User:Jenni.alice.chaney/Faeids

Faeids are otherwise known as faerie knowers. The term Faeid was created in a ethnographic article about a sub-community of Neo-Pagans or Otherkins known as "Faeids" by anthropologist Thomas Baurley in 1986. Thomas Baurley took the term "Fae" meaning "Faerie, Good Neighbour, Fairy, or otherworldly being" and the latin root "-id" meaning "to know" or "idem" meaning "the same"; creating the term "Faeid" to describe individuals he was studying as a "Faery Knower" or "One who is with the Fae". The terms "Fae", "Fay", and/or "Faerie" are believed to have come from the French as a replacement for the Old English "Elf", representing a otherworldly creature from folklore and mythologies commonly known as "fairies" which was popularized by Spenser and Shakespeare. Written greatly about by the famous artist/writer Brian Froud, the word "Fae" is used interchangeably for the terms "Elfland", "Faerieland", "Elf", and "Faerie". This terminology has also been spelled variously from "fae", "fairy", Fayerye", "fayre", and "faerie" to represent the creatures and/or the world from which they live. The term "Faeid" represents these creatures as representing "humans", "faeries", and intermingled cross-breeds as individuals who believe themselves to have faerie bloodline, ancestry, or higher than average knowledge about the fae. These individuals, whether real or delusional, believe that part of their life purpose is to assist in bridging the gap of understanding/mis-understanding between the human realm and the faerie realm. Many "Faeids" believe that there was once a time when the world of the fae and the world of humans were a solitary dimension that was separated into two distinctly, yet overlapping realms, sometime around the discovery and use in weaponry of Iron. The only way to walk between these worlds is through faerie portals, gateways, or doorways that either sporadically appear on the planet, exist within magical leylines or places, or created through magic and ritual. These separated realms and the faerie aversion to Iron have been discussed by many writers and authors. Many of the theories of human and faerie cross-breeding can be found in the works of. Faeids are believed to be individuals who can and do walk between these realms or have been invited by faery to do so.

In 2000, A Pagan organizer by the name of Leaf McGowan started a magical path or religion based on "Faeids" called "Faeidism" or "Faeidry" which consists of the rites, rituals, practices, and wisdom of the "faeids" who live a lifestyle or path in life that seeks constantly to be in touch with the Faery realm. Faeids commonly wear the "Faery Star" or "Elven Star" as their symbol. This is a seven-pointed symbol they believe was given to humanity by the Fae to represent the connection to the world of Faerie so that each other can recognize each other. It is a every growing popular symbol in the New Age, Neo-Pagan, and metaphysical communities. The Faeid Fellowship, started by Leaf McGowan in 2000, still does some networking and group events.

Since 2000, several fantasy authors have used the term "faeid" to represent the faeries in their novels and writings. A couple individuals have used the character in video games. Some writers have associated "Faeids" to be a part of "Otherkin".