Customer Reviews

Enchantment of the Faerie Realm: Communicate with Nature Spirits & Elementals

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

_Enchantment of the Faerie Realm_ is not a bad book, really. It has its amazing moments and its less-than-amazing moments. I especially like the idea of faerie tales as meditation exercises; the legends and fantasies dreamed up over the centuries might well be our best key to the nature of the fae. The meditations are also good; I especially liked "Meeting the Flower Faeries" and "Tree Faeries." I only wish the list of flowers and trees had been longer, but the meditations can be used with any plant, so that's no big deal.

Unfortunately, much of the book is devoted to a hyper-organized approach to the fae. There is too much ceremonial magic and not enough whimsy or wild magic. Note that the high points I mentioned above are also the moments in which the book is given over mainly to wild magic. In my work with the fae, I've never gotten the idea that they're a strict bureaucracy. They aren't that organized, and trying to organize them just misses the point. The fae *aren't* like us. They're wilder and more unpredictable, and I bet there are a lot of fae giggling a bit at parts of this book.

I also don't like the emphasis on using the fae to work on your psychological issues. If you're going to get to know the fae, it's best to get to know them just for the joy of getting to know them. And, yes, that *will* make your life happier and more interesting, but that is just icing on the cake. Don't use the fae; befriend them.

The author of this book seems to have had no real experience with the subject he is writing about and has not only approached the faerie realm and faeries from a scientific and scholarly point of view, but he hasn't done his research well enough to succeed from that angle. He seems to have taken his viewpoint from theosophical works rather than from actual experience. The New Age philosophy which reduces faeries to elementals or diminished nature spirits is disrespectful. The suggestion that faeries are lesser inhabitants of an Angelic Kingdom who can be called upon or commanded by human ritual as helper spirits or gaurdian angels is dangerous and distracts from recognition of a genuine experience with Faerie. If you are looking for a guide to the otherworld realm or non-fiction material that is evocative of Faerie, I would suggest reading the works of R.J. Stewart as an antidote to this.

Not up to par with Animal Speak. This "Faerie" book seems contrived & cranked up as propaganda to put the Fae of many cultures, as well as the Elementals of Nature under an artificial construct of male rule. It seems someone's ego got away with them here. It is not really about what the title suggests. Very misleading.If you believe the realms of the Fae & the powers & beauty of nature should be modeled after "man's kingdoms" & "societies", instead of the other way around, go for it. Otherwise you will be as disappointed as many, by a closer insight into the mindset of a modern male author, you hoped would do better. I'm very sorry to say I can not recommend this book. In fact IMHO it is a heartbreaking attempt to usurp the Fae, for misguided use.

I have read several books on the subject - this is by far the best...enjoyable, readable, well researched, practical information. Specific exercises develop the 'sixth sense' that allows us to connect with this beautiful realm. This book is your key to making 'fairy tales' reality - even for skeptics!

First of all, let me just get this out of my system, I love faeries. There, that being said, on with the review. I thought that Ted Andrews did a great job with this book. SOME of his information was good. However, he fell into that all too often trap that most writers fall into these days. He fell into the trap of blind idealism. The way he portraied faeries was decent, however, the world of the fae, much like ours, has good inhabitants and some not so good ones. I would read this book in conjunction with another book such as the living world of Faerie by R.J. Stewart or a A Witch's Guide to Faerie Folk by Edain McCoy

I was used to Ted Andrews writing in a style that was methodical, approachable, accurate, and mystical. Unfortunately, I do not think he is well acquainted with this subject, and I don't think he is comfortable with working with the Fey. I hold nothing against him--the rest of the works I have read which he authored are very well done. However, I would not recommend his foray into the Faery realms. I believe he needs to do some more work if he truly wants to improve this work. I would encourage him to take some time, meditate, learn, and put out a revised edition of this book at some time in the future.

This is one of my favorite Ted Andrews' books. It is easy to read, fun and very well organized. It lays a foundation so that people can begin to reconnect to Nature and the Faerie World. The exercises are amazingly effective and he inspires the reader to explore the spirits of Nature. I have read his books and attended his workshops, including workshops on this particular book and his depth of knowledge and experience is amazing. And yet he makes the material accessible to everyone, regardless of their experiences. He helps the reader to remember what we all once knew. He inspires us to seek out new doorways to this magical realm.

It is beautiful to remember that our world is magical. We get lost in our mundane mental mechanics and so forget all that is beautiful. Yes existence is alive in many ways on many levels. It isn't hard to imagine that enchantment was at one time not so far away. Enjoy this book not in the heady realm of true or false, but in the land of possibilities as seen from the heart. The child in you has not forgotten....

This book was absolutely beautiful. It not only tells you about the different kinds of faeries there are, but also how you can experience their presence and thus learn and grow from it. It reads remarkably easily, and features ways you can get in touch with your own personal spirits, and how to find out what and who not only they are, but you are. I read it this summer, and it made me realize that, after all these years since I was a child, I still believed in the magic and wonder of the faeries. Highly recommended!

This book is written awkwardly. Ted Andrew makes an attempt to mix modern style faery communication with the older shamanic approach. It just doesn't work. Though the content is good, very well researched and accurate, this book offers very little information on faeries. It is not too good for reference. For reference on faeries, try Edain's Witch's guide to faery folk. This book is more about how to connect with the faeries, yet the guided meditations are not very effective. Half the book is on meditations and it gets a little boring.