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universe. Of course, such
    mindfulness only benefits the humans, without taking any-
    thing away from them. In return, devas can help the plants directly, and also impart knowledge and teachings through
    dreams or inspiration during meditation. So if after sing-
    ing to your plants you have a niggling notion in your mind 36 • Chapter One
    about how to help them grow bigger and better, it just
    might be a nudge from the devas.
    Just as devas evolve along the food chain or life cycle
    of living things, their nature can be influenced by humans.
    Devas in a garden that is deeply loved and served by its
    human caretakers might then evolve from being merely
    turnip devas, for example, into devas of the spirit of gardening. By serving devas, we may be assisting them to reach their highest spiritual potential, just as they help us with our greatest passions in life, in a sort of symbiotic spiritual relationship.
    Dinnshenchas—Fire
    Servants of the Goddess Aine, dinnshenchas are Irish dwarf faeries. They can shapeshift to any form that they wish, so don’t expect them to necessarily appear as stereotypical
    dwarves or faeries. Dinnshenchas are dedicated to the pro-
    tection of women, due to their service to a Goddess who
    was the survivor of rape. Women can call upon the guard-
    ian help of dinnshenchas during any time of need when
    they are being wronged. Dinnshenchas can take on terrify-
    ing forms to protect women from attackers.
    Dracs/Dracae/Nix—Water
    Found in France, England, and Germany, dracs are giant,
    floating purple blobs that usually appear on or near water.
    Dracs can shapeshift into the form of a golden chalice or
    a woman. Dracs frolic near natural bodies of water, or
    even just in damp forests. They enjoy floating down rivers on wooden rafts that look like plates. Dracs are harmless
    Getting started with Faeries • 37
    when you keep your distance, but are not helpful. They may devour or kidnap men when they reach toward the water
    to claim their prize. At that moment, the drac will grab the man and drag him away to either drown or live in captivity below the water.
    Drakes—Fire
    Originating in England, drakes are house faeries that seek out human homes that have a fireplace and a welcoming
    family. Though invisible to the eye, drakes have a very
    strong sulfurous smell that is not terribly pleasant. How-
    ever, the services drakes provide are worth the terrible
    smell, since they keep firewood dry and help the hearth fire start and keep burning through the night.
    Drakes enjoy offerings of food and old wood, and are
    more likely to take up residence in a home that is out in the country or near a forest. If offerings are withheld, a drake may become upset and leave the home forever.
    Duckfeet/Erdluitles—Earth
    The males of these Swiss dwarf faeries are called Hard-
    mandlene, while the females are called Erdbiberli. Though
    they do have webbed feet, they can’t swim and they keep
    their feet hidden by wearing long, hooded cloaks. A duck-
    foot has magical control over the weather, but as they are all shy around humans, they are unlikely to offer help with the weather to just anyone. In the past, farmers were able to gain the favor of a duckfoot by being polite. Pleasant
    weather would follow, helping the crops to ripen.
    38 • Chapter One
    Duendes—Earth
    Though duendes appeared first in Spain, they migrated
    with the Spanish people to the Americas. Duendes always
    appear as small women with long and slender fingers that
    taper to a point. They wear green robes and live solitary
    lives. Duendes are extremely envious and possessive, and
    especially like to try to take over a human home and drive its human occupants away.
    Though they do tidy up the houses they infest since
    they like order in their environment, make no mistake,
    they are not trying to help. A duende will set about creating cruel practical jokes, moving furniture, and tossing and breaking objects in the home. Things can get quite dangerous