Book excerpt: Natural Magic at Its Finest For many Witches, there is no earthly manifestation more sacred than a tree. From their highest-reaching branches to the furthest depths of their underground roots, trees speak to us in a silent, magical language, emitting powerful energies that affect not just us, but the entire Universe. In her newest book, Tree Magic, best-selling author Lisa Chamberlain shows you how to work consciously with these energies to enhance and improve your life. Trees are perhaps the most diverse natural sources of magical ingredients. You can utilize leaves, bark, or branches in your spellwork, or take advantage of the magical properties of the nuts and fruits that trees provide. You might work with the resins or essences of particular trees, or utilize their energies in incense or essential oils. You can also accomplish some astounding manifestations simply by sitting at the base of a tree and attuning to its majestic presence. As you can see, the practice of tree magic has endless potential! This guide will help you find your own personal starting point. The Old Religion and the Trees of the New World Magic today is a highly diverse and eclectic practice, often borrowing from older pagan traditions while at the same time inventing new approaches. Understanding where our traditions come from can lead to fresh inspiration for new magical innovations. In this spirit, Lisa uncovers the importance of trees to the ritual and magical lives of two ancient Northern European cultures-the Germanic peoples and the Celts-that have long inspired modern Wiccan practices. She then outlines the roles trees play in Wiccan beliefs, and their contributions to tools of the Craft. Because so much of our understanding of tree magic has been handed down from European pagan traditions, modern sources on tree magic are often focused on species native to Europe, where these traditions originate. This guide takes a different approach, focusing on 13 magical trees native to North America, to help the Witches of "the New World" ground their practice of tree magic more firmly on home soil. You'll learn about the history and lore of each tree, where it can be found in the U.S. and Canada, and (of course!) its energetic properties and magical uses. What's more, the magical workings included in the guide are all focused on one or more of the featured trees (though appropriate substitutions are always welcome)! Indeed, Tree Magic has all you need to embark on a new leg of your magical journey, including: - How trees were used in ritual and magic by our pagan ancestors - The significance of trees to Wiccan cosmology and ritual practice - Advice for forging (and deepening) personal magical connections with the trees that live near you - Profiles of 13 common magical trees-their history and lore, energetic properties, and magical uses - How to safely and respectfully harvest magical ingredients from living trees - Ideas for making your own wand from a tree branch - Spells, meditations, rituals, and more for working with the natural magic of trees - A table of correspondences for easy reference By the end of this guide, you will have a greater understanding of the incredible, magical beings we call trees, and how to work with them to transform your life. So get ready to start developing your own unique practice of tree magic! If you're ready to start working magic with trees, just scroll to the top of the page and hit the Buy button!