The Faeries and Folklore Podcast by Ronel: An Introduction to Solitary Fae #podcast #faeries #folklore

Episode 67: An Introduction to Solitary Fae

The folklore of solitary fae in a nutshell, how I reimagined it for my writing, and translated to Afrikaans.

Written and narrated by Ronel Janse van Vuuren.

Copyright 2023 Ronel Janse van Vuuren — All rights reserved.

Learn more about Solitary Fae in folklore here.

Get the transcript here.

Music: Secrets by David Fesliyan (FesliyanStudios.com) and Dramatic Heartbeat by FesliyanStudios.com

Transcript

You’re listening to the Faeries and Folklore podcast by Ronel.

I’m dark fantasy author Ronel Janse van Vuuren. With nearly a decade of digging around in dusty folklore books, researching creatures of imagination that ignited my curiosity, I’m here to share the folklore in a nutshell and how I reimagined it for my writing in an origin of the fae.

This is the Faeries and Folklore podcast.

Hi, I’m your host Ronel Janse van Vuuren. You can just call me Ronel. In today’s episode, we’re continuing our exploration of the fae realm.

This episode is brought to you by my Dark Court Sisters book series. Available in ebook, paperback and audiobook. Three sisters. Three destinies. Three ways to destroy the world. Go to ronelthemythmaker.com/darkcourtsistersseries for more.

You can now support my time in producing the podcast (researching, writing and everything else involved) by buying me a coffee. This can be a once-off thing, or you can buy me coffee again in the future at your discretion. Go to buymeacoffee.com/ronel to support me.

We’re continuing our exploration of Solitary Fae.

Today’s Faery: Solitary Fae

Folklore in a nutshell by Ronel

Fae wandering the world on their own, doing things without others — they have to be weird, right? After all, humans who do things on their own are considered weird — especially writers.

William Butler Yeats decided that there are two types of faeries: solitary faeries and trooping faeries. Trooping faeries, as we’ve already discussed, prefer Court life. Solitary faeries, though, prefer living alone and are inclined to be malicious.

The most notable of Solitary fae is the leprechaun. He makes shoes, according to legend, and this has made him very rich. He has hidden his treasure in crocks all across the countryside. Other Solitary fae include the banshee, brownie, phouka and leannan sìth.

According to Yeats, all Solitary fae like to play tricks on people – some a bit more malicious than others.

As long as you leave them alone, they won’t bother you. Right?

And now for my interpretation of the fae in an origin of the fae: solitary fae

When the Rift happened, many fae were displaced into the mortal realm – along with pockets of Faerie. Some fae decided to leave Court affiliations behind and became Solitary. After the great battle caused by Morrígan that led to the Tithe, these Solitary Fae had to choose a Court to pay their tithes to in return for protection and the right to live on Court lands (all of the mortal realm was divided between the two Courts).

Solitary Fae come in many forms and sizes. And though interfering in the lives of mortals isn’t advisable (the Compact makes things tricky), some enjoy toying with humans.

As a little bonus, let’s look at this faery translated to Afrikaans: Alleenloper Feë (this is of my own making)

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this episode of the faeries and folklore podcast and that you’ve learned something new about faeries.

Remember that you can get a transcript of this episode in the description. If you’re new to the podcast, why not go and grab your free copy of Unseen, the second book in the Faery Tales series, on my website ronelthemythmaker.com? Loads of folklore, magic and danger await! Take care!

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You can now support my time in producing the podcast (researching, writing and everything else involved) by buying me a coffee. This can be a once-off thing, or you can buy me coffee again in the future at your discretion.