Bonus Episode 13: Jo’s Fairy Encounter

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I began the Modern Fairy Sightings project in 2016, along with ‘Black Dog’ folklorist, Mark Norman while researching for Simon Young and Ceri Houlbrook’s book, ‘Magical Folk: British and Irish Fairies: 500AD to the Present. Since that time, I have spoken to many others who have shared their encounters, for the purpose of research. In 2020, I created The Modern Fairy Sightings Podcast and my guests have shared their stories. I feel it’s now time to share my own encounter.

Experiences shared on the Podcast are usually kept anonymous, so this is a very personal and important decision for me.

I hope it goes some way to break the taboo around speaking about extraordinary encounters of this kind and that it helps others who have had similar experiences and perhaps feel alone with it. I feel it’s important that we acknowledge that there are ‘Otherworlds’ that appear to weave with our own in a way that we don’t currently understand. Even if we cannot find answers, we can find meaning by sharing our experiences and exploring these mysterious universal realities, together.

Warning: These are not fairytales and the content is unsuitable for children. Some episodes may contain details which some may find unsettling or frightening. The Modern Fairy Sightings Podcast is designed for listeners 16 years and older.

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Podcast intro music: Transmutate by Snowflake (c) copyright 2020 Licensed. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

13 thoughts on “Bonus Episode 13: Jo’s Fairy Encounter”

  1. Thank you dear Jo for this beautiful sharing of the Fairy meeting. Heart felt peace from birdsong, so healing.At 22 I saw a bright blue/white star of light and sound of bird wings. Leading to seeking answers.Was So grateful, it led me and my husband to seek an inner path. ⭐️🌸⭐️

    1. Thank you very much Heather 🙏🏻 I’m so glad to hear that this resonates with you. And thank you fir sharing your experience also. Yes these encounters do often appear to mark transitions or significant markers in our lives.

  2. Happy Birthday Dearest Jo
    Thank you for being brave and sharing your experience with such integrity and honesty. So beautiful and truly curious! I love that you recorded in Nature hearing the birds and the breeze gave the whole listening experience a warm theatrical container so inspiring.
    Curiosity definitely sparked!
    Much love Maz xxx

    1. Thank you Maz xx yes it felt right to record in this place. It’s so rich with wildlife there. I’m glad you enjoyed it too! ❤️ Much love

  3. What a wonderful experience, the world is so full of wonder seen and unseen, how exquisite to have part of the unseen show itself to you. So brave to share it, I have had experiences but rarely talk of them for fear of the perception I give, yet here I am listening to your words with nothing but admiration. So happy to have stumbled across your podcast.

    1. Thank you so much for your comment, Catriona. There are so many people who have had these experiences and don’t feel able to talk about them. I hadn’t felt able to either until now and it still feels uncomfortable for me personally. However, it feels right for the larger issue at hand which is that we’re all reluctant to share. I hope it helps to shift that fear as you say, of being perceived in a certain way for talking about fairy encounters. I’m so glad you found us too and please share with anyone you think may find it of use. Best wishes, Jo

  4. Slightly unrelated/related, but there is an episode of Claire Balding’s Ramblings in which she sees a big cat live on air and she admitted years later that she could not talk about it with anyone, that she subconsciously boxed the sighting away, even though it was recorded when it happened! I’m sure there is a good reason everybody who experiences such things does this… Not just embarrassment.

    1. That is fascinating Tony! I’d love to know more about that. I’m a huge fan of her Ramblings show. Very very interesting – thank you!

    2. Oh and you’re absolutely right. It’s not just for fear of ridicule. It has to feel absolutely right to share. And some people never feel ready to do so and that’s absolutely fine. It’s an extremely personal thing. People should certainly never feel pressured.

  5. Hi Jo, thanks for this. It’s the first time I’ve heard someone talk about this who’s actually seen them. I also saw them back in 1983. It’s too long a story to tell in the comments but your description whilst different to mine rings true regarding their ancient looks. The ones I saw had a child like aspect, large head to body ratio and a very mischievous look but an almost leathery skin and seeming very ancient. The female had delicate wings like an insect and the male was more like an elf with a leather jerkin and brown clothes.
    I’m currently reading ‘The Fairy Faith’ by Evans Wentz from 1911, to try and get a broader scope on the subject, an interesting book. As you say it’s very tricky talking to people about this. They either think your mad or taking the Micky.
    When you’ve seen them you know that most of the artistic representations of them are either wrong or by people who haven’t seen them.
    I will check out some of your other podcasts,
    Cheers
    Sam.

    1. Thanks so much for your message Sam. I’ve only just found this as we’ve been away. You’re absolutely right re the head to body ratio too. Mine did have rather a mischievous look but seemed just as curious about me as I did about him. I’d recommend Seeing Fairies edited by Simon Young for a collection of more recent sightings. I’m also re-reading Evans Wentz at the moment, it’s a great book. I hope you enjoy the other episodes. This project is providing a space for people to share and also discuss so I’m so glad you found us. Let me know if you find anything else that rings true for you. Best wishes, Jo

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