Chapel Perilous

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Lori Mirabelli

Alright guys, let’s talk fae (the Celtic version).

There’s a terribly common misconception of what fae/fairy (and pixies) really means. On screen and sometimes even in books fairies are mistakenly shown to be those little winged creatures described as mischievous if not evil. That’s false. Those are actually pixies. The actual Fae (faerie, later fairy) are the mysterious nature spirits possessing magical powers, who look human-like but can also temporarily take up various smaller sizes upon choice.

But where do the Fae start? From the myths and folklore of the ancient Celts. The gods and goddesses of the Celts were many in number, and many unknown, but they were regarded with reverence, as having power and purpose, with various functions in the natural world. These gods were the Tuatha de Dannan, the people of Danu.

But with the arrival of Christianity, this changed, like most Celtic (and other non-Celtic) concepts. They were altered in meaning. Gods and deities of the old pagan ways were demoted to “fairy folk”, to heroes and remorseful warriors that change their faith, to lessen their power. Their pedestal of godhood and aura of mystery was strategically erased. They became enchanters, sorcerers, which obviously had evil connotations in Christian perception. In Daemonologie, King James associated fairies with demonic entities. Eventually even this imagery of the magical enchanters was further demoted to what is now most commonly known as that of the pixies: in other words, something small, harmless, powerless, a troublesome spirit that nobody cares to bother with anymore.

I recently re-taught a class of mine on spirit work and there were some questions regarding communication that isn’t clear audible speaking, like what tends to happen in movies and stories. As with all spirit work and communication, please be aware of what may have mundane causes behind it (especially mental-health related ones like hallucinations).

Here are some alternative methods they may communicate with you:

sudden change in temperature

music or non-language auditory sounds (thumping, whistling, moaning, etc.)

tactile sensations such as gentle pushing, brushes, nudges, etc.

empathic sensations (sudden emotional feelings being projected that aren’t your own)

smells or tastes that aren’t caused by your surroundings (they’re often tied together)

pictures or ideas in your head that seem to come from nowhere

visual representations (though I would say this is the most rare to a non-experienced spirit worker)

divination tools influence (i.e. Tarot, pendulums, scrying, casting stones/runes/coins, etc.)

Death Biscuits: hardtack offering to the dead

In October, I make a new batch of these hardtack biscuits. While not the most glamorous or delectable offerings, they can keep for months, making them easy to carry in a purse/bag/car/etc. I use these to offer at cemeteries, to leave on shrines and altars for extended periods of time, and to keep in my purse for unexpected offerings to any death-related entities.

This recipe is extremely simple and can be dressed up many ways. Traditionally, hardtack is made with just flour, water, and some salt. These I fancy up with some other spices.

Recipe and more lack-luster photography below!

my favorite offering for the dead is lemon poppy seed baked goods.

poppy seeds = sleep and peace, to give them rest

🖤apache tear + gentle form of obsidian, useful for mending sorrow and grounding + legend states this stone formed when the tears of weeping apache women fell to the ground as they mourned their dead warriors

🖤calendula (marigold) + often used in funerals and remembrance ceremonies, eases sorrow + closely tied to samhain and día de los muertos

🖤cemetery dirt + used in a variety of death rituals and spells + contacting the dead, banishment, protection, astral protection + various types have different effects, research ethical collection first

🖤copal + resin often burned for purification, grounding, exorcism + closely tied to día de los muertos

🖤cypress (tree of death) + used to honor the dead and mend associated sorrow + chips may be sprinkled over a grave to ease the pain of loved ones left behind and help the departed soul move on + classic symbol of mourning, commonly found in cemeteries 

🖤frankincense + resin burned for consecration, exorcism, communing with the dead

🖤mullein (corpse candles) + can be used as a substitute for cemetery dirt + stalks are often used as wicks for homemade candles + used to invoke spirits and for divination 

🖤myrrh + resin burned for purification, exorcism, healing sorrow + increases power of any incense, often paired with frankincense 

🖤patchouli + can be used as a substitute for cemetery dirt + powerful, earthy musk when burned, useful for grounding in rituals

🖤poppy + suitable offering for the dead and many deities associated with such + brings peace to the deceased and loved ones

🖤rowan (mountain ash) + may be worn or planted near homes for protection + planted on graves to prevent haunting by departed spirits

🖤violet + legends tell of violets blooming on graves of virgins and saints + appropriate offering for the graves of children

🖤willow (witches aspirin) + traditional symbol of mourning as it “weeps” similarly to humans + used for protection and to commune with spirits + often found in cemeteries to soothe departed spirits

🖤wormwood + often used to summon spirits and commune with the dead + burned with sandalwood at night in cemeteries to conjure spirits

Daily #2,430!

Me: “I can’t wait to hang out with people again!”