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Tree of Enchantment: Ancient Wisdom and Magic Practices of the Faery Tradition

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Orion's first book, The Faery Teachings (FT), was a map of the sacred worlds. It's the closest book that has mirrored my own experiences of the Fae. The Tree of Enchantment (TOE) is written with more of Orion's voice shining through and therefore more poetic and deeply moving. In TOE, Orion walks with us as we experience travelling through the sacred lands (aka inscape) using the Vision Keys.

There are some who will read TOE and just won't get it. That's okay, this work is not for you. Move on. But for the seekers (new or not) who do the practices contained in TOE, you will be led through a series of encounters that will rewire you to better receive and interpret the messages. With TOE, you will not be more "evolved" - you will be transformed. Warning, once you step through the gates and taste the oneness of alignment and attunement you will always crave more of it. For those already on a magical path, you know what I mean when I say that this book gives you delicious shivers of magic as you experience the visions.

Thank you Orion for sharing and leading us through the worlds of enchantment.

As a long-time student of the occult, it's rare for me to find new, refreshing ideas. I've been associated with Wicca, Druidry, Rosicrucianism, Christian Mysticism, Alchemy, and Hermeticism over a period of 25 years, and thought I had seen it all, but Orion has produced two books (this one and The Faery Teachings) which put unique spins on the relationship between the spirit world and nature. His "Tree" is similar enough in its components to the Tree of Life of Kabbalah that one can spend much time drawing very useful, practical, and insightful parallels between the two, but there is so much more that comes from this work. The images and meditations presented in this work can provide the serious student with much new material upon which to focus, and I have found that Orion's visions have deeply melded and meshed with my own. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to find new ideas, to reconnect with the natural world, and to find a new vision of The One Source and Its manifested faces. Bravo, Orion, keep these works coming!

Each time I read Orion Foxwood's first book The Faery Teachings, I find something new and relevant to my work and life at that moment. In The Tree of Enchantment, Orion gives us the tools to go even deeper. Here is a way to bring the inner and outer landscape into balance. As we move along the paths of the Tree, we embark on a great adventure of discovery. We learn how to bring ourselves into alignment with our inner being, the immediate space around us, and the universe. Orion gives us the keys to open many doors. Which ones we choose to open and how deeply we go, depends on us. The material is presented with a magnificent clarity and with a poetry that takes the breath away. This is a work of great and profound truth. To say this book is remarkable is an understatement. To those that follow this path, it is a revelation.

Wow. I am seriously impressed by this book. And it's about time too. I have picked up so many Celtic oriented pagan books over the years and end up with one reaction; a big fat yawn. Not this one, however. From the beginning I was impressed by the tremendous insight and obvious personal experience that seeps from every paragraph. I have been a aspiring Druid for quite sometime, and aside from some material by Erynn Rowan Laurie (who rocks), I have never really been very interested or excited by magical practices that I have run across. Most of it seemed like regurgitated Golden Dawn stuff.

Faery Seership, is the topic of this book and Orion lays out it's practices, cosmology, and insight beautifully. Part I gives the reader a good overview of what Faery Seership is all about. Orion does an excellent job of laying out the benefits and hazards of the Faery Seership path, how it can be used to re-enchant the world, and connect with ancient wisdom through ancestry and the various Vision Keys encountered when working with the Tree. But this goes far beyond the typical talk about going green or correspondence tables. Orion lays out a complete and gorgeous cosmology that is bound to impress any reader at all familiar with folk traditions from Britain or Ireland. Although certainly not reconstructionist in it's outlook, the Faery Seership cosmological view is the closest I have found to the lore so far. I am sure there will be those who disagree with me on that point.

Part II gives the reader a good overview of the Vision Keys in the Tree. These Keys can be both states of being and beings themselves, and they are indeed potent. Orion lays out a methodical yet heartfelt approach to the Otherworld that inspires action and commitment to a magical system that has benefit on more levels than just the personal. This kind of approach is what I have been looking for, for a very long time. I was literally getting chills in my spine while reading, in a good way. ;-) I saw many interesting connections with Celtic lore that I will not enumerate here, but suffice it to say for this review, the reader interested in Celtic folklore will definitely find them. The practices given in this section are also very effective. Me and my wife have steadily been working our way through this section and are already seeing the fruits of our labor. I have been impressed at how subtle yet effective the techniques are in giving me a greater sense of connection to myself, the Otherworld, and the land. The section on ancestry is particularly valuable and has given me a whole new focus for my practice.

The greatest aspect of this book is how clearly Orion lays out the need to focus and commit to a magical practice that offers real depth of understanding and literally limitless possibilities. The author stresses the idea that personal exploration and growth is made possible by cooperation with the Otherworld, and that we are not alone in our struggles and triumphs. By developing a closer relationship with the Otherworld and the various beings who live there, we co-create a more promising future for ourselves and all the Universe. Faery Seership is truly holistic in it's approach and method.

Orion's particular background is from the Shenandoah Valley with Appalachian folk magic. Orion describes Appalachian Conjuring as a unique fusion between Celtic immigrant folklore and African folklore via the original African slave population in the South. As I made my way through the book my respect for the author and his teacher R.J. Stewart (who Orion acknowledges often) kept climbing. The amount of practical experience and personal exploration that went into making this book possible is obvious and moving. Working with it and reading it is a real delight. Thumbs up baby, thumbs up!

Tree of Enchantment: Ancient Wisdom and Magic Practices of the Faery Tradition

The rituals in this book are highly complex containing several sections with a number of steps too numerous for me to remember you'd need a huge script!. This is not what you want as a newbie, I was put off by this & it made me put the book down after several pages as I felt overwhelmed and out of my depth. I'm now looking for a lighter more condensed way to attune to the fey.

Orion's book is an excellent and indepth exploration of techniques to put you into contact with Faery beings and your ancestors. The system is on the complex side but is well worth the effort.

If you are familiar with the work of author R.J. Stewart you will find common themes and approaches. These two authors are high on my list of favorites! You won't find fluff with these authors, but you do have to be ready for serious work and personal effort.

The book is a full 15 chapters that include many expercises and techniques. The work includes pathworking with the "river of blood" and the redemption of your ancestors through retrieval encounters. Be aware that this book is not for the easily squeamish.

The title, "Tree of Enchantment, Ancient Wisdom and Magic Practices of The Faery Tradition" is one of the best parts of the book. It's inviting, mysterious, and it's mostly downhill from there.

The concept of the Three Walkers and the Threefold life does resonate-- it's one of the better takeaways inside and it's easy to relate it to personal experience. There are certainly times when the conscious mind isn't in charge and a dreamer takes over, to explore other realms. There is something vaguely Jungian or Freudian about this, and that lends it credibility.

But I was put off by the suggestion that BDSM practices could be part of a path to increased spirituality: this just seemed out of left field and it left me in the cold. There is enough pain in the world already, to be found all too readily, without seeking it.

And I was hoping for more real, folkloric Faery traditions-- after all, that's what the title says. Where are the Tuatha de Danaan? Where is the Seelie Court? Instead, we get a highly complex ritual system similar to Kabbalah. Perhaps that would be OK, if there was real poetry to be found here. But the "Practical Work" sections seemed more like chopped up parts of a cookbook, with sliced and diced instructions to suit different situations and lots of references to other instructions elsewhere within the book. I found myself skimming, instead of following the links and practicing these exercises.

Tell me stories, send me on guided meditations-- please don't make me flip back a couple of chapters to refer to the instructions for "anchoring" or the "seven stage visionary process." The whole thing seems too complicated by half. Or more.

Judging from the other reviews here, some people find this work really engaging. But as one of those reviewers says "there will be some people who just don't get it." Count me among the latter.

The second book is brilliant, as was the first. Orion Foxwood leads you into a different world of the Sidhee. Without being fantastical, he explores the truth of the Elder race, and how, through a path of enlightenment and exploration, one can not only meet these beings, but commune in harmony with them. Some may be confused at times, and wonder where things are coming from, but to this I say, "For those who understand, no explanation is needed, and for those who do not, none will ever suffice." Highly ritualized, each step in ritual takes you a little deeper, a little closer to your goal. Neophytes may enjoy this work, but I cannot tell you how important this work can be for those already acquainted with the path. After over 20 years of traditional study, this in one of the few teachings that has helped change me in recent years. It is not a rehash of my early learning, merely the next step in spiritual evolution.
I look forward to his next installment!Tree of Enchantment: Ancient Wisdom and Magic Practices of the Faery Tradition

A spiritual pathway is shown to us by Orion Foxwood a well renowned Faery seer who has drunk from many a well of wisdom. The path to enlightenment lies within, as does your journey through the tree of enchantment. Before you begin your journey you must first have self understanding. You have three different souls and one spirit.Your consciousness is able to move from one to the other, with proper training. The first soul is your surface walker. This is your everyday body that roams the planet earth. Your dream walker is the being that walks beneath in the underworld. It is very emotional and corresponds to water and oceans. Your Star Walker is your higher self the one that roams about in the Astral realms.

Your journey begins with the realization that although you have freewill you are really connected to everything on this planet. The Division of separation is just an illusion. You start with your ancestors. You contact and work with your ancestors by setting up an altar for them and an ancestor pot. You make daily food contribution of the food and drink they enjoyed in this world. Your objective is to reach the River of Blood. It is at the River of blood that you heal your ancestors and get guidance from them. They can also protect. Sometimes there is a melancholy as you feel their sorrow but on the other bank which is the Bank of Truth. You will travel down the River of Blood and contact the Supernal Ancestor of Man. It is both male and female and lives on an island of bones. It has a silver object for you. This reconnects you to mankind.

Your next destination in the Guardians and this is a horned god who is in charge of nature and maintains the laws. He is also the one who guards the way to the weaver who is in charge of generation, destruction and regeneration. Creation and destruction on our planet through the three threads she weaves. Both of these divine beings are attended by other beings. The guardian is enthroned by representative of thee four elements. The weaver is attended by three women of fate and sometimes washer women. Faery women that cleanse you before meeting the weaver. Meeting the weaver will help break the chains of illusion and fear and show you your true purpose. After meeting these two divine beings you go to the well of the dreamer.

The Well of the Dreamer is surrounded by by thorny rosebush. If your heart is pure and humble then they will open us for you if not they will cut you. The dreamer is the one who dreamt this world into being. We are all part of his dream. The Dreamer is an androgynous being that is asleep. During the age of Aquarius he will open one of his eyes and the world will experience enlightenment. The dreamer who is the creator of this world is a child of the Star Father and the mother Goddess who is identified as the Utterer. The Dreamer is likened to a piece of Star that fell to earth and penetrated it. This is the reason that there is life on the planet Earth.
The of Faeries lies in the underworld. Brigh is their queen. The faeries came down to Earth with the Dreamer. We each have a Faery counterpart whom will experience enlightenment with us.

Next we travel to the Astral realms were we experience contact with the the Star Father and the Utterer. We also meet the Holy Fire or formless fire. This is the life force that permeates us all. This is the master creator. It is a long journey and do not think you will make it in a year. Such a journey may take life times.

Anyone wanting to learn about Faery seership would be well advised to read from this book. The book outlines the path that you will take and it gives you exercises to help you traverse along the path. Mr. Foxwood has studied Traditional Witchcraft and Appalachian magic traditions. This book get 4.5 broomsticks out of 5.

[...]

Though Foxwood comes from a U. S. South-Eastern faery tradition with its own terminology, much of what he writes resonates with the commonly accepted Celtic wisdom of faery tradition. I was a bit challenged by the many "new to me" terms he uses, but in practice the processes he offers are very deep and powerful. I found many clues and keys that were missing in other faery work I've done or read about. While I am not convinced that I should start working in his tradition, I have found a lot of material here to support my previous work, and I would highly recommend this book as a reference to anyone who is seriously walking the faery path.