Its after 3am here mo chairde, so other then a brief ramble i'm just going to settle for throwing out the topic of the fairy faith out  for discussion :)
That being as about coherent as I can hope for at this hour, Gorm mentioned he brought up the topic elsewhere,  so i'm sure at the very least he has some better insight or interesting questions.

I myself have had an upbringing that has left a very different view from the majority of the people I come across online, ie I don't think they are barbies with wings, I think the good folk are too be respected but not unnecessarily sought out .  In my study into the fairy faith here in Ireland, the topic is particularly confusing due to the confusing and blurred lines between gods, mortals, spirits and other influences.  I have read many accounts of folklore and tales concerning fairy faith taken from around mid 1800's to early 1900's of oral tales and folkore which were collected and transcribed before it disappeared any further beneath the weight of modernity :). Much is a mish mash of the celtic mythology, ,myth legend, lore, superstition, actual history and some christian influence,  all dumped under the header of fairy faith. It's a fascinating mix of elements which I personally found far more interesting then the barbie in wings image myself :)

Now on to ye good people, who I am sure have far more relevant things to say then my insomniac ramblings:rolleyes:

I do not know a great deal either :p

I had started the other thread because a lot of what I read on the boards there, was very different from the interpretations and folklore that seems to be part of Celtic cosmology.

Where do you factor in the aes sidhe, in mythological terms? Are they Gods who are no longer divine (i.e. andeithe), or reduced from divinity? Are they separately nature 'spirits' if you will? Are they something else?

I kniow in terms fo the mythology, the Tuatha De are driven/ tricked/ decide to take the 'bottom' half of Ireland after their defeat by the Milesians. But how much of this is a result of the enumerization by scribes, seeking to reduce or contemporarize the place of the old Gods with the new religion?

Moonsmith wrote:

My own perspective on the fae folk is very different from what I also have read in popular culture and I think hails from a closer relation to the Celtic pantheon itself. But again, it is only my opinion.

The little 'barbies with wings' (I like that term) is not something I can relate to in this realm, except perhaps in a Walt Disney movie. No. To me these beings are very real and are as large or larger s any human.

A being who could single-handedly travel over a hundred miles per day, leave not a blade of grass undisturbed and vanquish foes at a rate of perhaps a hundred to one ( I may be exaggerating - it may have been only ten to one) is to me someone who commands my respect, awe and even perhaps a little fear.

I would never consider them 'cute' or warm fuzzy, feely good energies. The encounters I have had which I attribute to these energies is anything but that. They can be beautiful, inspiring, gobsmackingly awe inspiring, yes. But as for the rest of it, I think it is up to personal interpretation.

I think the text's and folk traditions would agree with you on that one, but be careful in just broadly dismissing or traditions of fae or holding them to be "pixie faiths". There are of course those who have that fluffy, sparkly-glowy view but these tend to be the same individuals who think that Wicca is a 10 000 year old religion or that the Druids rode around on dolphins...

Though I would agree with your assessment that the kindly folk are often shown to be not so kind, but it woudl also seem that they have their reasons. Admitidely I have not explored the aes sídhe much beyond leaving offerings or acknolweding them in my devotionals. As i progress with my studies I imagine that will change. I have been meaning to read Brian Walsh's text on the subject.