A Tribe of Faeries

I’m prepping for FaerieCon and it’s very exciting. This is my first time to have a booth of my own. Usually, at festivals and faires, I sit in somebody else’s booth and sign books for a couple of hours, then roam for the rest of the time. I’ve actually had customers and booth owners track me down to purchase books, whilst I was flitting about like a playful little faerie. I’ve had booths occasionally – at the KVMR Celtic Music Festival and the Women’s Spirit Summer Solstice Festival, however, I’ve always shared a booth with others, so that way I could continue to frolic, share costs, and not get that “desperate vendor look” – you know the one. This time, I’m making a big ole’ banner (actually my friend Jenny is painting me a silk banner) and then I’m decorating the booth – ALL BY MYSELF! I also decided that “just five books” would be boring in a booth, so I’m making new products: Seasonal Altar Scarves, Magick Mirrors, and Naughty Faerie Spoons. So what do I do? Go into panic, worrywart mode, just like a good Cappy girl.

FaerieCon is a convention of fantasy, folklore, myth, magic, and of course, faeries. It’s held in downtown Philadelphia – the heart of America’s genesis as a free nation – amongst the tall, intricately carved buildings guarded by gargoyles and images of founding fathers. Having raised the power of magick and light in our homes and festivals across the country, we descend upon the concrete jungle with glitter and faerie dust to send waves of magick, possibility, mysticism and fae energy to emanate from this epicenter. Usually faeries are associated with nature and not often considered to be at home in an urban setting. But what better place to bring the sensuality of toes in the dirt, the caress of soft breezes or a trickling stream than to the birthplace of one of the world’s modern powers? Surrounded by the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’ Home, Ben Franklin’s gravesite, the courage and independence to find freedom is exactly what the fae folk need to help us connect more deeply with Mother Nature, each other, and ourselves.

The costumes are amazing, the creativity inspiring and the camaraderie most inviting. While at the Good and Bad Faerie Balls, I hung out with my long time fae sister, Lisa Steinke, and met new fae friends such as Giovanna Adams, Susan Schroeder, Kelly Miller Lopez and Jessica Galbreth, as well as Sarah and Jane, whose last names elude me. Faery festivals can zap the mind while invoking playful ire into every corner.

You must be willing to let go of all expectations when you go to a faerie festival, convention or gathering. This has traditionally been difficult for me. I’m a writer after all with an overactive imagination who plans out everything in minute and perfect detail. But despite all my careful visualization work, the law is that you never know what kind of energy you’ll get, whether playful and light-hearted or deep and soul-searching. The blessing is that with each faerie event, I grow less and less attached to my expectations. Perhaps I’m learning that even though it may not be what I planned, when producers Kelly, Emilio and Robert invoke the faeries, magick arises that is quite healing and profound.

Being around so many people who believe in magick and fantasy is so comforting. To be surrounded by your tribe empowers and emblazons you to stand in your light and shine all your unique and most beautiful power. This conference and its sister FaerieWorlds in Eugene, Oregon enfolds you around others who seek profound connection with the elements, the spirit of Mother Earth and the healing that comes with deep, reverent relation with nature and each other.

So are you gonna come play with me or what?