Fairy Magic

In accordance with the Old Bosnian believes the Moon Goddess manifested in two forms. The first form was celestial and the second one was a tellurian. In her celestial form the Goddess had the power of magic and healing whilst in its tellurian form she was the goddess of fertility and well being. The text of the old Bosnian Love Chant alludes on her tellurian form, noticeable already in the beginning of the formula “Black Earth Mother, please help me, nor is this charm related to you neither to me, but to my dear…” When Christianity came into Bosnia and after that the Islam, the old cult of Mother Goddess was preserved, thanks to Bogumils, but with time the people forgot the meaning of most of the rituals and customs.

The belief in fairies is the best preserved part of the cult of Mother Goddess, which was kept in the mind of people. It is obvious that the cult could continue to exist only by loosing its religious significance and get a mark of local legends and superstitions. As such, it did not present any threat to monotheism but could have been forwarded from generation to generation. Based upon it, even the titles of Moon Goddess and Mother Earth had been changed into Zlatna (Golden Fairy) and Gorska vila (Forrest Fairy). Both of them have been mentioned in the mythology of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The title Zlatna comes from the word gold which reminds of shinning, gloss or better to say the moonlight. The Gorska vila is the same as the Forrest Fairy and the late title also refers to earth.




What happened to Hasiba B. from a small Northwest village of Bosnia, few years after the World War II, shows the best that the connection between the people and old goddesses never severed. According to her story, once while she was shepherding at the meadow something unusual happened. While walking around she suffered a huge shock for no apparent reason which mostly reassembled the epileptic seizure. She lost the consciousness, her body was completely rigid and she was foaming out of the mouth. The family members found her in such condition and brought her home. Hasiba was lying for three days without consciousness like being in coma. When she woke up on the fourth day, she was completely sound and healthy. That most fascinating thing was that she woke up with the gift of foreboding and healing. Namely, while in coma she was visited by fairies who taught her how to foretell the future by watching into the water, how to perform divination with beans and how to heal the people by ritual of salivanje strahe. The fairies also taught her the various bajalicama (oral charms) that she was supposed to pronounce in the healing rituals. One of the most interesting charms is the one related to the magical healing of the Moon.

If analyzing quite a long text of three oral charms which make a whole, one could write a lot. However for this occasion it is enough to list few interesting ones. The oral charms brings up several times numbers 3 and 9 (3x9=27, which corresponds to the lunar circle), few times word silver, the metal dominated by Moon in astrology, while water as the Moon element is being mentioned 52 times. For better understanding of this text, maybe is good to specify that a year has 52 weeks.

The fight against the evil embodied in physical and psychological diseases starts by activating of two elements: earth and water and after that the fire. It is important to remember that the forth element of air is present constantly through the breath i.e. the speech of a person who chants. As described in the chant, during the battle between the earth and water from one side against the evil, the “doors of the earth” are being open whilst the valleys and hills collide. That creates the power which neutralizes the evil. The appearance of the full moon is quoted at the end of the fist chant.

The second oral charm starts with full moon coming that manifests by the psychical calmness of patient. The full moon waning, the moon phase coming and this change results by Moon giving the water and strength to the patient. It follows by the next: “the patient was born in the night of the full moon and therefore he eliminated any decease during nine days”, “the night comes to the patient as so the help from the water; as the down comes the following day so the sun will arrive to the patient.” The last verse points out that by arrival of the sun the patient will be relieved of physical issues, such as fear, insomnia and anxiety. After, as the sun goes down in the west so the peace and calmness comes to the patient. On the next night the full moon brings the water as the gift to the patient that heals him for the next nine days. The evil withdraws and disappears as the days pass by. At the very end are mentioned the following: the full moon as well as the moon phase that brings the new moon which makes patient resting and neutralize the negative affects.



At the very beginning of the third and last oral charms it is described the arrival of full moon that brings the health i.e. strength to the patient. The most interesting part in this chant is speeding up the moon phases: full moon – moon phase – full moon, whilst element of water is in all verses that follow the moon change. Once again the reborn of the patient is emphasized but this time he is born for the first time during the night of the moon phase and the second time during the full moon. In both cases the moon “gifts” the patient but this time the gifts are three waters and nine days. These gifts have the profound curing effect as described in the following verses: “regenerate its own body; open the eyes; calm the psych; heal the bones and body; the full moon is coming…” In the last 15 sentences it describes exclusively the fight between fire and water, their interaction that bring definite victory over negative influences which caused psychological and physical problems to the patient.

Faeries are in a nutshell ancient ghosts of nature or personifications of their strengths. They were known to the old Illyrians, Romans, Greeks... The belief in faeries is found along the entire Europe but also of Middle East. In Iran and Turkey the faeries are called periler and have identical functions and descriptions like the ones in the European tradition. They are described as eternally young girls of stunning beauty, with long red and golden hair. A large number of faeries has wings.

According to Bosnian mythology the faeries are born out of dew which falls on the leaves of the great tree which grows on a mysterious, unknown hill. It has magical powers which can be used for good and bad which is witnessed by numerous events sung in folk songs where it is described that faeries became to certain heroes, such as Alija Đerzelez, Mujo Hrnjica or Halil, mothers, sisters or lovers. If a faery took on a motherly role towards the hero, she would grant him enormous strength and intelligence, but if the relationship was that of siblings, they would heal all wounds that the hero received during battles with herbs and magic or the faery would tell him all about the enemy's plans. If the faery falls in love with the hero then she would become his lover and the mother of his future child which she would leave with the father after birth and she would go back to her faeries in the nature.

It is this belief about the abandoned faery children resulted with the birth of a humane practice of taking care of orphans which saved thousands of children abandoned at an early age, from a certain death. Namely, the Bosnian folk believed that abandoned children after birth were children from a faery and that's why it was gladly taken in and raised as their own. It was believed that those children brought good fortune and bliss to the family which was from then on protected by the faery. In the past BIH didn't have an orphanage or another government institution which would take care of abandoned children, this belief largely helped in taking care of countless orphans which were abandoned in forests or streets by irresponsible parents.

As we already mentioned the faeries took great interest in Bosnian heroes, they helped them in combat, healed their wounds, grieved for them, became their lovers and mothers of their children and sometimes sisters. However, from the preceding text we can see that faeries didn't only help folk heroes but also common people, especially children. Their help was particularly valued by the people which can be seen by numerous epic poems like the one from Jablanica called "Halil searching for Mujo's horse Đogat" in which out of 347 verses, 41 of them were dedicated to the faeries participation as a helper. Their specialty, besides magic is healing with the help of herbs. It is considered that most of the knowledge about medicinal properties of plants the humans gained thanks to the intervention of these beings. In one poem how the mother of Omer Hrnjica following the advice of a faery finds the plant kunica (Achillea millefolium L.) and drains its juices above her son's wound and covers it with cloth. In folk songs the wounded Mujo Hrnjica is being healed by faeries which live in forests and mountains. Besides such a way the faeries, wanting to help the greatest hero of Bosnia, perform various spells such as the one that gave his horse Đogat wings and helped him win every race.

The faeries usually live on mountains and large forests near lakes. They spend most of their time flying from tree to tree, bathing, combing hair and dancing in circles. The hair which contains all of the faeries power was often depicted in folk stories as a great danger to the faery itself since it could get tangled in a bush and she became an easy prey to passers-by. Apparently, whosoever helped a faery untangle her hair from a bush could ask the faery to help him with something or to even become his wife. She couldn't reject any wish. Faeries, especially the ones living in mountains or forests, easily fall in love. There are dozens of stories in which a faery fell in love with a man and then kidnapped him and lived for several years in a cave or forest with him.

Evil faeries

Unlike them, the water faeries are hostile towards humans. They reside next to sources of rivers, streams or seas. They spend almost all of their time bathing and they have fun by enchanting with their song the one that they want to drown. That's why people carried ember with them when they would approach a river or creek during the night in order to protect themselves from the faeries.

In a few folk tales about Mujo Hrnjica and Alija Đerzelez, they are depicted as brothers even though in real life they weren't brothers. We hypothesise that the idea about them being brothers was created based on the information that both of these Bosnian heroes were fed by the milk of the same faery, they are considered "foster brothers". According to Bosnian belief if a mother loses her milk and another woman breastfeeds her child that woman is considered to be his other mother or "foster mother" and it's forbidden for that child and children of that woman to get married.

In a folk song about Mujo and Alija it is mentioned how they went hunting birds from the family of ducks known as utve zlatokrile (Tadoma ferriginea) which are, as mythology claims, the form in which faeries like to transform into. After they finished with the hunt they sat down next to the lake to rest and they eventually fell asleep. During that time they were observed by three white faeries which were angry since they killed a few of their favourite birds. The oldest one of them offered to the others hundred ducats if they manage to alienate the two of them. The youngest faery appeared next to Mujo and started to cry. Her cry woke up Mujo who saw a beautiful young girl next to him. He immediately woke up his brother Alija saw instead of one, two beautiful girls and he answered angrily that it's not fair that he has two beautiful girls and he has none. They got into a fight and Mujo pulled out a knife and stabbed his brother. Then he placed the girl on the brother's horse and he mounted his horse and they rode home. Along the way Mujo saw a black crow without her right wing and he asked her how she lived without her right wing to which the crow replied that she lives like a brother that has no brother. Those words saddened Mujo and he felt sorry for wounding his brother and the faery told him to hurry back since she used to heal the sik and she would heal his brother. However, when they returned his brother was already dead and Mujo punished himself with death.

However water faeries are not untouchable and their constant need for bathing can lead them into dangerous situations. Namely, if a man spots them bathing he can sneak and steal their clothes. According to belief the faery whose clothes is stolen by a man she needs to marry him. In ethnographic books there are records that faeries often met with elf's in a village Seoce near Visoko. Apparently some young men managed to steal their clothes and some faeries married them. Since they are immortal after the death they became free and they would return into nature.

All of the faeries powers are located in her hair which they nurture until perfection. While they are combing their hair the faeries sing and during that they utter mysterious verses which are full of wisdom. The hair that falls off during combing is wrapped around fern (Pteridophyta). They especially like to visit horses that have a lush mane and they like to knit tiny braids which are hard to undo. Such horses are considered to be special because they have been touched by faeries.

Fairies of Bosnian mythology

If some faeries take particular care of a human, that then means that he carries a deeper connection to their world. Such persons shall stand out in life with enlightened wisdom. To be the favourite of the faeries, that is if he is noble and the faeries like him, means that one has the ability to hear their song or even distinguish their mysterious verses heard through the wind. Such a man will appreciate the truth since most faeries are guardians of truth and they drive away lies. However, if an encounter of a faery and a bad person takes place, that person is then risking mental illness.

Bosnian mythology enumerates many names for faeries, the most famous ones are: Bosnian faery, faery queen Golden, Red faery, Forest faery, faery of the mountains (mountain faery), Black faery, water faery etc. Certain faeries have characteristic names such as Gope, Gospa, Srebra, Bilka, etc.

Red faery: she usually appears around sunset. They usually sit in an alley or next to a road combing her long red hair. The one who meets her can be harmed when she swings her hair in his direction and hits him with it. A man becomes sick from that blow and sometimes they can fall into a coma. Her symbol is the colour red.

Bosnian faery: she is a girl with golden hair and luscious bosom. She wears a long white gown whose edges are sown through with a golden thread. In her hair there is a flower of lily. Her body is adorned with large wings which she uses, according to legend, to fly through the air and fly over Bosnia in all directions. Bosnian faery has a mellifluous voice and she sings often. By nature she falls within the benevolent kind. She can often be found in the company of other faeries which are of a lower rank than her. Her symbol is the flower lily (Lilium bosniacum).

Faery queen Golden: she is the mistress of all Bosnian faeries. She lives in large thick forests and always moves in the company of her subjects. At night, especially during a full moon, she exits the forests and bathes in a river or pond. She has golden wings and a crown on her head. After her bath she sings and plays with the other faeries on some mound until the first rooster sounds at dawn. Her symbol is a full moon.

Forest faery: she is among the oldest faeries and she is often called the mother of faeries. It is considered that Golden faery is her daughter which inherited her. Forest faery is the one which is most remembered among the Bosnian folk because she was the reason that Mujo Hrnjica became the biggest hero of Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is meek and wise by nature and she has a mellifluous voice. The Bosnian witches (stravarka) call them for aid during healing rituals addressing them with words "mother, sister". Her symbol is a golden apple.

Mountain faery: she is a faery that has a garland of flowers in her hair. She wears a long dress and sometimes she holds a walking stick in her hand. She has the ability to transform and she often transforms into a goat for easier passage along the steep hillside. She is familiar with all of the secrets of the plants and healing. Herdsmen often encounter her, and she helps them if there is a need for it. Her symbol is a white goat.

Black faery: she is also called which-faery since she appears in the form of a dark shadow especially around the time of holidays Beltaine (May) and Samhaina (October-November). Sometimes they appear after sunset but more often at nights with moonlight. She appears suddenly and disappears quickly. From all of the faeries the black faery doesn't speak much nor does she sing. Her symbol is black colour.

Water faery: she is the guardian of all springs and it is believed that humans can suddenly fall ill if he walks next to a spring during night or if he accidentally disturbs a faery that is bathing. That's why there was a folk custom to great the spring with these words "Selam alejk, water and waters guardians!" Showing respect towards the faery the humans tried to protect themselves from their rage. All water faeries are by nature egoistic and vengeful. They usually hate men and they are always trying to trick them and drown them in the water while they are more merciful towards the women and they sometimes help them. The symbol of a water faery is a silver coin.

Faeries and magic

It's not impossible to see faeries. Sometimes meeting them can be a spontaneous and sudden event caused by a magical ritual. There are two reasons that can cause to be accidentally visible to humans. The first one is that nature ghosts, in certain circumstances, thicken their fluid form in such a way that it becomes visible to those humans who are sensible enough. As a second possibility comes the one by which man, due to his accessibility or particular psychological state, caused by occult techniques or spontaneity, becomes sensitive to various vibrations.

If you would like to see or hear sky faeries I recommend that you try it somewhere in nature, early in the morning, because according to mythology that is the time when "faeries born during the red dawn" appear, whose appearance is usually the most fascinating. All you need to do is to be open and focused. To help you see the faery in the sky, you can repeat the magical formula "Paralada" which enables you to see them. You will recognize them by the white and golden dresses and long hair in which all of their power is contained, according to mythology. Sky faeries can also be seen in a forest, especially near an old oak tree, or on the back of a deer or some other animal.

Water faeries, which often serve as muses to humans, can be seen near lakes, rivers or creeks. To call forth their forms you should repeat the formula "Nixa" out loud which stimulates clairvoyance in terms of the water element.  

The belief in faeries is not only a part of the Bosnian folklore but also of the magical tradition. As the stories about faeries are the best kept part of the ancient occult of the Grand-mother in which fertility, motherhood, love and magic intertwine, i.e. the entire concept of ancient witchcraft was preserved in the practice of many rituals and beliefs. Some of them were practiced until the middle of the past century among the Bosnian women, especially the elderly women.

If child was struck by a negative influence of spellbound eyes and as a result cries often without any visible cause, it has a fever, is sleepless or loses appetite the mother will, at dusk, when the faeries gather around to dance, take the child in her hands and rock it in the direction of west and repeat:

The faeries are calling me to a wedding,
I'm not going nor am I sending my child,
but I'm sending my son's (or daughter's) tears".

Sometimes faeries can attack people and during it they throw vilenine on him, a disease which is manifested in mental issues, fear, unrest, insomnia, headache, etc. To cure himself from such an unnatural disease, the diseased must sit on the floor and one of the members of the household holds a metal dish above his head which holds fire created out of spruce branches. Seven grains of salt are thrown in the fire twenty one times. It is believed that the crackling of the salt in the fire and the smoke of spruce branches will annul the effect of vilenina.

Faeries have a specific voice which is mellifluous and intoxicating and all those that hear it won't be able to forget it for the rest of their life. When one contacts one of the faeries, one can ask them any question one wants from the domain of magic and secretes of nature but one must never ask the faeries to give you something or leave something behind. Faeries can be very dangerous enemies if one displeases them in any way and they need to be therefore respected as well as the ambient from which they steam.

In the same way, without respect towards nature there is no contact with the faeries. That rule can be seen in numerous examples from the ban on littering on meadows and forests to watering plants in the draught period and helping diseased animals. This rule can be seen in the ritual picking of medicinal herbs and magical herbs. Namely, before she would go into nature to pick an herb the witch would bathe and had to bring a golden ring with her. When she would approach a plant the witch would utter a short prayer such as "In the name of the forest faery, my sister and mother" and then she would put the ring on the plant and then she would pluck the plant out of the ground.

When one draws a protective circle on the ground it is done so with a magical wand which every witch needs to have. It is used to draw a circle in a clockwise direction. When the circle is drawn the following is uttered: "I drew you and dedicated you, o magical circle of protection, in order to protect me from any type of attack and danger during an encounter of this human and the other world, I dedicated you in the name of Vidasus and Thane!

Vidasus and Thane were among the Illyrian tribes of Bosnia the main deities of nature known among the ancient world as Pan and Diana or Cernunnos and Aradia. We're talking about the male and female principles on which the entire nature and world rest. If you are invoking one of the Bosnian faeries then you should always refer to the Faery queen and Faery mother under whose patronage are the other faeries. The two of them are actually ancient goddesses of moon and earth and that's why you should touch the ground with your palms after you draw the magical circle and then you lift them towards the moon, uttering: "divine mother of earth, divine mother of sky - bless me". Then she moves her palms across her face, chest all the way to her thighs.

Faeries can also be seen with the help of a small trick. Namely, it is necessary that during a night with moonlight one visits a forest and lay a silver coin on the ground next to a lake and hide behind a tree and wait patiently. Faeries are characterised as very curious beings and if they are close by they won't resist the temptation to see the shiny object in the darkness. But, you mustn't talk to them, you can only observe them silently from afar, as they graciously walk and move their luscious and long hair. When they satisfy their curiosity the faeries will disappear and you can be in possession of a very powerful magical item.

On the spot where the faeries stood, you must dig because you will find a root of the famous faery herb which springs up where the faeries were. You will recognize it by its strange shape. Dig it out, clean it from dirt and place it in a small bag which will be placed around your neck. It will be a very powerful amulet with which every ritual will have double the power and effectiveness. Keep the root and don't talk about it, and don't let anyone touch it.