The Witching Hour Chronicles
My name is Christine and on WHC I will talk all things spiritual!
The Witching Hour Chronicles
The Hidden Realm: Exploring Fairy Types You've Never Heard Of
The mysterious realm of fairies extends far beyond the popular winged beings of children's tales. Each culture across the world has developed its own unique fairy lore, with creatures ranging from helpful nature spirits to dangerous tricksters lurking in the shadows.
Continuing our exploration from the previous episode, we journey deeper into fairy typology, uncovering lesser-known beings that have shaped human folklore for centuries. We examine mine-dwelling Kobolds who play tricks on miners yet help during cave-ins, and the disturbing legend of Changelings – fairy children swapped for human babies that historically explained infant mortality and developmental differences. These stories reveal how our ancestors made sense of tragedy and misfortune through supernatural frameworks.
Nature-connected fairies feature prominently in our exploration: firefly-like Devas that guide medicinal plant seekers, Dryads so deeply bonded with their trees they perish when their tree dies, and the earth-connected Gnomes whose commercialized modern image barely resembles their Scottish origins. Water-dwelling creatures prove particularly fascinating, from the dolphin-befriending Seawater Guardians to the deadly Kelpies that shapeshift to lure victims into watery graves.
Most structured in fairy society are the opposing Seelie and Unseelie Courts – one comprised of beautiful, somewhat friendly fairies who appreciate beauty and serve as judges, the other containing dark, malevolent beings who practice black magic and kidnap humans to maintain their numbers. This duality reflects humanity's attempt to categorize the moral complexity found in nature itself.
Join us on this captivating journey through folklore as we examine Will-o'-wisps appearing as mysterious lights over water, and Bogarts, the result of mistreated household fairies who turn vengeful. These varied fairy types demonstrate how deeply intertwined fairy lore is with human experience – not just entertaining stories, but cultural tools that helped our ancestors navigate a world full of unexplained phenomena and natural dangers.
What fairy tale have you grown up with? Share your stories and follow us on social media to continue the conversation about these fascinating supernatural beings!
Sources: 25+ Types Of Fairies (Types Of Fae) From A-Z | Tea & Rosemary
Classifications of fairies - Wikipedia
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Welcome to the Witching Hour Chronicles. I'm your host, christine. I am seriously struggling tonight. This is my fourth attempt at recording and I think I am good. Okay, it's been a super long few days. Anyways, I have no updates podcast wise, except for the fact that I am going to try to schedule a time next week to record. With Casey we're going to do a part two of that superstition episode that we did a few weeks back. It's just kind of hard finding a time to record right now. We're both having some changes at work and having to do a little extra training wise and all that fun stuff. So what is going on with my computer? Tell you, struggle bus today, the heck. Anyways, I am going to continue with my fairy episode from last week.
Speaker 1:I got several more on my list and I left off with elves. That's what I did last. So the next on the list is a fairy called and I believe I'm not sure I'm saying this right but kobolds. They live in mines. There really haven't been too many sightings of kobolds, so it's hard to say exactly what they look like. They generally only interact with miners. They are known to be troublemakers and they tend to undo the progress that the miners are making. But if there happens to be a cave-in, they are known to actually help out the miners. They are known to actually help out the miners and that's really all that's known about kobolds. But it was on the list of the top different kind of fairies, so I just put it in there.
Speaker 1:The next one is a changeling, and I know this is definitely one that I've heard of and I know this is one a lot of people have heard of. So this is kind of. These are kind of scary. Actually they're not exactly a type of fairy or fae, but they have a legend in the fae world, I guess you can say. But according to legend, a changeling is a fairy child that has been swapped for a human child. The changeling grows up with human parents, but they don't necessarily appear like a normal child.
Speaker 1:Fairies swap babies for a few different reasons and each culture has its own stories to tell its own legend on why they're swapped. But it says that sometimes fairies will swap a sick fey child with a healthy human child. The fairy child will either die as an infant or will grow up to be just a sickly person as an adult. And these aren't typical fairies. They're not beautiful with fairy-like features, but they are just. Or they are beautiful with fairy-like features, but they are just. Or they are beautiful with fairy-like features but they are very unhealthy. Other fairy babies are swapped because the human child is beautiful and they feel their own baby is ugly. So they will sometimes swap out the baby to strengthen their bloodline if there's a sickness. And sometimes it's said that fairies will need a talent that only a human child possesses what that is, who knows? But it is said that changelings are actually very rare and that they rarely even exist anymore. Oh, this is funny because the article that I got this information out of says the development of technology has made the practice of swapping babies dangerous for fairies. Very interesting. It says if you encounter a changeling, you'll notice their fairy features, but they won't look like their parents and they will probably have some magical skills. They tend to have trouble fitting in socially because fairies don't really relate to people the way humans relate to people. It's like really unclear if they ever truly existed. But this was definitely a way to explain infant mortality rates in medieval times. So that is a changeling. And if you remember from last episode, it is said that the elves are the ones that take the changeling baby and swap it out with a human baby.
Speaker 1:Next on the list is well, it's D-E-V-A-S. Devas. These are small fairies that look almost like fireflies. They live in wooded areas, and it's said that you've probably even seen them without even realizing it. I mean, if they're very firefly-like Firefly-like I'm really having a hard time getting my words out today. They originated in Persia and Greece. They appear as bright orbs of light. They love being around plants that are really healthy and well cared for. They have been known to guide medical researchers or witches seeking to use plants for their medicinal qualities, but if a plant is dying or decaying, they won't stay near that plant, they'll move on.
Speaker 1:The next kind of fairy on the list is a dryad. These are types of fairies that are drawn to the trees. They are kind, they're. They're so tied to the trees that if a tree dies, they will die too. They don't typically travel too far from their trees that they're tied to, and they tend to be attached to one specific area and they will do everything they can to keep a tree alive. Guess. That's why they'll die if their tree dies. So they tend to be really attached to the humans who take care of trees.
Speaker 1:They can be a bit shy and if they see a human taking care of the environment and treating animals and nature well, they are more likely to open up and communicate. If you've noticed any trees in your yard or your area that look like they have a face on them, that is usually a tree that has a dryad attached to it, and you'll notice that those trees will have a different energy around it. Let's see it said that if they trust you and like the fact that you're taking care of the trees and with nature and all that, they will open up and start to communicate. And the best way to communicate with them is by you have to be touching the door and standing on the ground with bare feet. They communicate through the earth. They are said to be the sweetest type of fae. All right, the next one is gnomes. So gnomes are another one that have gotten popularity due to cartoons and stories.
Speaker 1:They originate in Scotland, they inhabit woodsy areas and they can also be in many parts of the US, is what this article says. They look like little dwarfs. They appear very old even when they're not, because they age very quickly. They wear pointed red hats with green or blue clothing. So look for them in natural areas, woodsy areas, and this is the first one that has had anything about their diet, but it says it just depends on what's around. They typically like fruits, vegetables, root vegetables, nuts, eggs, mushrooms. They're extremely connected with nature and all the earth elements, so anything that's related to the earth makes them more powerful. They are known to care for animals and they're natural healers, and that's what they use their power for is for animals and they're natural healers, and that's what they use their power for is for animals and plant life, and they will not use it for humans. They are very shy and cautious. They stay as far away from the can as humans, and that's mostly because they're so small.
Speaker 1:All right, we are on to seawater guardians. These little things are only a few inches tall and they guard the Irish sea, are sacred to the Irish sea. God Manan, I hope I'm saying that right. They tend to be surrounded by a greenish, blue light and you won't really see them with the naked eye, but you may. You won't see them, but you will see the light that they give off. They love storms, they love to surf the waves of the ocean, they are friends with dolphins and other sea creatures that are more intelligent. They, if a sea creature needs help, they always come to their aid. All kelpie, so it says.
Speaker 1:Kelpies are ugly, scary water fairies. They are thought to be cannibals and carnivorous. In Irish and Scottish legend, kelpies eat deer off the shoreline, but they also eat other types of fairies and even humans. Male kelpies can be shapeshifters and they can turn into handsome young men to lure young women into the water, and they will trap them or they will consume them. Okay, I'm sorry, I'm not going to go. You're a hot young guy. I'm going to follow you into the water. No, thank you, but that's probably because I'm scared of the water too. So, anyways, let's see. But that's probably because I'm scared of the water too. So anyways, let's see. Kelpies are often seen in the form of a horse, but they, because they never reveal their true form. You can find them in oceans, rivers and streams. Some kelpies are even thought to be like classic scary monsters. One example the Loch Ness Monster. Let's see.
Speaker 1:I'm skipping the next one on the list because I have a friend that wants to cover this in an episode with me, and these are mermaids. So I'm going to skip this and I'm going to have a whole episode on mermaids with a guest, anyway, so I'm skipping that. On to the next, salamanders. These are connected to some of the strongest elements. They embody the spirit of fire, but they do come to aid for humans and witches in the area. They can be very mischievous, so before you ask them for any help, you need to be aware that they are just mischievous and they can get upset if they feel they have been, if they've been wronged in any ways, and they can cause a lot of trouble. Wow, this is a lot.
Speaker 1:My next one is sealy court. Sealy court is one of see it said. It's really well known in fairy lore, but I've never heard of this. So, but I've never really studied fairies until now. So they are good fairies and they act as judges in fairy disputes. They are typically seen at twilight because that's when they conduct their trials. They're they're like when they're all at court. You typically see them during spring and summer, and here comes my dog to come join me, oh, and the little dog too, which means they broke down the gate at the top of the stairs Again. Anyways, they are known to enjoy beautiful things. They love stunning dresses, beautiful clothes, they love delicate flowers and they love to dance. Um, and the Seelie Court is made up of all the most beautiful types of fairies.
Speaker 1:Most of these fairies in the court are said to be somewhat friendly to humans. They have been known to seek help from humans, but they can also be mischievous, like any other kind of fairy. They play tricks and like to get their revenge if they feel they've been wronged in any way, but they are known to be the good counterpart of the unseelie court. They are known to fight each other and they're like complete opposites, so they tend to avoid each other. The next one is a selkie.
Speaker 1:A selkie is a type of fey that has the ability to change from a seal into a human. They occupy the seas near Iceland, even though you can't really know their exact location, because they're in the water and they're always moving. They take form from gray seals to great seals while in the sea, but they can also appear as a human woman or just a classic fairy. They tend to come out on more important, like seasonal days, such as Midsummer's Eve. It's said that they often well, not often, but occasionally mate with human men. Some tales say that a man can get married to a selkie if he finds her seal skin on the beach and hides it from her, but she will turn to the sea once she finds it. That is really fucking weird too.
Speaker 1:Anyways, the next one on the list is a will-o-wisp. So this is a type of fey that is seen on a body of water at night. They look like a small fiery light or a flickering light. These and they've been seen across the world and of course they're named other things in different cultures, and they typically appear in groups, so it might just seem like a bunch of flickering lights. They like calm waters, so they're more commonly found on lakes or ponds. Sometimes, but not as often, they're found in wooded areas or like grassy hills. They often appear as lights or like grassy hills. They often appear as lights. Some people believe that they are lanterns carried by fairies. All right.
Speaker 1:And the next one on the list is the unseelie court. These are the darker part of the seelie court. They are made up of many different types of fairies. They are thought they're made up of many different types of fairies. They are thought to be ugly and hideous and kind of scary because they are dark fairies. Also lost spirits. They tend to be most active during autumn, which is when Halloween is, or the winter months.
Speaker 1:Dark magic is often used in the Unseelie Court. Dark magic is often used in the Unseelie court. They're often known to work with witches who do black magic. If they make a deal with a human, that deal almost never works out for the human. It is very wise for humans to actually stay far away from the Unseelie court. It's said that it's impossible to get along with them and they are made angry very, very easily. The word unseelie translated to unblessed, and they're dark, dangerous and evil. They are known to travel at night on the wind they can't reproduce, so they're said to steal humans and force them into to join the court in order to keep their numbers up. That's why it said that travelers should not go through the woods at night.
Speaker 1:All right, and the very last on my list is a Bogart. A Bogart is generally thought to be a brownie turned bad. Modern day Bogarts will haunt a home or an area such as a trunk or a closet and just pretty much cause problems throughout the house. And the way the way the brownie turns into about Bogart is when they're treated badly, it can make the brownie act out and over time this is what they turn into, which means they are attached to the house that they stay in for the sole purpose of causing problems. They are very mischievous. They tend to be pranksters and just find joy in playing tricks on humans and scaring them. And that is all I have on fairies.
Speaker 1:I hope you all really liked that information. I thought it was interesting. Look for Superstitions Part 2 next week. That should be fun. Keep your fingers crossed that I'm able to find a time to record with Casey. If you get onto my website, which there's a link in the show notes and you click on the support tab, you can support the podcast for as little as $3 a month. I still only have one supporter, so please, please, please, help me out. It'll keep this podcast going and it will be greatly, greatly appreciated. Um, you can follow me on Facebook, instagram. Uh, tiktok threads I don't think I'm forgetting anything. Get on Spotify, give me a five-star rating and follow. Um, don't forget to tell your friends about this show. You guys are all awesome and, as always, you know. If you have any ideas for a future episode, let me know. You can email me. You can get a hold of me on social media. Yeah, but I think that is all I have. Good night, I'm sorry you.