Great Encyclopedia of Faeries

Introduction Invitation to the Isles of Happiness My tresses will remain with you; the flowers are "thoughts": the forget-me-not, the buttercup, the little roses are my childhood and they symbolize it: daisies for the purest and most beautiful character.(Melanie,Saskia) So here are the Faeries, captured on the page. But "capture" might be misleading to describe this repository of Beautiful Beings. Let us say it is a book in which they will come and wander. An endless path leading from one world to another, with countless alleyways, resting-places and groves where one can learn to get to know each one better. A ritual passage, a spiritual politeness before the engagement. May each page be "climbed" as a stile would be.This is only a suggestion, because it is always the Wild Ladies who decide and unwind the distaff of our expectations; for our dreams are only a reflection of the sparkling, efflorescent wreath of their own. But these blossoms of star dust lighting up the paths are enough for a nosegay of wonders gathered in these gardens. Of course, this implies a conquest of the heart, an allegiance to faerie enchantment, and the disappearance of any resistance on our part against falling under the spell of their songs.Having reached the distant shores, we are met with lights and shadows. To walk with the Faeries is to learn to lose oneself. The imps have contributed greatly to this. They tease and play constantly without keeping count, a generous attitude. And yet, nothing can ever be taken for granted. Without warning, the edges of the forests recede into the distance, the bridge crumbles and words remain suspended for an instant before dissolving, or flying away; but this does not displease them, because words are often on the side of the Faeries.We believe that they are obedient and amenable, that they will repeat and describe the voices and the images of the unlocked kingdom, that linked together they will weave a passage between the banks; but even a spider's web is far stronger, because words may break up and lose the power of their meaning. I have the impression that I spoke of something very similar when I wrote the introduction toLe Monde des Petites Noblesses.I shall probably do so again, because magic thoughts ricochet repeatedly, sewing their white pebbles along the meandering curves of their course, and repeating themselves until the meaning is only a rumor, a call picked up while listening for an echo.It might perhaps be desirable to throw these thoughts into "their" petrifying source, in the secret hope that they might acquire a solid form, thus forever fixing a fluctuating mirage into calcareous concretions; but the Nymphea fountain remains hidden from view and it eludes us. To reach it, the only way is to retrace our first childhood footsteps, towards the edge of the original dawns.It is always possible to come to an arrangement with an imp -- with a fair exchange, for instance, such as a pinch of snuffing exchange for a confidence, a somersault, a witty remark, or a way of dressing; the deal is done and that's that. Apart from angering them, or happening to come across a particularly unpleasant character, a foul-mouthed little midget, sprites are relatively easy to approach, though minor difficulties may always occur. But different qualities are needed when dealing with Faeries. Faerieland cannot be entered by jumping over the fence. It can only be reached through adventure, trials, enchantment, spells, or love. It is a perilous renunciation, a choice that permits no weakness: the "faerie thought" is a completely "different thought." The soul of the visitor is left behind so as to acquire another, but the soul that has been affected by Faeries no longer belongs in the ordinary mortal world. It has to be said that there is no going back...With Faeries, it is not a matter of making promises; itDubois, Pierre is the author of 'Great Encyclopedia of Faeries' with ISBN 9780684869575 and ISBN 0684869578.