[Cauldron and Candle Illo]

 

 
Cauldron and Candle
Issue #102 -- August 2009

A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum
website: http://www.ecauldron.com/
message board: http://www.ecauldron.com/forum/

 

Return to Cauldron and Candle Archive

C A U L D R O N   A N D   C A N D L E #102 -- August 2009

           A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum
                website: http://www.ecauldron.net/
          message board: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/
         social network: http://ecauldron.ning.com/
             newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.net/cnc/

                Please DONATE to Support our SERVER
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In this Issue:

[00] Editorial Notes
[01] Cauldron News
   * Annual Donation Drive -- 2009 Version
   * New Assistant Message Board Coordinator
   * New Article System Added
   * New Referrers System Added
   * New TCN Social Network Update
[02] Interesting Recent Cauldron Discussions
   * Take the Belief-O-Matic Quiz and Post/Discuss Your Results
   * What is drawing down the moon and drawing down the sun?
   * "Apollonian" vs. "Dionysian"
   * What has magick done for you?
   * Making a Wand vs Buying a Wand
   * Questions about Deities, Rituals, and Adherence (Wiccan)
   * When Does Dogma Become Harmful?
   * The Gods of Your Environment
   * Religion and Hospital Stays
   * The Culture & Land of the People Who Originally Worshiped
     Your Gods
[03a] Phyllis Vega's Tarot Talk: Tarot Spells (Corrected)
[03b] Phyllis Vega's Tarot Talk: Dreams, Past Lives, And Tarot
[04] Flamekeeping: Gods and the Divine
[05] Articles
   * Slicing Up the Astrological Pie
   * Seven Easy Tips For Learning Astrology Quickly
   * The Best -- and the Worst -- Signs for Venus
   * Stay Safe & Protected When Working With Witchcraft
   * Working With Witchcraft To Bring Love Into Your Life
   * Working With Witchcraft To Bring Success & Money Into
     Your Life
   * Using Witchcraft For Getting Rid Of The Bad In Your Life
   * How Witchcraft Magick Can Help Bring Money Into Your Life
   * Spell to Attract Your Soulmate
   * Spell Casting Checklist: Setting the Mood for Success
[06] Support The Cauldron with Donations
[07] Support The Cauldron with Assistance
[08] Newsletter Information
(Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe)

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[00]
=========
========= EDITORIAL NOTES
=========

Welcome to the August 2009 issue of Cauldron and Candle. You
are receiving this issue because you subscribed. To learn how to
unsubscribe, see the last section of this newsletter

I have to start with a couple of apologies. First, I apologize to
everyone for the lack of a July issue. I simply was too busy in
July. Sadly, there is only one of me. Second, I need to apologize
to Phyllis Vega for messing up her Tarot Talk column in the June
newsletter. Due to email program issues, about half of her June
column on Tarot Spells was left out. Only part of her column
survived the trip through email and because that part ended at a
somewhat logical point, I did not notice the column was actually
incomplete. The entire June column is reprinted in this issue,
complete this time.

Starting with this issue, articles are being handled differently.
We've added an article system to our message board (see the
Cauldron News section for details). Articles will now be added
there and only first paragraphs and links to the full article
will be published in this newsletter (unless there are only two
or three new articles). There are ten new articles this month.
Printing each of those articles in this newsletter in complete
form would make this newsletter long enough to choke some email
software, so we've opted for this new format.

As usual, I'd like to invite everyone reading this to come by our
message board when you get a chance. You can read our discussions
without registering, but if you want to post you will need to
register a member id. Those who haven't been by don't really know
what they are missing.

http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php

Finally, we are starting our annual donation drive. You can see
the Cauldron News section for details. If you are able to donate,
please make a donatation for 2009 as soon as possible. The
Cauldron's web site, message board, chat rooms, MUX, and this
newsletter depend on your donations to continue. This is even
more true this year as the terrible economy has cut our small
advertising income to almost nothing.

Randall Sapphire
Editor and Publisher, Cauldron and Candle
Co-Host, The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum

[01]
=========
========= CAULDRON NEWS
========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff
=========

=====
===== ANNUAL DONATION DRIVE -- 2009 VERSION
=====

In previous years, we have held our annual donation drive during
the first two months of the year. Last year we moved to a paid
virtual private server in September and October when Bob's server
(which he had been allowing us to use for free) died after 10
years of service. Our hosting costs jumped from about $250 a year
to just over $800 a year. Thanks to a number of members of The
Cauldron: A Pagan Forum who made either annual or monthly
donations, we have managed to pay the server bill every month
when it is due on the 1st of the month -- although it has been
close a few times.

We'd really like to thank everyone who gave money for the server
bills over the last year. Those who donated have made it possible
for The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum to remain on the Internet from
September 2008 to August 2009. However, it's now time to raise
money for the next server year. We need your donations to keep
The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's message board up. There are two
ways you can donate.

OPTION 1: Make An "Anonymous" Donation in Any Amount

If you are not a member of the message board  -- or are a member
but do not want a donor button to appear on your posts or wish to
donate a non-standard amount, you can make an "anonymous"
donation (which will not cause any "donor" notation on your
posts) in any amount via the Paypal link below. You do NOT need a
Paypal account to donate. After Paypal fees, we get 85% to 90% of
the money you donate.

    http://www.ecauldron.com/donatepaypal.php

OPTION 2: Message Board Member? Donate Through Your Profile:
          Get Bronze/Silver/Gold Donor Levels and Benefits

If you are logged into the message board, you can make a donation
(via Donation Subscriptions in your Profile) at the Bronze Donor
(US$5.00), Silver Donor (US$10.00) or Gold Donor (US$15.00) level
and get a special button that will appear on your posts as well
have access to our Donor only areas (and more for Silver and Gold
Donors, see this post on the board for current information:
http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=7335.0). These
special benefits will last for one month (or one year if you
elect the annual donation option) and can be renewed by extending
your subscription. You can elect to make a one time donation or
to set up a Paypal subscription that will automatically renew
your donation each month or year until you cancel the
subscription at Paypal. You can find the "Donation Subscription"
link in the "Manage Profile" menu on your profile. Payments are
made via Paypal but you do not need a Paypal account to donate
(unless you wish to set up a recurring donation subscription).

Note: If you currently have a recurring monthly Donation
subscription, you do not need to do anything to donate for 2009.
Your current Donation subscription will continue until you cancel
it at PayPal.

If you are a member of our message board, this link will take you
directly to the Donation Subscription area of your Profile (with
a stop to log in if you are not already logged in):

    http://www.ecauldron.net/profiledonations.php

If you are able to donate, please make a donatation for 2009 as
soon as possible. The Cauldron's web site, message board, chat
rooms, MUX, and this newsletter depend on your donations to
continue. This is even more true this year as the terrible
economy has cut our small advertising income to almost nothing.


=====
===== New Assistant Message Board Coordinator
=====

Marilyn (ABSENTMINDED) has moved from Staff to Senior Staff and
now joins Shadow as an Assistant Message Board Coordinator. I'll
like to than her for accepting this new job and all the
additional volunteer work that goes with it.

TC's senior message board Staff now include:

Message Board Coordinator: Star
Assistant Message Board Coordinators: Shadow, Marilyn

You can congradulate Marilyn in this thread on our message board:

  * http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9839.0

=====
===== New Article System Added
=====

While The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum uses TinyPortal and it has an
article system that members can use, Tinyportal's article system
is so confusing and complex that I'm about the only person who
ever uses it. This sort of defeats the purpose of having an
article system.

In the interest of getting more of our members to submit articles
for our web site, I've added the SMF Article mod to the board
software. (see the Article button in the blue menu bar on this
forum). This system is much easier to use. Typing and submitting
an article for the Article section is now not much different than
posting a message. The editor is a slight variant of the standard
message editor and uses standard SMF BBCode (not html). So if you
can post a message on the board, you can post an article in the
Article system.

Articles from basic and regular members will not appear until
approved (to prevent spammers from posting spam). Articles posted
by Companion and Full members will be autoapproved when posted.

Please remember that the article system is for standalone
articles like you would find in a magazine -- if you want
discussion, you need to post a regular message on the message
board. Also remember that all articles you submit MUST BE YOUR
OWN WORK. Do Not submit material you find elsewhere on the web as
an article -- with or without permission from the copyright
holder. (Note: Staff members and Article Editors may be
authorized by the Hosts to post articles written by others.)

More article categories will be added as needed. If you do not
see an appropriate Category for your article, post it to the
"Uncategorized" Category.

All articles submitted are subject to editing by Cauldron Staff
and/or appointed Article Editors. If you do not want your article
edited or changed in any way, please DO NOT submit it. Submitting
an article subjects the article to our standard rules on
submissions in Cauldron Community Rules and Policies.

* Discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9784.0
* Article System Index:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=articles

=====
===== New Referrers System Added
=====

If you are a member of our message board and tell others about
us, we've added a new referrers system that will allow you to
find out how many new members come from your links.  All you need
to do is go to the main (Summary) page of your profile and find
the Referrals section.  There you will find a link you can give
people to refer then to the board.  You will also find a count of
how many people have joined the board from your link. This is
nothing special, but it is a fun thing to do.

=====
===== New TCN Social Network Update
=====

As announced in our last newsletter (June 2009), we had to shut
down the old kickapps-based TCN Social Network because it had
been invaded by spammers. We set up a new TCN on ning as a closed
network, open only to members of our message board.

I'm happy to say that the new TCN is doing well, with over 60
members and quite a bit of activity.

You can reach the new TCN at http://ecauldron.ning.com/ or just
use the TCN link on our message board. You can add a "Latest
Activity" feed to your feed reader with this link:

  * http://ecauldron.ning.com/activity/log/list?fmt=rss

If you would like to discuss this or if you need more information
or if you have problems with the TCN social network, you can
discuss them in this thread on our message board.

  * http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9313.0


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[02]
=========
========= INTERESTING RECENT CAULDRON DISCUSSIONS
========= Recent Discussion Topics on our Message Board
=========

In an average month, over 200 new discussion topics are started
on The Cauldron's message board. Here are a few of the more
interesting recent discussions. It's not too late to join in.

Thanks to Feedburner, 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 Feedburner's free news delivery via the form at the end of
the site "News and Updates" section of The Cauldron's main web
page.

=====
===== Take the Belief-O-Matic Quiz and Post/Discuss Your Results
=====

It's been a long time since we did the Belief-O-Matic on The
Cauldron, so it is probably time to do it again. Take the Belief-
O-Matic at

http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Quizzes/BeliefOMatic.aspx

and report you results in this thread. Remember to pick the
answer that BEST fits your beliefs for each question -- even if
there is no answer that perfectly fits. Remember that answers
with OR in them treat all alternatives equally. Also remember to
rank the importance of each question to your beliefs (High,
Medium, or Low). The results are always interesting, although not
always perfectly accurate.

The result will be a list with the faith group represents the
faith that Belief-O-Matic thinks most closely matches your
beliefs. However, even a score of 100% does not mean that your
views are all shared by that faith, or vice versa. !00% really
just seems to mean that it is the faith group that most closely
matches your answers. Belief-O-Matic then lists another 26 faiths
in order of how much they have in common with your professed
beliefs. The higher a faith appears on this list, the more
closely it aligns with your thinking.

Paste your result list into this thread. Feel free to comment on
it too.

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9847.0

=====
===== What is drawing down the moon and drawing down the sun?
=====

So I've been reading the Witches Bible by the Farrars and they
talk about Drawing down the moon and the sun. What are these
rituals about? They don't go into too much detail and I was
hoping you all, could further explain it to me. From what I've
read it's and excuse me if I get it wrong, drawing down the God
and Goddess into the body of a human directly? What is the
purpose of the doing this? Can you converse with them? Do they
let you once they are inside someone? Is that the point of the
ritual? Personally, I feel this is WAY to advanced for me but I
would just like some clarification on the matter. And to vent
that the invoking pentacle is wrong in the book, it's supposed to
point up not down to invoke it. At least that's what all of my
research suggests.

Why they keep putting wrong info into the books is still a
mystery to me. Personally, I know that if you do a banishing
pentagram nothing will happen but sometimes I feel it's a little
risky to be sending newbies out there with half a deck of cards,
ya know.

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9846.0

=====
===== "Apollonian" vs. "Dionysian"
=====

Apollonian and Dionysian are the first sort of terms I heard of
for this concept, but perhaps there are others. Basically it is
the pull between logic/reason and passion/wildness. I studied
this theme a lot in a literature course last semester, and I'm
reading Steven Pressfield's Last of the Amazons now, which is
*very* centered around this too. The more religious nature of the
Pressfield's story has me thinking about it more in terms of
spirituality.

I like to think I balance the Apollonian and Dionysian sides of
myself in my life and religion. But in reality I find myself
overwhelmingly Apollonian, to my dismay. In Last of the Amazons
(I'm about halfway through), I really sympathize with the Amazons
as they face the loss of their way of life to the democratic
perspective of Athens. It's kind of the same thing with the
Native Americans and the settlers (kind of). I identify with the
Dionysian so much, but in actuality it frightens me. I fear the
loss of control that comes along with that side of life, so I
shirk from it. It's quite hard for me to actually let loose and
let my hair down. I'm hyper self-conscious a lot of the time.

What side do you more lean towards, in your everyday life and
then in your religion? Is it ever a struggle? Do you think this
is an important or useful concept?

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9795.0

=====
===== What has magick done for you?
=====

I'm not a pagan or a magician, though I do feel a strong pull
towards the art. I've been researching lightly for the last year
or so. I've procured many grimoires and well written treaties
expounding the art, and I'm leaning heavily towards ceremonial
magick with a slight pagan vibe. I intend to start with basic
ceremonies very shortly while I continue to research and better
understand the direction I would like to proceed.

Now, my question to you experienced navigators of the path on
which I will soon embark is this:

* How has magick impacted your life?
* Have you achieved practical material results with magick?
* In what ways has magick helped shape the evolution of your
  spiritual life?

I'm simply interested in hearing stories of how this art has
influenced and shaped the lives of others, and I'm very excited
about taking my first baby steps in my own journey. I appreciate
and eagerly await your responses!

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9797.0

=====
===== Making a Wand vs Buying a Wand
=====

Just wondering for those of you out there who have a wand, did
you make it yourself of did you buy it? I have seen some really
nice wands out there for sale but when i've picked them up I
wasn't really 'feelin it' if you know what I mean, sort of like
our energies didn't gel.

I have been thinking about making my own wand, I am very drawn to
Willow, always have been. Now, to obtain a suitable piece of
willow I understand first I must seek the trees permission and
always thank the tree for letting me take the wood, but do I have
to take a piece from the ground which has already fallen or is it
ok for me to take it from one of the trees branches?

Once I have got the wood for my wand do I have to do anything in
particular with it to make it a wand or can I use it as it is?

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9725.0

=====
===== Questions about Deities, Rituals, and Adherence (Wiccan)
=====

When reading the book I got on Wicca, it told me a lot, but left
more questions than were answered (Ah life, how you love to taunt
people's thirst for knowledge). So I have a few questions. Please
bear in mind that I was raised a Christian Catholic, so my
knowledge about that religion and how it is structured will
greatly impact how I understand. Also, I have a few disorders
(Aspergers causing the most troubles), so if I don't understand
right away, try wording it differently

I don't quite understand how the God and Goddess concept works. I
get that they are considered in a yin and yang way and how one
can have a personal relationship with them, but the book didn't
explain their relationship with humans in general nor what their
power exactly entails

When I think of a deity belonging to a monotheistic religion (for
all intents and purposes, I am grouping Wicca in with that,
despite it being a duotheistic (spelling?) religion when one only
considers the God and Goddess, since two deities is a far cry
from the many deities polytheistic religions and old cultures
have), I think of an all powerful, all knowing being who can
change the very fabric of reality with a single thought. Is this
the same with the God and Goddess of Wicca, or are their powers
more limited?

Are they known to get involved in human affairs often, or more or
less just provide spiritual strength when asked? If they are all
knowing, how does that exactly work with Free Will? (Christianity
never exactly explained that, giving it one of the many strikes
that eventually drove me away. After all, if you know all, then
you also know the future, which means all actions are
predetermined, in which case, why would a Hell even exist if we
can't control what we do?) How do they view evil? If they are all
good and have set views on what is evil and what is good, then
why would they allow evil?

As for rituals, does one have to follow them to the letter, or is
variance (and I mean more drastic variance, not, "Oh, that is
allowed to be two inches shorter/oh, you can do that alone/in a
group," style variance) allowed? If variance is allowed, how much
is allowed? (E.G. is a circle needed for ones where, when talking
about the ritual letter for letter, it says to prepare one?
things like that) Also, how does one exactly FIND spells?

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9730.0

=====
===== When Does Dogma Become Harmful?
=====

We often talk negatively about dogma in the pagan community. But
dogma, in it's pure dictionary sense, is really the philosophy of
a religion. The tenets and beliefs that bind a religious
community together is its dogma.

So when does dogma become bad and harmful?

I think it's when people stop questioning, or are discouraged
from questioning. If we're made to blindly believe without having
the opportunity to think it through and examine it from all
angles, then we lose something.

What do y'all say?

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9673.0

=====
===== The Gods of Your Environment
=====

I've been trying to figure out my spirituality lately, looking
into different branches of Paganism (particularly Celtic), and
generally trying to find some way to categorize myself so that I
can find a community to join comfortably with. It's not that I
feel I need a category, but it's hard to know where to look for
fellowship or what to read and study if you don't at least have
some direction. One thing I'm beginning to realize is that I feel
a real longing to connect with my particular landscape--Southern
Vermont, in particular. And this is where I'm finding some
trouble.

For me, any idea of the divine is tied to my physical
environment. I have trouble with the idea of transplanting a
mythology/pantheon/rituals of another place to my particular
environment, but the religions native to my landscape--various
Native American beliefs--do not feel like a good fit for me,
mostly because it would feel like a gross appropriation of a
religion and culture that I couldn't begin to understand or enter
as a person of British/French descent.

So I suppose I'm just asking for some ideas--how do you all deal
with the issue of the divine as it is tied to the particular
landscape you live in vs. the particular path you have chosen,
which may or may not be "native" of the place you live?

Maybe this isn't a problem for anyone else, but I thought I'd
throw it out there.

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9649.0

=====
===== Religion and Hospital Stays
=====

This question brought to you because I'm helping a good friend
who's had hip replacement surgery this week.

She is also Pagan, and they've kept asking her if she'd like a
chaplain to stop by. She's always replied "If you have a Pagan-
friendly one, sure." They look confused, and reply that the
chaplains are non-denominational, and nothing has happened.
(She's fine with this: she'd be amused by the conversation, but
she's not in any spiritual need, and if she were, I or a couple
of other people would be happy to do what's needed.) After some
digging around (the hospital does not make it easy to find info
on the chaplaincy program), it's heavily supported by a coalition
of Lutheran churches (not surprising for Minnesota, but perhaps
explains why they're a bit more puzzled than they might be.))

So, my question is - if you were in hospital, what would you hope
for? What would really annoy you? Would you like a visit from a
chaplain familiar with Paganism? (Not necessarily someone on your
path, but someone who could at least make sensible conversation
about it). Etc.

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9582.0

=====
===== The Culture & Land of the People Who Originally Worshiped
===== Your Gods
=====

I was reading through the 'Do you acknowledge where your beliefs
come from?' thread and it made me wonder - Do most people immerse
themselves in the culture and history of the people that
originally worshiped their Gods?

For both people who follow a reconstructionist practice or
worship a certain cultures pantheon, and those who have just one
deity or several from different cultures - Do you feel a
connection to that(those) culture(s)? If so then why and do you
feel it's important to the relationship you have with your
Deities?

I'm interested in this, because I'm really green to the whole
"pagan community". I've known Christians who had something of a
fetish for all things Jewish(aside from the religion's take on
Christ obviously).

So do most Kemetics have a passion for Egypt/ Hellenics for
Greece etc.? Do many modern pagans feel the need to make
pilgrimages to these places or anything like that?

I'm looking forward to hearing what you think.

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=9550.0


[03a]
=========
========= PHYLLIS VEGA'S TAROT TALK
========= Tarot Spells (Corrected)
========= by Phyllis Vega
=========

[Editor's Note: As mentioned in the editorial, this is a
republication of the column from June. In the June 2009
newsletter, technical problems with email programs that did not
like each other resulted in about half of the article going
missing. Here is the entire column as it was intended.

To view the spell layouts accurately, switch to a monospaced
font.]

Call them spells, prayers, affirmations, programs, rituals,
visualizations, or meditations. It matters not what name you give
to your magical machinations. The real magic comes from your
ability to focus your personal power, infuse it with your desire
and intent, and then release it out into the universe. When I
work spells I like to use the tools I know best: candles, quartz
crystals and tarot cards. I use the cards to represent the people
and circumstances involved in the situation that I wish to
create. I use the candles to help invoke the goddesses, gods,
entities, or guides that I will appeal to for help in reaching my
goals. I use the quartz crystals to augment my personal power and
direct it outwards.

In tarot divination, the beautiful artwork, rich symbolism, and
archetypal images portrayed on the cards help the reader bypass
the limitations of the individual conscious mind and dip deep
into the collective subconscious for impressions about the past,
present, and future. A similar principal holds true when the
tarot cards are used for spell work. Since the tarot is universal
in scope, the complete spectrum of reality is portrayed by the
symbols on the cards, with every conceivable scenario of
experience represented.

The first step, whether you are personalizing an existing tarot
spell or creating one of your own, is deciding exactly what it is
that you want to accomplish. Next, assemble the tools you'll need
to complete the spell. Create a proper atmosphere for spellcraft
by preparing yourself and your altar or work area as you would
for any sacred ritual. Set out the various items for the spell.
Center and ground yourself with several deep breaths or a few
moments of quiet meditation. If your spell calls for candles and
incense, light them and then invoke your deities or guides. Study
the cards that represent your desired outcome.

Always speak the words of the spell clearly and with conviction.
Focus on the outcome as if it has already been accomplished, and
then release it out into the universe. As you snuff out the
candles and incense, thank the attending deities for their
assistance.

The secret to success in spellcraft lies in your facility for
visualizing your goal as clearly as possible and directing your
energy toward it with total concentration. After choosing cards
that portray what you want to achieve, focus your attention on
the tarot's images.

Make up a story based on the scenes depicted on the cards. Infuse
your intent with desire and let it go. Trust that it is working.

If you are using your tarot cards for divination, spellcraft, and
personal development exercises, you'll definitely need to own
several different decks. Some spells specify that you should
leave the cards out where you can see them, place them in a spell
box, or carry them around with you for a period of time. Others
may require that you write on them, sew or bind them together, or
even burn, tear, or bury them. Moreover, you may not want to
perform readings with the same cards you're using for your spell
work. Fortunately, most popular tarot decks are relatively
inexpensive. Also, you can usually find used tarot decks for sale
on eBay, at garage sales, or in used bookstores. Another idea is
to scan or photocopy your deck, and use the printouts or copies
instead of the actual cards in your spell work.

The most important thing to remember when performing any spell is
that you need to believe in what you are doing for it to work.
Although tarot cards and other tools are extremely helpful when
performing a spell, the real magick comes less from the spell's
elements than from your own power and belief in a successful
outcome. Whenever possible, you should also take action in
everyday life to help your spell along.

===
=== Lost Pet Spell
===

Use this spell to help find a lost pet or entice a runaway to
return home.

In the following example "A" is the signifactor, a woman whose
pet cat has run off. The woman and her cat are represented by the
Queen of Wands. The cards used to bring the cat home are: 2) Six
of Cups -- nostalgia, renewal of old ties; 3) Strength --
overcoming obstacles; 4) The Star -- hope, healing, progress; 5)
Ten of Cups -- home, family, happy reunion.

Candle #1 symbolizes attraction and is pink
Candle #2 symbolizes healing and is white
"B" is an herb -- in this case catnip
The crystal is rose quartz for love

(candle #1)(candle #2)
           A
           2
           3
           4
           5
           B
       (crystal)

Place the cards, candles, catnip, and crystal on your altar or
other safe, private spot. Light the candles. Focus on your lost
pet. Imagine him or her returning home. Say:

Oh, Artemis, Lady of the Beasts,
And Protector of all animals
Shield (pet's name) from hurt or harm
Keep him/her safe and warm
Watch over him/her from day to day
And guide him/her home, at last to stay
(Pet's name) called and (pet's name) won
By my will -- It is done!

Focus on the end result as if it has already happened. Hold the
image for as long as you can, then let it go and release it out
into the universe. As you snuff out the candles, thank Artemis
for her help. Place the cards, crystal, and herb in a spell box,
envelope, or drawer and keep safe until the desired outcome has
been achieved.

===
=== Prosperity Spell
===

Choose a significator to stand in for you. Pick the cards,
candles, and essential oil that best convey the outcome you
desire.

In the following example "A" is the signifactor, a man seeking a
more prosperous life, and is represented by the King of
Pentacles. The cards used to attract wealth are: 1) Wheel of
Fortune -- representing the positive changes he seeks; 2) Ace of
Pentacles - a new source of income; 3) Nine of Pentacles -- self-
reliance and freedom from monetary concerns; 4) Ten of Pentacles
-- financial security

Candle #1 is green and symbolizes abundance
Candle #2 is gold and symbolizes wealth
"B" is the incense (choose from bergamot, basil, cinnamon, or
honeysuckle)
For the crystal choose green tourmaline, malachite, opal, or
tiger's eye

(candle #1) (crystal) (candle #2)
            A 1 2 3 4
                B

Place the cards, candles, and crystals on your altar or other
safe, private spot. Light the candles and the incense. Focus on
the cards. Imagine the results you wish to achieve. Open your
hands and say:

As I open my hands
Fortune's Wheel turns in my favor
My financial worries recede
And Prosperity comes to me
As I will it, so may it be!

Make up a little story based on the cards you've chosen. Focus on
the end result as if it has already happened. Hold the image for
as long as you can, then let it go and release it out into the
universe. After you snuff out the candles and incense, place the
cards and crystal in a spell box, envelope, or drawer and keep
safe until your desired outcome has been achieved.

===
=== Crone's Protection Amulet
===

An amulet is a power object that has been magically prepared to
protect its owner. Because the following ritual for consecrating
the crone's protection amulet calls on the goddess Hecate for
protection, it works best when performed on the night of a new
Moon, when the heavens are dark, since the dark of the Moon is
Hecate's special time. You will need:

Tarot cards: The High Priestess and The Moon
Candles: black and silver
Crystal or gemstone: clear quartz or moonstone
Essential oil: protection blend, cypress, or dragon's blood
Small pouch or drawstring bag

Place the tarot cards, candles, and quartz crystal or moonstone
on your altar or other safe, private spot. Light the candles.
Focus on the tarot cards and imagine the results you wish to
achieve. Hold the crystal or gemstone over the black candle. Pass
it through the candle smoke. Hold it over the silver candle. Pass
it through the candle smoke. Now say:

Oh wise and ancient goddess Hecate
Guardian of the Dark Night
Grant me your protection
And illuminate my way
When the Moon hides her silvery light

Anoint the crystal or gemstone with a few drops of essential oil
and say:

Protection called, protection won
By the crone's will, it is done

Leave your crone's amulet on the window sill overnight so that it
can soak up the energy of the dark Moon. In the morning put it in
the pouch or bag. Carry it with you wherever you go.

===
=== House Blessing
===

Use this house blessing to cleanse your home or office of
negative vibrations. The best time to perform this clearing
ritual is on the night of a new Moon.

Tools you will need:

Sage or cedar smudge stick bundle
Small bowl or ashtray
The Emperor card (protection)
The Star card (hope and healing)
The Moon card (overcoming fear and insecurity)
The Sun card (joy and contentment)

Light the smudge sticks. Hold the lighted bundle of smudge sticks
over the bowl or ashtray. When the sticks begin to smoke, walk
toward the northern most point of your home or office. Fan or
blow the smoke ahead of you as you walk. Place the Emperor card
on a windowsill or small table in the north corner of the house
and say:

Earthly Father, please guard and protect this house

Walk toward the southern most point of your home or office. Fan
or blow the smoke ahead of you as you walk. Place the Star card
on a windowsill or small table in the south corner, and say:

Wise Star, please bring the light of hope and healing to this
house

Walk toward the eastern most point of your home or office. Fan or
blow the smoke ahead of you as you walk Place the Moon card on a
windowsill or small table in the east corner, and say:

Lady Luna, please drive fear and insecurity from this house

Walk toward the western most point of your home or office. Fan or
blow the smoke ahead of you as you walk Place the Sun card on a
windowsill or small table in the west corner, and say:

Lord Sol, please bring the warmth of joy and contentment to this
house

Leave the cards in place until the next full Moon. As you collect
the cards, you may offer a brief thank you to each for assisting
in this ritual.

===
=== Love Charm
===

The purpose of this charm is to draw new love into your life. It
will attract new friends and acquaintances. Among those who
become your friends, there may be one who will become your
special someone. The charm itself won't cause another person to
fall in love with you. You will have to accomplish that on your
own.

The only materials you need to construct the charm are a couple
of cards from an old tarot deck, and some pink or red thread or
cord. Choose a card to represent yourself, and another one to
represent your ideal love.

Study the card you've selected as your representative. Imagine
that you're transferring your inner essence into the card. When
you look at the card, imagine your own face looking back at you.

Study the card that you've selected as representative of your
soul mate. This card should not refer to a specific person, but
rather to someone you hope to meet. Now, you are going to infuse
the card with a composite of the traits you are looking for in a
lover. Imagine that you are transferring all those qualities into
the card.

Take your pink or red cord or thread, and tie the two cards
loosely together. Place them somewhere where they won't be
disturbed. You should meet someone within a few weeks.

If after you meet that person, the relationship does not work
out, be sure to unbind the cards. If no lover appears within two
months, dismantle the charm by untying the cards and returning
them to the deck. Wait about a month and then try constructing
the charm again.

===
=== About Phyllis Vega
===

Phyllis Vega is a professional astrologer and tarot reader. She
is the author of two popular tarot books, Romancing the Tarot and
Power Tarot (with Trish MacGregor), with a third book,
TarotCraft: How to Use the Cards for Divination, Creative
Visualization, and Meditation currently in the works. Contact
Phyllis via email at pvega@bellsouth.net or through her website
at http://phyllisvega.geocities.com/. Tarot Tarot columns and
other works by Phyllis are archived at
http://tarottalk.ecauldron.net/.

Phyllis Vega's Tarot Talk copyright (c) 2009 by Phyllis Vega. All
rights reserved.


[03b]
=========
========= PHYLLIS VEGA'S TAROT TALK
========= Dreams, Past Lives, And Tarot
========= by Phyllis Vega
=========

[Editor's Note: To view the Tarot layouts accurately, switch to a
monospaced font.]

=====
===== Part 1 – Dreams and Tarot
=====

Both dreams and tarot help you to tune into your inner-self. They
bring you messages that you can use to resolve life's problems.
Since dream images are often obscure and difficult to comprehend,
tarot can be used to help you to understand their true
significance.

It is my belief that the messages of your dreams are as
important, or more important, than any information you glean
during your waking hours. Dreams serve as intermediaries that
allow you to experience other levels of reality. I created The
Dream Interpretation Spread to help you translate the language of
the psyche into practical terms that your conscious mind can
understand and put to good use.

Before you can interpret a dream you must be able to remember it.
Keeping a dream journal serves two purposes. First it provides a
permanent account that you can examine, analyze, and review.
Writing down dreams also serves as a stimulus to memory. The more
time you spend recording and thinking about your dreams, the more
dreams you will remember. When you are about to fall asleep tell
yourself that you will remember your dreams. When you wake, write
down everything that you recollect, even the smallest fragments.

Once you are able to recall your dreams you will want begin
decoding their messages.  Usually the meanings of a dream's
symbols are obvious, and translating them into everyday terms
relatively easy. However, sometimes the significance of dream
events is difficult to understand. When this happens tarot can be
extremely helpful.

Dreams are a bridge between the material and nonmaterial worlds,
blending elements of both. The smaller the gap between waking and
dreaming consciousness, the more closely connected you are to
your higher self.  Nurture your ability to remember and
understand your dreams and you will find yourself constantly in
contact with your inner voice which is the source of much of your
power and creativity.

===
=== Dream Interpretation Spread
===

  1      2     3     4

       5    6    7

          8     9

             10

1-4)  Factors that describe your dream.
5-7)  How these factors influence your waking life.
8-9)  What the dream images are trying to tell you.
10)   How you can best use this information.

===
=== Tarot Dream Game
===

The original version of the Dream Game was the brainchild of
Chicago actor Gary Joy, who created it as a remote viewing
exercise. At the time Gary and some of his friends were into
testing their psychic abilities. One member of their group would
go into another room, concentrate on an object, and the others
would try to pick up information about that object.

When Gary first signed on to the Prodigy Internet Service he got
to know some people who were posting letters in a dream topic.
The members of this group were also interested in the subject of
remote viewing. Since they could not get together in person, Gary
devised the Dream Game as a way for them to test their remote
viewing ability through their dreams, and then share the results
via the Internet.

In this version of the game the object sent by the Sender is
always a tarot card.

=== Dream Game Rules

The Dream Game employs a Sender, an Observer, and an unlimited
number of Dreamers. The object of the game is for the Dreamers to
dream of the Senders’ selected object. The game is played for a
specific number of nights decided upon in advance by the players.

The Sender: The Sender is responsible for selecting a card from
the tarot deck. Each night before going to sleep, or anytime
during the day, the Sender concentrates on that card, "sending
out" images of it to the Dreamers. Part of the Sender’s job is to
provide the Observer with detailed information regarding the card
being sent.

The Dreamers: The Dreamers’ goal is to dream about the Senders’
card. During the duration of the game the Dreamers record all
remembered dreams (including dream fragments). At the end of the
game, each Dreamer gives a copy of his/her dream record to the
Observer.

Observer: The Observer acts as witness. At the beginning of the
game the Observer receives detailed information about the card
from the Sender. The Observer and Sender are not to tell any of
the Dreamers what the card is until the end of the game. At the
end of the game the Observer studies the dream records, searching
for hits and correlations.

A “hit” is a dream that actually contains the name of the chosen
tarot card or images from it. A “correlation” occurs when the
Dreamer dreams about something related to the meaning of the
card. For example, if the card was the Queen of Wands, any dream
about a queen, flowering branch, sunflower, wand, crown, throne,
lion, or cat would be considered a hit. Any dream that contains
an independent or self-employed woman or one with a fiery wands
nature could be considered a correlation. Of course, the
aforementioned images and meanings relate to the Rider Pack and
may vary according to the deck that the Sender is using.

=====
===== Part 2 – Past Life Exploration and Tarot
=====

There are many ways to access past life memories. You might get a
past life reading from a psychic; undergo hypnotic regression
with an experienced past-life therapist; learn self hypnosis; use
guided imagery meditation tapes; or study dream analysis. Or, you
could simply examine your current life for likes and dislikes
that might be holdovers from a previous existence. Known as the
Resonance Method this means of analyzing strong tendencies,
emotional and physical problems, moods, habits and talents is a
simple and safe way of uncovering past life data.

No matter which method you use your answers may prove to be
rather, sketchy with few clues to what concerns you most about a
particular past life experience. Because the symbolism of tarot
transcends time and space, it allows us to tap into the past,
present and future in this life. Therefore it seems only natural
to take it a step further and use the tarot to amplify and
clarify past life data as well.

You may use the following spreads after you have received some
past life data through one of the aforementioned methods. Or, you
may use this spread as a means of garnering new past life
information.

===
=== Past Life Spread
===

         1

2        3       4

5        6        7

8        9       10

      11   12

      13    14

1) Basic soul nature coming into the past life in question
2) Environmental factors
3) Early years
4) Education
5) Occupation
6) Family life
7) Love life
8) Other relationships
9) Social status
10) Accomplishments
11-12) Lessons learned during the past life in question
13-14) Ways in which this past life impacts on your current life

===
=== Past Life Spread For Couples
===

Use the following spread after you or your significant other has
received some data regarding a past life in which you were
together. It can help you clarify your impressions. You may also
use this spread as a gateway to accessing new past life
information.


1          2         3

4          5         6

           7

1) Your basic soul nature coming into the past life in question
2) Your significant other’s basic soul nature coming into the
past life in question
3) Shared past life environment
4) The nature of your relationship in that past life
5) Lessons you learned during that past life
6) Lessons your significant other learned during that past life
7) How that past life impacts on your current lives

===
=== About Phyllis Vega
===

Phyllis Vega is a professional astrologer and tarot reader. She
is the author of two popular tarot books, Romancing the Tarot and
Power Tarot (with Trish MacGregor), with a third book,
TarotCraft: How to Use the Cards for Divination, Creative
Visualization, and Meditation currently in the works. Contact
Phyllis via email at pvega@bellsouth.net or through her website
at http://phyllisvega.geocities.com/. Tarot Tarot columns and
other works by Phyllis are archived at
http://tarottalk.ecauldron.net/.

Phyllis Vega's Tarot Talk copyright (c) 2009 by Phyllis Vega. All
rights reserved.


[04]
=========
========= FLAMEKEEPING
========= GODS AND THE DIVINE
========= by HeartShadow
=========

HeartShadow is following her own religious path. She calls it
FlameKeeping. This regular column will present articles on
FlameKeeping, many taken from HeartShadow's FlameKeeping blog at:

http://flamekeeping.blogspot.com/

=====
===== Gods and the Divine
=====

We are all of the Divine. However, the Divine is a hard thing
(and a thankless thing) to worship directly. It is, instead, more
of a reality to comprehend than a being to worship.

The Divine, however, has created beings to live between us and it
for us to love and worship, and to guide us in the direction the
Divine would like to go. These are the gods. And these gods are
symbiotic with humanity. They watch over us, guide us, love us.
Sometimes they simply deal with us impersonally, and we do not
know the identity of the one we deal with. Sometimes they
identify themselves and work more closely with a person. Neither
of these relationships is more valuable, but they are different
in effect.

The gods lead us to better ourselves, to change ourselves, to
become more the hands and eyes of the Divine. This also leads us
to become more ourselves, better people, better citizens of the
world and stewards of the planet. We are led into harmony with
other beings. This does not, of course, make us living saints. We
are still people, still subject to all of the vagaries of human
existance. They can guide and suggest, but they do not dictate
and cannot force us into something we would not do. Also, in some
cases they simply let us make our own mistakes and find our own
answers.

We must prepare ourselves if we wish to have a god to communicate
with us. While a god may choose to watch over us or interact with
us, unless we open ourselves to the contact, we may never realize
that god is there. And even if we prepare ourselves, the gods are
under no obligation to communicate directly with us. They are not
human and do not think as we do. But there is a deep caring and
need for humanity, whether or not we actually acknowedge their
existance at any given time.

We are of the Divine and a part of the greater whole. The gods,
however, are beings that are symbiotic with us, but separate. We
do not know how they act or why they lead us as they do, but they
do care for humanity. (this does not mean, of course, that we
lose our own moral agency when we act as a god wishes. Regardless
of who requests our action, we are responsible for what we do).
But the gods, even though what they ask can sometimes be strange,
usually have the best interests of humanity at heart.

=====
===== Questions:
=====

  * Do you deal directly with any gods? Do you think any deal
    with you indirectly?
  * Do you have any use for gods? Are they something you find
    outdated? Meaningless?
  * How do the concepts of gods and the Divine interrelate to
    you? Can you believe in both gods and a Divine Universe? Does
    that seem counterintuitive?


[05]
=========
========= ARTICLES
=========

The following articles have been added to the Article section of
The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum since the last issue of this
newsletter. You can find an index of all the articles (including
some video articles) in our forum article section here:

* http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=articles

=======
======= SLICING UP THE ASTROLOGICAL PIE
======= What those Wedges on your Birth Chart Mean
======= by Donna Cunningham, MSW
=======

Those wedge-shaped divisions of the circular chart you received
from your astrologer are called HOUSES, and they are numbered
from one to twelve. Each of the 12 houses describes what we are
like in some particular area of life. It's important to
understand that the signs on the house cusps and planets placed
in the houses illuminate, rather than cause, these conditions.
Just as we can't blame the planets and signs for what happens to
us, neither can we blame the factors associated with the houses
in our birth charts for the conditions that surround us.

=== Read the full article on our web site:
    * Clickable URL: http://tinyurl.com/tcarticle95
    * Full URL: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=
    articles;sa=view;article=95


=======
======= SEVEN EASY TIPS FOR LEARNING ASTROLOGY QUICKLY
======= by Mike Feeley
=======

From the outside in Astrology seems mysterious and complicated.
There seems to be much to learn. Zodiac signs, planets, houses
and aspects all combine to form a cosmic alphabet soup of
intricacy. However, learning the principles of astrology does not
have to be difficult. In fact, astrology is a structured and
orderly system. Once you have the secrets to understanding
astrology, you can breeze through its principles to start
interpreting charts yourself, practically overnight.

=== Read the full article on our web site:
    * Clickable URL: http://tinyurl.com/tcarticle98
    * Full URL: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=
    articles;sa=view;article=98


=======
======= THE BEST -- AND THE WORST -- SIGNS FOR VENUS
======= by Donna Cunningham, MSW
=======

Venus is both the goddess of love and one primary indicator of
relationships in an astrology chart. Do you wonder if your Venus
is in a good sign--or secretly fear that it's in the worst?
Traditional astrology has a system for rating the condition of
planets in various zodiac signs. Exaltation is the sign where a
planet is supposedly at its best, and detriment is a sign where
the planet is ill at ease.

=== Read the full article on our web site:
    * Clickable URL: http://tinyurl.com/tcarticle97
    * Full URL: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=
    articles;sa=view;article=97

=======
======= STAY SAFE & PROTECTED WHEN WORKING WITH WITCHCRAFT
======= by Arabella Jolie
=======

One issue that all those who practice magick should be aware of
is safety. In working with witchcraft, you are opening yourself
up to some powerful forces and it is important that you do so
wisely, and take measures to ensure that you are not harmed.

=== Read the full article on our web site:
    * Clickable URL: http://tinyurl.com/tcarticle111
    * Full URL: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=
    articles;sa=view;article=111


=======
======= WORKING WITH WITCHCRAFT TO BRING LOVE INTO YOUR LIFE
======= by Arabella Jolie
=======

Sometimes, even when you are ready for a new relationship, things
seem to need a little push.

Simple chance can play such an important part in helping a
potential love come across your path. Using a spell to invite
those with certain qualities into your life can be an effective
way to attract new love, or try to attract the love of someone
already in your life. The spell below does more than that by also
putting energy into allowing others to see you for the
attractive, unique and loving person you are.

=== Read the full article on our web site:
    * Clickable URL: http://tinyurl.com/tcarticle112
    * Full URL: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=
    articles;sa=view;article=112


=======
======= WORKING WITH WITCHCRAFT TO BRING SUCCESS & MONEY INTO
======= YOUR LIFE
======= by Arabella Jolie
=======

Who doesn't wish for greater success and more money? These are
things that everyone wants. While witchcraft is by no means a
cosmic cash station, you can use it to help bring opportunities
and good fortune into your life.

Spells for success involve a good deal of commitment. A spell can
help you by providing opportunity, but it is still up to you to
do the work that goes along with success. When casting spells
that will result in personal gain, it is very important to
remember the threefold law.

=== Read the full article on our web site:
    * Clickable URL: http://tinyurl.com/tcarticle113
    * Full URL: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=
    articles;sa=view;article=113


=======
======= USING WITCHCRAFT FOR GETTING RID OF THE BAD IN YOUR LIFE
======= by Arabella Jolie
=======

Even cautious practitioners of magick can find themselves being
subjected to the frightening influence of dark forces. These can
come from many sources and can manifest in many ways, including
horrible nightmares or an awareness of dark energy being present.
The spell below can be used to cast out evil and all things that
intend harm, and carrying the charged stone acts to protect you.
This spell relies heavily on the protective powers of the
pentagram.

=== Read the full article on our web site:
    * Clickable URL: http://tinyurl.com/tcarticle114
    * Full URL: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=
    articles;sa=view;article=114


=======
======= HOW WITCHCRAFT MAGICK CAN HELP BRING MONEY INTO YOUR LIFE
======= by Arabella Jolie
=======

Money is one thing that people never seem to get enough of. But
there are times in a person's life where money is desperately
needed and nowhere to be found. At times like these a spell to
bring money can be very useful.

=== Read the full article on our web site:
    * Clickable URL: http://tinyurl.com/tcarticle115
    * Full URL: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=
    articles;sa=view;article=115


=======
======= SPELL TO ATTRACT YOUR SOULMATE
======= by jonpeeoh
=======

More than half the people who are coming to my site are
requesting a love spell. In my e-book, The Secrets of Manifesting
Your Reality, I explain what a spell is, how they work, and how
to create your own. As I have stated, a self-tailored spell is
infinitely more powerful than using someone else's spells.
However, some people prefer a pre-made spell, so for all you guys
who emailed me a request, here ya go!

=== Read the full article on our web site:
    * Clickable URL: http://tinyurl.com/tcarticle116
    * Full URL: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=
    articles;sa=view;article=116


=======
======= SPELL CASTING CHECKLIST: SETTING THE MOOD FOR SUCCESS
======= by Terri Lewis
=======

Spell casting always seems to be stereotypically shown as some
spooky ritual that involves a full moon, black candles,
sacrificial ceremonies, and plenty of magical potions, powders
and props. This is not an entirely accurate picture. Magical
dealings need not be so strict in nature. There are certain items
that are needed to cast a spell, but what you use and how you use
it are ultimately up to you. In fact, some say that if magic is
not personalized, it is rendered useless. Spell casting is made
out to be such an inflexible art, but this is a prevalent
misconception.

=== Read the full article on our web site:
    * Clickable URL: http://tinyurl.com/tcarticle117
    * Full URL: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?action=
    articles;sa=view;article=117

[06]
=========
========= Cauldron Info
========= SUPPORT THE CAULDRON'S SERVER WITH DONATIONS
=========

As mentioned in the October 2008 newsletter, we now need over
US$60 in donations every month to keep the server online. No
donations, no server. No server, no message board. Well, not
really "no message board" as there is always the free backup
board, but the limitations of the free backup board drive staff
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OPTION 1: Make An "Anonymous" Donation in Any Amount

If you are not a member of the message board  -- or are a member
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If you are a member of our message board, this link will take you
directly to the Donation Subscription area of your Profile (with
a stop to log in if you are not already logged in):

    http://www.ecauldron.net/profiledonations.php


[07]
=========
========= 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/forum/

=====
===== 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.net/bnbarticleform.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.net/bnbbkreviewform.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.net/linktous.php

=====
===== 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.net/zamazon.php

If you are a regular user of the US version of Amazon, you can
help The Cauldron by replacing the URL of your ebay bookmark in
your browser with the above link so that TC gets credit every
time you visit Amazon.com.

To do this in Internet Explorer or Firefox, find Amazon in your
bookmark list. RIGHT click on it and select Properties from the
popup menu which will appear. A dialog box describing your
bookmark will appear. You'll see the standard Amazon url --
probably http://www.amazon.com/ -- in an edit box (labeled
"Location" in FireFox and "URL" in IE). Erase that url completely
and replace with one listed above, then click on OK.

If you use Amazon UK, you can use this address

  http://www.ecauldron.net/zamazonuk.php

If you use Amazon Canada, you can use this addess:

  http://www.ecauldron.net/zamazonca.php

=====
===== Ebay Purchases
=====

Are you an Ebay user? Ebay has a new program that pays
affiliates a small percent of the winning bid if the winning
bidder enters ebay from an affiliate link (some like how our
Amazon.com affiliate program works). So if you visit the US
version ebay via the following link, the Cauldron will get credit
for your bids:

  http://www.ecauldron.net/zebay.php

If you are a regular user of the US version of ebay, you can help
The Cauldron by replacing the URL of your ebay bookmark in your
browser with the above link so that TC gets credit every time you
visit ebay.

To do this in Internet Explorer or Firefox, find ebay in your
bookmark list. RIGHT click on it and select Properties from the
popup menu which will appear. A dialog box describing your
bookmark will appear. You'll see the standard ebay url --
probably http://www.ebay.com/ -- in an edit box (labeled
"Location" in FireFox and "URL" in IE). Erase that url completely
and replace with one listed above, then click on OK.

=====
===== 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.)


[08]
=========
========= 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)
2008 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 (lyricfox01@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com) or Randall
Sapphire (rssapphire01@.ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com). Typos are, as
usual, courtesy of the Goddess Eris.
Return to Cauldron and Candle Archive


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