Getting Started with Faeries • 41
der approaches their waterfall homes. Though fossegrim are not cruel, it would be wise to avoid becoming too attached to them, since they only want to toy with people’s hearts.
Fylgiar—Air In Iceland, some people, especially those born with a caul over their head (a leftover layer of membrane from the mother’s womb) will have a faerie companion throughout life called a fylgiar. The fylgiar helps its chosen person throughout his or her entire life, and perhaps even for some time after a given lifespan. Fylgiars remain invisible until shortly before their human’s death, when they make an appearance to warn of the upcoming demise. If the fylgiar appears as a beautiful and serene faerie, death will be peaceful. If a fylgiar appears mangled and in pain, the death of its human will be a terribly painful one. If one has been blessed with a fylgiar, one must serve the fylgiar throughout life in return for the fylgiar’s service. Serving a fylgiar can be done in dreams, or during meditation when the fylgiar can give specific instructions for how it would like to be helped. This reciprocal relationship helps build a bond of trust that can last beyond death.
Ganconer, Gancanagh—Air From Cornwall, Ireland, and Scotland, the ganconer faerie is only male. Ganconers are solitary and appear as attractive human men who carry pipes. Strangely enough, a ganconer never smokes his pipe, but only seems to hold it for decorative purposes since he hates the smell of smoke. Ganconers are not