For today’s post, I have decided to go over some of my favorite faeries that embody the energies of the seasons of the Wheel of the Year.
Banshee: Samhain is the season that I associate with the Banshee. She is the Faery Wailing Woman and one who detects the deaths of those in certain families. She is also sometimes related directly to the Washer at the Ford, who is seen washing the clothes of warriors who were fated to die in an upcoming battle. Banshees are directly related to multiple Faery Queen Goddesses, especially the Morrigan, and Cliodna. Both Goddesses are referred to as Queen of the Banshees! The connection to the Morrigan, and crows and ravens by extension, likewise linked Banshees to Morgan le Fay!
Gwragedd Annwn: Yule is the season that I associate with the Gwragedd Annwn. The Gwragedd Annwn is the Lake Maiden Faery Woman of Welsh Mythology. She is linked to the depths of emotion and with warrior energy. Her power is to help those who desire to know themselves better to become more self-actualized. She is a more stable Faery energy, as she is not often shown as being nearly as flighty as some other Faery beings. This is what led to her becoming the species of Fae that was the Arthurian Lady of the Lake. She is the one the bestowed Excalibur upon Arthur and fostered the orphaned Lancelot in Avalon! Many believe that the Faery Queen Goddess Rhiannon became the Lady of the Lake. Likewise, the Lady of the Lake can be viewed as an aspect of Morgan le Fay, as she symbolized the earlier incarnation of Morgana as Lady of Avalon before she became the sister of Arthur forever plotting the end of Camelot!
Nymph: Imbolc is the season that I associate with the Nymph. The Nymph is the Greek Faery Woman and Demi-Goddess, the living embodiment of the natural world. That is why there are Wood Nymphs, Water Nymphs, Sea Nymphs, and so on. She is playful in her energy and likes to be around her Faery sisters and loved ones. This new and playful energy is maiden energy that is so powerful at Imbolc as the first signs of Springtime are just beginning to come into the world. I feel that his energy is perfect for Imbolc time, as it is fiery and youthful as Brigid’s flame!
Leanan Sidhe: Ostara is the season that I associate with the Leanan Sidhe. The Leanan Sidhe is the Faery Woman, often referred to as the Faery Lover. She is a Faery Woman of Irish mythology that brings men under her thrall and likewise inspires artists that she enthralls to the greatest heights of their achievements. If and when she leaves them, to either return home as she is homesick or because she has lost interest, the man begins to wither and eventually will die. This romantic lover energy that she embodies makes me think of the warming nature of Spring. Plus there is always a reference to Spring being a time for lovers and that time when love is in bloom, making this Faery Lover the ideal Fae to embody this Spring Equinox season!
Flower Bride: Beltane is the time that I associate with the Flower Bride. The Flower Bride is the Faery Woman who becomes a Faery Queen through her marriage to a King. This is a young Faery woman who is the embodiment of Sovereignty. Her marriage is the marriage of the land, as she is the Faery that embodies the land and seas upon which she resides, to the King. It is the marriage to the Flower Bride that cements the rulership of the land. She is the youthful and sexual vitality of early marriage and love. Her abundance and beauty perfectly embody the energy of Beltane, which is so associated with the fiery passion and fertility as Spring is beginning to give way to Summer!
Mermaid: Midsummer is the time that I associate with the Mermaid. The Mermaid is a watery Faery Woman who appears in mythologies the world over, under several different names. Mermaids are the watery and have sexual energy that basks in the sun while combing their beautiful hair. She is also the watery depths of the unconscious that can be delved into to know ourselves better, mirroring the Gwragedd Annwn in some ways (which makes sense as Midsummer is the exact opposite point on the Wheel to Yule)! I feel that this watery Faery is truly the embodiment of the Summery energy, like a day at the beach. I also must note that Irish Faery Queen and Goddess Aine rules over Midsummer and she has a Mermaid form!
Faery Godmother: Lugnasadh is the time that I associate with the Faery Godmother. The Faery Godmother is the motherly Faery energy. This is like the Lady of the Lake when she fostered and raised an orphaned Lancelot in Avalon. This is the mystical Faery woman that nurtures fairytale heroines as they strive to be their best. The energy is very present during the first harvest festival as the sun is still shining but we are readying ourselves for the darkening of the Wheel of the Year. This is a time to nurture ourselves and others, making it the perfect time to embody this nurturing and motherly energy of the Faery Godmother!
Faery Queen: Mabon is the time I associate with the Faery Queen. The Faery Queen is the regal empowered Faery woman ready to take on the world. She is prepared for anything that comes her way. Her energy is more mature than the Flower Bride but builds upon the first blooms of romantic love. She is bold and self-assured in her ability to rule and lead. The number of Faery Queens in myth and legend is boundless. Some of my favorites are Morgan le Fay, Blodeuwedd, Rhiannon, Aine, Maeve, Guinevere, Iseult, and Melusina. Each of these Faery Queens also embodies elements of the other faeries, making the Autumn Equinox a time of coming full circle from the beginning of the magical year at Samhain!
~I hope that you have enjoyed this seasonal faery analysis. Do you agree with my choices of seasonal faeries? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Note: I have a Donations Page here for any of my readers who would like to support this blog. If you enjoy what I do here on White Rose of Avalon (and what I do on my YouTube channel Enchantress of Avalon), I would appreciate you considering giving a small one-time donation to support my ability to continue to create content. Link to my Donations Page: https://whiteroseofavalon.life/donations-page/
Further Reading
- The Fairy Bible by Teresa Moorey
- The Mabinogion translated by Sioned Davies
- Le Morte D’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory
- A New Dictionary of Fairies by Morgan Daimler
White Rose of Avalon 