Secrets of the Fairy Ring

What Are the Magical Circles that Appear in the Spring?

The no-nonsense explanation is that these rings are caused by a fungus growing and feeding just below the surface of the lawn. There are a number of types of fairy rings. One has no mushrooms, another type contains a ring of mushrooms as well as a ring of stimulated grass growth. A third type only contains a ring of mushrooms with no evidence of unusual grass growth.

These rings might be found on lawns in gardens or meadows or deep within forests and in times gone by these fairy rings had a more mysterious explanation.

Fairy Rings and Myths

At one time these rings were sources of terror as they were believed to be the work of fairies and in fact considered to be a fairy trap. The little folk would wait until a boy or man came along whereupon they would start to dance around the perimeter of the circle in time to music which could only be hard by the victim.

His curiosity would be aroused by the music and as he came closer and saw the fairies dancing around the ring, he would be captured by their spell and magically pulled into join the dancing.

No one was sure quite what happened then but there would be talk of how the fairies had stole some of his mind or even his character to later turn him out of the ring where he would appear sometimes miles away from the site of the ring, confused. sometimes with a loss of memory and but a shadow of his former self.

If the victim was fortunate enough to be accompanied by friends who tried to pull him out of the ring before any damage was done, it was believed they would have to keep their feet well outside the ring or they too would be dragged in.

Kidnapped by Fairies

Victims of the Fairy Ring or Magic Circle never returned to a normal life. They might wander around their neighbourhood for months until eventually they died. It was thought that the remains of his soul went back to the ring to join the fairies and entice other men into the circle.

It seems to have been only men who were the victims of the Fairies. The Fairy Rings held no threat for women. In fact, at one time, they may have used these Magic Rings to see the future.

For when a woman found a Fairy Ring, she would remember its location and return to it by moonlight. She would then stand naked inside the ring by the light of the moon and it was believed that in doing so she would see the form of her future husband standing outside the perimeter of the circle.

The spell would have been broken if she attempted to cross the circle to join the apparition so she would have had to wait until the image disappeared and only then could she leave the ring, get dressed and resume her normal life .

The lure of the fairy ring seems to have diminished over the years but on coming across a Fairy's Ring, out of respect for the Fairies, leave a gift: perhaps some food or a bright stone. And should a man hear the sounds of elfin music or the pipes of Pan on a country walk, perhaps he should refrain from investigating!

Sources

Martin, J. The Origins of Elves and Fairies. Scarlett-Rose Books 2008.

Kneightley, T. The World Guide to Gnomes, Fairies, Elves and Other Little People. Gramercy Books 2002.

Forsyth G & Higgiott T. Popular Encyclpedia of Gardening. Waverley Book Co 1954.

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​Published by Carole Anne ​Astrologer, Author, Reiki Master, Tarot Reader and Dream Interpreter, Carole Anne provides top quality astrology and New Age articles for magazines, newspapers and web sites