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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #49 -- July 2004 A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.com/ message board: http://www.ecauldron.net/ newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ shopping: http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php http://stores.ebay.com/Doxys-Bazaar?refid=store In this Issue: [01] Editorial Notes [02] Cauldron Challenge: July [03] Cauldron News [04] Cauldron Discussions [05] Reviews [05-1] Angel Voices [05-2] Tarot of the Hidden Folk [05-3] Tarot of the Mermaids [05-4] Karma Oracle [05-5] Witching Stones [06] Received For Review (with Mini-Reviews) [07] Articles: [07-1] Scholars and Mystics [07-2] July -- The Month of Julius Caesar [08] Columns [08-1] Humor: If Microsoft wrote a book on Wicca.... [09] Around the Planes: Notes from All Over [09-1] Tips On Avoiding "Phishing" Fraud [09-2] Millions Of Children Are Mothers Too [09-3] Walking And Wellness [09-4] Pennies For The Planet [09-5] Celebrity Artists Pick Up Palette To Fight Hunger [10] Support The Cauldron by Volunteering to Help [11] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for our August issue: July 15, 2004 +++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL NOTES ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= November 2004 is rapidly approaching. For those of us in the United States, that means we will soon have to decide whether we want another four years of George Bush as President and wish the House and Senate to remain in Republican hands. Regardless of your personal position on these issues, it is important that you get out and vote. Low voter turnouts generally benefit those holding extremist positions as a greater percentage of extremists vote. US Pagans tend to vote in very low numbers. This is not good. Please vote in November. In order to vote in November, however, you must be registered to vote. If you aren't registered to vote, please do so now. There are several sites on the Internet that will provide you with the needed forms for your state that you can print and mail. Here's one: http://www.rockthevote.com/ The 2000 Presidential election was decided by just a few hundred very contested votes. This shows that every vote really does count. Please register and vote in November -- and encourage everyone you know to do so. The future of this newsletter is still undecided. However, I've decided to do at least one more issue in the current format if at all possible. Fifty is such a nice number. :) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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 CHALLENGE: JULY ========= by Star ========= Your Challenge for July is to be aware. Aware of what? That's up to you. You could choose something aimed at self-improvement, such as paying attention to what you eat or knowing about the business practices of the places you shop. You could choose something aimed at enriching your life like being aware of the beauty around you in nature (or the beauty of the city if that's more applicable). Whatever you choose, the point of this Challenge is to make you think about things you might normally just gloss over or take for granted. I know this Challenge is a little less practical and hands-on than previous ones have been, but I think it's something we (humans in general) could stand to work on, and I think it'll be good for us (Cauldronites) too. And probably interesting! So... What are you going to be aware of? I encourage participants to post their plans in the July Challenge topic -- I find it's easier to hold myself to something like this (rather than wandering off to something else) if I've told someone I'm going to do it. Also, as the month goes by, you can use this topic to report your progress. http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=874.1 [03] ========= ========= CAULDRON NEWS ========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff ========= ===== ===== New Cauldron Message Board A Huge Success ===== Old Board to become "Read-Only" ===== For those who may have forgotten, we've moved off of Delphi to a new message board of our own using some very Delphi-like board software. Again, the address of our new free, full-featured forum is: http://www.ecauldron.net/ The move has been quite successful, our new board has only been opened since April 15th and we already have over 550 members and have over 18,000 messages posted in over 950 threads. And no DelphiForums weirdness or ads. Our old board on Delphiforums will soon be closed to posting, although you will be able to read our 190,000+ old messages as long as Delphiforums will keep the board available. ===== ===== Doxy's Bazaar (Our Ebay Store) Growing ===== As mentioned last month LyricFox and Randall have opened an ebay store with some collectibles and lots of used Pagan books (most in like new condition and at half price). Our selection of Pagan books has grown since last month. We've sold a number of them, but there are still quite a few Pagan books in like new condition available. Stop in any take a look and see what we have to offer: http://stores.ebay.com/Doxys-Bazaar?refid=store ===== ===== Cheap Web Hosting Report ===== Our Cheap Web Hosting Report has been so successful that it has moved to its own domain: http://www.cheapwebhostingreport.com/ If you are looking for cheap, but reliable, web hosting for your web site, this is the place to go. Each month we list what we consider the five best well-known, affordable, and reliable web hosting companies -- and a few extras for those with special needs. For example, we use DreamHost because it is affordable and reliable, but mainly because its terms of service allow web sites with anything legal: our web site will not be pulled because we review a few books on sex magick or an erotic tarot deck. It's a great host for Pagan web sites. http://www.dreamhost.com/rewards.cgi?27905/shared/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CAULDRON AND CANDLE WEB SITE The Cauldron and Candle has its own web site where we store our back issues for easy reading. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [04] ========= ========= CAULDRON DISCUSSIONS ========= Recent Discussion Topics on our Message Board ========= In an average month, over 150 new discussion topics are started on The Cauldron's message board. Here are a few of the more interesting discussions from the last month. It's not too late to join in. Thanks to Bloglet, you can now receive an email every night on days we post new site news items to the main page of The Cauldron's web site. These emails contain a link to the new item and the first couple of lines of the news text. You can sign up for Bloglet's free news delivery via the form at the end of the site "News and Updates" section of The Cauldron's main web page. === === Ghosts Recordings? === I read "Legion" and apparently a character records nothingness and ghosts voices answered his questions. I thought this was rather odd but apparently William Peter Blatty did this. Is it really possible? You just a tape recording at really high speeds and ask questions then listen. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=920.1 === === Trouble Meditating? === I've noticed I've been having a lot of trouble calming my mind down enough to meditate. I even find that before sleep I get very restless and scenes from my day or things I think could happen in the future play out in my mind. Is there a way to turn these thoughts off? My boyfriend has had no trouble meditating and has tried to help me, but I just can't get these thoughts out of my head. What can I do? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=908.1 === === A Few Questions from a Newbie === I haven't given much thought to religion in years. However, I am feeling a very strong pull to learn more about paganism. I'm not sure if it will eventually become my spiritual path or if it's just that I'm curious and interested from an intellectual and philosophical standpoint. Here are a few questions I've been wondering about: 1. Do you believe that the Christian god exists, but is just one deity among the many gods? Or do you not believe in the Christian god at all? 2. If you do think the Christian god exists, is he seen in a negative light for wanting people to believe in only himself & not acknowledge the other gods? 3. Is it possible to be an agnostic pagan, believing in the *possibility* of many gods as opposed to literally believing in them? Taking that idea one step further, is it possible to be both atheist and pagan? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=884.1 === === Just How Magical are Kids? === The discussion about runic baby blocks has led to some interesting discussions here at home about just how magickal are kids. I think kids are wonderful creations. They are open and willing to believe in just about everything and anything. And in the belief is power. Jessi started doing magick [as far as I know] when she was four and 'created' Monster Be Gone spray to get rid of nightmares. It was her idea and she applied it to windows and doors with her own chant, "No nightmares here, only Little Pony dreams!" About the same age, she created her own rune symbols and would 'write' with it. Matt ... well, Matt was Matt. We are talking about the kid that at 18 months was found having a conversation with a knife. ::rolls eyes:: Life with Matt has always been interesting. My personal opinion is that kids are very magickal and capable of working magick. Whether or not that lasts as they grow is up to us. What do you think? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=856.1 === === Religious Jewelry? === Over in the persecution thread, I noticed that some people were pretty adamant about not taking off their religious jewelry at work. I have a couple of questions for people who agree with this. First of all, why? Is it the jewelry or symbol that's so important, or is it the idea that in that situation the company would potentially be discriminating against you, or something else entirely? Second, I was wondering if there was a situation in which you would consider removing the jewelry in question (and presumably no longer wearing it in the workplace) when asked to. If no religious jewelry was allowed (crosses included), would that be more palatable? What about being asked to remove jewelry for safety reasons (necklace might get caught in machinery)? Does that upset you as much as being asked to remove it for religious reasons? Third, is there any circumstance under which you forsee yourself ceasing to wear religious jewelry in the workplace without being asked to? (Does it make a difference that you have made the decision on your own rather than being asked to not wear it?) And finally, just for a reference point, would you be as upset if you were asked not to wear a non-religious piece of jewelry in your workplace? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=851.1 === === Mythological Baby Names === Since my future child will likely insist on being called something besides "Hey, You!" we are in the throes of combing through baby names. Some of the names we both like come from Greek mythology (Athena and Calliope in particular). So here's what I wonder: 1) I wondered what you thought about naming your children after deities or other figures from mythology. Good idea, or bad idea? 2) What are names from myths you think would make cool baby names, and which ones are bad? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=808.1 === === How Many Gods Does It take to Pull the Sun? === I have thought of a question I would like to ask everyone, but hard polytheists in particular. If the Gods are all separate beings, what does Apollo do when Ra is taking the Sun for its daily ride? This is not meant as disrespect (and I hope it does not come across as such), but the question has been Itching at my brain... We have but one Sun and one Moon. We (earthlings) have many, many Sun and Moon Gods. If they are all separate, how? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=750.1 === === Dream Worship Space === If you weren't limited in your home by relatives or space, how would you set up your personal worship space? If you have a yard (or if it's just where you'd like to have a special spot), how would you decorate it? What sorts of things would you add that would give the space your touch? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=752.1 === === Evangelizing Paganism? === Does anyone here ever have the desire to "evangelize", in any situation? I don't mean, saying, "Paganism is the Answer" or anything, but more, a desire to tell a person you are talking to something like "you know, you should check out the Pagan faiths, it sounds to me like you could find some peace/answers there..." * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=738.1 === === Inferior Magickal Symbols? === I was discussing various things with someone else in e-mail today, and a topic came up that I thought might be interesting to discuss here. The question which prompted this was one about whether a light bulb could be used to represent the element of fire, since it does give off heat and light and all that. My answer, recalling some of the conversations we've had about dorm altars and using electric candles when open flame isn't an option, was yes. But then that got me to thinking... I don't think that something electric would be as effective for me personally. Part of why I use candles is because they have a certain "feel" to them, and they help set the mood in a way that an electric bulb wouldn't. But does that mean it's an inferior symbol? So my question to you is: Do you feel that some symbols are inherently inferior to others? Or is it all about what works for each individual person? In this case, I suppose you could argue that a candle isn't really a symbol, since it IS fire--so is it always preferable to use such a direct representation of an element? If you use substitutions (like an electric candle or light bulb for fire), will your results be inferior or does that depend on how well your brain connects the symbol to the real thing? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=679.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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 or PayPal and help us pay the web site bills. Donate via PayPal http://www.ecauldron.com/donatepaypal.php Donate via Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [05] =============== ============ BOOK AND DECK REVIEWS ========= [05-1] ========= ========= REVIEW: ANGEL VOICES ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Angel Voices Author: Laun Tuan Artist: Antonella Catelli Book and Cards Set Publisher: Llewellyn (Lo Scarabeo) Publication date: 2003 ISBN: 0738704164 US Retail Price: $34.95 View Sample Cards: http://www.ecauldron.com/images/samtrtav.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738704164/thecauldron The Angel Voices divination deck is eighty cards depicting angels -- specifically angels from Judeo-Christian scripture and mythology. There are 72 angel cards, 8 archangel cards, and 1 Angelic Palace card. The angels are divided into nine formations, each identified by the background on the card. For example, angels in the "Formation of Powers" are on a background of "a red sky at sunset." Each angel is also associated with a planet (and the symbol of their planet is on their card). The artists has portrayed each angel in pastel colors. The cards are pretty, but not spectacular. Each angel is drawn on the card with some symbol associated with her. Despite this, the cards do not have much depth to their symbolism. These cards remind me of some angel cards I once saw a a church, except that the art is more interesting and they don't come with a specific prayer printed on the back. Unlike the majority of the Lo Scarabeo decks I've seen, the Angel Voices deck comes with a trade paperback book of some 190 pages instead of a small flyer or multi-language booklet. This book was translated from the Italian by Harriet Graham and Elizabeth O'Neill. The first part of the book describes the deck and how to use it, provides the layout used for the guided interpretations in the card descriptions, and gives six layouts that can be used by more experienced readers with the basic meanings assigned to the card. The rest of the book details each of the 80 cards. Each card is pictured and general divinatory meanings are provided. In addition, the meaning of the card in each position of the "guided interpretation" layout is provided, making it easy for a beginner to start reading with this deck. As this is the only book available on this system, it is important that it be complete and easy to use. Fortunately, it is. The Angel Voices deck is interesting and worthy of a close look -- especially for those who are interested in angels or who work with Judeo-Christian symbolism. However, my personal recommendation is neutral. It's not a Tarot deck and it doesn't interest me enough to learn the system's subtleties -- especially given the low amount of symbolism on the cards. However, it is a fairly pretty deck and many will enjoy it. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trtav.php [05-2] ========= ========= REVIEW: TAROT OF THE HIDDEN FOLK ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Tarot of the Hidden Folk Artist: Giacinto Gaudenzi Card Set Publisher: Llewellyn (Lo Scarabeo) Publication date: 2003 ISBN: 0738700568 US Retail Price: $19.95 View Sample Cards: http://www.ecauldron.com/images/samtrttothf.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738700568/thecauldron The Tarot of the Hidden Folk (originally entitled The Enchanted Tarot) deck consists of cards inspired by the forces of nature and "the Secret Realm" of children's fairy tales. The cards represent the hidden folk who live in the Secret Realm. Each card depicts a different being, some in natural settings and others performing mundane tasks like ironing. This deck looks very nice. The artist did an excellent job throughout. The major arcana and court cards are lavishly illustrated. The pip cards, however, are much less so. The main feature on most of the pips is the pip items themselves. However, unlike a true Marseilles style Tarot, each pip card also has an illustration of a fairy engaged in some task. Even with this addition, there isn't a lot of symbolism in the pip cards. If you like a lot of symbolism in your Tarot decks, this probably is not a good reading deck for you. This deck only comes with a small foldout booklet to describe the cards. This is the deck's weakest point as the card descriptions aren't nearly enough for a beginner to even start reading with the deck successfully. The short meanings given are worded strangely. For example, the nine of Pentacles is described as "The Lord of Material Gain. He loves theft, swindles, and common speculation." What is a total beginner to make of that in a reading? An interesting method of reading the deck is provided, but it is very brief and hard to follow. If you have some experience reading the Tarot, however, this deck is as easy as any Marseilles style deck to read. While I cannot recommend the Tarot of the Hidden Folk for beginners, it is a lovely deck worthy of the consideration of more experienced readers and collectors. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trttothf.php [05-3] ========= ========= REVIEW: TAROT OF THE MERMAIDS ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Tarot of the Mermaids Artist: Mauro De Luca Card Set Publisher: Llewellyn (Lo Scarabeo) Publication date: 2003 ISBN: 0738704148 US Retail Price: $19.95 View Sample Cards: http://www.ecauldron.com/images/samtrttom.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738704148/thecauldron As you can probably guess from the title, Tarot of Mermaids is a mermaid-themed tarot deck. There are lots of mermaids in this deck, but only a few "mermen." Although many of the illustrations are set underwater and therefore seem dark and moody to me, the artwork in this deck is very well done. You actually feel like the cards are a portal into the ocean. Well, into an ocean of legend. While each card is fully illustrated and most of the cards convey their basic meaning well in these illustrations, the ocean setting does not lead itself to a great deal of symbolism. While the cards are not barren of symbols, you will not notice a new symbol ever time you study a card the way you can with some Tarot decks. What symbols there are are well thought out and fit the ocean setting. The only major drawback the illustrations will have for some is the large number of bare breasts -- but anyone buying a mermaid-themed deck should expect this "problem." While the deck is fairly normal, the suit names and items are different. There are shells instead of chalices, pearls instead of pentacles, oars instead of wands, and tridents instead of swords to better fit the theme of the deck. This deck comes with a small multi-lingual booklet describing the cards and giving very basic interpretation instructions and a single layout designed for the deck. While the Tarot of Mermaids did not do a lot for me personally, I had no real problems reading with it. Mermaids just aren't my thing, I guess. If you like mermaids more than I do or are simply looking for an ocean or water-themed deck, you'll want to take a look at this deck. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trttom.php [05-4] ========= ========= REVIEW: KARMA ORACLE ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Karma Oracle Author: Laura Tuan Artist: Silvana Alasia Book and Cards Set Publisher: Llewellyn (Lo Scarabeo) Publication date: May 2003 ISBN: 0738702412 US Retail Price: $12.95 View Sample Cards: http://www.ecauldron.com/images/samtrtko.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702412/thecauldron The Karma Oracle is a small Tarot-like divination deck based on Hindu and Buddhist symbolism. The artist, Silvana Alasia, did a nice job of capturing the feel of eastern art. As the cards are smaller than the average size of divination decks, Alasia has less space to work with. The space is further reduced by a wide colored border used to divide the cards into groups. Nevertheless, the artist made good use of the space available so each card is seen as an individual entity at a glance. As there are only thirty-three cards in this deck and they are smaller cards physically than the average Tarot deck, the Karma Oracle is a good choice for someone with small hands -- provided they don't mind the smaller symbol set. The deck is made up of a series of twelve cards devoted to both Vedic and Hindu deities, a series of ten cards depicting the mythical animals the deities ride, and a series of eight cards showing the objects and attributes of the deities. The final three cards are the pillars of the karma doctrine: Karma, Dharma, and Moksha. This deck comes with a 48 page 4 by 6 inch booklet describing the cards and how to read them. The print is fairly small, but this is still a somewhat thin book for completely new system. The author, however, does make good use of the available space. The book starts out with a two page description of the deck, just over half a page on using the deck (including consecrating and consulting it), and a little over half a page on each of the two five-card spreads used throughout the rest of the book. (Six additional spreads are briefly described in the last three pages of the book.) The remainder of the book is devoted to the cards. On average, each card receives a page and a quarter of description and divinatory information. Each card's symbolism, teachings, general divinatory meaning, and time for realization are described. Then specific divinatory guidelines are provided for the card in each of the positions it could fall on in the two spreads discussed in the introduction. While I find this deck interesting, it really doesn't do all that much for me. I suspect that the reason it does not is a combination of the small symbol set (only thirty-three cards) and the fact that I'm simply not that familiar with the Hindu symbols that are there. The Karma Oracle is, however, a nice deck for collectors, for those who have trouble handling full-sized Tarot cards, and for those who interested in karma and Hinduism. The accompanying book is concise, but there probably is enough information in it for someone who has never read cards before to read with this deck. The "guided interpretations" given for each card in two spreads are a huge help in this. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trtko.php [05-5] ========= ========= REVIEW: WITCHING STONES ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Witching Stones Author: M. A. Madigan and P. M. Richards Book and Oracle Set Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: November 2003 ISBN: 0738701947 US Retail Price: $29.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738701947/thecauldron The Witching Stones is a unique divination (and magickal) tool. It is a set of thirty-five small plastic stones. Each stone has a symbol associated with Wicca or witchcraft on one side. This oracle is read something like runes are read. You place the stones symbol side down, mix them up, draw one or more of them, flip the ones you drew over, and interpret the symbols thereon. With thirty-five symbols, the symbol set of this oracle is larger than that of the runes, but much smaller than the symbol set of even the most symbol poor tarot deck. The symbols on the stones are Altar, Athame, Autumn, Balefire, Bane, Besom, Candle, Cauldron, Censer, Chalice, Deosil, Full Moon, God, Goddess, Herbs, Magic Circle, Moon, Moonrise, Moonset, New Moon, Pentacle, Rebirth, Salt, Spring, Summer, Sun, Sunrise, Sunset, Wand, Waning Moon, Water, Waxing Moon, Widdershins, Wine, and Winter. The stones are small enough to be a choking hazard to small children, however -- as the box clearly states. The Witching Stones set comes with the above mentioned stones, a small bag to hold them, and a 192 page trade paperback book, Symbols of the Craft. The introductory portions of this book describes the oracle and how to use it -- including a pictorial table of contents that makes finding the information in the second section on the stones you draw easy. The second section of the book covers using the oracle, including layouts and the meanings of the stones. Unfortunately, no general meanings for the stones are given. just the meanings for the three positions of the first layout. This makes the other three layouts given very hard to use. The third part of this book explains how to use the stones to perform simple magical spells. To be honest, I'm not impressed with the Witching Stones. "Stones" made of plastic simply do not feel right, especially when the religion they claim to be based on is nature-oriented. Clay or stone would feel much better. The book is poorly written. I've already mentioned the lack of general divinatory meanings makes three of the four layouts given hard to use. This book also uses "witch" and "Pagan" interchangeably at points and talks about Wicca being ancient. The spells section is okay, but nothing that isn't in many another spell book -- and there are only specific spells, no general instructions on how to use the stones in spells of your own. The Witching Stones oracle is an interesting idea that suffers from poor execution. Perhaps a future second edition can correct the problems with this initial version. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trtws.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SHOP ONLINE AT THE CAULDRON MALL Shop Amazon, Catalog City, Abebooks, and other stores at The Cauldron Shopping Mall. Every purchase from our one of our mall links helps support The Cauldron and this newsletter. http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [06] ========= ========= RECEIVED FOR REVIEW ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= Due to my move to Waco and marriage, I've received no new books for review this month. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CHEAP WEB HOSTING REPORT Looking for affordable web hosting with lots of features from popular hosting companies? Check the Cheap Web Hosting Report! http://www.cheapwebhostingreport.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [07] =============== ============ ARTICLES ========= [07-1] ========= ========= Scholars and Mystics: ========= Modern Resources for Modern Hellenic Pagans ========= by Rebecca Salek ========= It's no exaggeration to say that there are more articles, dissertations, poems, and works of fiction and nonfiction *about* the classical world than actually survive *from* the classical world. Walk through the history section of any good- sized bookstore or library; you'll find analyses of the place of women in ancient Greece, the economic impact of the Peloponnessian Wars, the differences between Greek and Roman religious practices, the development of Mithraism, the spread of Greek colonies, the evolution of ancient forms of democracy, and so on and so forth. The same may be said of the philosophy and mythology and literature sections. Some of these are great works of scholarship. Others are mystical and mysterious texts of great insight. Still others are complete dreck. So, how to separate the superior from the drivel? How to distinguish the good scholarship from the Gods' awful? To begin with, always read with a critical eye. Does the author present evidence from multiple sources to support his/her theories? Is the evidence credible? Secondly, compare different works by different authors. How do they agree and disagree, and why? Third, find a group of people (or even one person) with whom to discuss what you've read. Each will get something a little different from the reading, obtain different insights, spot inconsistencies that others missed, and so on. Fourth, be wary of any text shelved in the New Age section; you can find some good mystical works in that section, but not much in the way of hard scholarship. Fifth, read some more, and then some more. Vary what you read. If you're truly interested in recreating ancient Greek Paganism, or at least gaining greater insight into what the ancients thought and believed, than you need to read works of modern scholarship in a wide range of subjects: archaeology, anthropology, architecture, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, mythology, religious studies, and gender studies. *phew* The following, then, is a very very abbreviated list of some of the better works of scholarship (we'll save the works of fiction and poetry for another time). Their focus varies; some analyze myths and folktales, others the role of sex and gender in the ancient world; some are more psychological in nature or more mystical; most cross freely back and forth, ranging widely. Sue Blundell and Margaret Williamson, editors -- "The Sacred and the Feminine in Ancient Greece." Originally published in Britain, this collection of essays analyzes the relationships between sex, gender, religious practice and concepts of the Divine. Essays include "Born Old or Never Young?: Femininity, Childhood and the Goddesses of Ancient Greece" by Lesley Beaumont, "The Nature of Heroines" by Emily Kearns and "The Mirror of Dionysos" by Richard Seaford. Jean Shinoda Bolen -- "Goddess in Every Woman: A New Psychology of Women" and "Gods in Every Man: A New Psychology of Men's Lives and Loves." Undoubtedly, two of the most popular books of their kind, Bolen's texts use the ancient myths and archetypal psychology to gain insight into the behavior and needs and social conditioning of men and women. Too fluffy for some people, while others may be offended by Bolen's assumption that the Gods and Goddesses are not "real" but only "aspects" of the human mind; nonetheless, still well worth the read. Walter Burkert -- "Greek Religion" and "Ancient Mystery Cults" and "Homo Necans." One of the giants in the field of classical studies. No Hellenic Pagan library should be without at least one of his books. For a good basic introduction to (mainstream) ancient practices, check out "Greek Religion." If your interest lies in the Eleusinian and other mystery religions, well, obviously look for "Ancient Mystery Cults." Richard Buxton, editor -- "Oxford Readings in Greek Religion." A collection of essays by some of the most respected scholars in the field, covering everything from the role of religious practices in society to oracles to archaeological finds at sacred sites. Contributors include Jan Bremmer, Walter Burkert, Fritz Graf, Anthony Snodgrass, Christiane Sourvinou-Inwood, and J-P Vernant. Among the essays are "Women and Sacrifice in Classical Greece," "The Archaeology of the Hero," "Greek Magic, Greek Religion" and "Greek States and Greek Oracle." Roberto Calasso -- "The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony." Originally published in Italian, this lyrical, labyrinthine prose-poem offers a dreamy (re)interpretation of the ancient myths and the faith and mysteries to which they gave rise. Zeus, Helen, Rhea, Theseus ... They're all here. Not a work of scholarship, this is pure mystical imagination. Highly recommended. Drew Campbell -- "Old Stones, New Temples: Ancient Greek Paganism Reborn." This is the *only* book written by a modern Hellenic Pagan for modern practitioners. It offers brief sketches of the Deities, as well as outlines for rituals and other rites in which believers can engage. Short chapters examine everything from conceptions of the afterlife to the role of heroes in the religion. Unfortunately, it is now out of print. Fortunately, the pagan organization Hellenion bought the rights to the book and is in the process of up-dating it. No new publication date has been announced. Christine Downing -- "The Goddess: Mythological Images of the Feminine" and "Gods in Our Midst: Mythological Images of the Masculine: A Woman's View." Filled with quotations by ancient and modern poets and mythographers, Downing's books differ from those of Jean Shinoda Bolen in that she actually seems to believe in the Gods and Goddesses as more than psychological tools. As a devotee of Hermes, I found that chapter particularly fascinating. Highly recommended. Jane Ellen Harrison -- "Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion" and "Themis." Harrison was one of the first, great female scholars of ancient Greece. Originally published in 1903(!), "Prolegomena" was revolutionary in its day, challenging many of the long-held romantic assumptions about the Greeks. While it is now beginning to show its age, "Prolegomena" is nonetheless still worth tracking down. "Themis" more broadly examines the origins of religion itself, not just Greek religion. Sarah Iles Johnston -- "Hekate Soteira: A Study of Hekate's Roles in the Chaldean Oracles and Related Literature" and "Restless Dead: Encounters Between the Living and the Dead in Ancient Greece." Fascinating examinations of death, the soul, the afterlife, and the Deities associated with the dead, and how those beliefs evolved over many centuries. Lengthy and academic (and pricey), but not dry. Johnston has also written a number of essays about Medea, Penelope, the Erinyes, Hera and others. Karl Kerenyi -- "The Gods of the Greeks" and "Asklepios" and "Athene: Virgin and Mother in Greek Religion" and "Dionysus" and "Eleusis" and "Goddesses of Sun and Moon" and "Hermes: Guide of Souls" and "The Heroes of the Greeks"and "Prometheus" and "Zeus and Hera," among others. The lengthy list of titles should give you some idea as to Kerenyi's place in the pantheon of scholars. Heavily influenced by Jung, Kerenyi nonetheless carved his own path, retelling and reinterpreting the Gods and their myths in his own lyrical, timeless style. His analyses do not look at the development of myth and ritual across time and space, but present the Gods as fully-realized beings, beyond mortal influence, laughing, lusting and warring their way through eternity. Start with "The Gods of the Greeks," then move on to the other books -- as least those that are still in print. :( Ross Shephard Kraemer -- "Her Share of the Blessings: Women's Religions Among Pagans, Jews and Christians in the Greco-Roman World." From a strictly Pagan perspective, I suppose oly the first part is of any interest; nonetheless, comparing and contrasting the three traditions (which were far from uniform in and of themselves) is quite fascinating. The chapters on classical paganism focus on the Greek Goddesses, Dionysus, Adonis (and, later, Isis). Jennifer Larson -- "Greek Heroine Cults" and "Greek Nymphs: Myth, Cult and Lore." Two fascinating academic analyses of two neglected fields of classical studies. The first examines what it meant to be a heroine in ancient Greece, what distinguished heroes from heroines, rites performed in their honor, and so on. The second looks at the incredibly important role of nymphs in the everyday spirituality of the Greek people and city-states, an importance largely recorded by archaeology rather than literature. Walter Otto -- "The Homeric Gods: The Spiritual Significance of Greek Religion." Influenced by Nietszche, a teacher of Kerenyi, Otto has had tremendous influence in the fields of psychology and mythography. He is endlessly quoted by succeeding scholars. Highly recommended. Ginette Paris -- "Pagan Grace: Dionysos, Hermes and Goddess Memory in Daily Life" and "Pagan Meditations: Aphrodite, Hestia, Artemis." Originally published in Quebec, these are two of the deepest, most beautifully written books on mythology, art and psychology I have ever read. Not to be missed -- if you can find them. Simon Price -- "Religions of the Ancient Greeks" and "The Greek City: From Homer to Alexander" and "The Oxford Dictionary of Classical Myth and Religion" (editor). The first two are relatively short, but nonetheless in-depth examinations of the Greek city and the civic and private religions practiced therein. "The Oxford Dictionary" is a sizable and incredibly handy reference, with entries on everything from various Deities to ancient authors to ancient cities. Lynn Roller -- "In Search of God the Mother: The Cult of Anatolian Cybele." Solid academic analysis of the cult of a Mother Goddess worshipped throughout Asia Minor, Greece and, later, much of the Roman Empire. Roller examines archaeological and literary evidence as she traces the development and spread of the Cybele's worship. Pricey, but worth it. Vincent Scully -- "The Earth, the Temple and the Gods." Poetic and penetrating examination of ancient Greek architecture and the relation of temples and other sacred sites to the land. Eye- opening. Definitely read it before heading to Greece yourself. :) J-P Vernant -- "Mortals and Immortals: Collected Essays" and "Myth and Society in Ancient Greece." The first anthology collects nineteen of Vernant's essays, which look into everything from death to the nature of the soul to the profound differences between Gods and mortals. The second examines ancient Greek institutions such as war, slavery, marriage and sacrifice, and their intersections with myth. Robert Von Rudloff -- "Hekate in Ancient Greek Religion." One of the few works to actually focus on Hekate and analyze her development and place in ancient Greek paganism. Von Rudloff takes a careful look at the surviving literature ("Theogony" and "Hymn to Demeter," various Orphic hymns), archaeological evidence and the Goddess' epithets for insight into Her origins, and Her place in the pantheon and the lives of the ancients. In addition to the authors and texts listed above, here are a few more fascinating, unusual and provocative books to look for. :) "Interpretations of Greek Mythology" and "The Early Greek Concept of the Soul" by Jan Bremmer. Norman Brown's "Hermes the Thief." "The Politics of Olympus" by Jenny Strauss Clay. "Magika Hiera" by CA Faraone and Paul Friedrich's "The Meaning of Aphrodite." WKC Guthrie's seminal "The Greeks and Their Gods." Lewis Richard Farnell's "The Cults of the Greek States." "Facing the Gods" by James Hillman. "In the Dark Places of Wisdom" by Peter Kingsley. Martin Nilsson's "A History of Greek Religion." Rafael Lopez-Pedraza's "Hermes and His Children." Philip Slater's "The Glory of Hera" and Charles Seltman's "The Twelve Olympians." And "Some Cults of Greek Goddesses and Female Daemones of Oriental Origin" by David West. Bear in mind that this is a very very very very short list of all the available scholarship. Additionally, these are just a few of the works currently in print in English. Many noted scholars of the ancient world are actually French, German and (of course) Greek. For instance, Philippe Borgeaud's "The Cult of Pan in Ancient Greece" has been translated into English, but "La Mere des Dieux: De Cybele a la vierge Marie" will not be available until later this year (hopefully). At the same time, few of Fritz Graf's works outside some of his essays have not been translated. So, grab your library card or your credit card and head out the door. Some good books are waiting for you. :) Next month: What's a Hellenic Pagan parent to do? Great books on myth and history for kids. [07-2] ========= ========= July -- The Month of Julius Caesar ========= (Chapter VII of The Stories of the Months and Days ========= by Reginald C. Couzens [1923]) ========= July--The Month of Julius Caesar This month was first called Quintilis, that is, the fifth month, which shows that the year began with March. In the year 44 B.C. the name was changed to Julius in honour of Julius Caesar, the founder of the Roman Empire. The month Quintilis was chosen as the one to be named after the Emperor Julius because his birthday was on the twelfth of that month After his death, the name Caesar became a title of the Roman Emperors, and we still have the word in the titles Kaiser of Germany, Czar (or Tsar) of Russia, and Kaisar-i-Hind (Emperor of India), one of the titles of our own king. Julius Caesar was a very great soldier, and it was by skill as a general that he became the first emperor the Romans had. Until his time they had no supreme ruler, the chief office being that of consul. There were two consuls who had to be elected, and who only served for a certain length of time. The Romans hated the name of king, and Caesar, who seemed to have really wished for the title, was afraid to take it, in case it should turn the people against him. In 44 B.C. at the feast of the Lupercalia, held, as we have said, in February, the crown was actually offered to him by Marcus Antonius, a great Roman noble. "You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse." SHAKESPEARE--Julius Caesar. Caesar made himself master of all Italy, conquered the whole of Gaul (i.e. France) and Spain, and won great victories in Greece, Egypt, and Africa. But he is famous not only as a soldier; he was a great statesman, a great orator, and a clever writer and historian. He formed several plans for the improvement of Roman life, and took a great interest in the building of public works. He reformed the calendar, as we have seen, and he wished to have the Roman law set out in a clear way, so that it could be easily understood; he had plans for draining marsh land near Rome in order to make the country more healthy, for enlarging the harbour of Ostia, a very important port near Rome, and for making a canal through the Isthmus of Corinth in Greece. In the year 44 B.C., before he could carry out any of these very useful plans, he was killed in Rome by men who had once been his friends, but were now jealous of his power. Shakespeare describes this tragedy in his play Julius Caesar, and makes Marcus Antonius, when looking upon the murdered Caesar, say: "Thou art the ruins of the noblest man That ever lived in the tide of times". Caesar is particularly interesting to us because he came to our island in the days of the Ancient Britons. In one of his books he tells us that there were great numbers of people, many buildings, and much cattle. There were trees of every kind, as in Gaul, except the beech and the fir. "The hare, the hen, and the goose they do not think it right to eat, but they keep them for amusement and pleasure. Most of those living inland do not sow corn, but live on milk and flesh, and are clothed in skins. All stain themselves with woad, which gives a blue colour, and makes them of more hideous appearance in battle. They have long hair, but shave every part of their body except the head and upper lip." At the time of Caesar's invasion London was a stronghold of the Britons, and was very probably attacked and captured by Caesar. The first mention of London in history is in a book by a Roman historian named Tacitus, who, in describing what happened in the year A.D. 61, tells us that the Roman general leading the army here in Britain was unable to hold the town at the time of Boadicea's revolt. London was then very largely destroyed, but the Romans rebuilt it and gave it a new name, Augusta, in honour of their Emperor Augustus. This shows that it was a place of great importance even in those early days. The days from 3rd July to 11th August, 'the hottest part of the year, were called by the Romans, "dog-days", because they thought the great heat was due to Sirius, the dog-star. Sirius was a dog belonging to the giant Orion, who was a great hunter. Diana, the Goddess of the Moon, was also the Goddess of Hunting, and after she had driven her chariot with its white horses across the starlit sky, she spent the day hunting in the forests. Here she often met Orion, and soon fell in love with him. This angered her brother Apollo, the sun-god, who determined to put an end to their friendship. One day he called Diana to him, and began to talk about her skill as an archer. Pretending that he wished to test her skill, he asked her to shoot at a dark speck which could be seen floating far out at sea. Diana, all unsuspecting, at once drew her bow, and so strong and true was her aim that she hit the object, which disappeared beneath the waves. She then found that the dark speck was the head of Orion, who had been cooling himself in the sea after his hunting. She was filled with grief at his death, and vowed never to forget him, placed him and his dog Sirius in the sky. The constellation Orion can easily be found on a clear for the stars forming his belt and sword are unmistakable. Following behind the giant is the very bright star Sirius--"the scorching flames of fierce Orion's hound". Virgil in his Aeneid describes one of the heroes of Latium as being "as great as Orion, who, walking on foot through the deep waters of the very middle of the sea, making himself a path, yet rises above the billows with his shoulders; or carrying down an ancient ash from the summit of the mountains, has his feet on the earth, his head shrouded by the clouds of heaven". The Angles and Saxons had two names for this month of July: Hegmonath, the hay-month, and Maedmonath, the mead-month. A third name was sometimes given to it--the "latter mild month", that is, the second warm month. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PAGAN SHOPPING Earth Spirit Emporium has a diverse selection of magickal and ritual supplies, including athames, books, candles, incense, essential oils, jewelry, spell kits, wind chimes, smudge sticks, tarot cards and boxes, wands, staffs, and a lot more. They have a large selection of Pagan-oriented merchandise. They've been in business for a number of years and have many satisfied customers. When you visit Earth Spirit Emporium from a link on our web site, a percentage any purchases you make while you are there comes back to The Cauldron to help support our web site. http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [08] =============== ============ COLUMNS ========= [08-1] ========= ========= If Microsoft wrote a book on Wicca.... ========= Humor by an unknown author ========= 1. The book would be called Windows to the Goddess. 2. Iconology was be a major chapter. 3. A revised edition would be released approximately every 6 months without which your magic would no longer work. 4. Your broom would crash at least once a week. 5. Cauldrons would be called recycle bins. 6. A book of shadows would be called the folder of magic. 7. A free high speed connection spell would come with every book. 8. Every now and then, your circle would collapse and you would have to perform the reboot ritual to get it working. 9. If you used the more powerful MagicNT rituals, the above would happen to all circles within a 5 mile radius. 10. At least once a month, you would have to reinstall your spells into your folder of magic. 11. You would have to use a start ritual to exit your circle. (and cake and wine would only be available after a sign from the Goddess saying it was safe to do so). [09] =============== ============ AROUND THE PLANES: NOTES FROM ALL OVER ========= Corporate America (and many large non-profits) keep a small army of publicists busy writing copyright-free articles that busy newspaper and newsletter editors can use in their publications. Many are nothing but shill worthy only of a cartoon version of used car salesman. Others contain useful information with only a subtle plug. Your editor has found a good online source for these and will be including a few that he feels may be of interest to Cauldron and Candle readers in issues of this newsletter. Remember that publication of an article in this newsletter is not an endorsement of the authors' position or any products and companies mentioned therein. [09-1] ========= ========= Tips On Avoiding "Phishing" Fraud ========= Fraud prevention experts say it can pay to be cautious on the Internet. That's because potentially costly e-scams such as phishing are on the rise. Phishing involves a fraudster pretending to be a legitimate company in order to trick a consumer into revealing personal and financial information. The information is then used to steal the consumers identity. According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, phishing scams are growing at the rate of 110 percent per month. Knowing how to recognize phishers, and what to do if you think you have been a victim, can help protect you and your family. === Phishing 101 Phishers hijack the brands of well-known companies, then send out official-looking e-mails, complete with familiar logos and links to realistic-looking Web sites. The e-mails often convey a sense of urgency, warning consumers that their accounts will be closed unless they "confirm" certain information, or telling people they have won a special prize. Consumers who provide their credit card, bank account or Social Security numbers may soon find that their identity has been stolen. "This kind of phishing uses the Internet instead of a rod and reel. Its goal is to catch consumers," said Shirley Rooker, president of the international nonprofit network of consumer hotlines Call For Action. === What To Look For An unsolicited e-mail could be a phishing scam if it: * Doesn't address you by name * Asks you to provide personal or financial information-such as your bank or credit card account number, an account password or PIN or your Social Security number or mother's maiden name * Warns that you have been the victim of fraud or that your account will be closed unless you respond quickly * Tells you that you have won a prize or vacation and just need to "confirm" certain information * Has spelling or grammatical errors you wouldn't expect a professional business to make. === Fighting Phishing It's wise to treat any unsolicited e-mail requests for financial or personal information with great caution. If you're not sure an e-mail is legitimate, contact the business that supposedly sent the e-mail to verify that it is genuine. (Visit a secure Web site or call a company phone number that you know is legitimate.) When entering personal data at a Web site, look for a "locked padlock" in the browser or "https" at the beginning of the Web address-both mean the site is secure. Also, check your monthly bank and credit card statements to verify that all transactions are legitimate. "Consumers are the first line of defense against phishing," explained Robert Boxberger, who manages fraud prevention for Providian, one of the nation's largest credit card issuers. "But companies can help, too. Providian monitors transaction activity and alerts cardholders of anything unusual. In addition, we monitor hacker Web sites and chatrooms, looking for places where data is being swapped and then we search for Providian account numbers." === Catching A Phisher Consumers can forward any suspicious e-mails to the Federal Trade Commission at uce@ftc.gov or file a complaint with the FTC at http://www.ftc.gov/. You can also forward unsolicited e-mail claiming to be from Visa or your Visa card issuer to phishing@visa.com. In June, Visa USA, the Better Business Bureau, Call For Action and the Federal Trade Commission announced an education campaign designed to help consumers identify phishing scams and avoid becoming victims. Comprehensive resources are available on the Internet at http://www.visa.com/phishing, http://www.bbb.org/phishing, http://www.callforaction.org and the Web site, http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft. [09-2] ========= ========= Millions Of Children Are Mothers Too ========= Quick quiz: What's the leading cause of death of teenage girls worldwide? While traffic accidents are responsible for more teenage deaths in the United States, pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of death for teenage girls in much of the world. The reason: Girls in many poor countries are marrying as young as 11 or 12 and having children before they are physically ready to become mothers. An estimated 70,000 teenage girls in developing countries die each year from complications due to pregnancy and childbirth and one million infants born to young mothers die annually. A new study sponsored by Save the Children, a leading global independent humanitarian organization, found that education was the single biggest factor in helping girls postpone early marriage and pregnancy. Health programs, such as family planning services, tailored toward child brides and child mothers are effective as well. The report calls for increased federal funding for education and health care projects worldwide. The group says the funds will help empower tens of millions of girls to delay early marriage and motherhood. The study, called the "State of the World's Mothers," also ranked the best and worst places to be a mom. Sweden, Denmark and Finland are at the top of the ranking; Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali are at the bottom of the ranking. The U.S. ranked 10th out of 119 nations. "For too many young girls, motherhood is a disabling tragedy or, even worse, a death sentence," says Mary Beth Powers of Save the Children. She adds that girls ages 15 to 19 are twice as likely to die from pregnancy complications or giving birth as older women, with girls under 14 facing the greatest risk. Powers explains that education helps young girls understand they have alternatives to early marriage and motherhood. "We need to give girls the opportunity to go to school and stay in school." For more information, visit http://www.savethechildren.org/. [09-3] ========= ========= Walking And Wellness ========= Take the first step toward better health-get out and start walking! Walking is one of the best ways you can counter obesity and high blood pressure-the two leading causes of death in the U.S. The Alliance for Affordable Services, an association dedicated to helping members live better and save more, offers these tips to make walking part of your fitness routine: * Invest in a good pair of walking shoes. Make sure they have good arch support and leather or mesh uppers that allow your feet to breathe. * Always warm up before you take off. Loosen up with some stretching activities before you hit the road. * Start out slow and build from there. Begin with a brisk 20- minute walk. Gradually add five to 10 minutes to your routine until you're able to comfortably walk three miles in 45 minutes. The Alliance for Affordable Services uses its group buying power to attack soaring health care costs through wellness programs, information, legislative advocacy and incentives to control medical costs. To learn more, visit http://www.affordableservices.org/ or call 800-733-2242. [09-4] ========= ========= Pennies For The Planet ========= The rivers and streams of the American Southeast house more species of freshwater animals than any other waters in the temperate world. This area is threatened by suburban development and runoff from farms and coal mines, but America's pennies can help World Wildlife Fund (WWF) save our country's natural heritage. Each year, WWF selects three endangered regions to safeguard. Through its youth-based "Pennies for the Planet" program, WWF raises much-needed funding for its conservation missions worldwide. This year, children across America are collecting funds to protect river otters in the American Southeast, lemurs in Madagascar, and whale sharks in Southeast Asia. Americans can also help WWF save endangered species by donating spare change through Coinstar machines in supermarkets nationally. According to Coinstar, American households have an average of $99 in spare change that can be used to donate to WWF. Coinstar estimates 67 percent of coins sitting idle in U.S. homes are pennies-spare change that can be donated to help scientists in the southeastern United States raise endangered and threatened fish species and reintroduce native fish to areas where they once lived. Donated funds will also help to restore streamside habitat by supporting the planting of trees and other vegetation that protect waterways from pollution. A worldwide leader in self-service coin counting, Coinstar Inc. helps WWF's "Pennies for the Planet" program through a donation option available on approximately 8,000 machines in participating supermarkets. Individuals simply pour loose change into the machine, which automatically counts the coins and prints a tax-deductible receipt for the amount of the donation. To learn more about World Wildlife Fund's "Pennies for the Planet" program, visit http://www.world wildlife.org/pennies. To locate a Coinstar machine nearest you, call 1-800-928-CASH or visit http://www.coinstar.com/. Pennies donated to World Wildlife Fund through Coinstar machines at supermarkets will help protect the rivers and streams of the American Southeast, the forests of Madagascar, and the coral reefs of the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas. [09-5] ========= ========= Celebrity Artists Pick Up Palette To Fight Hunger ========= They're best known for accomplishments ranging from walking on the moon to modeling, comedy to music, and more. But in a dramatic gesture of compassion and generosity, 10 celebrities from all walks of life put their talents to the task of fighting hunger in America. Using a cabinet door as a canvas, Buzz Aldrin, Shari Belafonte, Phyllis Diller, Dave Foley, Sean Hayes, Kathy Ireland, Marlee Matlin, Randy Travis, Yoko Ono and Max Weinberg created their artistic interpretation of what it means to Feed the HeART. The collection of Aristokraft cabinet doors, which depict images ranging from tropical islands to seascapes, abstract bursts of color to methodical line drawings, will be auctioned to benefit the national anti-hunger, anti-poverty organization Share Our Strength. The company staged the exhibition in conjunction with its 50th anniversary. "We applaud these celebrities who have given so generously of their time and talent. In addition to focusing national attention on issues of hunger and poverty, the auction of these works will enable Share Our Strength to further its mission of fighting hunger in a very tangible way," said Cathy Hitz, Aristokraft brand manager. "Not many cabinet companies can say they've been around 50 years, let alone being one of America's leading brands with a reputation for affordable fashion in cabinetry. Aristokraft does it all," said Hitz. The company offers value-driven solutions to kitchen design, giving consumers the look of more expensive cabinetry with styles and finishes-like upscale glazes -that are popular but not trendy. Adding details such as plate racks, mullion doors, decorative legs, frieze rails, crown moulding, spindles and other trim can turn stock cabinetry into a kitchen of distinction at a price that is affordable. To view all the cabinet designs, visit http://www.aristokraft.com/. [10] ========= ========= 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 over 300 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 new 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://www.ecauldron.net/ ===== ===== Articles! Essays! 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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/amazon.php ===== ===== Have Questions or Suggestions? ===== If you have specific questions, proposals or other ideas we haven't mentioned here, please email them to rssapphire00@ecauldron.GETRIDOFEME.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.) [11] ========= ========= NEWSLETTER INFORMATION ========= (Including how to subscribe and unsubscribe) ========= Cauldron and Candle is a free publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum. The Cauldron intends to publish this newsletter once a month and often actually succeeds 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) 2004 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. The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of newsletter, The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum, or its staff. Publication of an article in this newsletter is not an endorsement of the authors position or any products and companies mentioned therein. 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Yahoo Groups does not allow the list owner to make them for you. ===== ===== 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 LyricFox (lyricfox@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com) or Randall Sapphire (rssapphire00@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com). Typos are, as usual, courtesy of the Goddess Eris.

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