The Wood Fairies…

Other than the four elements, there are a few more lesser categories of elemental fairies. Wood fairies are more or less a subset of earth fairies, but with the unique qualities of wood, a distinctly different type of fairy and with unique qualities to share. Wood fairies include dryads and hamadryads, forest nymphs, aspara (a word of Sanskrit origin meaning “woodland spirit”, fauns, satyrs, oread and similar such magical creatures. Theses types of fairies inhabit old world, old growth forests, grandfather trees and trees in general, and the mountains and glades where trees like to grow. Some wood fairies wander freely as caretakers, encouraging growth and healing, while other types such as dryads, ‘marry’ a tree and merge becoming a oneness and are unable or unwilling to part from their chosen home and habitat.

The element of wood, as recognized by chinese philosophy, brings the simultaneous qualities of flexibility and resilience (best exemplified by bamboo), patience, growth and perseverance. Aligning with the wood element in one’s being, or with a woodland fairy, introduces strength and adaptation, health and nourishment, and creativity and imagination. It helps with both physical fortitude and mental resilience, and cultivates qualities such as independence, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, patience, thoughtfulness, foresight, self-expansion, optimism, courage and the virtues of benevolence and overall positivity.

As part of the transformation cycle of air, water earth and fire, or by chinese interpretation – earth, wood, metal, fire, and water – wood is part of earth and positioned between water and fire. In the early stages of wood, water is transformed into growth, as springtime, expression and creativity. In the later stages of growth and maturity, wood eventually gives birth to fire and all its transformative aspects.

Wood fairy magic consists primarily of protection glamour and helping things grow. It helps one cultivate overall vitality and healthiness, which translates into strive, reach and idealism. As part of earth, wood can significantly enhance healing and overall health, and support meditation, insight, vision and peacefulness. Sitting with a shy, long lived and wise dryad at the base of her tree will instill within one a greater perspective, one of patience, gratitude and vision.  Walking within a forest helps one become more to the moment, present and less time focused, introduces a certain relaxation and rejuvenation. Looking up to the tallest trees and down to the spring sprouts, seeing the enormous growth of wood, observing the many gifts of trees, fruits, nuts, shade, fuel, and the many uses of crafting, wood opens up one to one’s own potential, of creativity, of growth, and to the peace of the slow voice of nature and her eternal song.

References –

https://www.holdenqigong.com/how-to-harness-the-gifts-of-the-wood-element

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_(wuxing)