne on a whim.

It is not surprising that the world's trouble with Gremlins began when we conquered the skies. During World War II, pilots from both sides flying over Europe would report seeing hairy creatures hitching rides on their wings. Shortly thereafter reports were being sent in to command headquarters all over Europe insisting that these creatures were actually damaging the planes. Leaders of neither the Axis nor the Allied powers were willing to believe these fantastic tales, but as more and more came in they felt the reports had to be kept in the official flight records.

Pilots who complained of Gremlin damage had wires pulled out of engines, holes punctured in wings, gas leaks, spontaneous fires, and wing ice even in when air temperatures were well above freezing. Other Gremlins would pop up in front of the windshields just to frighten the pilots.

Gremlins are very strong and can tear through metal without any strain. They seem to not need water, air, and food for sustenance, or at least they can go for long periods without them.

They are cousins of the Irish Phooka with whom they share similarities. Their origins are hazy and very little folklore was recorded about htem until Warld War II. This may simply be because we humans tend to ignore anything which doesn't directly concern us.
Where to Find Them: Unknown.
How to Contact: Unknown and unadvised.
Magickal and Ritual Help: None.

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Griffins and Griffiths


See Gitto.

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Grigs


See Pixies.

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Guagach


Land of Origin: Scotland.
Other Origins: None known.
Other Names: Guaghach, The Herdswoman, The Firesitter.
Element: Earth.
Appearance and Temperament:
The Gruagach (Grew-g'ac) is a solitary female faery, extremely grotesque in appearance, but with a heart of gold. She carries a shepherd's staff in her gnarled hands, and her gown is usually green in color, though it has been said to be cornsilk gold. She enjoys any brief human contact she can get and will offer whatever help she can in your spiritual pursuits if you do not show fear or revulsion.
Time Most Active: Summer during daylight hours.
Lore:
Gruagach is derived from a Gaelic root word wihich means "hairy," and this profuse hair is part of her deceptively hideous appearance. She is primarily a protector of livestock, principally cattle. She leads cattle to water and guards these herds from Buachailleen, the evil "Herding Boys."

She is always cold and loves a warm fire, but being a faery, cannot start her own. Therefore, to keep warm, she makes her home in the summer of Faeryland. When the Gruagach is traveling in the humand world, Scottish folklore tells us that she will appear at the doorsteop of Highlanders and ask to sit by the fire for awhile. If she is allowed she will look after the home and herds; if refused, she will create trouble and steal animals.

In Scotland obligatory libations of milk were given to her at Imbolg and Gubhnasadh by pouring it into a hollow stone called a Gruagach's Stone. This practice still persists as a folk ritual among many rural Scottish cattleherders, though its original meaning has been long forgotten by most of them.

Her Irish manifestation is somewhat less benevolent. In Ireland it is said that she is desperately searching for a son and is not above taking one if he catches her fancy. But the Gruagach is so compassionate that if the distraught parents come to her and beg for the child back, she will tearfully let him go.

On the Isle of Man the Gruagach isa male whose behavior is more like that of the mischievous Buachailleen (see seperate entry).

Where to Find Them: In pastures and in the summer of Faeryland.
How to Contact: Go to her and ask her for advice or assistance. Be direct, as she has a very limited attention span.
Magickal and Ritual Help: She can aid in spiritual quests and is guarding herds. She will also lend her considerable magickal energies to your spells for human, animal, or plant fertility.

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Guriuz


Land of Origin: Italy.
Other Origins: None known.
Other Names: None known.
Element: Air.
Appearance and Temperament:
These Italian weather Elves have not been seen for a long time. They were said to look like other Italian Elves and to be friendly toward farmers.
Time Most Active: Spring through the end of harvest.
Lore:
The Guriuz (Goo-ee-use) used to help bring the weather needed by Italian farmers. They may have died out, be in hiding, or not have ever existed as whole beings.
Where to Find Them: Unknown.
How to Contact: Unknown.
Magickal and Ritual Help: Unknown.

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Gwragedd Annwn


Land of Origin: Wales.
Other Origins: None known.
Other Names: None known.
Element: Water.
Appearance and Temperament:
The Gwargedd Annwn (Gwer-geth Ai-noon) are beautiful blonde water faeries who love children and are helpful to humans mothers, children, and the poor. They are human in size and female only.
Time Most Active: All year.
Lore:
These feminine faeries live in and near the lakes of the Black Mountains of Wales. Though they are helpful to women and children, they seem uninterested in males except as occasional mates. They are reputed to like female company, but are very temperamental and easily offended.

Gwargedd Annwns love dancing and have been seen enjoying their revels under the full moon. They are believed to be a very old group of faeries, and some mythologists believe that the Irish Faery Queen Fand may have been of this race. The marriages between these faeries and the men they take seem to be generally happy, and the offspring of these couplings are talented in music. In rural Wales you can occasionally find someone who will point out entire families believed to be descended from these unions.

The underwater lakes they live near hold their palaces and treasures which have been unseen by all but a few of their half-human children. They can be distinguished from humans by their breathtaking beauty and by their inability to count past the number five, which is the number in which they collect everything except mates. They make loyal if somewhat distant wives and are excellent mothers.
Where to Find Them: In the Black Mountains of Wales.
How to Contact: Go to the Black Mountains, either physically or astrally, and seek them out. Approach with caution.
Magickal and Ritual Help: They can aid in protection spells for women and children and can even be called on to be temporary guardians in time of great need.

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Gwyllions


Land of Origin: Wales.
Other Origins: None known.
Other Names: None known.
Element: Fire.
Appearance and Temperament:
Gwyllions are mountain dwellers who care for the wild goats of Wales and are rarely seen. They dislike humans, whom they regard as arrogant, and so they keep their distance from us.
Time Most Active: All year.
Lore:
It is said that Gwyllions once had the power of flight, but when and how they lost it is a mystery. They now content themselves with watching over goats. Occasionally a Welsh mountain climber or hiker has seen something staring at him thoughtfully from behind the rocks, something he is unable to identify. This may be a Gwyllion.

The female Gwyllions are nocturnal, and it is believed that exposure to sunlight would kill them.

Gwyllions fear storms and knives. One bit of Welsh folklore tells us that the Gwyllions often seek shelter in the homes of mountain dwellers during storms. While they are in your home you can corner them with a drawn knife and they must then grant you one wish. Unfortunately, the price for doing this is the eternal ire of these faeries who will forevermore plague your mountain journeys with difficulties. On the other hand, allowing them the safety of your home will make them more disposed to guard the pathways to your house.

Where to Find Them: In the Welsh mountains and in Faeryland's mountains, but they will usually run away if they think you are looking for them.
How to Contact: They will not allow themselves to be found or approached by people.
Magickal and Ritual Help: None.

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Special thanks toAngie for
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Midi: "The Coolin" -
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©Barry Nelson



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