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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #22 -- April 2002 A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.com/ mailing list/board: http://www.ecauldron.com/fregmb.php delphi forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/start newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ With a little help from The Witches' Thicket website: http://www.cros.net/soraya/ delphi forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/thicket/start In this Issue: [01] Editorial: Help The Cauldron: Volunteer! [02] Poem: Fire [03] Article: The Star Ruby [04] Review: Mudras [05] Review: The Goddess Path [06] Review: Wheels of Life [07] Review: The Magician's Workbook [08] Review: The Pagan Path [09] Magick: Circles and Other Kinds of Sacred Space [10] Magick: A Simple Tool Consecration [11] PR: Pagan Diversity Campaign Teaches Tolerance [12] Major Changes For Delphi Forums Message Boards [13] Humor: Signs That Your Child Might Be A Witch [14] New Articles on The Cauldron's Site [15] New Web Polls [16] Support The Cauldron When You Buy at Amazon.com [17] Newsletter and Forum Info (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: May 25, 2002 +++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL: HELP THE CAULDRON: VOLUNTEER! ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= 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 two active message areas, a large web site with around 700 pages of information (including well over 100 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 Forums ================================== While our mailing list and Delphi Annex message board both welcome 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 one or more of our forums. The staff especially appreciates members who start new topics for discussion based on their own questions, opinions, or interests. Mailing List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ecauldron Delphi Annex: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/start Articles! Essays! Tutorials! ============================ We are in constant need of original, well-written and accurate articles, essays, tutorials, and other written items for both our web site and for our Cauldron and Candle newsletter. There's no real limit on length for web site articles. Here are a few areas in which we always need articles: * information on the beliefs and theology of the various Pagan religions, especially non-Wiccan religions * information on holidays and festivals of the various Pagan religions, especially non-Wiccan religions * recipes for oils, incenses, and food for the various Pagan holidays * magick, spells, and ritual information * herbal information * positive articles on dealing with other faiths * information on historical pagan cultures * editorial/opinion pieces Non-Wiccan material is stressed not because we don't want Wiccan material but because good non-Wiccan material has been hard to find. We have a web form you can use to submit an article for consideration: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestart.php Book Reviews ============ While The Cauldron receives some review copies from a couple of Pagan publishers, there are many books that can only be reviewed on our web site if a member has a copy and writes a good, objective review. The Cauldron is interested in reviews on the more academic books used by reconstructionist Pagan religions as well as on the books one finds on the Pagan/New Age shelf in the bookstore. We have a web form you can use to submit a book review for consideration: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestbr.php Graphic Assistance ================== The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum is purposely a low graphics site as we value page download speed over flashy graphics. However, we are always willing to talk with artists who have ideas for well-designed small graphics (small in both physical dimensions and file size) that might enhance a specific article or page. Invite Your Friends =================== If you have friends or acquaintances who you believe would find The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum useful, please tell them about our site. If you are active in our forums and have friends who might enjoy them or have information to contribute, please invite them. Link To The Cauldron ==================== If you have a web site where linking to The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum would be appropriate, simply providing a link to this web site is a big help. Our Link to this Site page explains how you can do this if you need help or want some simple graphic buttons to use: http://www.ecauldron.com/linktous.php Donations ========= As The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum uses as many free services as possible, our need for money to operate this site is currently lower than our need for the many items we list above. However, if you have a few dollars to spare, we would be honored to have your help in paying for this web site. You can donate by using the Amazon Honor System button below (we get about 85% of what you donate). http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN Amazon Purchases ================ The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum also receive a small percentage (usually 5%) from most items purchased from Amazon.com when you go to Amazon.com from one of the links to Amazon on our web site. If you purchase a lot of books, CDs, and other items from Amazon.com as many members do, going to Amazon.com through one of our links when you are going to make a purchase there is a painless way to help fund this web site. http://www.ecauldron.com/fradambooks.php Contact Information =================== If you have specific questions, proposals or other ideas we haven't mentioned here, please email them to rssapphire@ecauldron.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.) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SEND A PAGAN POSTCARD You can send a Pagan Postcard from the menu of any of our web pages at http://www.ecauldron.com/. If you haven't tried our postcard site, give it a try. It has quite a few nice features. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [02] ========= ========= FIRE ========= A Poem by Moonsongstress ========= Melting like wax into the cauldron of change With ethers intermingling into the wombing mould waiting, you cast our bronzing forms and transformed pure spirit into hard matter. We were made then. Stars shooting through Swirling depths of space, we descended to The cooling blue, green places of our self-full lands, from the source element of all creation. Fires still burned in our bellies, fanned now by The sweet kisses of your smiling lips to round, Orange balls of shining life all a-glitter; and we Lifted them in our arms and danced with joy. Hot, licking tongues of liquid orange essence Curled and caressed with the sound of your Coming, and we lay warm in the flickering glow Of red and orange, yellow, white, and black. You manifested life, injected blood-hot vigour Through the thirsty veins of trees and animals. The flames within us drank long and deep on Rich brown darkness of demerara sugared leaf Sap and your joy danced high inside us in the Golden light of glowing newborn sparks of sun. Our flames burned together then, flickering in Time, and the strong connection of bursting life Spoke silently by touch. Little orange leaves Of light in the spiraling black centre of each Living, breathing creature fed life and on it Within the giant, turning, and fluttering cycle. So we watched, waited, danced and drank, and Then my time came; and I emerged from the Brew with blue and gold burning wings, all Brimming with desire for life, perched high on Leaves of dark, dripping green, cool under my Hot-foot stance. The air was so softly thick With the pollen of plenty that I spread-wing soared into the light, quick and nimble in my New world of solid matter. Creatures of flesh And spirit danced with my new body and the Food of life was sweet. I took my chance with Firm hands and rose up, welcoming possibility. Copyright (c) MoonSongstress 2001 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [03] ========= ========= ARTICLE: THE STAR RUBY ========= by Faerie K. ========= Originally published in Finnish in Vox Paganorum 4/00 ========= translated from the Finnish by Faerie K. ========= ===== ===== Short Background Info ===== The first version of the Star Ruby was published in 1913, as the 25th chapter of "The Book of Lies" (BoL) by Aleister Crowley. Later, there was another slightly altered version of the ritual published in the Appendix VI of Crowley's "Book 4, Part III: Magick in Theory and Practice" (MTP). The ritual is also the Liber XXV in A.'.A.'.'s class D-publications (official rituals and instructions) and Liber XXV of OTO. Star Ruby has been left in the shadow of the more widely known LBRP (Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram), even with Crowley pointing out in MTP's chapter dealing with banishings and purifications: "'The Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram' (as now rewritten, Liber 333, Cap. XXV) is the best to use" (p.104, Liber 333 is the aforementioned BoL). Some Pagans choose to rather use Star Ruby with its more Pagan symbolism than the clearly qabalistic LBRP with its archangels. Some Thelemites even consider Star Ruby as a joke played by Crowley on his students, which would explain why the ritual is less used. Another reason might be the less common - for a Ceremonial Magickian - choice of language and culture (Greek), which makes the symbolism of the ritual less easy to understand. Crowley didn't explain the ritual much either, basically only comments on numerological values and the commentary in BoL: "25 is the square of 5, and the Pentagram has the red color of Geburah. The chapter is a new and more elaborate version of the Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. It would be improper to comment further upon an official ritual of the A.'.A.'." Analyzing beyond the traditional Thelemite sources combined with qabalistic analysis on numbers has pointed out that Star Ruby isn't just LBRP gone Greek, written as a jest with the archangels of Qabala replaced with Greek "archangels", but a carefully constructed banishing ritual with thought-out symbolism. ===== ===== The Ritual ===== The structure of Star Ruby is familiar for those who know LBRP. It begins with a qabalistic cross, there are pentagrams placed in each of the quarters, the pentagrams are charged with divine names, there's a part corresponding with LBRP's "Sign of Silence", followed by an invocation. The ritual ends as it began, with a qabalistic cross. Here are both versions of the ritual, provided with "pronouncing instructions" and translation. A small guide to read the text: BoL-version / MTP-version in Latin alphabet translation *** Facing East, in the center, draw deep deep deep thy breath, closing thy mouth with thy right forefinger pressed against thy lower lip. Then dashing down the hand with a great sweep back and out, expelling forcibly thy breath, cry: APO PANTOS KAKODAIMONOS Completely away (from here), Evil Spirits With the same forefinger touch thy forehead, and say SOI Unto thee thy member, and say O PHALLE O phallus thy right shoulder, and say ISCHUROS strength thy left shoulder, and say EUKARISTOS "honor" (blessing) then clasp thine hands, locking the fingers, and cry IAO (`o' here is omega) Advance to the East. Imagine strongly a Pentagram, aright, in thy forehead. Drawing the hands to the eyes, fling it forth, making the sign of Horus, and roar KHAOS / THERION Retire thine hand in the sign of Hoor pa kraat. Go round to the North and repeat; but scream BA-B-AL-O-N / NUIT Go round to the West and repeat; but say EROS / BABALON (`o' in Eros is omega)eros / babalon Go round to the South and repeat; but bellow PSYCHE / HADIT Completing the circle widdershins, retire to the center, and raise thy voice in the Paian, with these words ?? ??? (io pan) with the signs of N.O.X. Extend the arms in the form of a ?, and say low but clear: Pro mou junges Opiso mou teletarchai Epi deksia synocheis Eparistera daimones / Eparistera daimonos Flegei gar peri mou o aster ton pente Kai en th stele o aster ton hex esthke Before me Junges Behind me Teletarchai On my right hand Synoches On my left Daimones / Daimonos About me flames the pentagram And in the column stands the six-rayed star. Repeat the Cross Qabalistic, as above, and end as thou didst begin. ===== ===== What Are You Saying and Doing? ===== The rituals begins with a command, determining the purpose of the ritual - banishing. In this context "All evil spirits" mean much more than just the common conception of "evil spirits". It is used to banish away all spirits that could be harmful or restricting to the True Will of the person doing the ritual. Forcing the air out of the lungs symbolizes blowing these evil spirits away. "Kakodaimon" also refers to "evil genius", the dark side of the Holy Guardian Angel of the Thelemite world view. === === The Cross Qabalistic === The first part of Star Ruby (SOI - IAO) forms the qabalistic cross, with the basic form being the same as in LBRP and having the same purpose. In the second part of the cross one touches one's genitals, saying "o phalle". The "o" in front of the word phallus makes this a short celebration of that part of our bodies. Women don't say any other phrases here, as in this context phallus doesn't refer to manhood only, but sexual vitality - the "immortal essence" of both men and women. The only real explanation of Star Ruby given by Crowley advises one to search the meaning of this word by using numerology. === === The Divine Names of the Quarters === As in LBRP, the next part consists of drawing the pentagrams and visualizing them in each of the quarters. The Sign of Horus mentioned is the same as the "Sign of the Enterer" of LBRP, the sign of Hoor-paar-Kraat in turn is "Sign of Silence". East - KHAOS / TERION Khaos - Chaos refers to "the state of nature in the universe before order was born", symbolizing the infinite unorganized dimensions of existence. Furthermore, Khaos is one of the primitive Greek pre-Olympian deities, the personification of space. Here, Khaos represents the element of earth. Therion - "Beast", wild and animalistic, masculine essence. Element: earth. North - BABALON / NUIT Babalon - The mother of mysteries, the great harlot... The "counter-couple" of Khaos as the primordial and primitive male/female polarity. Here, Babalon represents the element of air. Nuit - The eternally expanding, representing the archetypical mother. Element: air. West - EROS / BABALON Eros - The Greek god of love, sometimes referred to as the child of Khaos, represents the earthly aspects of love. Represents the element of water. Babalon - The significances are the same as those given for Babalon above - the archetype of femininity, counterbalancing Therion. Element: water. South - PSYCHE / HADIT Psyche - The one complementing Eros, spirit and life - soul as the counterbalance to body. Represents the element of fire. Hadit - The counterbalance and complement of Nuit, eternally contracting. Element: fire. === === Paian === The midmost part of the ritual is Paian, celebration of Pan. Another name for this part is "NOX of PAN", that is "Night of Pan" (nox = night). In Paian, there are five signs of N.O.X and while giving each sign one says "IO PAN". (N) Puer (Boy): Standing with feet together and head erect. Let right hand (the thumb between the index and middle fingers) be raised, the forearm vertical at a right angle with the upper arm, which is horizontally extended in the line joining the shoulders. Let the left hand, the thumb extended forwards and the fingers clenched, rest at the junction of the things (Attitude of the Gods Mentu, Khem, etc.). (O) Vir (Man): The feet being together: The hands, with clenched fingers and thumbs thrust out forwards, are held to the temples; the head is then bowed and pushed out, as if to symbolize the butting of an horned beast (attitude of Pan, Bacchus, etc.). Puella (Girl): Standing with the feet together, head bowed, left hand shielding the area of the groin, and right hand shielding the breast (Attitude of the Venus de Medici). (X) Mullier (Wife): The feet are wide apart, the arms raised so as to suggest a crescent. The head is thrown back (attitude of Baphomet, Isis in Welcome, the microcosm of Vitruvius). Mater Triumphans (Set Triumphant, Isis Rejoicing): The feet are together, the left arm is curved as if supporting a child; the thumb and index finger of the right hand pinch the nipple of the left breast as if offering it to that child. === === Invocation === The fourth part of the ritual is an invocation. The word translated as "column" means stele as in "Stele of Revealing". A stele is made of stone often in a shape of a pillar or a post. They were used as a monument or a declaration of a covenant. The differing spellings of the two versions, "daimonos" and "daimones" are not the result of a misspelling. Instead, they are two different words with slightly differing meanings. Both fit the ritual in their own ways. As was mentioned above, the names Junges, Teletarchai, Synoches and Daimonos / Daimones have been considered to be just Hellenized names of the archangels. This isn't the case. They aren't names made up by Crowley either. They originate from the late Neo-Platonic Pythagorean school's Chaldean Oracles, dating back to approximately second century current era. The names aren't those of any singular "beings", but refer more to "classes" of semi-divine "beings". When reading the Chaldean Oracles, one should consciously try to distance oneself from the usual meanings of many words used. For example "intelligible" and "intellectual" don't refer to the intelligence and understanding of our common usage of the words. These words are used to mean the highest accomplishes of consciousness beyond the abyss. "Father" shouldn't be understood to mean the Judeo-Christian Demiurgos. It is a gendered - unfortunately so, one could say - term referring to "the All, the Undifferentiated". Junges In the east, the target of the invocation is Junges (alternative spellings: Iugges, Iuggec, Iunges, Iynges). Aeschylus used this word to metaphorically refer to "spell, charm, passionate yearning". The word comes from the Greek word IUGMOS denoting a shrieking sound and it was used, due to the voice of the bird, of the wryneck. The wryneck is connected to the symbolism of the wheel, as it is said that ancient Greek Witches tied wrynecks to wheels in order for the bird to collect `souls' while turning the wheel. Junges is said to be (paraphrased) "the giver of life-carrying fire. it fills the life-giving bosom of Hekate and plants the enlivening power of Fire, ended with mighty power, into Sunoches." According to Pletho, Jungers are "the Intellectual Species which are conceived by the Father; they themselves also being conceptive, and exciting Conceptions or notions, by unspeakable or unutterable Counsels is as much as unmoved, for speaking consists in Motions"; The possible meanings are connected to a higher class of beings above the void; love spell; witchcraft or lust; or void or bottomless depth itself. Teletarchai In the west, the target is Teletarchai (alt. spellings: Teletarxai, Teletarkai, Teletarch`). As the one performing the ritual is standing towards the east, the Teletarchai in the west symbolize what he has left behind, that what's behind his back. The word Teletarchai is thought to mean "those responsible for initiations", being connected not only to the initiation itself, but also the result of an initiation. Teletarchai represent the result of Junges fertilizing Synoches. Placed behind the Mage, the symbolic value is that of stepping on the initiatory path. Synoches In the invocation, Synoches (Sunoces, Synoxec) are in the south. The word doesn't seem to come directly from any known Greek word, but it has been deduced that it derives from a word meaning binding / holding together, referring to the notion of eternity. Where Junges is a conjuration, Synoches is a binding, with love (see Love under Will), connecting and strong. Junges, Synoches and Teletachai are part of the Second Mind, "Empyrean world", in the system of the Chaldean Oracles. They are intellectual and intelligible, forming the "Intellectual Triad", the Supernals. Daimones / Daimonos "Daimon" refers to god and goddess. Even though it is the basis for our term "demon", this more malevolent meaning dates back only to the times of the creation of the New Testament. Daimonos, used in the later version of Star Ruby, is the plural of Daimon and refers to spirits or "beings of the spirit world". In the system of the Chaldean Oracles, Daimonos are below the demigods. When compared to the previous three groups of beings, Daimonos represent a much more "earthly" concept. "The direction of the greatest darkness", north, belongs to them. Daimones seems at first to refer to the same beings, but the meaning of the word is a different one. Hesiod used this word to refer to ""the souls of men of the Golden Age, forming a link between gods and men". Daimones is a group of people who have reached their True Wills - the former masters now gone, who "had their genius." ===== ===== A Couple of Final Comments ===== Some people recommend that Star Ruby wouldn't be performed as a stand alone ritual, but that it should be followed by some kind of invocation. The reason usually given for this is that Star Ruby is even more effective as a banishing ritual than LBRP - at least for those who know and understand it. The ritual creates a type of "vacuum" and unless you "fill" it with something you've called yourself, the vacuum may attract less welcome visitors. As a small hint: this ritual can be performed dance-like. Sources included: Aleister Crowley, The Book of Lies Magick in Theory and Practice Frater A.L.,An Analysis of the Star Ruby Ritual E.A.O.A., Ritual of the Star Ruby, Text, Translation, Commentary William Wynn Wescott, The Chaldean Oracles Attributed To Zoroaster Discussions on several Thelemite forums. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DONATE TO HELP SUPPORT THE CAULDRON'S WEB SITE If you like The Cauldron and have a few extra dollars, please donate via the Amazon Honor System and help us pay the web site bills. http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [04] ========= ========= REVIEW: MUDRAS ========= Reviewed by Diane Verrochi ========= Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands Author: Gertrud Hirschi Trade Paperback, 240 pages Publisher: Weiser Publication date: May 2000 ISBN: 1578631394 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578631394/thecauldron Mudras, hand positions believed to be conducive to physical health or spiritual states, are ancient in origin, to the extent that it is difficult to obtain any hard and fast data on where and when they came into usage, much less why. However, several are found in ancient artwork in various parts of the world, suggesting either a universality of use or a common origin. Hirschi offers some insight into what is known and what is speculated of the origins of the art of mudra as well as the more practical aspects of how to use mudras. Most importantly, in my opinion, she explains how she was taught and has researched this art, and provides a bibliography for further research. Unfortunately, though understandably, nearly all of the bibliographic entries are of books and articles written in German. This English-speaking reader hopes they may be available in translation as well. She also spends some time comparing other systems of healing that involve the hands, such as acupressure, reflexology, Ayurveda, palmistry, and deep meridians. While she does not go into any of these in depth, a survey of each is presented, along with her thoughts on what connection, or at least correlation, appears to exist between that practice and the practice of mudras. Hirschi presents 50 mudras, along with clear line-art representations of the hand positions, descriptions of how they are to be practiced, and suggested visualizations and affirmations. Her descriptions are thorough and clear. This is a welcome change from the "just put your hands like this" formula that seems prevalent in current books on the subject. She includes herbal suggestions for the related physical health issues, though one could wish she would more carefully advise the reader to investigate such remedies thoroughly before using them. This may be a cultural difference, as in Germany, herbal remedies are handled quite differently than in the US, probably making it more a matter of course than a necessary caution that one should learn a bit about an herb before quaffing teas or popping capsules. However, I believe it would have been prudent to include such a caution in the US printing, because while this is touched upon lightly in the "Dear Reader" section and "Appendix B: There is an herb for every malady." Sadly, many readers, at least in the US, are prone to skipping such sections. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkmyiyh.php [05] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE GODDESS PATH ========= Reviewed by Sperran ========= The Goddess Path: Myths, Invocations & Rituals Author: Patricia Monaghan Trade Paperback, 288 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: May 1999 ISBN: 1567184677 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567184677/thecauldron If you are looking for a book that would be suitable for a religious discussion group, you might want to consider The Goddess Path by Patricia Monaghan. The book begins with a short (30 page) introduction to the concept of goddess spirituality and imagery. It briefly mentions some of the most common types of goddess worship including Wiccan viewpoints (all goddesses as faces of a single Goddess) as well as hard polytheism. It also discusses some common portrayals of goddess imagery, including the ubiquitous maiden, mother, and crone framework. This section also includes a calendar that gives dates of holidays appropriate to honor the goddesses discussed in the book. The primary sections of the book provide discussion and activities for twenty different goddesses. Each section adheres to the same format and includes about 8-10 pages of hymns, invocations, stories, symbols, feast days, and suggestions for rituals dedicated to the goddess being discussed. At the end of each section, a list of discussion questions and activities is provided. The book concludes with a bibliography and a suggested reading list. Overall, I enjoyed this book a great deal. The mythology presented is brief, and not written in an academic style, but accurate. I found the activity and ritual suggestions to be creative, and appreciated that the author found concrete ways to link goddess worship with modern day life. While I found this book to be entertaining and useful, it should be noted that the book does appeal to a somewhat specialized audience. One should take note of the following features before purchasing the book. First, the book focuses very heavily on European deities, especially Greek deities. (Nine of the twenty goddesses discussed are Greek.) If you are looking for a book that includes extensive information about non-European deities, this book is probably not for you. Second, the book is quite group-focused. Although the author encourages solitaries to use the book, many of the rituals and activities presented are not easily adapted to solitary practice. In addition, the large sections of discussion questions are obviously more appropriate to group interaction. As an individual practitioner, I still enjoyed the book but I recognize it would be most useful in a group setting. Finally, the book is very woman-focused. It is not male bashing, but it does focus heavily on "female" issues, such as female body image and sexual assault. In addition, some of the activities and discussion questions are obviously written specifically for women. Because of this, some rituals might need to be adapted or activities altered to allow male group members to fully participate. In conclusion, I think this book would best find a home in a women's spirituality group. It is obviously a book that is meant to be used and shared, not just read. I think the themes of the book are especially relevant to women and provide concrete ways to bring spirituality and goddess worship into everyday life. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bktgpmir.php [06] ========= ========= REVIEW: WHEELS OF LIFE ========= Reviewed by Diane Verrochi ========= Wheels of Life: A User's Guide to the Chakra System Author: Anodea Judith, Ph.D Trade Paperback, 480 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: 2000 ISBN: 0875423205 US Retail Price: $17.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0875423205/thecauldron This book is, quite possibly, the gold standard for introductions to the chakra system intended for the lay person or beginning yoga practitioner or energy worker. It does not require an intimate knowledge of the Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, and Tantric texts, but it does reference them and point the curious reader to them for further research. In the sea of popular chakra books and paraphernalia to be found in the New Age section of most bookstores, this is often the only book one finds that actually goes back to these primary sources. It is not a book meant to be simply read through from cover to cover, except perhaps as an overview before digging in. It is, as the title states, a user's guide, and as such is meant to be worked with, not just skimmed over. The first chapter, "And the Wheel Turns," explores the basic concepts of the body's energy system, and refers to other comparable systems, before delving more deeply into the structure of the chakras, the shushumna, or column of energy traversing the spinal column, and the interweaving currents along that column, before delving more thoroughly into the chakras themselves. This chapter and each chapter on each of the seven primary chakras (from root to crown) includes standard and modern imagery, and suggested physical and meditational exercises. After each chakra has been covered, the final section of the book focuses on "Putting It All Together," with chapters on the journey back down the system from crown to root, something conspicuously absent from many other books on the subject, interaction between the chakras, extrapolation to the pattern of evolution in human society, and suggestions on how to foster healthy development of the chakras in children. If I had to find one thing to fault in this book, it would be the presentation of the yoga postures. Granted, the preface to the first edition "strongly stress[es] that any physical exercises given in this book be done slowly and carefully, and that you take care not to push or strain muscles, or coerce the body into positions that are painful or uncomfortable in any way. If you experience discomfort, STOP," and the second edition eliminates two of the more challenging postures best avoided by those unpracticed in yoga. However, given my cynicism regarding modern readers and front matter, I fear that many of those most likely to hurt themselves will never see this caution, and would prefer to see it reiterated prior to the exercises at the end of chapter 2. This one concern aside, I strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking a basic foundation in the history and concepts behind and experience of the chakra system. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkwol.php [07] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE MAGICIAN'S WORKBOOK ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Magician's Workbook: Practicing the Rituals of the Western Tradition Author: Donald Tyson Trade Paperback, 330 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: September 2001 ISBN: 0738700002 US Retail Price: $17.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738700002/thecauldron I have had Donald Tyson's The Magician's Workbook: Practicing the Rituals of the Western Tradition in my review stack for some time. I have avoided reading it because I was afraid it would be an introduction to Tyson's personal Mercury-centered version of magick that he has written about in other books. When I finally could ignore it no longer, I quickly discovered that Tyson is using the standard Golden Dawn system (which is Sun-centered). Sometimes even reviewers forget that you cannot judge a book by its cover -- or by other books the author has written on similar subjects. The Magician's Workbook is a different type of introduction to the Western Magickal Tradition. There's no theory, no moral advice, no attempt to analyze or to place things in a historical context. This book is simply an introduction to the practical skills one needs to actually perform ceremonial magick in the Golden Dawn tradition through a series of 40 exercises. These exercises start out very simple and get progressively more complex, building on the material in earlier exercises. Many of the exercises in The Magician's Workbook are Golden Dawn material. Others are original exercises and rituals based on Golden Dawn material. Some of the Golden Dawn rituals presented in these exercises include: the Kabblistic Cross, the Middle Pillar ritual, the Lesser and Greater Pentagram Rituals, and the Rose Cross Ritual. Of course, the exercises do not begin with these more complex rituals. Instead Tyson starts with much more simple exercises and builds toward these standard rituals. This is the beauty of this book. Tyson doesn't toss you in the deep end of the pool and tell you to swim the way so many books on ceremonial magick do. Instead, Tyson starts you in the wading pool and allows you to progress in stages into deeper waters. The major problem I have with this book is the lack of theory and context. This really is not that important in the early exercises, but the exercises in the last section of the book really could benefit from some background and theory. This is especially true of the the last exercise, a complete magickal operation to evoke Paralda, King of the Sylphs, into a triangle. In the introduction Tyson states that theory and background are available in many other books. The suggested reading list at the end of the book lists a number of these books. However, I think the book would have been more useful if some of the more complex exercises either provided some theory or at least referred the reader to specific chapters of other books that could provide this information. Despite this problem, The Magician's Workbook is a well-written, practical introduction to the skills needed to practice magick in the Western Tradition. By focusing exclusively on practical magickal exercises, it is an excellent workbook to use with any of the more theoretical books on ceremonial magick (such as Regardie's The Tree of Life). It should not be used alone, however, as it provides little of the theory and background needed to understand the "why" behind the exercises and rituals. If you are a beginning student of ceremonial magick or have studied the theory for years but have seldom put much of that theory to work, The Magician's Workbook is a worthwhile addition to your library. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bktmw.php [08] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE VICTORIA REGINA TAROT ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Victoria Regina Tarot Author: Georg Patterson and Sarah Ovenall Artist: Sarah Ovenall Book and Cards Set Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: March 2002 ISBN: 1567185312 US Retail Price: $34.95 View Sample Cards: http://www.ecauldron.com/images/samtrtvrt.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567185312/thecauldron Usually Llewellyn asks reviewers to request the books and decks they wish to review, so I was surprised to receive a package from Llewellyn that I had not requested. Inside I discovered a very beautiful surprise, the Victoria Regina Tarot deck. My initial reaction to seeing the deck was positive: my eyes grew big and I said "Oh wow!" I have been a Sherlock Holmes fan since I was in grade school, so the Victorian era has always interested and fascinated me. As I am also a fan of Victorian era line art, this review may be a bit more biased than usual (you have been warned). The art for the Victoria Regina Tarot deck is collages of steel and wood engravings from the late Victorian era. This was the height of this style of commercial illustration -- soon half toning would replace it. Sarah Ovenall's collage work is excellent. It is generally seamless, unlike some of the other collage decks I have seen. The Victorian era was an age of invention and technological progress. The cards capture this, as well as the lavish elegance of Victorian high society. Even the velvet deck bag with its tasseled drawstring seems to fit the Victorian mood. All the art is black and white. While this may upset some who are used to the brilliant colors of many tarot decks, it actually works quite well. The court cards are generally members of the British Royal family. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are there, of course, but also some of their children and grandchildren. The suits of wands, swords, cups, and coins of the standard Tarot are represented in this deck by pens, guns, mason jars, and pocket watches respectively. These choices work much better than they might appear at first glance as they capture the essence of the era. The cards are larger than the current standard for Tarot cards. While this is hard on smaller hands, the art needs the larger cards. Reducing the card size would lose much of the fine detail lines in the card art. The companion book, Victoria Regina Tarot Companion, by Georg Patterson and Sarah Ovenall, is well done. The first chapter sets the stage, briefly describing the deck and the British Empire during the Victorian era. The bulk of the volume is card descriptions. Each card is illustrated, described in a sentence or two, and provided with a long interpretation that usually places the card in a historical context and explains how the card affects the reading. A final paragraph usually notes the sources of the some of the illustrations used in making the collage for that card. The book proper concludes with a short chapter on readings which includes two Tarot layouts designed for this deck: Victoria's Sceptre and Victoria's Chalice. An appendix discusses collage art and gives ideas for creating your own collage Tarot deck. I said that my initial reaction to seeing this deck was "Oh wow!" That is still my reaction to it. It's the only collage Tarot deck I have seen that I truly love. Sarah Ovenall has done a masterful job of both collage art and Tarot deck creation. It is clear that she has a real passion for both her medium and the Tarot. Despite the "different" artwork, the deck looks, feels, and reads like a Tarot deck -- quite an accomplishment. The only problems I see with this set are that the size of the cards will make this deck hard to shuffle and use for all but the large-handed and that the book really could have used a few pages more of basic instruction in the "reading" section for those completely new to Tarot. If you are in the market for a new Tarot deck, I strongly recommend adding the Victoria Regina Tarot to the list of decks you are considering. If you are a fan of the Victorian era or of Victorian art, you really have to see this deck. If you do see it, however, I suspect your bank balance will regret it. (Note that the sample cards had to be reduced much more than usual to reach our standard sample image size and have lost much of their fine detail. Please do not judge this deck's art by these approximately one-quarter size images.) This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trtvrt.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UPCOMING REVIEWS Here are a few of the books we'll be reviewing in future issues: INVOKE THE GODS, MAGIC OF QABALAH, MAKING TALISMANS, MAGICAL USE OF THOUGHT FORMS, CANDLEMAS, CHARTING YOUR SPIRITUAL PATH WITH ASTROLOGY, MODERNWICCAN CD-ROM. Reviews often appear on our web site first, so check there for new reviews if you can't wait for the next issue of the newsletter. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [09] ========= ========= MAGICK: CIRCLES AND OTHER KINDS OF SACRED SPACE ========= by Elspeth Sapphire ========= What is a circle? Why do Pagans cast circles? And how does a beginner go about making one? All those are very good questions! Perhaps it is best to start at the beginning and explain what a circle is. One of the things that makes Paganism different from many other religions is the lack of a formal 'space' for religious rites. There are not many Pagan churches, temples, or physical buildings. Instead of investing energy in a building of stone and mortar, many Pagans instead create a holy and sacred area each and every time they come together. There are many reasons for this. One is the tradition of having such rites and rituals outdoors under the stars and moon. When your religious beliefs are based on an appreciation of nature, worshiping in nature is the way to go. Paganism has often been a 'peasant' religion and the money for buildings was just not there. Also, historically, Pagan groups have usually been small and small groups just don't have the needs and resources that a larger group does. However, one of the most important reasons is also a magickal one: casting a circle or creating sacred space forms a ritual area that is separate from the mundane world and just one step closer to the world of the gods. This is usually called the Place between the Worlds, a construct that allows mortal and immortal to met. It is a safe place, protected by Guardians, which is why a circle is often cast before working magick. The word circle is actually a misnomer. A true magickal circle is more a sphere, so that we are covered underneath and overhead. After all, we don't want our magick to leak out, do we? How to cast a circle is not an easy question to answer, since many groups of people use different methods. What is usually accepted as the standard way to cast a circle is to use a wand or ritual knife to 'draw' a line of energy that forms the walls of the sphere. Starting in the East, hold out the wand or knife, concentrating on your purpose. Draw in energy from the universe around you and allow it to flow through you and out your wand or knife. That energy is yours to shape and form and as you move around the area, it becomes a wall, closing off the mundane world. When you come back to the beginning point, connect the energy to make a solid barrier, then expand it to cover you top and bottom. Think of yourself as enveloped within an egg -- protected and secured. Now, depending on the purpose of your circle, you can purify the area with the four elements of water, air, earth, and fire. Many sprinkle the circle with salted water and carry around lighted incense. Now you are ready to call on the deities and protectors you may wish. Or work the magick that you desire. Circles are not the only way to create that Meeting Place between Worlds. There are numerous ways to create sacred space. Why should you create sacred space vs. casting a circle? Often creating sacred space is simpler and uses less tools and energy than casting a circle. Also, some groups just do not cast circles. My Norse friends do not. On rare occasions they will cast a rune ring, but mostly they just purify the space and invite the gods to join them. Circles can be too confining for some purposes -- when you need space and the ability to come and go, sacred space works well. One of the simplest ways to create sacred space is the bubble. You visualize yourself [or your group] surrounded by a bubble of energy. You then push that bubble outwards, slowly, until it includes the entire area you wish. This is also a good way to create a protected area for yourself if you ever feel threatened. Taking down a circle or sacred space is as simple as just reversing what you did. For a circle, trace the area, opposite of what you did in casting, feeling the energy drawn back into your tool, through you, and dispersed back to the universe. For sacred space, you use a gesture that will 'pop' the bubble -- I often just clap my hands or ring a bell. Casting a circle and creating sacred space is simpler than most think. All it takes is the desire and focus to achieve your goal. [10] ========= ========= MAGICK: A SIMPLE TOOL CONSECRATION ========= by Elspeth Sapphire ========= Before using tools for ritual or magick purposes, it is usually a good idea to cleanse and purify them and set them with purpose. It is best to do this at a time when you are unlikely to be interrupted or your focus disturbed. Set up a ritual space by setting out on a table a bowl of salt, cup of water, a candle and incense. Place on the table the tools you wish to consecrate. Make your area sacred by casting a circle or creating sacred space. Touch the salt, hold it up, and say, "Element of Earth, join me in this rite." Dip your finger into the cup of water and say, "Element of Water, join me in this rite." Now, light your candle, holding it up, and saying, "Element of Fire, join me in this rite." Light the incense, holding it up, and say, "Element of Air, join me in this rite." Take up each tool in turn. Hold it in your hands and visualize the purpose of that tool. For example, see yourself casting a circle with your wand, filling a cup with holy water, or sweeping an area clean with a broom. When you have that purpose firm in your mind, touch the item to the salt. "Element of Earth, give this tool strength to aid me in all my rites." If possible, sprinkle it with water. If not, then hold it above the cup. "Element of Water, give this tool strength to aid me in all my rites." Pass the tool in the air above the candle. "Element of Fire, give this tool strength to aid me in all my rites." Pass through the incense smoke. "Element of Air, give this tool strength to aid me in all my rites." Do this for all tools being consecrated. Thank the Four Elements for joining, then close down the sacred area. This tools are now sacred to your use, both magickally and spiritually. It is important to treat them with respect. [11] ========= ========= PRESS RELEASE: ========= PAGAN DIVERSITY CAMPAIGN TEACHES TOLERANCE ========= March 25, 2002 Pagan Diversity Campaign Teaches Tolerance New Group Promotes "Freedom Through Understanding" The Pagan Diversity Campaign (PDC) was announced today to promote religious tolerance and combat misinformation about paganism in America. Rather than restricting the word "pagan" to a narrow band of popular Neopagan religions, the PDC seeks to provide support for all law-abiding pagans. This campaign is a joint venture of The Philosophical and Religious Tolerance Society (PARTS) and the International Coalition of Reconstructionist Religions (ICORR), as well as other concerned American pagans. It grows out of a response to perceived intolerant misinformation being spread by the Pagan Unity Campaign Political Action Committee (PUC), as discussed on the Delphi Forums Sword & Shield (http://forums.delphiforums.com/swordnshield/) and The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum (http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/). While PUC claims to be seeking to unite the many, diverse pagan religions in the United States, the group has actually selected a narrow but popular style of paganism, identified with media-friendly buzzwords like "positive" and "life-affirming," and is openly hostile to many religions traditionally identified as pagan. In contrast, the PDC's definition of "pagan" is based on its widely accepted and attested meaning: "Anyone who follows a religion other than or in addition to Christianity, Judaism, or Islam might call themselves a pagan." "Religious tolerance doesn't just mean tolerating people whose beliefs you agree with," said Paul Kershaw, ICORR representative. "Pagan unity should be about uniting all peoples of alternative religions." "Many pagan religions do not identify as earth-based or apply to the previously published PUC standards of 'earth-centric,'" said Alice B. Jones, PARTS representative. "Diversity is our heritage. Education is our desire. And tolerance will be our legacy." The PDC's goal is to unite by stressing the diversity within American paganism, not by trying to find commonalities that don't exist. Supporters include Wiccans, Asatruar, Greek, Roman, and Egyptian Reconstructionists, Druids, witches, Discordians, and Satanists -- law-abiding, respectful Americans with strong moral values who just happen to have non-mainstream religious beliefs. Because of their diversity, Pagan Americans have only one common need: The need to have their religious rights protected, as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Protecting this need, and educating society, are PDC's twin goals: Freedom through understanding. PARTS can be reached through http://www.partsociety.org/. ICORR can be reached through http://www.chotg.org/. For current information, visit either site. Pagan Diversity Campaign Paul Kershaw, Communications Consultant 21005 Parkside Ferndale, MI 48220 (248) 586-9222 pagan-diversity@partsociety.org http://www.partsociety.org/pagandiversity/ [12] ========= ========= FOR YOUR INFORMATION: ========= MAJOR CHANGES FOR DELPHI FORUMS MESSAGE BOARDS ========= Both The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum and The Witches' Thicket have message boards on Delphi Forums. The Witches' Thicket's only forum is on Delphi Forums, while The Cauldron's secondary "Annex" is on Delphi. If you do not visit Delphi Forums regularly, you may not be aware of the changes the new owners of Delphi Forums are making. Delphi Forums will, by mid-April 2002, be charging for most of its useful features. Free access to forums will still be available, but only through a somewhat crippled and annoying interface (where, among other restrictions, you only read one message at a time). Delphi Forums describes their levels of service as follows [with some staff observations in brackets]: Delphi Basic is a FREE service that provides limited functionality including: - Unlimited posting in Basic View only: o No HTML posting o No attachment feature (you can pick up attachments but you cannot attach them) o No signatures [Basic View has very limited message selection options and only displays a single message at a time] - Chat - No ability to create or host a forum [or to be an Assistant Moderator on a forum] - Advertising on all pages [and via email, we think, given what they say about email ads in the DelphiPlus section] Delphi Advanced provides all the features you are accustomed to plus a new suite of functionality, features, and benefits including: - Advertising Free Experience (New). [Given what they say about Delphi Plus, you still may get ads via email] - Free Delphi Forums College Seminar participation (New). [As of this writing, no one knows exactly what this is] - Unlimited listening to Delphi Forums live broadcasts (New). [As of this writing, no one knows exactly what this is or if it will be available to all users regardless of what operating system or browser they use.] - A democratic voice in electing leadership and establishing Delphi Forums technology development, budgets, and agendas (New). [As of this writing, no one knows exactly how this will work] - Become a Forum Host - Forum Moderation Tools (New) - Eligible to earn money on Delphi Forums (New in development). [As of this writing, no one knows exactly how this will work] - For a very limited time, if you register for Delphi Advanced you will pay just .99 cents per month and receive two months FREE. DelphiPlus [a paying level of service Delphi has had since late in 2001] will continue to provide the highest level of interactive functionality and services including: - Instant Messaging [Via a Java client] - Spell Checking with Delphi Forums Spell Check - Custom email account - Five megabytes of web space - Three megabytes of attachment space - Add special fonts, links, and colors to messages [using a program feature which only works for Windows users who use the IE browser.] - Filter out signatures - Participate in and create exclusive DelphiPlus forums - No non-Delphi Forums email marketing solicitations (New). - Become a Forum Host and receive ongoing revenue sharing, Delphi Forums College commissions, book commissions, and other opportunities to be announced (New in development). [As of this writing, no one knows exactly how this will work] - Become a Delphi Forums College Author and receive residual commissions and royalties on courses, workbooks, and archived services you create (New). [As of this writing, no one knows exactly what this is] - Four ninety-minute live voice broadcasts (New). "Do-it-your-self" live voice events with feature rich technology available now. [As of this writing, no one knows exactly what this is or if it will be available to all users regardless of what operating system or browser they use.] - FREE eGems search and archive software (New) [This looks like a nice program, but it is only available to Windows users.] - If you register for DelphiPlus today you will become a Charter Member and lock in a low life-time rate of just $3.95 per month. [Well, sort of locked in: Delphi Forums reserves the right to adjust it every two years to keep up with the published rates of inflation. Charter membership is limited to the first 15,000 who sign up.] As there will still be free access, The Witches' Thicket and The Cauldron's Delphi Annex forums plan to remain on Delphi Forums for the time being. Either or both may choose to move at a later date if new policies and fees Delphi Forums have set do not work well for these forums. [13] ========= ========= HUMOR: SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE A WITCH ========= Author Unknown ========= Here are some signs that might mean your child is a witch: 1) Your child asks to use the broom to cleanse, I mean clean, their room. 2) There is always a steak knife missing. 3) Your smallest pan keeps disappearing and reappearing, and always smells like ashes and potpourri. 4) All your candle holders are missing. 5) They now enjoy going to the fabric store with you and they want thread, ribbon and cloth of every color of the rainbow. 6) Their Christmas and Birthday wish lists consist of: a white or black full length bathrobe, blank journal books, window box herb gardens and a box of candles in assorted colors. 7) You just figured out that every full or new moon your child asks to have 3 friends spend the night; and strangely they are very quiet all night. 8) Your child now says "Merry Meet Again" every morning to you and whenever they leave they say "Merry Part". 9) Your recipe cards are disappearing and when you do find them you can't make sense of the recipe since it doesn't require any actual cooking. 10) Your child has a new ID bracelet that reads something like "RavenMoon" "StarWolf" or "SunDragon" 11) Your child asks you one day for a compass, four pails of paint; blue, green, red, and yellow, so that they can paint their room correctly. 12) They insist that their first car be the color brown and have a license plate that says BROOM. 13) Their pillows are now filled with all your potpourri. 14) You ask your child to rake up the autumn leaves in the yard, and they come back with a small stick and a large stick; which you later find to have shiny objects on them and unidentifiable etchings. 15) Once a jar gets emptied in your house it ends up in your child's room filled with various objects like pins, needles, hair, honey, paper, and soil. [14] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= NEW ARTICLES ON THE CAULDRON'S SITE ========= The following new articles have been added to The Cauldron's web site since our last issue. * Reality 101 Pagan candidates for a Reality 101 class. http://www.ecauldron.com/opedreality101.php * Brighid Lore for Imbolc An article full of folklore on the Goddess Brighid. http://www.ecauldron.com/brighidlore.php * LyricFox's Signature Image Archive Updated with some new images. http://www.ecauldron.com/lfsigarchive.php * The "Perfect" Leader Do some people expect too much from teachers and leaders? http://www.ecauldron.com/opedleader.php The following book and tarot reviews (some included in this newsletter) are new to the web site: * The Goddess Path http://www.ecauldron.com/bktgpmir.php * Wheels of Life http://www.ecauldron.com/bkwol.php * The Magician's Workbook http://www.ecauldron.com/bktmw.php * Victoria Regina Tarot http://www.ecauldron.com/trtvrt.php * Magical Use of Thought Forms http://www.ecauldron.com/muotf.php * Making Talismans http://www.ecauldron.com/bkmtleop.php * Witchcraft and the Web http://www.ecauldron.com/bkwatw.php New Columns have been added to the Columns and Essays section of the web site: http://www.ecauldron.com/gm/index.php [15] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= NEW WEB POLLS ========= We are trying a new poll program on The Cauldron's web site. This one isn't quite as nice as our last one, but it works with the new security restrictions on web hosting company has put in place. March 16th Poll: Question: Do you believe all Pagan religions (e.g. Wicca, Asatru, Celtic Recon, Greek Recon, Druidry, etc.) can be accurately described as 'Earth-based' or 'Earth-centered' religions? Possible Answers: * Yes * No * Don't Know * No Opinion Vote at: http://www.ecauldron.com/cldpoll37.php Current (April 1st) Poll: Question: Interfaith worship services are: Possible Answers: * Kegs of dynamite waiting to explode * So bland/generic they are meaningless * A way to find commonality among faiths * Best reserved for weddings, funerals, and such * Other * No Opinion Our current polls will now appear on our main page in the narrow right column: http://www.ecauldron.com/ [16] ========= ========= 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: A Pagan Forum's web site by using this link to access Amazon.com when you make your purchases: http://www.ecauldron.com/fradambooks.php Just use this link to go to Amazon.com via our web site and almost every purchase you make that visit will earn The Cauldron a small amount to help pay for our web page -- at no extra charge to you. You can also use the Amazon link on the menu of every Cauldron web page and not have to remember this long link. Unlike the Amazon link listed in some prior issues of this newsletter, you can simply visit this site and save the link in your bookmark list. If you then use this bookmarked link every time you wish to visit Amazon.com, any purchases you make while there will help fund The Cauldron's web site. [17] ========= ========= NEWSLETTER AND FORUM INFO ========= (Including how to subscribe and unsubscribe) ========= Cauldron and Candle is a free publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum with assistance from our sister form, The Witches' Thicket. The Cauldron and The Thicket aim to publish this newsletter once a month and often actually succeed in doing so. We tried to publish it twice a month for a while, but real life interfered too often. Copyrights on individual items in this newsletter are retained by their author, please contact the editors if you need to contact an author for permission to reprint an article and the editors will do their best to put you in touch with him or her. No one involved in producing this newsletter has any money to speak of so suing us if you don't like something we do is a waste of time and money. ++++ ++++ HOW TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE ++++ You are receiving a copy of this newsletter because you signed up to receive it. You can subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter via your web browser at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cauldronandcandle/join Or you can unsubscribe via email by sending a blank message to cauldronandcandle-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Be sure to send this message from the email account actually subscribed to the newsletter. If you have trouble unsubscribing by email, please use the web browser mentioned above. If you need to change your subscription to a new email address, unsubsribe your old email address and subscribe your new email address. ++++ ++++ NEWSLETTER WEB SITE AND BACK ISSUE ARCHIVE ++++ The Cauldron and Candle web site contains information on this newsletter and an archive of back issues. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ++++ ++++ CONTRIBUTE TO CAULDRON AND CANDLE ++++ Cauldron and Candle is always looking for articles, reviews, and announcements of interest to the Neo-Pagan community. Submissions will normally be considered for both the newsletter and our web site. For more information, please see our submission guidelines at: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php ++++ ++++ PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO SUBSCRIBE ++++ If you have Pagan friends who you believe would be interested in Cauldron and Candle please invite them to subscribe. You can either drop them a note yourself or -- better yet -- send them one of The Cauldron's email postcards with the information. You are also welcome to forward a copies of this newsletter to interested friends and associates provided you forward the entire newsletter. ++++ ++++ LINK TO THE CAULDRON: A PAGAN FORUM ++++ If you like The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum please invite your friends to visit. If you have a web page, we'd really appreciate it if you put a link to The Cauldron's web site on your web pages. If you'd like some graphic buttons to use to link to our web site, check the following URL: http://www.ecauldron.com/linktous.php Thanks in advance. ++++ ++++ SUGGESTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME ++++ Don't forget that your suggestions for the forum are always welcome, either posted on the message board or via email to Elspeth Sapphire (elspeth.sapphire@worldnet.att.net) or Randall Sapphire (rssapphire@ecauldron.com). Typos are, as usual, courtesy of the Goddess Eris. Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet again! |
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