What Being Fae Means To Me

Hello my lovelies, today I thought we would do something a bit different. Most of my posts here are about my life in the world of fantasy. Whether that is through my costuming, my entertaining gigs, or my literary preferences. But today I thought we could take a little side detour and talk about what being a fairy or a mermaid really means to me and the requirements and work it takes.

As I have stated previously, I am a modern fairy. And, before you start jumping up and down trying to tell me “Saelyyia fairies aren’t real. Its time to grow up.” Please understand this; I am not a delusional child I am an adult who works full time at one job and holds a second one on the side, have a college education, and am a productive member of society. In my human life which takes up a very large chunk of my time I work for a great company in the world of custom printing. I put it a minimum of 40 hours a week at the office and work my wings to the bone at my job. As for my second job, it is a much more entertaining one, quite literally since I’m an entertainer, but it takes almost as much time. I have to manage the pages, the clients, the costumes, the maintenance, and staff rehearsals/event prep and I do this all by myself. So when everything is said and done I work about 55-60/hrs a week in my slow months. I’m not bringing in all the gold though, I make enough to pay the bills and sometimes put a little extra towards something special.

With all this work there are other struggles, I have mentioned being one of the hidden fae before and that is largely because my health is not something the human world is really equipped for. Extensive dietary complications, a literal allergy to sunlight (mild thankfully), and some other chronic conditions that pose serious restrictions on my lifestyle mean lots of doctor visits, which make lots of bills + a very large level of frustration coupled with a not so fun headache of problems.

So what does all this have to do with my life as a fairy/mermaid? Well, with all the restrictions and problems I have to fight to maintain a “normal” life or do things the way “normal” people can I have to face a constant battle up-hill. This leads me to the second half of the post. The real point I wanted to share with you today…

To me being Fae is the most freeing thing in the world.

Whether I dawn my flower crowns, gossamer gowns, and wings or one of my mermaid tails, sea shells, aquatic plant wreaths, and pearls I am escaping the struggles faced on a daily basis. My friends it is so easy for us to let the weight of the world drag us down. To stop seeing the magic and the fun. We wake up, put on our uniforms (sometimes literal/sometimes figurative) for whatever job we hold, we punch in, mindlessly labor for hours, punch our, and by the time we get home we are drained and there is no energy to chase our dreams. Ironically, the same dreams we are slaving away at our jobs to be able to achieve.

But for me I have found a way to keep that magic alive and I have found some amazing communities that share my interests. When I am in a park playing my pan-flute or frolicking, or even simply visiting with others/enjoying the scenery I am free. It keeps my inner child alive and keeps my dreams in reach. However, what makes it all the more special for me is seeing the light it brings to out in others. Other adults don’t always know always know what to make of me. Sometimes they pretend they don’t see me, others are just dumb founded, and some find it so refreshing that they decide it is something they want to be a part of. Meanwhile, children are my favorite reactions to witness.

We as adults have a terrible habit of wanting our children to grow up too fast all the while complaining that we feel robbed of our own childhoods because someone did the same to us.

Go to school. Do your homework. Keep your room clean. Act your age. Stop believing in fairytales, the real world isn’t like that. Well why not? Who is responsible for that being the status quo? WE ARE. As the adults we have the power to decide what is and isn’t going to be okay in our worlds. People fight for change all the time, so why have we not fought to stop erasing the joy & magic our children hold. Why are we still so determined to make being responsible adults a bleak and in my opinion, most often, a soul sucking chore? And when we do find someone that hasn’t lost that spark we treat them like a pariah or something to be looked down on. Society does a very good job at letting those like myself know that they are not welcome. Isn’t it time that changed? Why is it such a crime for those of us looking for something different to be ourselves? So when you see someone who looks different. Whether that means bubblegum pink hair and pastel Lolita clothing, a fairy, or a mermaid walking down the street or at the market instead of telling them to grow up or trying to shame them please remember they are just being true to themselves and there are some people that actually get a feeling of joy from that. So please be respectful to myself and those like me.