A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum
website: http://www.ecauldron.com/
message board: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/start

With a little help from The Witches' Thicket
website: http://www.witchesthicket.com/
message board: http://forums.delphiforums.com/thicket/start

Return to Cauldron and Candle Archive

C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #28 -- October 2002 A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.com/ delphi forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/start newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ With a little help from A Witches' Thicket website: http://www.witchesthicket.com/ delphi forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/thicket/start In this Issue: [01] Editorial: Defending Eclectic Neopaganism [02] Cauldron and Thicket News [03] Poem: You Didn't Hear [04] Ritual: Solitary Samhain Ritual [05] Review: Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft [06] Review: Color Magick [07] Review: Astrology For Beginners [08] Review: The Complete Book of Numbers [09] Review: The Moon and Everyday Living [10] Review: Soul Purpose Astrology [11] Review: Tarot For Self Discovery [12] Column: TarotDeevah on the Tarot [13] Article: Wiccan Self-Dedication Explained [14] Dragon Clan Witchcraft Course: September Lesson Index [15] Humor: The Lesser Known Gods And Demi-Gods Of Greece [16] Support The Cauldron by Volunteering to Help [17] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: October 25, 2002 +++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL: DEFENDING ECLECTIC NEOPAGANISM ========= by Ben Gruagach ========= [Editor's Note: This guest editorial was written as a counterpoint to Sannion's "Defending Reconstructionism" editorial published in the September 2002 issue of this newsletter. If you missed it, you can find it in our archive: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/cnc02sep1.php] There is a trend among some Reconstructionist Neopagans to dismiss Neopagans who are admitted Eclectics in their religious practice and philosophy. Recently, Sannion wrote an editorial titled "Defending Reconstructionism" to address the conflict and to present some of the arguments from a Reconstructionist's viewpoint. Sannion's editorial can be found on the web at http://sannion.bravepages.com/Defending_Recon.html and has been reprinted in the September 2002 issue (#27) of the Cauldron and Candle email newsletter, available at http://www.ecauldron.com/. Sannion begins by saying that those who challenge Reconstructionism are "fluffy." It must be pointed out that Neopagans who are not following specifically Reconstructionist paths are not necessarily "fluffy" by default. The term "fluffy" has come to mean Neopagan practitioners who are largely ignorant of their own religion's history, sources, and often core issues. "Fluffy" Neopagans are thought to be involved in alternative religions for shock value or as a fashion statement rather than out of a desire for spiritual understanding and discipline. "Fluffy" Neopagans are those who accept any claim at face value - apparently lacking critical skills to distinguish objective reality from fantasy. "Fluffy" Neopagans generally lack credibility except amongst other "Fluffy" Neopagans, because they often can't provide any evidence to support their claims. By clarifying what "fluffy" Neopagans are, it's easier to recognize that there are indeed Neopagans who aren't Reconstructionists who are also not "fluffy." Doreen Valiente, Janet Fararr, Vivianne Crowley, Margot Adler, Starhawk - are these Neopagans "fluffy" because they aren't specifically Reconstructionists? They are all Wiccans, and Wicca is outside the Reconstructionist category by most determinations. There are undoubtedly some individuals who are new to Reconstructionist traditions who pick up a single book and then declare themselves "experts," which easily puts them firmly within the "fluffy" category. And likewise, there are Neopagans who do not belong to Reconstructionist traditions who are thorough scholars, who are realists, who can provide extensive evidence to support claims they make. Being a Reconstructionist does not make you immune from being "fluffy," and not being a Reconstructionist does not make you "fluffy" automatically either. Let's clarify the issue more by making clear distinctions between the two groups that Sannion describes as being at odds, and give them general labels: Reconstructionists and Eclectics. Reconstructionists are those who are basing their religions as closely as possible on a specific historical model. Eclectics are those who do not limit themselves to one specific historical model, but are apt to select influences from a wide range of cultures and historical periods. Eclectics are also just as likely to invent new concepts or practices for inclusion as they are to draw from established systems. Sannion presented five main objections that Reconstructionist Neopagans hear from Eclectic Neopagans, and attempted to refute each of these. Let's start by looking at those five objections and Sannion's arguments and see where they take us. 1. "All Reconstructionists do is study; they don't actually live the religion." Sannion argues that Reconstructionists do tend to be predominantly book-based, but this doesn't mean they don't pray to their deities or perform rituals or devotions. The argument comes across as based on a rather shallow taunt - "my religion is better than yours because we do more ritual than you do." It also misses the perhaps more subtle point - that a religion is a way of life, a living and breathing part of existence that isn't experienced primarily through the study of the written word. Study of mythology and history can help us get a better understanding of our ancestors, and hopefully will shed light on ourselves. Eclectics acknowledge that things change, that the things written down in the history books are just the start of the story. The present and the future are just as important as the past. Perhaps the Eclectic complaint is that Reconstructionists are not focusing enough on the present, on their individual and current relationships with the Divine, in favor of focusing almost exclusively on what people did long ago. It doesn't really matter who is doing more ritual or more devotions as part of their religion. It doesn't really matter if the religious practices are strictly individual and private, or public and communal. It does matter if you are living in the present or sacrificing the present for a mythical idealized past. 2. "Reconstructionism is too restrictive and doesn't allow for personal expression." Sannion argues that Eclectic Neopagans are uncritical, that they accept everything without distinguishing good from bad. It is also pointed out that within specific Reconstructionist traditions (for example Greek paganism) there is a lot of room for creativity: Greek Reconstructionism includes Minoan, Myceneaean, Homeric, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman periods spanning roughly from 1500 BCE through 400 CE. "And yet [Eclectic] Neopagans still want more freedom," Sannion says. Eclectic Neopagans mostly work under the idea that they use what works for them. It's something that varies from group to group, and often from individual to individual. If something doesn't work for an individual or group, they'll drop it or ignore it. That does not mean that individuals or groups are not selective, that they do not hold some standards against which philosophies or practices are measured. Eclectic Neopagans, individually and as working groups, can be just as critical as any Reconstructionist. The standards might be different, but different does not mean one standard is necessarily better or worse than another. Eclectic Neopagans as an entire group can be said to accept everything, because if you look you'll surely find an Eclectic Neopagan who does believe whatever specific idea is brought forth. The same can be said of Reconstructionists as a whole - pick an idea, and you're sure to find a Reconstructionist somewhere who believes that particular idea. The selection of a specific culture and period in history as the basis for a religion is itself artificial and forced. For example, the Celtic peoples were varied and far from homogeneous, yet Reconstructionists will just as happily blend different clan or regional deities, myths, and practices. Ancient Greece, as another example, was a land made up of very independent city-states, each with its own set of deities and religious practices. Rome, on the other hand, did its best to institute a "state religion" or collection of religions, and to do this it consciously absorbed and adopted various tribal religions from Italy, Greece, Egypt, and elsewhere. The idea of a "pure culture," "pure religion," or "pure ethnic group" is very artificial and arbitrary. Cultures adopt ideas and mythology from each other all the time. To pretend that a religion or culture is "pure" is rather na‹ve. Many Eclectic Neopagans (although not all, of course) also work under the philosophy that "all gods are one God, all goddesses are one Goddess," and often also believe that God and Goddess are merely two gender aspects of a single, all-pervasive Divine that is beyond human understanding as a whole. They believe that we approach and interact with the Divine through distinct "aspects" that appear to human perception as independent individuals. To expect an Eclectic Neopagan who believes "all gods are one God" to limit themselves to an arbitrary group of deities (whether selected by geographic region, historical period, or whatever criteria) is an artificial and unnecessary limitation. Eclectics allow themselves the right to decide how to approach the Divine, which names they feel most comfortable using when speaking with Them, and usually assume the same right to others whether they are Eclectic or not. Sannion presented an analogy of two musicians to reinforce the idea that limiting study to one cultural and historical period is best. Of course, there are other analogies that can be presented to argue to opposite. Imagine that there are two chefs. One chef limits herself to just twelve ingredients, selected because they were native to one geographic area and period in history. She also combines and prepares those ingredients only in ways that are historically supported for the time period and location selected. She becomes highly proficient and is satisfied with her achievements in the kitchen. Perhaps she becomes famous for a particular "specialty" dish. The second chef, however, does not limit herself to a specific set of ingredients, methods of combining, or methods of preparing those ingredients. She feels free to explore other cultures, try new dishes, and incorporate what she likes best into her own familiar menu. Because she is able to explore and test, she invents some new dishes and methods of preparing ingredients that become new delicacies. Those experiments that didn't work out are discarded in favor of those that succeeded. She learns from her mistakes and sees exposure to new ingredients and methods as a starting place, not the final destination in her culinary life. Reconstructionists probably do see themselves in the analogy of the two musicians - they are the ones who apply themselves to learning one instrument, immerse themselves in the established understanding of that instrument, and strive to master it. Eclectics, however, probably see themselves in the analogy of the two chefs - they are the ones who allow themselves the freedom to explore, borrow, and invent, and strive to contribute something vibrant and new. Is one right and the other wrong? Or are they just different approaches for different kinds of people? 3. "Reconstructionists are mean." Sannion argues that Neopagans who are not part of Reconstructionist traditions are not critical. "And they [non-Reconstructionist Neopagans] tend to believe that everything is subjective and just a matter of opinion." Religion is a subjective thing - it's far from objective in any sense. Reconstructionist traditions are working from historical opinions that are based on interpretations of archaeological and textual evidence. Religion, like history, is always open to interpretation. New evidence is always being discovered, new circumstances arise which force us to re-evaluate and reconsider. We humans can rarely agree about absolute determinations of "what really happened" in current events, so what makes us think we can do so for past history where we are often working from fragmented evidence? There does appear to be a larger emphasis on scholarly standards within the Reconstructionist traditions than in the Eclectic community at large. This does not mean, however, that there are no Eclectic scholars, and that statements made by Eclectics are never critically examined. Religions that are more popular will invariably have more "fluffy" followers. There is a growing push within the Eclectic community as well towards critical scholarship such as the growing attention given to Ronald Hutton's work, among others. To label a whole group "uncritical" while ignoring the increasingly more prominent critical elements within that group seems premature. 4. "Reconstructionists are too focused on the past." Sannion argues that Reconstructionists are not Luddites. They base their traditions on the best from their chosen cultural group and time period, ignoring elements such as slavery and animal or human sacrifice which are incompatible with modern values. This is one of the strongest arguments for Eclecticism, as it acknowledges that it is impractical and likely impossible to recreate exactly what the ancients did. The difference is that Reconstructionists have chosen to limit their inspiration upon an arbitrary cultural group and time period (which may or may not be accurate in its modern assumptions of homogeneity of that cultural group and time period). This is the gist of this particular argument against Reconstructionism - that the limitation to one group at one time period for the basis of a modern tradition is arbitrary. One group's or individual's choice in no way invalidates the choices of others to limit themselves or not in similar fashion. If Reconstructionists admit, as Sannion does, "_we aren't pretending to be ancient people_ [w]e are moderns, and gladly accept the positive things about modern culture" then why do they condemn Eclectic Neopagans because they aren't pretending to be ancient people either? If an Eclectic Neopagan isn't claiming to be carrying on an unchanged tradition from a specific cultural group at a specific time period, then why should a Reconstructionist be concerned? Many Neopagans do not feel drawn to Christianity, Judaism, or Islam specifically because they feel there is no such thing as a "One True Way" for all people. Why should Reconstructionists object when other Neopagans choose to follow their religions with different cultural or historical sources of inspiration? 5. "Reconstructionists are just making it up." This argument is the weakest. Sannion attributes this complaint against Reconstructionists to the "fluffiest" of non-Reconstructionist Neopagans - those who claim to carry on a tradition when the historical evidence does not back them up. It becomes an attack on the poor scholarship of the "fluffy" non-Reconstructionist instead of an argument addressing the charge that Reconstructionists aren't really following an undisturbed ancient tradition, either. Sannion admitted that Reconstructionists are in fact eclectic in their careful selection of what to include and what to exclude as part of their traditions. They include modern ideas and values, where often the original culture and time period used as the basis for the tradition would have differed. Even the original cultures and historical periods selected are not "pure," as ancient cultures borrowed, adopted, and changed myth and philosophy from their neighbors the same way modern people do. Some cultures, like the Roman empire, were quite openly eclectic. It is puzzling that today's Neopagans, especially ones who pride themselves on their thorough scholarship such as Reconstructionists, should try and insist eclecticism should be sneered at. If the ancients did it, and the ways of the ancients are clearly good enough for the Reconstructionists to emulate, then eclecticism should certainly be acceptable for all Neopagans. The entire argument appears to really be about scholarship within the Neopagan community - what constitutes credibility, and how credible are we to outsiders. There is certainly a problem with what has been termed "fluffy" behavior, where practitioners exhibit little or no attempt to critically examine claims. This is not solely found within the Eclectic Neopagan community despite what some Reconstructionists would claim. We should be encouraging critical thought regardless of the tradition (or lack of one) among all Neopagans. This means that Reconstructionists as well must critically examine their own assumptions and challenge their own beliefs that Eclecticism is suspect. Copyright (c) 2002 by Ben Gruagach. Reprinted with permission. ===== ===== About Ben ===== Ben Gruagach describes himself as an Eclectic Wiccan. You can find more of Ben's writings on his web site: http://www.witchgrotto.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SEND A PAGAN POSTCARD You can send a Pagan Postcard from the menu of any of our web pages at http://www.ecauldron.com/. If you haven't tried our postcard site, give it a try. It has quite a few nice features. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [02] ========= ========= CAULDRON AND THICKET NEWS ========= by Cauldron and Thicket Staff ========= ===== ===== Cauldron Co-Host In Hospital ===== As many members of the Cauldron's message board know, Elspeth has not felt well enough to participate since May. On September 27th, she was diagnosed with pneumonia and put in the hospital. Her doctor intends to run a full battery of tests on her while she's in the hospital in hope of tracking down the cause of the other problems that have been plaguing her all summer -- or at least as many of them as they can -- before they let her go home. Elspeth welcomes prayers and healing from anyone. ===== ===== Cauldron Delphi Forum Top Poster -- September 2002 ===== The top poster on The Cauldron's Delphi Forums message board for September 2002 was Seasons (SEASONS4). The Runner Up was Mari (ARIANCRAIDD). There were several members hot on their heels: Star (STARCR), Trance (RAEVYNXX), and HEARTSHADOW. (Cauldron staff members are ineligible for this honor and so aren't listed.) ===== ===== The Cauldron Message Board Sets Record in September ===== 4891 messages were posted to The Cauldron's Delphi message board in September 2002, surpassing the record set in July by over 100 posts. Thanks to everyone who participates in The Cauldron's Delphi message board. ===== ===== Cauldron Web Polls ===== The Cauldron's web polls have disappeared again. Once again our web hosting provider has changed things so that our poll program does not work. As we have had more trouble finding poll programs that will work for us and keeping them working than we have with anything else on our web site over the past four years, we've decided to just not bother with them any more. The Fates seem to be against us when it comes to polls on our web site. We will still have polls on our message board. ===== ===== Ecauldron Mailing List Closed ===== As announced in previous issues of this newsletter, our ecauldron mailing list was closed to new posts by non-moderators at the end of September. Given the problems with Yahoo Groups and the rapid growth of our reopened message board during the last few months, The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum decided to drop the discussion list and concentrate staff time and attention on our message board. Due to requests from mailing list members, the list was not closed completely as originally planned so that people would have access to the archives of past discussions. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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] ========= ========= YOU DIDN'T HEAR ========= A Poem by Elspeth Sapphire ========= You didn't hear the words I spoke; Instead you listened to my heart. Freeing all the love captive there No matter the miles we're apart. I spoke of joy in solitude Of my quest to need only me. You heard tales of unspoken pain -- Shared your vision so I would see. I then spoke words of bitterness. Yes, I threw them cruelly like a blade. But you heard the fear hidden there; Refused to leave -- offering your aid. And when I spoke of weariness... Life too much a burden to hold; You heard the need of comforting And helped to drive away the cold. You didn't hear the words I spoke And I am thankful every day. You listened to what was important And what I truly had to say. [04] ========= ========= WICCAN SOLITARY RITUAL ========= RITUAL: SAMHAIN (WITCH'S NEW YEAR, 31ST OCTOBER) ========= by Moonsongstress ========= [Visit Moonsongstress' web site for more of her material: http://www.moonsongstress.com] ===== ===== Tools for the Ritual ===== * Dark brown and russet altar cloths * Apple in a censer, sharp knife, apple juice (simple feast) * Samhain incense - myrrh * Golden God candle * Silver Goddess candle * White altar candle * Quarter candles and corresponding stones * Matches, taper and snuffer * Cauldron or fire-proof bowl and small votive candle * Dark green leaves in a small vase * Fire proof lantern with a red candle in it. ===== ===== Tools for the Peace Spell ===== * Blue candle * Lavender oil ===== ===== Preparation ===== Before the ritual dress, consecrate and light the lantern candle and place it in an upper window. At the beginning of the ritual mentally cleanse and sweep the area moving in deosil fashion. Set up the quarter candles and stones symbolizing the elements of the quarters. Decorate the altar with its cloths, and then the candles. Place the golden God candle to the right back of the altar and the silver Goddess candle to the left back. The cauldron goes before the Goddess candle. Place the votive candle in front of the cauldron. The white altar candle goes at the center back of the altar between the Goddess and God candles. Place the items for the simple feast to one side and the vase of leaves in front of the God candle. The apple, knife and apple juice should be placed to one side. Take a shower or splash your face with water for purification. Sit quietly and meditate for a while, then ground and center. ===== ===== The Ritual ===== The ritual is begun. Cast the circle, calling the quarters and spirit center. Invoke the Goddess and God. Bid them all Hail and Welcome. Say: I perform this ritual as the wheel of the year turns to complete and re-begin its cycles. The time of cold and dark, of frost and fog is upon us and the veil between the worlds of the living, the dead and unborn, and the spirits has become as thin as the gossamer of a spider's web. On this day I will travel through the worlds' veil and invite the beloved dead and unborn to come in peace and love to share part of this time outside of time with me. Hecate, I call to you now in this time Of the thin veiling, when the quiet Spirits quest and search, reaching With long, looking fingers for the still Remembered ones as they awake. You, whose dark as moonlight cloak Envelops the old souls lately resting, Cradling them in scrawny armed care; I light my lamp to you on this night, And for those in need of my signpost. Fortressed in our concrete castles, And trapped in our high-rise towers We let down the silver, supple tresses Of our spirits to welcome them back, And the light says - "We await you". For silently they come on this night, Drawn to the friendly flickering flames And places that have been set for them To once more be with their own ones And exchange love giving again tonight. It calls in its shining for them all, but Also for you, as I watch them enter And you let them go with a mother's Care. I honor them and you as they Return from the safety of your wings. Observe the Goddess candle's flame. Wait for it to rise and flicker, then proceed. If nothing happens, silently project your wish to commune with your loved ones that have passed on and proceed when the time feels right, saying: Pan, I call you. I call to you now With my gay laughter and song. You, the horned one who makes The honey dripped music of love And dances with us the tender, Wild, passionate dance of life. I call to you now, as you greenly Answer, softly breathing down The sweet calling pipes of freedom, Waiting to dance the merry circle Round with the Green Lady as she Whispers the music of the spheres. Come now. I hear you coming In the wind as it caresses my brow And weaves flowers in my hair. And I feel you fleeting as shining Raindrops singing in the air and Creating the oldest wonder anew. Where do you come from and Where do you go? I ask, as you Stare still with the eyes of the owl And the mouse. "I am the male Goddess, the feeling, creative One who lives and dies." you say. Live within me then, I say as you Take my hand and whirl me softly Round like fallen leaves through The crisp, golden days of pleasure. Give me your joy and your sadness In full measure and I will live, And I will die, over and over the Same but ever new. Creating and Living and loving and laughing And crying once, for all and for Ever. For I am green with you and The dance of life is ours this time. Observe the God candle's flame. Wait for it to rise and flicker, then proceed. If nothing happens, silently project your wish that your loved ones be kept safe on their journey and proceed when the time feels right, saying: In an upper window my candle lantern burns as a guide to the beloved dead. May they find their way back to their earthly homes on this night to share in joyful reunion with those who still live. I invite you now to come and be with me in peace in this ritual. Stretch out your arms to embrace all of your beloved dead and unborn. Wrap your arms around yourself with an embrace of love and acceptance. Take the votive candle, saying: Beloved Hecate, your cauldron is a well-pool of the cycle of life, death and rebirth, Horned Pan, your wisdom and strength protect your children. I stand before you now as the old year ends and the new year begins. I offer this ritual as the harvest of my life as it is now, And the learning I have received up to this time. As I walk forward into the new year with confidence, I ask boldly for your abundant blessings. Light the candle and place it in the cauldron. Sit and observe the candle flames. Each beginning is an ending, each ending is a new beginning. Life and death are but different parts of the same cycle. Watch with me, my beloved ones, you who are here now Who have in the past departed, who are joined together With me again through the gossamer boundary of the thin veil For love giving and taking. You are in the fire of my heart. I hold a place open for those ones who do not find the time right For their return this year - I hold you too in my heart. ===== ===== Self Re-dedication ===== Say: My life is consecrated to the Green Lady my Goddess and her consort the horned God. I offer myself once more to your service, Green Lady. Crouch on the ground in a foetal position. Place one hand on the crown of your head and the other under you feet. Say: Everything that is between my hands is yours. I give it freely and with full knowledge and forethought. May everything that I am always be used honestly, truthfully, wisely and courageously in your service, Green Lady. Uncurl yourself and continue, saying: May I listen for and hear you, May I look for and see you, May I reach for and touch you, May I wait for and find you. Teach me what I need to know, and what I am now ready to know. ===== ===== Peace Spell ===== Place the blue candle in its holder and anoint it with lavender oil moving from the top of the candle to the middle, then from the bottom to the middle, so that the whole candle has been anointed, but no part of it has been anointed in both upward and downward directions. Excess oil may be used to anoint your breastbone with the triple moon. Raise energy by visualizing that you are a tree. Extend your roots into the earth and feel the rich abundance of energy the earth gives to her children. Draw energy up through your roots, through your trunk and into your branches. Allow it to cascade in silver fountains back down to the earth. Visualize the world as a place of freedom, peace, equality and plenty. Opinion and belief may be expressed by all people in an atmosphere of safety, tolerance and understanding. Nationality, wealth, ethnic and social background are all irrelevant in this place. Respect for all is the code by which we live. Everyone's voice is equally heard and relevant. There is no need for desperate action here because the deep belief in the heart of each individual is that everyone is equal. There are infinite numbers of different types of people who naturally band with others who are similar to themselves, but each one is of equal worth to the larger group called humanity. Difference is valued for its role in the survival of the species - a sure antidote for stagnation and stubborn sameness. Explore this world, explore the feelings of it and create it in your mind. When enough energy has been raised, direct it into the blue candle through your hands. Light the candle. Bind the spell, visualizing a cord tying around the candle. Address the earth, saying: I bind this spell by power of the three, may it harm none and bring good to thee. Proceed with the simple feast to ground yourself. Take the knife and cut the apple horizontally to reveal the pentagram within the fruit. Place one half of the apple in a censer on the altar. This will be offered to the earth after the ritual. The other half of the apple and the apple juice are to be consumed now. Say: I consecrate this apple to the love of the earth. As I observe the pentagram within, may I remember the elements of life. As I offer it, may I offer careful nurturing. As I plant it, may I plant love. ===== ===== The end of the Ritual ===== Thank the spirits of the quarters and center, and also the Goddess and God. Ask them to go if they must but stay if they will. Bid them all Hail and Farewell. Open the circle. The circle is open but never broken. Allow the spell candle to burn down without extinguishing. The ritual is ended. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [05] ========= ========= REVIEW: BUCKLAND'S COMPLETE BOOK OF WITCHCRAFT ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft (Second Edition) Author: Raymond Buckland Trade Paperback, 368 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: May 2002 ISBN: 0875420508 US Retail Price: $17.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702048/thecauldron When Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft first appeared on bookstore shelves in the middle of the 1980s, it was snapped up by eager newbies and long time Pagans alike. At the time, it quickly became a staple: a book that everyone recommended to those new to Wicca. After 31 printings, Llewellyn replaced this old standby with a slightly revised second edition in 2002. The major change to the second edition is larger type. This may not sound like much, but the larger type and more consistent formatting make the second edition much easier to read. Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft lost some of its luster in the 1990s, unfortunately in this reviewer's opinion. The more traditional forms of Wicca (which Buckland teaches in this book) went out of style and were replaced by a more sanitized and politically correct form of Wicca. Worse, while Neo-Wiccan authors of the 1990s often sound like they are trying to be a cross between the reader's kindly mother and the reader's best friend and confidant, Raymond Buckland's reserved and slightly superior writing style makes it sound at times like the reader should be ever so grateful to him for writing this book. If you read the customer reviews at this book's page at Amazon.com, you will see that its more traditional Wiccan teachings are apparently offensive to many readers accustomed to the more sanitized and politically correct Neo-Wiccan teachings which became common in the early 1990s. Many reviewers there take the first edition of this book and its author to task for talking about traditional Wiccan things like skyclad rituals or the binding and symbolic scourging of initiates and for including a page or two on sex magick. Admittedly, this book is not perfect. It tries to cover far too much and therefore often ends up spending a few pages on material that deserves a book or two of its own -- in a few cases without taking the trouble to refer you to those extra books. The history of Wicca information in the first lesson is woefully out of date. Buckland gives the now pretty much discredited idea that modern Wicca is a direct survival a pre-Christian "Old Religion" instead of being mostly the invention of Gerald Gardner. Unfortunately, this section was not revised noticeably for the second edition. Also, Buckland still suggests using one of the better herbals "such as Culpeper's" Herbal. I don't know what Buckland was thinking on this point. While Culpeper can be an excellent source of info on the magickal uses of herbs, it is hundreds of years out of date on the safe medical uses of herbs. Nevertheless, Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft is an excellent beginner book for someone interested in traditional Wicca, especially if they are interested in practicing their religion as part of a circle or coven. There is information in here that is often not covered at all in today's more popular Neo-Wiccan beginner books. The wide variety of material covered in fifteen lessons is about what would be covered in a good traditional coven's first degree training program. This book also gives you a complete set of generic, but written along traditional Wiccan lines, coven rituals. While they aren't specifically for Buckland's Seax-Wica tradition, they are obviously designed to fit it with simple changes anyone who has a copy of the Seax-Wica Book of Shadows, The Tree, could make. This volume has one feature which might make it worthwhile even for Neo-Wiccans who find traditional Wicca not to their taste. Those interested in making their own Wiccan-style working tools will find well-illustrated, clearly-written instructions in Lesson Three. Buckland is an excellent craft writer. I'd love to see a Pagan crafts book by Mr. Buckland. He writes this material well. Buckland describes the second edition changes in his introduction. The main change is the layout and arrangement of material -- which has improved the readability of the book greatly in this reviewer's opinion. Other changes include more pictures and illustrations, revised reading lists and revised information on Wiccan traditions. Buckland says he did not make major changes to the content as doing so would have been unfair to those who had purchased the first edition. Unfortunately, a few parts of this book (such as the history in the first lesson) really needed to be updated to include the results of more recent research. To Buckland's credit, however, he did not remove the small sections that so upset some in the Neo-Wiccan "political correctness" crowd. In summary, if you are looking for a good beginner book on more traditional Wicca and are willing to put up with Buckland's slightly reserved and superior attitude, you'll probably want to snap up the second edition of Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft. If you do not find traditional Wicca (with its emphasis on birth, sex, death, and both the light and dark side of the universe and life) to be your cup of tea, you'll probably want to pass on this volume. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkcbow.php [06] ========= ========= REVIEW: COLOR MAGICK ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Color Magick: Unleash Your Inner Powers Author: Raymond Buckland Trade Paperback, 223 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: March 2002 ISBN: 0738702048 US Retail Price: $12.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702048/thecauldron Color Magick is a slightly revised edition of Raymond Buckland's 1983 book, Practical Color Magick. The only major changes seem to be better layout and much more professional interior art. I noticed no major changes or additions to the text. The new interior art is a major improvement over the original edition, however. The topic of this book, as the title indicates, is color-based energy manipulation in magick and healing. This book takes a shotgun approach to color-based magick with eight chapters on a wide range of subjects. The only real link is the use of color. The first chapter talks about using color in meditation. The second chapter provides color-based exercises designed to improve one's ESP and other psychic abilities. The next chapter discusses the use of color in divination. Color magick itself is discussed in the fourth and fifth chapters. The fourth chapter covers basic spells while the fifth chapter goes into "advanced" concepts like poppets and talismans. The next two chapters talk about the use of colors in healing, briefly covering using color with a number of different healing methods. The last chapter provides information on using colors in everyday life and to achieve your dreams. Color Magick is a very basic book on using color in magick and related activities. If one knows nothing at all about magick or healing, this book would be a fine basic introduction. Unless one has a very specific interest in color magick, however, the limited scope of this book may prove frustrating. For more advanced students -- in this case, anyone who has read a good introduction to magick -- this book does not offer much likely to be new or really useful. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkcmuyip.php [07] ========= ========= REVIEW: ASTROLOGY FOR BEGINNERS ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Astrology For Beginners: An Easy Guide to Understanding & Interpreting Your Chart Author: William Hewitt Trade Paperback, 300 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: 2002 ISBN: 0875423078 US Retail Price: $12.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0875423078/thecauldron The second edition of William Hewitt's Astrology for Beginners does not appear to be all that different from the first edition. That's probably a good thing as the 1991 edition was a clear, easy-to-read and understand introduction to what astrology is and the basics of constructing and interpreting an astrological chart. As the title states, this book is for beginners. If you are not a beginner, you should pass this book by and select a more advanced astrology book from the shelves of your favorite bookstore. If you are a new student of astrology, this is one of the better introductory books. It explains astrology and its basic terminology from the ground up. It clearly and concisely explains the essentials of astrology: the signs, the planets, the houses, charts, aspects, the Ascendant and the Midheaven, the nodes of the Moon, and the Elements. The first hundred pages (and seven chapters) is devoted to these basics. The second section of the book explains how to construct an astrological chart. As this is a modern astrology book, it starts by talking about computer generated charts. Unfortunately, this apparently was not updated for the new edition as it makes this sound much more expensive than it is with today's inexpensive computers and the free astrology programs available on the Internet. This section also describes the traditional method of creating a chart with a table of houses, an ephemeris and a lot of math and a less traditional, but fast, method called "eyeballing," which requires much less math. The final 125 pages or so of Astrology for Beginners is devoted to explaining the general meaning of each of the planets in signs and houses and the meaning of the various aspects. While the material here is enough to get started, it's a bit too superficial for regular use. If you find you are interested in astrology, you will quickly want to pick up a more complete guide to interpretation. Hewitt recommends The Astrologer's Handbook by Sakoian and Acker in the references -- a good choice. I am still not sure what has been revised in this book. As my copy of the first edition is in a box somewhere in my garage, I can't easily compare the two. However, it doesn't really matter, even if nothing but the cover has changed; Astrology for Beginners is still a good "introduction to astrology" book. If you are interested in astrology but do not know where to start, this book is one of few introductory astrology books that is complete enough to be useful yet easy enough for the average person to understand. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkafb.php [08] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE COMPLETE BOOK OF NUMBERS ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Complete Book of Numbers: The Power of Number Symbols to Shape Reality Author: Steven Pither Trade Paperback, 319 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: July 2002 ISBN: 0738702188 US Retail Price: $19.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702188/thecauldron The Complete Book of Numbers is an ambitious book. In his introduction, Pither says that his book aims to transliterate the "techniques and terminology" of Pythagorean numerology "into current mathematical practice." The back cover is a bit more specific. It talks about "exploring the symbolic and spiritual meaning of numbers and the mathematical processes of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division." Since I've always been interested in numerology and took more math courses than I wanted to, I expected to enjoy this book. Unfortunately, my hopes were dashed when much of the book proved to be written in a turgid and often impenetrable prose. The author seemed to be trying to write in the style of a college text without really knowing how. It does not help that sentences are often long and florid. Here is a sample paragraph, selected by opening the book at random and selecting a good example from the two pages in front of me: The ceaseless mixing and reconfiguring of number forces swoon the individual into the belief that the Numeric Dream is Reality, causing him to forget momentarily (that is, during each incarnation) that he is Director of his Numbers and Captain of his Soul. This dreamy preoccupation is called Illusion, but it appears very, very real to the enrapt gaze of mundane consciousness. It is a cosmic case of the divine dog chasing after its own eternal tail: the dog cannot be made to realize that it is rushing its own tail away from its own eagerly onrushing mouth. This is a paradox to the dog, whose cause and inevitable effect are perfectly clear to humans, just as our own cosmic conundrums are obvious as self-induced traps to the Eyes of Cosmic Consciousness. --- from page 113 (Chapter 6, The Interpretation Process) Much of The Complete Book of Numbers reads like this. The author may have some interesting ideas on number symbolism and numerology buried in his book. Trying to dig them out of his text, however, seemed more trouble than it was worth. I eventually gave up. Unless you have more patience with this style of prose than I do or are a professional numerologist who feels obligated to read everything in the field, I'd pass this book by. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bktcbon.php [09] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE MOON & EVERYDAY LIVING ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Moon & Everyday Living: Use Lunar Energies to Transform Your Life Author: Daniel Pharr Trade Paperback, 235 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: April 2002 ISBN: 073870184X US Retail Price: $12.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/073870184X/thecauldron The Moon & Everyday Living is the retitled second edition of Moonwise, originally published in 2000. Astrologically, the moon's monthly journey through the Zodiac has a great deal of influence over our lives and over the Earth. The most obvious lunar effect is the tides, but many people use the moon to select the best times to plant, fish, or hunt. Pharr's book presents astrological information about the moon's effects on personality and a method of determining how the moon's travels affect the reader personally. The first chapter is a short introduction to the Moon and lunar lore. It's an interesting hodgepodge of anecdotes and facts about the Moon's effects. The second chapter presents two methods (a journal and an energy log) of determining the specific effects of the moon on you. While this chapter is quite short, actually following through on it may take several lunar months. The third chapter, which discusses the effects of the moon's phases, is also quite brief. The fourth chapter talks about the effects of the moon as it passes through each sign of the Zodiac and when it is void-of-course. The fifth chapter, at over 100 pages, is the major event of the book. It discusses each natal moon sign and the influence of the moon as it moves through the Zodiac each month for each particular natal moon sign. (An appendix presents a method for determining the reader's natal moon sign if he does not already know it.) The sixth and final chapter discusses good ways to use the moon's energy as it moves through its phases and the signs of the zodiac each month. The Moon & Everyday Living isn't a bad book, but it really doesn't stand out among the many other astrology books on the bookstore shelves. If you need an easy to understand introductory guide to lunar astrology, this book is not a bad choice. If you've passed beyond the need for introductory guides, however, you will not miss anything by passing this book by. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bktmael.php [10] ========= ========= REVIEW: SOUL PURPOSE ASTROLOGY ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Soul Purpose Astrology: How to Read Your Birth Chart for Growth & Transformation Author: Margaret Koolman Trade Paperback, 200 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: May 2002 ISBN: 0738702218 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702218/thecauldron Astrology is a complex art and there are a large number of books aimed at the beginner on the market. Margaret Koolman's Soul Purpose Astrology is one of those beginner books. Instead of trying to cover all the details of astrology in one short book, Koolman has elected to concentrate on the basics of natal chart interpretation in her book. The first chapter is devoted to giving a brief overview of astrology and the information found on an astrological chart. The second chapter -- about 50 pages -- discusses the signs of the Zodiac in some detail, complete with occasional exercises designed to make the reader think about what he is reading. The third chapter devotes about 70 pages to a discussion of the planets and how they interact with the signs of the Zodiac. This book is fairly unique among beginner books I've seen in treating Chiron, a small comet-like ball of ice in the outer solar system (which should not be confused with Charon, the satellite of Pluto), as an astrological planet and provides interpretations for it. Exercises are scattered throughout the chapter. The fourth chapter talks about the houses and the Ascendant. The fifth chapter devotes about 15 pages to the nodes of the moon. Both of these chapters have thoughtful exercises as well. This book provides a lot of information on the subjects it covers, more details than other beginner books I've read in many cases. On the other hand, it barely mentions important subjects like aspects and how to interpret them. The book is extremely easy to read and beginner-friendly. This combination of detail and omission makes it hard to recommend this book as a first book on astrology. If one is interested in a detailed overview of the Zodiac, the Planets, and the Houses, this book is excellent. Reading this book will allow just about anyone to understand the basics of how these work in a chart. However, if one wishes to learn how to read and interpret charts completely, the poor coverage of aspects in Soul Purpose Astrology is fatal by itself. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkspa.php [11] ========= ========= REVIEW: TAROT FOR SELF-DISCOVERY ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Tarot For Self Discovery Author: Nina Lee Braden Trade Paperback, 153 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: July 2002 ISBN: 073870170X US Retail Price: $12.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/073870170X/thecauldron When I was on the old GEnie Online Service (back in the days before the Internet was easily available outside of colleges), many members would encourage fellow member Nina Lee Braden to write a book on the Tarot. She clearly loved the Tarot, gave truly excellent readings, knew what she was talking about, and had a friendly but clear writing style. It's only been ten years or so, but Nina Lee finally did write a tarot book. I'm happy to report that Tarot for Self Discovery was worth the long wait. While most people think of divination when they think of the Tarot, the Tarot is actually a set of rich symbols that can be used for many purposes. Tarot for Self Discovery isn't about reading the Tarot. It's about using the Tarot to better understand yourself. The introduction is written by Mary K. Greer, whose book Tarot for Yourself first brought this method of using the Tarot to the attention of the general public in 1984. This book is organized simply and directly. The first chapter explains what the book is about. The second chapter starts off the actual tarot exercises with easy and generally more light-hearted ones. The third chapter, the longest in the book, provides more complex exercises that hold more potential for personal growth and transformation than those in the second chapter. The fourth chapter provides special tarot exercises for special occasions such as difficult relationships, weddings, and saying goodbye. The fifth chapter provides examples of how others have worked through some of the exercises. This is a very useful chapter, especially if this book is your first exposure to using a tarot deck to explore your thoughts and feelings instead of for divination or meditation. The last chapter suggests ways to create your own tarot exercises. Three appendixes follow briefly discussing the chakras, astrology, and the Golden Dawn. By now you are probably wondering just what a "tarot exercise" is. Generally they are an examination of some aspect of yourself and/or your life using the tarot deck as a focus. Nina Lee's exercises usually ask you to go through the deck slowly and select a card (or cards in some cases) that best represent something to you. You then examine the card or cards you selected for insights and record those insights in a journal. There are many variations on this theme in the approximately 50 exercises in this book, of course. This probably sounds dry and very boring from my description, but if you have any interest at all in finding out why you are what you are, these exercises are far from boring -- especially as the author goes out of her way to make each exercise different and interesting. You do not need to be a Tarot expert to use this book, but some basic knowledge of the Tarot will help. You'll also probably want at least one Tarot deck you like with lots of pictorial symbolism on both the Major and Minor Arcana. Tarot decks which just use pips for the Minor Arcana will be much less useful in most of the exercises. I highly recommend this book to Pagans and Magicians. "Know Yourself" is a central theme of many Pagan and Magical traditions. Books like Nina Lee's provide a practical way to learn about yourself with methods that many people find more interesting than some of the more traditional methods of self-examination. Unless you just can't stand the Tarot -- or have no interest in self discovery -- Tarot for Self Discovery is a worthwhile addition to your life (and to your bookshelf, of course). This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bktfsd.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UPCOMING REVIEWS Here are a few of the books we'll be reviewing in future issues: SEASONS OF THE WITCH, HEART OF TAROT, MASTERING REIKI, NORTHERN MYSTERIES & MAGICK, PAGANISM, DECAMERON TAROT, GOLDEN TAROT OF THE TSAR, ETRUSCAN TAROT, and THE WITCHES' CRAFT. 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. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [12] ========= ========= COLUMN: TAROTDEEVAH ON THE TAROT ========= by TarotDeevah ========= === === African Tarot (Journey into the Self) === by Marina Romito and Denese Palm Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1995 by Marina Romito ISBN 1572810203 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/africanpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572810203/thecauldron This deck is absolutely adorable! It follows Rider Waite style of order and naming without deviation. The art is bold, colorful and childlike. Generally, I don't like childish artwork, but I think the colors in this deck make all the difference. I love this deck. Despite it being so cute, it is quite readable. Cards measure about 2.25 by 3 inches, which makes this deck quite portable. It is a bit small to handle easily, but it's not impossible. The deck comes packaged very well in a corrugated cardboard box. Quite unique. Card stock is ideal, and I imagine they will be quite durable. I recommend this deck for everyone. I can't imagine anyone not loving it! Beginners will be able to use it as well, as symbolism is plentiful. Collectors will find it a must for their collection. === === Albano-Waite Tarot === Colored by Frankie Albano Originally published by Tarot Productions, Inc. Currently published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1968 by Tarot Productions and 1987 by US Games ISBN: 0880793333 (Miniature Version) See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/awpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880793333/thecauldron This is a recoloration of the Rider-Waite Tarot. Other than the coloring, it is identical to Rider-Waite. I like these colors better than the Rider-Waite Tarot, but not as much as Universal Waite Tarot. I own the miniature version, but know that other versions are available, including a standard. These cards measure about 1.75 by 2.5 inches and are too small to handle without practice. With a little effort and practice, they become usable. Card stock is very good, and the deck is quite durable. I recommend this deck for those who use Rider-Waite and are looking for a fresh perspective. Of course, I also recommend it for collectors. === === Ancestral Path Tarot === by Julie Cuccia-Watts Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1995 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN: 0880791411 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/ancpathpics.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880791411/thecauldron I really like this deck. It is multi-cultural deck with stunning artwork. All cards have pictures, including the pips. Suits are swords represented by Japanese culture, staves represented by Egyptian/Nubian culture, Cups represented by European (and possibly Nordic) culture, and sacred circles represented by Native American culture. The major arcana consists of a diverse group, including: American, Middle-Eastern, European, African, Native American and Egyptian. The images inspire creativity and intuition. I find ample symbolism throughout, and appreciate the new approach to some of the cards. For instance, the Hanged One is a fetus. How fitting. The cards are of heavy, durable stock which will stand up to shuffling well. They are slightly wider than standard playing card size, which took me a bit of getting used to. However, with a little practice, they became quite easy to handle. I recommend this deck for readers from novice to advanced, and for clients of all walks of life. There are only a couple of nudes, very tastefully done. For instance, Strength is topless; however, she is tribal African, so it isn't gratuitous nudity. All in all, this is a lovely, workable deck. ===== ===== About This Column ===== TarotDeevah's column will feature monthly articles or reviews selected from her web site or written for this newsletter. You can find TarotDeevah's web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/home.html [13] ========= ========= WICCAN SELF-DEDICATION EXPLAINED ========= by Sorita & David Rankine ========= Initiation is a process of "death and rebirth" - the old self dies, and the new and magickal self is born. A rite of self-dedication marks a serious commitment and dedication to the path, and should not be taken lightly. Having followed your path this far, you will have noticed subtle (or not so subtle) changes in your self, and you may wish to mark this, and affirm your commitment to the path with a self-dedication ritual. Initiation is a process which happens over time, and the rite itself will benefit from being preceded by a daily practice, building up in intensity as you approach the day of the rite, with the dedication rite being the culmination of this ritual practice. As the rite marks a rebirth, into your witch self or magickal self, you may wish to obtain a new magickal item or items for it. This could be a piece of ritual jewelry, such as a pentagram pendant, or amber and jet necklace (the traditional witches necklace), or a cord you wear around your waist. Some people choose to mark their dedications by having a tattoo in a magickal design, personal to themselves. It is also good to have a magickal weapon which you will consecrate at the end of the dedication rite. A ritual dagger, or athame is the general tool chosen. Self-dedication can be very empowering, and can produce a feeling of "walking on clouds", and it is very important to earth oneself afterwards, and then to have a rest from magickal work for a period of between a week and a month. Simple daily meditation may be practiced during this period, but avoid intense magickal work. Time is needed to assimilate the experience, and the dedication process should be undertaken at a time when you do not have too much outside stress, and are able to take time for yourself. It should be stressed that self-dedication is not the same as initiation into a coven, and should you wish to join a coven at a later date, you would still have to go through a probationary period and coven initiation, if accepted. -=-=- Copyright (c) 2000 Sorita & David Rankine. Reprinted by permission of the authors. For more material by David and Sorita, visit The Avalonia web site, one of the UK's more interesting Wiccan/Witchcraft web sites, at http://www.avalonia.co.uk. [14] ========= ========= DRAGON CLAN WITCHCRAFT COURSE: SEPTEMBER LESSON INDEX ========= OFFERED ON THE CAULDRON'S DELPHI FORUM ========= The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum is offering an online witchcraft course in the Dragon Clan tradition on our Delphi message board. This course is taught by Jet (aka Hawke). While this course formally began on Monday, May 20, 2002, interested members can join the course at any time as the course material is in numbered messages in the Online Witchcraft Course folder on our Delphi message board. You simply start with the messages with the lowest numbers in the subject line and work your way through at your own pace. New lessons will be posted to our message board every week or two. Here are links to the lessons posted in September: 5.0 Wheel of Air http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6885.1 5.1 Meditations 5.11 Meditation on the Winds http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6886.1 5.12 Meditation on the Solar Cross http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6887.1 5.13 Meditation on the Wand and Air http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6888.1 5.14 Meditation on the Wand http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6889.1 [15] ========= ========= HUMOR: THE LESSER KNOWN GODS AND DEMI-GODS OF GREECE ========= Author Unknown ========= Listed below is a selected list of many of the lesser-known gods and demi-gods of Greece that have apparently been ignored or forgotten by historians for various and sundry reasons. Some of these gods were obviously important and useful in everyday life habits, others apparently had no redeeming value whatsoever, but somehow achieved god- or goddesshood. This list is presented here in the hopes that it will prove helpful to someone somewhere, sometime. ===== ===== Egregious - God of Errors ===== Though he spent virtually all his life with the other gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus, he is rumored to have left for a short vacation to the south of France where he met and had an affair with the French goddess, Faux Pas. Egregious was one of the smartest gods on Mount Olympus. In fact, many thought he might be as smart as Zeus, though no one would ever admit this publicly. However, his unfortunate habit of making so many mistakes kept him from becoming one of the better-known gods. When asked how someone so smart could make so many stupid mistakes, his reply was always "You learn from your mistakes. Obviously, I've made so MANY mistakes, I've become a genius!" ===== ===== Melanoma - God of Tanning ===== Often seen away from Mount Olympus and down along the sandy beaches of southern Greece, Melanoma could have been ranked up there with the other major gods of his time, He was strong, handsome, and had a body that attracted all the goddesses. His only major fault was getting involved with the mortal Macedonian strip queen, Ultra Violet. The two of them constantly played naked in the sun along the Greek shoreline. Zeus, upon seeing Melanoma cavorting with a non-Olympian, decided to punish him by taking away his immortality. This didn't seem to bother Melanoma at first and he continued to associate with Ultra Violet and played in the buff each day. Soon though, Melanoma started to notice small dark patches on his skin that eventually became cancerous. He died a quick, but horrible death, with Ultra Violet at his side till the very end. ===== ===== Ozone - God of Memory ===== Ozone was another failed god. Upon attaining godhood, Zeus asked Ozone to choose the subject for which he would be revered for all time. He chose Memory. To celebrate his attaining full godliness, Ozone married his school sweetheart, Amnesia. However, their foggy relationship soon resulted in the complete loss of all the records of all the great gods on Mount Olympus. Zeus retaliated by immediately expelling Ozone to Southern California, where he was held prisoner in the dreaded "Inversion Layer" along with the evil nether-world dragon-god of progress and technology, Smog. ===== ===== Pancreas - Demi-god of Dessert ===== Father of the sugar gods, Arabinose, Fructose, and Glucose. Pancreas was a short-lived god who spent most of his time on coffee breaks eating donuts. His marriage to Diabetes was no help to him at all and he died soon after they had their three sons. ===== ===== Peristalsis - God of Bowel Movements ===== Revered for his strength and perseverance, Peristalsis occupied a special place in the bathrooms of old Greece. Figurines in his likeness stood next to or near the place of anal evacuation. A special prayer to Peristalsis often accompanied a trip to the bathroom in some of the better bathrooms of high-society Greeks. ===== ===== Uvula - Goddess of Swallowing ===== Uvula was an often unappreciated goddess who spent most of her time at the back of the room of all the other gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. Only when she cleared her throat did anyone bother to pay any attention to her. She originally came from Rome and was accepted into the Greek goddess system, but only because of the promise she showed. She was reported to spend some time with the god Fellatio (a part-Italian god) who promised to show her something she could do that would make her one of the most revered goddesses of all of Mount Olympus (at least by the gods there). They were to meet one hot and steamy night under an olive tree where Fellatio would show her what she could do. Unfortunately, Fellatio never came. ===== ===== Zirconia - Goddess of Costume Jewelry ===== Often in direct competition with the goddesses Titanium and Platinum, Zirconia was pretty much always relegated to being allowed only to attend the lesser parties on Mount Olympus at which the great gods and goddesses were rarely present. As a result, Zirconia was subsequently ignored by most historians and now only shows up on the backs of magazines for really cheap prices. [16] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= SUPPORT THE CAULDRON BY VOLUNTEERING TO HELP ========= The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum was founded in December 1997 to provide a friendly but serious discussion area for Pagans on the Internet. We've grown a bit over the years. We now have an active message area, a large web site with around 700 pages of information (including well over 150 book and divination deck reviews), and a monthly email newsletter. To continue to provide and expand these services, The Cauldron needs lots of volunteer help from our members and supporters. Here are some of the things members and supporters can do to help The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum thrive: ===== ===== Actively Participate In Our Message Board ===== While our Delphi message board welcomes readers, we encourage members to actively participate by posting their comments and views in our discussions. One of the easiest ways to help The Cauldron is to actively participate in our message board. The staff especially appreciates members who start new topics for discussion based on their own questions, opinions, or interests. http://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 message board and have friends who might enjoy them or have information to contribute, please invite them. ===== ===== Link To The Cauldron ===== If you have a web site where linking to The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum would be appropriate, simply providing a link to this web site is a big help. Our Link to this Site page explains how you can do this if you need help or want some simple graphic buttons to use: http://www.ecauldron.com/linktous.php ===== ===== Donations ===== As The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum uses as many free services as possible, our need for money to operate our site is currently lower than our need for the many items we list above. However, if you have a few dollars to spare, we would be honored to have your help in paying for our web site. You can donate by using 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 receives a small percentage (usually 5%) from most items purchased from Amazon.com when you go to Amazon.com from one of the links to Amazon on our web site. If you purchase a lot of books, CDs, and other items from Amazon.com as many members do, going to Amazon.com through one of our links when you are going to make a purchase there is a painless way to help fund this web site. http://www.ecauldron.com/fradambooks.php ===== ===== Have Questions or Suggestions? ===== 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.) [17] ========= ========= NEWSLETTER INFORMATION ========= (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. This issue of Cauldron and Candle as a whole is copyright (c) 2002 by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum. Copyrights on individual items in this newsletter are retained by their author, please contact the editors if you need to contact an author for permission to reprint an article and the editors will do their best to put you in touch with him or her. 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 method 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/ ===== ===== PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO SUBSCRIBE ===== If you have Pagan friends who you believe would be interested in Cauldron and Candle please invite them to subscribe. You can either drop them a note yourself or -- better yet -- send them one of The Cauldron's email postcards with the information. You are also welcome to forward a copies of this newsletter to interested friends and associates provided you forward the entire newsletter. ===== ===== SUGGESTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME ===== Don't forget that your suggestions for this newsletter are always welcome, either posted on the message board or via email to 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!

Return to Cauldron and Candle Archive