The Tuatha de Danann
Land of Origin: Ireland. One of the five myth cycles of the island is the Invasion Cycle in which the Tuatha de Danann take a leading role.
Other Origins: None.
Other Names: Irish Faeries, the Royalty, The Gentry.
Element: Can be any.
Appearance and Temperament:
The Tuatha de Danann (Too-ahday Thay-nan) figure largely in the myth cycles of the Irish people. They were among the earliest conquerors of the island, and their Goddess Dana is one of the earliest named Great MOther Goddesses of western Europe. She was later renamed Brigid, a name by which she is better known today. The Tuatha are trooping faeries, warrior-like in temperament, but fair and just. They are male, female, and children, and look exactly like humans only somewhat smaller.
Time Most Active: All year.
Lore:
When the Milesians, ancestor cousins of the Celts, arrived to conquer the island somewhere between 3000 and 1000 BCE, the Tuatha were driven underground into the faery burghs which they still inhabit. Hurling, the national game of Ireland, is a popular sport among them, one which was said to need human participation to be successful. Finvarra, a Tuatha King, was very fond of it and chess and he had his favorite human opponents. Much folk music of the island was said to be composed by them.
The Bookd of Leinster, a seventh-century collection of Irish myths, records that the Tuatha de Danann were "faery" peoples, while The Book of the Dun Cow describes them as being "gods, but not gods." The early Celtic illuminated manuscript known as The Book of Invasions recounts their conquering and dividing of the island.
The construction of the ancient stone megaliths of Ireland is sometimes credited to them, since their origins remain a mystery. Another stone in their possession was the Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny, on which the High Kings of Ireland stood as they took the crown. The stone was said to cry out in agony if a wrongful ruler stood upon it, while it roared with leonine pride when the rightful one stepped up. The current royal family of Britain is believed by many English to be descended from the Milesian kings who once stood on this stone.
The Tuatha also possessed the invincible sword of the Sun God Lugh and the cauldron of the God Dagda, which was taken from the Land of the Dead.
Legends about the Tuatha are recorded in many other early books of Ireland, and most books on Irish mythology and folklore give a great deal of space to the exploits of these faery creatures. The Tuatha were the first to divide Ireland into four provinces and set up governments for each. The Tuatha then subdivided themselves into four groups, which were once the names of these cities. Each city corresponds to a different direction. The two principal groups of these subclassification are the Gorias and the Finias. A number of the Tuatha's rulers have become pagan deities, including Etain, Midhir, Finvarra, and Daniel O'Donoghue of Connacht.
Where to Find Them: The Tuatha can go almost anywhere they wish, but make their homes in the burghs of Ireland.
How to Contact:
Call them to your circle, go to them in trance, or go to a faery burgh. One legend says that if you approach a burgh on Midsummer evening, knock on it three times, and request it to open in the name of Dana, that it will open to you. But be cautious with this practice. Like most faery contact, this experience is best and most easily accomplished on the inner planes.
Magickal and Ritual Help: Anything and everything.
Back to the top
Twlwwyth Tegs
Land of Origin: Wales.
Other Origins: None known.
Other Names: None known.
Element: Earth.
Appearance and Temperament:
Twlwwyth Tegs are small anthropomorphic faeries of all ages and genders. They are trooping faeries and appear to be friendly towards humans, though they seem to want little to do with us.
Time Most Active: All year.
Lore:
The term Twlwwyth Teg is sometimes used as a generic name for all the faeries in Wales, but this is an improper use of the label. The name roughly translates as "fair family," and they live in family structures not unlike our own were several thousand years ago. The principal difference would be that the female Twlwwyth Tegs are equal to males in both stature and in their society. They live in clan groups which are dtermined by the eldest female member of the family, and the eldest male is the primary defender of the clan and its namesake, much like the ancient Celts of Wales.
The Tegs' children mature at age one hundred and go off to live in small groups with other young people until they pick mates. Twlwwyth Tegs have intermarried with other Welsh faeries, and their offspring are known as the Bendith y Mauman, the native elves of Wales.
The Tegs live off the Welsh coast on faery islands which are connected to the mainland by deep tunnels. They, or a patron Goddess, protect their islands with fog and storms. They are harmless unless you attempt to invade their islands, in which case they will try to defend themselves. These faeries love to garden, and their islands are said to be a paradise of flowers and foliage. Night Rades to the mainland are common occurrences and have been observed by travelers. On the mainland they have burghs which they stay in, rather like faery hotels, until they are ready to return to their islands. One of the reasons given for their Rades to the mainland is that they come in search of food and fresh water. At one time the Twlwwyth Tegs were accused of stealing children, especially the fair-haired, fair-skinned ones, but this does not seem to be something which interests them anymore.
Welsh folklore says their chief ruler is Gwyn ap Naud, an ancient British God of the Dead.
Where to Find Them: At the Welsh seashore.
How to Contact: Evoke them to a circle on the beach. Use food and fresh water as an inducement and a sign of friendship.
Magickal and Ritual Help: Undetermined, but they may be useful in weather spells and in protection rituals.
Back to the top
Special thanks toAngie for
the graphics!
Midi: "The Coolin" -
Used with permission by:
©Barry Nelson
FastCounter by LinkExchange
