This is a review of the Pagan Portals book: Fairy Queens by Morgan Daimler

Morgan Daimler has a very different background to me, so it was fascinating to read about a few of the Irish and Scottish named Queens of Fairy.

Daimler, as ever, takes an academic starting point to tease out the threads of these powerful beings, exploring the etymology of their names – because names hold power. If we understand the meanings held in a name we can uncover the nature of the name-holder, and Daimler unpicks these tangles with skill and conciseness.

This book holds discussions of several specific Irish and Scottish Fairy Queens, including Nicnevin, Aine, Una, Mab and Titania as literary fairies, the Queen of Elfhame, and others, followed by guided meditations to meet several of them, and suggestions for how to decorate an altar to them, and offerings that each one might like.

I enjoyed the exploration of lore and legend surrounding these Queens, and the presentation of the different courts, and though I found the details of courtly hierarchy a little literal compared to my experience, I come from a different landscape and a different tradition. I did, however, very much appreciate Daimler’s sensible approach of urging manners and caution in engaging with these very real and powerful Ladies.

On a different note, the opening section also includes a thoughtful discussion on how to traverse in a magical journey if you are physically disabled and find that your disability travels with you, including the reminder that mobility aids can in themselves be spirits that travel with you, if you set things up that way.

There are many different traditions for working with the Fair Folk, and definitely different approaches to working with the Fairy Queens, (at least as many as there are Queens themselves, I suspect) and this is a great introduction to the particular Queens and relationship styles that Daimler works with, and has some excellent pointers for any interaction with the Queens of Fairy. Make space for them, mind your manners, bring a gift, and remember; they are real, powerful, wonderful, and entirely untamed. Just the way they should be.

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(PS: Full disclosure, I’m published by Moon Books too, who sent me this to review. Find my books here.)