For more information, visit www.kazmahoney.com.
Cliff Seruntine
Cliff Seruntine is a mystic, psychologist, and woodsman living in the wilds of Nova Scotia, Canada. His first novel, An Ogham Wood, was released in 2011, and he has a number of other titles in the works. He has also written a book about Celtic Druidic traditions, The Lore of the Bard (Llewellyn, 2003), under the pseudonym Arthur Rowan. He is an inspiring figure to anyone who wishes to truly live in harmony with nature, and his very real connection the realm of Faery and nature spirits is evident in his work. He shares some of his inspiration with us here.
How can fantasy writing increase understanding of the truth of Faery?
Fantasy written with knowledge and art can not only shed light on the lore of Faerie but also help the reader develop a broader perspective. Ideally it will help the reader perceive as faerie denizens might. This is important because, let’s face it, most of the old myths and folklore (while beautiful and intriguing) portray the Faerie realm from an entirely anthropocentric perspective. Think about it: how many fairy tales have you read where Jack’s goal was to rob from the faeries, yet he is portrayed as the good guy? Jack sneaks into faerie lands and faerie households and steals treasures of gold, marvellous magical artefacts, perhaps even a lovely faerie damsel. But then the faeries are portrayed as cruel and hostile when they hunt Jack down and take back what’s theirs. In fact, when you think about it, it’s really the humans that are the bad guys in many of the folktales, constantly looking for opportunities to take advantage of faerie beings. Good fantasy, I think, will help readers perceive things more fairly and in more depth.
When I wrote An Ogham Wood, I wanted very much to put myself in the mind of the faerie folk. I asked myself what would beings that have done no harm and been in retreat from us for eons think of us. How would they perceive the changes we have wrought upon the world? Would they understand such distinctly human acts as romance and war? How would they relate, being creatures of nature, to human drives for shelter, community, and order? How would they, being not human, make sense of human emotions? They are not humans and must perceive the world in ways that defy our concepts. I tried to take my mind as much out of human thinking as possible. I think I was able to do this because I have lived so much of my life in wild places. For me, relating to animals and nature was often not just an abstract goal, it was a matter of survival. I took what I learned of the minds of wild creatures and the fickle, loving, yet indifferent moods of nature itself, and applied that to the faerie mind. And from that I created the faerie characters that inhabit the Ogham Wood. And I found it was much like what a shaman does when the shaman enters a spirit mind or allows a spirit to enter his mind.
And in this, I think, is the value of fantasy writing—entering and relating a fey perspective. Such writing broadens the mind, helps writer and reader see through spirit eyes, comprehend through fey wisdom.
Cover image by Marc Potts, courtesy of Avalonia Books (www.avaloniabooks.co.uk)
Why is Faery important to you?
Since I was a child, I have perceived two human worlds. There is the one we are building for ourselves now. It is a world of fascinating trinkets and endless theories of how everything works. It seems to offer a lot of promise in that it holds answers and can amuse us endlessly. I mean, nowadays we have talking cars that can tell you how to navigate anywhere on the planet, cell phones that let you watch videos and access email, the capacity to communicate by video or text to anyone anywhere. But it is a world that answers a lot of hows and very little in the way of whys. And its veneer of trinkets and amusement come at a high price. It pollutes the land, the sea, and sky everywhere. And it separates us from the things that are at the foundation of our being: the land which gives us food. The sea which gives us water and air. This world is ephemeral, recently come and unsustainable, devoid of spirit, soon to vanish.
The other world I see is much simpler and older and more durable. Our elders have been in touch with it since the mythic age, and we can be too. It is a world rich with nature and life on levels from the microbes in the soil to the spirits in the trees. It is a world enriched by ancient story, and it is beautifully haunted by myriad spirits. This is sustainable world, closer to the natural realm of Faerie. And to know it, we need only live close to that which is alive and good for us, allow ourselves a bit of imagination and a bit of deeper sight. To me, it is the more valuable world. It is fair and fey, full of wondrous mystery, and it is where true wisdom and depth lie.
What change do you hope to bring into the world through your life and work?
Anyone who knows me knows I live a simple life immersed in nature. I live on a homestead deep in the woods. I grow a lot of my own food. I train horses and track wildlife. I make it a daily practice to commune with nature and also frequently enter the forests for no other reason than to talk with the trees and the beings that reside among them. I hope to inspire people to live lives that are closer to the land, closer to things that have true value. I am a strong believer that if one has food and shelter, if one has family and friends, therein is the greatest treasure. I think persons who realize these things come very close to experiencing the true mystery of Faerie, that wildly incomprehensible, beautifully magical place, for themselves. In my writing, I hope to share that in a way that touches not only the intellect but the heart, for in the end it is our hearts —our dreams and passions—that drive us to create the world we live in.
For more information, visit cliffseruntine.wordpress.com.
“The other world I see is much simpler and older and more durable. Our elders have been in touch with it since the mythic age, and we can be too. It is a world rich with nature and life on levels from the microbes in the soil to the spirits in the trees. It is a world enriched by ancient story, and it is beautifully haunted by myriad spirits. This is sustainable world, closer to the natural realm of Faerie.”
Cliff Seruntine
Suggested Activities
Give Thanks
Think about those who inspire you most, particularly those who inspire you to delve further into the realm of Faery. Choose one (or more, if you wish) in particular and make contact with them if you can, writing a letter thanking them for the inspiration. This will encourage them to carry on their good work and inspire others!
Inspire Others
How can you inspire others to connect with the realm of Faery? What are your strengths? Perhaps you simply lead by example, or perhaps you could do something more consciously. Consider writing a blog of your experiences working through this book and your ongoing path into Faery.
Create
It might be interesting to trace your sources of inspiration. In this information age, it is easy to do research on the background of those who have inspired you. Draw out a family tree of inspiration with yourself in the roots, moving up to your main sources of inspiration, those who inspired them further up in the branches, and so on; see how far you can get! Equally consider those whom you may have inspired, and place them as your offshoots. Who will they go on to inspire in return?
If you are pleased with the result, you could frame it and place it in your home as a reminder of your part in the flow of inspiration.
[contents]
chapter eight
Balance
“B-A-L-A-N-C-E…Balance!”
Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez, Highlander
Through the chapters of this book we have looked at the qualities of the seven points of the Faery Craft septagram: knowledge, connection, trust, honour, magick, joy, and inspiration. However, there is an eighth point, and that is the centre of the star. From the core we learn to keep all the above in balance in our lives, which all interrelate and complement each other.
The Core of the Septagram
We inform ourselves with knowledge, using our discernment to judge what is re
levant to our path and what increases our understanding of others and the world around us. Just as air feeds fire, knowledge feeds our inspiration and empowers our magick. When, through acquiring the proper knowledge of how to do so, we honour our otherworldly allies, we build strong connections with them and the world around us. Through this connection we build trust between us, and within trust may be found great joy.
From the central point of balance, which can only be found through a proper exploration and understanding of the seven points above, the path ahead becomes clear, and we may walk forward with our Faery allies in honour and joy, with trust in our connection, sharing the inspiration of our magick with the world, so that more and more may have the knowledge of the truth of Faery Craft.
Exercise: Walking the Septagram
Note that if walking outdoors is difficult, this may also be performed internally as a visualisation.
Find a large, even patch of ground outdoors where you can walk without fear of tripping or of being disturbed. Perform the Becoming the Faery Tree exercise on page 50 to ground yourself and connect with your surroundings. Breathe deeply and evenly, and calm your mind.
Faery Craft septagram
by Tamara Newman
(www.tamaranewman.com)
You are standing at the top point of the septagram, in the position of the sun and the direction of within. Feel the power of your inner light radiating from your centre. There is a sun above you, and there is a sun within you, your own divine light. This is where you carry your honour, which accompanies you always through your Faery Craft. Consider how the quality of honour manifests in your life and all you have learnt in the pages and exercises of this book. Take three deep breaths, breathing in the quality of honour and breathing out any dishonour that has been done to or by you during your life. Keeping the light of the sun and honour with you in your centre, move forward and to the right seven paces to the next point of the septagram, the moon. Turn to face the direction from whence you came.
The moon represents the below, what dwells beneath the surface both in the world around us and within us, and represents the quality of magick. Here is the sublunar realm and the source of Faery magick. Feel the power of the moon in your pelvic area. Take three deep breaths and consider the power of magick at work in your life and all you have learnt in the pages and exercises of this book. Breathe in the quality of magick and breathe out any memories of disenchantment in your life or the world around you. Carrying both honour and magick with you, step forward and to the right seven paces to the next point of the septagram, the stars. Turn to face the direction from whence you came.
The stars represent the quality of connection and the direction of above. Feel the power of the stars within your forehead and know that you are intrinsically connected not only to the world around you but to the cosmos. Take three deep breaths and consider the quality of connection at work within your life and all you have learnt in the pages and exercises of this book. Breathe in the quality of connection and breathe out any times of disconnection within yourself and the world. Carrying honour, magick, and connection with you, step forward and to the right seven paces a third time, to find yourself at the next point of the septagram, earth. Turn to face the direction from whence you came.
Earth comes from the direction of north and the quality of trust. Feel the power of earth within your flesh and bones. Consider your relationship with your Faery allies and all you have learnt in the pages of this book. Take three deep breaths, breathing in the quality of trust and breathing out any thoughts or memories of distrust and betrayal. Taking all the qualities this far with you, walk forward and to the right seven paces again, taking you to the next point of the septagram, air. Turn to face the direction from whence you came.
Air comes from the direction of east and the quality of knowledge. Feel the power of air within your breath. Consider your relationship with the quality of knowledge and all you have learnt in the pages of this book. Take three deep breaths, breathing in the quality of knowledge and breathing out any ignorance and misunderstanding of the past. Holding all the qualities so far within you, move forward and to the right seven paces again, to reach the next point of the septagram, fire. Turn to face the direction from whence you came.
Fire comes from the direction of south and is associated with the quality of inspiration. Feel the power of fire within the heat of your body and the electric signals that are constantly at work within you. Consider how you act upon inspiration in your life and what has inspired you within the pages of this book. How will you act upon this inspiration? Take three deep breaths, breathing in the quality of inspiration and breathing out any times of inaction or creative blockage. Holding awareness of all the qualities thus far within you, step forward and to the right seven paces to the last point of the septagram, water. Turn to face the centre of the septagram.
Water comes from the direction of west and represents the quality of joy. Feel the power of water within your body, within your riverlike veins, your blood, tears, sweat, and hormones. Consider the presence of joy in your life and what has brought you joy within the pages of this book. Take three deep breaths, breathing in the quality of joy and breathing out despair and boredom.
Now, holding all the qualities of honour, magick, connection, earth, air, fire, and water with you, step forward into the centre of the septagram. Feel all the qualities at work within your life and the world around you in balance. Take three deep breaths, breathing in the quality of balance and breathing out any imbalance or unwanted chaos.
Whilst in the centre, perform the Becoming the Faery Tree exercise once more to ground yourself, then reflect on your experience, walking back into everyday life with all the qualities of Faery Craft in balance within you.
[contents]
The Raven King’s Daughter
Once upon a time, be it long ago, this very moment, or perhaps in years to come, the Faery Court of the West was ruled by the wise and ancient Raven King. The Court of the East was ruled by the White Queen, who often walked the land in the form of a great white mare.
But twice a year, when the day and night were of equal length, the king and queen would meet at the boundary between their two lands, at the blessed mound of Silbury Hill. And there, while their clans celebrated in the halls beneath, the Raven King and the White Queen would meet in private at the top of the hill by silvery moon and discuss the fate of mankind.
The wisdom of the Raven King had kept the peace for many ages, but in the days we speak of, his patience was growing thin. No longer did it seem so wise to let the ills of man and their greedy deeds go unchecked, and yet the White Queen sang to him always of peace.
She loved the passion with which he raved, and he loved the beauty of her peaceful song, and between them, on a spring night, they made a daughter of true royal Faery blood, with the passion of her father and the beauty of her mother.
When the Raven King’s daughter had almost reached her bloom, she heard the ravings of her father and knew that his heart was at last determined upon war.
Placing her hand upon his heart, she pleaded with him to keep the peace.
“Father,” she urged, “to be sure, must we not know the truth of their hearts? Let me go amongst them and see whether I may learn it, for surely war is a dreadful thing!”
The king examined his daughter’s face.
“Are you so determined, my precious child? For you know that to fully enter the world of mortals, you must die to us and be reborn to them, and this you may do only four times, as the paths of the crossroads allow, before you return to us at last…”
“Father, I am determined,” she replied, “and willing to make this sacrifice for lasting peace.”
The Raven King could see the truth in his daughter’s eyes, and he knew there would be no dissuading her. And so it was that the Raven King devoured his daughter and went to the crossroads wher
e the worlds meet.
There, alongside the first path, he saw a silver fish swimming in the river, so he visited himself upon the fish, and the Raven King’s daughter was born into the world of man as a fish.
Her life as a fish was short, for as she swam to get near the first men she saw, she was caught in their nets and sold to market.
When her spirit returned to the land of Faery, her father asked, “Tell me, what have you learnt of the heart of man?”
The Raven King’s daughter replied, “Father, I have learnt of their greed, but I think I saw a tinge of regret in the eyes of the man who caught me. Please, Father, I must return again!”
So the Raven King devoured his daughter and returned to the crossroads where the worlds meet. There on the second path he saw a bird sitting high in the branches of a tree, so he visited himself upon it, and the Raven king’s daughter was born into the world as a bird. Her life as a bird was long, for she flew high above the world of man, who seemed barely to notice her at all, yet she saw all their quarrels and the devastating effects of their growth and destruction.
When her spirit returned to the land of Faery, her father asked again, “Tell me, what have you learnt of the heart of man?”
Faery Craft: Weaving Connections with the Enchanted Realm Page 23