Fantastic Flower Fairy Sugar Scrub

Do you like wildflowers?  Do you ever imagine being surrounded in a sea of them while you look up at a clear blue sky?  Or do you want silky smooth skin that sparkles like sunshine?   If it is yes to any one of these questions then this is the beauty recipe for you.  This formula is said to be Queen Maeve's favorite beauty product. 

It was created by her seven fairy maidens who have served her since the beginning of time.  Their names are Candite, Coulante, Fleur de Farine, Miettes qui Tombent, Canari qui Chante, Violente and her most trusted messenger, Fee des Lilas.  After Queen Maeve’s son, Oberon took over her throne, he sent her into exile but her fairy maidens never left her side.  To make a long story short, Oberon botched things up with the humans and many mystical clans when he was king of the fairies.  The fairy kingdom saw that Queen Maeve was the better ruler.  So the fairies in the fairy kingdom sent for her and voted her back as their queen.  Oberon was forced to step down and do 10,000 years of good deeds to mortals to make up for his mistakes.  

It may have taken 500 years but Queen Maeve happily took back her place as the queen of the fairies. To celebrate the queen's return the fairy maidens created a flower fairy scent and mixed it into a gentle scrub.  This scrub will give you the glow, sparkle and smell of a fairy with the beautiful soft skin to match.  Just follow this recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Raw sugar
• 1/4 to 1 cup Sunflower oil
• 1-2 drops each of Essential oil (Lilac, Lavender, Rose, Lily-of-the-Valley, Gardenia,  Honeysuckle, and Jasmine)
• green tea leaves

*Some of these essential oils are easy to find while others you will have to search for.  A lot of what I get are from farmer's markets, travel expos or online.*

Directions

1.      Mix the raw sugar and oil together in a container.

2.      Add the essential oils and mix well with a stirring stick (I use the stir sticks because the essential oils will stain cutlery and it’s difficult to get rid of)

3.      Take the desired amount of green tea leaves and sprinkle them into the mixture.  Mix well.

 There is a reason why fairies love all of these ingredients.  The raw sugar strips away all negativity, the green tea livens up the skin, while the sunflower oil brings on the smooth and the sparkle that every fairy needs.  What truly makes this a fairy potion is the scents.  These fragrances are very special to the fairies because the fairy maidens are in charge of these particular flowers.  Due to their love and loyalty to their queen, they managed to protect her from danger, teach her the ways of the world and sneak her back into the fairy kingdom when the timing was right.  She would never have gotten her throne back without their help.  When it comes to beauty, I find that a little help goes a long way whether you are mortal or immortal. 

Bluebirds, Butterflies and the Nether Realm Social Media

With winter approaching here in Calgary, I am reminded of how much I miss forms of communication that we use back in the Nether Realm.  Here in the Earth Realm we have tweets, texts and other social media but in the Nether Realm we rely primarily on bluebirds and butterflies.  They all fly, flutter and flit through the sky seemingly as free as free can be.  I love watching all of the butterflies and birds in the sky.  It's like watching a firework display in the daytime.  I'm always happy to see one of these creatures perched on my window sill.  They usually bring good news. 

 

It's just like the song "The Bluebird of Happiness" by Sandor Harmati, Edward Heyman and Harry Parr-Davies: 

Be like I, hold your head up high,
Till you find a bluebird of happiness.
You will find greater peace of mind
Knowing there's a bluebird of happiness.

And when he sings to you,

Though you’re deep in blue,

You will see a ray of light creep through,

And so remember this, life is no abyss,

Somewhere there’s a bluebird of happiness.

Charles Dickens wrote, “I only ask to be free.  The butterflies are free”. 

 But even bluebirds and butterflies have a responsibilities in the Nether Realm.  They are more than happy to carry out their duty as messengers of the Faye Clan. Back in the Nether Realm I would send off a blue bird and two butterflies in the morning.  The bluebird was for "The Parchment News" (who I also write for) and my butterflies went to my mother and my friend.  While I waited for my little messengers to come back, I had a cup of tea with a little breakfast and got ready for my day.   I usually got my return messages after I left my home and while walking through the Mystinia Forest. The butterflies would land on my shoulder to whisper in my ear. The bluebird would land on my finger to tweet his message. Often these creatures brought small gifts with them.  The last time I was there, I got a magic ring from a butterfly.  I wear it all the time and I consider it my totem.

When there is an emergency or urgency, we call upon the wisps.  These orbs of light are almost as fast as telepathy. Only Mystics are actually capable of telepathy but we do not use it for frivolous matters.  We Mystics are rarely concerned about whether or not we get a quick message because we know that we will get it when we are meant to.  Back in the Nether Realm, we view time very differently than the Earth Realm.  I find that the Earth Realm is really rushed. Like most mystics, I'm not a rusher.  I like to take my time.  So you see, the bluebirds and butterflies may not be as fast as an email but they are reliable and effective.  And we fairies love them!

  Like Carrie Bradshaw (from Sex in the City) says, "Don't settle for anything less than butterflies."We mystics don't settle for anything less but we like our bluebirds too.  My advice to you my favorite readers is to remember these words. These creatures are light, beautiful, and happy. Make time for the birds and the butterflies. 

 

The Peculiar Portal of Ptarmigan Cirque

The entrance of Ptarmigan Cirque

The Nether Realm

 Good news mystics!  If your feeling homesick, I found a portal just outside of Ptarmigan Cirque.  It is a little area in the Kananaskis that is used for hiking.  I have heard some good things about this beautiful place so I decided to explore it for a day.

I walk the trail until I come to an elevated path.  This is a very steep hike, so I mentally prepare myself for it.  After walking up this slope for a while, I decided to stop and catch my breath.  I felt like my lungs were set on fire by a salamander (fire elemental).  Out of the corner of my eye, I see what looks like a blue star.   I walk over to it and to my surprise, I had bumped into a portal.  Before I knew it, the star turns into a big blue mass that swallows me whole.  It sounds scary but portals tend to do that.

The Golden Stones that house the Gate

The first thing I saw was the Golden Stones and I knew that I was back in the Nether Realm. The purple clouds were out that day which tells me that the sorcerers were brewing the anti-demon shields again.  So it's a dead give away at what realm this was.  Then I was greeted in a formal manner by  the guardian of the gate.  It's a comforting feeling to know that this enchantress is still there day and night but I can't help but wonder...doesn't she ever take a break? A nice vacation away from making sure that only mystics come through to the Nether Realm?  Well all I know is she can be a real tight-ass.  She lets me take pictures of the scenery but not of her.  She really needs some time off!

She is still lovely though but the Golden Stones were more so.  These rocks are real gold and no you can not just take them.  Only dwarfs or leprechauns can access them.  Anyone else who tries often meets with some terrible luck but they are still wonderful to watch when the sun hits them.  They sparkle like an angel's halo.
  

Winding road down a fairy forest

So after I paid my respects to the guardian, I walk through the glen, down the winding road and into the fairy forest.  There is so much to see that I could write a novel about it all.  Since that would take a little longer, I will save you all of that and skip to the best part.

It was just about sundown when I saw a sight that I haven't seen in a long time.  The sprites emerging for their nightly flight.  Sprites are little wisps of light similar to will-o-the-wisps but smaller and pure magical energy.  They look like beautiful little orbs.  I always love to watch them flit through the air.  

Sprites emerging at Sundown

 
I could not stay to watch these lovely little lights for long because I had a date waiting for me in the Earth realm. But at least, I got a picture to remember them by.   So, I propped out my wings and flied out of the forest faster than a bat escaping from a giant's fart.  I wave good bye to the guardian and pass through the gate. 

It was nice to see the Nether Realm again.  Even I miss it and I travel all the time. To all those who are suffering from homesickness... don't worry, we have all been there and I have a couple of little tips that I got from a witch doctor to help you get over that.  The first thing you do is make yourself a nice cup of wild orange blossom tea and sip it slowly.  The second thing you do is take a piece of sugilite (aka dream stone) and put it under your pillow as you sleep.  Both of these items will relieve any sadness you have and open up your heart to happiness.  What do you all do when you are homesick?

Fairy Garden Salad

Back in the Nether Realm, my mother would make Fairy Garden Salad for the first time each year for the May Day celebration. She would gather the greens, berries, nuts or seeds, and herbs from the Enchantra Forest where we lived.  The fairies always picked and delivered the flowers to provide the finishing touches. For May Day and for the rest of the celebrations in the summer, we had this wonderful fresh, healthy, and delicious salad. We always made extra to leave outside to repay the fairies for their contribution.  Fairies love this salad and since I am of the fey species, it is my favorite summer salad.

In this world, you do not need to search the forest for the ingredients. Most are available at your local supermarket. Make sure the flowers are edible; not all are.  I encourage you to plant a couple of pots of your own herbs and edible flowers. That way you can make sure they have not been sprayed with pesticide or insecticide.


Salad Ingredients
* About 6 cups of spring salad mix (medium size package)
* 3 cups berries (I used 1 cup each of blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries)
* ½ cup nuts or seeds (my favorite is sunflower seeds)
* Edible flowers (I used violas for the salad in the picture. Nasturtiums, rose petals, and chive blossoms are all lovely)

Dressing Ingredients
* 1 part olive oil
* 1 part lemon juice
* Squirt of liquid honey
* Small bunch of chives, chopped
* A couple of mint leaves, muddled or finely chopped

Instructions
Invite your friends over, put on some happy music with a lot of percussion and shake your mystical booty. Put all salad ingredients in a bowl. Toss the ingredients and flip your hair or flip the ingredients and toss your hair.  Either way works.  Mix dressing ingredients together while dancing.  Feel free to use your dressing bottle as a maraca.  Dressing is best left to sit for a bit to mingle the flavors. So in the meantime mingle with your friends. 

Add dressing just before serving. This salad is lovely with a toasted croissant, a wedge of warmed brie cheese, and a glass of ice cold sangria.  Fun, friends and fresh salad, what could be a more fabulous feast?

Best way to make a Brilliant Birthday

Birthdays at any age are special days even for us (the mystics). We take special pride in the fact that we have lived another year.  Why is that?  Well like humans, we don't have it easy either.  When you are magical, everyone (mainly humans and demons) want a piece of it, thinking that power makes everything better.  Take it from me, it doesn't.  It's more responsibility and alot more to hide.  But let us not talk of that since it is a real downer and get back to the topic at hand, birthdays. 

"Always see every day as a chance to start afresh and make it count by living it as if it is your last."

This is a mantra or prayer that we of the Fey Clan wish upon every baby born.  On the day of a newborn baby's birth we (fairies) always whisper it into the baby's ears.  By doing this, we hope that these children (no matter from what clan) will lead happy and healthy lives.  Birthdays are often the days that where we truly live like that.  It's in all of us.   Here is what I did with mine. 


First, I went to an indoor trampoline park.  That was alot of fun.  I can't remember the first time tried one of those.  I can assure you it wasn't yesterday.  Second, I had the world's best ice cream from the Village, (of course).  I had their newest chocolate flavor called oaxacan chili chocolate.  It is creamy chocolate with a good KICK!  I recommend it to anyone who likes sweet and spicy. (See my previous post about The Village:  http://earthrealmguide.blogspot.ca/2015/04/village-ice-cream.html) 

The third and final thing I did for my day was have dinner with some great friends.  These are human friends this time.  We ate pub food and drank beer.  It was alot of fun.  I am more of a wine person to be honest but that doesn't change the fact that it was the best night ever!  Good friends who care for you and love you for who you are is something to be grateful for.  No they do not know I am a fairy but I think they suspect something

Later, I'm expecting a visit from family, they are crossing over into this world just to celebrate my birthday with me. I am very grateful for them as well.  A good family is the best treasure anyone can have.  They are precious and irreplaceable just like our birthdays.  So celebrate them my friends.  You never know if you will ever have another one.      

Fairy Wishes



This Image Belongs to Nintendo - Legend of Zelda



Everyone knows that fairies grant wishes.  And that is true but did you know that fairies have wishes of their own?  I bet not.  After many different interviews and even some of my own soul-searching, I managed to gather a list of what a typical fairy wishes for.  It took alot of time but I have found what the majority of fairies will wish for.  Some of you maybe surprised at these answers but you all will see that it actually makes alot of sense. 

 

 

If you have a chance to make one of these wishes come true for these very special beings, then you will be in a very good spot with them. Perhaps you will recieve a special gift from them yourself.  As many fairies will often give you a gift if you do something nice for them or their enviroment.  You really want to know?  Here is what I found:

 

 

• Swim under a waterfall 
• Be naked in the moonlight
• Sleeping in the trees
• Dance like no one is looking 
• Wear bouquet of flowers in their hair
• Be beautiful in somebody else's eyes
• To Fly 
• To Fall
• Make friends with all animals 
• Take a very long journey
• Surround themselves in light
• Be one with the night
• To stop in one moment and enjoy
• Bring magic into their lives and onto others
• Vanquish all their demons
• Be sensual without trying
• Love with all their hearts
• Heal what needs healing
• To indulge in sweet treats
• A home that is safe
• Free to be

 
 Granted, you will have to get creative with this but it is not impossible to do these things for them.  For example; They want to dance like noone is looking?  Here is a clue.  Play some happy music for them and dance yourself.  That will make them feel less shy and want to dance with you.  It'll take some time for them to trust you enough to come out even with all of these wishes but show them kindness, patience and make them feel safe, they will eventually feel confident enough to come out and see you.   If you are sincere, they will continue to visit you and you will make some wonderful friends out of them. 

The Lilac Festival

Photo Provided by Kenneth Fung, Photographer

The lilac festival was just this last Sunday.  Yes, in this town we celebrate lilacs as they are a sign of spring.  (Or that's what the humans will say).  It is very interesting that they celebrate this particular flower and it's a good thing.  We too celebrate lilacs because we all know that lilacs are good for balancing chakras and spiritualizing the intellect.   It is also a very good flower for meditations, connecting with your spirit guides and an excellent protection talisman.  So if you are doing yoga and are in need of a relaxing scent or if you want to keep evil spirits away this would be the flower to do it.  Now being of the fey persuasion I was very intrigued with the idea of a festival celebrating this kind of flower.  With our festivals back in the Nether Realm we usually celebrate all kinds of flowers (more detail later). 

Everything in this festivals wasn't fully decorated with lilacs the way that we would do it back in our realm but there were plenty of subtle hints.  It was enough that I'd think Lilah (the lilac fairy) would be very pleased with it.  If not her Persephone since it has to do with spring. 

This lovely festival is similar to our Fertility Festival in the Nether Realm.  There are many merchants out and about trying to sell their wares, interesting entertainment and food trucks (food carts for us) galore.  Like our fertility fest it all starts with a parade.  In this parade you will see some people with costumes on.  Not everyone wears costumes in the parades like we do in our world but there were still some unique outfits.  There were belly dancers, Egyptian and a purple fairy (No not Lilah).  The floats were not elaborate but they didn't have to be.  Everyone had a lot of enthusiasm.  I have to admire every one's effort in what they were doing. 

Yes the music was there too.  There was music of all kinds from classic and contemporary sounds of big bands to boisterous dance music blaring out of large speakers.  It was fun to listen to all these kinds of music.  My favorite was the live bands.  Yes live bands are always my favorite, whether it is "Wasted Nation" here in Calgary (Earth Realm) or the "Horned Faye" in Merkiva (Nether Realm).  It wasn't just the music.  There were many different entertainments.  I was lucky enough to catch the capoeira demonstration and that is really fascinating to see martial arts and dancing combined.

There were many food trucks out and about.  So you will never go hungry but I decided to go to one of Calgary's best pubs which is "Joyce on 4th."  And for good reason.  There are live bands there just for that day and it was quite lively.  But my favorite part is knowing that there is really good beer there to enjoy on a hot day.  I'll tell you that is the very definition of paradise.  My only regret is not stopping for an ice cream.  That truck made them look very tasty.  So if you ever want to check out a lovely festival that reminds you a little bit of home this is the place to be.  Lilah in particular should check it out and shower your blessings up on it. 

Photo provided by Kenneth Fung, Photographer