The entries here at LeFey inspired one of our readers to share her own story of an encounter of a fey kind. She kindly agreed to let me share it with you.
It was a beautiful summer day a couple of years ago when I had gone to visit my mum. She lived at Rockwood Conservation Park during the summer months, in order to get away from the city and all the smog. The girls were younger at the time…about 3 & 5 years old. They had spent the morning and early afternon swimming in the paddling pool that was set up and run around chasing butterflies (really they were plain yellow moths but why spoil their fun).
The humidity had climbed as the afternoon crept on; I had just opened a big tub of chalk for the kids and they were busy drawing all over the patio stones when my mum suggested we go for a walk down one of the park trails. The trails in Rockwood snake through the forests so it tends to be cooler under the protection of the trees. So we dusted the chalk dust off the girls, got them into their shoes, a bit of bug spry and we were off.
The trails are simply dirt paths that weave back and forth between the trees and up and down some pretty good hills. It’s a good hike sometimes but it is so beautiful you never really notice how tiring it is. There are big trees that have fallen over from various natural reasons and carpets of ferns and moss. The trees that are upright are VERY old and a game that I play with the kids is that we try to guess which tree a faerie would live in. This particular day we really got into the fun and my mum and the girls were knocking on some particularly old and knarled trees hollering;
“Hello Anyone home? You have a very pretty house!” and other comments to that effect.
Well after a bit they ran giggling ahead distracted by a bird or something and my mum and I followed at a slightly sedate pace, catching up to the girls when they reached the waters edge. (They know that they aren’t allowed to get near the water without us.) the path continues on for a bit along a calm inlet to the small lake and there is always neat things like algae, uprooted trees, water bugs and lots of flowers along here.
The girls were a few paces ahead of mum and I when something ran out of the bushes right next to my leg, making me jump. I swear to this day that as soon as I saw it I forgot what I saw. It’s the strangest feeling. Even my mum turned wide eyed, looked at me and asked “Did you see that? What the hell was it?”
Still a tad stunned, I just shrugged and asked what she saw and she told me she didn’t have a clue. She wasn’t even sure she saw something.”
Both of us stood there looking down at the spot where the creature had been. It was my mum who finally voiced. "It wasn't an animal."
"Nope don't think so"
"It ran out and then was gone."
Yup" I replied. Really I was so amazed myself that I was unable to come up with anything more articulate then that.
“You don’t think that….”
I just grinned and shrugged answering “Probably”
(just as a side note my mum is christian but I refer to her as 'wicca friendly')
So after that bit of excitement we followed the path, as it circled around and looped back on its self heading back the way we came. As we trudged back up the hill, the girls and my mum were a few feet ahead of me chatting away; I was still trying to remember what exactly had come out of the bushes. (a completely futile effort)
As we passed by the old weathered log I noticed a simple smiley face had been drawn on it in orange chalk consisting of two vertical slashes for eyes and a curved line for a smile. I stopped dead in my tracks and pointed down at it yelling “Mum! That wasn’t there when we passed before was it.”
We both knew the log had been bare, but as the logical explanations ran though my head another thought occurred to me. When we returned to the site I headed over to the girls new chalk bucket and put all the pieces away. Sure enough there was one piece missing. The orange one.
I have no logical explanation for the day, only what I believe. Now there was no one around that day who would play a practical joke on us, the path was empty in both directions; we only ever passed one couple during our walk.
Rockwood is a beautiful place, I found the most incredible piece of worn driftwood on one of its trails. A long narrow branch I now use as a wand. What a piece of driftwood is doing in the middle of a forest I have no idea but I was sure to offer thanks for the gift.
All the fey need is the hint of an open mind to make themselves known. Of course, they are just as playful and mischievious as they are reputed to be. Most of them are very shy - we haven't been the best neighbors, us Big People, for the last few centuries.
I bet that little one (Brownie I suspect) is quite enjoying that nice orange chalk stick :D
And if anyone else would like to share a "fey sighting" with me, and with all the visitors at LeFey - feel free to email me.
Blessedbe
Summer