§652

‘I [an Australian national] was visiting Wales and staying at a place called Fairy Hill. While waiting for friends to come and take me sight-seeing I walked the grounds and found myself stepping down deeply into a section of forest. The light was softer here and I felt drawn in. It was beautiful and green with dappled light through the many trees. There was a natural mossy stone bridge across a small stream to a wider section of water. I stood on the bank and looked at the water and noticed movement, and to me there was like small unseen swimmers near the edge where I stood. This movement of water immediately shifted away from me and across the pond or stream, and I watched it go, unchanged in dynamics to the other side. It was as though these unseen swimmers didn’t want to be near me. I felt then that I was intruding and had the notion that perhaps (and possibly based on the name of the place) I had unwittingly stepped into a fairy realm of some sort. It was a little unsettling because I was so deep into this place that to turn and run didn’t seem wise. I decided to show I was not there to intrude and that I hadn’t meant to do so, and I bowed slightly (even though this felt odd) to show I was humbled and respectful of whatever nature spirits were present. Some sunlight started to poke through into the trees directly over my head and felt it would be okay to take a few photos. I heard strange sounds I couldn’t quite ping [? place]. It was as though someone was walking through the landscape on the other side of the water, and I waited, expecting to see a person, but nobody was there. As I went to walk away the tree over my head seemed to shake and leaves were rained down over where I had just been standing. I turned and watched the leaves coming down, some landing over my shoulders. I was not at all offended. I slowly left the area, coming back across the little bridge to stop to give another small bow and quiet thanks for allowing me to be there. I don’t know what compelled me to do that. I think perhaps it was because I had found myself in a place, I didn’t think I should be. Later, I thought it was an unusual event and tried to reconcile my thoughts about these strange feelings and notions (asking myself why on earth I felt I needed to bow). Later that night I decided to look through my photos, as was usually the case during my trip, and with a great deal of surprise I discovered one photo contained the image of a small being dressed in green, with boots, a hat, and standing on one of the mossy rocks near the water’s edge. I was so astounded by this image that I had trouble sleeping and felt as though fairies were on my window ledge. It seems silly but I didn’t dare tell them not to enter my room, because I had invaded their area. I didn’t invite them either. Even though they didn’t seem unfriendly, I thought it best to close my window. I showed this photo to friends, and surprisingly it was males who could easily see the image of the fairy on the rock and were able to point out the features. Women had more trouble, although some were very definite and found the image without me pointing it out, and some couldn’t see the image at all even if I resorted to pointing it out. I couldn’t understand how they couldn’t see it. I still have the photo and I still see the image. After I returned to Australia, I realised that my backyard, which is quite leafy, seemed filled with fairies, or little lights that were everywhere, especially in the early morning just before light. I thought it was my imagination and try as I might to get my head back into proper order, I couldn’t stop seeing things in my yard. I didn’t know if I’d brought them home with me (in my bag, ha ha) or if I was now seeing them. I didn’t actually see fairies, but I started to see the occasional one in the leaves or the flowers, or at least they seemed part of the flora, which in a way felt more like an explanation and by use of my imagination. My world had suddenly become a different looking place. I have since taken a photo of another fairy that is quite astounding. This fairy is easily seen by many people (very few can’t quite make it out). Again, I didn’t know at the time I was taking such a photo. I had bought a new camera and was taking photography lessons (to know how to use it off the automatic setting) and was taking photos around my yard. I took one of my maple tree. I don’t even know how I discovered the fairy in the photo because she’s quite small, but she’s very present. In the same photo, some time later, I discovered what looks like a small fox, and I didn’t know until I looked it up that there are such things as tree foxes. Now when I look at this photo, all I see is the fairy and the fox.’ ‘In the photo the fairy is in green, wearing boots, and has a small hat’. ‘I can’t describe all that I heard. There were water sounds, like a group swimming.’ ‘The name of the place was Fairy Hill. I thought it was quaint and I wonder if this set my mind into such an experience, or at least made me more aware. However, I never expected to have some sort of fairy experience.’ ‘I have the photos to go with the experience. The experience on its own was natural, nice, and personal. It was not something I would have relayed to anyone except for the photo and of course everyone wants to know the story surrounding it.’ ‘I have no idea [about fairies]. But I have come to consider there is a realm, or dimension beyond our natural senses that is very real. ‘The whole fairy phenomena for me started during my trip to the UK. And I’m surprised that since coming home to Australia that it has continued, but only when I take time out to be in nature and away from wi-fi, electronics, and have my head out of my i-phone or laptop. When I stand in my garden or in other natural settings, I tend to have that sense of the fairies or nature sprites around me. I don’t think they want to be bothered, but they don’t seem opposed to me.’