#the crann of the fae

[snailygoon]

Spread 2: ✨What are Faerie?✨

TEXT: “Those of us who grew up in Ireland are no stranger to the tales of Faerie folk. The Otherworld of magic bustling right under the noses of oblivious humans, where nothing is certain and all things are possible. They are creatures made up of the raw and unbridled forces of nature, with temperaments, values, and customs incomprehensible to the likes of us humans. Faerie are just as elusive as they are unpredictable, more often than not being very well camouflaged and having the ability choose when and by whom they will be seen.

Many people who go their entire lives digging around in gardens and turning over rocks in search of them usually come back with nothing more than dirty boots and disappointment, which honestly might be best in some cases depending on the intentions of the individual. For although the rewards of the Faerie world are plentiful, the consequences of a Faerie offended are far greater.

But who am I to say anything about the people who don't take every necessary precaution when entering the domain of the Fae? I still find myself running into the forest with reckless abandon, and it was that very habit that led me directly into their path. Stupid, I know. But hey, one doesnt necessarily ever expect to be quite literally hoasted off the ground directly into the giant palm of a Faerie on her daily escape to her treehouse! Now you might argue I should’ve expected as much, considering Fae tend to be drawn in by large displays of emotion, and I was crying that time around.. To which I would counter argue that this wasnt the first time I’d ran crying into the woods, and although the idea of a possible Faerie encounter was always on the back of my mind, I still wasn’t mentally prepared. Luckily for me, that particular Fae would go on to became my closest friend, Aiden, who just so happens to be a part of the race of Fae I would come to most intimately Know.”

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[breaniebree]

A mix of images -- my sad homemade drawing to explain it, but this is kind of a how I imagine Bones’ image.  The tree would go where the fountain is in the atrium and that wall on the other side, surrounding the arched hallway would be all greenery with the rock water fountain lingering down the wall, maybe the stones are also engraved with the words: Witch, Wizard, Fae, Wolf, etc.  The water itself would run from the wall and around the room culminating under the tree in the centre, maybe little bridges on either side to allow people to cross easily... Been working on it for literally ever.

Chapter 227 [Excerpt]...

Lights erupted as an image of a beautiful fountain began to unveil itself.

“As Minister Bones has stated, she wants the fountain to represent what our world should stand for, and what we ultimately hope it will become in the coming months.  We began with the idea of the Celtic Tree of Life.  Going back to the CBC, which was formed to help write, discuss, and create Bill E72-WD9, otherwise known as the Phoenix Initiative.  Brigit, King Taliesan’s Mage of the Court of Tara and a known scholar of fae history, gave the original idea.  If you recall, she suggested the name Crann Bethadh Cabinet otherwise known as the CBC, meaning Tree of Life Cabinet.  Brigit told us that the Tree of Life explains how we in the world are connected.  Each of us represents a root in the tree that connects to the greater good of the world, which can be symbolized as the trunk.  It is our duty to work together and to branch out from that trunk, to grow our roots into branches to come together for one bright new future.  That’s what we want to do with this new fountain.”

Bones smiled and stood up.  “Thank you, Mr Jacoby.  Daniel Jacoby is my secretarial assistant.  As he explained, I want to use the symbol of the Tree of Life.  As you can see in the image before you, the tree is an oak.  Oak represents strength, morale, resistance, and knowledge — four important words that I think should represent our Ministry.  This new statue will be more than just marble and stone, but it will come to life.  I want to plant an oak tree in the atrium.  To let its roots take hold in the earth, grow into the walls around it and to fill our Ministry with life.  The Tree of Life itself represents warmth and shelter.  We will plant it within a stone basin, as if the tree is emerging from the pot and symbolizing Mother Earth, the source that nourishes all forms of life and provides us with balance and harmony.  I chose the ancient element of the earth because she symbolizes wisdom, strength, and longevity.  As Jacoby said, the roots represent our connection to the greater good of the world, but roots penetrate deep into the earth, stretch up into the branches that grow into the sky reflecting endurance, growth, and nobility.  Carved into the trunk of the tree will be Celtic knots, specifically the triquerta and dara knots interwoven within the wood and within the branches.  Knots have no beginning and no end, which symbolizes eternity and the timelessness of nature.”

Jacoby waved his wand and the image of the tree magnified to show the individual branches and roots.

“And most importantly, to represent our community, each branch will bear a symbol of our allies.  Witch.  Wizard.  Wolf.  Fae.  Vampire.  Veela.  Goblin.  Leprechaun.  Merpeople.  Centaur.  Elf.  Gnome,” Bones finished, her eyes on the image of the fountain.  “Because each of us, like the roots of the tree, are all connected: By magic, by life, by alliance, and by growth.  It is only with each root can the tree grow to be something more, something bigger.  For if you cut away the roots, the tree will die and the branches will wither.  The Ministry of Magic is the Tree of Life, and we are the roots.”

Theo raised his wand into the air, her words sending a thrill through him that he couldn’t quite explain.  

“Lord Norfolk,” Dumbledore said, nodding at him.

“Madam Minister, that is an incredibly beautiful concept and I would be so proud to see that displayed in our Ministry.”

Bones beamed at him.  “Thank you.  I want to build around the tree as part of the pot, a marble and stone fountain.  One half will be the Celtic sun, representing healing and fertility, to show that we’re growing.  The other half will be the Celtic crescent moon, representing the ever changing and recurring symbol of life.  The fountain will be full of water which is our life force.  Carved above and around the fountain will be the words of Hermes Trismegistus, the Greek wizard famed for his philosophy: As above so below, as within so without, and as the universe so the soul.”

“We are all one,” Jacoby claimed, his eyes on the fountain.

“Around the fountain, we will form a small garden,” Bones continued.  I want the space to be calming, to be an area where we can admire it, take a moment to breathe, to think, to feel… this will be an important cosmetic change to the atrium of the Ministry, but I think what it represents makes all the difference: Strength, morale, resistance, knowledge, warmth, shelter, protection, balance, harmony, wisdom, longevity, endurance, growth, nobility, eternity, timelessness, healing, fertility, and most importantly — life.  We are fighting for life.  All of us.  And it’s about time that we have a Ministry willing to do that.”

[honeylikewords]

Oh. My. God. So i started learning Gaelic on Duolingo (pray for me). And i just got slapped in the face by my friend who was like, imagine David teaching you Gaelic while you teach him English. Imagine Highlander AU! David who has a farm going and loves those really pretty highland cows who have lovely eyelashes, and makes his own butter and wears a kilt 👀💯👌 and David and his lady love sit on a hillside and tell stories about forest fey and say pretty words of love in both languages 💞💓

Pt.2 And then theyre both excited to be learning together and she points at a potato and shes like "buntàta!" And David looks at her all rosey cheeked like, yes little bear thats a potato im so proud of you, youre doing so well 💞💓

Aww! I’m so glad you’re learning a new language! Languages can always be hard, but I have confidence that you’ll do well! Plus, it’s a great way to spend your time and keep your brain flexible (especially now, during quarantine)! Do let me know how it’s going as you head along on your linguistic journey!

And this is a really sweet idea! I love people using their own unique languages and backgrounds to build their relationship!

But I think there’s been a little bit of confusion; David is Irish, not Scottish, and Gaelic traditionally refers to the Scottish language. Kilts are typically associated with the Scottish (though the Irish do have them!), Highland cows are Scottish, and “the Highlands” (and, thus, the title of “Highlander”) refer to the Scottish Highlands. 

Scotland and Ireland are actually two separate areas, with Ireland being a separate island slightly to the west and south of Scotland! 

Pilgrimage takes place in Ireland (though I can’t quite recall which exact area the movie is set in, it says that the movie was filmed largely on the West Coast of Ireland, such as Galway and Mayo, which seems to me to be rather distant from Scotland), so I assume the characters depicted are Irish (though, since David is kind of mysterious in his origin in the film, it’s perfectly reasonable to suggest he could come from somewhere else!).

While the two languages do have a lot of overlap and come from similar roots as Goidelic languages, they are considered to be rather distinct! Since you reference “buntàta”, I’m guessing you’re referring to Scottish Gaelic!

I will admit that from what I have read, “Gaelic” can refer to both languages, at times, since they have some transfer between one another, and many outsiders (myself included!) can have difficulty tracing what came from where, who holds claim to what, et cetera, and because “Gaelic” also refers to the overall of anything that is descended from the Gaels. There’s a lot of discussion about which terms mean what and who gets referred to as what, so I’ll leave that specificity to people who actually are Irish, Scottish, or have studied the topic more intensively than I.

But I will say that what I know from my time in the UK (and being in Scotland) is that the Scottish and Irish people do have completely distinct cultures, very, VERY much do not enjoy being conflated as one identity, and are very protective of being seen as separate, unique peoples. 

So while I do agree that the Highlands are very romantic (I’ve been, and it’s lovely!), and David would do well in such an area, for the sake of keeping David distinctly Irish, maybe we can rework some of these ideas for romanticizing the Irish countryside and Irish languages!

He could definitely have a lovely farm in Ireland, and I imagine he loves cows! Cows and horses, specifically, because he’s a big fan of the larger animals that he can steer around and herd, likely with a nice, big dog by his side. I think he farms sheep, cows, horses, a few chickens, but no pigs (he can’t stand pigs, not even to eat, excepting a few rare occasions when he’ll accept a slab of smoked bacon at market), and loves to take care of his herds and flocks as best as he can.

He’s quite good at making butter because of his upper arm strength and patience, so he can just sit there for hours, working the cream and the churn, just utterly silent. Someone who didn’t know him might find it offputting or creepy, the way he can just zone out and churn for hours in complete silence, but his beloved knows that, yep, that’s just him relaxing! He’s probably thinking about his favorite cow, or what he’s going to eat for dinner, or about how nice it’ll be to cuddle tonight when he gets back to bed and is able to rest with his lovely one.

I like to think that the days he takes “off” (in quotes because, really, you can’t take a real holiday from a farm, since those animals need feeding and watering and walking and milking, and there are always daily chores) are Sundays and church holidays, but, every now and then, he can be convinced to get all his chores done early in the morning, leaving a day for him and his sweet one to do anything they like, whether that’s going into town (very rare, since David isn’t very fond of town) or just having a stroll together through the hills, through the fields, off in their own little world.

David likes when she talks as they walk, letting her just chatter and following the drift and flow of her thoughts, streaming like a pleasant, bubbling river that carries them both along. They walk arm in arm, and every now and then, David will stop and point at something-- a bird, a stone, a tree, a wandering deer-- and raise an eyebrow at his sweetheart, which she knows is his wordless probing to ask her to tell him the name of the object in Irish Gaeilge. 

She’ll pause and chew her lip, looking at where his large finger is pointing, and take a moment before giving her answer-- éan, cloch, crann, or fia, for example-- and if she has answered correctly, he’ll give her one of his sweet, shy smiles, the ones that crinkle his eyes and hide his lips behind his beard, cheeks rounded up, eyes reflecting just a light glitter of happiness. If he’s in an especially good mood or she’s answered a particularly obscure question, he might bend down and kiss her temple, beard tickling her face as he nuzzles into her hair.

David likes to help her climb up the hillside, since so many can be so dreadfully steep, and it’s so cute to see her try to scrabble her way up the side of the hill and then need to hold onto him for support. Once they’re both safely at the top, David will sit himself down in the tall grass, guiding her to sit on his sturdy lap and gaze out over the countryside, all verdant and sprawling. The wind will whistle through the trees and past their ears, and David might find himself humming along, his voice low and rumbling in his chest and carrying into her back as she leans against him. 

He holds her hand and waits, resting his chin on her shoulder, keeping her held warm and cozy against his large form. He doesn’t always know what he’s waiting for, but he waits, regardless, and something lovely always shows itself, reveals in response to his patience. 

Sometimes, it’s a sudden burst of sunshine-- the clouds parting overhead, showering glowing light down on the shimmering green hills and fields-- or a flock of birds tittering out in the fields, or her, his love, turning around in his lap and burying her face in the crook of his neck, or gazing into his eyes and playfully rubbing her nose against the lumpy, broken bridge of his, hovering her warm lips over his to ever-so-sweetly tease him into leaning forward and giving her a kiss, hungry and impatient, in contrast to his usual self-control.

Once in a while, they’ll bring along a basket of food, often much larger than what would normally be brought on a picnic due to David’s ravenous appetite, and a book for her to read aloud, perched on David’s knee as he chews on a  sandwich and listens intently. 

He likes for her to read fairytales or stories from the countryside, but doesn’t mind, the occasional turn of something dramatic; he’s let her read him ghost stories or tales of woe, though he sometimes gets bored of the dull and dreary tone and waits for an especially tense moment of the story and scares her by grabbing her waist abruptly and going “boo!” in her ear in that deep voice of his, making her shriek and flap around in his lap (which, of course, leads him to letting out a rough, heavy laugh and squeezing her close, kissing her cheeks in apology). 

But when she reads stories of princesses and noble knights, or maidens fair and lovely, he looks at her with adoring eyes and knows that the holds his own little princess on his lap, and that he’d slay any dragon, swim any sea, trick any fae to be able to come home to her every single day.

He’s always proud of her, always.

I love this idea and I do hope you send in more adorable things like this! 

[eclipse-star-and-stang]

🌳The World Tree & Tree of life 👇🏻⠀ ⠀ The tree of Life has been found in art from before the Bronze Age- frequently popping up in cultures from around the world, and ties in closely with animistic and early polytheistic cultures, but survives into modern monotheism. ⠀ Some of the major differences are whether the tree itself depicted is an evergreen, or as a seasonal tree, and if it's a nodule based tree. We see the evergreen and nodule based trees mostly in the east, which is also where the Kabbalah's tree of life would have originated- which makes sense considering the nodule like the design. ⠀ The seasonal trees are seen more in Europe.⠀ ⠀ It operates mostly as the connector between the worlds, and in Europe is seen as the symbol of rebirth because of the way as a tree comes back to life every spring. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Many ancient cultures continued to work with the concept of the world tree- a famous example being that a tree was planted when the land was cleared. In Ireland, this was specifically known as Crann Bethadh.⠀An honouring and the bringing in of the rebirthing cycle. ⠀ ⠀ Much folklore is centred around using trees to enter into the realm of fae. We have the folk tales of people falling asleep under an oak to awaken in the realm of fae, and people hanging from trees to gain trance to traverse the realms. ⠀ This tree of life and it's 'shamanistic' roots have certainly influenced animistic traditional witchcraft traditions. Many traditions use the staff, or stang, to use it in much the same way as the tree of life. Connections to the worlds above and below, and connection to the four directions. (And occasionally to the realms between too)⠀ ⠀ I talk more about this in my stang posts I've done recently! ⠀ °⠀ °⠀ °⠀ °⠀ °⠀ °⠀ °⠀ #shaman #shamanism #animism #heathenry #heathen #celtic #polytheism #worldtree #treeoflife ⠀ #pagan #pagansofinstagram #paganism #paganwitch #earthspirituality #pagancommunity #mystics #druidry #druid #polytheist #traditionalwitchcraft #traditionalwitch #cochrane #stang ⠀ Remember to follow me on Instagram to keep updated and also unique Instagram-only competitions! http://bit.ly/2Wb5NIV

[snailygoon]

The Faerie Journalist ✨

a piece inspired by my favorite Norman Rockwell painting “girl running with wet canvas” ft. my good time girl Aiva, and a Yew tree Faerie.

[snailygoon]

I don’t know why I’ve avoided posting my thesis work on here for over a year now. These characters mean the world to me, and sharing my love for them with people who are willing to indulge in their magical little universe is a lovely bonus, so share it I must~ This is the book jacket, inspired by the gorgeous and intricately detailed art from irish illuminated manuscripts. I’ll be posting it in parts, but you can see the whole thing on my portfolio site. Here’s a little description to kick things off:

“Do you ever wonder what goes on in the Faerie realm that seems to exist all around us, and yet right beyond the veil of our perception? So does Aiva Abara, a 19 year old aspiring nature conservationist from kilkenny Ireland. This journal documents her experiences that came from becoming acquainted with the Faerie who dwell in the forest around her home. More specifically the Crann Fae: a race of tree Fae who serve as guardians of the natural world, and who are just as mysterious and majestic as the trees they are born from.”

(Next spread >>>)

[snailygoon]

Spread 8: ✨The Oak • Crann Dair Ghaelach✨

MAIN TEXT: “The Oak of the Crann are a courageous and noble lot, tasked with physically defending the forest and the Fae world by any means necessary. Although it's accepted amongst the Crann that humans will often fell trees for practical use, the Oak Crann don’t take Kindly to those who enter their home with more nefarious intent. I’ve heard tales of foresters who bit off more than they could chew either disappearing without a trace, being found struck by lightring, or whose remains were found brutally crushed in the woods. I can only assume that it was at the hands (or the branches) of the Oak Crann. They have the ability to summon and subdue storms, sending particularly nasty ones over the nearby towns whenever construction sites get uncomfortably close to the forest's border. They can grow anywhere between 66 to 132 feet tall, and are among some of the oldest of the Elder Crann.”

NOTE 1: “ The view from up here is great, unless there’s a storm nearby. The Oaks may be used to the strikes but I’m certainly not!”

NOTE 2: “ The Druids believed the Oaks hosted the strength of the gods, and that catching their falling leaves would bring good fortune.”

NOTE 3: “Oaky here made an axe out of a tree some knob cut down for fun. She’s pretty determined to return the favor if they come back for more.”

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[snailygoon]

“THE CRANN OF THE FAE” Spread 1 : ✨introductions✨

MAIN TEXT: “HELLO ME! Or who I can only assume is me, considering that this is my journal. But if for some mysterious reason this highly valuable tome of knowledge has fallen into the hands of a stranger (and not the more likely scenario where it was snatched by the pixies that keep raiding my treehouse) then hello you! When I decided to write this new journal, I hadn't really considered that the knowledge it will contain might one day find its way into the hands of another. But if that be the case, I feel like some context, and maybe a proper introduction would be a helpful start.

My name is Aiva Abara, and this is my book of wonders. I grew up on a small farm in County Kilkenny, Ireland, and have always felt especially drawn to nature. Not surprisingly considering that most of my childhood was spent stumblin' about the forests surrounding my home and tending to the animals on the farm. For all I know I might’ve been under the Faeries spell for most of my life, my parents sometimes joking that I might be a changeling…although that was quite the astute observation on their part, I was most likely just what I like to call a “bug Kid": meaning the kind of kid that grew up covered in dirt, converting hollow stumps into makeshift cauldrons, and quite honestly wreaking havoc over my backyard. It's in these things that I find my comfort, endlessly fascinated by the ever changing and unpredictable nature of the forest and its inhabitants. I guess I'll never know if that unnamable force that's kept me wrapped around natures finger my whole life was due to me actually being a changeling, or maybe the work of Faeries whispering subliminal messages into my ears as a child. I am currently studying to become a nature conservationist, so ya know? Fair play Faeries…”

CURSIVE NOTE: “ it’s said that a mortal who carries a four leaf clover is able to see past the magic that renders the Fae invisible”

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[snailygoon]

Spread 11: ✨The Ash and Rowan • Crann Fuinseoige agus Crann Caorthainn✨

MAIN TEXT: “Being in the same family, the Ash and Rowan Crann have many similar qualities. They can often be found quietly guarding old holy wells or sacred springs, sometimes speaking to something in the water that I can't quite see.”

NOTE 1 : “stoic and protective in nature, it’s thought that if you place the berries from these trees in the cradle of a newborn, they have the ability to ward off malicious Fae from swapping the child with a changeling.”

NOTE 2: “It was believed by the Druids that if harm were to come to either of these trees, the perpetrator would find Themself the victim of unpleasant supernatural consequences…”

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[snailygoon]

Spread 6: ✨AIDEN✨

TEXT: “So how exactly did I come to meet Aiden, you might ask? And what makes him the most wonderful bloke you’ll ever have the honor of being hoisted twenty feet in the air by? First of all, he’s gorgeous. Just look at him! Absolute class. Second of all, he's the most gentle and caring being that walks the earth. Backtracking a bit to that whole crying and running into the woods fiasco I mentioned before, Aiden just so happened to be in a similar situation that day; our paths crossing in an attempt to escape our problems. Noticing my frantic state, and being well aware of the dangers of the forest, he impulsively swept me off the ground and into his palm. I won't lie, I was about ready to shite my soul in fear, but something about the look in his eye calmed me instantly. In a moment of understanding, all our differences became irrelevant, and suddenly we were just two kids in desperate need of a friend. Immediately noticing his cornucopia of a crown, I commented on his spectacular taste in fashion (I didn't know it was quite literally a part of his head. I was 12. leave me alone) and he proceeded to take me around the forest so I could make a crown of my own, all so we could cheer each other up. Since then we’ve been inseparable, and I honestly couldn’t imagine life any other way. Aiden has reminded me of the ways in which we are all intrinsically connected to the forces of nature and each other, exposing me to his world where even the biggest and smallest of Fae and fauna are no lesser or greater than one another. In turn I've gotten to introduce him to my world, showing him the wonderful and bizarre things that have come out of humanity. Things he longed to know, considering the circumstances of his creation. At the end of the day we’re just two souls who once felt like they would never find their place in the world, and then just so happened to find it in each other.”

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[snailygoon]

Spread 10: ✨The Birch • Crann Beithe✨

TEXT: “Seemingly in a constant state of celebration, the melodic tunes these Crann can often be heard playing and the jovial dancing that accompanies it can raise the most wilted of plants, and even protect against misfortune. Ordinary Birch trees are still used to start fires and make Maypoles for the old Celtic holiday of Beltane. Dancing around the pole during this festival of new beginnings was said to ensure plentiful crops, fertility and the coming of summer. This only makes more sense now that I know the Crann who may have encouraged such a celebration in the first place. My proximity to the Fae has made it easier to spot them joining in on the fun each year. I hope I'm not the only one who gets to witness their boundless talents.”

NOTE: “ The leaves of the average birch can be brewed into a tea with natural antibiotic qualities… would it be weird if I asked to try it?”

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[snailygoon]

spread 4: ✨Aiden and the Birth of a Crann✨

TEXT: “It's only right that the first Crann I introduce you to is Aiden. He was the one who formally introduced me to the world of Faerie after all, and he's nothing short of magnificent. Throughout this journal I will be talking about the different species of Crann I’ve met mostly in general terms (if I were to describe them all individually this journal might never end), but in the case of Aiden that isn’t really possible. To understant what I mean I must first tell you about the birth of a Crann, as explained to me by the Fae themselves. Although they are not immortal beings, their lives can span centuries, making it unnecessary for them to reproduce often. But when it does come time for a new Crann to be brought into this world, it's quite the ceremonious event. Every hundred years or so the elder Crann of the forest are gathered together and a tree sapling is selected by a group of elemental Fae to be nutured with magic. This jovial ceremony full of dancing and singing can span for days, Faeries of all kinds gathering together to witness the birth of a new guardian. Although the Crann live in harmony amongst each other, they each have abilities unique to their species and certain ecosystems in which they thrive. This means the newborn Crann are then given to whichever group they belong to, whether it be Yew, Hazel, Ash, etc., in order to learn the ways of their kind. This was not the case for Aiden.”

"Many years ago a botanist facinated by the idea of bending nature to his will was experimenting with tree grafting. He was attempting to create a chimera that embodied as many of Irelands native trees as he could, testing the limits in which nature could be manipulated by his hand. His attempts proved fruitless and he abandoned his failed experiment in the forest, neglected and dying. There it was found by some garden Faeries who were very intrigued by this curious little sapling. Unable to resist caring for the peculiar sprout, the Faeries began nursing it back to health, unintentionally imbuing the sapling with the same magic that would normally be reserved for the birth of a Crann. By the time they noticed their mistake it was too late. They shuttered at the thought of having to summon the Elder Crann to see what they had done, but not more than they reveled in the idea of causing a bit of trouble for them as well. The newborn was then plucked from the earth and presented to the Crann who had been summoned from every reach of the forest, much to their confusion. To say they were bewildered by this sickly sapling's appearance would be an understatement. Deformed, pale, and incredibly skinny, he was far smaller than any newborn Crann before him. He displayed a confusing mishmash of almost all the forest's trees combined, the likes of which the Crann had never seen, nor fathomed. His one large eye glistened with wonder, mushrooms and tree bark twisting over where the other eye was never able to fully grow. Even his mouth was nowhere to be found, rendering him mute."

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[snailygoon]

✨Last Spread✨

MAIN TEXT: “I still have loads to discover about all the Crann that are out there, and I’m sure I’ll only meet more and more as I advance in my conservation studies. I can’t even fathom what behemoths Redwood Crann must be! But for now, here are some more fun facts about ma boy Aiden and I that make me smile. Until next time journal o’ mine!”

NOTE 1 : “ Although the beginning of our friendship blossomed through nonverbal communication, I could tell it frustrated Aiden that he couldn’t respond with words. To remedy this, I’ve been teaching us sign language over the years! He’s a pro.”

NOTE 2: “ One of Aiden’s favorite pastimes is pressing me into moss like a little stencil. I’d like to apologize to anyone who’s found an ominously human shaped indent in the earth on their walks into the woods.”

NOTE 3: “ Animals trust the Fae implicitly, which has led them to trusting me by association. This has given me a bit of princess complex… Oh well~”

NOTE 4: “ Aidan has always been fascinated by humans. Collecting the interesting items that they leave in the forest has always been a hobby of his. When he was a wee babe he would hang them from his arms to emulate the Willow crown’s swaying leaves.”

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[snailygoon]

Spread 13: ✨The Dryad and Naiad 🐟🍂✨

TEXT: “ Nymphs are nature spirits, and fiercely protective ones at that. The Dryad in particular are the Nymphs that inhabit the trees. After the birth of a Crann, they are often chosen by a Dryad to be bonded with for life. They serve as friends, counselors, and protectors, devoting themselves eternally to the guardians that keep them safe. Their ability to shape shift into plants and animals is a pretty neat camo trick that also aids in anchoring them to their chosen Crann.

These bonds are so strong that when a Crann a Nymph has chosen dies, she almost always sadly follows suit, perishing alongside them. But on the off chance that a Crann is Killed by a human, the Nymph can become overtaken with a dark madness, not able to peacefully return to the earth until vengeance is brought upon the one who felled their beloved Crann.”

NOTE 1: “ I can never tell if this Naiad likes me or wants to drown me…”

NOTE 2: “ Naiads are bound to the freshwater sanctuaries they inhabit, and align themselves more with the water based Crann like the Willow or Birch.”

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[snailygoon]

Spread 9:✨The Yew • Crann Lúr✨

MAIN TEXT: “The Yew Crann, with their ominous beauty and mysterious magic serve as the undertakers of the spirit world. Associated with the eternal: life, death, and rebirth, they aid in leading spirits in and out of this corporeal world and through whatever lies beyond. Although they are more elusive than most Crann, I've sometimes spotted them guarding old cemeteries alongside the old Yew that were planted there; Or even for brief moments on foggy nights, illuminated by the wisps that seem so drawn to their presence. One can only wonder where they might be going.”

NOTE : “The lights that keeps these Crann company are Will-o’-the-wisps. No one is sure if they’re spirits, or of their intentions, but it’s said you shouldn’t follow them no matter how tempting.”

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[snailygoon]

Spread 12: ✨The Hazel • Crann Coll✨

MAIN TEXT: “Regarded as the wisest of the Crann, the Hazels are the first to be sought out for council if matters of the Fae are in need of discussion. They're on the much shorter side of Crann, making it much easier for me to nag them into sharing the many stories they've collected throughout their long lives. I have them to thank for a good chunk of my knowledge on the Fae! With all that info packed in their minds it's no wonder they have a tendency to sit in meditation for unfathomably long stretches of time, allowing the likes of bees, pixies, and other creatures to make homes of them. This Hazel didn't seem to mind their particularly extreme bee situation.”

NOTE 1 : “ Hazel rods are said to offer protection against evil spirits, and have been used for wand making and water Divining. I wonder if this wee lad would show me how to make a wand of my own…

NOTE 2: “ In Irish folklore, hazel trees are associated with the goddess Brighid, who is said to bring divine inspiration!”

NOTE 3: “The phrase ‘in a nutshell’ came from the beleif that hazelnuts contain much wisdom within them. Aiden's offered me one that grew from his head before but I think my brain might explode if I try it.. I’ll Keep you posted!”

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