In this three-minute mini-podcast, Fiona Broome discusses classic ways to reach faerie realms and why it's not as important to visit their world right now.

Putting aside her usual scientific and sociological tone, faerie researcher Fiona Broome explains why believing in faeries is so exciting. She starts by explaining that people around the world believed in faeries (or entities like them) through the early 20th century.  Then, the tidal wave of science smashed the dreams of faerie believers by calling their ideals mere "fantasies." However, despite the disapproval by many, people continue to believe in faeries and the fae world.  This goes...

Learn more about flying faeries:  Winged faeries, those who fly on flower stems and bulrushes, and faeries that levitate. Explore the different kinds of entities that fly, and why they are -- or aren't -- like faeries.  From Tinkerbell to succubus to vampires to shapeshifters, this 14-minute podcasts takes you on a whirlwind tour of faeries (and other entities) that seem to fly. For more information about faeries:  FaerieMagick.com Music: The Moods of Man, written & orchestrated by...

Have you tried to contact faeries, and were you disappointed?  In this podcast, faerie researcher Fiona Broome answers readers' questions.  She explains what works -- and what doesn't -- when you'd like to make contact with the faerie world. From the basic steps of observation, to the extremes of highly dangerous faeries, Fiona describes what to do and what to watch for. She also reminds people what faeries like and don't like, and why you must be very careful when you first encounter a...

Brownies are a kind of faerie.  They're in the category of Hob, a "house spirit" in the U.K. (Possible connection with Hobbits?) A Hob may be a word that evolved from the English given name of Robin, related to Robin Goodfellow, another name for a Brownie in southern England.  Hobs appear to be related to the Swedish Tomte or Tomtars, with a history similar to Ireland's Tuatha De Danann.  In both cases, these faeries retired to the "hollow hills" or Brughs: Hollow faerie mounds in which...

In this week's Faerie Magick podcast, Fiona discusses dwarves. Roots: Dwarves are mentioned around the world in a variety of cultures and societies.  In Western culture, most folkore traditions seem to be rooted in Germany, Switzerland and England. Classic examples: Leprechauns, Snow White & the Seven Dwarves, and the ladies' attendants in King Arthur's court.  The latter are sometimes associated with ghosts, and the distinctions aren't clear. Appearance: Generally male, and human-like...

Who are the elves of Ireland?  In this 14-minute podcast, Fiona talks about this question and several others. What surnames see the Banshee? Anyone can see a Banshee, but you're not likely to.  They rarely appear to humans.  However, since Banshees are real, it's possible for anyone to see them. For more information about the faerie-related families protected by Banshees, see Fiona's article, The Banshee. The Banshee is real; stories connect Banshees with specific Irish...

In this 14-minute podcast, Fiona Broome discusses three main topics: The words we use to describe faeries. Poltergeists - faeries or ghosts? Who has faerie ancestry. Terminology Faeries, pixies, goblins, elementals... what are they?  Are they connected? Fiona describes the problems in using labels and categories to describe faeries.  She traces the history of the term "elementals" to describe nature spirits -- sometimes faeries -- and how extreme the connections have become over many...

Are faeries real? Where do faeries live? What's the difference between pixies and faeries? Those are some readers' questions answered by Fiona Broome in this 15-minute podcast about faeries and boggarts. The questions include: Are faeries real? Do faeries exist? What do faeries look like? How do you see faeries? Is there proof that faeries are real?  Is there proof that faeries aren't real? How do faeries procreate? Where do faeries live? What is the difference between pixies and...

Green faeries are among the strongest traditions in faerie lore.  They're usually associated with nature, the trees or even the forest.  In this 12-minute podcast, Fiona Broome talks about the following green faeries and related entities. The Green Man This "wild man" of the forest may be a faerie.  He -- and his fellow Green Men -- usually protect the forest and sometimes the animals in it.  The original "Green Man" may be Merlin, who was said to go mad for several years and, during...

In this 13-minute podcast, Fiona Broome discusses the differences and similarities among four groups of entities:  faeries, angels, ghosts and aliens. For the purpose of this discussion, Fiona assumes that all of these groups are real, and descriptions in legends and folklore are accurate. Faeries - Can be big or small, winged or not.  They like things tidy, or they'll hide things from people.  Some of them seem to think it's funny to tease or torment pets.  Except for leprechauns, there's...

Faeries have been documented throughout history.  Around 1000 B.C., the Greek poet Homer wrote The Illiad, in which he describes, "watery fairies dance in mazy rings."  ("Mazy" means maze-like, or like a labyrinth.) In the 12 century, Gervase of Tilbury described portunes (one kind of small faeries) in detail.  He said that some are as tiny as one half inch tall, or as little as a small finger. Later reports confirm his descriptions. Shakespeare popularized the image of playful, tiny...

Fiona Broome relaunches her faerie-related podcasts with this 12-minute overview of faeries and popular misconceptions about them. This podcast repeats many concepts from her earlier (2006) podcast series, with some updates. Key points: 1. Faeries are not ghosts, and though they may be related to humans, they aren't actually human, either.  Faeries are not divine, but may seem so, particularly when compared with the idea of guardian angels and other popular spiritual concepts. 2....