Pixies Powers and Abilities: What Can They Do? - Myth Nerd (2024)

Pixies are small mythical creatures commonly found in British and Celtic Folklore and modern fantasy. While typically understood to be only about 4 inches (10.16 cm) tall, these diminutive beings possess magical and non-magical abilities that far exceed their stature.

Pixies have numerous powers and abilities, including shapeshifting, flying, and the possession of additional magical and non-magical powers like immortality and a connection to nature and animals.

This article will describe pixies’ abilities in greater detail using widely compiled information on pixies from ancient and modern folklore. Keep reading.

Pixies Have the Ability To Shapeshift

One unique ability that pixies possess is their ability to shapeshift. While the degree to which they shapeshift differs based on the source, this ability is described over various resources.

Some accounts state that pixies’ ability to shapeshift is limited only to their size. While they usually stand only between 4 and 6 inches (10.16 and 15.24 cm) in height, they can increase their size to that of a large human being.

Other sources suggest that pixies can shapeshift not only their size but temporarily transform into different animals and beings entirely.

Again, the type of animals they can transform into is up for debate, but some resources state that pixies can trick people into believing they’re human beings or animals of up to medium size.

But pixies have a particular affinity for transforming into small animals and insects, particularly hedgehogs, widely believed to be their favorite secondary form.

Pixies Can Fly

Pixies are said to have beautiful wings that resemble those of insects, such as butterflies and dragonflies.

While some original depictions of pixies were shown without wings, they’re almost always portrayed with wings in modern folklore and fantasy.

Not only do these wings give them the ability to fly, but they’re also able to pass on the ability of flight to others when they sprinkle them with pixie dust.

Pixie dust is said to be a substance produced by their wings and the potential source of their ability to fly.

While pixies only produce a small amount of pixie dust per day, they can share their ability to fly with other wingless creatures when they collect enough of it.

However, there are limits to this magic, and pixie dust only grants the individual or animal the ability to fly temporarily, making them land-bound once again when the pixie dust wears off.

Pixies Powers and Abilities: What Can They Do? - Myth Nerd (1)

Pixies Possess Magical Abilities

In addition to their abilities to shapeshift and fly, pixies possess a number of other magical powers.

The powers most commonly recorded are those that can affect the behavior of humans through their use of charms and magic.

Pixies Sometimes Use Their Magic on Humans

If a human is lucky enough to befriend a pixie, they’re said to be quite generous, offering gifts such as intelligence, kindness, and wealth and having an overall positive impact on their life.

Pixies have been known to help humans fall in love. There are stories of pixies encouraging love interests towards their human friends and blessing their marriages.

Pixies are also said to love fun-filled parties and dancing, particularly dancing deep in the forest, under the moonlight.

They use their magical abilities to attract and lure women and children to join them in these moonlit dances.

While they typically use their magical powers for good, they’re also known to have a mischievous side, sometimes leading travelers astray and playing harmless pranks.

Some travelers recall wandering around in the opposite direction of their intended destination for miles at a time.

Pixies are also said to have the ability to recognize when others are shapeshifting. Being shapeshifters themselves, they can spot this power in others and see them for their proper form.

Pixies Are Practically Immortal

Pixies are a member of the fae family, and as such, they’re nearly immortal. They have some weaknesses, but they don’t die of natural causes like age or disease.

However, pixies are extremely sensitive to iron and have an intense physical reaction when they come in contact with it.

In fact, sustained exposure to iron can kill pixies. It’s for this reason that pixies can’t live in cities.

The extensive metals present in cities have a weakening effect on pixies and ultimately drains their lifeforce.

This is one of many reasons you’ll find pixies residing deep in nature.

Pixies Powers and Abilities: What Can They Do? - Myth Nerd (2)

Pixies Possess Non-Magical Abilities

In addition to their many overt magical powers, pixies are unique in their affinity for nature.

They’re said to love gardens, especially flowers, and have an almost magical ability to help plants grow and brighten the foliage of the nature in which they reside.

When pixies move through nature, they can do so without disrupting a single piece of the natural world that surrounds them.

Pixies are known to be kind and thoughtful creatures, with high functioning societies that look out not only for themselves but the needs of others.

They’re believed to support other small fae species and have helped defend them and band together when needed.

Celtic folklore also notes that pixies are known to help with household chores, particularly for older widows living alone.

Additionally, pixies have a calming presence towards animals and can even make wild animals seem tame.

Of all animals, they have a particular affinity for horses. There are numerous accounts of pixies riding around the countryside in horse’s manes, leaving evidence of this with horses returning home with rumpled up manes from where the pixies were hiding.

Final Thoughts

Pixies are small but mighty mythical creatures that possess a number of magical powers and abilities.

They have the ability to shapeshift and are especially fond of turning themselves into hedgehogs.

Pixies can also fly, thanks to their insect-like wings, and can temporarily offer this ability to others through the use of their pixie dust.

Said to love flowers and gardens, pixies have an innate ability to connect with animals, especially horses, and positively affect growing plants.

They can also use their magical powers to affect the behavior of humans for both good and mischief.

Contents

  • Pixies Have the Ability To Shapeshift
  • Pixies Can Fly
  • Pixies Possess Magical Abilities
    • Pixies Sometimes Use Their Magic on Humans
    • Pixies Are Practically Immortal
  • Pixies Possess Non-Magical Abilities
  • Final Thoughts
Pixies Powers and Abilities: What Can They Do? - Myth Nerd (2024)

FAQs

What are the abilities of pixies? ›

The little people have a special talent for casting charms that affect human behavior. They can enchant children and beautiful maidens into joining one of their dances, or they can muddle travelers and cause them to wander for miles in the wrong direction.

What are the abilities of a pixie fairy? ›

  • Hallucinogenic "pixie dust" power causing auditory and visual hallucinations.
  • Flight via insectoid wings.
  • Spell casting granting: Inter-dimensional teleportation. Demons banishment. ...
  • Souldagger granting: Ability to harm both magical and non-magical beings and entities.

What are pixies in mythology? ›

pixie, in the folklore of southwestern England, tiny elflike spirit or mischievous fairy dressed in green who dances in the moonlight to the music of frogs and crickets. Its favourite pastimes are leading travelers astray and frightening young maidens.

What are the traits of a pixie? ›

In traditional regional lore, pixies are generally benign, mischievous, short of stature, and childlike; they are fond of dancing and wrestling outdoors, of which they perform through the night. In the modern era, they are usually depicted with pointed ears, often wearing a green outfit and pointed hat.

What did the Pixies do? ›

Pixies, American band whose unique blend of punk rock's aggression and pop music's infectious melodies helped establish the sound that would define alternative rock in the 1990s. The original members were Charles Michael Kitteridge Thompson IV (also know as Black Francis and Frank Black; b.

Can pixies use magic? ›

Pixies are well known as pranksters, but some delight in more helpful magic. Pixies had a number of innate magical abilities, such as being naturally invisible. At will, they could replicate the spells polymorph self, know alignment, dispel magic, dancing lights, and ESP.

What is a pixie's weakness? ›

Weaknesses and Liabilities

Iron and Silver is toxic to the touch for Pixies; so much, in fact, that it burns their skin on contact.

Are pixies all female? ›

All fairies/pixies/elves are mythical 'races', with both male and female members.

What is the role of a pixie? ›

Pixies are a type of mythical creature found in English folklore. They are typically characterized as small, human-like creatures who are responsible for mischief but are not malevolent.

What do pixies love? ›

No wonder they are thought to love nothing better than a bit of bling! Pixies love horses too, and ride them for fun. They are also great explorers, known to be familiar with the deep, remote caves that lie under the sea.

Are pixies dark creatures? ›

"The pixies were electric blue and about eight inches high, with pointed faces and voices so shrill it was like listening to a lot of budgies arguing." The pixie was a small, bright blue, mischief-making magical beast.

What color are pixies? ›

Unlike many elves, a pixie's skin tone is always of pastel colors such as green or blue. Each pixies possesses a pair of fine wings similar to those of a butterfly or dragonfly. In flight, these wings usually leave a small shower of glittering dust that has various magical properties.

What is the spiritual meaning of a pixie? ›

Origins of Pixie Lore

These ethereal beings are often depicted as small, winged creatures, flitting through forests and meadows with a twinkle in their eyes and a mischievous grin on their lips. In Celtic mythology, pixies are said to be guardians of the natural world, dwelling in hidden groves and mossy glens.

What color eyes do pixies have? ›

Facial characteristics

Pixies have a pair of eyes, that come in various colours such as blue, green, brown, purple, pink, orange, red and yellow, and ears, that are long and pointed, with one nose and mouth. Pixies have two horns on their forehead.

What powers do sprites have? ›

Like other fey, sprites possessed several innate magical powers: they could become invisible at will and could detect good or evil from 50 yards (46 meters) away. Sprites were expert brewers of toxins, poisons, and antidotes.

What makes the Pixies unique? ›

Their music is known for dynamic "loud-quiet-loud" shifts and song structures. Francis is the Pixies' primary songwriter; his often surreal lyrics cover offbeat subjects such as extraterrestrials, incest, and biblical violence. The band achieved modest popularity in the US but was more successful in Europe.

Are pixies good or evil? ›

Like sprites and other different types of English faeries, pixies are often considered mischievous, but not overtly malevolent creatures of nature. Their most commonly depicted image is a wingless and pointy-eared fairy-esque creature dressed in green.

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