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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #3 -- December 2000 formerly Cauldron News A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.com/ mailing list/board: http://www.ecauldron.com/fregmb.html With a little help from The Witches' Thicket website: http://www.cros.net/soraya/ message board: http://forums.delphiforums.com/thicket/start In this Issue: [01] Editorial: Defining Paganism [02] Poem: Power [03] Study Guide: A Witches Bible, Part Two, Chapter XIII [04] Review: Old Stones, New Temples [05] Review: Sexual Secrets [06] Review: Spinning Spells, Weaving Wonders [07] Review: American Folk Magick [08] Magick: Bothersome Neighbors Go Away [09] Magick: A Spell to Bring Joy [10] Magick: The Planets and the Herbs [11] Basic Maori Mythology [12] Easy Homemade Yule Gifts [13] Humor: Yule Fruitcake Recipe [14] Software: Magic Mail Monitor [15] New Articles on The Cauldron's Site [16] New Web Poll [17] Support The Cauldron When You Buy at Amazon.com [18] Cauldron Chats: Tuesdays, 10-11pm CDT [19] Newsletter and Forum Info (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: December 15, 2000 +++ [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL: DEFINING PAGANISM ========= by Elspeth Sapphire ========= I want to define Paganism. I define it as tolerance. The rat race of the mundane world has its effect on all of us. We fight to reach a spot, then fight to keep it. We are encouraged to think highly of ourselves and the way that we believe and think. The ego rules ... and beware all that come in and try to tell us that there may be a different way ... or for some, a better one. Some of this manner may have been born in our Christian roots, where we see different churches trying to sway people from one branch to another. Some of it may come from the 'Me' times that encourage us to put ourselves first and to hell with anyone else. These are also the times of the instant 'authorities' who think they know everything on whatever subject is under discussion. ::shakes head:: I have rarely had trouble talking to anyone about matters of spirituality -- I extend tolerance to them and they return it. And wonderful learning conversations follow. :) No egos ... no defensiveness ... just people learning about people. No matter that we should be born enemies -- I love talking to Fundies as much as my coveners. :) Tolerance = Paganism. Yeah, that's right. Just think about it. Even from a non-political view, it makes sense. What is one of the first things that a good teacher will teach you when you enter the Craft? Open yourself to the world about you. How in the names of all the gods can you be open and still practice intolerance? It takes a closed mind and closed heart to think that only their way is best. It takes a mind that doesn't want to hear to listen and only hear the words that it wants to and twist that into a further shield for their soul. Conversation is an exchange ... freely given and received. The minute it becomes less ... becomes intolerant ... then why bother? My spirituality is important to me ... it =is= my life. And next to my family, it is the most important thing to me. The Path I walk isn't easy and often rocky, but it is mine and worthwhile. I know that others walk theirs and find the same. Sometimes our Paths come close enough for us to interact before the gods move us on. Rather than making that contact painful for both, I try to grab for what joy and learning I can. That way I walk on a better person ... and hopefully, so do they. That can't happen without tolerance. So I define Paganism ... define what I am ... as tolerance. It gives me something to live up to ... something very worthwhile. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CAULDRON AND CANDLE WEB SITE The Cauldron and Candle now has its own web site where we store our back issues for easy reading. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [02] ========= ========= POWER ========= A Poem by Elspeth Sapphire ========= The Power rests not in the stars.... Distant, cold, and still. The Power resides within ourselves To mold and use as we Will. Perfect love and perfect trust.... I've seen them in action. People caring for others more Reaching out in compassion. Each of us was hurting some; No one would cry, "A sin!" If we tried to help ourselves Cleanse all things within. When we raised our voices, I sat silent and awed. For the requests were =not= for self; A joyous Power I saw. For each sent forth a fervent prayer For help in the Lady's name. And the Healing they asked for others Will touch them just the same. For when we reach out in love The love will always return. And the Lord and Lady's Power Will surely inside us burn. [03] ========= ========= STUDY GUIDE: A WITCHES BIBLE, PART TWO, CHAPTER XIII: ========= THE ETHICS OF WITCHCRAFT ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= [We are discussing chapters in the latter part of Janet and Steward Farrar's A Witches Bible on The Cauldron's message board/mailing list, about one chapter every two weeks. See http://www.ecauldron.com/bkwbible.html for a review and ordering info if you don't already have a copy of this excellent book. The third chapter we discussed was chapter XIII in the second half of the book entitled "The Ethics of Witchcraft." Here is the "study guide" I posted to start off the discussion.] The 13th chapter opens with the Wiccan Rede: "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: An it harms none, do what you will." The Farrars then point out that Wiccan ethics are more of the "blessed is he who" variety than the "thou shalt not" variety, although they don't seem to directly address the "advice vs. law" issue. To be fair, however, very few people saw the Rede as law when this material was first published in 1981. The Farrars also point out some other moral advice in the Charge of the Goddess (which seems often completely overlooked in Neo-Wicca): Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverence within you. This chapter then goes on for a couple of pages about Wiccans and the environmental movement. Then there's a brief section on the use of drugs, or I should say against the use of drugs. Unfortunately, most of their reasons against such seem to have little to do with the ethical principles stated at the start of the chapter. The rest of the chapter is probably more interesting to the average Pagan as it deals with the ethics of using magick. First, the Farrars deal with the "An it harm none" portion of the Rede. Unfortunately, I find their treatment somewhat muddled. While I can clearly understand their reasoning when they are using love spells as an example, they seem to have much more of a problem when it comes to dealing with people who cause harm. At one point early on they seem to be saying that directly acting against those who cause harm via magick is unethical, yet later on they seem to be saying that if you would interfere with someone physically to stop harm (for example slugging someone mugging an old person) it would be okay to use magick to do so as well. At the end they stress not so much following the Rede literally, but being willing to take responsibility for ones actions. Finally, the Farrars discuss the ethics of money and magick. They point out that an old law states that one should never accept money for magick. They seem to thing that it's okay to charge for everything in life, but magick. For example, they point out that although they've seen tarot readers and the like who take money for their work remain "good and incorruptible" they've never none someone who takes money for magick "who retained his or her integrity." As a second part of their discussion of money and magick, the Farrars discuss the belief some have that when you buy something for magickal use, you can't haggle over it but must pay the asking price. They have problems with this and wonder if the rule wasn't invented by people who wanted to sell stuff. 1) What do you think has changed in the last 15-20 years so that many people now need to be specifically told that the Wiccan Rede is advice, not law? 2) Some say that the real purpose of the Rede is to remind us that actions have consequences -- that every action we take ripples through the waters of reality affecting everything around it. What are your thoughts on the purpose of the Rede? 3) What do you think of the moral instruction the Farrars claim is found in the Charge of the Goddess? 4) Regardless of how you feel about the use of drugs in magick, do you believe that their use in Wicca is unethical as the Farrars seem to claim in this chapter? 5) What do you feel should be done about those who harm others? Should one be limited to "calling judgement" or is more specific action allowed in some cases? If so, how should one decide which cases. 6) What do you think about charging for magick? Do you think one who takes money for performing magick is more likely to lose his or her integrity than those who take money for performing mundane services? 7) Does haggling over the price of a magickal tool or spell component really affect the magick? Why do you think the way you do? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [04] ========= ========= REVIEW: OLD STONES, NEW TEMPLES ========= Reviewed by LyricFox ========= Old Stones, New Temples Author: Drew Campbell, Ph.D. Trade Paperback, 352 pages Publisher: Xlibris Corporation Publication date: September 2000 ISBN: 0738832014 US Retail Price: $16.00 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738832014/thecauldron Old Stones, New Temples by Drew Campbell has been billed as the first comprehensive introduction to Hellenic Reconstructionism, and it definitely fits that description. As an introductory text, the author has stated there were areas that he had to skimp on in order to expand in others. He doesn't miss much, however, in this well documented work. Even the "thinner" sections present valuable information. Keep in mind that this book is from a Reconstructionist point of view, and is much different than many books published. This book is a scholarly approach to a religious belief that does not incorporate the normal magickal influences prevalent in Wicca and some other paths. As such, the reader will find a more academic approach with an emphasis on primary sources. The author makes an assumption that the reader has some background knowledge of the Greeks, so while it is an introduction, this is not a fluffy book by any means. The bibliography is excellent, and will provide further areas of research for the student or worshipper of the Greek pantheon. My only complaint on this book is the lack of indexing; however, it is so very well organized it doesn't suffer from that omission. The author has divided the book into seven well thought out sections. A lot of information is included that is normally not seen in one work. I'll discuss each section separately. Part One: On Gods and the Universe. This section is not meant to give the reader a comprehensive view on the Olympians or other Greek deities, but does give a solid foundation on something that has been vitally needed...a view on many of the epithets or aspects of the various Gods. The author has also included devotionals for many of the deities, which is another welcomed addition. Part Two: Styles of Worship. While not an in-depth look, it nicely covers the areas of sacrifice, worship styles, oracles and the will of the Gods. There is also a brief section on the various movements in Greek worship (i.e., Pythagorean, Orphic, etc.). Something of a "teaser", it gives the reader a starting point for further research into the Mysteries and the beliefs of the Ancient Greeks. Part Three: Hellenic Values. I think this was one of the most valuable sections for me. Mr. Campbell very capably discusses ethics and piety -- something that I find missing in many books. His chapter on Devotional Rites and Daily Observances will give the reader options on including the worship of the Greek pantheon in daily life. Part Four, Celebrating the Life Cycle and Part Five, Rituals for Special Needs explore some of the different rituals available. The author has included marriage and funerary rites, as well as other rites of passage. With very little information widely available on these rites, these sections alone make the book worth its price. Part Six: Heortai - Annual Festivals. In my opinion, the single most difficult aspect of Hellenic Reconstructionism is the festival calendar since it differs radically from the better known Wheel of the Year, and information is missing in areas. Utilizing the Athenian calendar, the author takes you through the festival months. Where historical information is incomplete, he states that. He has included a series of suggested rituals, complete with menus, to help the reader. He has also included a much needed description on the Hellenic priesthood and leadership roles, which can be very distinct things within Hellenism, and another area that is different from many other Neo-Pagan practices. As Hellenic festivals were originally very large, ornate productions that might include a massive number of participants, it is sometimes difficult for a solitary worshiper to visualize conducting one. However, the festival suggestions are so very well written, it's not difficult to see how they could be converted for use by one person. Section Seven: Kai Ta Loipa - A Hellenic Miscellany, is just that. This section includes incense recipes, where to look for further resources on Hellenism and a superbly written Hellenism FAQ. Old Stones, New Temples is a marvelous work for anyone wanting to explore Hellenic Reconstructionism. Mr. Campbell's tone takes on just the right timbre. He presents difficult information from varying sources in a clear, concise manner and with some humor thrown in. As the founder of Nomos Arkhaios (an educational resource for Hellenic Pagans), priest to the Hellenic ritual group, Thiasos tes Glaukos, and valued member of the now-forming Hellenion, he brings valuable, authoritative insight into the practices of Hellenic Neo-Paganism to this book. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkosnt.html [05] ========= ========= REVIEW: SEXUAL SECRETS ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Sexual Secrets: The Alchemy of Ecstasy Author: Nik Douglas and Penny Slinger Trade Paperback, 380 pages Publisher: Inner Traditions Publication date: July 1996 ISBN: 0892812664 US Retail Price: $19.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0892812664/thecauldron In the West, sex has been considered forbidden or even evil for most of recorded history. It certainly had no place in most western religions. In the East, things are much different. In places like India, Nepal, China, and Japan, sexuality has been regarded as an art form, often a sacred art form. In Sexual Secrets, Nik Douglas and artist Penny Slinger, provide a readable and beautiful introduction to the sacred sexual tradition of the orient. This book condenses over two thousand years of Oriental sacred texts and artwork into a single book. This, of course, is the book's greatest flaw. It is a mere overview, a window into a different world. If you are looking for details of practical rituals you can adapt for your own tradition, you will probably be disappointed. If you are looking for a clear overview of the sacred sexual traditions of oriental religions, you will find this book a wonderful purchase. The most detailed material comes from the Hindu tradition. If you are looking for more practical material and you already have a general familiarity with Eastern traditions like Tantra, you might want to try Sexual Energy Ecstasy: A Practical Guide to Lovemaking Secrets of the East and West. This book is lavishly illustrated with over 600 of Penny Slinger's excellent drawings, most taken from oriental originals. The artwork alone is worth the price of the book. The book's name is somewhat misleading. The material covered in this book is secret only in that it is not generally known in the West. The texts and art it is based on are commonly available in much of the East. If you pick this book up expecting to find truly secret esoteric material, you will be disappointed. It is excellent at what it does, however, providing a clear and fairly complete overview of the oriental tradition of scared sex. I've found my copy of Sexual Secrets to be an excellent book for continuing reference for over 15 years. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkssecrets.html [06] ========= ========= REVIEW: SPINNING SPELLS, WEAVING WONDERS ========= Reviewed by Elspeth Sapphire ========= Spinning Spells, Weaving Wonders Author: Patricia Telesco Trade Paperback, 256 pages Publisher: Crossing Press Publication date: May 1996 ISBN: 0895948036 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0895948036/thecauldron I found this book while browsing through the local New Age book store. I almost passed it by. The last thing I needed was another 'cook book' of spells and rituals. Still...I like Patricia Telesco's books. . . . So I carried the book over to a handy chair and started to read. Fifteen minutes later, my husband finally got my attention. I had gone into the store to buy a new tarot deck, but put it back so that I could buy this book. What is so wonderful about this book? Instead of giving us lists of spells to perform, she teaches us how to create our own spells. As a teacher of Pagan subjects, I have often moaned the matter that there were no good books on the subject. Many books 'touch' on the subject, but none have given it the in depth attention Ms. Telesco does. The first part of the book deals with magic and spellcraft and how to create it. The second part is a list of spells by topic -- such as blessing or anger. The spells are there, but more importantly it set you up to be able to create your own spells. Each listing has general uses, timing, props, secondary listings, then sample spells. There are three appendixes dealing with symbols, deities, and making magical items. I suggest that this is a wonderful addition to any magickal or coven library. I cannot recommend it highly enough. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkssww.html [07] ========= ========= REVIEW: AMERICAN FOLK MAGICK ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= American Folk Magick: Charms, Spells & Herbals Author: Silver Ravenwolf Trade Paperback, 320 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: December 1998 ISBN: 156718720X US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/156718720X/thecauldron American Folk Magick is Llewellyn's new title for what used to be known as Hexcraft: Dutch Country Magick. While I've never seen this book under the original title, I suspect that not much beyond the cover and title pages have changed as the left page headers still say "HexCraft." I like this book. Silver Ravenwolf has written a fairly straightforward beginner's book on the art of Pow-Wow. Pow-Wow is a magickal system brought to America by settlers from the Rhineland area of what is now Germany to Pennsylvania. I've always thought Ravenwolf was in her element when she talks about magick. This book proves my point. Her explanations are clear, and for the most part seem to be complete. I believe her style of mixing anecdotes with instruction works far better with magick than it does with religion. As Pow-Wow is primarily a healing system, several chapters of American Folk Magick are devoted to Pow-Wow methods of healing. Other chapters cover tools, warding magick, divination, cursing and banishing, hex symbols, and even the "dark" side of Pow-Wow (which seems to be its generally misused ceremonial magick connection). While I consider this one of Ravenwolf's best books, I do have two real problems with it. First, the author intermixes her theory that Pow-Wow is actually a version of the Old Religion disguised by a Christian overlay in with material on the history of Pow-Wow. While the author's speculation in this area is interesting, I believe it should have been kept a bit more separate from the history. Second, instead of providing instructions on one of the more well-known and interesting parts of Pow-Wow, the "hex symbols," Ravenwolf simply refers the reader to another Llewellyn book for this information. One more minor problem is that while she sometimes provides both Christian and Pagan versions of chants and spells, she often only provides Pagan versions. This is true even when it seems obvious that she converted a Christian version into a Pagan version. This makes the book somewhat less useful than it could be to a Christian wishing to learn the system. I find Pow-Wow a fascinating magickal system. If you are interested in it, Ravenwolf's American Folk Magick is one of the few books in print devoted to the subject. It's probably the only one readily available. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkafm.html ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UPCOMING REVIEWS Reviews of the following are planned for our next issue: ORIGINS OF MODERN WITCHCRAFT (Ann Moura). PAGAN PARENTING (Kristin Madden), MURDER AT WITCHES BLUFF (Silver Ravenwolf, fiction). ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [08] ========= ========= MAGICK: BOTHERSOME NEIGHBORS GO AWAY ========= A Spell for dealing with incorrigible neighbors ========= There's often one family in every neighborhood that simply causes trouble for others, no matter how people try to get along with them. Perhaps they have loud parties almost every night or children who torment neighborhood pets or bully other children. When you've honestly tried everything else, here's a spell to help them find a better place to live: a place away from you where they will be happier with their neighborhood. Find a green candle, one large enough to burn 30 minutes a day for at least a week. Make up a short chant something like this: Bothersome neighbors go away, find a much better place to stay. A place where you will be happy, I will be happy, and all around you will be happy. An affordable place, a nice place, A much better place to stay So long as it is far from me and mine. Bothersome neighbors go away. It'd be better to make up your own, especially if you can personalize it to the people in question. Just make it positive and upbeat. The idea here is that you are helping these folks find something better than they have now and helping yourself to peace and quiet at the same time. You'll also need paper and colored pencils/pens/crayons/whatever. Each night light your candle (cast a circle first if you want one), imagining the flame as a spark in their mind which will lead them to a new home. Then sit down an stare into the flame for 5-10 minutes concentrating on your desire that they find a new, better place to live where they will be happy and annoy no one. Then take up your pen and paper and draw while chanting your chant. Stickfigure art is okay if that is the best you can do. The first night draw your neighbor's (current) house with them doing the annoying types of things they do. Make it complete even if it's simple art. Put in the trees, windows, and the like. When you are done, wait for the end of the 30 minutes, concentrating on the candle flame and your goal. Fold the paper up and tear it to small shreds. Put out your candle (and close your circle if you created one. Save the torn scraps of paper. On each night for the rest of the week, repeat the ritual, but the art will change. On the second day, draw them excited and happy in front of their current house -- because they've found a better one. For the rest of the week, draw them carrying various stuff out of their current house (as if they were moving). The key thing here is only show there current house. You don't want to limit possibilities by drawing a new house for them. After you've done this a week, put all of the scraps of paper and some of the tail end of the candle in an envelope and bury it or hide it on the property line between their place and yours. If you've used large sheets of paper, you only need to include a portion from each if you need to keep the envelope small. Note that a spell like this can take a while to take effect. Most people do not pack up and move overnight. [09] ========= ========= MAGICK: A SPELL TO BRING JOY ========= A Spell to Return Joy to the Holidays ========= The holidays can be a depressing period for many, especially those alone or who have had loved ones pass over to the Summerland during previous holidays. This spell will ask the Fates to bring a spark of joy into your life. Timing: Magic to call joy into one's life is best performed during the Waxing Moon. Get three cherry-red candles. Gather flowers, whatever kinds are in season, and decorate your altar with them. When you have viewed the Moon that evening, light your three candles and dedicate them to the Fates. Joy is very much in their domain. Say: Red is my blood and red is my laughter, Red is the color of life and of love. Gracious Old Ladies, who weave in deep dark places, Bless me with joy and bless me with luck. Perform this honoring of the Fates three nights in a row, and burn the candles a little each night. The last night, allow your candles to burn down. For incense you can burn red clover. Once the spell is finished, dispose of it by taking a little bit of the candle dripping, dried flowers, and ashes from the incense to a living body of water, cast them in, turn your back, and don't look back [10] ========= ========= MAGICK: THE PLANETS AND THE HERBS ========= Magickal Associations of Herbs and Planets ========= Herbs associated with the Sun Almond, Angelica, Artichoke (Jerusalem), Ash, Bay Tree, Buret, Butter bar, Chamomile, Celandine, Centaur, Cinnamon, Eye bright, Frankincense, Galangal, Heart Trefoil, High Joan, Juniper, Laurel, Life Everlasting, Lovage, Marigold, Mayweed, Mistletoe, Olibanum, Olive, Peony, Pimpernel, Rice, Rosemary, Rue, Saffron, Saint Joan's Wort, Saint John's Wort, Saxifrage, Storax, Sundew, Sunflower, Tormentil, Vine, Walnut Herbs associated with the Moon Adder's tongue, Anise Seed, Anise (Star), Ash (mountain), Cabbage, Camphor, Chickweed, Cary, Cleavers, Coolwort, Coriander, Cucumbers, Dog Rose, Dogs Tooth Violet, Duckweed, Flag, Fleur-de-lis, Ginger, Holly (sea), Irish, Jasmine, Lettuce, Lily (Madonna), Lily (water), Moonwort, Orris Root, Poppy, Pumpkin, Purslane, Queen Elizabeth Root, Rose (white), Rose (wild), Rowan, Seasalt, Sesame Seeds, Star Anise, Stonecrop, Watercress, Water Lily, Wintergreen Herbs associated with the planet Mercury Agaric, Azaleas, Balsam (white), Bayberry, Bittersweet, Buckwheat, Calamint, Caraway, Carrots, Cascara, Cassia, Cedar, Cedar Leaf, Celery, Cinquefoil, Coffee, Dill, Elecampagne, Elfwort, Fennel, Fenugreek, Fern, Fiver Leaf Grass, Flax, Gentian, Goat's Rue, Grape (mountain), Hare's Foot, Hazel Nut, Henry (Good King), Honeysuckle, Honeywort, Horehound, Hounds-tongue, Jacob's Ladder, Lady's Slipper, Lavender, Lily of the Valley, Liquorice, Mace, Maidenhair Fern, Mandrake, Meadowsweet, Mulberry, Mushrooms, Myrtle, Parsley, Parsnips, Pellitory, Pomegranate, Sassafras, Savory, Sledge, Senna, Southernwood, Spruge, Tea, Valerian, Woody Nightshade Herbs associated with the planet Venus Alder, Alkanet, Apple Blossom, Apricot, Balm of Gilead, Beans, Bedstraw, Bergamot, Birch, Bishops' Weed, Blackberry, Bloodroot, Boneset, Bugle, Burdock, Catnip, Celery, Cherry Tree, Chick-pea, Clover, Cocoa, Coltsfoot, Columbines, Cornflower, Cowslip, Daffodil, Daisy, Dittany, Dropwort, Dwarf Elder, Elder, Feverfew, Figwort, Flea Bean, Foxglove, Gardenia, Geranium (rose), Goldenrod, Golden Seal, Gooseberry, Gosmore, Groundsel, Heather, Herb True-Love, Hibiscus, Hollyhock, Jewelweed, Kava-Kava, Ladies Mantle, Laurel (cherry), Lemon, Lemon Balm, Lemon grass, Lentil, Mallow, Marshmallow, Mint, Motherwort, Orchid, Peach, Pear, Pennyroyal, Periwinkle, Plantain, Plum, Primrose, Ragweed, Ramp, Raspberry, Red Closer, Rose (red), Sage, Self-Heal, Silverweed, Soapwort, Sorrel (wood), Speedwell, Strawberry, Sycamore, Tansy, Teazel, Thyme, Verbena, Vervain, Violet, Wheat, Yarrow Herbs associated with the planet Mars Acacias, All-Heal, Aloe, Anemone, Barberry, Basil, Bearberry, Beech, Benzoin, Blessed Thistle, Briony, Broom, Cashew, Cayenne, Chives, Coriander, Cubeb, Cumin, Curry, Daffodil, Dogwood, Double Rocket, Dragon's Blood Reeds, Aviate, Fern (male), Faired, Flax, Garlic, Gentian, Germander, Goat's Thorn, Ground Pine, Gum Mastic, Gum Thistle, Hawthorn, Honeysuckle, Hops, Horseradish, Horse-tongue, Hyssop, Juniper, Ladies Seal, Leeks, Loosestrife, Lupine, Madder, Marjoram, Masterwort, Mastic Herb, Mustard, Nettles, Onion, Orchid Root, Paprika, Pepper, Pilewort, Pine, Plantain, Radish, Rhubarb,Rocket, Rue, Salep, Sarsaparilla, Snapdragon, Spikenard, Squill, Tarragon, Tobacco, Uva-Ursi, Woodruff, Wormwood Herbs associated with the planet Jupiter Agrimony, Alexander, Alfalfa, Arrrowhead, Arrowroot, Asparagus, Avens, Balm, Betony, Bilberry Bladderwrack, Borage, Cardamom, Chervil, Chestnut, Cicely, Cinquefoil, Corn (Indian), Costmary, Currant, Dandelion, Dock, Dog Grass, Eglantine, Endive, Fig, Five Leaf Grass, Goat's Beard, Hare's Ear, Hart's Tongue, Henna, Houseleek, Hyssops, Lime, Liverwort, Lungwort, Magnolia, Maple, Milkweed, Mistletoe, Moneywort, Moss (sphagnum), Myrrh, Oak, Pleurisy Root, Quack Grass, Rose Hips, Sage, Sandalwood, Spinach, Sumac, Swamp Milkweed, Sweet Briar, Thorn Apple Herbs associated with the planet Saturn Aconite, Amaranthus, Arnica, Barley, Beets, Belladonna, Bindweed (morning glory), Bistort, Bluebell, Box, Campion, Carob, Clematis, Comfrey, Cornflower, Cramp Bark, Cypress, Dodder, Dogs Grass, Elm, Fern, Flea Wort, Fumitory, Gall Oak, Gladiole (water), Hawkweed, Heart's Ease, Hellebore (black), Hemlock, Hemp, Holly, Horsetail, Irish Moss, Ivy, laurel, Moss, Mullein, Musk, Nightshade, Pansies, Paris Herb, Poke, Poplar, Poppy, Potato, Queen's Delight, Quince, Shepherd's Purse, Skullcap, Snakeweed, Solomon's Seal, Virginia Creeper, Witch Hazel, Woad, Wolf's Bane, Yew Herbs associated with the planet Uranus Allspice, Arbutus, Chicory, Cinnamon, Clove, Coffee, Elecampagne, Elfwort, Galbanum, Ginseng, Kola Nut, Linseed Oil, Mandrake, Nutmeg, Pimpernel, Pomegranate, Spikenard, Unicorn Root, Woody Nightshade Herbs associated with the planet Neptune Adam and Eve Root, Apricot, Balmony, Citrus, Hemp, Jewelweed, Kidneywort, Lemon, Lettuce (wild), Lobelia, Lotus, Marshwort, Mescal, Mugwort, Narcissus, Opium, Orange, Passion Flower, Peach, Pear, Plum, Poppy, Soapwort, Willow, Wisteria Herbs associated with the planet Pluto Agaric, Ambergris, Artichoke (globe), Asafoetida, Bearberry, Box, Cohosh, Damiana, Dogwood, Dragon's Blood, Eucalyptus, Foxglove, Gelsemium, Ground Pine, Hops, Kava-Kava, Mandrake, Musk, Oats, Orchid Root, Patchouli, Rye, Salep, Skunk Cabbage, Toadflax, Unicorn Root, What, Wormwood, Yucca [11] ========= ========= BASIC MAORI MYTHOLOGY ========= by Mellee ========= [One of The Cauldron's New Zealand members was asked about her pantheon and replied with the following which she graciously allowed us to reprint here.] The pantheon I deal with comes from Maori legends and culture. With Hine Nui Te Po, there are two major myths; one dealing with her personal story, and the other is in relation to the Maori demi-god and hero, Maui. Hinenuitepo is the only female 'god' in Maori legend. There is the Earthmother, of course, and various other female 'spirits' (eg Mahuika, lady of fire). She is the daughter of Tane Mahuta, god of the Forest and Birds, and Hineahuone, woman made from earth. She began life as Hinetitama, the Dawn Maiden, and her father was so proud of his beautiful daughter that he changed form into that of a simple man and married her. They were happy together, as Hinetitama wasn't aware that her husband was also her father, and children were born to them. One day, a breeze drifted past the Dawn Maiden, asking who her father was. Another day, a wave rippled the same question. Hinetitama returned home and asked Tane Mahuta who her father was. When he replied "Ask the four corners of this house," Hinetitama realized that her father and her husband were the same person and that night she left her family and fled into the Underworld. When Tane Mahuta came to fetch her home she told him she would never return to the light but stay to welcome there human descendants into the Underworld. And so it was the Hinetitama became Hinenuitepo, Goddess of Death. The other myth describes her confrontation with Maui, when he attempts to gain immortality for mankind. The only way he can do so is to enter Hinenuitepo through her womb and climb out through her mouth (physiologically impossible, sure, but hey, she's a Goddess, right?). He gathers a group of his friends, the birds of Aotearoa (NZ) to watch him complete his greatest ever feat (he was a bit of a showman), and he warns them not to laugh as it will awaken the Death Goddess and he will be killed. They all agree, and Maui transforms himself into a caterpillar and enters Hinenuitepo. The Fantail cannot keep himself from giggling at the highly comical sight of the great Maui wiggling along like a worm, and he bursts into laughter. Hinenuitepo wakes, and in her fury at the daring of this half human, crushes Maui to death in her womb. And so it is that all humans must die and return to that place from whence they came. [12] ========= ========= EASY HOMEMADE YULE GIFTS ========= by Allyson Sands ========= [Allyson offered the following two items in response to a comment by the editor on The Cauldron's mailing list that he did not have the talent to make gifts. Allyson also edits The Merry Times, a Canada-oriented Neo-Pagan newsletter. You can find our more on this ezine at the newsletter's web site: http://www.merrytimes.org/.] Ritual Bath Kits require: 1 candle 1 stick incense 1 small baggie (sandwich baggie is good) some salt an essential oil you like food coloring (optional) Put the salt in a bowl. Drip a few drops of essential oil into it, and mix the salt around with your hand until it's all smooth. Sniff. Repeat as necessary. Drip in a few drops of colour, then mix until the colour is all blended. Look. Repeat as necessary. To finish up, put the scented salt into the plastic baggie. Put the plastic baggie, the stick of incense, and the candle into a pretty bit of wrapping paper, or I sometimes get lazy and use those alcohol bottle bags, as they're about the right size. Stick a bow on it, and voila, a gift. Flavored Oils for cooking What you need: good quality vegetable oil (safflower or sunflower are my favorites--DO NOT USE OLIVE OIL) decorative jars (you can get these at the dollar store) some minced garlic some whole cloves (peeled) of garlic a handful of other herbs, like: mint, sage, thyme, bay leaf, dill, etc. Put a half teaspoon of minced garlic into each jar you want to make. Pop in two or three whole cloves of garlic. Drop in one "long" herb, like the dill, and one "short herb" like a bay leaf or some sage. Fill with oil. Cork, and if you REALLY want to get special, pull out a red candle and melt it onto the cork to seal it. Stick a ribbon on the front, wrap if you wish, and again voila, a gift. :) Tell people not to USE the oil for three months, as that will let it sit and the flavors will blend. These are the two easiest "quick gifts" I have. You can make them personal, by putting favorite herbs into the oil or a favorite scent into the bath salts... or you can have some fairly generic ones laying around for those people who arrive unannounced ... I'm picky - I like to have gifts for EVERYONE in my house. :) [13] ========= ========= HUMOR: YULE FRUITCAKE RECIPE ========= Author Unknown ========= You'll need the following: 1 C water 1 tsp. baking soda 1 C sugar 1 C brown sugar 4 large eggs lemon juice 2 C dried fruit nuts 1 tsp. salt 1 FULL bottle of your favorite whiskey Sample the whiskey to check for quality. Take a large bowl. Check the whiskey again to be sure that it is of the highest quality. Pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat 1 C of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 tsp. sugar and beat again. Make sure the whiskey is still okay. Cry another tup. Turn off the mixer. Break two legs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the whiskey to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift 2 cups of salt. Or something. Who cares. Check the whiskey. Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Spoon. Of sugar or something. Whatever you can find. Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Throw the bowl out the window. Check the whiskey again. Go to bed. Who the heck likes fruitcake anyway??!! [14] ========= ========= FREE SOFTWARE: MAGIC MAIL MONITOR ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= Magic Mail Monitor sits in your system tray and checks for new email every X minutes (you select the value of "X"). Mail check programs are a dime a dozen on the Internet, but Magic Mail Monitor has a few features that set it apart from the others. First, it can check multiple email accounts and each account can have the time between checks set separately. Second, if you have mail, it picks up the header information (i.e. sender, subject, etc.) and displays this info so you can see who you mail is from and what it is about. Third, if you see obvious spam, you can right click the header for that piece of email, click on delete from the pop up menu, answer the confirmation question, and Magic Mail Monitor will delete the offending piece of email from the mail server, so you do not have to download it with you mail program. Fourth, it is a small program. It doesn't take up a lot of memory or system resources. Some mail checkers take almost as much memory and resources as a full mail client. You will find this free Win9x program at: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/2576/magic.html The web site mentions that some people have had problems running the program under Windows 98. I haven't nor do I know anyone who has. [15] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= NEW ARTICLES ON THE CAULDRON'S SITE ========= Since our first November issue, we've added two new articles to The Cauldron's web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/: * Handfasting of Elspeth and Ghost: Performed online on the old GEnie Online Service, this is a transcript of the Handfasting of Cauldron Staffers Elspeth and Ghost. http://www.ecauldron.com/handfast4.html * The log of The Grove's online Ostara ritual for 1997. http://www.ecauldron.com/riteostara97.html The following book review (included in this newsletter) is also new to the web site: * Old Stones, New Temples http://www.ecauldron.com/bkosnt.html [16] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= NEW WEB POLL ========= Our new polls are working nicely and without all the problems we had when they were hosted offsite. You'll find them on their own web page at: http://www.ecauldron.com/pollindex.php Our newest poll, opened December 1, asks: * How much influence do your religious beliefs have on who you vote for for public office? http://www.ecauldron.com/cldpoll11.php Make your opinion known, take this poll today! [17] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= SUPPORT THE CAULDRON WHEN YOU BUY BOOKS AT AMAZON.COM ========= If you wish to purchase books or other items at Amazon.com, you can help fund The Cauldron's web site by using this link to access Amazon.com when you make your purchases: http://www.ecauldron.com/fradambooks.html Just use this link to go to Amazon.com via our web site and almost every purchase you make that visit will earn The Cauldron a small amount to help pay for our web page -- at no extra charge to you. You can also use the Amazon link on the menu of every Cauldron web page and not have to remember this long link. Unlike the Amazon link listed in some prior issues of this newsletter, you can simply visit this site and save the link in your bookmark list. If you then use this bookmarked link every time you wish to visit Amazon.com, any purchases you make while there will help fund The Cauldron's web site. [18] ========= ========= Cauldron and Thicket Info ========= CAULDRON CHATS: TUESDAYS, 10-11PM CDT ========= Cauldron Co-Host Randall Sapphire hosts a one hour general chat almost every Tuesday evening from 10pm to 11pm Central (Daylight) Time in our channel (#thecauldron) on the PaganPaths IRC server. We usually have a pretty good turnout. Discussions cover a wide range of topics, depending on what the folks present want to discuss. You'll find all the information you need to connect to our chats either with your own IRC client or via the Java IRC client (including images of the various Java windows which pop up) on our Chats web page at: http://www.ecauldron.com/cmchats.html You can open a Java chat client directly to #thecauldron by clicking on the "IRC Chat" link in the menu of any of our web pages, but we strongly suggest you visit the above page first and read a few paragraphs on how to use it. This page is also available from the "[Info]" link right next to the "IRC Chat" link on our web page menus. If you have your own IRC client program, the address of the main PaganPaths server is: madison.wi.us.paganpaths.org (port 6667) If you'd like to host a chat for members of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum on a regular, weekly schedule, please let us know. If "Central Time" doesn't mean anything to you, this an online time converter at http://sandbox.xerox.com/stewart/tzconvert.cgi might help. I think Central Time is listed as something like "US - Central" in the drop down box. [19] ========= ========= NEWSLETTER AND FORUM INFO ========= (Including how to subscribe and unsubscribe) ========= Cauldron and Candle is a free publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum with assistance from our sister form, The Witches' Thicket. The Cauldron and The Thicket aim to publish this newsletter twice a month and often actually succeed in doing so. Copyrights on individual items in this newsletter are retained by their author, please contact the editors if you need to contact an author for permission to reprint an article and the editors will do their best to put you in touch with him or her. No one involved in producing this newsletter has any money to speak of so suing us if you don't like something we do is a waste of time and money. ++++ ++++ HOW TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE ++++ You are receiving a copy of this newsletter because you signed up to receive it. You can subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter: http://cauldronnews.listbot.com/ ++++ ++++ 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. ++++ ++++ LINK TO THE CAULDRON: A PAGAN FORUM ++++ If you like The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum please invite your friends to visit. If you have a web page, we'd really appreciate it if you put a link to The Cauldron's web site on your web pages. If you'd like some graphic buttons to use to link to our web site, check the following URL: http://www.ecauldron.com/linktous.html Thanks in advance. ++++ ++++ SUGGESTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME ++++ Don't forget that your suggestions for the forum are always welcome, either posted on the message board or via email to Elspeth Sapphire (elspeth.sapphire@worldnet.att.net) or Randall Sapphire (rssapphire@ecauldron.com). Typos are, as usual, courtesy of the Goddess Eris. Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet again!

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