Mythic Writers Blog

I think I mostly don’t believe that one day I might turn around to find myself enmeshed in some faerie world adventure. Mostly. Still, I dream of it. I think about it a lot, wondering what might happen, how I would react, what I would do. I wonder how it would start.

If such things were possible, how would they start? What do you think would be just the thing to do to get the otherworldly ball rolling?

Naturally, there are the various run-ins with fairy rings—stepping into them or falling asleep in them seem to be the classics. Then there are the chance stumblings through rends in the veil or thin spots in the veil—also classics in fairy lore.

I’ve read a few stories about fairy mounds being portals into the otherworld. Stephen R. Lawhead’s Song of Albion trilogy (The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, The Endless Knot) starts out with an exploration of a mound that leads to a crossing. But again, this is an accidental crossing into the faerie realms. (Okay, I admit I did get distracted after the first book and haven’t returned to the other two—shame on me!—so I don’t know for certain that the accidental crossing is the only one that happens in the series.)

How would someone go about purposefully transporting himself to the faerie lands? I am sure I’ve read stories where it happened. I think I’ve read some bits of folklore about it. Now that I want to know, can I find any of them? Of course not. But I just started this search yesterday, so I must be patient and keep looking.

Still, if anyone out there knows any stories or folk tales where a purposeful entry into the faerie realms happens, leave me a note, will you? Even if you just sort of remember a tale you once read but don’t know the name of, a note about what you do remember would be most appreciated. Meanwhile, I will carry on with my search and let you know if I find anything good.