The Gnomes

The  article below appeared in the March 2001 issue of “The Open Line“.

Madonna Pietra degli Scrovigni, Marie Spartali Stillman, 1884

Many thousands of years ago, during the mythical, heroic age of humanity, terrible wars erupted between migrating humans and the people of the Faerie tribes. Although the tribes of Fair Folk tried desperately to hold fast to their homelands against the ever-increasing torrent of humanity which swept across the area now known as Europe, battles for land and plunder spread as fire to dry tender. The peaceful lives of the Gnomes, Elves, and others of the Faerie finally gave way to the violent tide of war.

Though a few pockets of resistance remain in our physical world even up to this day, these terrible wars pushed many of the Faerie westward. They traveled across the European continent, and finally to Britain, Scotland and Ireland. It was within these Celtic lands that they made their final stand, until they were once again overwhelmed by the unceasing persecution of humanity. It was at this time that the Fair Folk began to leave our physical world for the distant worlds of spirit, where no human warrior or evil shaman could follow them. At last, in the bright, spirit realm of Tir na n’Og, the Faerie tribes found a secure and lasting peace, for Tir na n’Og is the realm closest to the Mother and Father Creator, Jesus and Mother Mary.

We first came to know members of the Fair Folk in 1997, when two Gnomes introduced themselves to us. Since then, our relationship with the people of the Faerie has grown and strengthened, and, over time, we have become acquainted with quite a large number of Gnomes, Elves, Sprites, Centaurs and others members of the Faerie tribes. We realize that traditional legends of the Faerie hold that they are pagan in their beliefs. Our own experience with them, however, has shown otherwise, for these Faerie hold a deep love and respect not only for Mother Goddess and Father God, but for Christ and Mother Mary. Through this column, we hope other humans will come to realize that the Faerie truly do exist today and are not just a part of myth and legend.

Many different types of Faerie dwell in Tir na n’Og. Though their races are as varied as the shells in the ocean, they view one another as close family members and live among each other with love. Because the Gnomes were the first of the Fair Folk to greet us, we have chosen to write of them first.

Gnomes stand about 3 to 3-1/2 feet tall. Their ears are pointed, with the upper tips having a slight downward descent, while their eyes are slanted upwards. Male and female Gnomes are all very beautiful, and though they live to be thousands of years old, they choose the age at which they wish to represent themselves. Some appear very youthful, while others may take on the aspect of a more mature person, with white hair or beard. The Gnomes were one of the first of the tribes of Fair Folk to leave the physical realm and travel to the distant realms closer to the Mother and Father Creator. They are filled with great spiritual wisdom and unlimited love and compassion, even for humanity, who they view as brothers and sisters who have lost their way home.

Gnome women wear their hair long, and they often braid it or interweave elements of nature such as shells, leaves, or feathers. Many of the Gnome men grow beards, especially the warriors. A Gnome male is not looked down upon should he decide not to grow a beard, but once grown, a beard is seldom shaved off, for to do so would be almost like walking about without your trousers on (or, at least, that is a Gnome saying).

Gnome homes can be found in the midst of nature, usually in a wooded area. Their homes are very comfortable, round, dome-like structures covered with earth and with green, growing things, such as trees, flowers, and grass. These homes do not take away from nature, but instead become a part of it, for it is the Gnomes’ great wish to live in harmony with Mother Earth and all of her children, and their homes reflect this philosophy.

The Fair Folk tend to have fewer children then humans do, but when a child is born, she or he is loved completely and without limit. When a Gnome mother is expecting, it is traditional for the mother and father, in preparation for the child’s birth, to build a circular nest within their home, using the natural elements of the forest. Within this safe and secure haven, the mother gives birth to the baby, in the same way as a human, but without the traumatic labor pains. The mother and child remain within this comfortable birthing place for three days, after which time the nest is dismantled and returned to Mother Earth.

As the child grows and begins to wear shoes, she or he receives, as a blessing, shoes which are larger then the child’s feet. The idea behind this folk tradition is that the child will have to keep growing to fill the shoes, and when the child grows into his or her first shoes, then another too-large pair is fitted for the child. This too-large shoe tradition continues until the child is fully grown. An old Gnome saying, “still tripping in their shoes,” refers to a Gnome who is still very young. Young for a Gnome would be around 110-120 human years. At that youthful point in their long life, the aging process stops.

The Mother and Father Creator, in their love for one another, hold each other as equals in the fabric of creation. Therefore, the social system of the Gnomes is one of equality between the sexes. Women and men are considered to be of equal worth and social standing, and to deny this would be completely alien to Gnome beliefs. In fact, all Fair Folk hold to this belief of equality between the sexes and, also, between all creation. Concerning matters of the heart, all Fair Folk choose their mates for no other reason than love. They see their love for their mates as sacred, and they are eternally loyal to one another.

Gnome communities are based upon extremely cooperative, democratic principles, or the “Law of Living in Harmony with All Creation.” Each Gnome is free to choose the life task which will give him or her the most pleasure. No matter what the task, whether it be craftsperson, priestess or priest, warrior, or farmer, no one’s task is raised above the other. When goods are required or desired, the Gnomes either make what they need themselves or use a very open barter system. No Gnome would ever discover a reason to envy the possessions of a neighbor.

Though they are of the same family, there are two tribes of Gnomes, the Red Caps and the Green Caps. In many cases, Red Caps and Green Caps intermarry. Both tribes accomplish their missions with prayers, ceremonies, counseling, and direct spiritual and physical hands-on healing.

The Red Caps dwell mostly in Tir na n’Og, where they deal in large part with spiritual matters, except when called upon to perform missions of teaching or healing or (in the case of Warrior Gnomes) to travel on military campaigns to the darker spirit realms closer to our physical realm. The ranks of the Warrior Gnomes contain both Red Cap and Green Cap volunteers. These warriors are both male and female and are highly trained in spiritual matters, as well as in the art of war. They are sent into battle with other Fair Folk allies against the minions of the Evil One (or Lucifer as he is sometimes referred to by humans) in the darker realms.

While the Red Caps peer behind the physical curtain to find the spiritual influences which motivate the physical world, the Green Caps are the caretakers of the nature kingdom. They live in a protected realm close to the physical Earth, where they are placed on the front lines between humanity and Mother Earth. Because of this daily contact, they endure much emotional pain from the devastation of the Great Mother by humans.

Though they have witnessed the pain and suffering caused to the Great Mother and her children by human hands, the Fair Folk yet share a vision of hope for the future reunion of humanity with the Faerie and all the rest of creation. The Faerie believe this joyous reunion will occur when the spirit self of Mother Earth is reunited with her physical self, and the Garden returns once more to dwell upon the physical Earth. This time will signal the liberation of humanity and all creation from the touch of the Evil One, that all may return home to the great love of Mother and Father Creator, our beloved brother, Jesus, and Mother Mary.