Eye of the Storm

The phrase “faery witchcraft” is very overused in occult circles. Almost every author has a different approach to what it means. 

You can find plenty of books about how to befriend the “benevolent,” saccharine fair folk. Some suggest cute little houses for them and leaving them sugar. A lot of these books put forth some dubious ideas and very fanciful imaginings.

This is not one of those books. 

In this book the term “faery witchcraft” doesn’t refer to a single practice. It’s not only about working with certain spirits, either.

Instead, it’s a reference to the Faery or Feri tradition of witchcraft. 

The blind poet, Victor Anderson, was the founder of Feri. Some authors consider it a type of Wicca. In my view, the structure and beliefs don’t map onto established Wicca. Instead, they stand on their own. It seems like both a system of occult attainment and a collection of compatible beliefs. 

Real talk here, though. This book is not for beginners. It’s not a Wicca 101 book, or even a Witchcraft 101 book. 

It’s not for newbies. I can see picking it up for simple informational purposes or anthropology. Beyond that, it’s a bit pointless to read it with no prior research. 

I recommend reading Faerywolf’s earlier book, Betwixt and Between, before this one. It’s also about the Feri tradition. It’s a bit more beginner-friendly. It would be best to have a few years of Craft experience (eclectic or otherwise), too. 

This isn’t something you can jump into and hope for the best. Faerywolf is honest about that in his books, including this one.

I’ve been studying the occult for over fifteen years. I still felt very challenged by this material. I’ve read Betwixt and Between and worked through the exercises there. I still don’t feel ready yet to attempt most of the work described in this second book.

To be candid, even reading through some of it made me feel highly liminal. It felt like treading somewhere far beyond my current capacities, for better or worse.

In particular, the description of Feri godforms seemed pretty hard for me to grasp. I read a lot of passages twice, trying to grasp things on the level at which they were being discussed.

I’m not a Feri initiate. After reading this book (and the earlier one), I’ve concluded that I’d like to be one someday. I can already tell that this won’t be an easy process. 

I’d consider it on par with working Crowley’s A.’.A.’. system, or any other intense course of study and practice. Still, it’s something I now keenly desire. It will be my goal for the foreseeable future.

If you are curious and would like to learn more about the Feri tradition, Victor Anderson, and related topics, I recommend picking up Betwixt and Between as well as this book. 

You can also visit the tradition’s website here. It’s definitely worth getting the original texts by the Andersons, as well. That said, know what you’re getting into. 

If you’re interested in delving into it, realize that it’s not easy work. Faerywolf even notes that a lot of the exercises in the book are not for amateurs.

Prepare, and have the proper mindset, and you can learn a lot from this book. I know I did, even though it caught me off-guard.

Isn’t that a good thing, though? The Feri tradition is nothing if not liminal - it’s pretty obvious even though I’ve only started studying it.

My verdict? Five out of five stars.

This book will be published on November 8th, 2018, by Llewellyn. You can preorder it through Amazon here, or directly from the publisher’s site. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy for review via Netgalley.

I’ve said this many times in FB posts but I’m saying again. This year it seems especially important to me. I think it’s all I’ve been through the past few months. They’ve been rough to say the least and I’ve realized even more than I already knew, how important my friends are to me.

Now, I have those close to me who will not be at the New Orleans Witches Ball. Friends near and far. That’s okay, because they have their celebrations elsewhere and they’re in my heart always. My hubs can never attend because it’s a very busy time in his line of work!

But, I digress as per usual. I’ve always said the Ball was like a homecoming. I was born and raised in the South and one weekend of every Fall I was dragged to the parents alma mater. They would greet friends and catch up as they only saw them once a year. That’s the Ball!  It’s like a giant homecoming.. except .. Hogwarts!

Seriously though, the people I have met through the event have become such wonderful parts of my life. Our fabulous ‘guys from Cali’, the ladies (and you know who you are) MI, MS, GA, CA,  and all over. I can’t imagine ever spending the Saturday before or this year.. on Samhain any other way. That night… oh that magickal night.

Sure it’s bat shit crazy in the days and hour.. literally hour before. We work our butts off. The HWIC… I try to keep up and ease some of her stress but she’s a perfectionist and everything always comes out perfect so it works! She’s the best leader of the broom brigade we could ask for!  The ladies of the NOBHS ARE the hardest working women in the Witch business. But you know, we have fun. When it’s all said and done. We had fun! And it is crazy but… when those gates open.

The happy faces, the breathtaking attire, the food… trays of the most fabulous NOLA worthy hors d'oeuvres being passed around not to mention the cheese table or the carving stations! And then there’s the band inside that fabulous old ballroom of the most beautiful mansion on St. Charles Ave. You just know so many couples have danced the night away on that historic hardwood floor. You know so many ladies have graciously descended that grande staircase! We make history every year IN history!

And all the while our ‘house mom’ is busy upstairs raising money in our silent auction to benefit so many charities. That’s what it’s all about.. Good Witches Doing Good Works. We have fun but we’re always helping others!

Towards the end of the night at midnight, we gather in the oak covered courtyard for the ritual. The subtle lights, the moss dripping, the fountain bubbling in the background.. it’s all quintessential NOLA. The joining of hands and the meaningful chant we know can be heard throughout the Universe. Love and light coming together.