Are Fairies Evil?

Fairies are often portrayed as benevolent wish-granters and environmental champions in popular culture. But this is a far cry from the truth. In fact, fairy lore is full of stories about baby-stealing and even murder.

In folklore, fairies are a powerful race of magical beings that can be good or evil. They exist in a realm that is close to ours and they have more physical power than spirits. This allows them to move objects and cause things to happen that would be very difficult for a ghost or spirit to do. They can touch us and are able to cause illness, loss of voice, and even death. In the past, people used to believe that it was a very bad idea to talk about fairies or their activities. It was believed that if you insulted or angered a fairy, they could take revenge and curse you with illness or death.

Because they are so close to our world, it is easy for them to access it and travel within it. They use pathways, tracks or raths that are usually buried under the ground, in mounds, caves, burrows and holes in the earth. It is very bad luck to disturb their homes or their tracks and if you trespass on their land, they will take revenge by making you sick, causing your crops to fail, or even bringing about your death.

A strong trickster element runs through fairy lore and they love to lead travelers astray, especially at night or near ponds or rivers. They can also cause animals to die and can be very violent if they are angered. They are also prone to jealousy and possessiveness. In some tales they descend on a town on the full moon and kill all of the beautiful women and girls, scattering their blood and flesh throughout the area.

Generally, fairies are benevolent and are quick to grant wishes, but they can also be malevolent and cunning. Their dual nature means they are mercurial and can change from one aspect to the other very quickly. This is why they are sometimes mistaken for angels.

There are ways you can invite the fairies into your home without inviting them to be a nuisance. They like gardens and are very attracted to nature. It is thought that there are portals to the Otherworld all over the world and that the Fairies, much like ghosts, are attracted to water and will visit places where there is a river or lake, for example. If you want to leave a gift for the fairies, it is best to do this outdoors, in your garden or around a standing tree stump. If you need to communicate with a fairy, it is important to remember that they cannot lie like ghosts can, so if you ask them something, make sure to ask them the same question three times because they will answer you truthfully at least twice out of pity.