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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #20 -- February 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: Reality 101 [02] Poem: Earth [03] Article: Brighid Lore for Imbolc [04] Review: Astrology & Relationships [05] Review: The Pythagorean Tarot [06] Review: Sisters of the Dark Moon [07] Review: Wiccan Beliefs & Practices [08] Review: How To Communicate With Spirits [09] Magick: Spell to Keep Beauty from Fading [10] Magick: Spell to Discover the Truth [11] Humor: Three Short Ones [12] New Articles on The Cauldron's Site [13] New Web Polls [14] Support The Cauldron When You Buy at Amazon.com [15] Newsletter and Forum Info (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: February 20, 2002 +++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL: REALITY 101 ========= by Elspeth Sapphire ========= There is a class that I would love to teach some day. I believe that it would be more useful that any number of courses on spirituality, or ritual writing, or divination. I would call that class "Reality 101." I am sure that most of us have met candidates for this class. You can find them in any large gatherings of Pagans. They are usually the smiling ones standing next to the people that look rather frustrated. That look of frustration comes from trying to convince someone that it is possible to be grounded in this reality and still have a spiritual life. I have noted several groups of people that I feel could benefit from a Reality 101 class: === === Everything is an Omen Kid === I am the first person to admit that the gods do send us signs and omens at times. Especially when I am not "listening" very well. However, I try not to go out of my way to see omens at every turn. For example: my Matron Lady is often attended by ravens. When I lived in an area that rarely saw ravens, the appearance of one of those black birds was an important sign, usually meaning that I needed to be paying attention. I now live in an area where the ravens are the size of puppy dogs and follow people around. Unless one comes up and plants itself in front and starts talking, I am not going to be looking at them as an omen. I had a friend that saw omens in everything around her. That was bad enough, but they seem to give her conflicting information. Because of this, she was always walking around in a fog, almost afraid to take action of any sort. It wasn't until she realized that not every dog barking was a sign that she was able to get her life together. These are related to those who are afraid to take a move or make a decision without reading the cards, pulling some runes, or using some other divination device. These are useful tools, but hardly necessary to decide whether to have roast for dinner or chicken. === === Free Spirit Parents === You know the ones that I mean -- they are the ones that insist that any sort of discipline will ruin their children. Free Spirit parents are the ones that allow their children to run wild as you are attempting to do ritual or teach class or even just socialize. If you dare to stop these ... uh... imps, perhaps tell them no, then the parents will jump your case, threatening and whining. I don't know how this idea that destructive behavior by children is actually creative and should be encouraged got started, but I think it is time that some of these parents look at what they are creating. Behaviors that are cute when a toddler will become hard to live with as a child grows. How do you tell a teen that his behavior is unacceptable, when you have never taught him "no"? I look at the current crop of Pagan kids and sometimes shudder. I do have one hope -- that they will rebel and become born again Christians. === === Not a Historical Scholar === Facts are not always what we want to face. They can be uncomfortable and bring our beliefs and ideals into question. However, we can't just make them disappear by ignoring them and treating those who do deal in facts with disdain. Unfortunately, one sees this behavior too often in Pagan circles. The whole debate over the age of Wicca is a perfect example. I know people, that no matter how many facts you present, will never accept that Wicca is as young as it is. They still insist that it has passed almost unchanged from prehistoric times. The number killed during the Burning Times is another case of not wanting to look at the historical facts. Despite scads of historical evidence that the number of dead was much lower, many still cling to nine million dead in the fires. And the gods protect you if you point out, that even at the much lower figure, not all were accused of witchcraft and not all were women. === === Perfect Love and Perfect Truster === I once overheard at a gathering two women talking. "They arrested him for abuse? How could that be??! After all, he is a Pagan and I have circled with him!" These are usually the same women that are shocked to find out that there are Pagans in prison. Yes, there are people that honestly take the ideal of perfect love and perfect trust to mean that just because you are a Pagan, then you are completely trustworthy. This has led to some horrible crimes and abuses, even to people that specialize in robbing, beating, and abusing Pagans. They know that they can show up on the Pagan scene and usually gain quick acceptance with next to no interest in their background. No matter what beliefs they claim, it is wise to always use caution in dealing with people. === === Party Pagans === They are usually there at every festival and every gathering. Ask them what was the last ritual they attended and they will say, "Beltaine!" with a saucy wink. Often they are the first pull out the alcohol and the first to pull off their clothing. They are the Party Pagans and proud of the fact. They are often just as proud of the fact that they don't take life and this whole spiritual stuff seriously. That is for the dull people. You know the ones -- the ones that always have their noses in books and are planning rituals and activities. The dull ones should just kick back and take life a bit easier. Unfortunately, the Party Ones don't realize how often it is the "dull ones" that make the events possible that they enjoy. After all, =someone= has to do the job of making things work. === === "I am a Fan" === I once almost was lynched by a mob of "fans". I did get kicked off an email list by them. My crime? I dared to say that perhaps their author of choice was wrong about something. Simply that. I didn't say she was wrong about everything or that I thought she sucked -- just that I thought she was wrong about one fact. I was even polite about it. Didn't make any difference. I have run into this in other areas than just Pagan. For some reason, a fan following will form around an author's work. This is fine and good, but when the fans start to give up critical thinking in favor of basking in the glow from the author, then something is wrong. Even the best of authors will be wrong on occasion. They will have poorly written books. They will misinterpret material. They will be human. Anyone that expects differently is riding for a fall. === === One Book Wonders === At one extreme, these are the women who read one book and decide they are now a High Priestess. At the other extreme are the people who figure that because they have read one book on basic Paganism, they never have to read anymore. They never need to study or consult with anyone. All the necessary tools were in that one book and that is all they need. These people are related to the ones that claim that they get all their information from their deity and as such, need no stinkin' books. Identifying clueless people of all these categories isn't difficult, but convincing them that they really need the reality class is another thing. If only I could get them to see that reality isn't as bad as it is cracked up to being. But I guess if I could do that, then I wouldn't need to teach the class -- would I? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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] ========= ========= EARTH ========= A Poem by Moonsongstress ========= Flesh of my flesh, she said as she rolled up The little ball of wet clay from the cauldron And fashioned it with deft hands, into me. Not perfect by any means, but as I lay under The gaze of my maker she was happy with me And my eyes were opened. Under her loving Gaze I knew my worth. My clay warmed and Hardened under those keen eyes and a shiny Coat enveloped the imperfections that were Perfect in her making. Her hand passed over My eyes. Sleep, she said, and I glazed over in The cocoon of pink warmth till the time came. Sleeping like countless sisters and brothers Of my clay, in the rich liquid of the soup of life Teeming with all the tiny makers and their Busyness, I was suspended in dreams of her. Her stability rested sure beneath the stuff of My feet. Earth to earth I walked one on the Other and never felt her sensitive movements As she swayed in the breeze of time, dancing A dance full of singular chances and numerous Miracles which I could only see as safe and Sound sameness and strength. How did you Move mountains? By a butterfly's wing beat, She said. Why did it happen? I asked. Things Happen, she said, and I could rest in that and Feel secure in the knowing of it because it Allowed me to live fully for the present time. Love lives now and builds itself on foundations Of memories whilst all the time looking with Anticipation for the promises to come. Basking In the now is where our happiness lies deep, And as I scanned the horizon for shadows of Wings of future and rested easy on the solid Warmth of her curving fleshed bones I knew The liquid of now for my time, a place where It was right for my growth and flowering, and Where my little difference would be made. The long night of preparation was past and Tomorrow's light to come, but now was here. 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: BRIGHID LORE FOR IMBOLC ========= by Doreen Motheral ========= The goddess Brighid (also known as Brigit, Bride, Biddy and other names throughout Europe) is a goddess who is near and dear to my heart for many reasons. I like the fact that she is associated with both water (her wells in Kildare and other parts of Ireland) and fire (her fire pit in Kildare). I like the fact that she spans both the pagan and Christian worlds and some of her traditions are still celebrated today. Since the festival of Imbolc (also called Oimelc) is this weekend I thought I'd write a few thoughts for those who aren't familiar with her (and perhaps renew an acquaintance for those who already were). Imbolc is the time of the year that the ewes lactated, and the successful timing of this event was approximate, so the exact date of Imbolc could vary from region to region and from year to year depending on the climate. Production of this milk supply was very important to both man and animal. From the milk comes butter and cheese. Newly calved cows were also put under Brighid's protection. Here's an old saying: Samhain Eve without food, Christmas night without bread, St. Brighid's Eve without butter, That is a sorry complaint. Cormac mac Cuillenain, who lived in the 9th century said, "Brighid i.e. a learned woman, daughter of the Dagda. That is Brighid of learning, i.e. a goddess who filid worshiped. For her protecting care was very great and very wonderful. So they call her a goddess of poets. Her sisters were Brighid woman of healing, and Brighid woman of smithcraft, daughters of the Dagda, from whose names among all the Irish a goddess used to be called Brighid" In this writing, Cormac mentions her triple aspect of three sisters, common among the Celts. I often call on one or more of her aspects of creativity, writing and healing, but she is much more than that. The Christian aspects of Brighid and the pagan aspects often overlap, so it's difficult to figure out which stories have pre-Christian beginnings. I think there is a seed of paganism in many of the later stories associated with her. We'll never know for sure, but in my own private practice I take many of her current customs and use them for my own worship of her -- and I don't worry about the pre-Christian aspect of the story or not. Your mileage may vary, of course. On the eve of Imbolc, a piece of linen, other cloth or ribbons is placed outside (some folks put them on their window sill). This piece of cloth is called Brighid's Brat or Brighid's Mantle. It is said that Brighid travels all over the land on Imbolc eve and if she sees this cloth, she will bless it and give it healing powers. Some folks in Ireland say that the older your brat is, the more powerful it is. Mugwort Grove (the grove to which I belong) destroys ours from year to year. We put out a whole piece of linen and tear it into strips for members of the Grove during our Imbolc ritual. People take the strips home to use for healing and some are kept on personal altars throughout the year. Other folklore says that if the mantle gets bigger overnight, you will be especially blessed. It's a nice tradition, especially if you have a lot of illness to overcome for the following year, and a brat is nice to have for healing rituals later in the year. Brighid's fiery aspect makes her the perfect goddess of the hearth -- in fact, my hearth at home is dedicated to Brighid. There are many hearth prayers dedicated to Brighid, especially concerning smooring. Ashes and embers were often deposited in the fields. Also, indoor activity associated with Imbolc often took place near the hearth, and if there was a feast, an extra place was set for Brighid. It is also considered bad luck to do any type of spinning on Brighid's Day. There is also the custom of Brighid's Bed. A small bed is made near the hearth and a doll (called a Brideog), often made from a sheaf of corn and made into the likeness of a woman and is sometimes placed in the bed. In Ireland the doll was often made from a churn dash decorated in clothing (associations t milk again). Sometimes the doll was carried around town to visit houses in the neighborhood. Songs, music and dances are performed -- then prayers are said to St. Brighid for blessings upon the house (this is similar to wassailing in other countries around Christmas). Then the family is asked to contribute a donation -- which used to be bread and butter (there's that dairy again!) but now it's often money (sometimes given to charity). There is much, much more about Brighid I could share, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. A bit of trivia -- Brighid is so loved by the Irish people that in 1942 a survey was taken on "The Feast of St. Brighid". The replies about the customs run to 2,435 manuscript pages. A great book, if you can find it, is The Festival of Brighid Celtic Goddess and Holy Woman by Seamas O Cathain. There are many really cool stories and legends about her. Last but not least one of the other interesting aspects of Brighid is a prayer attributed to her from the 11th century which goes like this: I would like a great lake of ale, for the King of the Kings I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us. I would like an abundance of peace. I would like full vessels of charity. I would like rich treasures of mercy. I would like cheerfulness to preside over all. I would like Jesus to be present. I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us. I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts. I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord; that I should suffer distress, that he would bestow a good blessing upon me. I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings. I would like to be watching Heaven's family drinking it through all eternity. Drink up! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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: ASTROLOGY & RELATIONSHIPS ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Astrology & Relationships: Techniques for Harmonious Personal Connections Author: David Pond Trade Paperback, 368 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: July 2001 ISBN: 0738700460 US Retail Price: $17.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738700460/thecauldron Relationships are an important part of life and we all would like to know how to improve our relationships with spouses, lovers, friends, and co-workers. Astrology has always offered help and guidance in relationships, although it is often stated in negative terms: sign X isn't compatible with sign Y. That's always struck me as overly simplistic. Am I really incompatible with the approximately one-twelfth of humanity born under a sign said to be incompatible with my own? David Pond's new book Astrology & Relationships: Techniques for Harmonious Personal Connections takes a fresh look at relationship astrology. Instead of declaring certain signs and planets incompatible, Ponds describes their traits and needs. This enables one to learn to get along as best one can with other people. This book doesn't tell you how to find a perfect relationship. It uses astrological insights to tell you how to have the best relationship you can with the people you know. Astrology & Relationships is divided into ten chapters, one for each of the astrological "planets" in a horoscope. Each chapter starts with a general description of the planet in astrology and its effect on relationships in particular. This section includes exercises designed to help the reader understand the planet and deal with its effects in relationships. The main part of each chapter, however, is descriptions of the specific effects of the planet in each sign it can fall into in a natal horoscope. These effects are divided into a general description, a section of areas to work on, and a section on how to deal with others who have that planet in that sign. The material is easy to read and understand as it is presented in layman's terms instead of in astrological jargon. This makes the book less suitable for experts, but astrological experts are not the intended audience for this book. As you have probably gathered by now, to make the best use of this book one has to know more than a person's sun sign. One needs to know the sign of all the planets in the person's natal chart. Fortunately, Astrology & Relationships includes a simple set of charts which will allow you to determine what planets are in what signs for anyone born between 1900 and 2005 if you know their birth date and birth time. The most complex calculation involved is converting the birth time to Greenwich Mean Time. While your reviewer is not an expert on astrology, Astrology & Relationships seems to be a well-written attempt to present relationship astrology in a very useful manner. Knowing the astrological traits of the most perfect relationship for you seems much less useful, after all, than ideas on how to make the best of the relationships life hands you. Experts may turn their nose up at the "layman's tone" of this volume, but the average person with little detailed knowledge of astrology who would like to use astrology to help him understand and better relate to the people he deals with every day will probably find this book helpful. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkaartfhpc.php [05] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE PYTHAGOREAN TAROT ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Pythagorean Tarot Author: John Opsopaus Artist: Rho Book and Cards Set Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: November 2001 ISBN: 1567184499 US Retail Price: $39.95 View Sample Cards: http://www.ecauldron.com/images/samtrttpt.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567184499/thecauldron Tarot decks are usually easy to review. There's a deck and there's a book describing the deck designed to introduce a newcomer to both the deck and the Tarot. The Pythagorean Tarot, with its 480 page trade paperback book with over 1600 footnoted references, breaks this mold. John Opsopaus (you may have seen his web site, Biblioteca Arcana) and his illustrator, Rho, have produced something quite different from the norm. The deck itself doesn't strike one as all that unusual at first glance. The deck was drawn and colored by Rho in what looks like colored pencil. This gives the deck an intimate, handmade feel. Only the Major Arcana and the court cards are fully illustrated. The pip cards are just geometric patterns of swords, wands, pentacles or cups. Even the fully illustrated cards are drawn without a lot of the "hidden" symbolism some decks have. On closer examination, however, the deck is quite a bit different from most Tarot decks on the market, albeit often in subtle ways. One will immediately notice that some of the Major Arcana have different names and are numbered differently. Each card is labeled in Greek. Even the system of roman numerals is different (IIII is used to represent four). The pages in the court cards are all males while the knights are all females. The people in the court cards are all Greek deities. While these differences are noticeable, this is clearly a Tarot deck, not a Tarot-like divination deck. Nothing here is so strange as to make the deck hard to use in the hands of an experienced reader (or an inexperienced reader with a good basic book on the Tarot at hand, for that matter). As you might expect from its 480 page length, the book in this set is much different from the books that usually accompany Tarot decks. Guide to the Pythagorean Tarot is John Opsopaus' attempt to present the tarot in a new light. The author believes that many Neo-Pagans, particularly those from non-Celtic and non-Wiccan religions, may be uncomfortable with many of the Tarot decks on the market. The author says "The Pythagorean Tarot remedies this by providing a system of tarot interpretation ... that is firmly rooted in ancient Greek paganism and esoteric doctrine." He goes on to say "The Pythagorean Tarot reconstructs a tarot such as the Pythagoreans might have used, had they known the tarot." While this deck is strongly based in ancient Hellenism, other more modern influences such as alchemy and Jungian archetypes helped shape the deck and influenced the lengthy descriptions of the cards. Guide to the Pythagorean Tarot is a dense and complex work. It will probably scare the beginning Tarot student (or any Pagan who has never moved beyond light "Wicca 101"-style books) away. However, this book is a gift from the Gods to an intermediate to advanced student of the Tarot or to a Pagan with more academic or reconstructionist leanings. The volume begins with background information on Pythagorean beliefs and their place among other ways of viewing the Tarot. This is followed by detailed descriptions and commentaries on each card in the Major Arcana. Each Major Arcana card gets an average of 11 pages of well-footnoted comments. The pip and court cards are described in numbered sets (all the aces, all the twos, etc.). Each card has about a page devoted to it. The remainder of the text covers the practical aspects of using the deck. The author provides a suggested divination ritual and seven tarot spreads for using this deck in divination. A few pages on Tarot mediation and magick round out the text. The book has an extensive bibliography and index. While I really like this deck and expect to reread the book that comes with it many times over the years, The Pythagorean Tarot is not for everyone. If you are interested in a unique view of the Tarot as a sect of ancient Greeks might have created it and if you enjoy dense, almost academic style text with footnoted sources, you'll love this Tarot deck and book. If you are interested a detailed examination of the Major Arcana or in Pythagorean Numerology, you will find this set a good addition to your library. If you are new to the Tarot and interested in quickly learning to use the Tarot for divination, this is probably not the deck for you. However, if you feel drawn to these cards for a first deck, don't let the dense book that comes with them stop you. Just be sure to pick up a good basic book on the Tarot to guide you until you feel confident enough to put the Guide to the Pythagorean Tarot to good use. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trttpt.php [06] ========= ========= REVIEW: SISTERS OF THE DARK MOON ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Sisters of the Dark Moon: 13 Rituals of the Dark Goddess Author: Gail Wood Paperback, 162 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: October 2001 ISBN: 0738700959 US Retail Price: $12.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738700959/thecauldron Many Wiccans celebrate the Full Moons with a ritual. Although most of the books on Wicca I read in the 1970s talked about doing a ritual for both the Full and the New Moon, many more recent Wicca books barely mention New Moon rituals. Gail Wood's new book, Sisters of the Dark Moon, tries to remedy this lack. After a short introduction where the author explains her background and interest in Dark Moon rituals, this book quickly moves to its purpose, explaining the phases of the moon (all nine of them), the lunar year, and providing a brief introduction to Wiccan ritual. The rest of the book is one ritual for each of the 13 New Moons in a lunar year. These Moon rituals are identified by zodiac sign and divided into four sections. The Dark Maiden section covers the rituals for the New Moons in Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, and Taurus. The section on the Dark Mother provides rituals for the Gemini, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo New Moons. The Dark Crone part gives New Moon rituals for Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Capricorn. The fourth section, "The Dark Weaver" cover the thirteenth New Moon which the author assigns to the (non-existent) sign of Arachne which was invented or discovered (your pick) by John Vogh in his 1977 book Arachne Rising: The Search for the Thirteenth Sign of the Zodiac. Each ritual is prefaced by several pages of comments and information on the significance of the Dark Moon in that astrological sign. The rituals Gail provides for each sign are not elaborate, as might be expected since they are designed for solitary performance. Many include guided meditations. The author suggests in passing that one might want to record them and play the recording back during the ritual. I would say that is a must. Most people find it very hard to meditate while reading. Sisters of the Dark Moon is an easy book to describe, but it is a hard book to give a firm purchase recommendation on. While it covers material that few books on Wicca I've seen recently have covered in much detail, its centerpiece -- the 13 Dark Moon rituals -- seem nice but relatively uninspired. While I personally think adding a non-existent constellation to the Zodiac is silly (especially when there are parts of other, real, constellations in the band of sky we call the Zodiac which could have been used -- Cetus or Ophiuchus, for example), that really can't be held against the book -- and that is the only major issue I have with the book. In the end, this is a fairly average book on an unusual topic. If you are a Wiccan who is interested in solitary rituals for the New Moons and do not wish to design your own, take a look at this book. It just might deserve a home on your bookshelf. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bksotdm.php [07] ========= ========= REVIEW: WICCAN BELIEFS & PRACTICES ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Wiccan Beliefs & Practices Author: Gary Cantrell Trade Paperback, 360 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: May 2001 ISBN: 1567181120 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567181120/thecauldron Gary Cantrell, a priest of the "Eclectic-Celtic Pagan of Wicca," has added his contribution to the glut of "Wicca 101" (or "Wicca for Beginners") books with Wiccan Beliefs & Practices. Most Wicca 101 books are fairly average with little beyond the author's personal style to distinguish them. A very few are excellent and a larger few are quite bad. Unfortunately, despite a couple of interesting chapters, Wiccan Beliefs & Practices falls into the "quite bad" category. Wiccan Beliefs & Practices starts off with a chapter on definitions and background. This is followed by a chapter on ethics, a chapter on tools and clothing, a chapter of short Sabbat and esbat rituals, a chapter of other rituals, a pair of chapters of spells and divination, an interesting chapter on Wiccans with disabilities, a chapter on the place of humor in Wicca, and finally a chapter on deciding whether or not to come "out of the broom closet." The main text is followed by a series of appendixes: a listing of ritual texts, a listing of Celtic deities, a list of Pagan shops and resources, and a bibliography. With the exception of the chapter on Wiccans with disabilities, this is fairly standard fare for a Wicca 101 book. The author spends a great detail of time and space in this book telling the reader that the material in the book is just his personal opinion based on his experience. In fact, he says this so often that it becomes slightly annoying. However, I'm glad the author says this because much of the information in this book, especially the historical information, is just plain wrong. For example, Wicca was not "already thousands of years old" before Gerald Gardner wrote about it and Dianic Wicca was not "developed by Margaret Murray in 1921." This book contradicts itself in many places. For example, the author spends a good part of the first chapter telling his readers that there is no one true way to practice Wicca. Then he goes on to say, just a few pages later, that if you are not practicing a Celtic based system that you're not practicing Wicca. A few pages later, he lists Strega and Teutonic Wicca as Wiccan traditions even through they aren't Wicca (as they aren't Celtic-based) according to what he said a few pages earlier. At another point, the author states if one changes the basics of Wiccan worship or "subverts the old methods," one is no longer practicing Wicca. Yet in the information on tools in the third chapter, the author admits that he has never seen much use for some of the basic, traditional tools of Wicca, such as the chalice and the wand, even though their use is called for traditionally in various spells and rituals. Contradictions like these (and like the factual errors, there are more than the few examples I'm giving) confuse me. I hate to think of what they would do to the neophytes for whom this book is written. In his chapter on ethics, Cantrell states that the Wiccan Rede is an "inviolate rule of witchcraft as Wiccans understand it." I get so tired of seeing this misinformation in Wicca 101 books. The word "rede" means "advice." The Wiccan Rede is moral advice, not moral law. While calling the Rede an "inviolate rule" instead of "advice" probably annoys me more than anything else in the book, this misconception is in many recent Wicca 101 books and is often stated in stronger terms than the Cantrell did. The Sabbat rituals in Wiccan Beliefs & Practices are straightforward and simple, but by striving for simplicity they seem almost interchangeable. There's little to distinguish any Sabbat from another in this book's rituals. Another example of the book's confusing prose is the section on handfasting rituals. Cantrell quite properly suggests checking whether a handfasting is a legally valid wedding in your state before performing one. However, instead of suggesting checking with your state government or a lawyer, he suggests you should check with the "Council of the Goddess" -- an organization I've never heard of and which he doesn't list in his resources appendix. Perhaps he meant the "Covenant of the Goddess" -- which he does list in the resources appendix and which he incorrectly thinks probably represents most of the formal Covens in the US. However, he says in that appendix he's found that organization hard to contact, which makes one doubt that the author would recommend contacting it on an issue like this. The chapter on magick is full of the commentary on the origins, history, and usefulness of magickal techniques, but contains relatively little information on actually performing magick. The chapter on divination is a quick overview of the author's three favorite divination methods: the pendulum, the scrying mirror, and the runes. The book gives only enough information for the reader to actually try the first two. The chapter on Wiccans with disabilities is the one good feature of this book. It discusses ways Wiccan rituals and practices can be adapted for those with disabilities. While this short chapter only briefly discusses hearing loss, back problems, immobility, and the lack of privacy those dependent on others often suffer from, I was happy to see it as it is something that is seldom discussed in the Wiccan community. The chapter on humor is also enjoyable. It is sort of a "blooper reel" of things that have gone wrong in ritual. Many new to the Wiccan path seem to fear what might happen if they mess up a ritual. This chapter teaches by example that the Wiccan deities don't bite when Murphy's Law strikes during a ritual. If only the rest of the book were as good as these two chapters. Wiccan Beliefs & Practices is the worst Wicca 101 book I've read in quite a while. It has so much misinformation and so many contradictions that it would confuse or mislead most beginners interested in Wicca. I suggest all beginners pass this book by and select one of the many other Wicca books aimed at beginners. This volume's two good chapters simply cannot redeem the rest of the book, especially when those chapters are on secondary issues and are not primary "Wiccan instructional material" that most people would buy the book for. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkwbap.php [08] ========= ========= REVIEW: HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH SPIRITS ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= How To Communicate With Spirits Author/Artist: Elizabeth Owens Hardcover, 194 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: September 2001 ISBN: 1567185304 US Retail Price: $9.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567185304/thecauldron Many people are interested in communicating with dead loved ones or with a spirit guide. Others, of course, consider the very idea nonsense or against their religion. While there are many books on contacting the dead or mediumship, I decided to review Elizabeth Owens' How to Communicate with Spirits because it was written by an ordained Spiritualist minister. Spiritualism has been an active (if small), organized religion in the US since the late 1800s. How to Communicate with Spirits is an interesting book, full of anecdotes about spirit communication from the experiences of the author and other Spiritualist ministers. Most of the book is taken up with discussing what spirits are, the types of spirit guides, how spirits manifest in the material world, relatives as guides (surprising, the author says they usually aren't), determining whether a spirit is a true guide, and the various types of phenomena that occasionally accompany spirit manifestations. Only the last three chapters (the 9th through the 11th) deal with practical "how to communicate" material. The ninth chapter discusses Ouija boards, automatic writing and drawing, and table tipping, complete with practical information for those inclined to try these methods of spirit communication. The tenth chapter suggests ways to get started communicating with spirits in an organized manner as opposed to just occasional experiments. The last chapter provides several guided meditations designed to help one find and communicate with a spirit guide. As many members of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum message areas know, I'm somewhat skeptical about things like this. While I certainly do not believe spirits never communicate, I just think such communication is far less frequent than many others believe. I'm still just as skeptical after reading this book. However, I found the book an enjoyable and informative read. The background information, particularly the many anecdotes, was very interesting reading. Those looking for such information, especially those interested in the experiences of Spiritualist ministers, will find this book a worthwhile read. Those only interested in the practical side of things may be somewhat disappointed with this book as only about one-third of the book is devoted to "how to" instruction. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkhtcws.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UPCOMING REVIEWS Here are a few of the books we'll be reviewing in future issues: INVOKE THE GODS, MAGIC OF QABALAH, THE MAGICIAN'S WORKBOOK, MAKING TALISMANS, TAROT FOR ALL SEASONS, ALL AROUND THE ZODIAC, MAGICAL USE OF THOUGHT FORMS, TRUE MAGICK, and REFLEXOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS. 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: SPELL TO KEEP BEAUTY FROM FADING ========= Author Unknown ========= Supplies: 1 mirror 1 yard gold string Procedure: This spell is to be done when Venus and Mars are in conjunction. Say into a mirror: Figures of fire That shift and change, Planets that move By heaven's hinge, Be signed and fixed Forever here, And close my image Within thy sphere. Measure a yard of golden string, loose from your fingers let it swing, then tie it in thirteen sturdy knots and hide it among your scents and pots. [10] ========= ========= MAGICK: SPELL TO DISCOVER THE TRUTH ========= Author Unknown ========= Supplies: 2 white candles 1 candle (color that best represents you) Procedure: Mediate on the subject about which you wish to learn the truth for at least 15 minutes. Light the candle representing yourself, saying: This candle I light to represent myself. It burns as does the spirit. It is as myself in all things. Set the two white candles to either side of the candle representing yourself and draw a circle around all three. Light the two white candles saying: These are the symbols for truth. They are enjoined about (your name) and to me show all truth. Then say: As I roke in the night 'cross the brown heath bare, In the bright moons light saw a castle fair; Lords and ladies, great and small, Where crowding in, 'twas a festival, Grasses in the wind are waving. They bade me welcome and I went To drink their wine to my heart's content. I danced and laughed with the ladies fair. Ne'er in my life had I such cheer; Grasses in the wind are waving. Then all at once there came a cry: Haro by yaro! Asleep fell I, While a lady dancing at my side Seemed like a lizared away to glide; Grasses in the wind are waving. I woke in the early light of day, In an olden ruin I did lay, O'er the rock and into the sun I saw a green-gold lizard run! Grasses in the wind are waving. Now the truth I know and it stays with me, For I have seen what I did see, All secret knowledge came to mind, Borne on laughter of the other kind; Grasses in the wind are waving." Sit then in quiet contemplation watching the candle flames for half an hour. In this time will the truth of the matter in question come to you. Extinguish candles when you are through. [11] ========= ========= HUMOR: THREE SHORT ONES ========= Authors Unknown ========= === === Inner Peace === I think I have found inner peace. I read an article that said the way to achieve inner peace is to finish things I had started. Today I finished two bags of potato chips, a chocolate pie, a bottle of wine and a small box of chocolate candy. I feel better already. Pass this along to those who need Inner Peace.... === === Sign Language -- A Louisiana Joke === One day Father Boudreaux and Pastor Thibodeaux wuz fishin on the side of the road. Dey thoughtfully made a sign sayin, "The End is Near -- turn yurself 'roun now, afore it's too late!," and showed it to each passing car. Well dis one car dat passed didn't 'preciate the sign and wuz shoutin at dem and hollorin, "Leave us alone, you religious nuts!" Den all of a sudden dey heard a big splash and dey looked at each other and Father Boudreaux said, "ya think we shoulda just put a sign dat say 'Bridge Out' instead?" === === World Religions === While working on a lesson in world religions, a kindergarten teacher asked her students to bring something related to their family's faith to class. At the appropriate time she asked the students to come forward and share with the rest of the students. The first child said, "I am Muslim and this is my prayer rug. The second child said, "I am Jewish and this is my Star of David." The third child said, "I am Catholic and this is my rosary." The final child said, "I am Southern Baptist and this is my casserole dish." [12] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= NEW ARTICLES ON THE CAULDRON'S SITE ========= The following new areas have been added to The Cauldron's web site since our last issue. * Yulie and the Origin of Yule A humorous history of the "Goddess Yulie" and her holiday. http://www.ecauldron.com/humor52.php * The Granny Phenomena! Faerie K. discusses the Granny Phenomena: long dead relatives who just happened to pass on the secret family tradition of Paganism. http://www.ecauldron.com/granny.php * Hellenic Ethics A discussion of ethical system of Hellenic Paganism. It's not the Wiccan Rede. http://www.ecauldron.com/greekethics.php The following book and tarot reviews (some included in this newsletter) are new to the web site: * Sisters of the Dark Moon http://www.ecauldron.com/bksotdm.php * Wiccan Beliefs & Practices http://www.ecauldron.com/bkwbap.php * How to Communicate with Spirits http://www.ecauldron.com/bkhtcws.php * True Magick http://www.ecauldron.com/bktmabg.php [13] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= NEW WEB POLLS ========= Web Polls have disappeared from The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's web site. In mid-January, our Web Provider turned off a major feature of PHP (that 99% of publicly available PHP programs use as they consider it a "security hole." I suppose it is -- in the same manner than doors and windows on houses are a security hole (and should be eliminated from houses to increase their security no matter how much it reduces their usability). Unfortunately, this broke our PHP poll software. Polls will return when and if I find (or have time to write) free poll software that both works on Cubesoft and works the way I wish it to work. My apologies. [14] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= SUPPORT THE CAULDRON WHEN YOU BUY BOOKS AT AMAZON.COM ========= If you wish to purchase books or other items at Amazon.com, you can help fund The Cauldron: 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. [15] ========= ========= 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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