Fairy: Also “faerie.” Mythical winged creatures present in European folklore who are said to possess magical powers. They resemble a tiny human being and are known for being mischievous. There are numerous kinds of fairy; some are described as being tiny creatures while others appear more grotesque. The earliest account of fairies in England dates back to the thirteenth century; it was written by a historian named Gervase of Tilbury. A more modern-day belief is that fairies occupy the realms parallel to the earth and live alongside other nature spirits. They can be both good and bad and do have a profound knowledge of the universe. (Castlelow, 2019.)
Fairy Forts: Irish. Also referred to as “raths” or “fairy mounds.” Fairy forts are mounds of earth found in nature, believed to be the relics of ancient Celtic ruins, which are now associated with fairy dwellings. The Irish are superstitious about the raths and consider them to bring bad luck if any are disturbed. There have been reports of people being injured around forts when trying to make changes to the landscape. (Hendicott, 2017.)
Fairy Ring: A trodden-down grass circle or a natural formation of stones or mushrooms in a circle measuring up to ten meters in diameter. English and Celtic folklore believed that fairies resided around the circle and that it was a dangerous place. Legend has it that if one should step inside the ring, bad luck will befall them. Other accounts tell of anyone who enters the ring being made to dance until they become exhausted and die or go insane. (Kusby, 2017.)
Fairy Stone: Also called a “hag stone.” A calcium carbonate crystal. A natural stone with a physical hole in it. Believed to possess magical energy and used as an amuletic tool for healing. (Magdalena, 2019.)
Faith Healer: One who has the skill to heal the suffering of another by placing their hands on the individual and saying a prayer to the higher beings. Another name for this is “the laying-on of hands.” This practice is present in Christianity but is also a form of supernatural healing. (Brennan, 1990.)
Falling Pictures: A picture, photograph, or mirror that unexpectedly crashes to the floor and lands facedown. Superstition has it that when this takes place, it is an omen of death. It is not always the case that the person portrayed in the picture is the one to meet their demise; instead, it is an otherworldly message that someone close will die. (Angelfire, 2019.)
Familiar: A spirit in the guise of an animal or pet that serves a witch and assists her with ceremonial practices. In folklore, a witch’s familiar was traditionally a cat, but any small animal, such as a dog, rodent, amphibian, or insect, was also present. The witch was said to transfer magical powers and intelligence to the creature so that it could spy on the villagers and relay the information to the witch through telepathic communication. In medieval times, witches were believed to shape-shift into an animal for the same purpose. Today, the majority of witches are animal lovers, so most will keep a pet and refer to it as their familiar.
Far Memory: A psychic occurrence that happens not under hypnosis, but during a quiet time of reflection where one sees visions and past events from either this life or from a previous existence. Sometimes this happens spontaneously, where the person might envision a specific date in the past or a disturbing episode. It is thought that when one reincarnates, the soul is entrenched with memories from past lives that can unintentionally be accessed. (Beltzer, 1986.)
Father Crespi: Carlos Crespi Croci was a Catholic priest who was sent to work in Ecuador in 1923, where he stayed until his death in 1982. He was so highly regarded by the natives that they brought him a wide range of stunning artifacts—fifty thousand in all. It was said that most of the relics were found in the Tayos Caves: Cuva de los Tayos, or Caves of the Oilbirds. In 1976, a large expedition of over one hundred people went to the caves, including NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong. They found an ancient grave from the fifteenth century, and some of the structures of the cavern were considered to be unnatural, perhaps created with superior knowledge. There were archways and enormous areas to be discovered, but many were blocked by water. Father Crespi was interviewed and showed his extensive collection of artifacts, including many inscribed gold plates. There exists a film of Father Crespi showing the leader of the team these relics. Archaeologists said some of the pieces were Babylonian but could offer no explanation of how they got there.
After Father Crespi’s death, his collection was acquired by the Central Bank of Ecuador. Investigators have lately been allowed to view some of the collection, but none of the gold plates, hieroglyphs, or Babylonian items were present. The authorities initially claimed these were lost and wouldn’t discuss it further. When the investigators continued to search for the missing items, they received threats and were told to stop their search immediately. (Hugh Newman, 2016.)
Faun: Greek mythology. Related to the satyrs of Greek mythology. A mythical creature belonging to the natural world. The upper torso is that of a man, but from the waist down, he is said to have two hind legs and a tail, not unlike a goat. On his head, there are two curled horns, and he has pointed ears. (Difference Between, 2019.)
Feather: Feathers are used and revered by many cultures and represent a connection to a higher and more spiritual plane. Some North American tribes collect and use them in their dress for tribal celebrations and ceremonies. In some cultures, birds are classed as messengers from the gods, so if a particular feather falls in front of a person, it is picked up and studied in great detail. Today, white feathers are classed as peace, and if a person finds one in their path, it means that they are protected and guided by angels. Black represents both luck and death, depending on the culture, whereas brightly colored plumes indicate celebrations and happiness. (Otherworldly Oracle, 2018.)
Feng Shui: Geomancy. The specific arrangement of items and objects in the home to harmonize the flow of energy for individuals and their surroundings. The Chinese believe that invisible forces known as “qi” create a union with the universe, the earth, and human beings. Inconsequential things, such as a squeaking door or a plant positioned in the wrong place, are essential to the practice of feng shui. People who exercise this art believe that more positivity in life can be achieved by situating items more constructively. Water is a common symbol in feng shui. The bathroom takes water out of the house. To keep a healthy bank balance, one must always keep the toilet seat down and the bathroom door closed. (Mackail, 2018.)
Fire Walking: When barefooted people run over hot coals without burning their feet. Firewalking has been documented since the Iron Age and has been present in many cultures throughout time. Wide pathways of lit embers are created so that individuals can prove acts of bravery and give evidence that they possess magical abilities. Scientists theorize that because the person is running so fast, the heat doesn’t have time to cause any damage to the feet. If the person were to saunter over the glowing embers, then they would indeed be burned. (Dirnhuber, 2018.)
Five-Pointed Star: (See Pentagram.)
Flashback: To have a sudden brief recollection of a past life event. Flashbacks usually occur without the person having prepared any form of meditation or trance beforehand. They can happen to anyone at any given time.
Flowers: For centuries, flowers have been understood to possess magical properties and have been used for vibrational enlightenment, giving power to remedies and ceremonial practices. Certain types of flora are alleged to enhance spiritual work with their color, scent, and healing properties. The Victorians studied the language of flowers and sent hidden messages and gifts of flowery jewelry to reveal the secrets of their heart. (Tanase, 2018.)
Flying Dreams: To dream of flying or traveling at high speed. This airborne feeling occurs when a person is astral projecting. The soul leaves the body and travels around the astral planes. (Cheung, 2009.)
Foo Fighters: During 1944, allied aircrew flying over occupied Europe started reporting that their aircraft were being followed and circled by giant balls of light. These were given the nickname “Foo Fighters” by the British Royal Air Force. These orbs were of varying colors: red, orange, and yellow. Some thought they might be St. Elmo’s Fire, which is a weather phenomenon generally caused by thunder and lightning, but these storms create a corona discharge that is bright blue or violet in color. The aircrew reported that the lights seemed to be playing with them, performing aerobatic maneuvers as if under intelligent control—often at very high speeds—and then just disappearing into thin air. Some assumed they were secret Nazi weapons. Similarly, ball lightning was suggested, although weather conditions were not appropriate for that. Also, ball lightning is usually seen for a few minutes at a time, whereas the Foo Fighters often chased these planes over long distances. Interestingly, after the war, German Luftwaffe pilots also reported they had seen these orbs of light and assumed they were an allied secret weapon. (Kyrstek, 2012.)
Foreboding Feelings: An intuition or a gut feeling. Many psychics and mediums have experienced foreboding feelings, sensing there is something in the air. More practical souls will say they get hunches about things. Usually, the “doom and gloom” emotion will happen about a week or two before the event occurs. For example, a person can have feelings that their partner might be having an affair, though there is not a shred of evidence to prove this. Later, it becomes real. Perhaps a world catastrophe is about to happen—one might have the urge to cry for no apparent reason, being fearful and agitated but not knowing why. Psychic theorists believe that when a person is asleep and dreaming, their guide or loved one in spirit, a guardian angel, or another celestial being will appear to warn them of a tragedy that is about to happen. It is said that upon waking, the dream is wiped from their memory, and only the feelings are left, but the soul retains the knowledge for later.
Fortune-teller: A person who is a psychic or clairvoyant and has the ability to investigate the future and predict events in the querent’s life. This procedure has been utilized throughout time and is still very popular today. Different methods and tools of divination include tarot readings, astrology, palmistry, runes, teacup readings, and scrying. Today, oracle cards have also made the list, as well as the use of colored marbles. A working clairvoyant will take bookings for querents and spend around an hour looking into the future for them. Psychics can also be known as life coaches or spiritual counselors.
Four-Leaf Clovers: Trifolium repens. A small, rare leaf with four petals protruding from one stem. Clover tends to have only three leaves, so when a four-leaf clover is found, it is considered to be a lucky find. It is a superstitious plant that is first mentioned in 1640 as a “purple grass plant.” Witches and sorcerers were said to collect them on a full moon, and they would blend them with vervain and other ingredients to enhance and bring more power to their spells. In Victorian times, it became fashionable for children to hunt for four-leaf clovers, as it was believed that fairies placed them in the ground to create luck and magic for the finder.