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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #14 -- August 2001 A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.com/ mailing list/board: http://www.ecauldron.com/fregmb.php delphi forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/start newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ With a little help from The Witches' Thicket website: http://www.cros.net/soraya/ delphi forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/thicket/start In this Issue: [01] Editorial: Pseudo history, Fluff Bunnies and Wicca [02] Poem: In The Dark [03] Lammas: The First Harvest [05] Review: Are We Living In The End Times [06] Review: Ariande's Thread [07] Review: The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries [08] Review: Origins of Modern Witchcraft [09] Magick: Elemental Cauldrons [10] Magick: Money Drawing Spell [11] Summertime Incense, Potpourri and Philtres [12] Humor: You Know Your Coven's Getting Older [13] New Articles on The Cauldron's Site [14] New Web Polls [15] Support The Cauldron When You Buy at Amazon.com [16] Cauldron and Thicket Chats [17] Newsletter and Forum Info (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: August 20, 2001 +++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL: PSEUDO HISTORY, FLUFF BUNNIES AND WICCA ========= by Tony M. ========= [The following is long and a bit rambling. It is just some thoughts I have had going around in my head, and thought I would put down for personal clarity. These are just my opinions. I don't wish to imply that I have a unique and correct insight that others miss. This is simply the way I have seen things. I thought I would post this and give others the opportunity to comment one way or the other. It is not really meant as a rant against fluff bunnies. Rather some observations of how and why things have gone the way they have in Wicca, and how I feel it effects me as an individual.] I have been noticing a few things about Wicca and the changes it has been going through over the past decade or so. I first began to get involved with Wicca in 1982. I felt it would round out my spiritual practices, and it did. I have to admit that one of the things that appealed to me about it were the mystery and the fact that it directly addressed some of the most primal aspects of human existence; life, death and sex. At that time the more vocal debates about the origin of Wicca were just getting into swing. There had always been controversy I suppose, but up until then it was mostly debate within or between occult groups, and an occasional article in one of the few Pagan publications. So, for the most part, at that time people were still being taught the idea that Wicca was an ancient tradition that went back practically to Paleolithic times. That the form may have changed, but what we were doing was in direct decent of what our primitive (yet spiritually advanced it seems) ancestors did. I know that for me and the circle of individuals I associated with, this so called ancient link and sense of antiquity given to what we were doing lent a sense of awe when we entered a circle. It produced a certain mindset that opened us to the wondrous. Gardner may have reworked some stuff and supplemented it, but as far as we were concerned he was a Witch who's practices could be traced to the farthest reaches of human memory. He was in touch with something that modern man, living in modern society, had been mostly cut off from. We few who were following this path were trying to reconnect to something ancient, enlightening and yes, powerful. There were some good books out. Even those of us lucky enough to find a coven supplemented our practice with stuff from these books. But these books were written by people like us, who felt we were dealing with something ancient and mysterious. They were not best sellers, and most bookstores did not carry them. Searching these books out lent a certain sense of adventure to the whole learning process. Gardner had talked about life and death in plain terms. Death is still a subject that we avoid in most western societies, but here was a guy who explained that birth, death, and sex were all a part of the great cycle we, as animals on the Earth, were a part of. It was a philosophy that included both the base and the sublime. It dealt with the body and its functions, sweat, blood and the dirt under our feet. But also the spirit, the search for transcendence, the union with the higher forces of the universe. We thought about things we otherwise would not have. We celebrated dirt, sex and death. There was joy in it, but also something dark. Not in an evil way, but in the sense that we were putting our minds to things our society labels as impolite conversation, morbid topics, and things better left unexamined. As time progressed things changed. At first it seemed like a very good change to me. More books. Books actually geared to solitaires. Books suggesting self initiation is ok. And eventually books that dealt with the idea that the history we were being told about our links to the distant past, the numbers killed in the "Burning Times", the stories of who were witches secretly in the past and the things they had done, were not accurate. That some were outright lies. That Gardner made it all up. I did not care, and neither did most of those I knew. So Gardner made it up? He would not be the first to create a false history to give validation to his creation. It did not change the fact that what he created answered a spiritual need for some of us. So what if some of the awe at the thought of the antiquity was gone? So what if some of the mystery was lost when numerous variations of our secret ceremonies were being published in books for anyone to read? At first it seemed that those who were learning on their own from just books and experimentation were doing well. They were just as dedicated, and often just as educated. They also tended to have a streak of creativity that was breathing new life into Wicca. They were making it more accessible and understandable. This was, to me, a good thing. If Wicca could help people searching for something missing in their spiritual lives then I was all for it. We were still part of something different. Something that may becoming available to more people. But due to its frank nature, and dealing with certain aspects of life that most preferred not incorporate in to their spiritual thinking, it was not going to be the path for very many despite this deluge of information being easily accessible. But as the history was refuted and the secrecy was stripped away things started to change. There were those who felt that since Gardner made it up it was fair game to change the things they did not like. Fine to certain extent. I am all for people modifying to fit their needs, to a point. But in my opinion some of those things that have been changed are some of the things that make Wicca what it is. The first casualties were the Death and Sex. Birth was ok, and you can't get away from the death completely, but it was drastically reduced in importance and brushed under the rug. Magic, in terms of spell work, started to take precedence over religion. I never understood this since you don't need the religion to do the spell work. But it seems many would be Witches and Magicians wanted to seize on the concept of "White Witchcraft" in a way that seemed less threatening to others or themselves. The problem is that Gardner's Wicca was not not threatening (please forgive the double negative). It was, in fact, rather radical and dangerous in its own way. Not inherently dangerous to the individual practicing it, but dangerous in a societal sense because it provided a worldview that was significantly different from that of Western society as a whole. At least that is how it seemed to me in my younger years. The changes being made were in order to make it more appealing as a possible spiritual path to a wider bunch of people, and more acceptable to society at large. The books coming out were "lighter". Less Sex and Death. Not only were certain practices that were not appealing to a large number of people called unnecessary, old fashioned or optional: they were not mentioned at all. I was recently reading a review of some Wicca books on Amazon and found people criticizing Raymond Buckland's early books. Not criticizing his writing style or overly authoritarian tone. They were criticizing his use of bondage and scourging during initiation rites. His discussion of sexuality as sacred. His explanation of the Great Rite in fact, not symbolism. There were those calling him sick and perverted. I was floored at this. All these things are part of the Wicca Gerald Gardner created. They have been a part since long before I was born. And here are people who have no clue of that. They call themselves Wiccan, but look upon some of the most basic concepts of Wicca as sick and perverted. With the discarding of the Pseudo history Gardner created for Wicca there seems to have been a loss of understanding of why he did things the way he did. I have come to realize that the pseudo history contained a lot of the myth and symbolism that defined the message of Wicca. Joseph Campbell once said that the problem with Christianity is that it takes it's myths too literal. In doing so the symbolic message contained in those myths is lost to many. In the case of Wicca we have discarded the myth altogether, and with it the core of what it is all about. I try not to be judgmental, but I have a hard time seeing these "fluff bunnies" as Wiccan. Not because I am an elitist who thinks that every one who does not agree with my version of Wicca is a heretic. But these are people who don't even have a clue they are disagreeing with the original teachings of Wicca. Wicca is a religion of Death, Birth and Sex, yet these people are trying to remove these very things, or at least trying to change the concepts to the point that Gardner himself would not recognize. The books are teaching something very different than what I was taught. They are more about spells with a touch of religion thrown in. They are about casting circles and consecrating the pretty new wand you bought at the local occult shop. The dirt and blood and sweat are gone. The extremes of life, the pain and joy, celebrated and cherished in Wicca have been converted to more acceptable and palatable middle of the road point of view. The few concepts that have survived because they were acceptable enough not to be changed or removed have been adhered to with such ferocity that their true meaning and purpose have been lost in rabid fundamentalism. Like most fundamentalists these Wiccans hold certain things about their religion as absolutes while brushing the aspects they are not comfortable with under the rug. The old "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" syndrome. The mystery religion of Wicca is now Pop Culture. Wicca (in it's lightened form) is hip. It is on television. Or at least the term Wicca is. Those who are supposed to be Wiccan on these shows bear even less resemblance to Gardner's concepts than the new crop of fluff Wiccans. We have become trendy and trite. The lightening up of Wicca has not really brought us in to the mainstream of religion in the U.S. We are just a fad to some, a joke to others, and just as evil to those who look for evil under every stone. I am starting to feel that Wicca, as I have always thought of it, is dead. There is a new Wicca in town and it bears little resemblance. I am reluctant to use the term anymore for myself. I find that if I have to describe myself in terms of religion I fall on my roots and simply say Buddhist. At least that typically gets some respect. Or just call myself a general Pagan and leave it at that. I am not a strict traditionalist. I think change can be a good thing. But change something too much and it is no longer the same thing. It is fine for folks who don't feel comfortable skyclad to wear robes, but don't turn around and call the skyclad folks perverted. It is fine to forgo scourging in initiations, but don't assume that it was there just for kicks. Try to understand the reason it was there and replace it with something that achieves the same effect in a way more acceptable to you. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water. This new, new religion of Wicca is not for me. The old, new religion of Wicca was more my cup of tea, but there is no place for it anymore it seems. What is a middle of the road Pagan/Buddhist to do? I don't fit in with the strict British Traditionalists who accept every word of Gardner as holy writ, and I don't want to fit in with the fluff bunnies. I don't want to abandon this part of my spiritual life. My core is Buddhist, but my outlook is often very Pagan. Change can be grand, but change can also suck. It all depends on what way the wind is blowing I guess. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CAULDRON AND CANDLE WEB SITE The Cauldron and Candle now has its own web site where we store our back issues for easy reading. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [02] ========= ========= IN THE DARK ========= A Poem by Elspeth Sapphire ========= I am the voice in the night.... no one listens. Bringing words of warning.... no one hears. There is truth to my words..... no one listens. Truth to bring inner peace.... no one hears. Friends bide me to silence.... no one listens. Others just turn away..... no one hears. Why continue on my Path.... no one listens. Why be a sound in the dark.... no one hears. My wise Lady only laughs.... no one listens. It's as it always was.... no one hears. Predestined from time past.... no one listens. The truthsayer in the dark.... no one hears. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SEND A PAGAN POSTCARD You can send a Pagan Postcard from the menu of any of our web pages at http://www.ecauldron.com/. If you haven't tried our postcard site, give it a try. It has quite a few nice features. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [03] ========= ========= LAMMAS: THE FIRST HARVEST ========= by Mike Nichols ========= Once upon a Lammas Night When corn rigs are bonny, Beneath the Moon's unclouded light, I held awhile to Annie... Although in the heat of a Mid-western summer it might be difficult to discern, the festival of Lammas (Aug 1st) marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall. The days now grow visibly shorter and by the time we've reached autumn's end (Oct 31st), we will have run the gamut of temperature from the heat of August to the cold and (sometimes) snow of November. And in the midst of it, a perfect Mid-western autumn. The history of Lammas is as convoluted as all the rest of the old folk holidays. It is of course a cross-quarter day, one of the four High Holidays or Greater Sabbats of Witchcraft, occurring 1/4 of a year after Beltane. It's true astrological point is 15 degrees Leo, which occurs at 1:18 am CDT, Aug 6th this year (1988), but tradition has set August 1st as the day Lammas is typically celebrated. The celebration proper would begin on sundown of the previous evening, our July 31st, since the Celts reckon their days from sundown to sundown. However, British Witches often refer to the astrological date of Aug 6th as Old Lammas, and folklorists call it Lammas O.S. ('Old Style'). This date has long been considered a 'power point' of the Zodiac, and is symbolized by the Lion, one of the 'tetramorph' figures found on the Tarot cards, the World and the Wheel of Fortune (the other three figures being the Bull, the Eagle, and the Spirit). Astrologers know these four figures as the symbols of the four 'fixed' signs of the Zodiac, and these naturally align with the four Great Sabbats of Witchcraft. Christians have adopted the same iconography to represent the four gospel-writers. 'Lammas' was the medieval Christian name for the holiday and it means 'loaf-mass', for this was the day on which loaves of bread were baked from the first grain harvest and laid on the church altars as offerings. It was a day representative of 'first fruits' and early harvest. In Irish Gaelic, the feast was referred to as 'Lugnasadh', a feast to commemorate the funeral games of the Irish sun-god Lugh. However, there is some confusion on this point. Although at first glance, it may seem that we are celebrating the death of the Lugh, the god of light does not really die (mythically) until the autumnal equinox. And indeed, if we read the Irish myths closer, we discover that it is not Lugh's death that is being celebrated, but the funeral games which Lugh hosted to commemorate the death of his foster- mother, Taillte. That is why the Lugnasadh celebrations in Ireland are often called the 'Tailltean Games'. The time went by with careless heed Between the late and early, With small persuasion she agreed To see me through the barley... One common feature of the Games were the 'Tailltean marriages', a rather informal marriage that lasted for only 'a year and a day' or until next Lammas. At that time, the couple could decide to continue the arrangement if it pleased them, or to stand back to back and walk away from one another, thus bringing the Tailltean marriage to a formal close. Such trial marriages (obviously related to the Wiccan 'Handfasting') were quite common even into the 1500's, although it was something one 'didn't bother the parish priest about'. Indeed, such ceremonies were usually solemnized by a poet, bard, or shanachie (or, it may be guessed, by a priest or priestess of the Old Religion). Lammastide was also the traditional time of year for craft festivals. The medieval guilds would create elaborate displays of their wares, decorating their shops and themselves in bright colors and ribbons, marching in parades, and performing strange, ceremonial plays and dances for the entranced onlookers. The atmosphere must have been quite similar to our modern-day Renaissance Festivals, such as the one celebrated in near-by Bonner Springs, Kansas, each fall. A ceremonial highlight of such festivals was the 'Catherine wheel'. Although the Roman Church moved St. Catherine's feast day all around the calender with bewildering frequency, it's most popular date was Lammas. (They also kept trying to expel this much-loved saint from the ranks of the blessed because she was mythical rather than historical, and because her worship gave rise to the heretical sect known as the Cathari.) At any rate, a large wagon wheel was taken to the top of a near-by hill, covered with tar, set aflame, and ceremoniously rolled down the hill. Some mythologists see in this ritual the remnants of a Pagan rite symbolizing the end of summer, the flaming disk representing the sun-god in his decline. And just as the sun king has now reached the autumn of his years, his rival or dark self has just reached puberty. Many commentators have bewailed the fact that traditional Gardnerian and Alexandrian Books of Shadows say very little about the holiday of Lammas, stating only that poles should be ridden and a circle dance performed. This seems strange, for Lammas is a holiday of rich mythic and cultural associations, providing endless resources for liturgical celebration. Corn rigs and barley rigs, Corn rigs are bonny! I'll not forget that happy night Among the rigs with Annie! [Verse quotations by Robert Burns, as handed down through several Books of Shadows.] (This file contains eight seasonal articles by Mike Nichols. They may be freely distributed provided that the following conditions are met: (1) No fee is charged for their use and distribution and no commercial use is made of them; (2) These files are not changed or edited in any way without the author's permission; (3) This notice is not removed. An article may be distributed as a separate file, provided that this notice is repeated at the beginning of each such file. These articles are periodically updated by the author; this version is current as of 9/28/88.) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CRITICAL READING FOR PAGANS Learn to tell the wheat from the chaff when you view a web site or read a book. http://gleewood.org/writings/critical.html ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [04] ========= ========= REVIEW: ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES ========= Reviewed by Seraphina ========= Are We Living in the End Times? Author: Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins Trade Paperback, 400 pages Publisher: Tyndale House Publication date: December 2000 ISBN: 0842336443 US Retail Price: $14.99 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0842336443/thecauldron The title alone tells what the book is about. This book is a Fundamentalist Christian view of the End Times as prophesied in the Bible. I found this book to be both fascinating and infuriating. At several points in this book I wanted to scream my head off, yet I was bewildered. I have yet to figure out how some Christians can believe this is going to happen. It seems so fantastical. The first point which made me scratch my head was how the authors claim that to name an exact date is against the Word of God. If one should name a date, then they are termed false prophets. The authors then disclose how they believe the generation who saw Israel become a nation will be the last generation to pass. The rapture will soon come about after that. It may not be a specific time but they are cutting it close to being false prophets by their own definition. The second point is how they think tolerance of other religions is the next step to being one religion. At one point they stress one shouldn't be tolerant of other religions because they're not the "one true way" to God. The authors also say those who worship Gaia will soon become Mary worshipers and, thus, the "one world religion" will come together. It seems they never did their homework when it comes to Pagans. The third point made me laugh out loud. The authors said the technology of today is a stepping stone to the total control of everything by the AntiChrist. We now have the ability to live in a cashless society by the use of credit and debit cards. We also use microchips to tag animals which the authors think will be the mark of the Beast. The fourth and final point is what nasty things will happen while saying God loves you with all of his being and He wishes you to be with him. God loves you but He'll send demon locusts to grab your attention. He wants you to believe in Him, and to make you believe He'll send 200 million demon horsemen to make you see He's loving and just. Half of the world population at this point will die just so He can prove to you how much He cares for you. Those who don't believe will be tortured, killed then thrown in the Lake of Fire with Satan, the AntiChrist and the False Prophet. If this book was suppose to make the reader think about life, love and religion then they failed miserably. I found myself disgusted with their narrowmindedness and their highhandedness. Of course, I am one of the scoffers they talk about. Reading this book made me glad I am a scoffer. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkawlitet.php [05] ========= ========= REVIEW: ARIADNE'S THREAD ========= Reviewed by Seraphina ========= Ariadne's Thread: A Workbook of Goddess Magic Author: Shekhinah Mountainwater Trade Paperback, 382 pages Publisher: Crossing Press Publication date: September 1991 ISBN: 0895944758 US Retail Price: $16.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0895944758/thecauldron Ariande's Thread is a workbook of Goddess Magick and Worship. This book has three sections called Gathering, Spinning and Weaving. The first section deals with the preparation of the Goddess path. The second section deals with holidays and rituals. The third deals with divination and magick. This book is somewhat difficult to review. I liked and disliked it. It is very hard to decide how this book should be taken. The reasons I like it are numerous. Mountainwater is a great writer. Her poetry and rituals are the most beautiful I've read. Another great thing about this book are the exercises she gives at the end of each chapter. They are thought provoking and very useful, and her writing keeps you interested. I was not bored with this book. The reasons I disliked it are numerous as well. Her history is horrible. She believes the 9 million dead of The Burning Times is true. She believes women can become immaculately conceived by exposing her genitals to the full moon. She's very anti-male, and states that patriarchy is the reason for society's problems. There are other fallacies which made me rethink my position on this book. If one is looking for ideas for rituals, a book full of exercises and questions to think about then this is the book for you. However, critical thinking is definitely a must here. She has very outlandish theories and thoughts. Overlooking the faults of the book isn't hard when you have wonderful rituals and poetry contained within it. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkat.php [06] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE HOLY BOOK OF WOMEN'S MYSTERIES ========= Reviewed by Seraphina ========= The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries Author: Zsuzsanna Budapest Trade Paperback, 308 pages Publisher: Wingbow Press Publication date: September 1989 ISBN: 0914728679 US Retail Price: $17.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0914728679/thecauldron I liked this book. Budapest has a way with the written word. This book kept me interested until the very last page. The rituals were beautifully written. Some of the spells are not what you would expect from a Pagan book. The book contains love spells which some people would call unethical. This book also contains spells on how to hex people or bring them to justice. When reading the rituals it is almost as if you're there with her and the Goddess she invokes. Her stance is a feminist one and she makes sure you know it. One of the things I liked is how she didn't exclude men in the rituals. She doesn't hate them nor is she against them. This was refreshing compared to some books I've read. What I didn't like about this book is her history and some of her politics. She subscribes to the theory of nine million people dead during The Burning Times. Budapest says her mother was the result of a immaculate conception, and her opinions on meat and women come close to being a conspiracy theory. All in all, this was a good book to read. Critical thinking is a must in some areas, but if one can deal with Budapest's politics, one will find beautiful rituals and some very good ideas. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkthbowm.php [07] ========= ========= REVIEW: ORIGINS OF MODERN WITCHCRAFT ========= Reviewed by Daven ========= Origins of Modern Witchcraft: The Evolution of a World Religion Author: Ann Moura Hardback, 336 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: October 2000 ISBN: 1567186483 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567186483/thecauldron I had hoped when I started this book that it would explain many things that have long puzzled me. I thought "here is a person who has a Bachelor's degree along with a Master's degree in History. Finally, we can get to the heart of the matter and stop a lot of pointless debate." How wrong I was. The first three chapters are interesting. There is little evidence to back what she claims up, however. There are no footnotes in this book to reference claims she makes, or even to guide the reader to finding the answers for themselves. While these are not necessary in most cases, they are critical to having a work taken seriously by the scholastic community. Of some distraction (and unique to this work) there are rituals interspersed with the text, to encourage you to do the rituals with an open mind. Well, I had an open mind and I closed it quickly. The rituals, while nice and of use in another setting, are useless in this book. They only serve to distract you from the claims made by the author. Of concern, this tome has many thoughts and "facts" that can't be proven by any of the references or points or theories that she cites. For instance, it is Ms. Moura's assertion that the current plethora of religions came from the Sind, in the area now known as the Mid-East or India, and the worship of Shiva and Shakti. She cites a gradual progression of beliefs and a metamorphosis of the politics and religion as being directly the "fault" of the Aryan beliefs as the Sind area grew and traded. In brief, the Aryans had a religion based on a king class of people, with the Gods supporting their rule, while the Indus had a religion of all being equal before the Gods. She does a good job of writing this all down. It is somewhat confusing the way she presents her arguments. Instead of putting all the information and happenings into a timeline, and walking the reader through it all, she breaks it into groupings and takes the reader from the beginning to now, then back to the beginning again, over and over. All of this I could forgive, but then she starts into claiming that the current Wiccan religion is exactly how the ancients (meaning the Celts and Irish) of the time of the Tuatha de Danna and just after, worshiped. This spans the time of about 200 C.E. to approximately 500 C.E. She further cites all the troubles in the world being directly attributable to the Roman Empire and the religion of that Empire and their Aryan philosophies. She even claims that the current hierarchy in the Vatican is a leftover of the pre-Roman political structure. One passage in particular has many reviewers of this book up in arms, where she calls the Pope the current incarnation of the Roman Emperor. Claims of passing knowledge from parent to child during the "Burning Times" and keeping it pure abound in some sections of this book. This is criminally negligent in my opinion. There is no way, to cite Isaac Bonewits, that an uneducated peasantry could keep the teachings pure for better than 500 years without writing it down. But to state that modern Wicca is the reincarnation of Shiva/Shakti worship is ludicrous. To give you the scale she is taking in, she cites that the height of this Shiva/Shakti worship was approximately 14,000 B.C.E. Oh, to give her credit, she may honestly believe these things. It IS possible that she is correct in her thoughts and assertions, but it is highly unlikely. Her open hostility against the Christian churches, as well as anything considered "Aryan", meaning any non-Wiccan/Green Witchcraft, is distressing and it slants the entire book. Readers are advised to take this book with an entire salt-pan, rather than just a grain. She does state that the Burning Times and the Witch Hysteria of the Middle Ages were for political gain, rather than for persecution of Witches. She does state that the Celts invaded Ireland in three waves, mostly from Iberia (Spain). She does give an accurate portrayal of the struggles on Ireland of the Celts, first with the Fir Bolg, then the Tuatha de Danna, then the Irish invaders, and she does give a somewhat accurate history of Christianity. However, statements like "yes, they did elect a woman and a horse" in regards to the Papacy elections and the Catholic Church leave me wondering if she bothered to do ANY research of the Christian Churches at all. Because according to every scholar I consulted, that is a bunch of hogwash and they would be very interested in seeing her evidences. It is my opinion that Ms. Moura does achieve a triumph in this book. Never, since the writing of "The White Goddess" have so many straws been clutched at, so many half baked theories and coincidences been strung together into one book and presented as fact. I'm afraid that, all things considered and despite her good works in Green Witchcraft, her other series, that I must only give her one half star out of five. This is the worst rating ever, for me. Readers would be well advised to keep their money in their pockets, rather than encourage shoddy scholarship like this. In this case, I must also condemn Llewellyn books for publishing this tripe. It's books like this and the 21 Lessons of Merlyn that continue to give them a bad name. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkoomw2.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UPCOMING REVIEWS We've just received a list of new books and tarot decks Llewellyn is offering for the rest of 2001. Some of them sound like they might be very interesting. Hopefully, at least some of the books will live up to the hype. Here's a list of some of the more interesting sounding titles we are hoping to review: MONSTERS, TAROT OF THE SAINTS, WHITE SPELLS, THE PYTHAGOREAN TAROT, CANDLEMAS, MAGICAL USE OF THOUGHT FORMS, BOOK OF HOURS, RUNIC PALMISTRY, MAKING TALISMANS. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [08] ========= ========= MAGICK: ELEMENTAL CAULDRONS ========= Author Unknown ========= Using a cauldron, symbol of inspiration and rebirth, has brought new dimensions to both group and solitary work. A cauldron decorates the center of the Circle during Lesser Sabbats. An air cauldron at a spring rite creates a misty, magical quality for the ceremony. In summer, the cauldron will flash and spark. A blue flame burns mysteriously within the Water cauldron during the autumn festival. Throughout Yule, the Earth cauldron burns steadfast and constant. During moon rites, when magick is done, we write the purpose of our working on flash papers and toss them into the burning cauldron while chanting. A working cauldron should be of cast iron, with a tight-fitting lid, three sturdy legs, and a strong handle. Season your cauldron before using it for the first time. Pour in generous helping of salt and lighter fluid, slosh it up to the rim and wipe dry. For indoor use it MUST have a fireproof base or your workings will summon up yellow-coated salamander spirits from the fire department. Earth Cauldron Layer salt, wax shavings, three powered or ground herbs, lighter fluid and ivy leaves in the cauldron while focus and chanting. Use a candle to light it. When the smoke starts to roll, extinguish the cauldron by putting the lid on. Air Cauldron Using tongs, put a chunk of dry ice is a small glass or ceramic bowl and place the bowl on a cloth in the bottom of the cauldron. Allow the cauldron to smoke as long as the ice lasts. The mists create excellent images for scrying. Fire Cauldron Cover the inside bottom with dirt or sand to dissipate heat. Light incense charcoal and add either salt peter for flame and spark or flash powder for a different but spectacular effect. To assist in releasing or firing off peak energy, try using flash "bombs." Make a small pocket in a piece of flash paper, fill with flash powder and tie with thread. The "bomb" should be about the size of your smallest fingernail. The results are spectacularly bright, so use the powder sparingly. Don't look directly at the flash as you drop the "bomb" in the cauldron. Water Cauldron At least seven days before the ritual, place equal quantities of three appropriate herbs in a pint glass jar. Fill the rest of the jar with Everclear (200 proof alcohol), cap tightly, and shake gently while concentrating on the purpose of the ritual. Add a chant if its feels right. Let the jar rest in a dark, warm spot and shake twice daily, charging with purpose. Before the ritual, place a fireproof ceramic or glass bowl in the cauldron. Pour in the herb mixture, being careful none spills into the cauldron. Light with a candle to produce a beautiful blue flame. The cauldron, as the fifth elemental spirit, symbolizes inspiration, rebirth, illumination and rejuvenation. Use a Fire cauldron with salt peter to cast a Circle. Use the mists of an Air cauldron for an initiation. Burn away hate, prejudice and negative self-images, with a Water cauldron. The Earth cauldron is ideal for indoor Beltane rites. Remember to place a burning cauldron on a fireproof surface. Practice safety when using any volatile materials and you will enjoy your cauldron for many rites. [09] ========= ========= MAGICK: MONEY DRAWING SPELL ========= Author Unknown ========= Don't try this unless you have a fairly large altar surface that you don't mind being unable to use for other things for 4 days! Decorate your altar with money-drawing herbs; sage, mandrake, red clover, blood root, chammomile, nutmeg, myrrh, etc. (you don't have to use them all). Anoint one orange glass candle with money drawing oil and bless it in the name of Isis of the Thousand Breasts. Place it in the center of your altar; at the four corners of the universe (north, east, south, west on your altar) put four green glass candles, anointed with money drawing oil and magnet oil. Start after sunset, once the first star of the evening is visible. Light the 2 white altar candles (one each side) saying: Blessed be thou creature of fire. Light your incense (High John the Conqueror or cinnamon, sage, nutmeg, chammomile, etc. -- but NOT mandrake). Say: Great Mother, I come to you. I live in this world, and the wealth is all in the hands of the masters. Great Mother, we are asking you to help. You are the true owner of the wealth: please blow the karmic winds in our favor. Let my cupboard fill up with food, and my checkbook with balances. Allow me the livelihood of the daughters and sons of Isis: be my nurturing mother. I invoke Thee. Souls of nature, woven within all hearts, make the jobs go to those who need them and all have enough. Now light the orange candle and say: This candle represents me. Like the magnet, I draw encouragement, money, friends around me. Then light the green candles all around (east to north). Say: Thus I draw money from the east, the south, the west and the north. Surround your orange candle evenly with cinnamon and contemplate, saying: Mine is the blood, the Mother's (Father's) blood which promises life. Mine is the blood which promises substance. Mine is the blood of the Lady of Plenty. The Goddess bestows reasonable wealth on Her sisters and brothers who ask for it. Great Goddess, bless my life with health, and let me have no more want. So mote it be! Each day (for 3 days) repeat this ritual, moving the green candles closer to the center. when their (fire-proofed) containers touch, let them burn down all the way. While they burn, always burn your money-drawing incense, and put all money that comes to you onto your altar before depositing/spending it. This can be followed with a white candle lit while the green candles still burn, so the flame is continued from the spell. [10] ========= ========= SUMMERTIME INCENSE, POTPOURRI, AND PHILTRES ========= Author Unknown ========= Here are some recipes for making some Lammas/Lughnasadh or summertime incense, potpourri and philtre type potions. Lammas incense Ingredients: 2 parts frankincense 2 parts sandalwood 1 part pine resin 1/2 part bay 1/2 part cinnamon 1/2 part coriander 1/2 part meadowsweet 1/2 part oregano 1/2 part rosemary A few drops rose oil Slightly less oak moss oil Very little patchouli oil (start with one drop) Mix well. Burn during Lughnasadh/Lammas rituals. Lammas Ritual Potpourri Ingredients: 20 drops clove bud oil 25 drops sandalwood oil 1 cup oak moss 2 cups dried pink rosebuds 2 cups dried red peony petals 1 cup dried amaranth flowers 1 cup dried heather flowers Mix the clove bud and sandalwood oils with the oak moss and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir the potpourri well and store in a tightly covered ceramic or glass container. Simmer during Lughnasadh/Lammas rituals. Leo Incense Ingredients: 2 Parts Gum Mastic 1 Part sandalwood 1 Part Juniper berries Use as a personal altar or household incense to increase your powers. Good for rituals done during the zodiac time of Leo. Lughnasadh Incense #1 Ingredients: 2 parts dried rose petals 1 part apple leaf 1 part barley 1 part yarrow 1/2 part Irish moss 1/2 part wheat 1/2 part basil 3 drops Cerridwen Oil (see Lammas Oils and Perfumes) 1 drop Lugh Oil (see Lammas Oils and Perfumes) Blend all ingredients and keep in a magick bag or bowl. To charge, put it in a sacred space or bring to the Lughnasadh/Lammas ritual for the energy of the Sun, growth, healing, wealth, and protection of the Earth. Lughnasadh Incense #2 Ingredients: 2 parts Frankincense 1 part Heather 1 part Apple blossoms 1 pinch Blackberry leaves a few drops Ambergris oil Burn Lughnasadh Incense during Wiccan rituals on August 1st or 2nd, or at that time to attune with the coming harvest. Lughnasadh Incense #3 Ingredients: 2 parts meadowsweet 3 parts chamomile 5 parts goldenrod 10 ml carnation oil per 8 oz. dry ingredients 10 ml rose oil per 8 oz. dry ingredients Mix together all dry ingredients and then mix in the oils. Burn during Lughnasadh/Lammas rituals. Lughnasadh Incense #4 Ingredients: 2 parts Benzoin 1 part oakwood 1/2 part basil 2 parts frankincense 1/2 part gorse flower 1/2 part Borage few drops pine oil Mix together all dry ingredients and then mix in the oils. Burn during Lughnasadh/Lammas rituals. Lughnasadh Philtre Ingredients: Yarrow Rose Poppy seeds mushrooms Barley Basil Raspberry leaf Strawberry leaf Mugwort Heliotrope Comfrey 3 drops Macha oil (see Lammas Oils and Perfumes) 3 drops Cerridwen Oil (see Lammas Oils and Perfumes) 3 drops Lugh Oil (see Lammas Oils and Perfumes) Use the oils to bind the philtre. Blend all ingredients and keep in a magickal bag. Tie onto a Witch's Cord and use in your rituals and spells. Sun God Incense Ingredients: Frankincense Balm of Gilead Cardamom Ambergris Orris Root Heliotrope Cinnamon Mix together well. Recipe calls for mixing "Equal" parts of each ingredient. However, it makes for interesting flavors to use the trial and error method to see what works best. Good for any Solar rituals or when invoking any Solar Gods. Sun Incense #1 Ingredients: 3 Parts Frankincense 2 Parts Myrrh 1 Part Wood Aloe 1/2 part Balm of Gilead 1/2 Part Bay 1/2 Part Carnation few drops Ambergris Oil few drops Musk Oil few drops Olive Oil Burn to draw the influences of the Sun and for spells involving promotions, friendships, healing, energy and magickal power. Sun Incense #2 Ingredients: 3 Parts Frankincense 2 Parts Sandalwood 1 Part Bay 1 pinch Saffron few drops Orange Oil Burn to draw the influences of the Sun and for spells involving promotions, friendships, healing, energy and magickal power. Sun Incense #3 Ingredients: 3 Parts Frankincense 2 Parts Galangal 2 Parts Bay 1/4 Part Mistletoe * few drops Red Wine few drops Honey Burn outside to draw the influences of the Sun and for spells involving promotions, friendships, healing, energy and magickal power. Thousand-Named Solar Incense Ingredients: 3 Parts Frankincense 1 Part Clove 1/2 Part Red Sandalwood 1/2 Part Sandalwood 1/4 Part Orange Flowers 3 pinches Orris Burn for Solar influences. [11] ========= ========= HUMOR: YOU KNOW YOUR COVEN'S GETTING OLDER ========= Author Unknown ========= You know your coven is getting older when... * The ritual feast is pureed. * Last Beltaine the coven decided it would be nice to go out to dinner to celebrate. * The last time you tried to do a spiral dance your oxygen feeds got tangled. * Viagra is kept in the coven supplies. * The maiden of the coven is a grandmother. * The ritual room is outfitted with defibrillators. * The coveners drive their RV's to Scottsdale for Mabon. * When you are at a festival you go to bed at sunset. * It takes the whole coven to move the cauldron. * The high priest still has a vendetta going against Richard Nixon. * You find yourself using your pendulum over the stock pages in the newspaper. * You tell an initiate that in your day you had to slog through five feet of snow uphill both ways when you did a Yule ritual. * You drop your teeth in the ritual cup. * At Samhain you see more of your coveners in the Wild Hunt than you do in circle. * You put your athame in the chalice during ritual but you can't remember why. * You hold an all night blow-out drum frenzy and none of your neighbors noticed. * You use Glenn Miller records for trance music. * All of your ritual robes are tie-dyed * Your coven has a 401(k) retirement plan. * A nitro pill vial replaces the crystal on your pendant. * No one's successfully jumped the Beltaine fire since 1983. * When the coven sings, "Creak and groan, creak and groan . . ." * When you set comfy chairs around the circle. * When you sit on the floor and can't get up again. * You do anointings with Aspercreme. * The oak tree your coven planted died of old age. * You use Bran Muffins and Prune Juice for Cakes & Ale because you need the extra fiber. * You don't use salt to consecrate you altar because you need to stay away from extra sodium. * You use a walker during the Wild Hunt. * You prefer to rent a Hall for rituals because the bathrooms are closer. * You need a flashlight to find the candles. [12] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= NEW ARTICLES ON THE CAULDRON'S SITE ========= The following new areas have been added to The Cauldron's web site since our last issue. * Humor: White Light Coven Application http://www.ecauldron.com/humor50.php * Humor: Evocation of the Pizza Delivery Lad http://www.ecauldron.com/humor51.php The following book and tarot reviews (some included in this newsletter) are new to the web site: * Are We Living in the End Times http://www.ecauldron.com/bkawlitet.php * Ariadne's Thread http://www.ecauldron.com/bkat.php * The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries http://www.ecauldron.com/bkthbowm.php * Origins of Modern Witchcraft (A Second Review) http://www.ecauldron.com/bkoomw2.php [13] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= NEW WEB POLLS ========= Two polls have opened since the last issue of Cauldron and Candle: The first new poll, opened July 16, asks: * Faith or Reason. Which is more important to your religious beliefs? Possible answers include: + Mainly faith + More faith than reason + Both equally important + More reason than faith + Mainly reason + Neither are that important + Other You will find this poll at: http://www.ecauldron.com/cldpoll25.php Our newest poll, opened August 1, asks: * When you need non-mundane aid, do you (most often) pray for it or work magick for it? Possible answers include: + Work Magick + Pray + Both + Neither You will find this poll at: http://www.ecauldron.com/cldpoll26.php Make your opinion known, take one or both polls today. You'll find a list of all of our polls (over 20 now) at: http://www.ecauldron.com/pollindex.php [14] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= SUPPORT THE CAULDRON WHEN YOU BUY BOOKS AT AMAZON.COM ========= If you wish to purchase books or other items at Amazon.com, you can help fund The Cauldron's web site by using this link to access Amazon.com when you make your purchases: http://www.ecauldron.com/fradambooks.php Just use this link to go to Amazon.com via our web site and almost every purchase you make that visit will earn The Cauldron a small amount to help pay for our web page -- at no extra charge to you. You can also use the Amazon link on the menu of every Cauldron web page and not have to remember this long link. Unlike the Amazon link listed in some prior issues of this newsletter, you can simply visit this site and save the link in your bookmark list. If you then use this bookmarked link every time you wish to visit Amazon.com, any purchases you make while there will help fund The Cauldron's web site. [15] ========= ========= Cauldron and Thicket Info ========= CAULDRON AND THICKET CHATS ========= +++ +++ CAULDRON YAHOO CHATS +++ Cauldron Co-Host Elspeth Sapphire is thinking of starting a monthly chat on the ecauldron mailing list's Yahoo chat room starting in September. If you are interested in seeing this happen, start asking about this after mid-August. +++ +++ THICKET DELPHI CHATS +++ The Thicket hosts several chats each week in their Delphi (Java-based) chat area. You have to be a member of Delphi and The Thicket to participate. You will find the chats by pointing your browser to The Thicket's Start Page at: http://forums.delphiforums.com/thicket/start Chats are normally being held on the following days and times (all times are Central Time): * Monday at 11:30pm * Wednesday at 12:00 noon * Friday at 11:30pm Please check on The Thicket's message board for changes to this schedule. If "Central Time" doesn't mean anything to you, there's an online time converter at http://sandbox.xerox.com/stewart/tzconvert.cgi might help. I think Central Time is listed as something like "US - Central" in the drop down box. [16] ========= ========= NEWSLETTER AND FORUM INFO ========= (Including how to subscribe and unsubscribe) ========= Cauldron and Candle is a free publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum with assistance from our sister form, The Witches' Thicket. The Cauldron and The Thicket aim to publish this newsletter once a month and often actually succeed in doing so. We tried to publish it twice a month for a while, but real life interfered too often. Copyrights on individual items in this newsletter are retained by their author, please contact the editors if you need to contact an author for permission to reprint an article and the editors will do their best to put you in touch with him or her. No one involved in producing this newsletter has any money to speak of so suing us if you don't like something we do is a waste of time and money. ++++ ++++ HOW TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE ++++ You are receiving a copy of this newsletter because you signed up to receive it. You can subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter via your web browser at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cauldronandcandle/join Or you can unsubscribe via email by sending a blank message to cauldronandcandle-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Be sure to send this message from the email account actually subscribed to the newsletter. If you have trouble unsubscribing by email, please use the web browser mentioned above. If you need to change your subscription to a new email address, unsubsribe your old email address and subscribe your new email address. ++++ ++++ NEWSLETTER WEB SITE AND BACK ISSUE ARCHIVE ++++ The Cauldron and Candle web site contains information on this newsletter and an archive of back issues. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ++++ ++++ CONTRIBUTE TO CAULDRON AND CANDLE ++++ Cauldron and Candle is always looking for articles, reviews, and announcements of interest to the Neo-Pagan community. Submissions will normally be considered for both the newsletter and our web site. For more information, please see our submission guidelines at: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php ++++ ++++ PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO SUBSCRIBE ++++ If you have Pagan friends who you believe would be interested in Cauldron and Candle please invite them to subscribe. You can either drop them a note yourself or -- better yet -- send them one of The Cauldron's email postcards with the information. You are also welcome to forward a copies of this newsletter to interested friends and associates provided you forward the entire newsletter. ++++ ++++ LINK TO THE CAULDRON: A PAGAN FORUM ++++ If you like The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum please invite your friends to visit. If you have a web page, we'd really appreciate it if you put a link to The Cauldron's web site on your web pages. If you'd like some graphic buttons to use to link to our web site, check the following URL: http://www.ecauldron.com/linktous.php Thanks in advance. ++++ ++++ SUGGESTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME ++++ Don't forget that your suggestions for the forum are always welcome, either posted on the message board or via email to Elspeth Sapphire (elspeth.sapphire@worldnet.att.net) or Randall Sapphire (rssapphire@ecauldron.com). Typos are, as usual, courtesy of the Goddess Eris. Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet again!

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