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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #27 -- September 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 Reconstructionism [02] Cauldron and Thicket News [03] Poem: Silly Love Song [04] Ritual: Mabon Ritual of the Second Harvest [05] Review: Egyptian Pyramid Oracle [06] Review: Antagonists in the Church [07] Review: A Book of Pagan Prayer [08] Review: 2003 Moon Sign Book [09] Review: 2003 Herbal Almanac [10] Review: 2003 Magical Almanac [11] Review: Mabon [12] Tarot Column: Tarot and Children [13] Article: Ritual Project for Solitaries [14] Dragon Clan Witchcraft Course: August Lesson Index [15] Humor: A Whimsical Grimoire [16] Support The Cauldron by Volunteering to Help [17] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: September 25, 2002 +++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL: DEFENDING RECONSTRUCTIONISM ========= by Sannion ========= Over the last couple months a curious trend has begun manifesting itself within Pagandom: the Fluffy backlash against Reconstructionism. At first it was just a few stray comments in the chat rooms and on the various lists and boards. Nothing special, really. Just the usual venting of "Recons are elitist bookworms," which is actually a pretty accurate description of us. I mean, back in the 1970s Asatru (one of the first Recon religions) proudly proclaimed itself the religion with homework, and someone who prefers their books to come from Harvard or Cornell University Press instead of the likes of Llewellyn or HarperCollins is bound to engender a reputation for literary elitism. However, this anti-Recon trend is growing. There are now several websites (for instance Why I Don't like The CRP Path! [http://morriganscairn.tripod.com/CRPNoNo.html] and De Dannan Magick and Lore [http://tuatha-witch.tripod.com/Index2.html]) and even an anti-Recon banner [http://www.webgurus.com/matic/graphics/53871.html] which people can place on their sites. What was once a low murmur on the lists and boards has now grown into a slightly asthmatic wheeze, that could, possibly become a thunderous and indignant roar, but probably won't. Even so, I have undertaken to answer their charges, since I'm waiting on my copy of Gilbert Murray's Five Stages of Greek Religion to arrive by mail, and have nothing better to do in the meantime. There are five common objections leveled by the Neopagans against Reconstructionism. While much of my response will also apply to other Reconstructionist religions, my focus is Hellenism, so my examples and explanations will be drawn from my experiences as a Hellene. 1. All Recons do is study: they don't actually live the religions they claim to follow. While this couldn't be further from the truth, I think that in some small way we have actually contributed to this impression. I have a friend that I met on a Hellenic Pagan list. He's actually a Wiccan, but is interested in the Greek Gods, and was looking for others to worship with. He had some very eye opening things to say: "I really like Recon Hellenism. You guys are far more knowledgeable than most Pagans I've met, but I've got to wonder: do you guys actually worship the Gods? I've been on the list two months, and all I've seen are arguments about the myths and which books to read. No one has talked about their relationship with the Gods, or what you do to worship them." Now, part of that has to do with our nature. We are generally modest, private people. I've been on general Pagan lists where people shared everything. One person talked about how they devoted their first menses to the Goddess, and another told this long rambling story about how Thor had helped him find his lost car keys. Most Recons would consider this trivial, and not the sort of thing they're likely to share. Also, a lot of what we do is fairly commonplace. My relationship with the Gods is very natural, almost like a reflex, needing very little thought. When I go for a walk, and a breeze comes up, I thank the Anemoi. When I find a $5 bill on the street, I recite a quick prayer to thank Hermes for his unexpected gift. When I rise in the morning, I light incense and candles for whatever God is marked on the calendar. Before I take a bite of food, I give that first portion to Hestia. There are hundreds of little practices like these which are part of my day-to-day routine. The Gods are so woven into my life that I don't really think about it much. Like brushing my teeth, it's not something I'd think to tell anyone about unless they specifically asked for details. The larger festivals are another matter, though. These should be big, noisy, public affairs. Too often, they're not. Many of us are isolated and alone, and have no contact with others in the community - Recon or general Pagan. When there happen to be more than a couple Hellenes in a 50 mile radius, and they get together to worship, chances are the other Pagans in the area have no idea that they exist. This is something we need to remedy. I would like to see us have more contact with the broader Pagan community: become active on lists, at pan-Pagan festivals, in local papers, etc. Let others know that we're out here, and get our voices heard. We've been trapped in our online ghettos long enough. It's time to break out and make a difference. 2. Reconstructionism is too restrictive and doesn't allow for personal expression. While there was some merit to the previous charge, there is absolutely none here. Neopagans tend to believe that anything goes, and you should do whatever you want. It's perfectly fine to combine elements from different religions, without worrying about how well they fit together. And no one bats an eye when Brigid and Quetzalcoatl are invoked side by side. Reconstructionists, on the other hand, limit themselves to the religious practices of a single culture, and sometimes to a specific period of time within that culture. We also only worship the Gods of that culture. Neopagans find this too restrictive, and often complain that it squashes their freedom and creativity. To understand why we Reconstructionists accept the limits of tradition, consider the example of the two musicians. The first musician is a restless spirit. He picks up an instrument, and begins taking lessons. But no sooner has he started than he gets bored, and looks for something new to learn. When he writes compositions, they include bits and pieces from everything, and while it's certainly original, it is also discordant, noisy, ugly, and says nothing profound. Now, the other musician finds an instrument, and he sticks with it. Instead of jumping onto the next new thing, he continues his lessons and learns how to play that instrument like no one else. Because of his long familiarity with the instrument, he can make it do things that nobody ever imagined before. He breathes new life into old pieces, and when he creates new works, he has the support of tradition behind him. He may not have the range of the other musician, but he far surpasses him in depth and skill. And actually, this analogy is deceptive because although we limit ourselves to a single culture, we still have a world of opportunity open to us. With Greek Paganism, for instance, you have roughly from 1500 BCE to 400 CE to consider. That includes the Minoan, Mycenaean, Homeric, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman periods to choose from - which were all very different. You have the rural cults of Pan and the Nymphs or the city religion of Hestia and Athene Polias. You have the ecstatic orgies of Dionysos or the asceticism of the world denying Orphics. You have the magic of the curse tablets, the prophecy of the Pythias, and the Mysteries of Eleusis promising a blessed future existence - or the Ionian philosophers who taught humanism, rationalism, and pantheism. You name it, you can probably find it among the Greeks. And yet, the Neopagans still want more freedom. What will they do with all this freedom, I can't help but wonder. 3. Recons are mean. I don't think that Recons are actually mean, so much as there is a difference in the way that we communicate. Neopagans tend to be very accepting. When someone makes a statement, they usually take it at face value. When someone expresses an opinion that strikes them as different or weird, they often fall back on, "Well, we all have our own ways. Who am I to criticize another?" They are more concerned with whether something sounds true, not why it is or isn't. And they tend to believe that everything is subjective and just a mater of opinion. Recons, on the other hand, often come from an academic environment, or admire the standards of academicians. This can lead to a manner that appears very confrontational. When somebody makes a statement, we often ask them how they reached this conclusion, what sources they consulted, etc. We tend to believe in objective reality and certain standards which should be upheld. We correct obviously false historical or mythological assertions when they are made. We require tangible proof for extraordinary claims. We believe that the archaeological record and established tradition are superior to someone's personal opinion. And we do not pretend that it is normal for someone to claim to be a 30,000 year old dragon or elf. This often makes us unpopular. But none of it is done with hostility, or to demean the person. Most of the time when a Recon asks for one's sources it is because they are curious, and want to learn more about a subject, not because they are trying to show what an ignorant newbie the person is. (Though it can be an excellent way for accomplishing the latter.) 4. Recons are too focused on the past. Many object to Reconstructionism on the grounds that too great a distance separates us moderns from the ancients. They point to technological and societal advances, and suggest that we cannot possibly know what it was like to practice the religion back then. Others think that we're some kind of Pagan Luddites, and want to go back to a life without computers and cars and that we believe women are inferior, and slavery is okay, just because these were part of ancient society. Less time separates us from the Athens of Plato than separates him from the entry of the first Greek speakers into Hellas. While we have experienced rapid technological advancement in the last couple centuries, so did the ancients, and theirs was far more radical and disruptive. It may be impossible for me to grasp the mindset of a Boeotian farmer during Greece's Dark Age, but I don't think I'd have such a hard time understanding what motivated the cosmopolitan artists of Alexandria. And let's not forget that modern Western society is firmly rooted in Greece and Rome. Our politics, law, art, science, and philosophy we owe to them. It would be far more difficult to assimilate an alien culture such as India or China's. And anyway, we aren't pretending to be ancient people. We are moderns, and gladly accept the positive things about modern culture. The reason that we look back to the ancients is because their religion and culture worked. It was based firmly on certain eternal concepts, and many of the practices are still beautiful and relevant in our lives today. Instead of reinventing the wheel, we pay homage to our ancestors, and continue their traditions into the future. Some things we no longer possess information about, or like slavery, consider them firmly rooted in the cultural experiences of their time. We have no problem leaving the undesirable things by the wayside, and filling in the holes with informed and poetic inspiration. Isocrates said that piety consisted of changing what the ancestors have passed down to us as little as possible. That shows that sometimes there is a need for change - but that need is often far less than many people realize. 5. Recons are just making it up. This accusation is made by Neopagans who practice what they like to call Traditionalist religions. Recons freely admit that in most cases there is no continuity with the ancients. Christianity was very successful in its attempt to eliminate other religions, and by the 1600s, the last Pagan nation had been converted. It wasn't until the early part of the 20th century that people began to openly practice Pagan religions again, and not until the 1970s that people began to break away from Neopagan Witchcraft and revive the ancient culturally-specific Pagan religions. Traditionalists claim to practice religions that survived in isolation, intact from antiquity. They often cannot provide any solid evidence for their survival, and frequently show great dependence on Wicca, Theosophy, and popular authors such as Robert Graves, Margaret Murray, and J. G. Frazer. Despite such apparent origins, they will claim to possess an authentic tradition, and make snide comments about Recons, who are making things up, have no right to practice their religion, and are woefully misinformed about ancient religion. It is easy to refute such individuals, since they are really the ones who have no idea what the ancients were like. One has simply to ask them for information about their tradition, or for sources whenever they make blanket statements about antiquity. If one supports everything they say by ample quotations, and demonstrates a sufficient understanding of the material, the Traditionalist usually gets the point, and stops making such comments. At least, that has been my experience. It should be interesting to see how things turn out. I imagine that the Neopagans are only going to get more fierce in their attacks on us. For a while now, we have been challenging them. It is only proper that they should fight back. But hopefully, through contact with us, they will learn, and change, and lose some of their fluff. I would love to see them become more knowledgeable about their own religions, apply the standards of excellence and scholarship that suffuses Reconstructionism, and grow stronger, better, wiser, and more artistic. Copyright (c) 2002 by Sannion. Reprinted with permission. ===== ===== About Sannion ===== Sannion is a Hellenic Reconstructionist who writes some thought-provoking "rants" on Pagan issues. Sannion has kindly allowed us to reprint some of these rants as editorials. You can find more of Sannion's writings at Sannion's Sanctuary: http://sannion.bravepages.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 ========= ===== ===== The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Hits 100,000 Messages ===== The Cauldron's Delphi message board message counter hit 100,000 messages in August. (The actual count is about 12,000 messages higher as messages had to be deleted to keep the total under 2000 messages in the early days of Delphi.) Congratulations to The Cauldron's members and staff. ===== ===== New Cauldron Staff Member ===== Bob (BOBTHESANE on our Delphi message board) has accepted a staff position on The Cauldron. He'll be assisting on the message board. ===== ===== Cauldron Delphi Forum Top Poster -- July 2002 ===== The top poster on The Cauldron's Delphi Forum message board for August 2002 was Seasons (SEASONS4). The Runner Up was Elizabeth Y (LIZAYADA). There were several members hot on their heels: Jax (LSALICYN), Star (STARCR), and Mojodiva (_MOJODIVA_). (Cauldron staff members are ineligible for this honor and so aren't listed.) ===== ===== New Cauldron Web Polls ===== Here are our latest Cauldron Web Polls: === August 16th Poll: Question: President Bush has been in office 18 months now. Has the Bush Administration hurt or helped Neo-Paganism (and non-Christian religions in general) in the United States thus far? Possible Answers: * Hurt a lot * Hurt some * No noticeable effect * Helped some * Helped a lot * No Opinion * Other Vote at: http://www.ecauldron.com/cldpoll47.php === Current (September 1st) Poll: Question: Does bother you when others question your religious beliefs? Possible Answers: * Yes, it usually bothers me * No, it does not usually bother me * Not unless the questioner is rude or wants to convert me * Not unless the questioner refuses to see that my beliefs are right * Other * No Opinion Our current polls will now appear on our main page in the narrow right column: http://www.ecauldron.com/ ===== ===== Ecauldron Mailing List To Close September 31, 2002 ===== You may have noticed that The Cauldron's mailing list is no longer listed in the masthead. Although it is currently still open, usage has dropped over 95% since problems with Yahoo Groups started in April 2002. Given the problems with Yahoo Groups and the rapid growth of our reopened message board during the last few months, The Cauldron has decided to drop support for the mailing list. The ecauldron mailing list will remain open for the time being (mainly for announcements that it will be closing). It will be shut down completely at the end of September, having been open 2 years. The Cauldron's Delphi Message Board: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/start ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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] ========= ========= SILLY LOVE SONG ========= A Poem by Elspeth Sapphire ========= It's just a silly love song Sung to the magic in your soul Just a silly love song That makes my heart whole Can you hear its whisper Echo deep inside your wall? Melting frozen emotions Until the barriers fall. Can you feel the magic You weave around my heart? Silly hopeless love magic That stays when you depart There's just silly foolish me Caught up in shy, fearful you Living this golden moment That too soon will be through. Hey, do you hear that love song? The one that stirs my sleeping soul? =Not= a silly love song That makes two lives whole! Where once two people dwelt Only one now sweetly sings. With words full of passion How our emotions do ring! [04] ========= ========= WICCAN SOLITARY RITUAL ========= RITUAL: MABON RITUAL OF THE SECOND HARVEST ========= by Moonsongstress ========= [Visit Moonsongstress' web site for more of her material: http://www.moonsongstress.com] ===== ===== Tools for the Ritual ===== * Russet and yellow altar cloths * Golden God candle * Silver Goddess candle * White altar candle * Quarter candles and corresponding stones * Matches, taper and snuffer * Simple feast - homemade bread and hot chocolate * A small fallen tree branch - and other materials (see below) * Cauldron or fire-proof bowl * Sprigs of Ivy in a small vase * An autumn incense, for example prinknash basilica blend ===== ===== Tools for the Earth Healing and Peace Spell ===== * Blue candle in a candle holder * Lavender oil ===== ===== Preparation ===== Before the day of ritual take a small branch from the garden, or a fallen one found locally. Place it in a vase. Find items that represent things that you have begun, completed, or plan to begin soon. These items can be physical things or words written on strips of paper. You will also need some strips of paper that have been left blank. The blank strips represent things that you will begin this winter but have not yet planned. They are ripening possibilities. Also find some yarn or thread in autumn colors and cut it into enough 6" long pieces to fasten all the items to the branch. Think of things that you have left undone. Decide why this should be so. Choose things that are no longer creative parts of your life. Write these on small strips of paper. These are to be cast aside during the ritual. ===== ===== The Ritual ===== 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 branch in the middle of the altar, the golden God candle to the right back of it, the silver Goddess candle to the left back of it. The cauldron goes in front of the Goddess candle. 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 ivy in front of the God candle. Take a shower or splash your face with water for purification. Sit quietly and meditate for a while, then ground and center. 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 come before you, my Goddess and God as the wheel of the year turns to the time of the autumn equinox once more. Green Lady, the earth has been weighed down with the bountifulness of your great harvest. My God, your creativity has brought forth the burgeoning fruits of nature that I have seen all around me. Two that are one, your joining has produced life that dances in the light, may the harvest nourish and sustain all living creatures through the coming time of darkness and winter. Many things have happened in the past summer, and many more will come in the autumn and winter. I stand in this place as the year balances between the dark and light times. I look back and remember, look forward and plan, and I balance the dark and light in my life. Hold your hands lightly over the branch in its vase and say: You were grown in the time that is now past. You lived through the events that happened in that time. You have been cast aside as dead in the present time but your continuing natural beauty and form live and work in this ritual. You will go back to and re-nourish the earth in the time that is coming. In the future you will live again in the ever-turning cycle of life, death and rebirth. While looking at you in the coming weeks may I remember the past, present and future which are represented in all living things as they continue on the cycle of the ever-turning wheel. I look back as the past blazes in my mind. I see the things begun, the things completed and the things left undone. I give thanks for the things that are begun and I hope for their continuing. Take the items that represent the begun things and decorate the branch with them, tying them on one by one, using the autumn colored yarn or thread. Say: I give thanks for the things that are completed and I offer them up as a harvest of my own creativity. Take the items that represent the completed things and decorate the branch with them, tying them on one by one, using the autumn colored yarn or thread. Say: I think on the things that have been left undone. I cast them aside now in the hope that their loss will create space for the new things that will be. Take the strips of paper with the unfinished things written on them and, using the altar candle, set light to them one by one and drop them in the cauldron. Watch them burn. The ashes are to be scattered on the garden after the ritual. Say: I look forward as the future beckons with the coming time of introspection and continued inner growth. I see the things planned and look for the things not yet planned. I give thanks for the things that are planned and look forward to beginning their creative cycle. Take the items that represent the planned things and decorate the branch with them, tying them on one by one, using the autumn colored yarn or thread. Say: I think on the things that are not yet planned. I hold myself open to new possibilities in the knowledge that I have made space for their existence. Take the items that represent the unplanned things and decorate the branch with them, tying them on one by one, using the autumn colored yarn or thread. Arrange everything on the branch in a pleasing manner. When you have finished place the branch and vase back in their original position on the altar. Say: The warm time is passing, when the green earth's creatures basked in the golden light of the sun. I remember times of bustling activity spent in the outer world of sunlight, and times of quiet exploration spent in the inner world of mind-light. The cold time is coming, when the warm burrows of bed and fire-side beckon. I look forward to times of pensive and joyous reflection in the warmth of flickering candlelight, and busy activity in the safety and shelter of home. ===== ===== 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 foetus 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. Your blessings are abundant, bless me abundantly. ===== ===== Earth Healing and 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 you have finished exploring, direct your silver fountains of earth energy into the blue candle through your hands. Light the candle. Bind the spell, visualizing a cord tying around the candle. Address the earth: 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. ===== ===== 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: EGYPTIAN PYRAMID ORACLE ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Egyptian Pyramid Oracle Designer: Verona McCall Book and Card Set Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: July 2002 ISBN: 1567184480 US Retail Price: $21.95 View Sample Cards: http://www.ecauldron.com/images/samtrtepo.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567184480/thecauldron The Egyptian Pyramid Oracle is a unique divination deck. This deck is a set of 25 cards full of Egyptian symbols. There are about as many cards in this deck as runes in the set of Norse runes. The available symbol set is much larger than that of the runes as each card has a number of symbols on it. This oracle is read much like a tarot deck, six cards are selected and laid out in a spread. The meaning associated with each card mixes with the meaning of the position the card is in to give the oracle's message. The cards themselves are divided into five suits, called "houses," of five cards each. The five houses are Change (associated with water), Inspiration (air), Power (fire), Temptation (spirituality), and Change (water). Each house has an intricate border design which surrounds the symbolic design of that particular card. As ancient Egypt doesn't fascinate me the way it does many others, I don't find the artwork all that inspiring. However, the art itself is good and the use of color is excellent. I suspect someone more interested in Egypt than I am would get a lot more out of this deck. The Egyptian Pyramid Oracle comes with a miniature 3x5 inch book of 172 pages describing the houses, the cards, their divinatory meanings, and how to read them. A large appendix explains the significance of the various symbols used on the cards which is a nice aid to interpreting readings. Three extra cards are included which summarize the houses, show the layout, and summarize the meanings of the positions within the layout respectively. The only thing really missing is a sample reading or two. The box back claims that the Egyptian Pyramid Oracle offers a system that is much easier to learn than the Tarot. With only 25 cards to deal with instead of the 72 card of the Tarot, this deck probably is much easier for a complete beginner to learn and use, even with the limitation of only one small book available to help. With the Tarot, however, one has hundreds of books and teachers available to help grow from basic knowledge to mastery. The Egyptian Pyramid Oracle lacks this. Once one learns the basics from the included book, mastery must come solely from experience. While this has its good points, it is something one should carefully consider before purchasing this deck just because it is easier to initially learn. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trtepo.php [06] ========= ========= REVIEW: ANTAGONISTS IN THE CHURCH ========= Reviewed by Jax ========= Antagonists in the Church: How to Identify and Deal with Destructive Conflict Author: Kenneth C. Haugk Trade Paperback, 189 pages Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publication date: June 1988 ISBN: 0806623101 US Retail Price: $14.99 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0806623101/thecauldron Pagan clergy encounter many of the same problems as clergy of the mainstream religions. Attacks, rumormongering, lies, witch wars, etc. all may occur within even the tightest knit communities. Antagonists can cause disruption in both covens and communities alike, leaving crushed ideals and bruised egos in their wake. Unfortunately, there aren't any books written to help pagan clergy deal with the problems that occur. Pagan clergy often do not have the support system or resources available to them as in mainstream religions. Antagonists in the Church, while written for and by Christian clergy, is a valuable resource for those clergypersons who encounter conflict in their groups. Conflicts may occur in any group situation, be it a coven or some other group dynamic. Antagonists in the Church offers many solutions for identifying and dealing with these conflicts, as well as advice on how to avoid conflict. Personality characteristics, warning signs and prevention techniques are presented, and the reader will be compelled to highlight full blocks of text. Haugk outlines the ways in which an antagonist attempts to usurp and destroy the relationships built within the church congregation. Leaders are shown how to prevent or reduce much of the pain created by antagonism, as well as given techniques to tell the difference between healthy conflict and destructive situations. Coping skills are given to help deal with an antagonists wake. Granted, since a Christian minister for a wrote the book for a Christian audience, the situations and biblical references may not apply to a pagan clergyperson, but the techniques and advice are still beneficial to anyone who is in the position of leadership in their community. I highly recommend that anyone in a position of leadership, whether it is in a coven situation or a larger community, have on hand a copy of Antagonists in the Church. So that the next time a troublemaker enters your midst, you have the skills and techniques to deal with the negative impacts such a person can have. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkaitc.php [07] ========= ========= REVIEW: A BOOK OF PAGAN PRAYER ========= Reviewed by Jonobie Ford ========= A Book of Pagan Prayer Author: Ceisiwr Serith Trade Paperback, 320 pages Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser Publication date: June 2002 ISBN: 1578632552 US Retail Price: $19.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578632552/thecauldron Finally, a serious book for modern Pagan devotional practices! More akin to the Episcopalian Book of Common Prayer than a "how-to" or "what-is" book, A Book of Pagan Prayer has an attractive, understated cover to match its content. The book has two parts, called "How and Why we Pray" and "Prayers". Although most of the theology is in Part I, there is still some commentary sprinkled around the prayers in Part II. I'd recommend reading the whole book all the way through, before leaping to particular sections of prayers. One read thoroughly, the book is easily structured so that a reader can go directly to the appropriate section to find a prayer. The first chapter focuses on the role of prayer, both in ancient and in modern times. There is a short description of what we can infer from historical sources of prayers, blessings, and oaths. This is followed by some interesting, although short, description of the "whys" of prayers and offerings, with some particularly good material in the sections, "Why do we make offerings", and "The 'politics' of giving". For newer Pagans who may worry that making offerings is merely an attempt to bargain with the Gods, there is some excellent theology here. The second chapter discusses how to pray. It discusses prayer through words, posture, motion, dance, music, and gesture. Although there are other, more expanded texts on prayer through dance, in particular, the second chapter of this book does an excellent job of causing the reader to be aware of the whole experience - not merely one aspect of the prayer. The third chapter discusses preparations for prayer, such as self-purification and creation of sacred space. What I particularly enjoy about this chapter is the refreshing lack of recycled liturgy found in too many Pagan books -- there are no descriptions for how to cast a circle, open the gates, or any other "opening framework" from particular Pagan religions. Instead, short statements place the worshiper in an appropriate frame of mind -- statements that are concise and adaptable for daily solitary or family worship. The fourth chapter is the crown jewel of Part I of the book -- the discussion of how to create your own prayers, litanies, mantras, or rosaries. It features many useful suggestions, both in the structure of a prayer, and in its content. For example, it suggests the use of alliteration in prayer, something that is easily done by a novice writer, and avoids many of the pitfalls of attempting rhyming poetry. The rest of the book focuses on prayers -- for calling and praising deities, for the family, for times of the day, for times of the month, for times of the year, for important events in life, for thanksgiving and grace, for petitions and blessings, and for litanies and mantras. The prayers are to a variety of deities, and in a variety of styles. In particular, I found in his book one of the best Pagan graces I've ever seen -- one that I liked enough to regularly begin using at meals. Some people may find the style of the poetry too sparse -- it lacks some of the flowery phrases that seem common in other Pagan poetry. However, in general, the short and elegant phrases are more suitable for saying aloud than more elaborate poetry. I do wish there were some rhyming prayers, though. The book concludes with a table of offerings for different types of spirits, a glossary of deities used in the book, and an annotated bibliography. One minor criticism of the book is of the endnotes. In general, endnotes are acceptable if they mostly contain citations. For actual new content (such as in this book), footnotes are preferable to endnotes, as they can be read without knowing the current chapter number and the page on which endnotes begin. Without chapter numbers listed in page headers or footers, and with the endnotes included in a whole host of back matter in the book, it is often the case that finding a note requires significant effort. Even with this complaint, the book is one of the best Pagan books I've seen; it makes an excellent start at filling a gaping hole in Pagan literature. It does a particularly good job of straddling the boundaries of different Pagan religions -- something rarely seen by Pagan literature. In short, I would unabashedly recommend it to any Pagan wishing to improve their personal worship habits. I'll end with one of my favorite prayers (so many to choose from, including a quaint one about tomato season), a prayer for morning: In the morning, everything is new. The day's blank slate lies before me, ready for my writing. May it be words of beauty I write. May it be deeds of grace I do. May it be thoughts of joy I think. All the Holy Ones, listen: this is what I pray. Copyright (c) 2002 Jonobie Ford. All rights reserved.May be reposted for non-commercial use as long as the attribution and copyright notice are retained. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkabopp.php [08] ========= ========= REVIEW: 2003 MOON SIGN BOOK ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= 2003 Moon Sign Book Editor: Sharon Leah Trade Paperback, 480 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: August 2002 ISBN: 0738700703 US Retail Price: $7.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738700703/thecauldron Everyone has seen the selection of "Sun Sign" books for the following year that start flooding the astrology section of stores around the end of summer. Some publishers sell a separate book for each sun sign, others sell a large single volume with information on all twelve sun signs. While sun signs help you broadly understand yourself, other people, and the major effects of the upcoming year, moon signs control the details: the best times to do everything from plant a garden to visit annoying relatives. Despite the usefulness of moon signs, you don't see many moon sign books on store shelves. Llewellyn's 2003 Moon Sign Book is one of the few you are likely to see in a mall bookstore. The 2003 Moon Sign Book provides a lot of information. You'll be able to easily determine the most favorable days for many common activities from an easy-to-use table. Other easy-to-use tables cover gardening and weeding. However, far more complex tables are provided for those who need more information. Those who use Moon Void-of-Course information will be happy to know that complete information for 2003 is provided. Instructions for using these tables are clear -- but sometimes a bit complex, at least for the more advanced tables. The introduction to the volume admits as much and suggests carefully reading and working through the examples. As one would expect, the 2003 Moon Sign Book provides month by month forecasts for each moon sign, written by astrologer and author Gloria Star. Unfortunately, if you don't already know your moon sign, determining it is one of the more complex procedures in the book. It isn't that hard, but it can be error-prone. New and full moons get charts and one page writeups. Astrologer Kris Brandt provides US Weather forecasts based on lunar information, while Dorothy Kovach provides an economic forecast for 2003. In addition to all the above information one one expect in any good book on moon signs, the 2003 Moon Sign Book has a number of interesting articles such as "Moon's Sign is the Key to Understanding Child's Emotional Nature" by Gloria Star, "Healing Emotions in Troubled times" by David Pond, "Astrology Looks at a Changing World" by Alice DeVille, "The Real Dirt on Earth Signs" by Maggie Anderson, and many more. Like any anthology of articles, some are very interesting and some, well, aren't. However, this large collection of articles does make the book stand out from the many other books on the astrology shelf. If you are interested in the effects of the Moon's travels through the Zodiac in 2003 or if you like to garden (or do other things) by the moon, this book is a handy guide -- and the articles are an interesting bonus. This book is also a bargain price-wise: over 450 pages for about eight US dollars. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bk2003msb.php [09] ========= ========= REVIEW: 2003 HERBAL ALMANAC ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= 2003 Herbal Almanac Editor: Michael Fallon Trade Paperback, 336 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: August 2002 ISBN: 0738700738 US Retail Price: $7.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738700738/thecauldron In a way, the 2003 Herbal Almanac is probably misnamed. When I think of an almanac, I think of a book full of tables and charts, either tables and charts of encyclopedic information (the World Almanac) or tables and charts full of weather and astrological data (the Old Farmer's Almanac). Except for about 15 pages of Moon sign tables in the back, you will not find any tables in the 2003 Herbal Almanac. Instead of tables of dry data, you'll find 30 articles full of information on growing and using herbs. This book is divided into six sections, each covering a different area. The first section, "Growing and Gathering Herbs," has five articles including my favorite article of the entire book: "Growing Unusual Herbs in Containers." The second section, "Culinary Herbs," has seven articles on using herbs in food and drink -- complete with many recipes. The next section, "Herbs for Health," has four articles with a stress on Asian techniques. The fourth part of this book, "Herbs for Beauty," also has four articles including one on "Herbal Aphrodisiacs." (You can make your own "herbal viagra." Surprise. Well, at least with this article you won't have to buy any from a spammer.) The fifth section of the 2003 Herbal Almanac is "Herbal Crafts," with four articles including one on herbal papermaking. The last part of the book, "Herb History, Myth, and Magic," has six articles and the moon sign tables mentioned above. As in years past, many of the articles in this year's Herbal Almanac are written by people in Llewellyn's stable of writers. However, I am happy to see more articles from professional herbalists and gardeners in this issue than I've seen in years past. Articles from these professionals give the book far more solid backbone to build on than previous editions seemed to have. I hope this trend will continue in future editions. The articles themselves are a very mixed bag, but this is to be expected in an anthology of articles. Only a few made me wonder why paper was wasted on them. The majority were at least interesting and a fair number were both interesting and useful. Given its low price, 2003 Herbal Almanac is a good buy for anyone interested in herbs. A few articles may make you roll your eyes, but the majority are both readable and informative. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bk2003ha.php [10] ========= ========= REVIEW: 2003 MAGICAL ALMANAC ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= 2003 Magical Almanac Editor: Michael Fallon Trade Paperback, 384 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: August 2002 ISBN: 073870072X US Retail Price: $7.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/073870072X/thecauldron The almanac section of the 2003 Magical Almanac is just over 60 pages in the center of this 384 page book. Each day's entry lists the moon phase (and whether the moon is waxing or waning), the moon sign, and that day's color and incense. Most days also list a festival or holiday from somewhere in the world. While this is useful information, it's obvious that almanac information is only a minor part of this book. The meat of the 2003 Magical Almanac is in over 300 pages of short articles. There are about 80 articles, divided into groups of articles for each of the four seasons. Over forty different authors contributed to this book, so there is a wide variety of styles, lengths, and topics. Here is a small selection of article titles to give an idea of the wide-ranging, eclectic nature of the articles in this book: "The Magic of Urban Legends" by Shari Richerson, "Playing Card Divination" by Lily Gardner, "Isian Religion Today" by Denise Dumars, "Money Powder Spell" by Eileen Holland, "Belly Dancing, the Rite that Honors the Goddess" by Emely Flak, "Butter Lamps: The Safe Alternative for Your Altar" by Dr. John Mumford, "Wicca in Brazil" by Mavesper Ceridwen, "Toe-Ring Charging Spell" by Ed Fitch, "Unearthing the Great Goddesses" by Abby Willowroot, and "Folklore of Roses" by Magenta Griffith. Most of the articles are fairly short. Unfortunately, many of them are therefore necessarily superficial if they try to cover a subject of any complexity. Despite that, most of the articles are interesting and some point the reader to more detailed (but occasionally questionable) sources. As one might expect with such a large anthology with so many authors, the quality of the articles is quite variable. Most of the problem articles deal with folklore, history, and mythology. Unfortunately, the authors of many of the articles on these subjects tend to use non-academic sources (if any sources are listed at all) and to interpret myths in light of revisionist theories which leads to articles that make interesting reading but whose strict factual accuracy must be considered doubtful. While the 2003 Magical Almanac makes interesting light reading and has a number of magical spells, recipes, and rituals that might be useful to some readers, it is the weakest of the three Llewellyn annuals I've reviewed this year. It is a very inexpensive book for its size, however, so go ahead flip through it when you see it at the store. There might be enough articles that interest you to make this book worth adding to your purchase pile. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bk2003ma.php [11] ========= ========= REVIEW: MABON ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Mabon: Celebrating the Autumn Equinox Author: Kristin Madden Trade Paperback, 211 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: July 2002 ISBN: 0738700908 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738700908/thecauldron Mabon: Celebrating the Autumn Equinox is the eighth and final book book in Llewellyn's series of books on the Wiccan festivals. I'm not really surprised that Mabon was the last festival book published as Mabon was a holiday I often skipped when I was more-or-less Wiccan. Even more than most of the quarter days, Mabon seemed to be a non-entity. I jumped at the chance to review this book simply because I wanted to see what could be made of a holiday I could so easily skip. In the first chapter, Kristin Madden talks about the origins of Thanksgiving in Canada and the United States. It's short and interesting only in that it attempts to give a view of the first US Thanksgiving and the years thereafter from a Native American point of view. The second chapter discusses fall traditions and holidays from around the world. The chapter ends with a discussion of some of the various modern Neo-Pagan holidays. It is nice to see non-Wiccan Pagan holidays covered. "Myths and Deities," the third chapter, talks briefly about some of the myths and deities associated with the season. Written from a modern point-of-view, these treatments are somewhat superficial due to space limitations. However, a large number of deities from a variety of cultures are covered. Symbols (colors, animals, mythic beings, plants, etc) associated in some way with the season are discussed in varying degrees of detail in the next chapter. The seasonal connection of some of these symbols is tenuous at best. For example, the gulon (a creature from Scandinavian legend) seems to be mentioned only because it was sometimes used to symbolize gluttony. The fifth chapter provides a number of short rituals for Mabon (or fall in general in some cases). Rituals are included from the following religions or groups: Wiccan, Druidic, Norse, and Neoshamanic. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that these rituals actually work within the appropriate system instead of simply being Wiccan ritual with the names changed. A children's ritual and a eclectic ritual (that does feel very Wiccan) from the Pagan Pride Project round out this chapter. The sixth chapter is the one I look forward to in all of Llewellyn's Wiccan festival books: the chapter on food. I was a bit disappointed here. Of the 22 recipes included, none screamed "you have to try me." I suppose I can't fault the book for this, but I'm personally disappointed. The next chapter continues with the recipes, but this time for magick. The eighth chapter is another favorite section from previous books in the series: decorating, and other projects suitable for families, appropriate to the season. The last chapter is devoted to science. The author discusses exactly what an equinox is in astronomy and in astrology. Some ancient sites which may have been used to track the seasons are briefly described. A number of appendixes round out this book: a seasonal calendar, information on wildlife rehabilitation, and links and references. Mabon: Celebrating the Autumn Equinox is well-written coffee-table style of book on the autumn equinox. It has lots of interesting information presented in short easy-to-read sections. As with most coffee-table style books, academic accuracy isn't stressed. This book did not make much of an impression on me; however, I think this is due to the minor nature of the holiday. Even after reading this book, I'd probably still skip Mabon if I were Wiccan. I am, however, impressed by the efforts the author made to include non-Wiccan autumn rituals. It is always nice to see an author pay more than lip service to the many non-Wiccan Pagan religions. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkmabon.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, COLOR MAGICK (Revised), BUCKLAND'S COMPLETE BOOK OF WITCHCRAFT (Revised). 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 ========= TAROT AND CHILDREN ========= by TarotDeevah ========= I was fortunate enough to receive my first tarot deck in my Christmas stocking when I was a child of around 12 years of age. No one in my family read tarot cards or was Pagan. My immediate family was Catholic (some Roman and some Anglican), and my extended family consisted of a couple of branches of Protestantism (mainly Methodist and Lutheran). My mother just thought they were "neato!" No one impressed upon me how wrong they were or that they were a tool of Satan. I fell in love with the deck as a way to tell fortunes and dutifully memorized all the meanings of the cards. I gave readings to friends and neighbors and family members until people ran when they saw me with that deck in my hands. As a child, I certainly didn't utilize the cards to their full potential, in fact it was shallow and superficial. However, the introduction to tarot was pleasant and fulfilling to me at the time. It wasn't until college that anyone told me the cards were evil, and by then I had already discovered for myself that they were not evil at all. Because of my own experience with tarot at a young age, I often spread the joy of tarot by giving decks as gifts to adults and children alike. These days, there are so many decks that make wonderful gifts for children especially. I don't just give a tarot deck as the gift. I usually include a deck in a gift basket. It's easy to create a theme gift basket and include a tarot deck -- so that the deck seems incidental in the gift basket. All of my younger cousins have received such baskets, as have my nieces. I've only had one parent take the deck away from their child, but that parent didn't hold any ill feelings towards me for giving the deck. She knew I intended no malice in giving the deck, and I understood that she was perfectly within her rights and duty as a mother to ban any items she felt were inappropriate for her child. So, there was no animosity on anyone's part. It is a shame, though, because her daughter adores unicorns. I had given her a gift basket with a unicorn statuette, a unicorn poster, a unicorn suncatcher, unicorn rubber stamps and a deck of Unicorn Tarot. It was an adorable basket. :::sigh::: Over the years, I've given many such baskets. To a child who loves board games, I gave a basket of small travel games and a deck of Hanson-Roberts Tarot. I've given Baseball Tarot (or was it Tarot of Baseball) with baseball trading cards and other baseball memorabilia to a young male cousin. Both of my nieces received Halloween baskets (they were visiting from out of state during Halloween) with all sorts of Halloween items and Halloween Tarot. A teenage cousin loves the Londa Tarot deck I gave her in a basket with henna tattoos, makeup and nail polish in colors I wouldn't dare wear, and glittery paint pens. Her mother was less pleased, but it had nothing to do with the tarot deck. Angie (or Angela as she now prefers to be called) was going through an odd Gothish phase. A younger cousin got a Hello Kitty gift basket with a Hello Kitty deck, and her twin brother got an artist basket (colors, finger paints, artist pad, etc.) with a Stick Figure Tarot deck. The possibilities are endless if you just give it a little thought. Of all of the decks I've given as gifts (probably 20 to 25 in all), only two still use their decks. About half of them were interested for a while, but have since lost interest. One has even purchased an additional deck or two. For me, the point is not to recruit more tarot readers, but to expose young people to what tarot is, so that they can learn for themselves (as I did) that there is nothing wrong or spooky or evil about tarot. Times are changing, that's for sure. Now, people debate on whether children should be allowed to dress up as witches or devils or ghosts for Halloween -- or whether they should be allowed to participate in Halloween at all. I feel it is important to continue to present a different side, to present what I know to be real. Tarot is not something bad, that it needs to be hidden from children or kept from their reach. Tarot can be a wonderful tool of growth for those children (and adults) who take up an interest in it. There are so few of us able to present them with the opportunity to experience what tarot can mean. If my mother hadn't just happened upon that deck when I was 12 years old, I may have never known I could be interested in tarot. Tarot simply never entered my mind at that age, and may not have ever, had I not been presented with a deck. So, the next time you have to shop for a birthday present for a niece of nephew or other child, keep tarot in mind. A little boy who's collecting all of the Lord of the Rings cups from Burger King just might love a gift basket with Lord of the rings action figures and a Lord of the Rings Tarot deck. Little girls who dream of fairies and dragonflies might adore a gift basket of stickers, glitter nail polish, a suncatcher and Tarot of a Moon Garden. ===== ===== 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] ========= ========= RITUAL PROJECT FOR SOLITARIES ========= by Faerie K. ========= Originally published in Finnish in Vox Paganorum 1/02 ========= translated from the Finnish by Faerie K. ========= At some point in the journey there comes a time when you feel like you're ready to go beyond just reading and talking and to proceed to actually doing something - in this case, to performing rituals. There are plenty of pre-written rituals available in books and on the net, so is it only a case of taking the texts in one hand and starting to do ritual? Well, that is one approach and nobody is saying that it couldn't be a workable and useful one. However, here I'm going to suggest a somewhat different approach - one stating from the idea that it's good to not only know how something is done, but also why it is done. ===== ===== Discover the Background ===== When you're practicing your religion and magick alone you are lacking people (out of your own desire or simply due to the lack of a suitable group) who would be teaching you the basics hands-on. So, your own initiative is of prime importance. Texts and descriptions of rituals tell a lot, but they don't always explain the background closely. To start your own ritual project, you need to research -- with the help of various sources -- the basic meaning of ritual you have selected: why you are supposed to say what is said in the ritual and why you're supposed to do what is said you should do. In every well-constructed ritual the words and gestures mean something. You will get so much more out of the ritual when you are aware of those meanings. Do not settle for knowing the right words -- know why you are supposed to say them. Do not (for example) just call on certain deities -- find out why you are calling them in this particular ritual. Do not think gestures are just gestures -- know what they mean. All this may take time, but it is worth it. ===== ===== Learn the Ritual ===== You can do a ritual while holding the script in front of your nose, but it won't be that smoothly done. You can split the ritual into suitable sized pieces, rehearsing them one by one until you know them by heart. This way you can eliminate the "but.... do I really remember what I'm supposed to do?" factor by the time you move to actually doing the ritual and concentrate on the actual rite. Rehearsing and refining gestures can make a nice evening of study. Going over the texts in your mind can give you something worthwhile to do while you are, say, waiting for the bus to arrive. When the little pieces are going smoothly, you can combine them to larger fragments and finally piece all the fragments together to form a whole. When you are at that stage, you can go through the whole ritual "without the spirit" - that is, without trying to achieve anything other than rehearsing - as many times as you need. ===== ===== Make It Yours ===== When you have actually performed the ritual so many times it goes smoothly and gives the results it is supposed to give, it's time to make the ritual yours. In this context, making the ritual yours doesn't mean developing your own versions of the texts and gestures, as writing your own ritual is quite another subject. You could compare this to the world of acting, as rituals could be likened to plays. Psychodramas, one could say. The same play can be performed in a multiple of ways, even if nobody changed a single word in it. Each actor past the stage of mimicking another actor's style brings in his or her own interpretation, making the role alive. When you're only starting out, you are always more or less a "mimicker" while doing rituals other people have written. With the confidence brought on by doing ritual, you can little by little develop into a "virtuoso" of your own religion and magick working. [14] ========= ========= DRAGON CLAN WITCHCRAFT COURSE: JULY 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 August: 3.2 Ritual Work 3.21 Ancestor Shrines http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6615.1 3.22 Salt Water Purification http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6616.1 3.23 House Cleansing and Blessing http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6617.1 3.3 Extra Reading http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6618.1 3.4 The Ordeal 3.41 Ordeal - Ancestor Veneration http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6707.1 3.42 Wheel of Water Wheel Measure http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6708.1 4.0 Wheel of Fire http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6709.1 4.1 Meditations 4.11 Meditation on the Triskelle http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6710.1 4.12 Meditation on the Athame and Fire http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6711.1 4.13 Meditation on the Athame http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6712.1 4.2 Ritual Work 4.21 Raising Energy http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6817.1 4.22 Grounding Energy, Releasing Circles http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6818.1 4.3 Extra Reading http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6819.1 4.4 The Ordeal 4.41 Ordeal - Cone of Power http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6820.1 4.42 Wheel Measure http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=6821.1 [15] ========= ========= HUMOR: A WHIMSICAL GRIMOIRE ========= Author Unknown ========= ===== ===== Spell to Get Thee Into a Mental Ward ===== 1. Take off your clothes. This is a "skyclad" ritual. 2. Run out in the middle of the street. 3. Say the following chant:(to the tune of the "ABC" song, or "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star") "A B THREE D E F C, U me W next why oh gee up above the street so high like a lollipop could fly now I know my sticky bees Next time won't you spackle me!" 4. Wait on the roof of someone's car. 5. They're coming to take you away, HAHA! ===== ===== Spell to Control Others ===== 1) Walk into the middle of a large group of people. 2) Yawn. ===== ===== A Spell to Make Time Fly ===== 1. Take your clock outside. 2. Hold the clock like a Frisbee. 3. Spin in a circle three times, then release the clock. 4. Watch time fly! Wasn't that fun? ===== ===== Spell to Save on Gas ===== 1. Cut holes in floorboards of car. 2. Remove shoes. 3. While still seated, pedal feet really, really fast. 4. Scream "Yabba Dabba Do!" Optional: Invite passengers to join in the fun! ===== ===== Spell to Become Thin ===== 1. Get lots of food. 2. Stare at it. [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!

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