Finnish religion is animistic, and thus differs substantially from the religions of neighboring Nordic, Baltic, and Slavic cultures. In consequence, Faerie deities (or Infernally-corrupted variants) are not an intrinsic part of Finnish cultures (which includes not only the tribes inhabiting the area of modern Finland, but those inhabiting huge swaths of northern Russia, including the Ural Mountains). Instead, Finnish peoples revere natural forces and corresponding magical spirits (haltijas), and tend not to anthropomorphize them, except as influenced by neighboring cultures. Most anthropomorphic deities are related in some way to a deity worshipped in a neighboring culture. A few anthropomorphic deities correspond to Ascended heroes.

Although Finnish peoples may offer prayers to various anthropomorphized deities, they have no native Supernatural Traditions that would call upon the powers of Faerie. Noidat (shamans) perform most social roles that priests fill in neighboring cultures; some may also be Spirit Votaries dedicated to a powerful spirit of Magic.

Finnish mythology has no concept of heaven or hell; the dead are believed to all go to the same place, where they wander as shadow-ghosts, or sleep unceasingly. Noidat may sometimes journey to Tuonela, the land of the dead, to seek guidance or knowledge from the dead, although this is very risky.

Finnish peoples believe the soul to be composed of three parts: Henki or löyly ("life" or "breath"), which is received at birth and departs at the moment of death. This is the closest analogue to the Christian concept of a soul.

Luonto ("nature") is a guardian or protector aspect, sometimes thought of as the haltija of a person, and is the portion of the soul that a Noita sends forth into the spirit realm. Luonto is not received at birth, but is gained upon being named, and thus a newborn babe is spiritually vulnerable until she receives her Luonto. Supernatural Talent or The Gift corresponds to an especially potent Luonto.

Finally, there is Itse, which is received sometime between birth and a few days after, and represents the personality of the soul. A Noita who manifests a Phantastikon is said to appear as an etiäinen, a manifestation of his Itse, which is also the portion of the soul that can remain after death as a ghost.

Although many or most practicioners of magic are called Noidat ("witch" or "shaman"), some are considered Taikurrit ("sorcerers"), who generally practice a form of magic similar to that of the Kolduny or Gruagachan, and like those other traditions, are all Gifted. Some clans may refer to Spirit Votaries with the term Velhot, which is derived from Slavic Volkhvy, although Velhot do not use the same form of Faerie Supernatural powers.