The Other World On the Other Side -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Oisin's Ride into Faerie** "And now the sun shone fiercely down, and the riders passed into a golden haze in which Oisin lost all knowledge of where he was or if a sea or dry land were beneath his horse's hoofs. But strange sights sometimes appeared to them in the mist, for towers and palace gateways loomed up and dissappeared, and once a hornless doe bounded by them chased by a white hound with one read ear; and again they saw a young maid ride by on a brown steed, bearing a golden apple in her hand, and close behind her followed a young horseman on a white steed, a purple cloak floating at his his back and a gold-hilted sword in his hand. And Oisin would have asked the Faerie princess who and what these apparitions were, but Niamdh bade him ask nothing nor seem to notice any phantom until they came to the Land of Youth." --T.W. Rolleston -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to the other side of the Gate. Within the Faerielands there is no time, so you can explore as you wish. Follow the images, and they shall bring you to one aspect of this world and then to another. There is plenty of time to Dance with the Faeries, Explore what hides in the Shadows, and join in the Great feasts of Underhill. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Paths to the Otherworld **The Gate within the Hill** Faerie mounds exist in both the human world and the Faerie world at once. In our world they look like green manmade hills, "hollow hills" which sometimes open to provide passage to the Otherworld. The Elves of legend were thought to have great halls underneath these barrows. These Elven dwellings were collectively called Underhill. Within the hollow hills great Courts of old were held with feasting and revelry. Mortals are sometimes taken into these underground estates, especially if they were thought to be a great Artist, Poet, or Musician. There, these mortals would not age a single day. A Glimpse into Underhill (image) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **The Tale of King Orfeo** The tale of King Orfeo offers an excellent glimpse into the nature of those of Underhill and the Faerie Realms in general. Four days in the year are known for their power to bring the Otherworld and the Mortal world close, thus allowing travel between them: May Day (May 1st), Lugnasadh (August 1), Samhain (Halloween, October 31) and Brigid (February 1). In this story, all the "Between times" are present: King Orfeo's wife, Meroudys, sleeps under a ymp (or grafted) tree, thus it is neither one tree or another but has parts of two. The King of Underhill takes Meroudys for a visit to his Realm at twilight, being neither day nor night. This story encoperates many themes of Faerie: such as the Between Times, the Faerie love for music, and Faerie honor among it's "Nobility". Read Onward: The Story of King Orfeo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Over the Sea, Under the Lake** Water plays a crucial role in discovering other places of Faerie. Underneath the lakes and the oceans sailors reported vast underwater cities and Kingdoms. In Arthurian legend, the Lady of the Lake dwelt within the calm waters of a serene and mist-filled lake. Also, upon his fatal wounding, Arthur himself was taken to the mystical isle of Avalon. At the Water's Edge (image) The City Under the Sea (image) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Into The Woods** From the crystal palaces and underwater kindoms we turn toward another favored Faery haunt: the forest. It is there where travelers often hear the music of the Faerie Round: a ring dance of the common forest-dwelling Folk that is often performed in both their world and our own. "Fairie Rings," dark circles of grass in lighter grass are the signs of the wild revelry under the stars. Often mortals are enticed into the dancing for a night to step from the Round to find that a hundred years have passed in their own world. Tread carefully through the mist-wrapped trees into... The Enchanted Forest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------