#elves folklore

(This post is cross posted from The Cobalt Athenaeum. My personal post)

Some of this is UPG as there's not much accounts of people working with Elves. All historical information is linked within sources.

“An elf (pl.: elves) is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic folklore.” - Wikipedia However, it is important to note that elves do not just exist within Germany, but we will get into that later. Elves generally seem to have been thought of as beings with magical powers, and were very beautiful, on the fence towards humans, and capable of helping or hindering people. However, these beliefs have varied over time and have been altered in both pre-Christian and Christian cultures.

Appearance

Elves are seen as humanoid, in some folklore either being seen as tall, small and/or even invisible. Light elves (who were fair) and dark elves (who were darker than pitch) in Norse mythology. It was explained that Light Elves were "fairer than the sun to look at" and Dark Elves dwelled within the earth and have a dark complexion. These specific descriptions strike similarity to the Scottish Seelie court and the Unseelie court. From my accounts with them, in my mind's eye, I see Light Elves a bit different as stated in folklore. However, “fairer than the sun to look at” is extremely accurate for Light Elves. Light Elves have hair pure white, that shine you get when the sun hits snow or they have blond hair, the colour of molten gold. Eyes pupilless, grey or blue. Skin is made up of light, shining bright yet does not hurt the eyes. While I have not been in contact with Dark Elves as they live underground, I have been told by these Elves what they look like. Dark Elves have hair blueish black in most cases, I have heard stories of some having brown but I have not come across such yet. Eyes are also pupilless, grey or blue, a contrast to their skin being an inky darkness like the night sky. Somehow, it also still radiates out. Mind you Elves while being humanoid in appearance, do not appear as a true human. With sharp pointed ears, long hair, tall and genderless, they are more of a silhouette to me, a glowing one. A glowing humanoid light, with no features but their eyes. A very interesting experience.

Behavior

The notable characteristics of elves were mischief and volatility, people even feared them. While often known to be sociable and even friendly with humans, but were still greatly feared because of their temperament. Quick to punish if felt wronged or harmed in a way. Punishments included disease, night terrors, and cruel tricks and attacks directed toward the victim. However, It is noted that elves sometimes helped cure diseases in some myths. They are similar to the nymphs in this case in folklore. Stemming from Germanic Folklore, they were believed at various times and in various regions to cause diseases in humans and cattle, as they sit upon the chest of a sleeper and give them bad dreams (the German word for nightmare is Alpdrücken, or “elf-pressure”), and to steal human children and substitute out changelings (weak elf or fairy children).

Elves Lore

The name elf is found throughout the Germanic languages and may have originally meant 'white being'. However, reconstructing the early concept of an elf depends largely on texts written by Christians, in Old and Middle English, medieval German, and Old Norse. The Norse associated elves variously with the gods of Norse mythology, with causing illness, with magic, and with beauty and seduction. After the medieval period, the word elf tended to become less common throughout the Germanic languages.

Elves were talked about less in German folklore over time. Elfish beings appear to have been a common characteristic within European folklore. In the Celtic-speaking regions of northwest Europe, these beings that were most similar to elves were referred to by the Gaelic term Aos Sí.

The equivalent term in modern Welsh is Tylwyth Teg. In the Romance-speaking world, beings comparable to elves are widely known by words derived from the Latin Fata ('Fate'), which came into English as a fairy. This word became partly synonymous with elf by the early modern period. Elves appear in Asia and Oceania folklore, potentially as some scholars draw parallels between the Arabian tradition of Jinn.

Khmer culture in Cambodia includes the Mrenh kongveal, elfish beings associated with guarding animals. In Māori culture, Patupaiarehe are beings similar to European elves and fairies. Orang bunian are supernatural beings in Malaysian, Bruneian and Indonesian folklore, invisible to most humans except those with “spiritual sight”. While the term is often translated as "elves", it translates to "hidden people" or "whistling people". Their appearance is nearly identical to humans dressed in an ancient Southeast Asian style. In the pre-colonial beliefs of the Philippines, the world can be divided into the material world and the spirit world. All objects, animate or inanimate, have a spirit called anito.

Non-human anito is known as diwata, usually euphemistically referred to as dili ingon nato ('those unlike us'). They have natural features like mountains, forests, old trees, caves, etc, as well as abstract concepts and natural phenomena. They are similar to elves in that they can be helpful or hateful but are usually indifferent to humans. Spanish colonizers compared them with elves and fairy folklore.

There are stories in Christian tales as well but I’m running out of space. As you can see there's a rich history all over of accounts of Elves. There is no singular account for Elves or the location where they originated.

Are Elves Fae?

If we are looking at my personal account, they are either fae or fae equivalent. They certainly have a likeness to fae. Especially coming from the word Fata, which was translated to Fairy. While maybe they are not fairies themselves (or maybe they are), they most certainly are at least a branch of the fae. However, that is my own opinion.

How do I work with Elves?

Treat them with caution as you would with working with Fae. I mean this seriously. They follow the same rules as such and will severely cause ill will to your life if you cause them any sort of disrespect. Treat them with the respect they deserve and you’ll be fine. I will be making a general post on working with Fae, any dangers and proper procedures for respect.

They can be worked as they know alchemy, glamours, healings, disease magic, domination work, elemental magic and much more.

They can aid you in confidence and how to steel your resolve while being able to let loose your mischievous side.

Where Can I Find Them?

You can find them wherever nature resides, either on land or around caves. They roam cities where the grass is green and where the cracks are in concrete with life pushing through. You’ll find them in lush forests of the country side, roaming forests and watching over wildlife.

You’ll find them while caving, watching from the dark. You can call upon them by simply putting it out there that you’d like to interact. They can be curious, but not all will approach as some are hesitant about humans. When they do, follow the similar rules of our working with the fae channel. You can speak to them through divination methods or clairsenses, they are quick to respond.

Sources

Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar. (2024, July 14). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dökkálfar_and_Ljósálfar Elf. (2024, August 27). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2024, July 26). Elf. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/elf-mythology Atlas MythicaAtlas Mythica is a publication written by a collective of scholars and educators in the field of history. (2023, October 13). Light & Dark Elves Norse mythology (Ljösalfar & Dökkalfar). Atlas Mythica. https://atlasmythica.com/ljosalfar-dokkalfar-alfheim-norse-elves/ More Images to Reference