Return to Cauldron and Candle Archive

C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #58 -- April 2005 A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.com/ message board: http://www.ecauldron.net/ newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ shopping: http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php http://www.ecauldron.com/doxysbazaar.php In this Issue: [01] Editorial Notes * A Few Words on Pope John Paul II * Cauldron and Candle Submissions Needed [02] Cauldron Challenge: April [03] Cauldron News * Technical FAQ [04] Cauldron Discussions [05] Reviews [05-1] The Outer Temple of Witchcraft [05-2] Book of Magic [05-3] Book of Thunder [05-4] Book of Earth [05-5] Egypt: Child of Atlantis [05-6] L.O.S.T. [05-7] My Romantic Spell [05-8] Don't Die, Dragonfly [06] Articles: [06-1] How to Use Book Reviews Effectively [06-2] A Practicum on Spell Banners [06-3] Universal Meaning of Celtic Knotwork [06-4] April -- The Month of Venus [06-5] What Your Daydreams Reveal [07] Columns [07-1] Kitchen Witchin [07-2] Humor: The Monastery [08] Pagan Webcrafting [08-1] Your Website Hurts My Eyes [08-2] Content Management Systems (CMS) [08-3] The Psychology of Color in Web Design [08-4] Cheap Web Hosting Report: April 2005 [09] Support The Cauldron by Volunteering to Help [10] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++April Issue Submission Deadline: April 25, 2005+++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL NOTES ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= ===== ===== A Few Words on Pope John Paul II ===== Pope John Paul II died Saturday, April 2nd at age 84, having led the Catholic Church for 26 years -- the third longest Papal reign in history. Why am I mentioning this in a Pagan publication? There are several reasons. First, John Paul II was a major figure on the world stage. He revitalized the Catholic Church with his open style even as he angered more liberal Catholics with his conservative views on many church issues. He was one of the people most responsible for the fall of Communism dictatorships in Eastern Europe. He traveled the world and brought his message directly to the people. He did not ignore political leaders by any means, but his travels were not to isolated summits carefully protected from real people, but were to see and interact with the masses, the people that many political leaders ignore except at election time. Second, while his conservative views on many church issues upset more liberal Catholics, he wasn't a raving "my way or the highway" fundie-type, as unlike fundie Protestant leaders (and, sadly, some fundie Pagan leaders I've met), he did not kick everyone who disagreed with him out of his church. Also, he was willing to admit that the Catholic Church had made errors in the past -- and even to issue apologies for some of those errors. While I personally think such apologies are pointless as neither the people who suffered from the errors nor the people who made the errors are alive, they seemed to please many people. Third, he was truly a good person. He really cared about other people -- even people of different religions and people within his own religion who disagreed with him. Many leaders pretend to care about the average person to get votes or to be popular, but it was obvious to just about everyone who paid any attention that John Paul II was not putting on an act. Pope John Paul II was one of the few religious or world leaders I could really respect over the long term -- and this was in spite of my strong dislike of some of the positions he took on specific issues. The world is a poorer place for his passing. I hope his God receives him with the honor he deserves. I think the world would be better off if more religious leaders tried to emulate John Paul II -- not his policies, but his caring, his openness, and his ability to disagree without hatred even on issues he considered dear to his heart. It is possible to have firm and even unpopular views and not be a jerk about it, Pope John Paul II demonstrated this every day of his reign. May he rest in peace. ===== ===== Cauldron and Candle Submissions Needed ===== We still need submissions. We did receive several nice articles last month -- thanks to those were wrote them! We even have one the Tarot for next month, but the submission folder on my drive is just about empty, otherwise, so if you have an idea for an article, your newsletter needs you. We even make it easy for you to submit items with a couple of handy forms on our web site: Handy Article Submission Form: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestart.php Book Review Submission Form: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestbr.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [02] ========= ========= CAULDRON CHALLENGE: APRIL ========= by Star ========= April's Challenge is based on the saying, "April showers bring May flowers." When something bad happens in your life or that of someone close to you, your Challenge is to see what kind of potential the situation has to bring about something positive (for you, for someone else, just in general -- doesn't matter). What I'm not going for here is simply seeing the silver lining or getting all Pollyanna and seeing the bright side of everything even though the "bright side" can sometimes be artificial and irrelevant. What I am looking for is, perhaps, related to another saying as well: "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." I'm wanting people to try to see ways in which bad situations can be used to bring about positive things, building on the current situation and making it better. So -- what are you going to take and make better? http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4495.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LOOKING FOR A PAGAN FRIENDLY WEB HOST? We use DreamHost because it is affordable and reliable, but mainly because its terms of service allow web sites with anything legal: our web site will not be pulled because we review a few books on sex magick or an erotic tarot deck. It's a great host for Pagan web sites. http://www.dreamhost.com/rewards.cgi?27905/shared/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [03] ========= ========= CAULDRON NEWS ========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff ========= ===== ===== Technical FAQ ===== Star has written a Technical FAQ explaining some of our message board's features and hope to use them. She has done a great job. If you are new to our message board -- or would just like to learn more about how to best use it, you will want to take a look. You'll find the Technical FAQ in the "Cauldron Announcements" folder on our message board, or you can follow this link: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4153.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CAULDRON AND CANDLE WEB SITE The Cauldron and Candle has its own web site where we store our back issues for easy reading. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [04] ========= ========= CAULDRON DISCUSSIONS ========= Recent Discussion Topics on our Message Board ========= In an average month, over 150 new discussion topics are started on The Cauldron's message board. Here are a few of the more interesting discussions from the last month. It's not too late to join in. Thanks to Bloglet, you can now receive an email every night on days we post new site news items to the main page of The Cauldron's web site. These emails contain a link to the new item and the first couple of lines of the news text. You can sign up for Bloglet's free news delivery via the form at the end of the site "News and Updates" section of The Cauldron's main web page. === === Spending Money On Your Religion? === What does your path say about spending money in regards to your religion/religious practices? I mean we all know that the $900 'mystickalle' wand with the 9 carat diamond on the end isn't going to magically make you a witch( or whatever) but there are certainly some things that I've spent some serious money on for my practice. Now these expenditures, for me at least, aren't required but they are things that I see as signs of respect for my deities that I am happy to scrimp and save to give in honor of them. I'm a firm believer of never buying anything for practice that I will be unhappy about the amount of money I have spent(I feel it lends a negative energy to the item if you resent it's cost.) But on the other hand I think that, when you can afford it, getting beautiful and sometimes expensive things with which to use in worship/ritual/whatever is a sign of respect. That doesn't mean, of course, that if Witch A could only afford to spend $50 on her tools and Witch B could afford $150 on her tools that Witch B is a better witch or is showing more respect. 'From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs' right? I guess it's like donating. If someone who is poor donates $100 to a cause and someone who is rich donates $100 to a cause - well who donated more. I mean I know it's not required, I don't think money or the expense of something is the end all be all... but on the other hand, I think there is an amount of respect tied in with the amount you are willing to spend in reference to the amount you can spend for your worship. Does that make any sense? What does everyone else think? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4570.1 === === Goal of Your Religious Path? === What is the ultimate goal of your religious path? If you don't necessary consider yourself "religious" is there a universal goal, like for the good of the universe type stuff, or is it simply for the good of self improvement? I am considering creating a written record of what I do and feel. I know my goals have changed over the years, and I no longer believe as I use to. So I really am curious of what your current views are, not what they use to be or what they changed from. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4514.1 === === Indoors or Outdoors? === Do you perform your rituals indoors or outdoors or both? Which do you prefer, and why? And most importantly, does the content/outline of the ritual change if you do it outdoors instead of indoors or vice versa? I'm asking because last night's Full Moon was my first outdoors ritual in a long while (for obvious weather reasons). The sensations I got were all different, the things I wanted to do, and say, and chant, and pray for, were all different, so I've been wondering. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4511.1 === === Healing Animals? === I was wondering if anyone new some types of spells useful for wounded animals. You see, I live in north Florida, USA, and last night we were pelted with hail the likes of which I have never experienced. Walking about today, surveying the damage, I found a small sparrow who was apparently struck and wounded in the storm. He could still fly, and I suppose he didn't need any help from me. Nevertheless, I still made a prayer in my own way for the little creature, and offered it. This started me to think though, that it would be nice to be able to heal or at least ease the pain of creatures wounded in the wild. As a child I heard many stories about druids, wizards, and thaumaturges loosening deer locked in hedges, healing birds, and such things like that. Any help you have would be appreciated. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4506.1 === === Meditation Before Practicing? === At 21, I feel I still have a lot of the "angst" and anger from my teenage years. Luckily I'm not as intolerable. LOL! But in seriousness, I feel it would better for me to just study and meditate for a good 6 months to a year before I actually begin practicing. I want to rid myself of my hangups, insecurities, misinformation, and negative thought patterns before I embark on such a religious journey. Has anyone else gone this route? How often did you meditate? Did you chant mantras or simply use creative visualization and controlled breathing (or maybe a combo of both)? Do you feel this effected your outlook towards how you practiced? Do you think studying and taking notes a good year before actually performing a ritual is a good way to go? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4462.1 === === Thrifty Witches? === I am often amazed at what some folks will get rid of these days, and even more amazed at how much of it ends up in our local op- shops. I recently picked up a small brass dish that has a primitive stag hunt stamped into it...for .50 cents!! It's going to look amazing on my altar when I get one, hmmmm, methinks I see another trip to the op-shop in my future! I was curious, what is your best/most amazing op-shop find? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4432.1 === === When is it Blasphemy? === One board I visited for several months didn't really like to discuss religious issues or questions at all. Usually someone got snarky and accused the other of blasphemy to their god or goddess or something. Which brings up a question I could not get anything but an emotive answer to there: Is it possible to blaspheme something you personally do not hold holy? I know I am likely getting this phrased wrong, but just for instance, every time pagans discuss Christ, and say they don't believe in him...or don't worship him, is that blasphemy? Is it blasphemy to recite some mythology which a believer of that particular pantheon believes is an inaccurate version? I find this a difficult concept; maybe its the cynic in me, but it seems this would lead to a complete inability to talk about anything verging on religion. Help!! * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4319.1 === === Gender Expectations and Your Religion === Being on the dating scene allows me to talk to many different guys. So this guy struck a conversation with me and not before long I found out that he has two kids. He asked me if I liked kids. I told him, "not really." He thought that was harsh and it seemed as though I had insulted him. Makes you wonder why he even asked. It is as though because I am female and of course my biological clock must be ticking, I should be really maternal and love kids -- all kids. This recent conversation got me thinking. All these gender expectations, how do they play a role into your faith and ultimately into your life? Do they even have a role? Are they just stereotypes and misconceptions as far as you and/or your deities are concerned? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4307.1 === === Pagan Teens and You === Being not quite 17, there's a personal side to this thread, of course. It just seems to me that there is an itty-bitty patronizing element in the way teenagers are treated, especially by 101 authors, but also by older Pagans in general. Sure, I can't say that it's not deserved a few times (sometimes...quite a bit of the time...most of the time), but there are teenagers with a more mature approach to Paganism (whom I can't name right now, but as soon as I find one I'll let you know). So, without further rambling... 1. How do you view Pagan teenagers? 2. Does your tradition have any specific way of dealing with Pagan youths? 3. Do you think there's a difference between teens attracted to a Pagan path and teens born into Paganism? 4. If you are working or worshiping in a group, what percentage are teenagers? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4274.1 === === All This "Fluffy Bunny" Stuff? === I was just curious why some people feel the need too identify others as "fluffy bunnies", it seems very adolescent too me , like being in high school and accusing one of your peers as being a "poser" because they are not quite on the same social or intellectual level as you. Now, I do understand some of the ramifications of an author who publishes false info, i.e. someone may pick up the book and read it without realizing not everything in the book is based on historical fact or the author, for whatever reason decided to publish a bunch of made up nonsense, and now this someone has some wrong ideas about Paganism. BUT, who is too say that some of these so called "fluffy bunnies" won't go on too discover the real truth and beauty of Paganism, maybe at this time on their journey the watered down version is all they are capable of learning at the moment. Besides I bet there are a lot of us out there that started out as "fluffy bunnies" but are too proud to admit it. I mean everyone has to start somewhere, many of us (Pagans) were not born into this we had too search for the knowledge ourselves and if, in our search we encounter a few "fluffy bunnies" along the way than so be it! I say live and let live! I don't consider it my place too judge others and what they believe. Lighten up! Why waste the time and energy on authors like Silver Ravenwolf, if you don't agree with what she writes about don't read her books, spend that same time and energy on authors that you do agree with! * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=4267.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DONATE TO HELP SUPPORT THE CAULDRON'S WEB SITE If you like The Cauldron and have a few extra dollars, please donate via the Amazon Honor System or PayPal and help us pay the web site bills. Donate via PayPal http://www.ecauldron.com/donatepaypal.php Donate via Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [05] =============== ============ BOOK AND DECK REVIEWS ========= Most of The Cauldron's book reviews are now written by Mike Gleason. If you would like to contact Mike with comments about his reviews (or about books you would like to have reviewed), you can email Mike at: gleason.mike@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com [05-1] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE OUTER TEMPLE OF WITCHCRAFT ========= Reviewed by Mike Gleason ========= The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells, and Rituals Author: Christopher Penczak Trade Paperback, 442 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: 2004 List: US$17.95 ISBN: 0738705314 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0738705314 Christopher Penczak is one of those rarities in the field of Pagan/Wiccan authors. Like many authors, he tells the reader to experiment to find what works for the individual. Unlike many authors, however, he admits to many initial doubts when he began his studies. Too many authors say something like "I knew right away.", and even though I can empathize with that position, it is not the most common response. It is far more common to question the reality of what is experienced; to dismiss successful spellwork as coincidence; to see unsuccessful rituals as "proof" that magick isn't real. Unfortunately, one of my personal bug-a-boos rears its head in this book once again -- typographical errors. Now, I realize that I am not reading these books for a living, but if I were I would want each book to be as free of errors as possible, and there are way too many mistakes to gloss over. Most of them are simple, but that is no excuse. By no means the first (nor the last) such error is on page 215, in "Psychometry". The second sentence starts out "The reader holds and object." when it should be "The reader holds an object." Every time I come across such an error, it jars me out of my rhythm. There are other instances where a word has been dropped and, while that is not a problem for an experienced individual, it could be a cause of confusion for the less knowledgeable. Christopher supplies plenty of examples when he assigns exercises. And, most importantly in my opinion, he explains his reasons for doing things the way he does while still encouraging individual experimentation. Christopher provides a lot of information which is available in any number of other sources. However, he also provides alternative information if that doesn't connect for you. He also provides a lot of encouragement for the beginner to experiment and find the connections that work for the individual student. While I don't always agree with his statements and beliefs (we have had widely differing training and experiences), I do have to acknowledge that he presents a unified, consistent system. Unlike many authors, he makes no attempt to do it all in one book. This is the second book in what, I assume, is intended to be a five volume series. This allows him to devote plenty of time and space to explaining his reasoning. Each volume is capable of standing on its own, but they do form an interlocked chain which should, in my opinion, produce well-trained, well-grounded practitioners. He provides a self-administered test in the first appendix. While there are no right or wrong answers here (most of the questions center on feelings and opinions), taking this test will help you to define your understanding of the Craft. Whether you are reading this book as part of your own training, or simply to see how another person feels about the topics covered, this text is a valuable resource. Appendix Two provides some sample chants for the seasonal rituals, while the Bibliography is wide-ranging enough to be valuable to almost anyone. It isn't terribly extensive, but it runs the gamut from Laurie Cabot (Christopher's first teacher) to Donald Michael Kraig -- and believe me that is quite a gamut. He has created a CD companion to this work (which I have not heard). It provides the individual with an opportunity to have an audible guide through many of the meditations and exercises in this book. It is available from Llewellyn (ISBN 0-7387-0532-2) as a four CD set for $24.95. While I can't recommend it, since I haven't heard it, I suspect it would be a useful companion to this book. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/mg/bktotow.php [05-2] ========= ========= REVIEW: BOOK OF MAGIC ========= Reviewed by Mike Gleason ========= Book of Magic Author: John Peel Trade Paperback, 191 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: 2004 Ages: 9-12 List: US$4.99, C$6.50 ISBN: 0738706159 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0738706159 The third book in the "Diadem: Worlds of Magic" series finds the three youngsters (Score - from Earth, Helaine - from Ordin, and Pixel - from Calomir) once again facing dangers from Sarman, whose goal is to rule all of the Diadem worlds. For those who have not read the first two books in the series (I really recommend that you get and read them, however), a short explanation of the backgrounds of the three heroes might be appropriate. Score is a street-wise young man from the street of New York. Helaine (who used the alias of Renald to conceal her gender, and thus hide her interest in "boy's work" from her disapproving noble father) is a young lady with desires of being a warrior (and who is a better warrior than many of the young pages in the castle she grew up in on the planet of Ordin). And finally, Pixel is a young man with NO experience in the real world before he started this series of adventures. He grew up on Calomir, where everyone lives in a virtual existence. He had only just ventured out of his home for the first time when his life spun out of control and he found himself off world and fighting for his life. With each chapter of each book in the series the youngsters learn more about controlling their magic. They make friends of the most unlikely creatures - trolls and goblins and unicorns, Oh My! More importantly they learn about themselves and the power of friendship. Many of the creatures they befriend have little use for humans, and less for magic users. The youngsters learn to trust their instincts, and teach others to be more open and trusting. There are seven books in the series (at least that is how many are listed), so this book brings us nearly halfway through the series. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The trio defeats Sarman, the source of all their problems, so that should be the end of it, right? Or was he the real source? It turns out that there is a source behind the source, and they manage to deal with that. Now their problems are over right? Don't bet on it. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/mg/bkbom.php [05-3] ========= ========= REVIEW: BOOK OF THUNDER ========= Reviewed by Mike Gleason ========= Book of Thunder Author: John Peel Trade Paperback, 174 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: 2004 Ages: 9-12 List: US$4.99, C$6.50 ISBN: 0738706140 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0738706140 Book Four of the "Diadem: Worlds of Magic" series finds Pixel (the virtual recluse from Calomir), Score (the street-wise kid from Earth) and Helaine (the warrior girl from Ordin) back on the planet Dondar where their friends (the unicorns Thunder, Nova and Flame) are in grave danger. Having just set the magic of Sarman and The Triad to the business of regulating the magic which keeps the Diadem worlds functioning smoothly, they had hope to earn some rest and a chance to consolidate their friendship with the unicorns. Alas, this was not to be. Former antagonists of theirs, Oracle and Shanara, combine to try to offer some assistance to the trio. They aren't able to offer physical assistance - the laws governing magic on the Diadem worlds prohibit it. But they offer guidance, even if it turns out to be incomplete, and thus misleading. As the youngsters progress through their various adventures they are forced to mature far more quickly than normal. In the course of little more than week they go from three very independent, self-absorbed children to a tried and proven group of young magic users who have come to appreciate the value of friendship, and who have learned to accept that the universe is a far stranger and more wonderful place than any of them could have imagined. I really like this series and I heartily recommend the four books currently available. I expect that the remaining three books will be available by the middle of 2005 (Book of Earth [#5] is due out in December of 2004, Book of Nightmares [#6] is due in March of 2005, Book of War [#7] should be out in June of 2005). This is a series which young readers (ages 9 to 12, approximately) should find very enjoyable. It is pure magical escapism. It is well written with enough challenges to engage the older readers without it being too deep and heavy for the younger ones. I could easily envision this series as becoming one of those which, like the "Narnia" series by C.S. Lewis, will be remembered fondly as children mature. It reinforces the ideas of cooperation, trust, and careful consideration of circumstances. Like all good cliffhangers, the ending leaves you wanting more and eagerly awaiting the next installment. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/mg/bkbot.php [05-4] ========= ========= REVIEW: BOOK OF EARTH ========= Reviewed by Mike Gleason ========= Book of Earth Author: John Peel Trade Paperback, 173 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: 2004 Ages: 9-12 List: US$4.99, C$6.50 ISBN: 0738706132 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0738706132 For once we find our trio of intrepid magic-users-in-training on familiar ground, at least for Score. He grew up on Earth. Helaine and Pixel, on the other hand, might be forgiven for being a bit confused. Imagine, if you will, a young lady from a medieval world confronted with skyscrapers. How about a young man who lived most of his life alone or with a couple of friends on-line, suddenly encountering a busy New York street full of pedestrians and vehicles? As you can well imagine, there were lots of reasons for this confusion. There are villains a plenty in this book - a New York street gang, mobsters, wannabe magicians, and more. And they all want Score. Their reasons differ, but their desires are all the same. Then there is the crippled young lady with the massive computer set-up. What is her part in this whole thing? Who is she? What is she? Score is dying, Helaine is missing her weapons, and Pixel, well, his only real problem is that he misses the natural blue color of his skin. This far away from the Diadem, magic works poorly. It still works, but it is a pale reflection of what the three of them are used to working with. Of course, since this isn't the end of the series all of the ends are not tied up nicely and neatly when the last page arrives. Score and Helaine arrive safely on Treen only to discover that Pixel and his captor have gone elsewhere - to Zarathan, also known as the Nightmare World (and the scene of the next book in the series, Book of Nightmares). This is a fun series of books so long as you are looking for simple escapism fiction. There is no attempt made to be true-to- life, or to teach "proper" magical methods. It is a series written for fun. Enjoy it for what it is. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/mg/bkboe.php [05-5] ========= ========= REVIEW: EGYPT: CHILD OF ATLANTIS ========= Reviewed by Mike Gleason ========= Egypt: Child of Atlantis: A Radical Interpretation of the Origins of Civilization Author: John Gordon Trade Paperback, 294 pages Publisher: Bear and Company Publication date: 2004 List: US$20.00, C$29.95 ISBN: 1591430232 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1591430232 Warning: Speculative History The author's Theosophical leanings become evident very early in this work (which is not surprising, as he is a Theosophist lecturer). He brings together data from a variety of sources both within and without the scientific community. This results, depending upon your personal belief system, in an extremely valuable approach or utter rubbish. He places a heavy reliance on the writings of H.P. Blavatsky (founder of the Theosophical movement) whose writings were dismissed at the time of their publication, but which have, albeit reluctantly, given more credence as more information has come to light. For those individuals who are primarily interested in Atlantis, its culture and its history - this is not the book for you. For those individuals primarily interested in Egyptology, this is not the book for you. If, on the other hand, you have a basic understanding of, and interest in, Theosophical thought as it relates to an interpretation of the history of the world during the past 25,000 years or so, this IS the book for you. Many of the references used in this book date back 100 years or so. At the time they were written they were dismissed as mere fantasy. Today some of them are getting a serious second look, while others continue to be dismissed. Unfortunately, the author (in many cases) tries to use negative arguments to make his case (i.e., scientists have not disproven this conjecture, so it must be true). It is not up to science to disprove his conjectures, it is up to him to offer proof. Conjecture and speculation, regardless how many examples and sources are cited, do not constitute proof, even in the field of "ancient mysteries." Amongst the more than 100 books I have reviewed this year, this is one of the ones which required the highest degree of concentration. Each chapter, indeed each paragraph, deserves to be read with total commitment to absorbing the information contained therein. If you are tired or distracted do not read this book. Whether or not you agree with the proposals and conclusions of the author, you will need your wits about you to make the most of what is contained within the covers of this book. The $20 price tag is insignificant when weighed against the sheer amount of data assembled by Mr. Gordon. Frankly, I expected a much "lighter" book (in tone) for the price. I was pleasantly surprised by the sincerity with which it was presented. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/mg/bkecoa.php [05-6] ========= ========= REVIEW: L.O.S.T. ========= Reviewed by Mike Gleason ========= L.O.S.T. Author: Debbie Federici and Susan Vaught Trade Paperback, 326 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: 2004 Ages: Young Adult List: US$9.95, C$13.50 ISBN: 0738705616 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0738705616 How often do you meet the hero of a book who tells you right off the bat that he has ADHD, and who started his (unplanned) adventures without his medication, but with a full bladder? The story is told, alternately, by Brenden (Bren) and Jasmina (Jazz). He is a soon-to-be high school senior. She is Queen of all the Witches (let's not get into that discussion. This is a novel, after all). This is not a story about Wicca. This Witchcraft if not the reality we have all encountered, but rather the Witchcraft of ages past. Live Oak Springs Township (the "L.O.S.T." of the title) is, like a magic circle, a place which is not a place and a time outside of normal time. It is a place where all is not as it seems, and which figures prominently only in the beginning and the ending of the story. Jasmina Corey (now, where have I heard the name "Corey" before in reference to Witchcraft?) is the descendant of a powerful Witch couple. Her father is dead, her mother is missing. Although this is purely a fantasy work, she is aware of and abides by (most of the time) the Wiccan Rede. If you have read the Diana Tregarde novels by Mercedes Lackey, you may have a feeling for what this novel is like. Bren is a young man who starts off not believing in anything except the concrete realities of the day-to-day world. His ADHD provides him with a convenient excuse for not being able to do magic, when he is exposed to the idea that magic is real. As he spends time with Jazz he finds his magical abilities expanding, even though he conceals this information from her (for reasons he can't even explain to himself). Jazz is frustrated through his, apparent, lack of progress in learning magic. She has her own set of issues, many of which she refuses to face. She is frustrated by the level of responsibility which is hers by right of birth. This book ends with a bittersweet taste, unlike many books aimed at this age group. Brenden must make uncomfortable choices, and Jazz must learn what it is to lose, and by losing - win. I doubt if this is the start of a series, it is pretty neatly tied up at the end, although I could see ways for it to be expanded for another couple of books, at least. I guess we will have to wait and see what happens. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/mg/bklost.php [05-7] ========= ========= REVIEW: MY ROMANTIC SPELL ========= Reviewed by Mike Gleason ========= My Romantic Spell Author: Rodney Robbins Trade Paperback, 148 pages Publisher: Awesome Possum Press Publication date: 2004 Ages: Young Adult List: US$12.95 ISBN: 1411610695 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1411610695 It is nice, once in a while, to read a book where you can truly identify with the characters and/or the setting. Living in and near Salem, Massachusetts for almost two decades, I could easily visualize the setting of this novel. Of course, there are creative differences between the real Salem and this fictional one, but the tone and textures remain true to the inspiration. The story is that of a typical (??!!) hereditary Witch family trying to find their feet after the death of the husband. The teen daughter wants to see her mother happy again, so, against advice given by those more experienced in the Arts Magickal, she decides to do a love spell to pair her mother with a man she thinks is perfect for her. Needless to say, things aren't always as they appear. She recruits help from a young man who is completely unschooled in the ways of Witchcraft and Magick. But, he trusts her and is willing to learn. He does a little research on his own; makes a mistake or two along the way; and is, in all ways, a typical young teen male. He is also making adjustments in his life, having just moved from Pittsburgh (a big city) to Salem (a small city). The pacing is good. The characters are true-to-life. The situations are believable. The writing is smooth and enjoyable. And, on top of all that, there is just the right blend of mystical and mundane. If you are looking for a good Yule gift for the young Pagan teen on your list, this is the book to pick up a copy of this book. I recommend it heartily. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/mg/bkmrs.php [05-8] ========= ========= REVIEW: DON'T DIE, DRAGONFLY ========= Reviewed by Mike Gleason ========= Don't Die, Dragonfly Author: Linda Joy Singleton Paperback, 269 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: 2004 Ages: Young Adult List: US$4.99, C$6.50 ISBN: 0738705268 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0738705268 Ah the joys of being psychic, and a teenager: To know the future, but to be powerless to influence it. Wanting to fit in, but fearful of standing out. This is the start of a series (The Seer #2: Last Dance is the next one due out), which I hope will be well received. There are few authors who are producing quality fiction which is "New Age" friendly, and Ms. Singleton is one of the better ones. The gods know that young readers will be able to identify with Sabine Rose, the heroine of this series, even if they aren't psychic themselves. She suffers all the pains and uncertainties shared by teenagers in general, amplified by being "the new kid" and being sure that if anyone knew their "dark secret" they would be rejected and even more outcast. And, of course, someone accepting you is a cause of even more paranoia. Imagine Sabine's surprise when she discovers a few others who aren't freaked out by her psychic abilities. Then imagine her astonishment at finding an occult shop (in every sense of the word) in the most unlikely of places. Then there is her developing family secret, and the fact that an outsider knows more about it than she does. There is no neat resolution of this story, since it is designed to carry your interest forward. It is well written and enjoyable. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/mg/bkddd.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SHOP ONLINE AT THE CAULDRON MALL Shop Amazon, Catalog City, Abebooks, and other stores at The Cauldron Shopping Mall. Every purchase from our one of our mall links helps support The Cauldron and this newsletter. http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [06] =============== ============ ARTICLES ========= [06-1] ========= ========= HOW TO USE BOOK REVIEWS EFFECTIVELY ========= by Jenett ========= It's hard to figure out which books are worth reading. Sometimes we're looking for facts and information. Other times, we're looking for inspiration for ritual or personal work. We may want to read a book (even if we expect to disagree with it) because it's well-known or currently popular. We may just want to know what's out there. How do we find out? ===== ===== Library Resources ===== Many libraries make their decisions based on reviews in professional publications such as Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, or Library Journal. Reviews focus on a book's usefulness and appropriateness to a library collection. As a result, works with a wide appeal are more likely to be reviewed in these sources. The reviewers are often generally familiar with the topic, but not always aware of specific issues. These publications can be hard to find if you're not a librarian, so why do we care about their reviews? Well, amazon.com and bn.com (Barnes & Noble) both include reviews from these sources. They're grouped together under the label "Editorial reviews" or "From the Critics" (as opposed to customer reviews.) They don't always include the same editorial reviews: it's worth checking both sites. Library-focused reviews tell me a few things. First, this book is somewhat more likely to appear on library shelves. It may be more available to more people. I may want to read it to see if I'd suggest it. Books reviewed in these sources also tend to have good bookstore distribution. Second, books reviewed in these sources usually have a strong general appeal. While there isn't a direct correlation, the books that show up in the library professional journals are more likely to get ‘buzz' about them in the Pagan community as a whole. The reviews are usually a paragraph or two. They give a general idea of what the book's about and who the intended audience is. These reviews don't have enough space to point out specific details, but they will sometimes mention whether an author handles historical or factual issues well or badly. This often isn't enough to make me decide to buy a book. I usually want more information. We might also wonder whether professional resources really understand a book in Pagan context. (Even if the reviewer is Pagan themselves, they may not be fully familiar with a given path, perspective, or culture.) Fortunately, there are other resources. ===== ===== Pagan Reviews ===== Pagan magazines and publications often include reviews. If you generally like a magazine's feel, you may well find their reviews to be useful. However, you still need to keep the reviewer's background and perspective in mind (as discussed below). These days, we can find lots of online reviews. Two well known reviewers are Mike Gleason and Daven. Both include specifics and details, as well as what they liked and didn't like about the book. They also both have a general knowledge of the Pagan community, and are aware of their own biases. They've also reviewed a wide variety of books. Mike Gleason's reviews are online at the Cauldron's book review section (http://ecauldron.com/bookstore.php will get you there if you haven't already found it) The Cauldron also includes other, similarly detailed reviews from other reviewers. It's where I usually start when I'm book browsing. Daven's reviews are online on his website, at http://davensjournal.com/ Another source for information about books (though not reviews) is the Witch's Voice website. They have a section on books at http://www.witchvox.com/xbooks.html (which also includes links to some other review sites). Much of the information about books is either individual reviews (discussed below) or material from the publishers (who obviously want to make the book sound good). However, once you know specific titles, it's a lot easier to look for detailed reviews or ask for opinions. ===== ===== Individual Reviewers ===== Much of what we find online are individual reviews. These include customer reviews on Amazon and Barnes and Noble's websites as well as comments in online forums and discussions. It's important to read all reviews (even the published ones) carefully. First, I look at some superficial information. How long is the review? Two sentences won't tell me much. I also look at how the review is written. A few typos are no problem, but I've generally found that reviews from reviewers who've taken the time to write standard English and proofread are more useful. Reviews that say "i liked this book. it was gr8!!!" don't tell you much. Second, I look for information (or clues) about the reviewer's background. How knowledgeable are they about the general subject of the book? What's their perspective? Often, people won't say outright, but you can make some guesses if you're familiar with the subject. Perspective is particularly important. You sometimes see reviews of Wiccan classics complaining that the book is too complicated or involved, or that some of the practices (working skyclad and binding in particular) are outright wrong. There's two problems with this. First, you need to keep their perspective in mind. If you don't want the same things they do, their recommendation may not be of any direct use. The reasons they disliked a book may actually make it very useful to you. Second, time passes. While many of the classics aren't the first books I'd recommend to someone starting out today for various reasons, they still have valuable information. It is, however, important to take them in context. A book published in the early 80s was published for a community with different needs. Attitudes and approaches may have changed since then. If you're a discerning and thoughtful reader, these books are often still very useful. Finally, people often recommend or comment on books as part of discussions. You often know more about the background of the person recommending the book. They also often recommend it for a specific reasons ("I think you'd find X book useful because..."). This is a very time consuming option (since you need to find discussions that suit you, and spend time participating or reading them.) However, it's also one of the best ways to get specific advice about which books can help you or which are helpful for a specific path or topic. ===== ===== Using Reviews ===== There are two ways to use reviews. One is to decide between books on a topic. Another is to help you keep up with new and interesting books. This second part is easy: you just want some information about the book. Deciding, however, is often harder. Here's some tips that should help you. Many review sites use a rating system. The 1 and 5 star reviews from sites with many reviewers (such as Amazon or bn.com) tend to be poor reviews (in terms of providing information.) Some of them are overly emotional, many are short, and others simply don't give specifics. I focus on the 2 and 4 star reviews (you can sort by the number of stars on Amazon). They more often mention individual factors or issues. These reviews also tend to give more detail about the reviewer's background in ways that help me evaluate the review. A useful review gives you more information about the book, not just the reviewer's preferences or biases. They're specific. They give examples and details that support what they liked or didn't like, or why they recommend it. They give you an idea what material is covered, and some idea of the tone. This is why short reviews aren't much use: they simply don't tell you much. A good reviewer can talk about good and bad points in the book without making it personal. (Or, if they do, it's carefully done: they talk about why they liked or didn't like the book rather than why you should.) While some idea of the reviewer's preferences and background is helpful, hateful or nasty reviews aren't very useful: the good stuff gets lost in the emotion. Useful reviews also keep the focus of the author and book in mind: if the book is clearly talking about a specific tradition or set of practices, the review shouldn't take it to task for not including other options. Likewise, if all the negative reviews are from people who obviously find that path (or practices) distasteful, but positive reviews are from people who follow that path, that can tell you a lot. If the reviewer wants to talk about whether practices are useful, there are usually better ways to do that than in a review. Finally, useful reviews are realistic. Titles are often determined by the publisher, not the author. The marketing copy also often isn't under the author's control. If you think you're potentially interested in a book, look beyond these things. Look at the table of contents, material from the author, or reviews from people who've actually read the book. You'll get a better picture. In brief, use reviews to become aware of specific issues discussed in a book. Look at the reasons for reviewer's recommendations or rating, not just the rating itself. Once you have that information, you can decide which things matter most to you, and focus your time (and book budget) better. [06-2] ========= ========= A PRACTICUM ON SPELL BANNERS ========= by Anthony Ford ========= ===== ===== Abstract =====   Spell Banners are long bands of paper with a spell cast upon them. When allowed to flow in the wind, the spell banner releases the effects of its spell slowly but surely. Spell Banners are popular in many eastern forms of magic. Often, they are used for prosperity and/or luck, and are displayed shops and other places of business. Mistaken for decor, the Spell Banner works its magic bringing good fortune to the user. Spell Banners have a plethora of other uses beside commercial prosperity. In Cunningham and Harrington's book, Spell Crafts, an operation for creating Spell Banners is outlined. In performing this magical operation, this author modified the procedure to help fit the modern (and frugal) world.   ===== Preparation for the Procedure   A Spell Banner has two basic material components, paper and ink. These two ingredients are inherently inexpensive, and can be found anywhere in the modern world. While Spell Crafts recommends water-based poster paints I decided to use a common Sharpie marker. Not only inexpensive, but a single Sharpie could feasibly make hundreds of banners. As for the color of the ink, Spell Crafts recommends using different colors for different purposes for the banner. While some people hold that the color of your spell components is important, during my operation with this ritual I used the same color ink for every Spell Banner I made. Different colored inks absorb into paper just like any other, so go with your preference. If you have the extra cash to buy different colored Sharpies, you might as well buy ink and a brush.   As for the paper, Spell Crafts recommends paper measuring 8 ½ x 22 inches, or two sheets of office paper end to end. However, because specialty paper can be more expensive and harder to find, I calculated the length to width ratio of the paper in the operation, and found it to be 0.3863. Other dimensions which maintain this ratio are 11 x 44 inches, for a larger banner, and 4 ¼ x 11 inches, for a smaller banner. Conveniently, 4 ¼ x 11 inches is the size of a standard sheet of office paper cut in half lengthwise. This size is the one I used for my Spell Banners. Since 500 sheets of paper can cost as little as $5.00, and each piece of paper can make two Spell Banners, each Banner will only set you back half a cent! Factoring in that Sharpie markers are the only other material overhead, an investment of only about $6.50 will provide you with all the Spell Banners you will ever need! =====  ===== The Operation =====   For the ritual itself, Spell Crafts calls for a bowl of pure water, a dish of salt, a candle, and some incense. The candle is recommended to be of a certain color, along with the ink. Again, I do not put much stock in the idea that only certain colored objects are permissible. Find your favorite candle in your house. The personal energy you have invested in it is more important than its color. Additionally, while many believe that lighting a candle is the only way to release its power, if you are in a situation where starting a fire is not prudent or legal, don t feel obligated to light it. It is a symbol of fire, who is to say that it cannot symbolize fire sans flame? It is up to your beliefs and preferences.   As for the incense, it is used as a symbol for the power of air which is paramount to this ritual. However, if you are in a situation where you do not want to buy incense or you cannot start a fire (as before), feel free to find an alternative symbol to represent the power of air. Again if you are in a place where starting a fire is a hazard, do not feel obligated to light your incense, and make sure you use your better judgment when partaking in any magical operation. The alternative symbol for air I used was a white crystal. I even placed it in my censor to further enhance the symbolism of air.   Before your first Spell Banner is wrought, it needs to have a purpose. Spell Crafts includes 7 Norse runes to place onto your Spell Banner to symbolize various purposes for said banner. I have two problems with this. First, seven is a dismally low number of runes to provide, there are many more that could have been added to the book. After some research, I found several more runes (13 more, in fact) that should've been included with this operation. My second problem was that Spell Banners are an artifact of eastern forms of magic, namely from China. However, the authors somehow felt it prudent to include Norse runes as the symbols to be drawn on the banners. I have nothing against runes; I feel that they are an excellent symbology to draw from in magic. There are hundreds of books about runes out there; I would've liked to have learned a little about what the Chinese people who came up with Spell Banners used. The operation itself piqued my interest about Chinese culture and magic, but I found nothing about Chinese history in the operation besides the basic premise. Using symbols in Mandarin, or using some other form of Chinese language would have been interesting and welcome in the magical operation. I suppose overall the choice of symbols was my only real criticism with this operation.   Regardless of what symbol you choose to put onto your banner, make sure it means something to the tune of what you need the banner for. I wouldn't hold anyone to use a specific language, besides for their historical interest, but make sure the symbol can be looked upon later as meaning something to the banner. Even if you decide to draw a shield for a protection banner, just make sure the symbol fits the cause. You may want to practice drawing your selected symbol (or symbols) before you begin. Draw in single and defined lines, make each stroke purposeful and separate. Lift your pen or brush totally off of the paper after each line, as each line is distinct and important to your spell.   Now that you have a goal in mind, a symbol picked, your materials gathered, and your practice completed, we are finally ready to begin our operation. As the book Spell Crafts is copyrighted, I will only provide the basics of the ritual, and leave the rest up to the reader to rightfully purchase. However, each portion of the ritual could easily be rewritten in your own words. So, if you have an endeavoring spirit, you could write your own Spell Banner ritual right from this practicum. Since Cunningham and Harrington s rendition of the ritual is in their copyrighted book, I will take you through the ritual only in general terms.   You should create a magical working space before the ritual. Place the water, salt, candle, and censor in a circle around this area. Make sure all of these ritual tools are properly cleansed and ready for your working. Once your working area is prepared, each component of the Spell Banner you are about to create must also be cleansed and make ready. Wave the paper, ink, and brush (or just Sharpie for ink and brush) over your circle of tools, making sure to properly instill them with the elements these tools represent. With every component of the banner cleansed and consecrated, assemble them in the middle of your working area. At this point, instill your components with some group energy. Reinforce that this paper and ink are becoming more than the sum of their parts. Once you feel that the paper and ink are ready to become a banner, begin drawing you symbol. As you draw, say something. You are pushing more power into this banner with the act of drawing; this creative spark instills the banner with the beginnings of a purpose. Once your symbol is drawn, wave it over your work are and name your request aloud. Repeat as much as you would which. Once you have given the banner its purpose simply look over it and concentrate on the purpose. Once you feel confident that the spell is ready, hang it proudly where it can do its job. Or, put it away for later.   ===== Conclusions   This operation works well. Besides the sociocultural issues, the ritual is well presented by Cunningham and Harrington. With some adaptation, this operation can fit any language, location, and budget. Not only can Spell Banners serve hundreds of magical purposes, but with Spell Banners as cheap as only half a cent each, who can go wrong? [06-3] ========= ========= UNIVERSAL MEANING OF CELTIC KNOTWORK ========= copyright 2005 by Marc Choyt ========= In the spring of 2003, I spent three weeks in the city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras, located in Southern India. Each morning, walking before the heat of the day, I was amazed to see intricate knot work patterns drawn out free hand with flour in front of the driveways and gates of homes. These artistic scrolls, I was told by an Indian friend, were offerings to local gods, and were part of a tradition that stretched back into the ancient past. I have seen knot patterns in my travels throughout many parts of the world. In Islamic countries where iconography is prohibited, the mosques are heavily decorated with knot-like patterns. Stone- carved knot work motifs can be found on ruins from the Americas to the Hindu iconography of Bali, Indonesia. In Tibet, the "eternal knot" is a common symbol representing the endless cycles of existence. The knot work most familiar in the West is from Celtic iconography. Though the Celts, before the Roman Empire, were spread throughout much of Western Europe, we're most familiar with their designs remaining today in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. On the moors, surrounded by winding rock walls and ancient neolithic bridges, this knot work carved in stone transcends time. We know from the writings of the Romans that the Celts believed strongly in the sacredness of place. Similar to the beliefs of many in South India today, the land anchored a particular god or goddess that was meant to be honored, though we do not know whether the knot work designs were made as offerings. The broad spectrum of knot work designs found in many cultures suggests that the motif is both universal and rooted in ancient mystery. From the most general perspective, knot work iconography can be viewed as a metaphor for our own unique tapestry of experience. On a macrocosmic level, the knots express metaphorically that life on earth is deeply interconnected, as illustrated in the Spider Women's web or the Great Hoop of Life in Native American stories. As one Native woman told me, if you move a pebble on top of a mountain, you can change the course of a mighty river. This is also expressed slightly differently in the Biblical aphorism, "We reap what we sow," which is similar to the Eastern understanding of karma. Even physics today speaks of a "unified field." Yet it is also true that individual elements of knots hold specific meaning from the perspective of sacred geometry. Look around you at different geometric forms. Why is the earth, our eyes, the trunks of trees circular instead of square? How does the circle function in the world verses the triangle and what does that mean in terms of knot work that uses circular patterns? Here are a few hints to help you with these blueprints. We speak of a circle of friends and live in circular cycles, such as the day and the season. Native cultures throughout the world hold ceremonies in protective circles. A knot work pattern with circles or variations of circles certainly has some important keys to relationships and community. A square knot motif concerns structure and stability, which is why buildings use the shape of a square foundation. Numerology has always played a part in ancient cultures and there are many books on the subject. The number five, for example, represents the four directions and the center point, or the five senses. We also often see knot work shaped like an oval, which is the shape of an egg. The oval has something to do with generative creativity and birth. Planets circle the sun in an oval. And if you squeeze an oval together you get the lemniscates, the symbol for infinity which is very prevalent in knot work motifs. Many knot work motifs also deal with vectors that travel in a certain direction. If you look at the shape of an arrow, it's easy to understand why a triangle might connote movement. Another common motif is the knot work depicting a trinity. In the Celtic tradition, many deities had three forms. The Mother Goddess was understood to the maiden, mother and crone. The universe was viewed as heaven, earth and otherworld. We are born, we live and we die. Certainly the trinity knot also illustrates the One being dividing off into the masculine and feminine, or the mother and son-- a mystical truth contemplated in many sacred traditions. The cross is also a symbol rich in meaning. From a simple point of view, two lines crossing symbolizing a connection or meeting which can be a point of creativity. Some mystics speak of the horizontal axis representing the earthly plain, while the vertical axis points toward the heavens. While the above guide for understanding knot work is not necessarily based on any scholarly or anthropological text on the meaning of knots, it does provide a starting point that is based on a universal perspective. Most knot work designs are going to have some variation of these shapes. Spending time contemplating the motif may yield some insight. Lastly, there's an essential reason why the knot work is so prevalent, and that is beauty. I will never forget Jaisalmer, an ancient town in the desert of Rajasthan. This ancient city, where caravans used to stop and trade, is made from sandstone. Many of the buildings are carved with intricate knot work patterns. Strangers walked up to me and said, "How do you like our beautiful city?" I could see clearly how art is life-giving and the need for beauty is something fundamental. In the middle of the desert, the beautiful knot work in golden stone brings joy to the heart. ===== ===== About the Author ===== Marc Choyt graduated from Brown University in 1984 with a degree in English. In 1995, he received an MA degree in Humanities from St. John's College. In 1996, he and his wife, Helen Chantler, founded Reflective Images, a designer jewelry company specializing in contemporary Celtic jewelry. http://www.celticjewelry.com Please send email requests to marek@celticjewelry.com. [06-4] ========= ========= APRIL -- THE MONTH OF VENUS ========= (Chapter IV of The Stories of the Months and Days ========= by Reginald C. Couzens [1923]) ========= This month of April has only thirty days, which is the number said to have been given to it by Romulus. The king who came after him gave it only twenty-nine, but Caesar, when he altered the calendar, gave it thirty again. The name April comes from the Latin word aperire, which means "to open", and the month was no doubt so named because it is during April that the earth, which has been bound by the sharp frosts of winter, once again opens beneath the warm rays of the sun; the withered sheaths fall away from the ripened buds, which, opening out, disclose to our eyes their long hidden treasures of beautiful colour. We find that the month was sacred to Venus, the Roman Goddess of Beauty, and some people think for this reason that the name April comes not from aperire, but from Aphrilis, which in turn comes from Aphrodite, the name given to the Goddess of Beauty by the Greeks. Venus is said to have sprung from the foam of the sea, and to have made her way to Mount Olympus, the home of the gods, where, because of her wonderful beauty and grace, she was welcomed as the Goddess of Love and Beauty. All the gods fell in love with her, but she scorned them all, and Jupiter, to punish her for her pride, ordered her to marry Vulcan, the God of Fire, who was deformed and very rough in his manner. He had been thrown from the top of Mount Olympus by Jupiter in a fit of anger. Had he not been a god, he would, of course, have been killed by the fall, but he escaped with a broken leg which made him lame for the rest of his life. He now lived on the earth, and spent his time at the forge making many wonderful and useful things from the metals which he found buried in the mountains. He built gorgeous palaces of gold for the gods, which he decorated with precious stones, forged the terrible thunderbolts used by Jupiter, and also made the arrows used by Venus's son, Cupid. Vulcan was naturally worshiped by all blacksmiths and workers in metal, and a great festival called the Vulcanalia was held in his honour. Cupid, whom we have just mentioned, was the God of Love; he never grew up, but remained a little chubby boy, with beautiful wings. He always carried a bow, and with his arrows pierced the hearts of young men and maidens in order to make them fall in love with one another. Another son of Venus was Aeneas, the great hero who was supposed to have been the founder of the Roman race. He escaped from Troy, when at the end of ten years' siege it fell into the hands of the Greeks, and after many adventures reached a part of Italy, called Latium, where in later times his descendants, Romulus and Remus, founded the city of Rome. The story of Aeneas has been wonderfully told by the Roman poet Virgil in his great work called the Aeneid. In this book Virgil wishes to show that Augustus, the emperor of his time, being a descendant of Aeneas, was also descended from the gods, since Aeneas was said to be the son of Venus. Part of the story of Troy, or Ilium, is told in the Iliad of Homer, the great Greek poet. We read there of the fierce struggles which took place before the walls of the city, of deeds of strength and valour, and particularly of the final combat between the great heroes Hector the Trojan and Achilles the Greek, in which the Trojan was killed. In spite of many successes in the field, the Greeks were unable to gain an entry into the city, nor were the Trojans able to drive the Greeks from the shore, and it seemed as if neither side would ever secure the victory. At last Ulysses, a Greek prince who was renowned for his cunning, formed a plan for entering the city and thus finally bringing to an end the war that had lasted for ten years. The Greeks built a wooden horse of such size that a number of men could be hidden within its hollow sides. This horse, filled with fighting men led by Ulysses, was left on the shore, while the army embarked in their ships and sailed away as if tired of the endless struggle. The Greeks also left behind a cunning slave, named Sinon, who was to play an important part in the plot. The Trojans, overjoyed at the departure of the Greeks, flocked down to the shore and crowded round the enormous wooden horse, full of wonderment at its strangeness. Many wished to drag it into the city at once, while some were filled with suspicion and urged their companions to distrust anything made by their enemies. Sinon, when questioned by the Trojans, pretended that he had been ill-treated by the Greeks, and spoke with hatred and anger against them. He explained that the horse was an offering to the sea god, Neptune, whose help the Greeks would need on their journey home, and he advised the Trojans to seize it and take it into the city. In spite even of those who suggested that armed men might be hidden in the horse, the Trojans dragged it into the city with great triumph, pulling down part of the wall to admit it, since it was too large to go through the gates. Then followed a night of feast and revelry; the Trojans in their excitement laid aside their armour and their weapons, and gave themselves up to wild merrymaking. The smoky flare of the torches lit up a scene of mad delight. Suddenly shouts of alarm arose on every side, followed by the clash of weapons. Armed men poured in on the astonished Trojans, and in a short time Troy was in the hands of the Greeks. Under cover of the darkness and the noise Ulysses and his companions had crept from their hiding-place, had overpowered the careless sentries, and opened the gates for the Greek army, whose ships had returned in the night. Thus, through the help of the clever Ulysses, the Greeks overcame the army that had so often beaten them in the field, and by a trick brought to a victorious end the great Trojan war, for which the Goddess Venus had been responsible, as we shall read in a later chapter. The Old English name for the month of April was Oster-monath or Easter-monath, because it was the month sacred to Eastre, or Ostara, the Goddess of Spring; the same name is still kept by the Germans, who call it Ostermonath. The time of year known as Easter is named after this goddess, and though Easter is now a Christian festival, it was in the first place a feast held by the Saxons in honour of their goddess Eastre. It was the custom for the people to give one another presents of coloured eggs, because the egg is supposed to represent the beginning of life, and the feast was held in the spring-time, when Nature awakes to a new life from the death of winter. The custom, which we still have, of sending Easter eggs to our friends, is therefore a very, very old one indeed. [06-5] ========= ========= WHAT YOUR DAYDREAMS REVEAL ========= by Joi Sigers ========= Let's take the most common type of daydream first: worry. We all know this one on a first name basis. Your loved one is 15 minutes late and your thoughts run to negativity like a moth to light. If he or she were an hour late, anyone would be concerned, but if 15 minutes is all it takes to call out the negativity patrol, it would pay to take a closer look at yourself and why this is so. Does the above scenario sound a little too familiar to you? If it does, I would almost bet that you've experienced a tragedy in your life that really hit close to home, one that was completely unexpected. Actually, if 15 minutes is an accurate measure, it's safe to say you've endured more than one such disaster. Nothing can bring about insecurities about your present and future quite like your past. (Once bitten, twice shy = once hurt, twice cautious). Sometimes just realizing this will quiet the fears and negative thoughts. Next time the 15 minute mark hits (or any trigger, for that matter), tell your subconscious that you know why it's "going there" and then replace the negative, worrisome thoughts with positive ones. Focus on how great it'll be, for example, when he/she does show up! If you tend to spend a lot of time daydreaming about far away places, you may need a change of scenery. People tend to fantasize a lot about beaches, especially in the winter - but before you call for a U-Haul, realize that you probably just need to mix things up a little. Sometimes a trip to a nearby town will do the trick. (Take it from someone who lived on the beach, even beachcombers fantasize about far away places - snowy mountains and houses with fireplaces are just as enticing!) Do you tend to think really negative thoughts, just out of the blue? For example, while doing a household chore, do you start imagining worst-case-scenarios? If you answer in the affirmative, you're to be commended for realizing it and owning up to it. You certainly aren't alone! This type of daydream indicates that something is missing in your life. While you probably aren't full-fledged depressed (which could be treated with a trip to the doctor), there is something that you're not getting. Whether it's enough attention or love from your loved ones or appreciation for what you do, there are negative forces around you and they're manifesting themselves in your thoughts. Sometimes it's as simple as feeling bad about yourself: feeling old, unattractive, overweight, etc. When things are going well, most of a person's thoughts will be positive. When they aren't going well, the opposite is true. Have a heart to mind talk with yourself and see where the negativity is coming from, then do what you can to remove it. If the talk points to feelings of self-depreciation, do something about it - get a new hairstyle, color your hair, change make-up, get a new top, get in shape....whatever it takes to make you feel better about you. If the talk indicates that the problems stem from someone else, it's not quite as simple, but it's also very manageable. Simply talk to those around you. Not confrontationally, of course. Just open the lines of communication up. Another common daydream is one of grandeur. We either save a life, shoot below par, look like a child spawned by Rita Hayworth and Rock Hudson, or tell our boss off in spades (or all four on a really good day). They're harmless little escapes from the toils and troubles of daily lives. The biggest difference between these daydreams and the first ones is the fact that they are positive. You're focusing positive energy as opposed to negative energy - and that's always a very good thing. It's so much more healthy for your mind and even body. You must be cautious, however, not to live in these sorts of daydreams. It's sort of like the ESCAPE key on your keyboard. It's absolutely necessary sometimes, but where would you get if you kept one finger on it at all times? Not far! ===== ===== About the Author ===== This article is one of many featured at http://www.dreamprophesy.com, a website dedicated to the world of dreams and the study of dream interpretation. Feel free to e-mail the author at joi@dreamprophesy.com [07] =============== ============ COLUMNS ========= [07-1] ========= ========= KITCHEN WITCHIN ========= by our readers ========= ===== ===== Orange Liqueur ===== submitted by Cyn ===== Ingredients: Zest of all the oranges...no white pith. (You can grate it off with fine grater, just take the very thin colored skin.) 8 c orange pulp (usually 10 or twelve oranges) I peel the oranges, then slip the pulp out of the inner membranes, yes it is time consuming, but oh so very worth it! 1 qt vodka (this is the time to use up the rather raw stuff someone gave as a gift... you won't taste the raw edge over the orange and the sweet) 2 c honey (prefer raw honey, not the corn-syrup amended store crud!) Procedures: You need a gallon jar, glass and with no metal in contact with the ingredients that will go inside. Put all the orange zest in, and the de-membraned pulp... sort of macerate it up somewhat: I use one of those handy long-necked Braun mixer/smusher electric toys. Add the vodka, lid tightly. Put it someplace cool, but not in the fridge... shake it up every couple days. After one month, set up a colander and line it with cheesecloth or a jam bag... place this over a good deep bowl. Pour your mixture through, and squeeze the pulp to extract all the liquid you can. This will make the result a bit cloudy, but its not a big deal later... as you will see. Warm your honey up gently... I usually put a glass jar or measuring cup in a pan of warm water over very low heat. You just want it warm enough to pour easily. Mix this into the vodka/orange mixture back in the cleaned out gallon jar. (If you don't like honey... make a sugar syrup with about 1 1/2 times the sugar (more than honey) to about 1 1/2 c of water. You will have to bring it to a boil to create the super-saturated solution..and then cool it down before use) I put this on the kitchen cabinet for a couple days... and stir it to make sure the honey isn't too thick to stay mixed. Then, if it does seem to be staying all correct, I let it settle for a week. Now you want to very gently decant off the liqueur into smaller bottles... I dip it out of my jar with a ladle being careful not to disturb the sediment on the bottom. I put it in pint bottles, then I have lots of gifts for Samhain guests and loved ones. When I am down to the sediment clouded last... usually a pint or less, I stop. Store the bottles in the dark until Samhain. Now that sediment layer... you can bottle it and put it in the fridge to flavor things. OR you can make something like tiramiso cake... only orange instead of coffee. I soak lady fingers in this sedimenty liquor, layer orange zest and chocolate nib enhanced marscopone cheese between, and top it off with a bitter chocolate sauce heavily orange flavored. Comments: We begin this even before Beltane... it needs a good six month age time before drinking; it is the most lovely color; that perfect golden-orangey harvest shade for the last harvest fest of the year. Now my favorite orange is the blood orange... deep red fleshed (also called Moro orange), but if you don't want to look like you are committing slaughter you may use regular Valencia type oranges. [07-2] ========= ========= HUMOR: THE MONASTERY ========= Author Unknown ========= There once was a monastery that was very strict. Following a vow of silence, no one was allowed to speak at all. But there was one exception to this rule. Every ten years, the monks were permitted to speak just two words. After spending his first ten years at the monastery, one monk went to the head monk. "It has been ten years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?" "Bed... hard..." said the monk. "I see," replied the head monk. Ten years later, the monk returned to the head monk's office. "It has been ten more years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?" "Food... stinks..." said the monk. "I see," replied the head monk. Yet another ten years passed and the monk once again met with the head monk who asked, "What are your two words now, after these ten years?" "I... quit!" said the monk. "Well, I can see why," replied the head monk. "All you ever do is complain." [08] =============== ============ PAGAN WEBCRAFTING ========= Many Pagans have or would like to have a Pagan oriented web site. Unfortunately, many of the thousands of Pagan web sites are poorly designed and/or very hard to read. (Hint: A black background makes even white text hard to read, but a black background with a dark text is almost impossible to read.) This section of Cauldron and Candle is devoted to articles about web sites and web design. Some are written specifically for Pagans, but most will be more general and anyone interested in putting up a web site may find them useful. Please note that each article is written from the author's point of view and goals, and therefore even completely opposite advice can be sound -- in different situations, of course. These articles should not be taken as "law" but rather as things to think about and consider while you are creating and maintaining your web site. Some articles have a "business" slant, but the information they contain really applies to all types of web sites. For more information and articles on web crafting, see the Pagan Webcrafting section of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's web site. http://www.ecauldron.com/web/index.php [08-1] ========= ========= Your Website Hurts My Eyes: ========= 7 Reasons to Tone Down Your Advertising ========= Copyright 2005 by Dina Giolitto ========= So you're on the computer, as usual. Your eyes are smarting. Your back hurts. You want to jump in the car and sail down the highway with all the windows down and your hair flapping in the wind. But before you call it quits for the day, you have to look up just one more thing. Maybe it's web marketing, maybe you want to buy some artwork to hang in your office. Off to Google you go. You type in the magic words, whatever they are, and watch as a list of websites flows down the page. You click on the first one, and it's an instant assault on your eyeballs. Ten glaring banners, flashing like Vegas at midnight. One of those annoying hover ads that follows you as you scroll and won't let you read anything until you click the corner. Some sparkly things "snowing" down the page. Frantic messages screaming things like BUY NOW! LAST CHANCE! INSTANT SUCCESS CAN BE YOURS. A picture of a grinning guy who reminds you of your creepy Uncle Lester. You click away. Not today, not any day. You don't care what that guy is selling or even if he's giving something away, because his presentation is god-awful. Just when you thought you'd escaped the mayhem, a sneaky little window pops up: "WHY DID YOU LEAVE THIS SITE? Please fill out this quick survey!" Are they kidding? You consider typing something offensive in the "Leave Your Comment" box, but figure it will only encourage someone to spam you with unwanted offers. We're all familiar with this web-surfing experience. It's downright unpleasant. What's your opinion of someone who pitches their company in such a loud and desperate manner? Do you believe all of their pie-in-the-sky promises? Do they strike you as company run by people who are intelligent, honest and reliable? Are you going to whip out your credit card because they tell you to? Of course you're not. Being the loudest, the brightest, the busiest and the boldest may attract attention, but it does not bring sales. That's something to remember when you're creating your own company website. What DOES attract and keep new customers coming back? A simple, tasteful web design. An easily navigable site. Copy that's crisp, clean, and interesting. Here are 7 reasons to tone down your advertising: 1. Flash is just too flashy. A flash presentation can be creative and unique, but is it really needed for what you offer? Will that kooky winking clown-head in the corner really make the sale for you? Even if you find a really excellent designer who can put together an incredible high-tech Flash feature, consider the harried web surfer. She's been clicking all day; do you really think she has the patience to stand for one more mini-movie? 2. Too many messages cancel each other out. Ever try to read one of those pharmacy circulars when you're tired? All of those big red words emblazoned across the page. Headlines crammed in beside blown-out price points and cheap photography. It isn't easy! If you try to cram a whole bunch of words on your website, guess what? Not one of those messages is going to be read, let alone remembered. The eye doesn't know where to look! Try a visual whisper instead of a scream. Make your point as best you can, but take care to leave whitespace so the eyes have a resting place where they can digest what you've said. 3. Movement is distracting. Think about the last time you visited a website with "magical stars" sprinkling down over the words. Were you able to read and understand it? Mind the weary web surfer; be kind to his eyes! You stand a much better chance of holding a customer's interest with words that aren't flying off the page, but rather standing still in one spot, waiting quietly for someone to read them! 4. The mighty click is all-powerful. You know what it is to be that web hunter. The mouse is in your hand; you're in total control! Now think of that other person palming the mouse, surfing YOUR site. If your website is a frenzy of color and confusion, all it takes is one CLICK and you're forgotten! Don't want them to click away? Here's how to make them stay. Keep it clean and simple! 5. Your empty promises are lost on the skeptical consumer. Think about your own web-surfing experiences. Did you believe that guy who told you he'd make you a millionaire if you just SIGN UP TODAY? You're better off being honest and optimistic, than crazed and fanatical about what you can offer your customer. 6. Pop-ups are really annoying. Have you ever been so intrigued by a pop-up ad that you bought whatever they were raving about? My guess is no. Do you appreciate it when you're trying to get some work done on the computer and fifteen pop-up ads crowd your screen and overload your hard drive? I certainly don't! If you don't like such rude interruptions, then don't impose them on somebody else. I don't care how many times that marketing guru tells you it will improve your search engine ranking. Search engine stats might give you exposure, but click rates mean nothing if the customer's not buying. 7. No one reads really long sales letters. Ah, how brilliant of those copywriting experts to convince you that a six-page letter is going to bring in big bucks for your company. Especially if you're paying them by the hour or word! A two- page letter will do the same thing as a six-pager, and more. The 'more' being that it will hold your reader's interest the whole way through. Brevity is the key to great writing. If you can make a great argument in five words or less, you've got it all over the next guy. Keep that in mind before you put the Magna Carta on your web portal. Want to design and write website content that attracts and captivates? Want to bring your visitors back for seconds, thirds, fourths, and the ultimate purchase? Then keep the above "distractors" to a minimum. Really try to put yourself in the other person's shoes... the one who is searching the Internet for what you have. Think about all of those things that prevent you from enjoying your web surfing experience, and then take care to remove them from your own company website! Offer tasteful, subtle design, eloquent headlines, and clear, informative copy. Be honest about what you sell and how it can make a difference for your potential customer. Speak softly, and watch the sales roll in. ===== ===== About the Author ===== Dina Giolitto is a New-Jersey based Copywriting Consultant with nine years' industry experience. Her current focus is web content and web marketing for a multitude of products and services although the bulk of her experience lies in retail for big-name companies like Toys"R"Us. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for rates and samples. [08-2] ========= ========= Content Management Systems (CMS): ========= What They Are And Why We Love Them... ========= by Maarten Van Ruitenburg ========= There is a buzz in the online community about a technology that empowers the average computer user with the ability to create and maintain their very own web presence. In the past, individuals who took interest in having and operating their own websites were burdened with the task of learning HTML, DHTML, and other web- based technologies such as JavaScript and CSS. The only alternative to this was, unfortunately, to pocket the expenses and costs required to pay a web developer to build and maintain it for them. This dilemma is one of the primary reasons that small to medium- sized businesses did not begin to emerge on the worldwide web for several years following the corporate dot-com rush. Many business owners were terrified at the thought of having to learn complicated programming languages and server languages in order to create 'do it yourself' websites. Fortunately, that was then and this is now! Due to the evolving demand for businesses to have a presence on the web, a new application has emerged in order to help business owners and employees create and sustain a professional-looking site without the worries of coding and technical applications. What do we call this innovative technology that lessens the gap between the IT professionals and ourselves? Content Management Systems (otherwise known as CMS). Simply put, Content Management Systems are applications that implement easy-to-use web-based tools in combination with a database and web templates in order to effortlessly construct, and update a website's content. Hence the name, Content Management System. Content Management System applications are ideal for businesses and sites that require ongoing updates and additions. The simplicity lies in the fact that through the utilization of the web-based tools, Content Management Systems completely separate the updating and creation of the site's actual content from the site's design and layout. Therefore allowing a person with no knowledge of HTML to go in and alter/add content to the site's pages without making structural changes to the site's design. What are a few of the benefits associated with using a Content Management System over traditional web-design? Well, to begin with, Content Management Systems are developed in a way so that even a novice user has the power to maintain and update the site. The content input/update areas are designed to offer a very user-friendly interface, appearing much like a common word processing application that so many of us are familiar with. This makes it possible for any person or staff involved in document creation to easily and efficiently maintain the content on the company's website. This brings us to yet another factor that makes Content Management Systems so helpful. Because more people have access to updating and maintaining the website, the information is generally much more accurate and recent. Updating older pages manually in order to keep them relevant to changing information cannot only be frustrating, but also repetitive and time consuming. In today's competitive online market, up-to-date information is crucial to your business's credibility and success. Content Management System un-complicates this task by making global (site-wide) changes through the alteration of a single file. Because all of the site's information is stored in a central location, when that information is altered, every page on that site which contains that specific info is updated immediately. Just like that! This allows the editors or the website's author to write, edit, and publish information to the website without having to submit all of the material to the Webmaster. No inconsistencies, less proofreading -- less work altogether. Another tremendous advantage to using a Content Management System is link maintenance. Many times, even Webmasters make the mistake of deleting or moving content that is linked to multiple areas within a site. When this occurs, the links that are not removed then become broken links because the file to which they refer is either deleted or in another location and the reference is invalid. When a person using a Content Management System deletes or updates the location of a file, each of the links relative to that file are automatically updated, therefore eliminating any risk of orphaned links and that nasty little 'page not found' experience for the site's visitors. Overall, it is quite obvious that the implementation of a Content Management System is ideal for a wide variety of websites. From news sites to corporate sites -- all the way to small business sites and personal web pages, using a Content Management System combines the convenience of ease of use along with the professionalism of clean web design and up-to-date material. ===== ===== About the Author ===== Maarten Van Ruitenburg is the owner of Visual Developments. To get a professional website design or a great forum or CMS skin, visit http://www.visualdevelopments.com/ [08-3] ========= ========= The Psychology of Color in Web Design ========= by Lala C. Ballatan ========= Persons engaged in website design, here’s a scoop for you! Would you just like to know that by understanding the basics of cognitive psychology around color and patterns, we could further improve our Web design! Designing a Web site does not only concentrate on making web pages of a certain site interesting and impressive. This skill and talent must also be used to ensure the user-friendliness of a certain site and must strive to reach the widest range of users possible. So what’s this about psychology? It simply implies that by understanding the capabilities of the human eye, we can produce Website designs that are more user-friendly. Being user-friendly means that our website design will not only cater for normal sighted Internet users but also to those partially sighted, blind or estimated 8-10% of men with red-green colour blindness. If you don't know anything about vision and colorblindness and their reaction to various designs, then you must start learning now! 'Normal' vision is subject to huge variances. Even the size of elements will affect an individual user's perception of colour. The colors and the intensity of shades you choose to use in your Website design will be discerned differently by every individual who visits your Website. Inconsistencies in color patterns are affected by changes in the ambient lighting levels. It’s like changes in your hair color depending on the amount of lighting it was exposed. Some people even see blue colors in some objects like clothing wherein others do not perceive. These persons just happen to have more blue sensitive cones (photosensitive cells which convert light energy into nerve impulses) in their retina. They seem to view the world with 'blue-tinted spectacles'. As a web designer, you have to be aware that these conditions are the reasons why your perception of your Web design may be different to other people and certainly are not the same with everyone else's. The key aspect to contemplate to achieve accessibility, aside from impaired vision, is by being aware that your design might be manipulated by assistive technology. Screen readers or magnifiers are examples of this. They are software the physically disabled employ to enhance their experience of user interfaces. Some Web users can only read a certain combination such as yellow text on a black background, which allows no room for greyscale. In order to have good legibility for users with certain visual difficulties and impairments, strong contrast can be a main ingredient in your design. Test the effectively of this by manipulating screenshots of your design in a program like Adobe Photoshop. Try converting the image to greyscale then make the screenshot monochrome to see how it might be viewed using the most extreme visual manipulation -- do this by increasing the contrast level to +100. This is a particularly useful approximation of difficulties colour blind users may experience in discerning one colour or shade from another. You can start adjusting your color application now and keep in mind that your designs will not be considered impressive if few people could discern them. ===== ===== About the Author ===== Lala C. Ballatan is a 26 year-old Communication Arts graduate. Book reading has always been her greatest passion -- mysteries, horrors, psycho-thrillers, historical documentaries and classics. Her writing prowess began as early as she was 10 years old in girlish diaries. With writing, she felt freedom -- to express her viewpoints and assert it, to bring out all concerns -- imagined and observed, to bear witness. For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.ucreative.com/ [08-4] ========= ========= Cheap Web Hosting Report: April 2005 ========= by Gridspace ========= With thousands of web hosts to choose from, it can be hard to find cheap web hosting with the quality and dependability you want. Many web hosts now advertise extremely low prices and promise more features than anyone could ever want. Unfortunately, many cheap web hosting offers turn out to be too good to be true. Either the service is poor or the fine print in the terms of service make many of the features effectively useless. Low cost web hosting with excellent service, reliability and features does exist -- if you are willing to spend many hours researching offers and user experiences. Many offer to help you select cheap web hosting by listing 10, 20 or even more cheap web hosting companies with offers they consider good. However, that's still a lot of cheap web hosting companies and plans to research. We are more selective in our Cheap Web Hosting Report. We check out the sites and the user comments and list what we believe are the current top five general purpose cheap web hosting plans. We also list several additional plans that provide special features (such as "root" access or a Windows server with ASP and an Access database). This means less work for you. ===== ===== Top Five General Purpose Cheap Web Hosts for April 2005 ===== These are the top five general purpose cheap web hosts selected for April 2005. All of the following hosting plans include a web control panel, a cgi-bin directory, php4, perl, and at least 1 mysql database. Many offer a number of additional features. The prices listed are the monthly price based on the shortest prepayment period offered (1m = one month, 3m = three months, 6m = six months) and for annual pre-payment (1y = annual rate). The setup fees we list are for the shortest prepayment period offered and for the annual pre-payment plan. Customer Ratings: Beginning with the April 2005 report, The Cheap Web Hosting Report rankings factor in customer ratings -- weighted heavily toward customer opinions of the web hosts' reliability and customer support. Customer ratings are listed in the description and range from a low of 1 to a high of 30. A customer rating of NR means not enough customers responded for a statistically meaningful rating. Note that Cheap Web Hosting Report rankings are not determined solely by customer ratings, staff evaluations can add or subtract up to 10 points so our rankings will not always be in customer rating order. === === #1 Dreamhost === Price: 1m: $9.95 2y: $7.95 Setup: 1m: $49.95 2y: Free Bandwidth: 40 GB (Sale to April 24: 120 GB) Disk Space: 800 MB (Sale to April 24: 2400 MB) Mailboxes: 600 Customer Rating: 29.0 (out of 30) Comments: Dreamhost has long been -- and still is -- listed as the best affordable web host for unusual content (as they will host just about anything legal) in the Special Needs Hosting section of this report. Improvements in their plans in the last year have made them very competitive in terms of bandwidth, web space, and features offered for the price, and they are extremely well-rated by their customers. New and improved features are announced in the Dreamhost newsletter almost every month. Their customer support is the best we've seen in the low cost hosting industry. If you are looking for low cost, high quality web hosting with truly excellent tech support and very friendly people, check out Dreamhost. Dreamhost offers a 97-day money back guarantee, see their web site for details. The bandwidth and disk space listed above are triple their normal allotments due to a sale which ends April 24th. (The Cheap Web Hosting Report hosts with Dreamhost.) More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/web/goto.php?id=dreamhost === === #2 NetFirms === Price: 1y: $9.95 Setup: 1y: Free Bandwidth: 100 GB Disk Space: 2000 MB Mailboxes: 100 Customer Rating: 25.9 (out of 30) Comments: Founded in 1998, Netfirms rapidly acquired a reputation for affordable, reliable web hosting. Although aimed at business hosting, Netfirms hosts sites of all types" personal, hobby, business, weblog, and more. Their Netfirms Advantage plan is full of useful features and should handle almost any personal or small business web site. Netfirms offers a 30-day money back guarantee, see their terms of service for details. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/web/goto.php?id=netfirms === === #3 HostRocket === Price: 3m: $11.95 1y: $7.95 Setup: 3m: Free 1y: Free Bandwidth: 50 GB Disk Space: 1000 MB Mailboxes: unlimited Customer Rating: 24.4 (out of 30) Comments: Founded in 1999, HostRocket is a popular web hosting company that is well-rated by its customers. They greatly expanded their offerings in 1994 and are now very competitive in bandwidth, disk space, and features. HostRocket often runs very nice short-term specials, check their web site for details. HostRocket offers a 30-day money back guarantee, see their terms of service for details. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/web/goto.php?id=hostrocket === === #5 Lunarpages === Price: 3m: $9.95 1y: $7.95 Setup: 3m: $30.00 1y: Free Bandwidth: 40 GB Disk Space: 1000 MB Mailboxes: Unlimited Customer Rating: 24.6 (out of 30) Comments: Lunarpages has over 5 years experience in shared web hosting and hosts over 50,000 web pages. While they have not pushed for the huge growth of some of the other low cost web hosting companies, Lunarpages customers seem generally very happy with their service and appear to this reviewer to be more loyal to their hosting company than the customers of other hosting companies. This speaks well for Lunarpages. Disk Space Note: Lunar Pages is now advertising up to 3000 megs of web space, however, if you read the fine print in their Acceptable Use Policy all you initially receive is what we list here. There are a number of restrictions and hoops to jump through to get more. Lunarpages offers a 30-day money back guarantee, see their web site for details. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/web/goto.php?id=lunarpages === === #4 PowWeb === Price: 3m: $7.77 1y: $7.77 Setup: 3m: $20.00 1y: Free Bandwidth: 5 GB /day Disk Space: 1000 MB Mailboxes: 650 Customer Rating: 22.6 (out of 30) Comments: PowWeb has been in the low cost web hosting business since 1999. They are best known for their one-size fits all web hosting plan. In mid-2004, PowWeb raised their bandwidth limits from 45 gigs a month to a whopping 5 gigs a day (but you get an email warning at 4 gigs in a day according to their policy) and in late 2004 they doubled their disk space to 2 gigs. PowWeb often run specials (usually extra months free if you prepay for one or two years). PowWeb offers a 30-day money back guarantee, see their terms of service for details. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/web/goto.php?id=powweb ===== ===== Special Needs Cheap Web Hosting ===== If you have special hosting needs, one of the following cheap web hosting solutions may meet those needs better than one of the above plans. While the following companies generally do not offer as much bandwidth and disk space as the Top Five Cheap Web Hosts listed above, they provide more than enough of both for most sites and their special features, if you need them, will more than make up the difference. === === Fewer Content Restrictions === Dreamhost Price: 1m: $9.95 2y: $7.95 Setup: 1m: $49.95 2y: Free Bandwidth: 40 GB (Sale to April 24: 120 GB) Disk Space: 800 MB (Sale to April: 2400 MB) Mailboxes: 600 Customer Rating: 29.0 (out of 30) Comments: In an effort to avoid arguments and complaints, most web hosting companies are fairly restrictive on questionable content -- to the point that some will terminate a site for displaying a picture of a classical (but bare breasted) statue from ancient Greece. Dreamhost not only has an excellent, cheap web hosting package but is far more liberal than most web hosts on acceptable site content. Basically, if your content is legal in the US, Dreamhost will probably have no problems hosting it. The even have a 97 day money back guarantee. The bandwidth and disk space listed above are triple their normal allotments due to a sale which ends April 24th. (The Cheap Web Hosting Report hosts with Dreamhost.) More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/web/goto.php?id=dreamhost === === Windows Hosting === Easy CGI Price: 1m: $9.95 1y: $7.96 Setup: 1m: Free 1y: Free Bandwidth: 50 GB Disk Space: 3000 MB Mailboxes: 50 Customer Rating: NR Comments: Easy CGI provides Windows 2000 servers instead of the standard Unix servers. Their accounts come with ASP and one Access Database. They are one of the most affordable and most popular Windows hosting providers. Customer service reports are spotty, however. Most people report excellent service but minority report major problems. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/web/goto.php?id=easycgi === === Virtual Dedicated Server Hosting (Root Access) === Jumpline Price: 1y: $9.95 Setup: 1y: Free Bandwidth: 5 GB Disk Space: 500 MB Mailboxes: 75 Customer Rating: NR Comments: Jumpline uses special technology to provide each account with its own virtual server. You have your own Apache web server, your own email servers, your own database server, etc. and you have root access to the virtual machine running them. These types of accounts can be more stable and provide better control, but are best used by Unix experts who understand the ins and outs of running servers. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/web/goto.php?id=jumpline === === Dedicated Server Hosting === ServerPronto Price: 1m: $29.95 Setup: $149.00 Bandwidth: 200 GB Disk Space: 40 GB Mailboxes: unlimited Customer Rating: NR A dedicated server gives your site its own physical computer as a server. The upside is that you have full root access so you can install whatever software you want on it and have very few restrictions on scripts (even if they hog CPU time). The downside is that you have to maintain the system yourself. ServerPronto has some of the most affordable dedicated server prices we have seen, although there are many options that can increase the monthly price or the setup fee. Windows and Windows 2003 dedicated servers are also available at higher prices. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/web/goto.php?id=serverpronto === Notes The information in this report was checked for accuracy on March 31, 2005. Web hosting companies, however, can change their pricing and plans at any time so the information may no longer be accurate when you read this report. Gridspace is not responsible for errors nor for what use you may make of this information. Looking for even more hosting options or more information on web hosting? See the Cheap Web Hosting Report web site at http://www.cheapwebhostingreport.com/ [09] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= SUPPORT THE CAULDRON BY VOLUNTEERING TO HELP ========= The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum was founded in December 1997 to provide a friendly but serious discussion area for Pagans on the Internet. We've grown a bit over the years. We now have an active message area, a large web site with around 700 pages of information (including over 300 book and divination deck reviews), and a monthly email newsletter. To continue to provide and expand these services, The Cauldron needs lots of volunteer help from our members and supporters. Here are some of the things members and supporters can do to help The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum thrive: ===== ===== Actively Participate In Our Message Board ===== While our new message board welcomes readers, we encourage members to actively participate by posting their comments and views in our discussions. One of the easiest ways to help The Cauldron is to actively participate in our message board. The staff especially appreciates members who start new topics for discussion based on their own questions, opinions, or interests. http://www.ecauldron.net/ ===== ===== Articles! Essays! Tutorials! ===== We are in constant need of original, well-written and accurate articles, essays, tutorials, and other written items for both our web site and for our Cauldron and Candle newsletter. There's no real limit on length for web site articles. Here are a few areas in which we always need articles: * information on the beliefs and theology of the various Pagan religions, especially non-Wiccan religions * information on holidays and festivals of the various Pagan religions, especially non-Wiccan religions * recipes for oils, incenses, and food for the various Pagan holidays * magick, spells, and ritual information * herbal information * positive articles on dealing with other faiths * information on historical pagan cultures * editorial/opinion pieces Non-Wiccan material is stressed not because we don't want Wiccan material but because good non-Wiccan material has been hard to find. We have a web form you can use to submit an article for consideration: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestart.php ===== ===== Book Reviews ===== While The Cauldron receives some review copies from a couple of Pagan publishers, there are many books that can only be reviewed on our web site if a member has a copy and writes a good, objective review. The Cauldron is interested in reviews on the more academic books used by reconstructionist Pagan religions as well as on the books one finds on the Pagan/New Age shelf in the bookstore. We have a web form you can use to submit a book review for consideration: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestbr.php ===== ===== Graphic Assistance ===== The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum is purposely a low graphics site as we value page download speed over flashy graphics. However, we are always willing to talk with artists who have ideas for well-designed small graphics (small in both physical dimensions and file size) that might enhance a specific article or page. ===== ===== Invite Your Friends ===== If you have friends or acquaintances who you believe would find The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum useful, please tell them about our site. If you are active in our message board and have friends who might enjoy them or have information to contribute, please invite them. ===== ===== Link To The Cauldron ===== If you have a web site where linking to The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum would be appropriate, simply providing a link to this web site is a big help. Our Link to this Site page explains how you can do this if you need help or want some simple graphic buttons to use: http://www.ecauldron.com/linktous.php ===== ===== Donations ===== As The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum uses as many free services as possible, our need for money to operate our site is currently lower than our need for the many items we list above. However, if you have a few dollars to spare, we would be honored to have your help in paying for our web site. You can donate by using either PayPal or the Amazon Honor System links below (we get about 85% of what you donate). Donate via PayPal http://www.ecauldron.com/donatepaypal.php Donate via Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN ===== ===== Amazon Purchases ===== The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum also receives a small percentage (usually 5%) from most items purchased from Amazon.com when you go to Amazon.com from one of the links to Amazon on our web site. If you purchase a lot of books, CDs, and other items from Amazon.com as many members do, going to Amazon.com through one of our links when you are going to make a purchase there is a painless way to help fund this web site. http://www.ecauldron.com/amazon.php ===== ===== Have Questions or Suggestions? ===== If you have specific questions, proposals or other ideas we haven't mentioned here, please email them to rssapphire00@ecauldron.GETRIDOFEME.com. (Unfortunately, Randall has to answer general "Tell me more?" type questions with a request for a more specific question. He's not trying to be rude, he just can't think of anything general and useful to say that isn't said here.) [10] ========= ========= NEWSLETTER INFORMATION ========= (Including how to subscribe and unsubscribe) ========= Cauldron and Candle is a free publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum. The Cauldron intends to publish this newsletter once a month and often actually succeeds in doing so. We tried to publish it twice a month for a while, but real life interfered too often. This issue of Cauldron and Candle as a whole is copyright (c) 2004 by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum. 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. The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of newsletter, The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum, or its staff. Publication of an article in this newsletter is not an endorsement of the authors position or any products and companies mentioned therein. 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 OR CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS ===== 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 method mentioned above. If you need to change your subscription to a new email address, unsubscribe your old email address and subscribe your new email address. Note that you have to make these changes yourself. Yahoo Groups does not allow the list owner to make them for you. ===== ===== 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/ ===== ===== 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. ===== ===== SUGGESTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME ===== Don't forget that your suggestions for this newsletter are always welcome, either posted on the message board or via email to LyricFox (lyricfox@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com) or Randall Sapphire (rssapphire00@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com). Typos are, as usual, courtesy of the Goddess Eris.

Return to Cauldron and Candle Archive