Sprites are small, charming people with no grudge against humans. Their interest in the mortal realm is limited. The magic of sprites is based on elemental energies, and like other nature spirits most were created near the beginning of the natural world, except the sylphs of Paracelsus. In Germanic folklore sprites are creatures of Faerie.
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Water sprites interact with freshwater creatures such as fish, water weeds and other water spirits such as nixies. Like many magical beings the sprite has a protective and creative aura, which stimulates its environment. Sprites can be male, female or androgynous. As they occupy fresh water they relate to Rhenos Pater, the Rhine River God, who rules all the lakes and rivers.
Together with solar spirits these intuitive personalities may be responsible for the sparkling drops and rainbows from a waterfall. They bring food for tadpoles who will grow into frogs. Being small and incapable of flight, water sprites often hitch a ride on frogs, fish, turtles or friendly beavers.
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Air sprites can fly by magic, much like fairies. Fairies didn't have wings until the 19th century. Some air sprites are known as sylphs or sylphids, created in the 16th century by Paracelsus, also the founder of gnomes. He was an alchemist and physician philosophizing about the relations of elements, with terms such as Gnomic for earth and Sylphic for air.
The Sylphs of Paracelsus are invisible. Air sprites themselves are rarely seen, taking on the nature of the element. They may seem as wisps of fog or cloud, or maybe a blossom caught in an updraft. Like imps, sprites are about the size of a human finger, can however be smaller or larger. They can alight and whisper in someone's ear, leading the person into a daydream.
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Whether water or air their favorite food is nectar. Having some nectar rich plants in the garden, especially near a pool, will attract Faerie folk. They fear the Harvest Toad but get along well with gnomes, who don't mind their air-headed antics.
People might hear sprites laughing or singing. The little creatures take their jobs as environmental caregivers seriously, though. The garden or pool is fresher and more fragrant when the sprites are on the job.
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