Elf
Elves are mythical humanoids originating in Germanic folklore. They are typically depicted as tall, ethereal beings with pointed ears who are particularly attuned with nature and magic. The popular image of elves was enormously influenced by J. R. R. Tolkien's works, and this is the idea many elves align with.
The otherkin community grew out of elven communities in the 1990s, and elves have continued to have a strong presence in otherkin spaces. They have also formed many sub-communities based on shared culture, memories and ideas about themselves. As a result, many see elf as the archetypal kintype. Elves may also be considered a subtype of fae.
Experiences
[edit | edit source]Some elves emphasize a common "elven way" of life, something they see as a path that must be actively walked. This includes attunement to nature and magic, which are both considered by many to be inherent features of elfness.[1][2][3] Other points include carrying on old traditions set forth by the older and even ancient peoples, the mastering of the subconscious realm,[1] and sustaining one's honor.[2] Some people see elves and aliens as related. A writer for the Elf Liberation Society argues that legends about aliens could be an evolution of beliefs about elves.[4]
Relationship to Tolkien's work
[edit | edit source]See also: Fictionkin
The relationship of elves' self-conception to the works of Tolkien has been much discussed. The Silver Elves assert that while the Silmarillion was inspiring to them, it was not foundational in shaping their elven identity.[5] Lupa states that Tolkien's works have served as the catalyst for many elves' awakenings. She also notes that most elves she has met describe their appearance as akin to Tolkien's elves, as opposed to more traditional mythological descriptions.[6] In Who are, or were, the elves?, the Elf Liberation Society state that "although Tolkien's characters themselves are fictional, the truths he expressed are far from fictional".[4] Seavixen argues that myths should not be privileged as more truthful or authentic than the stories of Middle Earth.[7]
History
[edit | edit source]Pre-internet
[edit | edit source]Joseph P. Laycock identifies the Elf Queen's Daughters (EQD) as the first group of people to claim an elven identity.[8] The EQD formed sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s after reportedly receiving instructions to do so from a spirit through a Ouija board. They began sending letters to various groups, which they called "vortices", in 1973. Many of these letters were republished in the pagan magazine Green Egg, and the magazine also received submissions from other, unrelated elves.[9]
The EQD ceased sending letters in 1977.[8][9] In 1980, a member, Zardora, felt called to revive the practice and formed a new group with his partner Silver Flame.[8][9][10] This group would be the Silver Elves, although they went through a number of other names before settling.[9][10] As well as mailing their Magical Elven Love Letters, they later began publishing articles in Circle News Network.[9]
Usenet and beyond
[edit | edit source]In 1990, R'ykandar Korra'ti established The Elfinkind Digest, a mailing list for elves. She formed it after a period of privately corresponding with other elves she had met over Usenet, real-life elven friends, and the Silver Elves.[9] While the list expanded to include other, non-elven nonhumans, the name was unchanged for the duration of its existence.[9]
On February 6th, 1995, The Elven Nation Manifesto was posted to at least 11[9] and possibly upwards of 35[11] different Usenet groups. Orion Scribner's Otherkin Timeline describes this document as "historically significant".[9] A source identified as Vashti observes how it speaks to themes which would become characteristic of the otherkin community: it asserted that there was a veil between magical and mundane reality, and that elves' purpose on earth was to rend this barrier.[9][12] Overall, the post was received negatively, in large part because crossposting to so many different communities was a severe breach of etiquette on Usenet. However, Korra'ti reposted it on The Elfinkind Digest, and the author recieved enough messages from interested people to found Elven Nation as its own mailing list.[9]
Other mailing lists for elves appeared over the next several years; notable communities included TirNanOc and Elven Realities.[9] Much like The Elvenkind Digest, many otherkin lists retained an elven focus even if they accommodated all phenotypes, such as Elven Glade, The Elven High Council, and Remembering Elves.[9]
At least as early as 1998, the l-elenari mailing list existed to serve the Elenari, a specific group of elves who shared memories of specific homeworlds, languages, and cultures. The Elenari Nexus website was created in 2000.[9]
The Silver Elves published an anthology of the Magical Elven Love Letters in 2001, as well as A Book of Elven Runes.[9] This was the beginning of their enormous body of published work, which totals 79 books as of 2025.[13]
See also
[edit | edit source]Elf at Wikipedia
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ilon Bluesky. "The Elven Way" (Archived from the original)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rialian. "On Being an Elf in a Human's World" (Archived from the original)
- ↑ The Elven Portal. "Being An Elven Soul...."
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Elf Liberation Society. "Who are, or were, the elves? A view from the inside" (Archived from the original)
- ↑ The Silver Elves. (October 30th, 2019) "How Much Have We Silver Elves Been Influenced by Tolkien and the Silmarillion?"
- ↑ Lupa. (March 1st, 2007) "A Field Guide to Otherkin" Megalithica Books.
- ↑ Seavixen. "Tolkien. Is. Not. A. Reference."
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Joseph P. Laycock. (February 2012) "“We Are Spirits of Another Sort”: Ontological Rebellion and Religious Dimensions of the Otherkin Community" The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions, Vol. 15, No. 3. pg. 65-90. University of California Press.
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 Orion Scribner. (September 8th, 2012) "Otherkin Timeline: The Recent History of Elfin, Fae, and Animal People"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Leaf McGowan. (March 13th, 2011) "The Elf Queen’s Daughters and the Silver Elves" (Archived from the original)
- ↑ Javilk. (February 6th, 1995) "Yes, you are." Comment on "The Elven Nation Manifesto.....everyone must read this!!!!".
- ↑ Adrian Murphy (Morningstar). (February 6th, 1995) "The Elven Nation Manifesto.....everyone must read this!!!!"
- ↑ The Silver Elves. "Magical Books by The Silver Elves on The Elven Way, Magic and Enchantment, Elven Oracles, Elven Language, and Elfin Lifestyle"