Pixie-Led
Leading humans astray is one of the fairies’ favourite pastimes according to folklore. Whether you’re in a field or a forest, far away from home or in your own neighbourhood, if the fairies decide to lead you round in circles, around in circles you will go until they decide to release you or you find some way to throw off their enchantments.
Most reports of pixie-leading involve the glamouring or disguising of a familiar place, so that victims no longer recognize where they are, even if this place is close to home. Landmarks are hidden, well-trodden paths vanish or twist in the wrong direction, gates in or out of fields are no longer where they’re supposed to be. Mists can rise out of nowhere to confound the victim, destinations may continually recede into the distance so that no matter how long you walk or drive toward them, you never get closer to where you want to go. Strange music is also often reported in these instances, music that may sometimes lure a victim irresistibly or at other times frighten them so that they run away in a panic and get lost.
Fairy motives for this behaviour remain mysterious, but it may range from sheer amusement to a form of retribution—the fairies may target those who have offended them or disturbed their territory in some way.
There are a few remedies thought to counteract the effects of being pixie-led. One method is to turn your clothing inside out, which is believed to break the fairy enchantment and help you regain your bearings. Another method is to carry a piece of bread in your pocket, a mysterious but effective solution. Crossing running water is also thought to throw the fairies off, as is carrying some rowan (mountain ash), a berrying tree believed to have all sorts of protective properties against the supernatural.
This month’s video features six stories of people getting pixie-led in one way or another. I hope you enjoy it!
A few images that appear in this months video:
Don’t forget to check out my fairy fantasy novel The Ghosts of Nothing, which has a similar vibe to the channel and is also available as an audiobook! If you like my channel, I think you’ll have a great time reading this book. :)
I must follow in their train Down the crooked fairy-lane Where the coney-rabbits long ago have gone, And where silverly they sing In a moving moonlit ring All a-twinkle with the jewels they have on. They are fading round the turn Where the glow-worms palely burn And the echo of their padding feet is dying! O! it's knocking at my heart Let me go! O let me start! For the little magic hours are all a-flying. O! the warmth! O! the hum! O! the colours in the dark! O! the gauzy wings of golden honey-flies O! the music of their feet—of their dancing goblin feet O! the magic! O! the sorrow when it dies. ~ J. R. R. Tolkien
🍄 Featured Artist
Every month in this space I feature an artist - a writer, musician, poet, illustrator or any kind of artist with a connection to the channel.
This month’s artist is AJ Park and her fantasy novel, The Ring Keeper.
Check it out here: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/lj1aartmny?tid=khuifxx0mq
Until next time,
Your Scary Fairy Godmother