The Tree: The Complete Book of Saxon Witchcraft

by Raymond Buckland

Buckland’s Book of Saxon Witchcraft was one of the first books to explore Wicca from a solitary perspective. Originally written 30 years ago to correct abuses he saw occurring in covens, Buckland... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877282587
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Let's Talk About Perspective and Context

WHile it's easy to try and discount The Tree as "made up", it discounts from its ground-breaking accomplishments. Mainly, that you could self-iniate yourself as a witch. When this book was published, that notion was almost, well, heretical! The idea was to creat a self-contained witchcraft path for those who could not find covens to join, or wanted to start one themselves but were unsure how to do so. It also marked a passage of witchcraft from people looking for sex, drugs, and Satan to peace, power and healing. Look at the openeing disclaimer to The Tree-Buckland is pushing the movement away from a counter culture fad to a serious, growing religion. Although much is extrapalated from history and the works of his teacher, Gerald Gardner, Buckland is going for a feeling and spirit, not anthropology and history. What we know about the time period referenced in the book has probably increased 10 fold, it's important to realize that this book does not pretend to be a historically accurate recontruction of Saxon or Anglo-Saxon witchcraft. It was designed to open the door to witchcraft-a door that most of us probably went thru -that did not require someone else letting you in and initiating you. read this book to see how much the Craft has changed, add the herbs and concoctions to you Book of Shadows, and take this book in as a major, quiet, turning point in witchcraft.

Everything is made up..Seax Wica included

Dear Reader, The slamming reviews you have seen are quite understandable. The folks writing seem to not understand the concept of history or religion. History is not a science. Even anthroplogy, archeology, and sociology are based upon theories that come in and out of fashion. With this change of theory also comes the change in how data is perceived. If your looking for truth in any of these you will not find it. Therefore, researchers are only making their best guess at what happened centuries before. Not only that, they are interepreting this data with a modern mindset which does lead to the possibility tainting the data. Sometimes the answer is much simpler. Everthing was made up by someone sometime! Gerald Gardner created his Wicca from his experiences in the OTO, Martinist Order, and the Ancient Order of Druids. Yes, Gardner created Wica. He made it up off the top of his head. Are the reviewers complaining about that? Nope! Why not pray tell? Ray Buckland states it quite clearly in print and on video that he created Seax Wica. He even says that the history of Wicca is still in contention. Therefore he gave caveats to all who were reading/watching. I do not know if Mr. Buckalnd has a ph.d. in history or even cares if his Seax Wica is 100% accurate. It seems to me, and I am quite well read in this genre, that he was simply looking to create a system of Wica to work. If during his time, he didn't wish to be part of th Hard Gard. or another tradition what does one do? hmm? Right, you don't have an answer except to make it up. That is what Ray Buckland did and people now follow Seax Wica as a spiritual path. They too will inevitably change it as their needs change. So it goes with all religions, historically speaking. I hope this assists the beginner in their quest.

Seax-Wica: A perfect place to start.

THE TREE is a very good book for anyone of Anglo-Saxon heritage who wants to reconnect with their pagan spiritual roots. I am a longtime student of Ray Buckland, as well as the founder of the Seax-Wiccan coven (The Coven of the Green Earth), and I can attest to Ray's knowledge and complete mastery of Witchcraft. Come visit our website to learn more: http://home.talkcity.com/gaiaway/wiccan-coven

The Saxon Wiccan's Free Will Book of Spells

Mr. Buckland's book discusses Seax-Wica, the Wiccan religion of the British Saxons. The book discusses Seax-Wica history, Seax-Wica beliefs, and presents "The Tree", the Seax-Wica Book of Spells. Unlike other Wiccan disciplines Seax-Wica has *no oath of secrecy*, the Book of Spells is available to all, and Mr. Buckland incurs no penalty by publishing the Seax-Wica Book of Spells.The Saxons were commoners who suffered poverty, and who suffered indenture due to crimes and debts. Prisoners of war mixed with the Saxons. By my interpretation, that Loki did remove a "silver circlet" from the Goddess Freya's neck indicates that the Goddess Freya herself at one time was enslaved (pg. 19).Seax-Wica reflects the Saxon love of freedom and the history of persecution by permitting Free Will in Seax-Wica rituals and worship. _Seax-Wica witches do *not* require external assistance and control._ If no local Coven exists or if the local Coven members' philosophies disagree with one's own, Seax-Wica contains a "Rite of Self Dedication" that allows a sincere one to initiate one self into the Craft as Priest/ess. The sincere one then may form a new Coven, and other Seax-Wica Covens will recognize the sincere one's initiation and the new Coven. The sincere one also may choose to enter Solitary Practice.Similarly, a sincere one may choose to be initiated into the local Coven by her/his parents instead of the local Coven's Priestess and Priest. And a Seax-Wica Coven member may leave or rejoin the Coven at any time with *no penalty*.Seax-Wica appears to stress fertility less than do other Wiccan disciplines. A 50-50 mix of female-male Coven members is not required, and Coven members are not paired. Based upon my interpretation, fertility symbolism is minimal except within the Spring (pre-planting) Sabbat (pp. 66-67). Open elections for Priestesses and Priests are held periodically, preventing incumbents from acquiring tenure and excessive influence.Mr. Buckland's book also discusses Divination and Herbal Lore. The Appendices discuss Magickal Alphabets, Seax-Wican songs, and Recipes for Beer, Wine, and Ale.Seax-Wica allows a sincere one to utilize Free Will. A sincere one can worship with local Coven members, can form a new Coven, or can engage in Solitary Practice. The lack of an Oath of Secrecy, the ability to leave and rejoin a Coven at any time, and the lack of penalties provides an openness and freedom that other Wiccan disciplines lack. Frees *will* find their own path with Seax-Wica.I enjoyed reading this Book. It is a pleasant and well-written book that discusses a nice Wiccan discipline.

I love it!!

My last name is Saxon, so you can imagine my suprise when I found a copy of this book! I got a copy right away and read it! I love it!! I was so amazed at how much of the beliefs in it were ones that I had believed in my whole life!! It was very imformitive and very exciting to me!!