Faery Craft: Weaving Connections with the Enchanted Realm Page 17

  We have already seen how many people use dressing up at balls and festivals as a way of expressing their inner selves or to simply rejoice in the beauty of imagination. Let us now consider how we can harness the art of dressing up as a magickal technique for deepening our understanding and connection, and for bringing our inner elemental energies into balance.

  Exercise: Dressing as the Elements

  This is not a clearly instructed exercise as such but is more of a series of suggestions for you to try if you wish, as well as a commentary on the effects that I and others experienced whilst experimenting with these ideas ourselves. We have already taken an in-depth look at the elements and worked towards connecting with the different aspects of each element through contemplation. For the most part this is a passive, receptive process, connecting to our surroundings through opening our awareness and expanding our energy to join with the landscape. This results in a powerful internal process that can lead to understanding and transformative wisdom when performed regularly and with the right intent. However, let us also consider another approach that may be tried alongside these spiritual techniques. Why not transform the physical appearance in order to take on the qualities of each element?

  Air

  Traditionally the element of air is associated with the colours yellow, gold, and white, so you may wish to use any or all of these colours in combination for your air costume. Depending on how much of a hoarder you are, you may well find you already have things that you can use or adapt for this purpose. Also think about using makeup, face paint, or even a mask; changing your facial appearance is probably the most important part of this technique, as for the most part it is your face that transmits your personality to the world around you—it is the window to your emotions and inner thoughts. When we change that outer appearance, the most remarkable inner processes can occur! We chose to use face paint in white, silver, and gold. You do not need to be an expert to create really good effects with face paint. Here is a basic step-by-step guide.

  You will need:

  At least two or three colours in decent quality water-based face paints that will blend well together.

  Makeup sponges. In fact, we used a cut-up dishwashing sponge for this exercise (unused, obviously)!

  Brushes, at least one thicker and one for fine detail. There are special face-painting brushes available, but we just used regular artist’s paintbrushes, and they work great!

  A bowl or cup of clean water.

  A cloth or paper towel for blotting any excess water.

  Step One

  Using a damp sponge (be sure that it is not too wet, blotting any excess water if necessary), apply your foundation colour around the eyes, nose, and cheeks, including part of the forehead if you wish. In this case we used white as a foundation, a good all-purpose base colour that will help other colours to stand out, and of course very appropriate for air!

  Step Two

  Again using the sponge, choose another colour to bring out highlights and/or lowlights. Here we used gold around the eyes and cheeks, with a bit of silver to bring out the cheekbones. It seemed fitting for the element of air to try and sharpen the features, emphasizing bone structure.

  Step Three

  Using the brushes, add any details in a colour that will stand out against your foundation. In this case, a masklike effect was created using a stronger density of white over the gold, and a fine brush was used to create some dots and to emphasize the eyebrows.

  Step Four

  Consider a complementary lip colour. You can use lipstick, but we chose to use the same colours of face paint, again using white as a foundation and then gold over the top.

  Step Five

  Look fabulous!

  You may, of course, decide that you would rather use a mask to transform your facial appearance. In the case of the element of air, any birdlike or feathered mask would be an obvious choice, or perhaps a simple metallic gold half-mask.

  Wigs are also wonderfully transformative and don’t need to be expensive. For the element of air I chose a rather punky white wig that I’ve had for more years than I care to think of, and I’m so glad I kept hold of it as it turned out to be quite perfect for this exercise. I also found a peacock feather fascinator to wear over the wig.

  For the clothing, choose something that you perhaps wouldn’t normally wear, or at least wear them in unusual ways, and think about the colours and qualities of the element. I chose a striking gold dress that I picked up as a bargain from a bellydance hafla, along with a white and gold bellydance belt. This had the added benefit of adding an auditory dimension to my ensemble! You may prefer something simpler, perhaps something floaty that catches every breeze or something classical that brings to mind the great thinkers of the ancient world. Of course, for the element of air, wings are a great accessory. The wings I am wearing in this picture are effective yet extremely simple in construction, made from iridescent cellophane and coathanger wire. Feathered wings would be another good choice, or perhaps a billowing cloak or Isis wings such as are used in belly dancing. You may also notice that I chose to use a representative tool for the element of air as a prop—in this case, a rather fine dagger.

  You might wear this costume for an event, but I also recommend trying this as an exercise out in nature, perhaps with a small group of friends, not only so that you don’t feel too self-conscious and there is an element of fun, but also so that you can observe any changes in each other’s energy and behaviour. Try to find a place where you won’t be pestered by passersby and where you can experience the element of air directly.

  How do you feel? Are you thinking, acting, or talking any differently? How is your understanding of the element affected?

  Fire

  Red is the elemental colour for fire, but any combination of shades of red, orange, and gold will help to bring out those fiery qualities! These colours should also be used in your makeup, mask, or face paint. Bearing these colours in mind, follow the four steps as listed for the element of air. Here I used a gold base with the sponge and a masklike phoenix design painted on in red. Fire is the element of passion and action, so try to build those qualities into your costume. I chose a very tribal-style belly dance costume, with lots of red and gold that reflected the light and layers that moved with my body. You should choose something that you can move in freely that makes you feel confident and powerful. Since my hair is currently blond and red, I did not use a wig for this element but instead used a lot of hairspray to create a flamelike style. Having exponentially increased my flammability by doing so, I kept a safe distance from the fire!

  I also found the effect was enhanced once more by the addition of a tool for a prop. In this case I used a staff with bells attached and found myself wielding it like a warrior! Well, posing like a wannabe warrior actually…

  Fire would be a great choice of elemental costume for any Faery ball or festival, as it is bound to bring out your inner party demon! Again, I encourage you to try this as a magickal exercise also, with a small group of friends around a fire, and note any changes in mood, energy, and behaviour.

  Water

  Blue is the colour most associated with water, and it is nicely complemented by white and silver, as well as some shades of green and turquoise. Clothes for this element could be either free and flowing or clingy and glistening like the scales of a fish. I chose a Grecian-style white dress that I had borrowed and never returned from my college’s theatre wardrobe department fifteen years ago. At the time it was the costume for Lady Macbeth, whom I, as an evil director, made walk into a cold and rather dank pond for her final scene. It seemed only fitting that I should now wear it for the element of water and take it for another dip! Over this I wore a pale blue organza veil for a very classical look.

  The blue curly wig was less classical, of course, but along with the silver and blue face pain
t did serve to transform my appearance to the extent that I was unrecognisable.

  If you want to achieve this look with face paint, use moonlike colours as a base—say, white and grey or silver if you have it. Then add detail and spirals around the eyes and cheekbones. It’s simple yet effective!

  We used a silver chalice, which is the ritual and symbolic magical tool for the element of water. It was entrancing scooping up water and pouring it back out, watching the light reflecting from the droplets as they fell and hearing the song they made as they returned to the flowing river.

  Being able to stand in the river whilst dressed as a creature of that element brought feelings of tranquillity and an awareness of deep inner compassion, despite posing for the photographs whilst knee-deep in water.

  Remember to try this out near or in the element if you can, and note any changes in your usual thought patterns, behaviour, or general character.

  Water and Earth meet at the shore

  Earth

  For the element of earth I experimented on a willing victim, my friend Anna Simon. Despite the fact that she did not choose any of her costume herself and believed that she was merely dressing up in order to pose for photographs, she found it to be a profoundly transformative experience. Indeed, both the photographer and I found the change in her energy and behaviour to be quite remarkable, noticing a real connection between her and her surroundings, particularly the trees, and a deep sensuality, confidence, and grace.

  In Anna’s own words:

  We headed to the woods, and as we walked down the hill and the great old trees rose up before us, I joked about being in my “element” (or, in fact, being in myself, ha ha), but once inside the boundary of green, I have to admit my perception was already changing. I’ve always had an appreciation for nature, for spaces untouched by humankind. It isn’t terribly out of my character to randomly hug or even sing to trees, so this wasn’t a massive shift in perception. But something did occur that afternoon, despite the itchiness of the wig and the weight of the cloak. I connected with earth—I daresay I even became earth, just for a little while.

  As I posed for the camera with an apple in hand, I felt that if you looked away, you’d turn around and I’d have blended into the scenery. What a strange feeling to mesh into one’s surroundings on an emotional level but not feel lonely or outcast. I walked taller, more elegantly (save for a little skirmish with my skirt getting caught in sticky bushes), and felt a peace I have longed for. The icing on the cake came after Emily had finished her water session and we were walking back; our photographer and great friend Steve was seeing a great shot of me next to a tree, and when I approached that tree I felt like I was wrapping my arms around a handsome, earthy man! Everywhere I looked, the trees were more vivid, the air was sweeter, and the area seemed to welcome me like an old friend.

  Here’s what we did. The main colour for earth is, of course, green, but all earthy tones of brown and even black are suitable, or even autumnal hues of rusty reds. Again, I used face paint, this time using the sponge to create a foundation of green, then darker areas with black around the eyes. Leafy details were then drawn in black and green with a brush, the whole face taking about five minutes to render, yet with very dramatic effect. As you may have noticed by now, I have a small collection of wigs at my disposal, and I chose a very natural long brown wig for Anna’s look, complemented by an ivy headdress that very simply consists of a piece of fake vine wrapped around her head as a crown—so effective and very easy to do!

  I also found a long green skirt that worked perfectly with the plain black tunic that she was already wearing, and finished the look off with my rather heavy outdoor cloak, which is a beautiful shade of forest green and keeps out all weathers! Consider what aspects of earth you wish to emphasise in your costume. For fertility you might choose brighter green hues; for stability you might choose browns and blacks. You might even want to try shades of grey if you are trying to strengthen your connection with spirits of stone. If you wanted to try a mask, why not make one yourself? There are plenty of blank templates available that you can paint and add to with papier-mâché or perhaps feathers and plastic foliage. Horned or antlered headdresses are also a nice idea as ways to express or encourage connection to this element.

  “How is it that I connected so deeply with my surroundings without so much as intent to do so? I’ve always struggled with meditation, and I’m terrible at grounding myself to the extent of clumsiness; I walk into doors and walls constantly. So for me to suddenly snap my roots on, that was a soul-opening feeling.”

  Anna

  Practical Everyday Applications

  Once you have fully immersed yourself in each of the elements in this way, you can draw on your fresh understanding and the memory of any energetic shift whenever you wish, without the need to dress up to such an extreme. You can also apply the same technique on a much more subtle basis in your everyday life, particularly through conscious use of colour symbolism. For example, for increased confidence and drive, you may wish to draw on the power of fire by wearing an item of red clothing, perhaps altering your makeup or even colouring your hair in a red tone. To emphasise logical thinking and clear communication, try consciously wearing something yellow or gold, or perhaps a subtle piece of feathered jewellery, for the element of air. To bring a feeling of inner peace and bring forth the compassionate side of your nature, try wearing the colours of water, such as calming shades of blue and turquoise. Earthy colours such as green and brown will help to bring a feeling of grounded stability and connection with the natural world. You can also extend this idea further by looking at planetary attributions.

  Sun: gold, yellow, orange; success, confidence, charisma, happiness

  Moon: white, silver; mystery, magick, intuition, dreams

  Mars: red; power, strength, status, sex

  Venus: green; femininity, love, beauty, fertility

  Mercury: light blue; communication, thought, travel

  Jupiter: purple, dark blue; expansion, hope, joy, luck

  Saturn: brown, black; structure, organisation, time, law

  As you can see, with this awareness you have a whole palette of tools at your disposal to bring energies into your life and to encourage conscious connection with the world around you. The art of dressing with intent is a very Faery kind of magick, for just like the wonders of the spirit within the land, it goes unnoticed in plain view.

  Suggested Activities

  Practice

  Dress with intent and awareness—it doesn’t need to be conspicuous. Make notes of how the different colours and styles affect your energy and what kind of attention or events you attract throughout the day.

  Celebrate

  Why not throw a fancy dress party for your friends with the four elements as a theme? You could also try preparing food and snacks with the elements and colours in mind!

  Research

  Find out if there are any Faery events or festivals within travelling distance, and make plans to attend. If not, do you feel ready to organise one yourself? Everyone starts somewhere, and you could bring great joy to others as well as yourself by spreading the awareness of Faery.

  Create

  Using a blank template (available from craft stores or online retailers), create a mask for the element that you feel the least connection with, putting thought into materials, colours, and techniques used. When it is finished, spend some time in contemplation of this element whilst wearing the mask, and see how your understanding expands. This should also help to bring valuable balance to your energies.

  [contents]

  chapter seven

  Inspiration

  “O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you.

  She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes

  In shape no bigger than an agate-stone

  On the fore-finger of an alderman,
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  Drawn with a team of little atomies

  Athwart men’s noses as they lie asleep…”

  Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

  Faeries have long been associated with inspiration, though whether they climb into our noses as we sleep (as the great bard describes in the quote above) is debatable! Inspiration is the quality we gain from the south and the element of fire, but it may be found all around us, from the most epic landscape to the tiniest blade of grass. We should also never underestimate the power that we all have to inspire each other, and for this reason we should never be shy of creative undertakings, for though there will always be those whose will is to detract from our achievements, there will equally be those who are inspired by our own will to act on creative impulse.

  This chapter is intended to help you find the sustenance of inspiration upon your path. There are many inspirational voices within the Faery community, and all offer their own perspectives, some of which will no doubt resonate on a personal level more than others, but all of which have something to offer. Walking a spiritual or magickal path can seem isolating at times, especially when those around us do not share our views, experiences, and beliefs. This is why in Faery Craft it is so valuable to know that there is a rich and varied community out there, full of creative, intelligent, and open people who share their gifts and teachings of inspiration with the world. You are not alone.