There is never a time when you are unaccompanied.

There is never a time when you are unaccompanied.

I carried these words with me on the whole drive back from a Ceile De teaching retreat 8 hours away. I’ve spent most of my time in a car as a passenger, so driving that distance by myself was a challenge. Luckily, I had just learned at that retreat that I was always always accompanied. The drive became easier knowing that I was not alone.

This living on the earth as a human being is a difficult journey sometimes, and I find it very helpful to know that I am not alone. It makes it all more bearable knowing that there is a benevolent energy nearby that is concerned for my well-being.

Is that something you believe, too?

Have you ever felt the presence of spirits or angels?

In my Catholic upbringing, I was taught that angels were non-human spirit beings who brought messages of loving guidance from the Divine. I was taught that my guardian angel was in charge of protecting and guiding me. I learned about archangels who are angels on special missions from God. By the way, the feast day of the Archangels was just celebrated as Michaelmas on September 29.

Now, I haven’t given much thought to my guardian angel since the nuns taught me about her in my grade school days. But learning about the spiritual beings who are part of the Celtic Otherworld has awakened my curiosity and brought me much comfort.

Several years ago, I was sure I almost caught a glimpse of one of these beings hiding in the bushes when I was visiting a stone circle in Kenmore, Ireland in Kerry County. Perhaps it was just the sunlight rippling off the nearby River Finnihy but stone circles and other megalithic structures throughout Ireland are said to be protected by the Sidhe.

Stone Circle - Kenmare Ireland

Stone Circle central dolmen - Kenmare Ireland

Stone Circle close up - Kenmare Ireland

Who are these mysterious, usually invisible, and quick footed beings?

In Celtic lands, they are called the Sidhe (pronounced shee) which is an ancient name for the fairy race of Ireland. I have it on good authority, though, that they do not like being called fairies because they consider that to be a derogatory term.

To my understanding, the Sidhe are like angels who bring messages to us from the divine. I imagine that all countries and traditions have their own unique spiritual beings who show us the light and love of God. But the Sidhe have made me aware of a hunger for that which is beyond our world that is defined, or limited, by our five senses.

Perhaps you’ve heard about “thin spaces” or times of the year when the veil thins. That veil is what separates us from the Otherworld, thinning at times to allow us glimpses of what lies beyond. Samhain is such a time, as are all of the celebrations on the Celtic Wheel. These are auspicious times to be in contact with the Sidhe.

Scottish painter John Duncan (1866-1945) painted the Riders of the Sidhe (below) during the Celtic Revival of the late 19th century. Other than this painting and reading that the Sidhe are reportedly very tall beings (perhaps this explains their disdain for the the label ‘fairies’), I have no idea what the Sidhe actually look like. No doubt, inherent in being an invisible spirit is the ability to take on any form they desire.

Riders of the Sidhe by John Duncan (1911)

Although I’ve never seen the Sidhe with my eyes, I’ve sensed their presence, usually along forest paths or near rivers. I find comfort in the idea that they are always nearby, committed to keeping us moving in the right direction. Spending time in natural places, especially among the trees, reminds me that there is never a time when I am unaccompanied.

I have been inspired to create a series of paintings which reflect my understanding of how the Sidhe interact with humans. Since I have no reference photos obviously, these images have evolved completely from my imagination informed by all I’ve read and received. I share with you two of my pieces here.

Enfolded by the Sidhe

This composition conveys the tallness of the Sidhe compared to the human who is being enfolded in a compassionate embrace. My intent was to evoke a feeling of being cared for. I especially like that the Sidhe’s hair breaks the edge of the frame.

Forest Sidhe

After hearing that the Sidhe emit a bluish light and are sometimes referred to as Blue People, I tried to capture this blue aura of light with a watercolor wash. In an earlier version (below), the blue aura just looked like the sky after I painted in the foreground. In the current version (above), I minimized the foreground and emphasized the line work with black and gold gel pens, bringing out the gold swirls and spirals in the trunk and limbs of the Forest Sidhe.

As with all of my paintings, this was a process. Do you like these behind the scene progress photos of the many iterations?

This is how this piece evolved:

I kept starting again, which could have been quite frustrating, but the piece kept getting better. I felt more confident with each version. Knowing that I can create multiple and successively stronger versions prevents me from worrying about what might happen if I take a risk that “ruins” a painting. If I painted it once, I can always begin again.

Have you ever felt the presence of an otherworldly being? Perhaps a loved one who has already transitioned? The Celtic world also recognizes the supportive presence of our enlightened ancestors, who are called the Sionn (pronounced shoon).

Do not be afraid, I am with you. Isaiah 41:10. Along with the Sidhe and the Sionn keeping watch in the Otherworld, there is never a time when we are unaccompanied!