Product Description
This work continues the studies of the ancient oral faery tradition of Ireland undertaken in "Faery Wicca, Book One". It focuses on the tradition's shamanic practices, including meditation, healing, herbcraft and spellcasting, and the different forms of faery divination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Dishonest presentation
This book is not one I recommend, even used. As with the first book some of her information is simply wrong, such as her assertion that Cu Chulain was a shapeshifter who could take on the form of a wolf, hound, eel or bird, and her confusion of the Daghda with his harp. This occurs in that same section where she states he could take the form of a harp whose playing changed the seasons. In reality it was one of his famed possessions, not himself - in point of fact in one tale it is stolen and he must go with Ogma to reclaim it which would be rather difficult if he and it were one and the same. Those details aside though my biggest issue with this book is that the author takes Christian charms from the Carmina Gadelica, Vol. I & II: Hymns and Incantations (Forgotten Books), alters them slightly to be more appropriate for her "faery Wicca" by changing references to God and Jesus to Danu, and calls them traditional faery Wicca charms, without ever citing the real source she is drawing on. Not only is this misleading to people reading the book who are not familiar with the source material, but it is unfair to the source material itself to fail to credit it. Her faery faith is not old or traditional - it is clearly her own invention based off of altering genuine traditional material without ever admitting that is what she is doing. If you want to practice faery faith magic just read the Gadelica for yourself - you can rewrite the charms your own way and know where they came from.

Faery Wicca Book 2 Review
Again, this book like the first is among the first books on Wicca that I read and, like my review for the first book, when I learned that much of the material has been plagerized and the books pulled out of print, I've found myself reevaulating my thoughts on this book.

I found this book to be cumbersome and a difficult read. More material to reference when you need to look it up then a straight through read.

I keep the books out of curiosity and to say I have them. I don't really read or use them for heavy reference any more.

The information is NOT the issue...
...the issue is that the author has taken her information from others who have taught and written about Faery for *decades* longer than she has, and BLATANTLY stolen it. There has been litigation against her. Even Llewellyn won't publish her books anymore because they are afraid of getting sued. Folklore, Meditation, Folklore, Meditation, and then more Folklore- that is the way to learn the Faery Faith.

Spiritual practices
As an Irish gent recently relocated to Boston, and having come across the works by the Irish-American author, Ms. Stepanich, I must say that I find her understanding of Irish mysticism to be quite enchanting. I took the time to read the reviews below and found it quite interesting that many of them sounded as if they were written by the same person and that that person just might be one of the other "authors" so favorably highlighted. Such a shame to attempt to slaunder one individual to stroke your own ego! Makes for bad business. My end comment: a lovely spiritual practice is presented in this book and the first one. As an old druid I must say, she has got her finger on the pulse of the Faery more accurately than any other contemporary author.

This is the best book of Irish Traditons ever printed!!!
This is the best book of Irish Traditons ever printed!

Want to learn about the Irish shamanic traditons? want to learn about the Irish Gods and Goddesses and how to work with them? Then go to the Irish Faery Faith expert! That is Kisma Stepanich! Go to other traditions and their experts for their ways. This is truly unique and the best writing available! As for some of the negative comments listed below, lets see these poeople do better! It is easy to sit on your duff and criticize, but hey, write something and lets see if you can do better!! Buy it, you won't be sorry!! ... Read more

Product Description
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 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Powerful Information that May take a Lifetime to Integrate!
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.

Excellent Work for those already on the Path...
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

Tedious, with a few bright spots
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 Real Deal
I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in interacting with other realms.Foxwood is clear and concise, leading you through a series of initiations that start with connecting to our ancestors and leads all the way through nature spirits into the angelic realms.Incredibly far ranging and no-nonsense, that is, unless you consider the whole field to be nonsense ;)

Profound
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. ... Read more

Product Description
This guide offers the reader a comprehensive understanding of the beliefs, history and practice of Irish Faery Wicca. The first part explores the Celtic pantheon. The second describes in detail Faery Wicca ceremonies, magical Faery tools, symbols and creating a sacred space. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (57)

Faery Wicca Tarot
I have studied andpracticed tarot professionally for many years.Mary Greer being one of my teachers.
After reading the harsh reviews above, I feel there is too much personal agenda
at hand in regard to the very biased opinions and reviews, that are so critical, of the decks and books of K. Stepanich.
Anyone who is not so "in their head" all of the time, would not be so concerned about such nonsense.The author is bringing their reader into a land of "no time", "no space", and of Faery Fantasy. You could pretty much take ANY author of any work and say that what they are talking about belongs to another tradition!The work of the shaman overlaps into many different cultures.
Stapanich's work sells itself, and she is to be commended for that.I have used her mini tarot deck/kit for years and it is my very favorite among a collection of over 100 decks.

Keep up the good work Kisma!Pay no attention to those who'd like to drag you down to their level of thinking.That's really just it, in reading those reviews, they JUST think, and don't feel.

I give this deck 5 stars.Great work!
Protected by The Goddess

Faery Wicca Review
This was among some of the first books on Wicca that I read when I first started and it was a bit of a shock to hear that shortly after I got her books, that they'd been pulled from print due to plagerism.

So I find myself sitting back and reevaluating what I read.

Not knowing it was plagerized, the book seems a good introduction on the study of fairy lore and how the belief and views of them have changed through the years of history.

The rest of the book seems pretty standard for presenting Wicca, Wita with a slant on Fairy Faith.

And I mostly keep the books out of curiosity and hey I got out of print books!

An objective glance...
I came across this title used while looking for resources on Irish mythology. I remember when the title was published by in the 1990s with much fanfare from the publisher. Llewellyn had an odd habit of promoting titles from its subjective view. In other words, if the author says so, it must have been true! Look back at many titles from the earlier offerings from previous decades. Many of them are laughable!

They have grown up somewhat in the meantime, yet many of these titles remain and endure. This one seems to hang around. Frankly, its not so bad. The cover art is questionable, yet attractive. Its the title that frightens me. Anytime the word Wicca comes into play, I laugh. The very name suggest "pop-witchcraft". In this case the title kills the messenger for many.

I read most of it and liked what I found. There is very little material concerning Celtic mythology in print. This has some good information within. Half of the problem comes from the source-channeled information. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as it is not passed off as historic fact. The author tells about her material being "whispered to her from the faery realm". It is not an "ancient oral tradition". The faeries may speak to individuals, yet not just in Ireland, the world over. The legends are potent. So is the magic.

The author should revise the work with some honesty and integrity, not to say it was her fault-Llewellyn hype. A second edition is needed, with the word Wicca taken out of the title. "Faery Magic, Legend and Lore" would do it justice. Otherwise this is a great study guide and resource book for those with a connection to this path.

Not even worth 1 star
I'd have given it 0 stars if that was an option, it's not even worth the money to buy used. Her information is so inaccurate it makes me wonder if she read half the sources she lists in her bibliography. She relies on several authors which have been largely discredited, such as R A S MacAlister whose theories on Ogham being thousands of years old are baseless, or Seamus McManus's archeologically inaccurate idea that the Fomorians were Scythian or the Fir Bolg Greek. Beyond the shaky references, there are the accusations of plagerism covered in other reviews, as well as the author's rampant self contradictions - in one section she states that Cu Chulainn is Lugh reincarnated then two paragraphs later refers to Lugh coming to Cu Chulainn's aid, without ever explaining how that could be possible if they were the same person. She also inaccurately refers to the Fianna as members of the Tuatha de Danann. Her text is full of Kabbalistic references which have no place in the fairy faith. And for someone claiming the title of Ollamh - the highest rank among the Fili, or poets of Ireland - her Irish Gaelic is atrocious. She mangles the language mercilessly, both in spelling and her pronounciation guide reducing it to meaningless gibberish, making it very plain that she does not speak the language at all - it seems to be included for no other reason than to make her book look more "Irish" and authentic, when it is in fact neither. Anyone who reads this at the least needs to be aware that it is not genuinely Irish in any way, and should skip right over any Irish Gaelic included in the text. The information about the gods and faeries is blatantly wrong and often contradictory. In short I would never recommend this book as it only spreads a lot of misinformation. There are much better books on Celtic Wicca such as Celtic Wicca: Ancient Wisdom for the 21st Century by Jane Raeburn, or Lora O'Brien's book Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch

WOW!!!
If you liked Witta this book is for you!!
I would have had a alot less problem with this book if Wicca were not in the books title.So much has been thrown into Wicca over the yearspeople really have come to belive that Wicca really is Celtic.I think mostly becuase the word Celtic is a good way to sell you something Runes,Chinese art anything from England and Germany is fair game. The list goes on and on.As long as you are buying they will be selling.This book falls in with the above.I know this is lost of most of you, I really do.I could not get through most of it .This is a Ancient Tradition ?? just becuase you wish it to be will not make it true.If it were called a New Faery Tradition or a Modern Tradition of Ireland that may have been different. ... Read more

Product Description
The 83-card FAERY WICCA TAROT is a unique system that blends traditional tarot images with the mystical symbology of modern Faery Wicca. The cards take you deeper into your spiritual evolution through magickal archetypes, mystical symbols, and the wisdom of the ancients. Each card contains a Bardic teaching designed to awaken greater psychic perception. instruction book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Not for multiple-deck owners.
This deck *requires* you know your mythology, your Celtic sagas (no, I do not mean the Eddas or the Finnish saga).You must know them, you must know Celtci culture as the wide- sweeping thing it is and was--and you must know very little of it will be reflected in this deck.

I dislike decks with "extra cards".The standard number is quite enough to learn/interpret/be inspired by.I am a purist in this:if you add cards besides the Major Arcana, the Court Cards, and the rest of the Minor Arcana, what you have is NOT A TAROT DECK!You may indeed have an *oracle*, but not all oracle cards are Tarot cards.

If you do not know your mythology, you will be confused by the namings of the cards--the cards have names beyond court and suit, and these names have significance.If you don't know them, you miss out on part of the meaning.

I've heard from the more scholarly inclined that the Gaelic used in the deck is awful, the Ogham is applied with little to no purpose (the equivalent would be just slapping in Futhark runes whereever they look good), and that some of her mythological comparisons are questionable at best.

I can only tell you I found it annoying to continually reference the book--and I'm not a novice reader--to work around these 'extra cards' that always required reference.If you are an experienced reader of more traditional Tarot, or even the more expansive, wide-ranging decks, I still think you will have trouble with this.It's not just mythology, it's the creator's *interpretation* of the mythology that must be learned, and I find that... cultish thinking.

I *like* rather strange art, so the visuals did not bother me (the reason for the two stars).The book (badly organized, and due to its micro-size, containing no index, with small print, difficult to handle) gives a strong impression that this is a 'channeled work'.I have little opinion on that--but I know this isn't Feri as I know it, it's barely Wicca, and it's certainly not Tarot.

Very well done book and deck
Now, I freely admit my work with spiritual anything is rather limited. I became interested in it when I was working as a clerk in a New Age shop in Maine. There was a reader who worked there, and something she told me stuck with me when I was looking for a deck to initiate myself into Tarot. No matter if the deck is made by US Game Systems, which has a tradition of pumping out Tarot decks by the tons, or is done individually, it's no good if you don't feel a pull to and connection with the deck. This particular deck struck a chord with me, mostly because I'm Irish-American, and I thought the artwork was amazing. The artwork is really what first drew me, since I didn't recognize Emer on the cover. It's strong, clear, and uncluttered. Ms. Stepanich's writing is very much the same. The slight renaming and of some traditional aspects, like renaming Page, Knight, Queen, King as Knight,Maiden, High King and High Queen can be confusing or off-putting to some, but I feel that's more a matter of personal taste.

I can happily say I've got no reservations recommending this set to anyone interested in the mythological history of Ireland. Is it completely accurate? No. Is that a problem? Well, that depends on how you respond to such things. People will always have their own opinions, and some do more fact checking the others. If you take everything you read on faith, that's more a failing on oneself, then the writer. If you discover an INTEREST in the topic, and collect your OWN data, then there's nothing horribly wrong with one person being wrong, or mistaken, about some historical facts. Those facts are written by the winners, anyways. However, this deck will hopefully guide the interested reader into doing their own research, something one should do anyways. And more importantly, Kisma, in my opinion, does a very good job on displaying the importance of being open minded and willing to stretch your thinking and find more information on your own, without immediately telling everyone who believes something different than you, that they are "wrong!". And again...if you feel a connection to the deck, then even if the details of the history of Mannan Mac Lir are wrong, your interpertation will be fine, without anyone else's help.

Ignore the detractors, and give the deck a try. It all comes down to that connection, and either it's there or its not, but you won't know until you work with it.

Try it
Let me start out by saying that this deck has beautiful artwork which does resonate with me on one level. Thought i am not wiccanI bought these cards and Kismas other 2 Faery books and am glad to have them. Kisma has been accused of being false in her presentation but I just dont see it. Kisma Stepanich has presented a very in depth journey in these cards, she has opened the doors to higher consciousness and I reccomend people who are drawn to it most assuredly try it. Good luck on your journey.

I liked it! I don't care what anyone else thinks.
I never really used any other cards but these (I've owned a Rider-Waite deck I didn't resonate with), and I still think these are useful and insightful. I don't find the deck too complicated as some say, but then I am not attempting any spreads, just one card readings that usually give the answer my heart peacefully acknowledges as truth. Another reviewer stated that the cardshave "spot-on accuracy" and are of a "revelation nature", and I find this description accurate with regards to my own experience.

I've read the reviews of others on this site, and I'm certainly not closed-minded to the idea that perhaps the "lore" is inaccurate...but I'm glad I never knew of the possibility till after I used and loved the deck! It is a deck worth knowing, for me. Also, if I had read the reviews before I bought it, I wouldn't have bought it, because I'm quite anal about the accuracy of things.

The deck has been intensely insightful for me, personally, so I can easily forgive any potential inaccuracies or made-up histories. Besides, I'd be interested to see if this other reviewer (who said "to claim it isn't correct by their knowledge is at best being a fundamentalist in a very unfundamentalist religion") might not have a point.

Also, I have to consider this: I personally refuse to subscribe to any path in a fundamentalist fashion; I pick the aspects of each "religion" or "path" that are right for me and they are amalgamated into my daily life. If I were to personally write a spiritually inspired book or anything else, it would most likely be a work of "cobbled together stuff", those elements from varying sources that fit into my mind and heart like puzzle pieces, even if they didn't come from paths with identical "titles". Maybe that's what the author of this tarot deck was doing, (if the negative reviewers happen to be right!) who knows. I like the deck, dang it.

My favourite Deck!
This was a present and it has become my main deck. Perhaps people whom don't like it don't like celts either.It's very well thought out and the more you study it, the deeper it gets. The art work is gorgeous and thesymbolism brilliant. ... Read more

Product Description
Discover Wicca where you perhaps least expected it-in the poetry of a Michigan woman of the late nineteenth century. When Alta Isadore Gould published THE VETERAN'S BRIDE AND OTHER POEMS in 1894, the book was hailed as a charming collection of narrative poems by a member of the weaker sex. Now, her great-granddaughter, Trudy Last, reveals that it was in fact a subtle and sophisticated work about Wicca and Goddess worship. Under Last's pen, a raid on a milk-house becomes an experience of death and rebirth, a carved decoration on a wooden chair becomes a symbol of the Horned God, and entertaining stories of the Civil War are shown to be rich in pagan symbolism and myth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice presentation of walking with the faery
this book was very easy to read.She presents her own growing up and her calling of being different in a very flowing way. was very hard to not read the whole book in one sitting.

She details her trips and stays in Ireland as she gathered the tales of those who have seen and those who have heard what others have seen.

She really makes the reader want to experience this as she has.We hope to someday plan a trip to Ireland and stay in a cottage and visit as she has, the non tourists sites, the ancient paths and lakes and forests that are filled with life and magic.

I would suggest this book for anyone who wants to read about non victorian faeries and myths.

very thought provoking. ... Read more