In the town of Stresa Italy, I found an erboreum—an herb store with many wonderful surprises. Two of them were small bars of soap with packaging showing different elementals of the place: Le Fate (fairies) and Lo Gnomo (gnomes). The packaging included a poem and even little bells.
Because elementals are an essential part of the African tradition I am initiated into, I was happy to find these two little soaps. The little bells were a double treat since bells are the main way to access one’s elementals in my practice. The Dagara word Kontomble, (the little people) means “the one who comes to the bell.” In this tradition, it is through a wedded bond with an elemental being that the human is able to divine. We call in our elemental friends by ringing our bells. Here were two elementals on the soaps and their little bells.
The poem written on the gnome soap:
Lo Gnomo Portafortuna
Son piccino e son furbetto
Mi nascondo nel boschetto
Ma ogni sera con la luna
io ti dono la fortuna
di fortuna e di abbondanza
non ce n’è mai abbastanza
Translation:
Lucky Charm Gnome
Little and cunning
I hide in the grove
But every night with the moon
I give you the good fortune
Of luck and abundance
And there is never enough
The poem written on le fate:
Le Fate
Quando il primo bambino rise
La sua risate si infranse in
Mille piccoli pezzi che si dispersero
Scintillando per tutto il mondo
..così nacquero le fate
translation:
The Fairies
When the first baby laughed
His laughter broke in
A thousand little pieces that were scattered
Sparking all around the world
This is how the fairies were born
da “Peter Pan,” di James M. Barrie
The, fata, fae, fairies—elementals–gnomes, are found in every culture. Remembering and renewing our relationship to these beings is essential to the health of this planet.
~Theresa C. Dintino
