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The Tree of Enchantment: Ancient Wisdom and Magic Practices of the Faery Tradition
In Faery Seership the truths we seek can only be found within ourselves, within nature, and within our relationships to nature. At the center of the Faery Tradition lies the Tree of Enchantment: the symbol for these relationships and for the threefold life of humanity. At each level of the tree, there are attending spirit forces that vary from beings of light to beings of shadow, from the ancestors of humanity to the architects of form and nature, from the destiny of our planet to the creation forces of the universe. The tree's roots grow through the lower world, where all life originates and the dead travel, its trunk and lower branches reach out across the middle world, where elemental forces and the four directions guide us, and its highest branches reach the into the upper world and the Star realm.
Weaving together folk tradition and extensive academic research, Orion Foxwood has created and accessible, beautifully written pathway into the Old Religion of Faery Seership. Based on Appalachian traditions, Wiccan studies, Celtic oral traditions, and the Craft from Western and Northern Europe, The Tree of Enchantment offers the student of Faery Tradition both introductory and advanced visionary practices and authentic tools to learn to navigate the three realms of humanity. With diligence and an open heart, the reader will learn to cross The River of Blood, pass through The Gate of Awakening, and over The River of Stars.
“Destined to become a classic...This is a wise and wonderful book to be studied and savored, its teachings and methods diligently applied.” -Margie McArthur, author of Faery Healing: The Lore and the Legacy; Wisdom of the Elements: The Sacred Wheel of Earth, Air, Fire and Water; and WiccaCraft for Families: The Path of the Hearthfire
“The Tree of Enchantment is a rare and beautiful piece of esoteric writing that is fresh, vibrant, and ready for this age and those to come. It is a true guide for helping mend the rifts and fractures within the self and between the planes of being. ” -Ivo Dominguez, Jr., author of Spirit Speak, Castings: The Creation of Sacred Space, and Beneath The Skins
“I say this with the deepest conviction and without a tinge of hyperbole: Orion Foxwood is a national treasure. His Tree of Enchantment is a brilliant and elegant jewel of modern magical literature and a testament to his genius and insight. ” -Lon Milo DuQuette, author of Enochian Vision Magick
Weaving together folk tradition and extensive academic research, Orion Foxwood has created and accessible, beautifully written pathway into the Old Religion of Faery Seership. Based on Appalachian traditions, Wiccan studies, Celtic oral traditions, and the Craft from Western and Northern Europe, The Tree of Enchantment offers the student of Faery Tradition both introductory and advanced visionary practices and authentic tools to learn to navigate the three realms of humanity. With diligence and an open heart, the reader will learn to cross The River of Blood, pass through The Gate of Awakening, and over The River of Stars.
“Destined to become a classic...This is a wise and wonderful book to be studied and savored, its teachings and methods diligently applied.” -Margie McArthur, author of Faery Healing: The Lore and the Legacy; Wisdom of the Elements: The Sacred Wheel of Earth, Air, Fire and Water; and WiccaCraft for Families: The Path of the Hearthfire
“The Tree of Enchantment is a rare and beautiful piece of esoteric writing that is fresh, vibrant, and ready for this age and those to come. It is a true guide for helping mend the rifts and fractures within the self and between the planes of being. ” -Ivo Dominguez, Jr., author of Spirit Speak, Castings: The Creation of Sacred Space, and Beneath The Skins
“I say this with the deepest conviction and without a tinge of hyperbole: Orion Foxwood is a national treasure. His Tree of Enchantment is a brilliant and elegant jewel of modern magical literature and a testament to his genius and insight. ” -Lon Milo DuQuette, author of Enochian Vision Magick
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 29, 2008
The Tree of Enchantment reads more like a self-help book than a book about a spiritual path.
The illustration of the “Tree of Enchantment” upon entering Part One bears a very strong resemblance to the Jewish “Tree of Life” found in Kabbalah. Off the bat, that kind of made me cringe and wonder why in the world I was even reading this to begin with but I continued.
On page eight, the author says upfront that the book is based on “oral tradition (Celtic, American Southern and Appalachian), academic research on documented Faery practices (folkloric and extant), and contemporary practices (based on direct contact and transmission)”. I very much appreciated seeing this plainly written so no one is confused where the information contained within the book came from, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have my problems with the book. Foxwood skews Scottish, Irish Gaelic and Welsh terms to fit his own UPG/agenda, displays unconcealed Christian references, and appropriates various cultures.
Within “Chapter Two: The Threefold Life“, Foxwood makes a list of some practices that aid in “alignment” and “awakening powers”, though I feel some of them were not given the proper cautions. While journey and trance work may lead to possession, I felt Foxwood brushed it off as a safe practice saying “this is not a danger in trained work”. While I agree, most seekers sadly will take reading this book once as “trained work” and then attempt to delve into something they might not be able or ready to handle.
In addition, on page eighty-two, Foxwood states, "The lore on this being tells us that the Ancestor is a hermaphroditic being with two faces, one make and one female." What lore? No footnote or source for this so-called “lore" is given and I’ve never heard of such a creature. Additionally, earlier on in the book, Foxwood mentioned how the Faery Tradition is unlike Western ceremonial practices as it is devoid of invocation, the use of magical tools, evocation, aspecting, complex rituals and etcetera. Yet, on page ninety-nine, there is an Invocation to the Silent Ones. So, I’m a little thrown by the inconsistency and contradiction, but perhaps this is just a remnant from the editing process that was overlooked.
But before you think of me as an analytical disparager, I do have some good things to say about this book.
I admire the author for giving the proper warnings in only practicing BDSM rites with those whom you trust, respect and have an established relationship with and also in saying that he does not condone the use of psychoactive drugs as a means of awakening, though they have been used in numerous cultures around the world to aid in such endeavors. Don’t mistake me, if you choose to employ psychoactive drugs that is your business, but often newcomers are intrigued by such practices and jump right into it because it’s risqué or taboo in modern society and therefore appealing. I feel if they are to be used it should be done by someone with an already sound footing in whatever tradition they are in, and probably shouldn’t be done alone for safety reasons and illegal drugs should never be used.
I also have to applaud him for being fairly open as to what in the book comes from himself, i.e., “I call this ___” or “I refer to this as ___”. He is clearly showing that these titles, words, ideas are original to himself and isn’t trying to fool you into believing he lifted them straight from source material or that they are long-passed down from some ancient family tradition. We certainly need more authors who word teachings as such. I also appreciated the author pointing out that the elementals and their rulers are not a part of the folkloric tradition of Northern Europe or America, despite that modern NeoPagans/Wiccans practitioners have adopted them.
On the whole, while some might find this a great path (as is their prerogative to which I fully respect), it came off to me as eclectic twaddle to which I found very little to agree with and which the mixture of cultural terms and practices could be dreadfully confusing to new seekers. The Tree of Enchantment gives a whole new meaning to UPG-heavy and not in a good way, in my opinion.
But he does deserve kudos for being brave enough to bring his path out into the open for other seekers to share in. But as for those practicing a Celtic Reconstructionist path, like myself, you will get little, if any, use out of this book so save your money for something else worth it.
Rating: 1 bare, wintry tree branch out of 5.
The illustration of the “Tree of Enchantment” upon entering Part One bears a very strong resemblance to the Jewish “Tree of Life” found in Kabbalah. Off the bat, that kind of made me cringe and wonder why in the world I was even reading this to begin with but I continued.
On page eight, the author says upfront that the book is based on “oral tradition (Celtic, American Southern and Appalachian), academic research on documented Faery practices (folkloric and extant), and contemporary practices (based on direct contact and transmission)”. I very much appreciated seeing this plainly written so no one is confused where the information contained within the book came from, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have my problems with the book. Foxwood skews Scottish, Irish Gaelic and Welsh terms to fit his own UPG/agenda, displays unconcealed Christian references, and appropriates various cultures.
Within “Chapter Two: The Threefold Life“, Foxwood makes a list of some practices that aid in “alignment” and “awakening powers”, though I feel some of them were not given the proper cautions. While journey and trance work may lead to possession, I felt Foxwood brushed it off as a safe practice saying “this is not a danger in trained work”. While I agree, most seekers sadly will take reading this book once as “trained work” and then attempt to delve into something they might not be able or ready to handle.
In addition, on page eighty-two, Foxwood states, "The lore on this being tells us that the Ancestor is a hermaphroditic being with two faces, one make and one female." What lore? No footnote or source for this so-called “lore" is given and I’ve never heard of such a creature. Additionally, earlier on in the book, Foxwood mentioned how the Faery Tradition is unlike Western ceremonial practices as it is devoid of invocation, the use of magical tools, evocation, aspecting, complex rituals and etcetera. Yet, on page ninety-nine, there is an Invocation to the Silent Ones. So, I’m a little thrown by the inconsistency and contradiction, but perhaps this is just a remnant from the editing process that was overlooked.
But before you think of me as an analytical disparager, I do have some good things to say about this book.
I admire the author for giving the proper warnings in only practicing BDSM rites with those whom you trust, respect and have an established relationship with and also in saying that he does not condone the use of psychoactive drugs as a means of awakening, though they have been used in numerous cultures around the world to aid in such endeavors. Don’t mistake me, if you choose to employ psychoactive drugs that is your business, but often newcomers are intrigued by such practices and jump right into it because it’s risqué or taboo in modern society and therefore appealing. I feel if they are to be used it should be done by someone with an already sound footing in whatever tradition they are in, and probably shouldn’t be done alone for safety reasons and illegal drugs should never be used.
I also have to applaud him for being fairly open as to what in the book comes from himself, i.e., “I call this ___” or “I refer to this as ___”. He is clearly showing that these titles, words, ideas are original to himself and isn’t trying to fool you into believing he lifted them straight from source material or that they are long-passed down from some ancient family tradition. We certainly need more authors who word teachings as such. I also appreciated the author pointing out that the elementals and their rulers are not a part of the folkloric tradition of Northern Europe or America, despite that modern NeoPagans/Wiccans practitioners have adopted them.
On the whole, while some might find this a great path (as is their prerogative to which I fully respect), it came off to me as eclectic twaddle to which I found very little to agree with and which the mixture of cultural terms and practices could be dreadfully confusing to new seekers. The Tree of Enchantment gives a whole new meaning to UPG-heavy and not in a good way, in my opinion.
But he does deserve kudos for being brave enough to bring his path out into the open for other seekers to share in. But as for those practicing a Celtic Reconstructionist path, like myself, you will get little, if any, use out of this book so save your money for something else worth it.
Rating: 1 bare, wintry tree branch out of 5.
May 15, 2020
Very symbolic approach lots of elaborate symbolic journeys, barely touches anything to do with Faery or working with anything in the real world. Lot of talk of rivers, blood rivers, star rivers, that kinda thing. I'm somewhat doubtful the author has reached a state of fundamental wellness considering the amount of importance he puts on these symbolic narratives 🤷♂️.
August 19, 2018
While I really enjoyed the practical work in this book, the rest was a chore to read. If you don't have a lot of knowledge of the Faery folk then I recommend starting with something else. I did not enjoy the writing style he chose for this book. However, the practical work was wonderful.
March 23, 2018
Once I start a book, i read it to the end. But not this time. The first time i picked it up i had to put it down because though the tree glyph looks exactly like the kabbalistic tree of life, he barely gave a nod to that lineage. But I like Orion's workshops at Pantheacon and he is a very engaging speaker which is why i bought the book in the first place, so I gave it another shot.
After about 70 pages i just realized this is not my path. There was nothing in this book that was speaking to me, it didn't pertain to any of the ritual work that i do and the beings that he spoke of were completely unfamiliar. Life is too short and I am too far gone to spend my time reading books that don't teach me, or talk to me, or engage my mind. I wanted to like it, but i just didn't. I'm going back to Kabbalah and the tree i know.
After about 70 pages i just realized this is not my path. There was nothing in this book that was speaking to me, it didn't pertain to any of the ritual work that i do and the beings that he spoke of were completely unfamiliar. Life is too short and I am too far gone to spend my time reading books that don't teach me, or talk to me, or engage my mind. I wanted to like it, but i just didn't. I'm going back to Kabbalah and the tree i know.
January 25, 2015
Although this book is slightly repetitive it is a great one for those interested in studying what all being a faerie seer encompasses, as well as the enchantment of the everyday world. It also includes quite a few study questions to ponder and meditation exercises. This is one that will definately be left on my bookshelf to refer back to as needed. It was an enjoyable read for sure.
July 7, 2017
RGB Challenge 4 Reread: a book that changed your life
August 25, 2025
In the first chapter, I noticed the Christian elements and I wasn't sure I would want to read it. But by the second chapter, it was apparent that the core of Foxwood's practice is very much a nature-based witchcraft/shamanistic one. He blended elements from a lot of practices to create a spiritual system to explain the universe, and aid the spiritual evolution of humans.
Foxwood was trained in various kinds of witchcraft, and ended up creating his own unique way that relies heavily on spirit work. He is an intellectual mind and I can tell he has been doing this work, both as a witch and a teacher, for some time before writing it down.
He invented a lot of his own terms for things, and his writing is full of symbols, some of which are symbolic for other symbols, which made the text difficult to read. It was just hard to memorize it all. I think most of the elements in his system are meant to be both symbols and actual beings/places that exist in other dimensions, which could get pretty confusing. The practical work had some ideas I used, but most of it didn't feel right for me.
By the time I reached the last four chapters I had no idea what he was talking about.
Foxwood was trained in various kinds of witchcraft, and ended up creating his own unique way that relies heavily on spirit work. He is an intellectual mind and I can tell he has been doing this work, both as a witch and a teacher, for some time before writing it down.
He invented a lot of his own terms for things, and his writing is full of symbols, some of which are symbolic for other symbols, which made the text difficult to read. It was just hard to memorize it all. I think most of the elements in his system are meant to be both symbols and actual beings/places that exist in other dimensions, which could get pretty confusing. The practical work had some ideas I used, but most of it didn't feel right for me.
By the time I reached the last four chapters I had no idea what he was talking about.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews